The World's Best Hang Gliding and Paragliding Cross Country Routes

Hang gliding and paragliding are two exhilarating sports that allow individuals to experience the thrill of soaring through the skies. The freedom, adrenaline rush, and breathtaking views make it a favorite activity for adventure enthusiasts around the world. Whether you are an experienced pilot or a newbie looking for an adrenaline-pumping adventure, here are some of the best hang gliding and paragliding cross country routes across the globe.

1. The Owens Valley, California, USA

The Owens Valley in California offers one of the most iconic and diverse flying experiences in the world. With its stunning mountain ranges, golden fields, and picturesque landscapes, it attracts pilots from all over. The well-known Owens Valley convergence creates thermals that allow for excellent cross-country flights with breathtaking views of the Sierra Nevada Mountains.

2. Chamonix Valley, France

Chamonix Valley is a world-renowned destination for outdoor adventures, including hang gliding and paragliding. This stunning alpine region provides stunning views of the Mont Blanc massif, charming villages, and lush green valleys. The site's excellent thermals and the ability to fly high above the breathtaking glaciers make it a dream spot for cross-country flights.

Classic Routes: the World's Best Hang Gliding and Paragliding Cross Country Routes

by Mark Frost(Kindle Edition)

4 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	3645 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	192 pages
Lending	:	Enabled
Paperback	:	268 pages
Reading age	:	14 - 18 years
Item Weight	:	9.1 ounces
Dimensions	:	4.72 x 0.61 x 7.48 inches

FREE

3. Interlaken, Switzerland

Switzerland is known for its magnificent mountains, and Interlaken offers a unique opportunity to soar above them. With its close proximity to the Jungfrau, Eiger, and Monch mountains, pilots can experience awe-inspiring panoramic views as they glide through the Swiss Alps. The strong thermals, reliable weather conditions, and perfectly situated landing zones make Interlaken a paradise for hang gliders and paragliders alike.

4. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Rio de Janeiro, with its stunning beaches, dramatic landscapes, and iconic landmarks, provides an unforgettable backdrop for hang gliding and paragliding adventures. Pilots can take off from the Tijuca Forest National Park and experience the sensation of flying over the famous Christ the Redeemer statue, Copacabana Beach, and Sugarloaf Mountain. The combination of urban and natural sceneries makes Rio de Janeiro a truly unique destination for cross-country flights.

5. Queenstown, New Zealand

The adventure capital of the world, Queenstown in New Zealand, offers incredible opportunities for hang gliding and paragliding. Surrounded by stunning Southern Alps and picturesque lakes, pilots can enjoy the thrill of soaring through the valleys, mountains, and over the crystal-clear waters. The diverse landscapes and world-class flying conditions make Queenstown a magnet for thrill-seekers seeking unforgettable cross-country flights.

6. Serra da Estrela, Portugal

Serra da Estrela, the highest mountain range in mainland Portugal, is a paradise for paragliders looking for challenging cross-country routes. The region offers incredible thermals, stunning views of the countryside, and the opportunity to fly alongside majestic birds of prey. The landing zones are easily accessible, allowing for multiple flights in a single day.

7. Manilla, Australia

Manilla, located in New South Wales, Australia, is renowned for its exceptional hang gliding and paragliding conditions. The flatlands and surrounding mountain ranges create perfect flying routes, attracting pilots from around the world. The strong thermals and stable weather conditions make it a favored destination for cross-country enthusiasts.

These breathtaking hang gliding and paragliding cross country routes are just a fraction of the countless opportunities available worldwide. Each location offers unique landscapes, thrilling experiences, and unforgettable memories for those who dare to take to the skies. Whether you are a seasoned pilot or a beginner, consider adding these destinations to your bucket list for the ultimate flying adventure.

Classic Routes: the World's Best Hang Gliding and Paragliding Cross Country Routes

by Mark Frost(Kindle Edition)

4 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	3645 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	192 pages
Lending	:	Enabled
Paperback	:	268 pages
Reading age	:	14 - 18 years
Item Weight	:	9.1 ounces
Dimensions	:	4.72 x 0.61 x 7.48 inches

FREE

Described as the new "bible" for pilots Classic Routes is the ultimate guidebook to the world's ultimate free flight destinations. Whether you fly a lightweight paraglider or a topless hang glider, there is something in this book for you.

Published by the makers of Cross Country Magazine, the international paragliding and hang gliding magazine, and edited by Bob Drury, Classic Routes is a unique tour through 20 of the world's premier free flight destinations.

From the classic 90km Bingara Run in Manilla, Australia, to flying the convergence line in Piedrahita, Spain, to the Grand Tour of Annecy to chasing miles in Governador Valadares, Brazil, many of the world's best-known sites are all in here.

Each chapter is written by a pilot who has flown the route and is familiar with the territory. They explain how you can fly it too, and what to look for along the way. House thermals are pointed out, secret glide lines explained, intricate meteorology unravelled and local rules unveiled.

However, you don't have to be embarking on a world tour to get full advantage of Classic Routes. The book stands alone as a unique teaching and learning aid, explaining better than any textbook how to fly cross country. It lets you see inside the heads of pilots like Will Gadd or Jocky Sanderson as they reveal the tricks of their trade and share their secrets.

The print version of Classic Routes is a classic coffee table book, with beautiful photography laid out over 200 pages. This digital version has been reformatted specifically for the Kindle, and features all the articles and chapters just as they are in the book, but without all the gorgeous photos available in the print version.

You don't have to be an adventure sports enthusiast or an extreme sports addict to enjoy this book, or even a paraglider pilot or hang glider pilot – armchair travellers and sofa adventurers will enjoy the well written tales, which are written by some of the best writers in the sport.

The list of places featured and who wrote them includes:

Americas
- Will Gadd steps into the Rocky Mountain Trench for a 100km classic in Golden, Canada
- Nate Scales tip-toes 75km through Idaho’s Sun Valley, USA
- Mitch McAleer rides the ridges of California’s Lake Elsinore
- Jocky Sanderson goes 100km dot-to-dot from Governador Valadares, Brazil

Europe
- Simon Coe and Arne Kristian Boiesen go troll hunting in Norway’s mountains
- Bob Drury shrugs off the rain for a classic tour of Snowdonia, Wales
- Hugh Miller dodges airspace and chases cloudbase as he boots it downwind across the flats from Combe Gibbet in England
- Matthew Whittall swaps his office BlackBerry for a vario on a 100km tour of King Ludwig’s castles in Bavaria
- Kelly Farina flies an FAI triangle in Austria’s ‘racing valley’, the Zillertal
- Felix Wolk top-lands Marmolada on his hang glider
- Roland Mader dares to ride the giant for a 200km FAI triangle starting from Fiesch, Switzerland
- J C Skiera surfs the limestone cliffs around Annecy’s Grand Tour du Lac
- Marcus King goes into the freezer on a 100km blast through the Ecrins in France
- Bob Drury rides wild horses on the 100km Dormillouse Run in southern France
- Bob Drury flies a blinder using the classic convergence in Piedrahita, Spain

Rest of the world
- Greg Hamerton goes for 133km in Porterville, South Africa’s most popular site
- Adam Hill takes us by the hand around the Korchon Circuit in Pokhara, Nepal
- Jim Mallinson flies along the mountains from Bir to Dharamsala on an Indian Himalayan classic

Download your copy now – reading means learning, and learning helps you fly better.

Blue Skies!

The Classic Routes Team