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Thermal / Cross-Country Initiation Course
THERMAL COURSE: Meet your first thermals and your first transitions…
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Thermal & Cross-Country Initiation Paragliding Courses
These two courses are grouped on the same page, as they’re often aimed at the same audience of paragliding pilots wanting to progress. Instructors adapt to the group’s level to offer a range of exercises to help you get familiar with using thermals.
Do you fly solo in paragliding? Do you want to climb to the top of the "bowl"?
Improving in paragliding comes through reading and understanding the air mass, so you can work out how to work your way into it and use it. Come learn to make the most of your environment to safely extend your flights!
The Les Grands Espaces school will guide you through your first thermals, so you can experience them with confidence and safety. Your mission: read the day’s conditions, confirm the choice of site, core and fine tune the thermal… During this course, we won’t hesitate to take you to other free flight sites to sharpen your analytical mindset.
Course Goals
- Learn to analyze the day’s conditions
- Choosing and adapting to different flying sites
- Making use of dynamic and thermal lift
- Learn to core a thermal, center it well, "crab" during transitions
- Work on active piloting with the instructor’s help
- Change sites!
- Aerology concepts, a touch of flight mechanics applied to piloting, regulations…
Prerequisites
- Have the Initial Pilot Certificate level
- Know how to take off both reverse and forward launch
- Have already flown independently
- Be comfortable managing pitch/roll movements
- Be independent in calm conditions at a variety of sites
Program
Full day training, from 8:30am to 5pm (approximately), mainly Monday to Friday. This course is aimed at capable pilots who have gained an initial level of independence (takeoff/landing).
We meet at our school in the morning to check everyone’s licenses and equipment, kit you out if needed, set up radios, set the program, and then, off to launch!!!
To find the best flying conditions, we may travel to other sites in the region (Mieussy, Samoëns, Salève, Semnoz, Bisanne, Montlambert, Marlens, Chamoux, Passy, ...)
Our Packages
- 7% off with your own equipment
- 10% off Student or Group (5 people minimum)
10-Day Pass
You prepay 10 non-consecutive training days, and you can use these days a la carte depending on your availability and available spots on courses.
This package is generally a good fit for pilots who can't commit to a 5 consecutive day course or a 2-day weekend course.
- Own equipment -7%
- Usable on: Independence, Thermal, Cross Initiation, Cross courses.
- Valid for 2 years.
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5-Day Pass
You prepay 5 non-consecutive training days, and you can use these days a la carte depending on your availability and available spots on courses.
This package is generally a good fit for pilots who can't commit to a 5 consecutive day course or a 2-day weekend course.
- Own equipment -7%
- Usable on: Independence, Thermal, Cross Initiation, Cross courses.
- Valid for 2 years.
5-Day Package
Generally Monday to Friday.
The first day is a chance to get to know the group, the instructors, and the equipment that will be used for the week.
Practice generally starts on the training slope to gauge each person's level and adjust whatever's needed to fly safely afterward.
- 1-Day Course 175€
- Own equipment -7%
- Student -10% *
- Group (5 people min/course) -10% *
Practical Info
- Schedule: daily from about 8:30am to 5:30pm
- Duration: from 1 to 5 days, during the week
- Level required: beginner or a previous course over 10 years ago.
- Equipment provided if needed: wing, harness, helmet
- Typical group size: 7 students maximum / 2 instructors
- Book online
Frequently Asked Questions
Where to Stay During the Course?
Accommodation
Below you'll find a list of several places to stay near our paragliding school in Talloires. This list isn't exhaustive... you'll have a choice of campsites, hotels, gîtes, and more...
- La Chavanne
- Camping l’Horizon
- Les Alérions
- Pavillon des Fleurs
- Gîtes de France
- Gîte de Glaise
- Camping le clos Don Jean
- Florimontane
- Camping Champs Fleuris
- Pré St Jean
- Le Clos Marcel ****
What Is Included in Paragliding Courses?
- Supervision by 1 or 2 State Certified instructors depending on the course level
- Shuttle transport connecting the various flying sites to our school
- Certified helmet and a charged radio
- Paragliding equipment is optional, EXCEPT for the INITIATION course
To avoid any unpleasant surprises, paraglider wings and harnesses are systematically provided in our Initiation courses. To make learning easier and support your progression, our school fleet is regularly renewed. So you work with recent equipment, which is more comfortable for you as well as for us!
Paraglider wing, harness, reserve parachute, helmet, charged radio. This equipment is recent, certified, and matched to your size.
What Else Should You Bring for a Paragliding Course?
To bring
Lunches (meals are taken together at nearby snack bars, but you're welcome to bring your own picnic)
- FFVL license/insurance (around 50€ for 9 daysi).
- Accommodation (you'll find a list of possible places to stay)
- Lunches (meals are taken together at nearby snack bars, but you're welcome to bring your own picnic)
- A spare pair of shoes for the training slope, the grass there is often wet with dew in the morning.
Why Fly with Les Grands Espaces?
- Because our school has existed since the early days of paragliding, it's one of the first in France! Unlike many summer-only outfits, we're open year round.
- For our tailored teaching: that's our core business! Our courses cater to every level: from beginner paraglider pilots to experienced ones, we run suitable courses spread out from March to November. You'll progress safely in your paragliding practice thanks to the sound advice of experienced instructors, and keep developing in this incredibly rewarding activity. To reach your first level of independence, your first thermals, first transitions, cross country flying, piloting courses, we'll be by your side.
- For our prime location: a magnificent training slope at 800m, two launch areas overlooking Lake Annecy, our school center right across from the landing zone, gentle aerology giving us great flying potential, the mystical beauty of the mountains, being close to nature, and above all because we have Gaël... (known as "Chaps").
- We also offer tandem flights year round. Paragliding is accessible to everyone! Our flying site offers an incredible view over Lake Annecy and its surroundings... Even without fairy dust, you'll be amazed...
- Our shop is one of the biggest TEST CENTERS in France, offering a wide choice of wings and harnesses to kit you out. Advance, Gin Glider, Sup'Air, Néo, Skywalk, Ozone, Sky-paraglider, 777, Phi, Kortel, Nova, Up, and more trust us and have been our partners for many years.
Don't hesitate to take the leap and join us for an unforgettable experience!
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Our Customer Reviews
This is the best and safest school in Annecy to learn, progress, or fly tandem in paragliding. A huge thank you to Olivier, Thibaut, Max, and Elie for their support during these two weeks of progress toward independence, as well as to Arnaud, Ahcene, Alain, and the whole team who help create a warm, friendly atmosphere. Your safety is in good hands with this highly professional team. See you soon!
I just finished my 5-day paragliding initiation course with Les Grands Espaces, and I'm leaving with stars in my eyes! 🪂 A huge thank you to Arnaud and Robin, two exceptional instructors. Great teachers, patient, and really attentive, they know how to adapt to each student and build confidence. You can tell they love what they do, and it shows! This week was an incredible experience, I'm leaving with a great foundation and above all the drive to keep going. See you soon, team! And thank you for everything! 🙏
A great initiation course, well structured and progressive, all the way to the first solo flights. Thibaut and Thibaut, our two instructors, super professional, great teachers, and super chill. A real dream team! Thanks to both of you for this week, see you soon in the sky 🤙
Our Other Courses
The Instructors Guiding You
Approaching forty, some people buy a convertible... me, I'd rather have several paragliders, some skis, and a mountain bike in my garage! After a first career in craftsmanship, I decided to turn my passion for outdoor mountain sports into a job. I'm just a happy man, proud of his past journey and glad to share his future with you. I still get a thrill every time my feet leave the ground. Tandem flight, hike and fly, or even a short sled run, and I'm all smiles. Whether it's for a tandem flight or leading a course, my goal is simple: create unforgettable moments while guaranteeing a calm, supportive environment.
A mountain enthusiast since forever, I started paragliding seeing it as a quick way to get down from the mountains, after a long climbing route, a hike, or a mountaineering trip. But this "means of transport" quickly turned into a true passion and my main activity! Today my practice mainly revolves around cross country flying in our magnificent Northern Alps, but every facet of paragliding appeals to me, from competition to hike and fly! In my first year of the DEJEPS paragliding instructor certification, I'm happy to start passing on my passion!
A pilot for 8 years, I mainly fly cross country and my favorite playground is the Northern Alps. I've been lucky enough to travel a lot and to fly in Nepal. I care deeply about passing on my passion to future pilots or to anyone wanting to discover the beautiful landscapes of the Annecy basin from the sky. And I invite you to check out my book, Topo Cross Parapente.
A globetrotter and polyglot, I've been traveling the world with my paraglider since 2001, especially in winter, to feed my passion. After scouring southern Europe and Morocco, I've been to Nepal, South Africa, Colombia, and Brazil several times... but these days I spend my winters in Mexico, racking up flight hours (around 200), so I can better devote myself to our students and passengers during the season in Annecy. I'm also the developer/webmaster of our new website, waiting on yours next! ;-)
Originally from the Vercors, I was lucky enough to grow up surrounded by mountains in a very sporty environment. I was first passionate about alpine skiing, which I competed in and now teach. I then turned to paragliding 7 years ago, starting with distance flying before moving into competition. Currently a trainee instructor in my first year of the DEJEPS paragliding certification, I care deeply about sharing my skills and my passion for flying with you.
A mountain enthusiast, I love climbing, ski touring, and of course paragliding. What do I love about paragliding? Everything: first hike and fly, the ultimate form of fun in my opinion, then a bit of cross country and a bit of acro depending on my mood and conditions. Otherwise, I like gardening, but what takes up the most space in my life right now is my son Jim, born last September. So there you go, I hope to run into you soon at Les Grands Espaces, and maybe in the sky too!
A paragliding instructor since 2007, at Les Grands Espaces since 2009. I first started exploring the joys of wind and sails on water through windsurfing, catamaran sailing, and cruising. A young sailing instructor during the summer seasons, I discovered paragliding in 1993. The switch from water to air happened naturally! I love making the most of thermals and moving through the air mass whenever conditions allow. If you're on a course with me, I'll definitely take you flying for a day at Les Saisies! A site I'm fond of, where I fly and work in winter. I love sharing my experience both in tandem flights and courses, and I'm always happy to meet you for a tandem flight around Lake Annecy or to help you progress. See you soon in the skies!
قبيلة I've dreamed of flying since I was a child. I started learning paragliding in 1993 in the Vosges mountains. Careful, paragliding is an all-consuming passion... After a first part of my career in the social and medico-social sector, as an educator, trainer, and manager, teaching paragliding is now my main activity. Flying a paraglider is an extraordinary privilege. It gives you access to countless discoveries. Discovering yourself, nature, and more generally the world, if you let yourself be tempted by a few trips. A sheet of fabric and some strings, human ingenuity, and... you have a bicycle for the sky! Honestly, it's magical. What I enjoy most about my job is sharing my experience and sharing the students' emotions. After 30 years of practice, my passion remains intact!
Always in a good mood! Into acro and board sports, I first dedicated my professional life to rescuing people on skis and at sea. That let me make a living from my passions, surfing and skiing. Today, I thrive on sharing and teaching my new passion for the skies, preferably upside down. My motto: there's nothing stronger than shared emotions.
Makes sense, for someone passionate about flying, mountains in all their forms, and birds! Over twenty years sharing the sky with the finest birds around here and elsewhere, fifteen of which teaching paragliding. Long may it continue, the urge to share is as strong as ever!
I started paragliding in 2005 in the Vercors. I was lucky enough to compete for 2 years with a regional league team in 2011 and 2012. I learned a lot there about performance flying, but after that, I preferred moving toward teaching rather than competition. So I got my BPJEPS certification in 2013, then my DEJEPS in 2019. Discovering new sites and distance flying were my passions in the early years. Then, once I became an instructor, it was mostly acro that motivated me for a few years. I took part in the first edition of the Roq'Acro, the Red Bull Element in 2014, the Transdromoise, and other cross country competitions as far afield as New Zealand and Colombia. I've been an instructor at Les Grands Espaces since 2014, and today I run our "Piloting" (SIV) courses, as well as some "Initiation" and "Independence" courses. I also fly tandem, and I'm involved in the administrative management of Les Grands Espaces alongside my fellow associate colleagues.
A fan of many outdoor activities, and hooked on paragliding since 2010, I never stop wanting to learn more and share this passion for paragliding. Flying for a long time and covering our beautiful mountains after a hike up, that's what drives me most! An amateur competitor, always chasing performance and fun. Being able to make a living from my passion is a chance I seized in 2016 by becoming an instructor. Since then, I never tire of taking you flying around the region, surrounded by a great team who are just as passionate! Looking forward to meeting you and sharing an airborne moment together! Passionate and optimistic, his motto: there's always room to spare ;)
After discovering paragliding on the cliffs of Gréolières in 1988, then at Menez Hom in 1989, I was lucky enough to learn within the Club Airevasion in Polynesia in 1992. A passion that quickly led me to distance flying, competition, and naturally, teaching. Present on the competition circuit from 1993 to 2011, I joined the French national team from 2006 to 2010. And this international experience is an undeniable asset, which I can now share with my students. After working at Signes with Envol de Provence, then Verdon Passion in Moustiers-Sainte-Marie, I'm now based in Annecy, an ideal region for free flying and teaching it. Co-manager of Les Grands Espaces and technical director of the school, "Les Grands Espaces", I remain passionate about long flights, new discoveries, and connecting with pilots who come from all walks of life to join our courses.
A longtime outdoor sports enthusiast, I eventually fell into paragliding, which immediately struck me as a wonderful way to experience nature. At the heart of my paragliding practice, hike and fly touring in the mountains takes center stage. I care deeply about introducing you to this passion for free flying and supporting you in your progression.
An endearing pilot, talented in acro, but a bit scatterbrained. If you find something, (keys or a phone, socks or a cap) just put it in Elie's box :-)
For over 20 years... Try it and you'll be hooked! His kindness and passion for teaching are well served by his charismatic presence.
Her talent is matched only by her kindness and availability. World Champion, European Champion, reigning French Champion, she completed a remarkable flight of nearly 10 hours and over 350 kilometers on May 23, 2025. This flight let her break two women's European records in 2025,