Paragliding Coaching in the French Alps — Saint-Hilaire
Paragliding coaching in the French Alps doesn’t get better than Saint-Hilaire. One of the most reliable flying sites in the Alps, four massifs on the horizon, and a school that has been teaching here since 1986 — Prevol Parapente offers structured paragliding courses for every level, from complete beginners to experienced XC pilots chasing their next personal best. Moreover, with English-speaking instructors available throughout the season, Saint-Hilaire is the ideal destination for international pilots looking to progress quickly in an exceptional setting.
Why Saint-Hilaire for Paragliding Coaching?
The site itself does half the teaching. Saint-Hilaire sits on a 900m plateau above Grenoble, with three launches, a world-class landing field, and more flyable days per year than almost anywhere else in the French Alps. When your coaching week isn’t wasted on the ground waiting for weather, you progress faster. Furthermore, the variety of conditions — from calm morning glass-offs to punchy afternoon thermals — means every level of pilot finds exactly the challenge they need.
Prevol’s school is located less than 2 minutes from the launch — which means every available flying window is exploited. When conditions at Saint-Hilaire are not ideal, instructors move to one of several nearby sites in the Chartreuse and Belledonne massifs to find the best aerological conditions of the day.
Choose Your Paragliding Course
Initiation — First Steps in Paragliding
For: Complete beginners, or pilots returning after a long break.
Your first contact with the wing happens on a training slope, where ground handling and inflation technique are practised until they feel natural. From there, your first real flights build progressively — each one longer, each one more autonomous. By the end of the week, you’ll have made your first solo flights and understand the fundamentals of paragliding.
What’s included:
- Ground handling sessions on the training slope
- Progressive first flights with instructor support
- Theory lessons on equipment, weather, and airspace
- Video debrief after each session
Level: No experience required Group size: Maximum 6 students per instructor Duration: Week or weekend Price: From €760 per week
Book a Initiation Course with Prevol →
Progression 1 — Build Your Skills
For: Pilots who have completed a beginner course and want to consolidate their flying.
The repetition of all flight phases — take-off, thermalling, landing — combined with the introduction of active piloting techniques makes this the essential second step. You’ll learn to manage your wing’s movements in pitch and roll, use descent techniques, and start reading the air independently.
What’s included:
- Ground handling refresher
- Active piloting — pitch and roll management
- Descent techniques (ears, speed bar)
- Pedagogical tandem flights if needed
- Video debrief and theory lessons
Level: Pilots who have recently completed a beginner course, or who haven’t flown in over a year Group size: Maximum 7 students per 2 instructors Duration: Week or weekend Price: From €760 per week / €316 per weekend
Book Progression 1 with Prevol →
Progression 2 — Towards Autonomy
For: Pilots with at least 20 flights, or those who have completed Advanced 1 in the last 6 months.
This course is where real autonomy begins. You’ll fly new sites, manage varied conditions, and work towards your Initial Pilot’s Licence (IPPI 3 / Brevet Initial). The varied programme — different sites, flight simulator sessions, video analysis — adapts to the level of each student in the group.
What’s included:
- Flying at multiple sites around Saint-Hilaire
- Piloting technique refinement — turbulence management, reverse launch
- Flight simulator sessions
- Video analysis of take-offs
- Theory lessons and licence preparation
Level: Minimum 20 flights, or Advanced 1 completed within the last 6 months Group size: Maximum 7 students per 2 instructors Duration: Week or weekend Price: From €750 per week / €312 per weekend
Book Progression 2 with Prevol →
Thermal & XC Coaching — Fly Further
For: Licensed pilots ready to fly cross-country in the French Alps.
This is paragliding coaching in the French Alps at its most rewarding. Your instructor coaches you through the real challenges of Alpine XC flying — reading thermals, connecting massifs, managing valley brises, and making decisions on the go. The classic Saint-Hilaire XC routes — up the Chartreuse, across to Belledonne, toward the Bauges and Annecy — become your classroom.
What’s included:
- Daily weather briefings and route planning
- In-flight coaching via radio
- Debrief after each flight — what worked, what didn’t
- Introduction to cross-country strategy and XC tools (XCplanner, CFD)
- Licence preparation (Brevet de Pilote / IPPI 4-5)
Level: Licensed pilot (IPPI 3 minimum), thermalling experience required Group size: Maximum 6 pilots per instructor Duration: Week or weekend Price: On request — contact us
Day Coaching — One Day, Real Progress
Not ready to commit to a full week? A single day of coaching with an English-speaking instructor is available on request throughout the season. Perfect for visiting pilots who want to get the most out of a day at Saint-Hilaire — whether that’s working on ground handling, getting comfortable in thermals, or flying your first XC transition.
Availability: Contact us to check availability
Paragliding Coaching FAQ
Do I need to speak French for coaching at Saint-Hilaire? No. English-speaking instructors are available throughout the season at Prevol. The briefings, debriefs, and in-flight radio coaching are all conducted in English on request.
What level do I need for XC coaching in the French Alps? A minimum of IPPI 3 (Initial Pilot’s Licence) and solid thermalling experience. If you’re unsure of your level, get in touch and we’ll help you choose the right course.
What is the best time of year for paragliding coaching at Saint-Hilaire? June and July offer the most reliable thermal conditions — ideal for XC coaching. Spring (March–May) is excellent for beginners and skills courses. September is superb for thermalling clinics and coincides with the Coupe Icare festival.
Can I rent a paraglider for my coaching week? Yes. Prevol has a full equipment shop and can advise on rental options for visiting pilots.
How many flyable days can I expect during my coaching week? Saint-Hilaire has more flyable days than almost any other site in the French Alps — the plateau’s geography shields it from most bad weather systems. You can realistically expect 4-5 flyable days in most weeks throughout the season.
Getting Here
Saint-Hilaire is 30 minutes from Grenoble by car, 45 minutes from Chambéry, and 1h20 from Annecy. Full directions and accommodation options on our Saint-Hilaire travel guide →
The Prevol school is located at 14 Chemin du Funiculaire, 38660 Saint-Hilaire-du-Touvet, less than 2 minutes from the North launch.
New to paragliding? Read our articles
→ Do I need a licence to paraglide in France?
→ How long does it take to learn to paraglide?
→ How much does it cost to learn to paraglide in the Alps?