Key takeaways
- Carry a photo ID and your booking confirmation, plus closed shoes you can run a few steps in.
- Dress in layers because air cools by about 6.5 degrees Celsius for every 1000 meters of altitude gained.
- Secure your phone and camera with a wrist strap or a zipped pocket, and let your pilot handle the GoPro.
- Pack sunscreen, sunglasses and water for the wait, since UV rises roughly 10 percent per 1000 meters.
- Arrive at the meeting point early so weather and wind calls do not cost you your slot.
Bring a photo ID, your booking confirmation, closed shoes, a light jacket, sunglasses, sunscreen and water, and you are set for a tandem flight. Everything else, including the camera, your pilot handles. This guide walks through exactly what to bring paragliding over Jounieh and Harissa so nothing slows you down at launch.
Packing for a tandem flight is simpler than packing for a hike. You are not carrying survival gear or technical equipment. You are mostly making sure you are comfortable, protected from the sun, and free of anything that could fall from the sky. The list below follows the order of your actual day, from the documents in your bag to the final checks before you lift off.
Documents and booking confirmation to carry
Carry a government photo ID and your booking confirmation. That is the short version of your paperwork for a tandem flight. The ID matters because the operator keeps a record of who flew and when, and the confirmation is how your pilot matches you to the right time slot on a busy day.
Keep both easy to reach. A printed confirmation works, but the message or email on your phone is fine too. If the flight was booked for you as a present, bring the voucher or the booking reference that came with it. That confirmation is also what you use to reschedule if the weather shifts, so do not delete the message.
One more practical note: have a way to pay any balance due, in case part of the cost is settled on the day. A card or cash, whichever the operator accepts, saves a scramble at the meeting point.
Clothing and footwear reminders
Wear closed shoes with a secure heel. This is the single most important clothing choice for a tandem flight. A short takeoff run is part of launching, and sandals, flip-flops or loose slip-ons can come off at the worst moment. Sneakers or light hiking shoes give you grip and keep your feet protected on the launch slope.
For the rest, think comfortable and layered. Fitted clothing is better than anything loose or flapping. Long trousers are more comfortable than shorts in the harness, and a light jacket is worth bringing even when the ground feels warm.
Here is why the jacket matters. Air cools as you rise. According to the UCAR Center for Science Education, you can expect the air temperature to decrease by about 6.5 degrees Celsius for every 1000 meters you gain. Your flight will not climb a full kilometer, but the breeze at altitude still feels noticeably cooler than the launch, so a thin layer makes the ride more pleasant.
A quick clothing checklist:
- Closed shoes with a heel strap or laces
- Fitted top and trousers rather than loose or billowing fabric
- A light jacket or windbreaker
- Hair tied back if it is long
- Glasses secured with a strap if you wear them
Phone, camera and how to secure them
Secure anything you bring into the air or leave it on the ground. A phone that slips from your hand at altitude becomes a danger to people and property below, so treat this as a firm safety rule. If you want to hold your phone during the flight, attach it to a wrist strap or tether first, and only use it when your pilot confirms it is safe.
The good news is that you do not need to manage a camera at all. Paragliding961 films every tandem flight on a GoPro mounted on a pole, so your hands stay free and you get footage no selfie angle can match. That means you can leave your own camera on the ground and simply enjoy the view.
If you still want to shoot your own photos, keep smaller items zipped into a jacket or trouser pocket until you are airborne and settled. Loose change, keys and loose sunglasses should stay on the ground or deep in a zipped pocket. Nothing should be free to fall.
Sun protection and water for the wait
Pack sunscreen, sunglasses and water. You will likely spend time waiting at launch while pilots read the wind, and that open hillside gets plenty of direct sun. The exposure is stronger than at sea level, too. The World Health Organization notes that UV levels increase by approximately 10 percent for every 1000 meters of altitude, so protect your skin before you head up.
Apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen that filters both UVA and UVB rays before you leave, and bring it along to reapply if you are waiting a while. Wrap-around sunglasses cut glare and keep the wind out of your eyes during the flight. A cap or hat helps on the ground, though you will swap it for a helmet before launch.
Water matters more than people expect. Standing in the sun and the excitement of a first flight can leave you thirstier than you realize. A small bottle is enough. Drink before you fly rather than carrying a full bottle into the harness.
Arriving on time at the meeting point
Arrive at the time your pilot gives you, which usually means being there 15 to 30 minutes early. Paragliding runs on weather windows. Wind direction and strength decide when it is safe to launch, and those conditions change through the day. Showing up late can mean missing the window your pilot planned around, and on a busy day that can cost you your slot entirely.
Build in a buffer for traffic and parking near Jounieh. If you are flying with family or a group, gather everyone before you set off so no one is still getting ready when the pilot is ready to go. Timing is tied closely to the wind, which is why pilots pick launch windows rather than fixed clock times.
If the weather turns and your flight is postponed, that is normal and it is for your safety. Keep your confirmation handy so rescheduling is quick.
Last-minute checks before you fly
Run a final check before you walk to launch. This is the moment to empty your pockets of anything that does not need to be there and to make sure what stays with you is secured. A calm two-minute review saves you from fumbling once the harness is on.
Your last-minute checklist:
- ID and confirmation handy, phone charged
- Shoes laced and secure, laces tucked in
- Jacket on or tied around your waist
- Sunscreen applied, sunglasses on
- Phone and any small items zipped away or on a strap
- Pockets empty of loose keys, coins and change
- A quick bathroom stop before you gear up
Then listen to your pilot's briefing. They will explain the short run at takeoff, how to sit back into the harness, and what to do with your legs on landing. Following those few instructions is the real preparation. Everything on this list just clears the way for it.
If this is your first time, pair this checklist with our walkthrough of your first tandem paragliding flight: what to expect, then book a morning slot when the air over Jounieh Bay is usually calmest.
Frequently asked questions
What should I wear for a tandem paragliding flight?
Wear comfortable layers and closed shoes with a secure heel, such as sneakers or light hiking shoes. Bring a light jacket even on a warm day, because it gets cooler as you climb.
Can I hold my phone while paragliding?
Only if it is attached to a wrist strap or tether, and only when your pilot says it is safe. A dropped phone can injure people below, so most fliers keep theirs zipped away and rely on the pilot's camera.
Do I need to bring my own camera?
No. Paragliding961 films every tandem flight on a GoPro mounted on a pole, so you do not have to manage a camera in the air and can focus on the view.
What documents do I need to bring?
Bring a government photo ID and your booking confirmation, whether printed or on your phone. If someone booked the flight as a gift for you, carry the voucher or confirmation details.
How early should I arrive at the meeting point?
Arrive at the time your pilot gives you, usually 15 to 30 minutes early. Paragliding depends on wind and weather windows, so being on time protects your slot.