How to Plan a Paragliding Holiday in Portugal

Most paragliding pilots spend more time researching their next glider than they spend planning the trip that will actually make them a better pilot. A good paragliding holiday doesn't happen by accident — the destinations are wind-dependent, the flying windows are specific, and the right coach makes an enormous difference to what you take home. Here's how to plan it properly, with specific guidance on how booking a week with Fly with Behrooz in Portugal actually works.

Step 1: Know What Kind of Flying You Want

This is the question most people skip — and it determines everything else. The broad categories:

• Coastal soaring and ridge lift — consistent, smooth air generated by Atlantic winds hitting the cliffs. Confidence-building, high airtime, beginner-to-intermediate. Portugal's Atlantic coast is one of Europe's premier venues for this.
• XC cross-country thermalling — flying inland in search of distance and altitude. Requires at minimum P3/CP2 level and some experience reading thermals. More variable weather dependency.
• Ground handling and skill-building — intensive kiting, reverse launches, active piloting techniques. Doesn't require good flying weather all week. Best suited to pilots who know they need to rebuild a foundation.
• Paragliding holiday with some tourism — flying is a major part of the week but you also want evenings in a nice town, good food, some non-flying time. Sesimbra works well for this.

If you're unsure, message me and describe your hours, licence, and what's felt challenging recently. I'll recommend the right programme based on where you actually are, not where you think you are.

Step 2: Choose Your Destination

The main European options for a coached paragliding week, ranked by what they're best for:

Portugal's combination of reliable coastal winds, mild temperatures, long season, and low cost makes it the best-value serious flying destination in Western Europe. If coastal soaring or a mixed coastal/XC week sounds right for you, Sesimbra is very hard to beat.

Step 3: Choose Your Dates — The Most Important Decision

Picking the right time of year is more important than almost any other planning decision. At Fly with Behrooz, the reliable flying windows are:

• April–May: light-to-moderate Atlantic trade winds, excellent coastal soaring, warm enough for comfortable flying, pre-peak-season calm in the town
• June–July: the reliably windy core of the Portuguese season. Strong northerly Atlantic winds, long soaring days, ideal for coastal sessions. Busier in town.
• August: still good coastal flying, slightly lighter winds in late August. Hot but the coast stays cooler than inland Portugal.
• September–October: the XC season begins. Thermals become reliable, winds moderate — the ideal time for a XC Coastal Combo week. Temperatures comfortable, fewer tourists.
• November–March: lower reliability, some excellent windows still possible. Not the primary booking window but pilots already in Portugal can fly well.

Step 4: Contact the Coach Before Booking Anything

The right order is: talk to the coach first, book flights second, book accommodation third.

I've seen pilots do this backwards — book a cheap flight to Lisbon on a specific date and then ask if it works. Sometimes it does. Sometimes that date lands in a gap between flying windows, or conflicts with a week I already have full, or falls in a period when conditions are typically unflyable.

Contacting me first takes 2 minutes on WhatsApp and can save you booking flights for the wrong week. I'm responsive and the answer is usually quick.

When you message me, include:

1. Your rough availability (e.g., "any week in September or October")
2. Your licence level and approximate hours
3. What you want to work on — or your best description of your current flying level
4. Whether you're coming solo or with others

I'll confirm the best week within your window, recommend the right programme, and you can book flights from there.

Step 5: Book Your Flights

Lisbon (LIS) has excellent connections from across Europe and increasing transatlantic routes. Specific fare guidance is in the cost breakdown article, but the key booking principle is: 4–8 weeks ahead for European routes gives the best combination of price and flexibility.

Important logistics:

• Flying gear (wing and harness) can be checked as oversized luggage. Most pilots use a dedicated gear bag. Verify your airline's policy — most allow it for a standard oversized fee.
• Lisbon to Sesimbra is about 45 minutes by taxi or Uber. I can help arrange a pickup if you message me your arrival time.
• No car needed during your week — I provide all site transfers.

Step 6: Book Accommodation

Sesimbra has good accommodation availability through most of the year. Don't book more than 4–5 weeks ahead — the town rarely sells out except during Portuguese public holidays, and you want flexibility in case flying dates shift slightly.

I don't take commission from or recommend specific hotels, but I'm happy to suggest the part of town or type of accommodation that suits your style and budget. Seaside, harbour-view, or budget pension — the town is small enough that all of it is walkable.

Step 7: Prepare Your Gear

What to bring, and what you genuinely need versus what you can leave at home:

Essential flying gear

• Wing (your own) — I do not provide wings. Bring what you're flying at home.
• Harness with reserve parachute (inspected within the last 3 years)
• Helmet (full-face recommended for coastal conditions)
• Radio — I use radio coaching during flights. You need a transceiver. If you don't have one, message me before coming and I can lend or arrange one.
• Variometer / GPS — required for XC weeks, useful for all
• Gloves — Atlantic wind chill can be significant even in summer

Clothing and personal items

• Windproof mid-layer — it's cooler on the ridge than it looks from below
• Sturdy low-cut boots or trail shoes — launch areas involve rough ground
• Sunscreen and sunglasses — you're at altitude facing the Atlantic
• Casual evening clothes — Sesimbra is a civilised town with real restaurants

Documents

• Your valid pilot licence (BHPA, DHV, SHV, USHPA, FAI or equivalent)
• Travel insurance policy showing paragliding coverage (check exclusions)
• Third-party liability insurance — usually included with your federation membership
• EHIC or equivalent health coverage for EU travel

Step 8: Understand How the Week Works

A typical week with Fly with Behrooz runs as follows:

• Each morning: I review the forecast overnight and send a weather brief by WhatsApp by around 8–9am. This includes which sites look good, what the wind is doing, and the plan for the day.
• Transfer to site: I pick up the group from accommodation in Sesimbra and drive to the launch area. Primary sites include Sesimbra cliff, Cabo Espichel, Serra da Arrábida, and inland sites for XC days.
• Flying session: I brief the group on conditions, coach on the ridge or at the top, and provide radio guidance in the air. Sessions typically run 2–5 hours depending on conditions.
• Return and debrief: track-logs reviewed, decisions analysed, next-day forecast previewed. Usually over coffee or dinner.
• Rest days: when conditions are unflyable (happens 1–2 days in most weeks), Sesimbra offers excellent seafood, a castle, and a beach. Not every day is a flying day — this is paragliding, and the weather decides.

You don't pay for non-flying days. At the end of the week, you pay for the days you flew.

Frequently Asked Questions