As the days slowly grow shorter, the mountains take on their fall colors, and things quiet down a bit, a particularly wonderful time begins for beginner pilots.
Fall and winter are great times to learn paragliding. Thermals are usually weaker at this time of year, which often makes for more relaxed flying conditions—ideal for gradually getting familiar with the paraglider, takeoff techniques, and the sensation of free flight.
With our Compact courses, you can complete the first two training levels in just one intensive week and see for yourself if paragliding could become your new hobby.
As the days slowly grow shorter, the mountains take on their fall colors, and things quiet down a bit, a particularly wonderful time begins for beginner pilots.
From the practice slope to your first high-altitude flights
Our Compact Course covers Level 1 and Level 2—that is, the Beginner Course and the Advanced Course.
Over the course of eight days, you can expect a varied mix of hands-on training and theory:
- 4 days of training on the practice slope
- 2 days of theory
- 2 Days of High-Altitude Flights
On the training slope, you’ll first learn how to handle the paraglider safely. You’ll practice setting up and controlling the glider, takeoff procedures, and basic maneuvers.
Next comes the moment most flight students look forward to the most: their first real high-altitude flights.
Our flight instructors will guide you every step of the way and ensure that you can progress through the training at your own pace.
Different flying areas, diverse experiences
An important part of our training is that you don’t just get to know a single flying area.
Depending on the weather and flying conditions, we fly in different areas, such as the Zwölferhorn in St. Gilgen, the Fulseck in Dorfgastein, or the Loser in Altaussee.
This allows you to become familiar with different terrains, launch sites, and conditions right from your first week of training, and to gain valuable experience for your future development as a pilot.
Professional support and state-of-the-art equipment
Especially in the beginning, you should be able to focus entirely on learning and flying.
That’s why, during the Compact course, you’ll be guided by professional flight instructors and train using modern, high-quality equipment.
All flight equipment is included in the course price. So you don’t need to buy your own gear just yet to get started with paragliding.
Group dynamics are also an important part of this week: Together, participants make their first attempts at takeoff, celebrate their progress, and finally experience their first flights. For many participants, this shared experience is one of the highlights of the course.
A week that will tell you whether flying is your new hobby
The Compact Course is the perfect way to get started if you want to try paragliding without having to commit to the full training program before your first flight.
After Levels 1 and 2, you’ve experienced an intense week on the mountain, completed your first flights at high altitudes, and gotten a very good sense of what paragliding as a hobby is all about.
If you’ve caught the flying bug, you can continue your training with us and work step by step toward earning your paragliding certification.
Upcoming Compact Courses
Compact course September/October
September 26 – October 3, 2026
Location: St. Gilgen
Compact course October
October 24–31, 2026
Location: Salzburg
Compact Course December/January
December 28–30, 2026, and
January 2–6, 2027
Location: Salzburg
Course fee for the Compact Course Levels 1 + 2: €765
Flight equipment is included.
Ready for your first flights?
Maybe you’ll be standing at the launch site yourself soon, taking off for the first time and discovering the mountains from a whole new perspective.
Take advantage of the quieter flying season and start your paragliding training this fall or winter.
You can find all the information about our training programs and Compact courses at:
