Top 10 most popular paragliding XC sites in the Alps
These are the ten most popular flying destinations in the European Alps, based on the average yearly flights flown.
These are the ten most popular flying destinations in the European Alps, based on the average yearly flights flown.
Explore the full list of 153 sites on the interactive map.
| Rank | Site | Country | Flights per year | Record distance | Long XC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bassano | Italy | 12,113 | 231 km | 2.9% |
| 2 | Annecy | France | 5,851 | 261 km | 0.8% |
| 3 | St. Hilaire | France | 4,766 | 324 km | 5.8% |
| 4 | Emberger Alm | Austria | 3,588 | 387 km | 7.6% |
| 5 | Cornizzolo | Italy | 3,222 | 257 km | 1.5% |
| 6 | Meduno | Italy | 3,109 | 205 km | 0.7% |
| 7 | Kobala | Slovenia | 2,966 | 243 km | 5.8% |
| 8 | Bischling | Austria | 2,868 | 361 km | 3.2% |
| 9 | St. Andre | France | 2,746 | 309 km | 11.3% |
| 10 | Weissenstein | Switzerland | 2,518 | 251 km | 13.1% |
#1 Bassano, Italy
Flights per year: 12,113
Record distance: 231 km
Flights over 100km: 1.9%
Bassano is considered the mecca of paragliding in the southern Alps. It’s location in the foothills of Alps, overlooking the plains of Veneto, makes it a reliable flying site pretty much around the year.
Even with multiple take offs around the hills, the site does get crowded during the peak season in the fall.
While rest of the Alps might be blown out or covered in snow, Bassano often stays flyable. The long ridges running east to west give pilots an easy route to go for first XC flights, and the constant shuttles from take offs to launches keeps the launches busy through the day.
As the most popular paragliding site in the Alps, Bassano has a clear paragliding culture. Much of the social life revolves around the Hotel Garden Relais that houses pilots and one of the two main LZs. Here you will meet fellow pilots enjoying an Aperol Spritz and sharing their stories of the day.
#2 Annecy, France
Flights per year: 5,951
Record distance: 261 km
Flights over 100km: 0.8%
Annecy is probably the global center for summer flying. With SIV courses, tandems and acro, this site has probably more eyes watching than Bassano even at half the flights per year. The lake offers great training grounds for SIV and acro
Annecy offers unmatched scenery, with the turqoise lake, the sharp peaks of La Tournette and even Mont Blanc in the distance. The outdoors opportunities are great here, so bring the family with you!
Usually Annecy has reliable shuttle service to the launches, but 2025 was an exception. The shuttles should resume for 2026 season, so no more hiking to the top.
#3 Saint Hilaire, France
Flights per year: 4,766
Record distance: 324 km
Flights over 100km: 5.8%
Saint-Hilaire-du-Touvet is the historical heart of French paragliding, located on a dramatic plateau in the Chartreuse mountains. Its defining feature is a 30km long, almost uninterrupted 1,500m high East facing limestone ridge that provides great opportunities for ridge running and early morning cross-country starts.
Unlike the grassy slopes of the high Alps, the takeoffs here are located right on the edge of the vertical cliff.
The culture is defined by the Coupe Icare, the world’s largest free-flight festival held here every September. Year-round, the social scene revolves around the Lumbin landing zone at the foot of the cliffs.
Explore Saint Hilaire on the map
#4 Emberger Alm, Austria
Flights per year: 3,588
Record distance: 387 km
Flights over 100km: 7.6%
Emberger Alm in Greifenburg, situated above in the Drautal in Southern Austria, is the XC Highway of the Eastern Alps.
Its wide, south-facing valley provides reliable thermals and straightforward ridges, making it one of the best places in the Alps to fly your first 100km. This is noticeable in the sites statistics as well, with 7.6% of the flights logged in XContest from Emberger Alm being over 100km, with a site record of 387km.
The site is famous for its gentle aerology and high cloud bases. The takeoffs are wide grassy slopes, and the height difference to the valley floor is over 1,100m. The lower takeoffs are reachable with a car, and group taxis run up the hill too.
Unlike the tight, turbulent valleys of the high Alps, the broad Drau Valley has relatively mellow valley winds, offering a forgiving environment for cross-country progression.
Explore Emberger Alm on the map
#5 Cornizzolo, Italy
Flights per year: 3,222
Record distance: 257 km
Flights over 100km: 1.5%
Cornizzolo is a gem of the Italian Prealps, located just north of Milan near Lake Como. Perched above the town of Suello, it’s year-round site with a dramatic transition from the jagged limestone peaks of the Lecco mountains to the vast, flat Po Valley.
The site is technically interesting because it sits at the intersection of mountain and plains meteorology. It is famous for its early-season thermals, often becoming active as early as January or February. Pilots love it for the “Pedemontana” route—a classic XC flight that involves following the mountain chain eastward toward Lake Garda, staying just high enough to avoid the flatland airspaces.
#6 Meduno, Italy
Flights per year: 3,109
Record distance: 205 km
Flights over 100km: 0.7%
Meduno, located in the Friuli region of Northeast Italy, is centered around Monte Valinis, a 700-meter ridge that acts as a perfect natural balcony overlooking the vast Venetian-Friulian plains.
The site is a soaring paradise with its incredibly smooth, laminar air and massive, grassy launch area. Its unique profile makes it one of the best places in the southern pre-Alps for practicing top landings and ground handling. While it lacks the high-mountain intensity, its south-facing ridge provides reliable thermals that allow for long, relaxed flights well into the evening.
The culture here is significantly more low-key and “sleepy” than the major hubs. The social life centers around the Fliegerbar at the landing zone, where the vibe is inclusive and welcoming to both beginners and seasoned pilots.
#7 Kobala, Slovenia
Flights per year: 2,966
Record distance: 243 km
Flights over 100km: 5.8%
Kobala, rising above the town of Tolmin, is the gateway to the stunning Soča Valley and a premier cross-country hub in Slovenia. Its position on the southern edge of the Julian Alps offers a perfect mix of technical alpine flying and a more forgiving “balcony” setup overlooking the Soča River.
The site is a competition classic known for its reliable thermal triggers and wide, grassy launch that accommodates both paragliders and hang gliders. The possibility to connect to the 30km long Stol ridge offers straight-forward XC options
#8 Bischling, Austria
Flights per year: 2,868
Record distance: 361 km
Flights over 100km: 3.2%
Bischling, located in Werfenweng, is one of the most beloved flying mountains in the Salzburg region. Its main draw is the incredible 360-degree panorama, where pilots fly against the dramatic limestone backdrop of the Tennengebirge and look out toward the Hochkönig and Dachstein massifs.
The site is exceptionally user-friendly, featuring a fast gondola that takes you to the top with multiple launch directions. This makes it flyable in almost any wind condition except a strong North. It is particularly famous for its winter thermals, and helped by its south-facing slopes it remains a thermic site even when other high Alpine sites are purely for sled rides.
#9 St. Andre, France
Flights per year: 2,746
Record distance: 309 km
Flights over 100km: 11.3%
St. André-les-Alpes in the southen French Alps is known for booming thermals. Located at the edge of the Verdon Regional Nature Park, it is world-renowned for its powerful conditions and high cloud bases, making it a legendary starting point for massive 100km+ cross-country circuits toward the Ecrins or Dormillouse. This can be seen in the data as well: over 11% of the flights logged in St. Andre are over 100 kilometers!
The site is defined by the Le Chalvet mountain, which features multiple takeoffs that allow for flying in almost any wind direction. While the air here can be punchy and technical during the summer heat, it transforms into a smooth, golden soaring paradise in the late afternoon. The landing field by the turquoise Lac de Castillon is massive, though pilots must stay alert for the valley winds that often clash right over the LZ.
#10 Weissenstein, Switzerland
Flights per year: 2,518
Record distance: 251 km
Flights over 100km: 13.1%
Weissenstein is the crown jewel of the Jura range, towering directly above the baroque city of Solothurn. This southern-facing ridge acts as a massive thermal wall, offering a unique flying experience where you can soar over the Swiss Mittelland with the entire chain of the Alps shimmering in the distance.
The specialty of this ridge is its incredible efficiency for ridge soaring. When the wind is right, pilots can run the ridge for kilometers along the Jura chain. Weissenstein itself is a classic thermal trigger point, while the nearby Röti offers a more technical cliff launch for those looking to head north. Grenchenberg, further west, is a favorite for evening soaring along its dramatic limestone faces.
A 75km out and back straight line ridge run is rather straight forward here, and over 13% of the flights logged in Weissenstein exceed 100km.
Explore Weissenstein on the map
So there you have it, the 10 most popular XC destinations in the Alps sorted by yearly flights.
