Paragliding near Marrakech

Paragliding is the hot-air balloon inverted: cheaper, shorter and a lot more physical. You do not drift at daybreak - you run a few metres on the flank of a hill, the wing inflates, and you tip into the void strapped to a pilot.

The flight lasts around fifteen to twenty-five minutes, above the plateau and Lalla Takerkoust lake, the Atlas foothills all around and, on a clear day, the snow-capped Toubkal peaks on the horizon. Take-off is the big moment. After that, the glide is surprisingly smooth, and there is nothing to do but look.

Two things to know before booking. First, everything depends on the wind: a flight is shifted or cancelled with no notice, so keep a buffer early in your stay. Second, despite the ‘Agafay’ label on some listings, you do not fly over the dunes: take-off is at Aguergour, Atlas side. Closed shoes, a windbreaker, and the rest follows.