Oludeniz is a small beachside resort just outside of Fethiye in the South West of Türkiye. Oludeniz is famous for its paragliding, stunning turquoise waters and hiking along the Lycian way. We spent a week here in the van just before the season kicked off and the plane loads of tourists arrived to take advantage of the good weather and to get some flying time in.
Because we visited outside of the main season we were able to park up in our van along the seafront, tucked under the trees and away from the paragliding landing zone. Because the beachfront faces South West as soon as the Sun clears the top of Babadag mountain each morning you have sun all day into the evening.
To fly as a solo pilot or to get information on the launches and conditions you need to use the website: shmfethiye.kapadokya.edu.tr
This website allows you to book your flight time and print or download a PDF of your flight pass which you will need for purchasing your ticket at the Babadag Teleferik. Both solo and tandem pilots check in here to purchase the ticket on the way up to the launch. When you get to your chosen launch site you will then have to hand your ticket into security. During March 2023 this price was 150TL per flight for a solo pilot. I was also paying 50TL for a transfer from one of the paragliding transfer buses from the beachfront (around £9 all in per flight). Once you land you also have to log back onto the website and close your flight. During March only the 1200m launch was open. During the main season, there are launches from 1200m, 1700m, 1800m and two different facing launches for 1900m.
During our visit, Jess enjoyed two tandem flights and two of our friends also enjoyed tandem flights. We used Abdurrahman Göksu and Ali Paragliding. Both of these are extremely helpful, personable and experienced pilots. We highly recommend contacting them for your own tandem flights if you plan to visit. Their Instagram accounts are linked above.
Paragliding in Oludeniz was such a memorable experience. The views and location are breathtaking and landing next to a bar on the beach to enjoy a cold Efes malt and pide takes some beating. We also both loved the opportunity to fly in the air together. Each time Jess had a tandem booked I would launch just behind her and we would do roughly the same flights, passing each other in the air.
