How a custom paragliding tour in Portugal works
Design Your Tour is a private custom paragliding tour in Portugal, built entirely around you. It starts with a conversation: tell Behrooz your licence level, your recent flying, what you want to improve, how many days you have and who is coming with you. He then plans a programme around your goals, your dates and the season — and adapts it every day to what the forecast is actually doing. Private transfers to every launch are included.
Every programme on the site is a building block. Coastal soaring above Sesimbra’s Atlantic cliffs and dunes; cross-country flying and XC coaching across the Alentejo, the Serra da Estrela and the north; ground handling on the beach; parakite for every level; and tandem flights for partners, family or friends who don’t fly. Combine them in any order, over as many days as you like.
Custom tours work especially well for pilots returning after a break — a day or two of ground handling before soaring is built in naturally — and for private groups of friends or club pilots who want their own dates and their own plan. Groups are limited to a maximum of 8 pilots, so everyone gets personal coaching and radio time, and Behrooz, an active competition pilot with more than 20 years of flying, is with you every day.
Why Portugal is perfect for a custom paragliding holiday
Portugal packs an exceptional variety of flying into one small country. Sesimbra, 30 minutes south of Lisbon, is one of Europe’s best coastal soaring destinations and flies all year round; inland, the Alentejo plains, central Portugal and the Serra da Estrela offer some of Europe’s finest cross-country paragliding from April to October. When the season and the forecast allow, a custom tour can even continue across the border into Spain.
Pricing simply follows the activities you choose: €90 per day for coastal soaring and ground handling, €100 for parakite and €120 for XC days. Behrooz confirms the plan and the cost before you travel; you usually pay once the programme is over, and only for the days you actually fly — no agencies, no deposit, no surprises.
What's included in every custom tour
- Personal planning before your trip
- Daily plan built around the forecast & your goals
- Free radio for every pilot, every flight
- Mix any programme freely, day by day
- Behrooz flies or coaches with you daily
- Private transfer to every launch, daily
- Evening debrief tailored to the day’s flying
- Tandem flights can be added for companions
- Video & photos of your flying days
- Bad-weather backup plan every day
Example combinations
- Coastal + XC mix — 5 days Three days of Atlantic ridge soaring at Sesimbra to settle in, followed by two days of cross-country coaching over the Alentejo plains. Good for B-licence pilots who want both coastal and thermal experience in the same trip.
- Returning pilot — 7 days Two days of ground-handling on the Atlantic dunes to rebuild inflation confidence, then five days of coastal soaring once Behrooz is happy with your technique. The natural progression, built in from the start.
- Private couple — 7 days One pilot on a full coastal soaring week; partner flying tandem with Behrooz on selected days. All transfers and schedules co-ordinated. Both people flying, on the same trip, on the same coastline.
- Iberian XC + Sesimbra finish — 7 days Five days chasing cross-country conditions across Portugal and Spain, then two coastal soaring days back in Sesimbra to close the week. Seven days, two countries, one guide, one transfer included throughout.
Before you come
Custom tours vary by activity — here's what applies whatever you choose to fly.
Licence & IPPI card
Bring your national licence or IPPI card — Behrooz checks every pilot's qualification before the first flight. A photo on your phone is fine.
Glider & reserve
Glider check and reserve repack within 12 months — required for any flying in the programme. If your reserve is overdue, get it repacked before you travel. For ground-handling only, a visual line check is enough.
Equipment by activity
Bring your own glider, harness with reserve and helmet; XC days also need a GPS variometer. Radios are provided free. Parakite equipment can be rented at extra cost — there is no rental for the other programmes. Ground-handling days: sturdy shoes and gloves.
Travel insurance
Standard travel insurance won't cover paragliding. Get a policy that explicitly covers your planned activities — coastal soaring, XC, ground handling and parakite are all distinct in insurance terms. Check before you travel.
Confirm your level
Be specific about your experience when you message Behrooz — hours in the air, licence level, what you've been flying recently. The more accurate the picture, the better the programme he'll build.
Getting here
Fly into Lisbon (LIS) — Sesimbra is 30 minutes away by car. Ask Behrooz about airport transfers when you confirm your dates; daily transfers to the flying sites are included.
Frequently asked questions
How quickly can Behrooz put together a custom programme?
Usually within a day. Send your dates, level and goals by WhatsApp or email — Behrooz replies personally, normally the same evening.
Can I mix different paragliding programmes in one custom tour?
Yes — coastal soaring, XC coaching, ground handling, parakite and the Iberian XC Tour can all be combined. The only limits are your licence level and the forecast.
Where can a custom paragliding tour take place?
Wherever the flying is best for your plan: coastal soaring around Sesimbra, 30 minutes south of Lisbon, and cross-country flying across inland Portugal — the Alentejo, central Portugal and the Serra da Estrela, and the north — with Spain possible on XC days.
When is the best time for a custom paragliding tour?
All year round. Coastal soaring in Sesimbra works in every season, while inland cross-country flying is at its best from April to October.
What equipment do I need to bring?
Your own glider, harness with reserve and helmet, plus a GPS variometer for XC days. Radios are provided free. Parakite equipment can be rented at extra cost; there is no rental for the other programmes.
Is the pricing the same as the listed programmes?
The day rate matches the activity: €90 per pilot for coastal soaring and ground-handling days, €100 for parakite and €120 for XC days. Behrooz confirms the cost when the plan is agreed — no hidden fees.
Can I bring a non-flying partner, family member or friend?
Absolutely. Non-flyers are welcome to come along, and tandem flights can be added for anyone who wants to fly too.
Can a group of pilots book a custom tour together?
Yes — private groups of up to 8 pilots are very welcome. Share the group size and everyone's level, and Behrooz builds a programme that works for all.
How does payment work?
Payment goes directly to Behrooz — no booking platforms, no agencies and no deposit. You usually pay once your programme is over, and only for the days you actually fly.
What is the cancellation policy?
Free cancellation on all programmes. If you've already paid, you get a full refund — just send a WhatsApp message or email.
What happens if the weather doesn't cooperate?
Behrooz always has a backup plan and moves to wherever is flyable. On a day nothing can be flown, you aren't charged the day rate — only reasonable administrative or transport costs may apply.