Kerala is a paradise for paragliding lovers, offering a blend of natural beauty and thrilling adventure. It’s not just about the adrenaline rush. Paragliding in Kerala lets you profoundly connect with nature. Imagine yourself gliding over lush tea plantations, cascading waterfalls, and stunning coastal cliffs with breathtaking views in every direction. Whether you’re a seasoned paraglider or a beginner eager to try something new, Kerala’s diverse landscapes provide unforgettable experiences.
About Paragliding In Kerala
Paragliding in Kerala is one of the most thrilling ways to take in the breathtaking scenery of the state. As you can fly above the verdant hills and charming valleys, you have a unique experience. Imagine soaring over the clean mountain air while taking in magnificent sights of tea gardens, misty hills, and rushing rivers. For people who love the rush of adrenaline gushing through their blood, paragliding is an amazing option. Tandem paragliding is available in Kerala. Here, you can enjoy the sport under the guidance of a skilled tandem paraglider pilot who will handle the takeoff, flight, and landing.
Top Places To Visit In Kerala For Paragliding
1. Vagamon
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The hill station of Vagamon, in the Idukki area, is among the top places for paragliding in Kerala. Vagamon’s lush meadows, pine forests, and tumbling waterfalls tucked along the green hills of the Western Ghats. This provide a fantastic setting for this aerial adventure.At a height of 1,100 metres above sea level, Vagamon’s paragliding spot offers enough lift and thermal activity to keep paragliders in the air for long periods. Tourists can view panoramic views spanning all directions as they fly. This includes the undulating hills covered in rich vegetation, the far-off peaks of the Western Ghats, and the meandering roads winding across the terrain.
Timings: Best time is from 3 PM – 5 PM. The overall timings are from 11 AM – 5 PM.
Best Time To Visit: September to January and March to May
Cost: ₹3,200 to ₹3,500 per head
Suggested Read: Adventure Sports In Kerala
2. Munnar
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Nestled in the Idukki district, the charming town of Munnar is another famous place for paragliding in Kerala. Well-known for its vast tea estates, Munnar provides a picturesque and ideal setting for paragliding. Munnar’s paragliding spot is around 1,600 metres above sea level, giving lots of lift and thermal activity to keep you airborne. Tourists are treated with a bird’s-eye view of the undulating tea estates as they soar, their emerald-green slopes dotted with vivid red and white blossoms of tea bushes. Munnar’s mild winds and steady air currents make it perfect for new and experienced paragliders to practise and enjoy.
Timing: From 10 AM – 4 PM
Best Time To Visit: During the winter season, from September to February
Cost: ₹3,500 per person for a 15-20 minute flight
3. Varkala
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In the Thiruvananthapuram district, the coastal town of Varkala is famous for its unique paragliding experience. Renowned for their striking red cliffs that plunge into the Arabian Sea, Varkala is from these dramatic cliffs that paragliders love to ride to the heavens. Located at high cliffs, Varkala provides amazing coastline views of the sea waves below.
Varkala is a perfect place for new and experienced paragliders because of the mild sea breezes and steady air currents, allowing them to enjoy the flight.
Timings: From 12:30 PM – 5:30 PM.
Best Time To Visit: From October to February
Cost: ₹4,500 per person for a 10 to 15-minute flight
Suggested Read: Wildlife Sanctuaries In Kerala
Where To Stay
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There are several hotels, resorts and homestays located in the vicinity of paragliding spots that you can choose as per your budget. For those of you looking for luxury stays can choose Thenmala Heritage, All Season D Fort Ayurvedic Resort, The Quilon Beach Hotel and many others. For those of you looking for budget stays, there is Hotel Revathy tourist home, Hotel Seapark and Hotel Dona Castle along with several others.
Where To Eat
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Kerala has a range of multi-cuisine restaurants and eateries located within it. There is the Wok and Grill for Chinese and Indian food, Ramees Restaurant for local delicacies, Javees Cinema restaurant for great ambiance and food, Keraleeyam for multi-cuisine delicacies, Sree Suprabhatam for south Indian fare and many others to choose from.
Suggested Read: Trekking In Kerala
Other Factors To Consider
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Tips For Travellers
- Coming with a mental and physical preparation will help to guarantee a safe and fun paragliding experience in Kerala.
- Choose lightweight, comfortable clothes free of restrictions on movement and be sure to choose robust, closed-toe shoes with good traction.
- Familiarising yourself with fundamental paragliding safety rules and procedures is also intelligent, as it covers knowledge of the launch and landing techniques and any particular policies or guidelines applied at several paragliding locations.
- Select a respectable operator for your paragliding adventure who is a qualified pilot with well-maintaining equipment.
- Before your flight, you should also check the wind conditions and temperature.
Whether your preferred activity is paragliding or something else entirely, a paragliding adventure in Kerala is guaranteed to be the highlight of your trip, providing a distinctive and thrilling approach to enjoying the state’s breathtaking natural beauty. For paragliding lovers, Kerala’s varied landscapes and mild winds provide an exciting aerial adventure among some of the most beautiful scenery in India. Thus, why not go ahead and enjoy paragliding in Kerala? Any visitor to this magical state should take advantage of this aerial adventure by Trip XL’s fantastic packages.
Cover Photo: Photoestetica / Shutterstock