Paragliding from Side – Tandem Flight over Alanya Castle to Cleopatra Beach
Side is flat: a low peninsula, long sandy beaches and ruins at sea level. To see this coast from the air, we take you east to Alanya, where a 4x4 climbs to the launch site on Yassı Tepe at about 700 metres and a licensed pilot flies you for around 20 minutes over the castle peninsula down to Cleopatra Beach.
- Duration
- 4 hours
- Operating days
- Daily
- Pickup
- Flexible – confirmed after booking
- Destination
- Alanya
From Side to the mountain
The minibus collects you at your hotel in Side – on the west or east beach, or at the nearest reachable point if you stay in the old town – and follows the coast road east to the paragliding station in Alanya, roughly an hour away. There you register, give your weight for the right wing and ride the jeep up the mountain. The exact pickup time is confirmed after booking.
In the air
- Take-off from Yassı Tepe, about 700 metres above the sea – usually just a few running steps
- Some twenty minutes of gliding with an internationally licensed tandem pilot
- The castle peninsula, the harbour and the Taurus range below and around you
- A gentle landing on the sand of Cleopatra Beach
- Optional photos and video filmed from the wing
Weather, weight and the day plan
Wind and weather decide whether a flight can go ahead; if yours cannot, you pick another day or get your money back in full. Please give the weight of every passenger when booking. Wear trousers or knee-length shorts and closed sports shoes, and bring sunglasses and water. There is no fixed age limit – under-18s fly with a parent’s consent. Because of the drive from Side, plan on half a day or a little more. If you would rather explore the sea from below, carry on with scuba diving from Side around the same castle peninsula.
Highlights
- Tandem flight from Yassı Tepe at about 700 m
- Around 20 minutes in the air
- Views of Alanya Castle, the coast and the Taurus Mountains
- Landing on famous Cleopatra Beach
- Internationally licensed pilots
- No experience needed
Hotel pickup from Side
Pickup times depend on where your hotel is and change from season to season, so we confirm your exact pickup time by WhatsApp or e-mail after booking. Please be ready at the hotel entrance 5 minutes early.
Hotels we pick up from in Side
- Acanthus Cennet Barut Collection
- Club Melas Privé
- Megasaray Resort Side
- Barut Hemera
- Adalya Bliss
- Novum Garden Side Hotel
- VONRESORT Golden Coast & Aqua
- Voyage Sorgun Hotel
- Liu Resorts
- Barut GOIA
- Side Star Beach Hotel
Your hotel is not on the list? No problem – just tell us its name when booking and we will arrange your pickup.
Itinerary
-
Hotel pickup
Pickup from your hotel in Side – we confirm the exact time after booking.
-
+15 min
Paragliding station
Registration and equipment check.
-
+35 min
4x4 to Yassı Tepe
About 20 minutes by jeep up to the 700 m launch site.
-
+50 min
Briefing
Safety and take-off instructions from your pilot.
-
+70 min
Tandem flight
Around 20 minutes over the castle, coast and mountains.
-
+90 min
Cleopatra Beach
Landing on the beach and watching your photos and video.
-
+2–3 h
Hotel drop-off
Transfer back to your hotel in Side.
Included / Not included
Included
- Hotel pickup and drop-off (Alanya, surroundings, Side, Manavgat)
- 4x4 jeep transfer to the launch site
- Licensed tandem pilot and safety briefing
- All paragliding equipment
- Insurance
Not included
- Photos and video of your flight (optional)
- Personal expenses
- Tips for pilot and driver
Good to know
Good to know
- Flights depend on wind and weather. If yours cannot take place, you can choose another time or a full refund.
- Please tell us the weight of each passenger when booking so the right pilot and wing can be assigned.
- There is no fixed age limit; minors fly with the consent of a parent.
- Total time with transfers and waiting is about 3–4 hours.
What to bring
- Comfortable clothes, ideally trousers or knee-length shorts
- Closed sports shoes
- Sunglasses
- A bottle of water
- Light jacket for early-morning or late-afternoon flights
Frequently asked questions
How far is the launch site from Side?
The flight takes place in Alanya, roughly an hour east of Side along the coast road; from the paragliding station a 4x4 climbs to the launch site in about 20 minutes.
Do I need to know how to fly?
No. Your tandem pilot steers the wing; you only run a few steps at take-off and follow simple instructions.
What if the wind is too strong?
Safety first: the flight is moved to another time or day, or you receive a full refund.
Why do you ask for my weight?
The pilot and the size of the wing are chosen according to the passenger’s weight.
Can I buy the video of my flight?
Yes. The pilot films with a camera on the wing; after landing you can watch the footage and decide whether to buy it.
