Davos: Tandem Paragliding Flight

Floating above Davos feels unreal. This tandem paragliding flight launches from the Jakobshorn area with seasoned local pilots and rewards you with incredible flight pictures afterward. The only real catch is you’ll need a normal level of fitness and warm layers for a bit of time on the mountain.

I also like how structured it feels. You meet the pilot at the Jakobshornbahn valley station in Davos Platz, ride the cable car up in two sections, then get a wind check and a guided setup before launch, with pilots who bring 30 years of paragliding experience.

Key Highlights You Will Care About

• Jakobshorn cable car ascent: Less hike, more flight time, and lots of time to ask questions.
• Wind check up top: Your launch spot is chosen based on conditions, not guesswork.
• Multiple launch options: You might start below the summit, near Jatzhütte, or from Brämabüel.
• You stay in the conversation: You can talk easily with your pilot during the flight.
• Steering is part of the experience: Depending on conditions, you can steer yourself or just relax and glide.
• Photos included: You’ll get the flight pictures, so the memory is not just a blur.

Why Jakobshorn Makes Sense for a Tandem Paragliding Flight

Davos is not just a winter playground. In good weather, it becomes a great place to fly because the mountains give you a clean sense of space and direction. For a tandem flight, that matters. You want a launch area that’s well used, with an operation that knows how to handle wind, timing, and the little details that keep everything smooth.

The big appeal here is the pairing of an easy access route and an experienced pilot team. You go up by cable car, so you’re not arriving sweaty or rushed. Then, at the summit, your pilot checks conditions and picks a launch site. That combination is a big reason this flight works for first-timers who want the thrill without the chaos.

You’ll feel the classic paragliding magic too: that moment when the run ends, and you start gliding instead of managing your feet. The local pilots are experienced with launching and controlling tandem setups, so you can focus on the view and the sensation rather than the mechanics.

Meeting at Davos Platz: How the Start Actually Works

You meet your pilot at the valley station of the Jakobshornbahn in Davos Platz. That’s a good setup because it keeps everything simple. You don’t need to hunt for a trailhead or figure out complicated mountain routes. Just be there, check in, and get paired up with your tandem pilot and team.

From there, you go up in two sections on the Jakobshorn cable car. This is more than transport. It’s time. You have chances to ask questions before the flight, during the ride, and after you’re closer to the summit. If you’re nervous, this is where you can turn that nervous energy into clear answers.

It also gives you a quick introduction to the sport. Even if you already understand what a paraglider does, it helps to hear how your specific tandem team handles setup, communication, and landing. In the reviews, guides are praised for being kind and organized, and you can feel that early. One flight story specifically calls out guides Martin and Joko, with people saying the whole flow from A to Z felt perfect.

Cable Car to Summit: What the Two-Section Ride Adds

The two cable car sections do two things for your experience. First, they reduce physical strain. You’ll spend your energy on being present for the flight, not on climbing.

Second, they change the pace. At a mountaintop adventure, things can move fast and feel stressful. Here, the ride gives you breathing room. You can talk with your pilot about your expectations, your comfort level, and what you want to do in the air. That matters because tandem flying is not only about taking you up. It’s also about making the flight match your personality.

Also, if you bring luggage, free storage is included. That sounds minor until you’re dealing with a full travel day. It lets you keep your travel brain from adding extra clutter to the day’s plan.

One practical note: the cable car ticket is not included. In summer, it is included with the Davos Klosters guest card. If you have that card, bring it with you. If you don’t, you’ll want to plan for the cable car cost.

At the Top: Wind Checks and Choosing Where You Launch

Once you reach the Jakobshorn summit, your pilot checks the wind situation. This is a key detail. Paragliding is weather-driven, and wind isn’t just a factor. It’s the main steering wheel behind safety and comfort.

Then your pilot selects a suitable launch site. Normally, you’ll start either directly below the summit, or from one of these areas: Jatzhütte or Brämabüel. The point is not where these places sound nice on a map. The point is that the team uses known, workable sites in the region based on the conditions in the moment.

When you arrive at the starting point, the pilot prepares the equipment and connects you with the apparatus. This step is where you learn what will happen next, and it’s where calm instruction can make a nervous person relax fast. You’re not doing technical tasks. You’re being guided through them.

If you like having control, you’ll be relieved to know the plan includes more than one way to experience the flight. You can steer yourself during the flight, or you can simply glide and enjoy. Your pilot can adjust how active you are depending on wind and your comfort.

The Moment of Launch: Running Together and Getting Airborne

At launch, you’ll run with your pilot. It’s not a long, dramatic sprint, but you do have a short burst of movement as the canopy catches the wind and starts to lift the system. Then you’re up.

This is the part where tandem paragliding stops being theory and starts being sensation. The world widens quickly. Sound changes. Your breathing changes. Your body realizes you’re not walking anymore.

One of the most praised aspects of this experience is how fun it feels and how smoothly it runs. People mention it as organized and on time, and that the guides are kind. That’s exactly what you want at this stage. When launch happens, you don’t need explanations every second. You need trust, clear communication, and a team that knows what they’re doing.

If you’ve ever worried about feeling trapped, relax. Throughout the flight you can talk easily to your pilot. You can share what you want, and your pilot can respond. Some people want to steer. Others want the pilot to handle everything and just enjoy the ride. Both are valid.

In the Air: Steering Options and What You Will Actually See

Once you’re airborne, you have two main ways to experience the flight. You can steer yourself, or you can glide along while your pilot manages the more technical parts.

For first-timers, “steering” can sound intimidating. In practice, you’ll feel it as gentle, guided control, not as a video game where one wrong move ends the day. Your pilot can let you take the reins when it’s appropriate, and keep things steady when conditions call for it.

Visually, you’re getting big mountain-and-valley views around Davos. The experience is less about snapping photos every ten seconds and more about letting your eyes adjust to the distance you suddenly have. You start to notice scale. Roads become lines. Buildings shrink. The terrain looks like a model you can drift through.

And yes, you’ll get photos of your flight. That’s not just for Instagram bragging. It’s a way to remember what the air felt like when you’re back on the ground.

If you care about conversation, you’re in luck. You can talk easily to your pilot during the flight. That turns the flight into something personal rather than a one-way thrill ride.

Landing in Davos: Finishing Strong

Your landing site is later located in Davos. That means the experience ends where the day began, instead of sending you off to a faraway pickup point. It’s one more reason this feels convenient.

The landing is typically calm with a pilot handling the control. What you’ll remember most is the contrast. In the air, you’re slow, floating, and responsive. On the ground again, you’re suddenly aware of shoes, gravity, and how quickly you can go back to being a regular person.

Because the flight is tandem and guided, this is a full experience that doesn’t require you to plan your next move. After landing, your thrilling experience concludes and you get the photo keepsake to take home.

The $245 Question: Is This Good Value?

$245 per person for a 2-hour activity may sound like a splurge at first. But tandem paragliding isn’t a casual “try it once” thing. You’re paying for a trained pilot team, flight equipment, and the time and logistics of running a safe launch and landing operation in mountain conditions.

Here’s what you get that supports the price:

• Tandem flight and flight equipment are included.
• You have free luggage storage, so you’re not juggling bags.
• You get an experience that includes the build-up time: cable car ride, wind check, equipment prep, launch, flight, and landing, all within a tight 2-hour window.
• Incredible flight pictures are part of the highlights, and that’s a real added value. It’s common to leave adventure days with only blurry memories. Here you get something usable.

Also, the setup is designed for comfort. You get appropriate clothes and shoes if required, and you’re advised to bring warm outdoor clothing, good shoes, and sunglasses. That reduces the risk that you show up underprepared.

If you’re deciding whether it’s worth it, I’d judge it like this: this is not just a few minutes of air time. It’s guided instruction, a summit launch, and the chance to steer or simply glide, wrapped up neatly back in Davos.

Who Should Book This Tandem Paragliding Flight (and Who Might Skip)

This fits best if you want a thrill that is hands-on but guided. You don’t need prior paragliding skill, because you’re tandem with an experienced pilot. You can steer yourself if you want to feel some control, or keep it relaxed and just enjoy.

You’ll also like it if you appreciate structure. The fact that you ride up by cable car and spend time discussing questions before and during the process makes the day feel less like chaos and more like an adventure plan.

What about fitness and comfort? A normal level of fitness is required. You’ll be walking around mountain areas and running a short distance during launch. If you have mobility limits or balance issues, you’ll want to think twice and ask the provider what the run and setup area are like for your situation.

Weather is always part of mountain flying, even when the plan is solid. Dress for cold. Wind matters. When the day is right, this becomes a highlight. When it’s not, the activity may not feel like the adventure you expected.

Quick Prep Tips: Clothing, Shoes, and Guest Card

Even with guidance and equipment, your comfort starts with what you wear. Bring warm outdoor clothing. Wear good shoes that can handle uneven ground. Sunglasses help in higher light conditions.

The provider includes appropriate clothes and shoes if required, but I’d still plan to bring your own winter-ready layers if you have them. It’s easier to feel comfortable when you control your clothing choices.

If you’re visiting in summer and plan to use the guest card for the cable car, bring your Davos Klosters guest card with you. The cable car ticket is not included otherwise, so this is one of the few money details you can control.

And one small practical mindset: pack like you’re doing an outdoor activity, not a city stroll. You’re going up and you’ll be outside.

Should You Book Tandem Paragliding from Jakobshorn?

Book it if you want an efficient, guided way to fly, with a professional pilot, a summit launch, and a real memory keepsake in the form of flight pictures. The way the day is paced, with time for questions and a wind check up top, makes it a smart pick for first-timers.

Skip it if you do not feel comfortable with a short run during launch, or if warm clothing and time on a mountain are not your thing. Since normal fitness is required, you’ll enjoy this more if you can handle that basic physical moment.

If you’re in the Davos area and you want one bucket-list activity that still feels practical, this is a strong choice.

FAQ

Where do I meet the pilot?

You meet your pilot at the valley station of the Jakobshornbahn in Davos Platz.

How long is the tandem paragliding flight?

The experience duration is 2 hours.

What is the price per person?

The price is $245 per person.

Is the cable car ticket included?

No. The cable car ticket is not included. In summer, it is included with the Davos Klosters guest card.

What languages are offered?

The instructors/pilots speak German and English.

Do I need to be fit?

A normal level of fitness is required.

What gear is included?

Tandem flight and flight equipment are included. Free luggage storage is also included.

Can I steer during the flight?

Yes. You can steer yourself, or you can simply glide and enjoy the scenery.

Where do you land?

Your landing site is later located in Davos.

Are flight photos provided?

Yes. You receive incredible pictures of your flight.