Serre Chevalier, Free flight site and ski resort in Hautes-Alpes, France
Serre Chevalier is a free flight site and ski resort in the Hautes-Alpes department of France, set between the Écrins and Queyras mountain groups above the Guisane valley. Takeoffs for paragliding are done from Col du Granon, reached by a 4x4 vehicle, and offer flights above alpine forests, rocky ridges, and scattered villages.
The area around Serre Chevalier developed through the 20th century from a remote Alpine valley into a known winter sports destination. Paragliding established itself later as a summer activity, making use of the natural thermals and the high elevation around Col du Granon.
Flights depend on the weather, so it helps to stay flexible and be ready to reschedule if conditions change. Calm mornings with light winds tend to offer the best flying conditions at this elevation.
Children from age 6 can take tandem flights as long as they stay below a set weight limit, making paragliding here an activity that whole families can try together. There is also a hike-and-fly option that combines a mountain walk with a flight, so visitors can experience the same landscape both on foot and from the air.
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