Journée Découverte: A day-long paragliding immersion above Lac du Bourget and Aiguebelette

AIX-LES-BAINS AIR ACTIVITIES FIELD GUIDE

Journée Découverte: A day-long paragliding immersion above Lac du Bourget and Aiguebelette

A full-day introduction with slope-school, a pedagogical tandem flight and a final debrief—essential reading for newcomers or anyone buying the experience as a gift.

Journée Découverte: A day-long paragliding immersion above Lac du Bourget and Aiguebelette.

Duration
Journée
Location
Aix-les-Bains
Operator
Plein Ciel Parapente
Category
Air Activities
Robert Eric Crews
Founder & Editor, The Adventure Collective
Published Verified

Journée Découverte is a full-day immersion in paragliding offered by Plein Ciel Parapente around Lac du Bourget and Aiguebelette. The format guides curious newcomers through equipment, first suspensions at a slope-school, and a pedagogical tandem flight, finishing with a personalized debrief and an attestation d’initiation.

Highlights

Outing Highlights

THE SETTING

Lakeside launch country

The course is staged in the paragliding terrain near Lac du Bourget and Lac d’Aiguebelette, a compact region easily reached from Aix‑les‑Bains and Lyon and well served by regional trains and autoroutes.

THE LEARNING

Slope‑school to solo steering practice

The morning concentrates on pente‑école work: discovering the gear and experiencing the first suspensions. In the afternoon you fly in tandem with pedagogical aims—taking the controls and practicing turns, pendular movements and approach phases.

THE TAKEAWAY

Debrief and attestation

The day ends with a one‑to‑one debriefing with your instructor and you leave with an attestation d’initiation from Plein Ciel Parapente, a tidy summary of what you learned and a clear next step if you want to continue.

What the day feels like

What the day feels like

You arrive in the morning and are welcomed by a pedagogic instructor over a convivial coffee before moving to the slope‑school for progressive, hands‑on work with the equipment and first suspensions. After a midday break, the afternoon is devoted to a tandem biplace flight with explicit teaching objectives—putting theory into practice by steering and rehearsing approach and landing—then a final debrief and the issuing of an attestation d’initiation.

Suitability

Who it's for

Who this day suits best—and who should consider other options.

1
Curious newcomersDesigned as an initiation for people new to paragliding, the day introduces basic handling, first suspensions and a guided tandem flight—ideal for those wanting a single‑day taste of the sport.
2
Gift‑giversFramed explicitly as a discoverable experience or an enriching gift, the Journée Découverte provides a structured introduction that works well as a present for someone interested in flight.
3
Prospective studentsIf you’re weighing a longer stage, this one‑day immersion lets you test the activity and instructors before committing to a week‑long course.
4
Day‑trip outdoor seekersThe format suits a single‑day outing from nearby hubs—Aix‑les‑Bains and Lyon are within reach—combining airborne time with the lakeside setting.

Practical planner

Details to review before reserving

Timing & Season

Duration is a full day (Journée).

Meeting & Logistics

Meeting point: Lac du Bourget. The precise meeting location is determined and sent by message the day before the flight.

Getting there

The region around Lac du Bourget and Aiguebelette is served by regional SNCF stations (Aix‑les‑Bains, Chambéry, Aiguebelette) and the A43 and A41 autoroutes.

Day structure

Morning: welcome and pente‑école; Afternoon: pedagogical tandem flight; End of day: debriefing and attestation d’initiation from Plein Ciel Parapente.

Booking Notice

Review cancellation policies before reserving.

Frequently asked questions

Planning Your Outing

How long does the Journée Découverte last?

The experience is a full day (Journée).

Where do we meet for the day?

Meeting is at Lac du Bourget; the exact meeting point is determined and sent by message the day before the flight.

What happens during the day?

You’ll be welcomed by an instructor, spend the morning at a slope‑school discovering gear and first suspensions, fly a pedagogical tandem in the afternoon, and finish with a debrief and an attestation d’initiation.

Is this suitable for someone with no prior paragliding experience?

Yes—the day is presented as an initiation intended for curious newcomers and those who want to discover paragliding in a single day.

Will I receive any proof of participation?

Yes—the day concludes with an attestation d’initiation issued by Plein Ciel Parapente.

How can I reach the area?

The area is accessible by regional SNCF stations (Aix‑les‑Bains, Chambéry, Aiguebelette) and by the A43 and A41 autoroutes.