Alanya

Alanya spreads along a rocky headland on Turkey's Mediterranean coast, crowned by a Seljuk castle and backed by the Taurus Mountains — a setting that has turned it into a popular tandem-paragliding destination alongside its beach-resort life.

Paragliding flights launch from Cebeli Reis mountain, inland and roughly 800 metres above the sea, then glide out toward the coast to land near Cleopatra Beach. Because these are tandem descents flown by qualified pilots, no experience is needed; passengers ride for fifteen to thirty minutes with views of the fortress-topped peninsula, the harbour and the long sweep of sand. Sea breezes and mountain thermals combine here, so operators pick launch windows carefully through the day.

The town backs its air sport with plenty else — a well-preserved medieval castle and the Red Tower, the Damlataş limestone cave, boat trips to sea caves under the headland, and diving and jet-based watersports off the beaches. It is a busy, developed resort rather than a wild outpost, which makes logistics easy for first-time adventurers.

The flying window is long, spanning roughly April to October, with the shoulder months of spring and early autumn offering the most comfortable temperatures and steady air; high summer is hot and crowded. Because flights depend on wind, it helps to keep the schedule flexible. Combine a morning flight with an afternoon at the castle or on a boat to make a full day of it, and carry a light layer for the cooler air at the launch.