Hike and Fly Paragliding in Slovenia: Climb, Then Fly Tandem
· 11 min read
Hike and fly means you walk up to a launch site and fly down instead of taking a lift. In Slovenia you can do it as a tandem flight with a licensed pilot, with no paragliding experience and with all gear provided. You choose how much of the climb you walk: none, a short hike or the full ascent. We run these flights from Ambrož pod Krvavcem, and we book each one around the daily weather forecast.
TL;DR
- Hike and fly is hiking to a launch with a paraglider and flying back down. Solo, it takes years of training. As a tandem you can do it on your first day.
- Slovenia has 46 registered launch sites, and Krvavec and Potoška gora are among the popular ones.
- We offer three levels of effort: Ride & Fly, Ride & Hike & Fly and Hike & Fly.
- Your flight is booked around the weather forecast, a licensed pilot flies with you, photos are included, and you pay after the flight.
Table of Contents
- What hike and fly paragliding actually is
- Two ways to do it: solo or tandem
- Where hike and fly works in Slovenia
- Three ways to climb, one way to land
- How a tandem hike and fly day goes
- Fitness and what to wear
- Book your hike and fly flight
- Our view: earn the view, then fly it
- FAQ
- Sources
What hike and fly paragliding actually is
The idea is simple. You hike to a take-off point, you fly down to the valley, and the day is defined by both halves. The distance can be small or large. At one end is a short walk to a grassy slope. At the other is the sport’s endurance side: Aaron Durogati set a Guinness record by gaining 19,424 m of total ascent in nearly 24 hours, climbing and flying 18 laps of one mountain.
Most people who search for this are not chasing records. They want to earn the view and then get a different view on the way down. Slovenia suits that well. A published example is the hike-fly-wine day in the Vipava Valley, where you hike up from Ajdovščina, paraglide across to the vineyards and finish at a wine cellar. The take-off run there is under 5 metres before the ground drops away. That is typical: modern take-offs are short, and the pilot handles them.
If you want the full definition from our side, we explain it in What Is Hike & Fly?.
Two ways to do it: solo or tandem
Solo hike and fly asks you to be a complete pilot. You need to read the weather, assess an improvised launch, plan your landing and organize your own way back. Gear guidance for the sport points out that smaller wings react faster, launches are often improvised and landing planning is the pilot’s job. Beginners are advised to start on routes to official launch sites, because carrying a glider uphill is a real physical effort.
Tandem removes that whole skill barrier. A licensed pilot makes the decisions about launch, route and landing. You bring a pair of hiking shoes and some curiosity. That is why tandem is the practical answer for most visitors, hikers and thrill-seekers who type this query: you get the hike, the take-off and the flight in one day, without years of preparation.
What solo pilots need in Slovenia
It is useful to know the rules, because they show why a licensed tandem pilot is the simple path for a visitor. The Civil Aviation Agency says pilots flying independently must hold a valid license plus an IPPI or FAI card with a Safe Pro Para stage 4 or 5 rating. Stage 4 covers thermal soaring and stage 5 covers cross-country, according to the agency’s Safety Directive DV 01/12. The directive explains the reason: the mountain and local weather conditions in the north and northwest of Slovenia can be unfamiliar to foreign pilots.
Some other rules apply to everyone who flies here:
- Paragliding is allowed only in class G airspace, or in class E with special permission from the agency. The general ceiling is 760 m above ground level, and 2,900 m above sea level in the northwest (CAA).
- Third-party liability insurance is strongly recommended for independent pilots.
- Triglav National Park limits take-off and landing to designated sites, so a flight inside the park is not something to improvise.
- Commercial tandem operations have their own operational requirement, listed among the regulations on the agency’s paragliding page.
With us, a licensed pilot takes care of the flying side of this on the day. You do not need a rating, a vignette or an insurance plan to enjoy the flight.
Where hike and fly works in Slovenia
The national tourism board names popular launch sites including Kovk and Lijak in the Vipava Valley, Stol and Kobala in the Soča Valley, Vogel and Mt Vogar in Bohinj, Grpišca and Vitranc in Kranjska Gora, and Krvavec, Potoška Gora and Sv. Lovrenc in the Kamnik-Savinja Alps (I feel Slovenia). The same article notes that hike-and-fly competitions have become popular in recent years.
Our flights are based around Ambrož pod Krvavcem, with several spots within reach:
- Potoška gora and Zaplata above Preddvor: our Hike & Fly page covers both, and the Potoška gora spot guide describes the launch.
- Kriška gora: a short drive, a hike and a tandem flight.
- Kovk over the Vipava Valley and Lijak above Nova Gorica.
- Krvavec, the mountain our base sits beneath.
If you are staying in the capital, the page on tandem paragliding near Ljubljana shows how a hike-up, fly-down day fits around the city. We can also arrange a ride from Ljubljana as an add-on. For every spot at a glance, see where we fly.
Three ways to climb, one way to land
The appeal of hike and fly is that you decide how much of the mountain you walk. We built our flights around that choice.
| Option | What you do | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Ride & Fly | Drive up to the launch site, then fly | Travelers, families on a short stay, first-timers who want the flight most |
| Ride & Hike & Fly | Drive part of the way, hike a shorter ascent, then fly | Hikers who want a real walk without a full day on the trail |
| Hike & Fly | Walk the full ascent to the launch, then fly | Active people who want the whole hike-and-fly experience |
For those who want a bigger mountain, Hike & Fly Xtreme means hiking a high peak and flying down by tandem paraglider.
All gear is provided and photos are included. A 360° video is available as an optional add-on. If you prefer a different kind of flying, we also offer sunrise or sunset flights, longer flights and cross-country (XC) flights on request.
How a tandem hike and fly day goes
1. The forecast decides the day
The weather controls everything in paragliding. The Civil Aviation Agency points pilots to ARSO, the Slovenian environmental agency, for wind speed and direction, visibility, cloud cover and thermal activity. The general advice is to check wind direction and speed first and choose the launch site to match. We book all flights around the daily forecast, which is how we choose the spot and the time. Our guide Paragliding Weather Explained shows what we look at, and Best Time for Paragliding in Slovenia covers the seasons.
The local safety guide for Slovenia adds that morning or late afternoon flights are calmer than the strongest part of the day. That is one reason sunrise and sunset flights are popular with us.
2. Meet, get kitted out and head to the start
We supply the gear. You wear sturdy shoes and clothes for the mountain, and you bring water. You do not need paragliding experience.
3. Drive, hike or both
This is your choice of the three levels above. On the hiking versions the climb is the point: you walk through the forest or meadow, you gain height, and you arrive at a launch with a view over the valley.
4. Launch with your pilot
Your licensed pilot checks the wind and sets up. The take-off is a few quick steps on a slope, and then the ground falls away. Your job is to keep walking until you are told to sit back.
5. Fly and land
You glide down to the valley while the pilot handles the route, the landing approach and the landing. Photos from the flight are included in your booking. If you added the 360° video, you will have footage too.
6. Pay after the flight
You pay once the flight is completed. If conditions do not allow it, we rebook around the forecast.
Fitness and what to wear
The hiking part is real exercise, so choose the level that fits your day. Walking uphill with a pack is tiring even for fit people, and the advice from gear makers is to save energy and keep your concentration for the flight itself (Supair). Ride & Hike & Fly is the middle option if you want a hike without making it the whole day.
If you have a heart or circulation condition, back problems, are pregnant or have any other health concern, ask your doctor before booking a flight that includes a climb. Tell us about it when you book so we can suggest the right level.
Book your hike and fly flight
We fly tandem hike and fly from Ambrož pod Krvavcem, with a licensed pilot on every flight, photos included, and payment only after the flight. Pick Hike & Fly for the full climb, or see all flights and add-ons such as the 360° video, a ride from Ljubljana and sunrise or sunset flights on our flights page.
If you are buying for someone else, gift vouchers are available. Transferring a voucher to another person carries a one-off fee of 60 €.
Our view: earn the view, then fly it
Hike and fly is the part of paragliding we love most, because the mountain is part of the flight. When you walk to a launch you know the slope, the wind on your face and the valley you will land in. That is what turns a flight into a day outdoors.
We built Feet Off Club for people who feel that pull but do not have a license. You should not need years of training to share the mountain. That is why we offer a choice of effort: drive up, hike a bit, or climb the whole way. The flight is the same, flown with a licensed pilot, and you decide how much of the climb you want.
We fly where the forecast is best on the day, not where the calendar says. That is why we book around the weather, and why we are happy to move your flight to a better window. Come for the hike, stay for the flight, and pay when it is done.
Gašper
FAQ
Can a beginner do hike and fly paragliding?
Yes, as a tandem. A licensed pilot flies with you and makes all the flying decisions, so you do not need any experience. Flying solo is different: Slovenia asks independent pilots for a license and an IPPI card with a stage 4 or 5 rating.
How long does the hike take?
It depends on the option and the spot you pick. Ride & Fly has no hike, Ride & Hike & Fly has a shorter ascent, and Hike & Fly is the full climb. Check the page of the option you want for its details, or ask us when you book.
What happens if the weather is bad?
We plan every booking around the daily forecast. If the wind, cloud or thermals do not suit a safe flight, we move you to a better day or time. You pay only after you have flown.
Where in Slovenia can I do hike and fly?
There are 46 registered launch sites across the country. We fly from our base in Ambrož pod Krvavcem at spots including Krvavec, Potoška gora, Kriška gora, Kovk and Lijak. See where we fly for the full list.
Do I need to bring equipment?
No. We provide all the gear. Bring hiking shoes, weather-appropriate clothing and water. Photos are included, and a 360° video is optional.
Sources
- Paragliding in Slovenia: where to catch a good thermal (I feel Slovenia)
- Flying activities and licences (Civil Aviation Agency of Slovenia)
- Paragliding activities (Civil Aviation Agency of Slovenia)
- Safety Directive DV 01/12 (Civil Aviation Agency of Slovenia)
- Aerial sports (Triglav National Park)
- Aaron Durogati: how he set a new Hike and Fly world record (Red Bull)
- Paragliding in Slovenia’s Vipava Valley (CNA Luxury)
- Your guide to getting started with Hike & Fly (Supair)
- Before flying: paragliding and hang gliding info for Slovenia
