Paragliding around Lake Annecy

Nothing beats the opinion of a specialist… so here is an article written by Antoine DESVALLEES, tandem paragliding instructor at Passagers du vent.

The Atmosphere 

Fly over the limestone faces of the Dents de Lanfon and La Tournette, glide above the turquoise waters of the purest large Alpine lake in Europe, and soar for kilometers along the Bauges and Aravis ridges, which seem to have been designed for cross-country paragliding.

Land, dive, and swim in the lake, then discover the latest innovations in paragliding at the local schools and shops.

The Annecy region is the free-flight paradise and the most popular flying destination in the Alps, for excellent reasons.

The Setting 

The main take-off sites are on the eastern shore of Lake Annecy: Planfait (950 m altitude) in the Commune of Talloires and Col de la Forclaz (1250 m altitude) in the Commune of Montmin, both offering breathtaking views.
These sites are suitable for both beginner and experienced pilots.

On the western shore of the Lake, a small site in the Commune of Entrevernes allows for morning flights; it’s a more technical site due to its narrow launch area cut between the trees.
Le Semnoz, the main summit to the west of the lake, offers two launches facing the plain and provides fantastic flying potential, especially when conditions are too unstable for flying in the higher massifs.
It is along this long, west-facing ridge that you can reach the sites of Revard and Sire some 35 km to the south and return to your starting point without major technical difficulties.

To the south of the Lake you’ll find the Parc Naturel Régional des Bauges, which truly is a “free-flight stadium.” The many summits in the massif are easily accessible, and take-off and landing sites are plentiful amidst the countless alpine pastures. Before you go flying, it is advisable to check information about no-fly zones (towards the Arcaloz massif) and sensitive nesting areas during certain times of the year.

To the Northeast, in the Aravis mountains, the ski lifts at Grand-Bornand and La Clusaz make high-altitude launches easier.
These sites are especially appreciated in summer, for flying above the inversion layer and when the lower air mass is stable. Around the Bargy and the summit of Jalouvre, you sometimes have the chance to spot a Bearded Vulture, a majestic bird of prey with a wingspan of over three meters.

Best Times to Fly

Most of the year, with the most favorable conditions between late March and early October.

Types of Flying

Introductory flights, site flights, tandem flights with certified pilots, bivouac flights, hike-and-fly/mountain flights, piloting above the lake in an organized setting with a local school, speed riding in the Aravis in winter, kite at Semnoz.

Safety

A network of weather beacons is available on the FVL (Fédération française de vol libre 143.9875 Mhz) safety frequency and on the Internet.

In case of a major problem, 112 is the single emergency phone number that forwards calls to civil emergency services or the high mountain gendarmes.

For cross-country pilots, the proximity of Annecy airport requires vigilance and not to enter the TMA north of the lake.