The Iberian XC tour. Seven days of long flights.
The Iberian XC Tour is the programme for pilots who have been flying cross-country for a few years and want a week built entirely around distance and conditions. No coastal days, no skill courses, no mix of activities — just cross-country flying, every day, wherever the best forecast points across Portugal and Andalusia.
The route is different every year. A typical week might start in the Alentejo for the first three days, cross into Andalusia when the south-Spanish forecast opens up — Cádiz province and Sierra Nevada both feature regularly — and finish with a long triangle attempt from a northern Portuguese site. Site selection happens the evening before, based on RASP thermal model and synoptic forecast. Behrooz has been flying these sites for years and knows which ones deliver and when. All transport between sites is arranged for you, including full outlanding retrieval.
Evening debrief is a serious two-hour session every night. Every pilot pulls up their track log and the group works through each flight together — why pilot A climbed faster in the first thermal, what pilot B lost on the third transition, how the Alentejo dry-season thermals compress around ridge terrain. The group is strictly five pilots. Retrieval logistics only work for small groups, and meaningful radio time during an XC flight requires it. Behrooz will not run it with more.
What's included
- Daily forecast analysis & multi-site selection
- All inter-site transport (Portugal & Spain)
- Radio coaching every pilot, every flight
- Live track-log monitoring during XC flights
- Full outlanding retrieval — any field, any time
- Evening group track-log debrief — every day
- Private transfer to every launch, daily
- Video & photos of your flying days
- XC route planning with RASP & synoptic models
- Flexible schedule — always chasing the forecast
Before you come
The Iberian XC Tour covers two countries and multiple sites — a bit of preparation makes the whole trip run better.
Licence & IPPI card
You'll be flying in both Portugal and Spain. Bring your national licence or IPPI card — both countries require pilots to carry proof of qualification. A photo on your phone is acceptable.
XC experience level
Be honest about your hours when you message Behrooz. The tour is designed for pilots who are already comfortable in thermals — if you need a step up before joining, he'll tell you and suggest the right programme to build to it.
Glider & reserve check
Get a full glider check and reserve repack done before the tour. Multi-day XC across varied terrain is not the time to discover a worn line set. Behrooz will ask about both on arrival.
GPS & radio
Bring a GPS variometer — you'll need it for the XC tasks. Behrooz provides radios, but if you have your own handheld already configured, bring it. Spare batteries for both.
Travel insurance
Standard travel insurance won't cover XC paragliding. Get a policy that explicitly includes it — most paragliding associations offer one. Cross-border coverage (Portugal and Spain) is essential for this tour.
Getting here
Fly into Lisbon (LIS) — the tour departs from the Sesimbra area. Behrooz can arrange an airport transfer; ask when you confirm your dates. The tour ends back in Portugal, so return flights from Lisbon work perfectly.
What XC experience is required for the Iberian XC tour?
This is an advanced programme. You should have solid XC experience — at least 20 cross-country flights, confident outlanding selection, and comfortable flying strong thermals above 2,000 metres. If you're progressing from the XC Coaching programme and wondering if you're ready, ask Behrooz — he'll give you an honest answer.
Which specific sites are flown on the Iberian XC tour?
The exact sites depend on the forecast during your week. Typical Portuguese sites include the Alentejo plains and sites north of Setúbal. In Spain, the Cádiz province and the Sierra Nevada foothills are used when pressure systems push conditions south. Behrooz selects daily based on synoptic analysis — the goal is always the best XC conditions available across the Peninsula.
How is accommodation handled during the tour across Portugal and Spain?
Accommodation is not included — you arrange your own. The reason is practical: the group's location each night depends on where the day's flying took you, and booking ahead locks you into locations that may not match the flying. Behrooz will advise on flexible options close to the sites and send a rough itinerary before you arrive.
Is transport and outlanding retrieval included across both countries?
Yes — full vehicle support is included throughout the tour. Behrooz or a dedicated support driver handles daily transfers between accommodation and launch, and retrieves every pilot who outlands — in Portugal and in Spain. No pilot is left in a field, regardless of where the flight ends.
What instruments and gear should I bring for the Iberian tour?
Wing, harness, reserve and helmet as standard. For instruments: a reliable GPS variometer, live-tracking device (SPOT or InReach) and a radio tuned to the group frequency. Behrooz shares the full communication and instrument setup before you arrive. High-SPF sun protection, a hydration system and a lightweight emergency bivouac layer are also strongly recommended — XC days in Iberia can go long and far.