We fly into Amritsar again, so only a 6 hour road transfer to Bir.

Each year pilots with levels of experience ranging from absolutely zero hours since qualifying to near Skygods come with us... We always leave with experienced pilots. Most break all their personal bests there and everyone always wants to go again!

To help reduce 'flown-out pilot syndrome' which occurs with two weeks incessant paragliding we have a non-flying day in the middle of each trip: Non-flying activities include shopping in Dharmsala, hot springs, 1000 year old temples and fantastic trekking opportunities.


One of the benefits of our very high instructor to student ratio is that we can ensure the best possible experience for any level of pilot: For the recently qualified and/or low airtime pilot, you can expect to become a competent XC pilot, able to identify and use thermal lift to cover serious distances and then land safely in a field of your choosing, perhaps even occasionally the main landing field! Look upon out-landings as an opportunity to meet plenty of new friends and have an amazing travel experience and you won't go far wrong.

  For the more experienced pilot who can already thermal well and is seeking some quality instruction in the awesome scenery and benign thermals of this classic XC paradise, we'll be aiming to improve your skills by guided XC flying every day, perhaps including some of the more dramatic high altitude routes.

What's included for 2010: Bed and breakfast, evening meals, collection and return from Gaggal airport to Bir, transport to launch and retrieval from XC, though you will usually find that local buses/taxis are so cheap and quick that it's not worth being retrieved, and anyway the adventure makes it worthwhile!

The cost of all this is £1250 for each session, plus flights (currently £600). Those with a more leisurely schedule could opt for both trips for £2300 including free accommodation for the days in between.

Please make a deposit payment of £500 to AIRTRIPS as soon as possible. Payment of the balance will be required six weeks before departure. Once you have booked you will receive a pack with details of everything you need to know, through from visas and injections, to equipment and pre-trip get together.

This year we aim to get direct flights from Heathrow to Amritsar on Air India. We do ask that you get the same flights as everyone else to simplify transfers - otherwise you may have to use public transport to get to Bir! This could mean 16 hour plus bus journeys, you have been warned! Alternatively of course, you could take flights that bracket ours and meet us at the airport.

We have a DVD from an earlier trip to give you a taste of the adventure. Go to the bottom of this page to view it online.

If you are interested, call me on 01273 858108 for more details. It will be Deshera while we are there so we need to book flights before they fill up!

You'll want to have:

• Helmet, Glider & Harness
• Reserve
• Vario
• 2m radio
• GPS - that you can see while flying!
• EPIRB - We can supply you. Sale or hire.
• Medevac insurance
• Flying suit
• Sense of adventure
• Hire or purchase can be arranged for everything except the last item :0)

If you are interested, call 0044 (0)1273 858 108 for details.

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