Paragliding from Babadağ: Flying over the Blue Lagoon

Babadağ is the mountain that rises straight up behind Ölüdeniz, close to 2,000 metres high. Its launch sites sit almost directly above the Ölüdeniz Blue Lagoon, which is why Babadağ paragliding (often simply called Ölüdeniz or Fethiye paragliding) is one of the most famous ways to try tandem paragliding in Turkey. In summer the sky over the bay fills with colourful canopies from morning to evening.

What a tandem flight is like

You don’t need any experience. On a tandem flight you are strapped into a harness in front of a licensed pilot who does all the flying. After a short safety briefing, you take a few running steps down the slope together, the wing fills with air, and suddenly the ground is gone.

• A flight usually lasts around 25 to 35 minutes, but the exact time always depends on the weather, the wind and the launch height chosen on the day.
• You glide over the pine forests, Ölüdeniz village and the Blue Lagoon, with views along the coast towards Butterfly Valley on clear days.
• You land on the Ölüdeniz public beach, right in the middle of the holiday crowd.
• Most companies offer photos and video from a camera on the pilot’s hand, for an extra charge.

For athletes, adrenaline lovers and young travellers

Babadağ isn’t only for first-time tandem passengers. Paragliding pilots, skydivers and adventure-loving young people come here from all over the world, because the mountain offers one of the highest coastal launch sites in the Mediterranean and long, smooth flights over the sea.

• Ölüdeniz International Air Games: every October, Fethiye Municipality hosts a five-day air sports festival with paragliding acrobatics, skydiving, wingsuits and colourful shows over Ölüdeniz beach. The sky is at its most spectacular during these days. Check the official announcement for exact dates.
• Licensed solo pilots can fly from Babadağ too; local schools and clubs explain the site rules and help with transport to the launch.
• Want to learn? Some schools in the area offer introductory paragliding courses for people who want to go beyond a tandem flight.

Getting up the mountain

Most tandem companies drive you up the mountain road in their own minibuses. There is also the Babadağ cable car (teleferik), which carries visitors up in about 15 to 20 minutes and has restaurants and viewing terraces at its upper stations. Note that the cable car does not reach every take-off site: the pilots decide which launch site to use according to the day’s weather, and you may still need a short transfer. When you book a flight, ask whether the cable car ticket or the minibus transfer is included in the price, because this varies from company to company.

Not flying? Enjoy Babadağ anyway

You don’t have to fly to enjoy the show. These are our two favourite ways to share the experience with both feet on the ground:

• Breakfast on the mountain: go up in the morning, have a Turkish breakfast with the view, and watch the pilots prepare and take off one after another. This is exactly what one of our team did with her daughter.
• Watch the landings from the beach: sit at a beach café in Ölüdeniz in the afternoon and watch the canopies spiral down over the lagoon and land on the sand in front of you.

Safety first

• Licensed pilots and companies: fly only with an established company whose tandem pilots are licensed and experienced. Don’t be shy about asking to see the licences.
• Insurance: ask whether passenger insurance is included in the price and what it covers.
• Weather checks: pilots check wind and conditions before every take-off, sometimes several times a day.
• Postponed flights are normal: if the weather is not right, your flight will be moved or cancelled. That is a good sign of a careful company, not a problem. Leave a spare day in your holiday if you can.

Practical tips

• Book with a licensed, established company and check recent reviews. Prices change every season and depend on the launch height and extras.
• There is no single “best hour” to fly: the pilots choose the take-off time and site after checking the day’s weather. Trust their decision.
• Wear trainers or other closed shoes and comfortable clothes. It is cooler at the top, so bring a light layer even in summer.
• Check the company’s weight limits and age rules before you book, especially for children.
• If you are flying, go to the lagoon on a different day or after your flight. Many people like to see from the air first where they will swim.

Nearby

Babadağ is right above Ölüdeniz Blue Lagoon. From the beach, boats leave for Butterfly Valley, and the Lycian Way walking trail starts just above the village.

Photos via Wikimedia Commons: Header photo by dronepicr, CC BY 2.0; Photo by dronepicr, CC BY 2.0; Photo by dronepicr, CC BY 2.0.

What visitors say

People who have flown from Babadağ, and some who were too nervous to, often pass on the same tips:

• Book early in your holiday. Flights only go when the wind is right. If your flight is moved, you still have days left to try again.
• Wear trainers and bring a light layer. It is noticeably cooler at the launch site than on the beach, and you need to run a few steps at take-off.
• Tell your pilot how you feel. If you want a gentle, scenic flight with no spins, just say so. Pilots are happy to keep it calm.
• Ask about the photo and video package before you go up, so there are no surprises when you land.
• Not flying? Take the cable car. The Babadağ cable car goes up the mountain, with cafés and viewing terraces at the top, and many say watching the take-offs from there is unforgettable too.

Sources we checked (November 2026): Oludeniz.com: Babadağ paragliding · One Girl Whole World: Paragliding over Ölüdeniz · The World's Waiting: Paragliding in Ölüdeniz · The Roaming Renegades: Paragliding Ölüdeniz