Fly to the Testival de Samoëns, the paragliding event in Haute-Savoie not to be missed

Located in the heart of the Haut Giffre valley and at the foot of the mountains, Samoëns hosts the Paragliding Festival every late winter. This is an unmissable event to launch the start of the season, and is an opportunity to discover new brands and test the latest in the world of paragliding for free. Whether you are a practitioner or just curious, the Testival de Samoëns is synonymous with discovery for lovers of the outdoors.

All about the Testival de Samoëns

To launch the summer paragliding season, the Testival de Samoëns comes at the right time! With the beginning of the good weather, it allows you to rediscover the sensations of flight while exchanging with other enthusiasts. For this 100% free festival (excluding ski lifts), passion and sharing around paragliding are the key words. Whether you are a practising paraglider pilot or just curious, whether you come alone, with friends or with your family, Le Bois aux Dames in Samoëns welcomes you for this festive weekend. On the programme, animations and concerts will accompany this great sailing festival.

 

A weekend to buy equipment from around twenty international brands and test canopies, harnesses, GPS, rescue parachutes, etc.

 

  • Discover the new brands for beginners and experienced paragliders, and all budgets

The Testival de Samoëns is the ideal place to meet the professionals of the discipline and discover the brands and their new products. More than twenty of them will be present during the weekend to share their new products with you and get your feedback after one (or more) test flights. This great proximity between the enthusiasts and the brands of the paragliding world makes the Testival favourable to the discovery and launches the beginning of the season in a very nice way!

 

  • Exchange with paragliding professionals and schools

Whether you are a beginner or an experienced pilot, attending the Testival de Samoëns is an excellent way to stay up to date on the safety aspects of flying. Before starting the season, exchanging with other pilots allows you to (re)discover the basics and to fly in complete safety. For the more curious who wish to take the plunge, the Testival also allows you to discover paragliding with professional instructors during an introductory flight before going on to learn to fly.

 

  • Test paragliding equipment, in the mountains, in the heart of the Haut-Giffre in real conditions 

Choosing your glider, harness and all the equipment you need to paraglide can be more complicated than you think. It is often difficult to choose these items in a shop, without testing them before buying. To make life easier for paragliders, during the whole weekend at Testival, it is possible to try out the products of the brands present in order to get an idea of what they are and to take the plunge and buy with peace of mind.

 

Samoëns and the Haut Giffre valley, an ideal spot for paragliding

Ideally located in the heart of one of the most beautiful valleys in Haute-Savoie, the Testival de Samoëns is located next to the landing zone of the Lacs aux Dames leisure centre. You can park at the Testival to discover and borrow the equipment to test, then, thanks to the shuttles, go to the Grand Massif gondola towards Samoëns 1600 or to the other side of the valley, to the Bourgeoise summit. Special rates allow you to get there at a lower cost. You will discover the majesty of the mountains and the Giffre river in the hollow of the valley before landing in the heart of the festival. There is no need to bring your own shuttle, everything is accessible from the Testival!

The Samoëns Paragliding Festival in brief:

– A whole weekend dedicated to paragliding

– About twenty international brands

– Free tests throughout the show

– Discounts for the ski lifts

– Entertainment and concerts

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Foire aux questions

Is it possible to bring your own equipment to fly from Samoens 1600 or the Bourgeoise summit during the Testival?

It is of course possible to bring your equipment back during the weekend, we even invite you to do so! The gondolas to the take-off spot in Samoens 1600 are accessible from the festival and are at a reduced price for the occasion. On the other side of the valley, at the top of the Bourgeoise, a take-off base is also set up to allow you to take off from this side. In addition, many brands offer free trials of equipment, so you can, for example, test a new harness while keeping your usual glider.

Where is the departure of the cable car for Samoëns 1600?
The departure for the Samoëns 1600 take-off base is just a stone’s throw from the festival. It is the Grand Massif Express gondola of the ski resort which allows you to get to the top. For the occasion, special rates are offered to get to the top at a lower cost and shuttles are provided between the festival and the gondola to avoid you carrying all your equipment.
Are advantageous rates offered by the partner brands?
Throughout the weekend, the twenty or so major international brands offer free tests and special prices on their products. Inaugurating, at the beginning of the year, the launch of the summer season, the Testival of Samoëns wants, above all, to be a great festival dedicated to the discipline. You can therefore buy equipment from the brands present at advantageous prices to start the season at best.
Is it possible to discover by taking a first flight in a paraglider during this weekend?
Among the partners present at the Testival, you can find sailing schools of the region offering introductory flights for young and old. In pairs with a certified instructor, you will take off from the heights of Samoëns to overlook the Haut-Giffre valley in front of a breathtaking panorama! And who knows, this flight might be the revelation that will make you enter the circle of the discipline’s adapters.
Are the concerts at the festival free?
In order to satisfy young and old, enthusiasts or curious visitors, the Testival de Samoëns is above all synonymous with festivity throughout the weekend. Animations and concerts are programmed and accessible for free, to allow everyone to spend a beautiful sunny day in the open air.

Would you like to try paragliding in Samoëns?