Afraid of heights? Why most people don't feel vertigo on a tandem paragliding flight in Tenerife, and how our pilots keep the flight smooth.
It is the question we hear most at the take-off: "I'm scared of heights, will I be OK?" The honest answer is that almost everyone is a little nervous before the first flight — and almost everyone lands smiling.
Why you usually don't feel vertigo in the air
Vertigo is triggered when you stand on something fixed and look down at the drop: a balcony, a cliff edge, a ladder. Your brain compares your feet with the ground far below. In a paraglider there is no edge and no floor under your feet. You sit in a comfortable harness, and the feeling is closer to floating on a swing than to falling.
The take-off is a few steps, not a jump
Nobody jumps off a cliff. At the take-off your pilot inflates the wing above you, and you simply walk and then run a few steps down a gentle slope. The wing lifts you off the ground softly. Your pilot tells you exactly when to start walking and when to sit down.
How to fly relaxed
- Tell your pilot you are nervous: we'll keep the flight smooth and panoramic, with no turns or manoeuvres.
- Look at the horizon and the coast, not straight down at your feet.
- Breathe slowly and talk: our pilots explain the landscape during the whole flight.
- Choose a shorter flight for your first time, such as the Hawk (15–20 minutes).
You decide how calm it is
Each flight is with a qualified tandem pilot who adapts the flight to you. If you want gentle, it is gentle; if you want a bit of adrenaline, ask for it. Many of our passengers who came "only to accompany a friend" end up booking a second flight.
