In the first of Sotravel’s Project S adventures, we are going for a paragliding course in Bulgaria! After this 6-day beginner course, you can expect to fly solo (under safe conditions). During the course, you will build foundational knowledge and get plenty of practice flights under the guidance of experienced instructors.
Why go for a paragliding course?
Paragliding is one of the few forms of flight that requires absolutely no fuel – you are flying just like how a bird does.
Typically, paragliding is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. You pay $200 for 20 minutes in the sky. But if you love that feeling of flying, why let it be a once-in-a-lifetime memory? A beginner paragliding course gives you multiple practice flights each day. You are getting more bang for your buck per flight. And by the end of the course, you learn to fly solo! Now that is a fun fact.
Paragliding is also a social activity with many tight-knit communities around the world, particularly in Europe. For the seasoned paragliders, they can stay in flight for hours and even go cross-country. If you do continue to pursue a full paragliding license, you can even fly across the various alps in Europe yourself!
What will the trip look like?
Day 1 – Building up the basics
You will spend day 1 learning theory about principles of flight, safety, and equipment. After ground practice for take-off, control and landing, you will go for your first flight from the training hill. The training hill is about 50m high.
Day 2 & 3 – Practice, practice, practice
Every day, you will do 5 to 10 flights from the training hill. This will help you build up your launch and landing skills, as well as control in the air. You will also learn more theory about aerodynamics and microscale meteorology (it means short-term phenomenon in the atmosphere, it helps you assess weather conditions to fly safely)
Day 4 – First big solo flight!
Today, you will be graduating from the training hill and flying from a mountain. You will do 2 to 4 flights from the mountain, under the guidance of your instructor.
Days 5 & 6 – Practice, practice, practice
Like Day 4, you will be doing 2 to 4 flights from the mountain. Each time you fly, your instructor will be giving you tips on how you can improve.
The trip is inclusive of:
| Return transfer between Sofia airport and SkyNomad flight school |
| Shared accommodation in twin room with A/C and en-suite bathroom (5-min to town centre) |
| Equipment rental (wing, radio, harness etc.) |
| 6-day instructor training (1 instructor to maximum 3 students) |
Not included:
| Flights & travel insurance |
| Meals |
| Chairlift up to mountain (€8 on days 4, 5 and 6) |
| Any other personal expenses |
Is this safe?
The flight school is SkyNomad, which is registered with the British Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association (BHPA). The instructors are licensed by paragliding associations such as BHPA and Hang Gliding Federation of Australia, with decades of experience so you are in good hands.
As with all adventure sports, there is always a level of risk. This is why proper training, safe equipment, and sound pilot judgement is incredibly important.
Do I need to be super fit?
Like most sports, you do need a certain level of physical fitness. You don’t need to be an athlete, but you will be carrying about 10kg of equipment up the training hill during the first few days.
Your weight will also affect the size of wings you use, so you do have to be between 40 kg and 140 kg to fly.
Do I need special equipment?
For the beginner course, all paragliding equipment will be provided by the flight school. You will need high-ankle hiking boots for good landing and long-sleeved clothing.
If you intend to continue pursuing paragliding with intermediate courses, it is recommended that you get your own equipment in the future.
Will I be certified after the course?
The flight school, SkyNomad, utilizes the FAI ParaPro International Pilot Proficiency (IPPI) system with Para Pro levels 1 to 5. When you travel abroad, the IPPI Card is an internationally recognized card to show proof of flying proficiency.
To get ParaPro Level 3, you need to complete both the Beginner and Intermediate Course. For ParaPro Level 4 and above, you need to clock in more flight hours.
The requirements for paragliding in each country does vary. For example, in Germany, you need Level 4 for unsupervised flight while Level 3 paragliders can do solo flights under supervision of a German instructor.
Why Bulgaria?
Bulgaria has excellent flying conditions, especially in autumn. The airspace is also uncrowded, which is fantastic for beginners picking up the sport. Compared to other countries, paragliding in Bulgaria is more affordable due to lower cost of living. Other flight schools in France and Germany tend to teach primarily in their native language, so translation into English may not be 100% complete.
Other than paragliding, Bulgaria is such an underrated travel destination in Europe that offers untouched wonders of nature, rich culture and historical sites. Fun fact, Bulgaria is the only country in Europe that hasn’t changed its name since its establishment in 681 AD. After your paragliding course, you can explore this beautiful country before heading back home, or to your next destination.
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