THE BEACH | MAGAZINE
17
One of the major attractions in Oludeniz is the Oludeniz Air Games Festival held
annually in October. Paragliders in their colorful attire descend on the Oludeniz
beach after launching themselves from the nearby mountain take off sites.
Your flight will take you over the
mountain’s ridges, out to sea for
a bird’s eye view of Oludeniz’s
famous lagoon, which you will
have plenty of time to admire
before a soft landing on the beach.
A tandem flight is the perfect way
to experience the exhilaration of
paragliding safe in the knowledge
that a fully qualified pilot is in control
- no previous experience is required.
Those who acquire a taste for
the sensation and want to go
solo can also undergo a five-day
paragliding course leading to a
paragliding beginners pilots licence.
Each year, from May to October, the
Mediterranean skies of Oludeniz
are full of adrenaline and coloured
wings flying down from the Babadag
mountain ridges, which can be
witnessed as you lay on the sun
drenched beach or swim in the
cool waters of Oludeniz beach. You
simply have to treat yourself to
this once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Your experience begins with a 45
minute journey to the summit of
Babadag where there are a series of
specially converted take off-sites. The
transport takes you through some
of the most spectacular countryside
you will see on this trip to Turkey.
The Babadag national park is
famous for its stunning views over
the Fethiye region along with its
ancient cedar trees and eagles.
Roughly speaking, you launch from
a hill-side under a canopy that
resembles a parachute but acts like a
rigid wing.
Once inflated over-head, it takes only
a few steps or a short run to launch
from gentle slopes and become
airborn. In the air, complete control
over direction and speed gives the
pilot freedom to soar ridges, rise
on warm currents of air and cover
distances.
Tandem paragliding puts you in the
hot-seat and leaves the technicalities
of flying in the hand of a competent
pilot.