Top 100 paragliding sites in the Alps
Analyze 150+ paragliding hubs across the Alps using real flight data. From the buzzing hills of Bassano to the alpine highway of Fiesch, find where the community is flying in 2026.
Data updated: January 2026About the project: How to read the data
This dashboard helps pilots explore XC hotspots across the Alps, and understand the "personality" of different sites. By combining visual skyway maps with XContest statistics, you can plan your next adventure to the most popular sites or find hidden gems.
As the data is based on XContest flights, it naturally favors XC-minded flights and may under-represent sites with lots of school activity, ridge soaring, or tandem activity. The rankings should be treated as directional, not absolute truths.
What is a "site"?
Instead of single launches, a "site" groups takeoffs selectively by geographic area (usually within 5–8km). This is done to focus on the popularity of a specific valley or ridge, instead of single takeoff patch.
How are the yearly flights calculated?
The average yearly flight count is the main meter of a sites popularity. It is based on the average yearly flights logged in XContest during the years 2023, 2024 and 2025.
How is the record distance defined?
The record is based on the longest flight, straight distance or triangle, ever recorded (not just 2023-2025) starting from this site. This represents the site's maximum potential on a "hammer-day."
What are "Long XC" flights in the data?
The "Long XC" column shows the percentage of total flights from this site that exceed 100km. A high percentage here could indicate an exceptionally well working site, and low percentage might hint that the site is used by schools as a training hill.