First Paragliding Club in Lebanon – Since 1992

Jounieh Bay is at its best from the air. This tandem flight lifts you from the hilltop village of Ghosta, then carries you over Harissa and down toward the Mediterranean, with the famous Our Lady of Lebanon statue close by. The flight itself can last around 20 minutes, while the full outing takes about an hour.

I like the 750-meter launch point, which gives you a broad view from mountain to sea, and I like the club’s practical, friendly approach. Raja Saade founded Lebanon’s first paragliding club in 1992, and the pilots are certified and experienced. You can also choose a departure time and take photos or selfies during the flight.

The main drawback is simple: weather controls the schedule. Wind and other conditions can cancel or delay a flight, so do not book this as the only fixed event in your day. The advertised $90 price is fair for a private tandem flight, but confirm what photo or video service is included before you arrive.

Key points to know before you book

• Ghosta to Jounieh Bay: Take off from an authentic mountain village and descend toward one of Lebanon’s most scenic coastal bays.
• 750-meter launch point: This is described as the highest paragliding takeoff point in Lebanon, giving you a sweeping mountain, city, and sea view.
• Harissa from the air: The route passes near the Our Lady of Lebanon statue, one of the country’s best-known sights.
• A private group experience: Only your group participates, rather than joining a large shared sightseeing tour.
• About one hour overall: The full activity is listed at roughly one hour, though the actual flight may be around 20 minutes depending on conditions.
• Weather matters: You can receive a full refund or choose another date if poor weather forces cancellation, provided the operator cannot fly.

From Ghosta’s hills to the coast

This is not a flight over an anonymous strip of countryside. The route links several of the most recognizable sights around Jounieh in one clean sweep: Ghosta, Harissa, the bay, and the Mediterranean coast.

Your starting point is listed at XJVR+96P in Jounieh, Lebanon. The operation describes the takeoff area as Ghosta, an authentic village above the coast. At about 750 meters, the launch point gives the flight its visual punch. You begin high above the bay, rather than slowly working up to a view from a low coastal field.

That height matters. From the launch area, you can look across the mountain slopes and down toward the built-up coast. As the paraglider moves out from the hill, the view changes from village and forested slopes to Harissa and the open water beyond Jounieh Bay.

The route is especially appealing if you have already seen the coast from street level. From below, Jounieh can feel like a busy coastal city. From above, the bay’s curve and its position between the mountains and sea become much easier to understand.

What the one-hour outing includes

The listed duration is approximately one hour, but do not read that as one continuous hour in the air. One detailed account describes a flight of roughly 20 minutes, with the rest of the time used for meeting, preparing, securing belongings, traveling up to the launch point, and returning after landing.

That is a normal shape for a tandem paragliding experience. You meet the team, deal with bags, get fitted with the flight equipment, and receive instructions before the takeoff. One practical detail is that bags can be locked at the base station before you are taken up the mountain. This lets you fly without carrying a daypack or worrying about a phone slipping from a pocket.

Your pilot handles the paraglider and gives you the directions needed for takeoff and landing. The club describes its pilots as certified and experienced, and the strongest theme running through the experience is calm, professional handling. That matters more than a long speech before takeoff. You want clear instructions and a team that makes the process feel organized.

After the flight, the activity ends back at the meeting point. Since the listed start and end information is tied to Jounieh, ask the club for the exact pickup and return arrangement when you book. The available details indicate that the group is taken from the base area to the mountain launch site, then brought back after landing.

The flight over Harissa and Our Lady of Lebanon

Harissa is the visual centerpiece of this route. The flight passes near the Our Lady of Lebanon statue, which sits high above Jounieh and is one of the area’s most visited landmarks. Seeing it from a paraglider gives you a different angle than a standard visit to the shrine.

You should be able to take in the statue, the slopes around it, and the bay below as the paraglider moves along the route. The supplied information does not promise a fixed flight path or a guaranteed distance from the statue, so treat the exact view as weather and wind dependent. Still, Harissa is a stated part of the flight area, not a vague possibility.

The setting also makes this a good choice for a first flight. You are not being asked to master solo equipment or navigate on your own. You fly with a pilot while the club manages the technical side. Your job is mainly to follow the takeoff and landing instructions, sit back, and look around.

The ride is often described as smooth rather than rough. That does not mean you should assume you will feel perfectly comfortable. Motion affects people differently, and one person had to reschedule after feeling sick. The club handled that change helpfully, but it is still sensible to avoid a heavy meal immediately before an activity that can involve height, motion, and changing air.

Photos, selfies, and the souvenir question

The experience specifically encourages photos and selfies during the descent. That is a useful feature because the view is the souvenir. Jounieh Bay, the coastline, Harissa, and the Mediterranean are hard to capture from the ground in one frame.

You should follow your pilot’s instructions before reaching for a phone. A selfie is only worthwhile if it does not distract you from the flight or create a risk of dropping the device. Ask how phones are handled and what equipment is available on the day.

A video keepsake has also been described as part of the experience by some people who flew with the club. Since the main tour details highlight photos but do not clearly state whether video is included in the $90 price, confirm this before booking. That small question can affect the value for you, especially if the flight is meant to mark a birthday, proposal, anniversary, or another special event.

The club actively promotes flights for celebrations as well as ordinary sightseeing. A sunset departure can be particularly attractive if offered for your date, but you should confirm the available time rather than assume every booking can be scheduled at sunset. Departure times are flexible enough to fit different sightseeing plans, subject to weather and availability.

Safety, staff, and the feel of the operation

Paragliding always involves a real element of adventure, so the quality of the team matters. Here, the operation has been running since 1992, when Raja Saade brought paragliding to Lebanon. That long history does not remove weather risk, but it does give the club a substantial local connection and experience with this launch area.

The team is described as professional, friendly, and well organized. Communication before the activity is another strong point. That is valuable in a sport where you may arrive nervous and want to know what happens next.

You can expect an instructor or pilot to guide you through the process. No individual pilot names are provided in the available details, so do not assume a particular pilot will be assigned to you. The club’s certified pilots are presented as ready to handle both first-time flyers and people looking for a memorable special occasion.

This is a private activity, meaning only your own group participates. That does not necessarily mean you will be the only person flying at the site, but it does mean your booking is not folded into a large sightseeing group. For couples, families, and friends, that makes the pace feel more personal.

Service animals are allowed, the meeting area is near public transportation, and most people can participate. The information does not give a detailed list of physical or medical restrictions, so contact the provider if you have a condition that could affect flight, motion, or landing.

Is $90 a good value?

At $90 per person, this is not the cheapest way to see Jounieh Bay. You are paying for a short aerial experience, not a full-day tour with several stops, meals, or museum admissions.

The value comes from the combination of location and simplicity. In about an hour, you reach a high mountain launch point, fly over Harissa, see the bay from above, and land near the coast. You also get a certified pilot, equipment, a private group arrangement, and a memorable setting that would be difficult to reproduce on your own.

I consider the price reasonable for a first-time tandem flight if the aerial view is the main reason you are booking. It is less compelling if you mainly want a long sightseeing excursion. In that case, pair it with a separate visit to Harissa or Jounieh rather than expecting the flight to replace a full cultural tour.

The value also depends on what happens with photos and video. Ask if the price includes a digital video, still photographs, or only the flight. The experience is strong without a recording, but a video can make the $90 feel more worthwhile for a birthday or proposal.

Who will enjoy this most

This is a good match for a solo visitor who wants one bold activity in Lebanon, especially if you prefer an experience over another indoor attraction. You do not need a partner to make the booking work, and the private format keeps the outing focused on your group.

Couples can use it as a special occasion activity, including a birthday or proposal. Families and friend groups can also book, provided each participant meets the operator’s participation requirements. The available information says most people can take part, but it does not list age, weight, or health limits, so ask before paying for a child or anyone with medical concerns.

I would also recommend it to anyone nervous about trying paragliding for the first time. The professional setup and tandem format remove the need to learn how to control the canopy yourself. You still need to accept the basic realities of flight, including height, weather changes, and the possibility of motion sickness.

It is not ideal for a tightly packed itinerary. Delays or cancellations can happen when conditions are poor, and the flight time is not fully fixed. Leave room around the booking, particularly if you have a timed transfer, dinner reservation, or flight connection.

Timing, weather, and cancellation advice

The club operates throughout the year and during the day, including winter, as long as conditions permit. That gives you more scheduling options than a strictly seasonal activity, but it does not make the flight weather-proof.

You can cancel for a full refund if you do so at least 24 hours before the local start time. Changes or cancellations inside that 24-hour window are not accepted for a refund. If the operator cancels because of poor weather, you are offered another date or a full refund.

I would book early enough to secure a useful departure time, especially since the experience is often booked several days ahead. Keep a backup plan for the same day. A coastal walk, a meal in Jounieh, or a visit to Harissa can fill the gap if wind or rain changes the schedule.

The best practical attitude is flexibility. Do not treat a weather cancellation as a failure of the experience. Flying in unsafe conditions would defeat the purpose, and the refund or rescheduling policy gives you a fair way to handle the problem.

My recommendation: book it if the view is your priority

I would book this experience if you want to see Lebanon’s coast from an unusual angle and are comfortable giving the schedule some room. The route from Ghosta over Harissa and toward Jounieh Bay is the real attraction, while the club’s long local history, certified pilots, friendly communication, and private format add useful peace of mind.

Book it for the views, not for a long flight. Expect roughly an hour for the complete activity and possibly around 20 minutes in the air. Confirm the meeting details, ask about video or photo inclusions, and avoid placing it next to an important fixed appointment.

For a first tandem flight, a special celebration, or a memorable addition to a Beirut area itinerary, $90 is a fair price. If weather is poor or you dislike heights, keep your money for a ground-based visit to Harissa and the bay instead.

FAQ

Where does the paragliding experience begin?

The listed meeting point is XJVR+96P in Jounieh, Lebanon. The actual takeoff area is described as Ghosta, a hilltop village above the coast.

Where does the flight land?

The flight lands near the center of Jounieh Bay. The activity then ends back at the meeting point.

How long does the experience last?

The full activity lasts approximately one hour. The actual flight may be around 20 minutes, depending on weather and flying conditions.

Is this a tandem flight with a pilot?

Yes. This is a tandem paragliding experience with a certified, experienced pilot from Paragliding Club Thermique.

Can I take photos during the flight?

Yes. You can take selfies and photos during the descent, following your pilot’s instructions. A video keepsake may be available, but you should confirm whether it is included in the $90 price.

What happens if bad weather cancels the flight?

You can choose another date or receive a full refund if the experience is canceled because of poor weather. You can also cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the local start time.