Do you like extreme sports? I definitely don’t. But for once in my life, I decided to be brave and try paragliding in Ölüdeniz, Turkey. I am so glad I did, it was unbelievable! If you visit Ölüdeniz, I highly recommend you try paragliding too. If I could do it, anyone can!
It was in October 2013, but I remember it as if it were yesterday. I am terrified of heights, so I was sure I would never dare try any extreme sports. Still, I had thought a lot about paragliding in Ölüdeniz, and when I arrived at the beautiful Blue Lagoon and watched the stream of paragliders flying gracefully overhead, I suddenly made up my mind: I had to try it too! Why would I just relax on the beach when I could fly like a bird over the sea?
You need to try paragliding in Ölüdeniz if you want to get this amazing views!
Ölüdeniz, Turkey
Located only 15 kilometers from Fethiye, Ölüdeniz is a tourist’s dream come true. This small town is well-known for its famous Blue Lagoon, a UNESCO World Heritage and the signature coastal image for Turkey. For an easygoing day in one of the best beaches in Turkey, look no further than Ölüdeniz!
The only downside, as with most beautiful destinations, is that it gets really crowded during peak season. The first time I visited Ölüdeniz, I noticed that most of the tourists were British. Not that I have anything against British people, of course. But I think this level of mass tourism has robbed Ölüdeniz of some of its original charms, to the point where it doesn’t even seem like a Turkish town anymore. Local foods have been replaced with “fish and chips” and English breakfast, and even the Turkish locals speak English with a proper British accent!
For these reasons, Ölüdeniz is probably not the best destination for independent travelers seeking a quiet place or a local experience (if that’s your case, skip Ölüdeniz and head straight to Kabak). Having said that, even the crowded and touristic Ölüdeniz is well worth a visit. Plus, if you’ve always wanted to throw yourself off a 2-km-tall mountain, this is the best place to do it. Paragliding in Olüdeniz is a must!
Where to stay in Ölüdeniz, Turkey
There are plenty of hotels in Ölüdeniz, but they tend to be expensive. A clever idea is to stay in the nearby village of Hisarönü, 5 minutes by bus from Ölüdeniz. I recommend Elze Hotel, probably the best value for money in the area. Hisarönü might not be the best, but the location of this family hotel is ideal to visit the nearby destinations of Ölüdeniz, Fethiye, Kayaköy, the Butterfly Valley and Kabak.
If you are not on a budget and prefer to stay in Ölüdeniz, here you have some other great options:
Paragliding in Ölüdeniz, Turkey
Thanks to ideal weather conditions, the Babadağ mountain and the gorgeous beaches with white sand and turquoise blue water beach, Ölüdeniz is one of the top destinations for tandem paragliding in the world.
There are plenty of companies offering tandem paragliding in Ölüdeniz, but after reading Tripadvisor reviews, I decided to go with Sky sports.
With over 25 years of experience, professional pilots, and a proven safety record from day one, Sky Sports has the best reputation. Although they are not the cheapest option, safety is always worth the higher price!
The cost of the jump is 420 TRY, including insurance and transportation from your hotel to Babadağ’s peak. For an extra 140 TRY, you can buy the pictures and videos that the pilot takes during the flight.
Other great options for tandem paragliding in Ölüdeniz are:
“I believe we can fly“ – My Experience Paragliding in Ölüdeniz
After being picked up from my hotel in Hisaronu, we drove up the narrow winding road to the top of Babadağ mountain (1960m). This was an experience itself; many describe it as even more terrifying than the actual jump!
The place was packed with paragliders from all over the world. It was nice to see people of all ages, including children, who seemed less scared than I was. Fun fact: Sky Sports has flown passengers from 4 to 84 years old!
At the top, Burak Tuzer, the pilot I had been assigned, introduced himself and prepared the equipment. Then we waited for our turn to jump. For me, this was the scariest part: the day wasn’t very windy, so we had to wait for over half an hour. When the time came, Burak told me to start running. The next thing I knew, we were in the air.
My fantastic pilot Burak Tuzer and I paragliding in Olüdeniz.
Once in the air, I managed to calm down and the experience became much more relaxing. I couldn’t believe it: I was flying!
I had a lovely chat in the air with my pilot about his experiences and upcoming plans. Burak, who was my age, had more than 10 years of paragliding experience and had flown hundreds of times worldwide. He was excellent and very professional.
The journey lasted for about half an hour and the landing was totally smooth and flawless. It was one of the most exciting experiences in my life! In short, if you travel or pass by Fethiye, you have to try paragliding in Ölüdeniz!
Fantastic Olüdeniz views that you can only get from the air!
Faralya, the Butterfly Valley
After paragliding in Ölüdeniz, I spent the rest of the day relaxing in Faralya (the Butterfly Valley), 12 kilometers from Ölüdeniz. You can get there by minibus and walk down a steep hill to the beach (part of the Lycian Way). I’d had enough adrenaline for the day, though, so I chose an easier option: taking a boat from Ölüdeniz Beach directly to the shores of Faralya.
Faralya gets its name from a tiger butterfly endemic to the area. Although I didn’t see any, I loved the wonderful beach. It was great for relaxing after a big day of excitement!
After paragliding in Ölüdeniz, I spent the rest of the day relaxing in Faralya (Butterfly Valley)
1 comment
hello Ana,
I agree with you about Turkey.
We holiday there twice a year, around Fethiye. everyone are so friendly.
Lovely place to visit.