What Is Tandem Paragliding

A tandem paragliding canopy is a single fabric wing designed to carry two people suspended in individual harnesses clipped to the same risers. The pilot sits behind and slightly above the passenger, controlling brake toggles and weight shifts to steer and manage descent rate. Unlike skydiving, there is no freefall—the wing inflates during a ground run and lifts both occupants into sustained, controlled flight. Interlaken's launch sites sit between 1,200 and 2,300 meters above the landing zone at Höhematte Park, providing enough vertical drop for flights lasting 15 to 45 minutes depending on thermal activity and chosen altitude. Pilots read wind patterns and thermal columns to extend flight time or initiate a direct glide path to the designated grass landing area in the town center. The passenger's role is passive: follow the pilot's pre-flight briefing for launch posture and landing leg position, then remain seated in the harness while the pilot navigates. What is tandem paragliding in practical terms? It is the only way to experience paraglider flight without completing a multi-day solo certification course. The dual-harness system keeps both occupants securely attached to the wing's load-bearing lines, with the passenger's harness locked to the pilot's via steel carabiners tested to aviation standards. Pilots hold national or international licenses requiring hundreds of logged flights and annual recertification. Flights operate from Interlaken's surrounding peaks—Beatenberg and Harder Kulm are the most common departure points—with morning and early afternoon windows preferred for predictable air. The landing area remains the same regardless of launch site: the open meadow at Höhematte Park, where ground crew and subsequent flight groups gather. No special fitness level is required, though passengers must be able to take several running steps during launch and stand for landing.