Chania: Paratriking Experience with a Professional Pilot
Paratriking is a powered parachute flight in a two-seat trike: you sit in front of the pilot, both of you wear intercom helmets, and the engine lifts you off the ground in about a minute. No experience is required and the pilot handles everything. Paragliding Crete Power Fly run 15-minute flights near Chania from €150, with a 4.88 rating across 70 reviews and a perfect 5.0 for both the pilot and the equipment.
What this experience actually does
The flight is short and the preparation is the rest of it. Three stages.
First is the briefing on the ground, where the pilot fits your helmet and explains the take-off and landing. Second is the take-off itself, which takes roughly a minute from engine-on to airborne. Third is the flight: the coast below, the White Mountains and Psiloritis on the horizon, Lake Kournas inland, and the intercom running the whole time so you can talk to the pilot and ask what you are looking at.
Loggerhead turtles are visible from the air along this coast. A British reviewer reported seeing a great many of them about a mile offshore.
Places this tour visits
The flight stays over the coast and the plain behind it.
- Chania, the take-off site is a short drive from Chania, with the exact location confirmed by the operator beforehand.
- Lake Kournas, the inland view takes in Lake Kournas, Crete’s only freshwater lake.
What’s included and what isn’t
The €150 buys the flight, the pilot and the gear. Everything else is extra.
Included:
- Pre-flight preparation and briefing
- Professional pilot and instructor
- Helmet with intercom
- Flight in a two-seat paratrike
- Commemorative certificate
Not included:
- Hotel pick-up and drop-off
- Video of your flight on a memory card
- Food and drinks
Why we recommend this experience
We recommend this for people who want the view without the commitment of learning to fly, and especially for people who think they are too nervous. That is the pattern in the reviews and it is worth taking seriously.
A Dutch guest said plainly that he is somewhat afraid of heights and that the pilot made both him and his girlfriend feel safe and secure. A British reviewer called it relaxing and said they felt very safe. A German visitor said they felt safe the whole way through. For an activity that involves being strapped to a parachute with a propeller behind you, “safe” is the word that comes up most, which says something about how it is run.
The pilot is scored perfectly. Guide quality and equipment both sit at 5.0 out of 5, and reviewers name George repeatedly. A Polish guest called it the best piloting they had seen, with a smooth take-off and a soft landing. An Irish reviewer praised the pilot’s knowledge and professionalism.
The operator also flexes. One British guest staying in Rethymno reported the pilot moving closer to them for the day rather than making them travel across.
Two honest points, and the first is the one that matters.
Fifteen minutes is short for €150. That works out at about €10 a minute, and a Polish reviewer who rated the flight five stars still said 15 minutes is too short to take full advantage of the activity. Value for money is the weakest dimension at 4.8, still high, but it is the one people mark down. Go in knowing you are paying for a short, high-quality flight rather than a long one.
The flight is weather-dependent and not fixed in advance. The operator contacts you a few days before to confirm whether conditions allow it, and to set the time and the location. If your trip is short, build in a spare day.
CreteLocals insider tips
Dress warm, leave the hat behind, and keep a spare day.
- Wear warm layers and a windbreaker, because it is considerably colder in the air than on the ground even in summer.
- Leave hats at the hotel, since they are not permitted and will not stay on anyway.
- Wear sports shoes and comfortable clothes rather than beachwear.
- Keep a spare day in your plans, as the operator confirms the flight only a few days ahead based on conditions.
- Decide about the video before you fly, since it is recorded to a memory card and charged separately.
- Use the intercom, which is wired into both helmets and is what turns a 15-minute flight into a guided one.
What to know before you go
The meeting point is next to the Euphoria hotel car park; the operator sends the exact location by map once you have booked. Hotel transfers are not included.
Bring warm clothing, a windbreaker or jacket, sunglasses and sports shoes. Hats are not allowed and smoking is not permitted at the site or in the vehicle.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the paratriking flight?
The flight lasts 15 minutes, with a briefing and preparation on the ground beforehand.
Do you need experience to go paratriking?
No experience is required. The pilot flies the trike and gives all the equipment and instruction before take-off.
What is a paratrike?
A paratrike is a three-wheeled vehicle with two seats and a powered parachute, which lifts off in about a minute.
Can you talk to the pilot in the air?
Yes, both helmets are wired with an intercom, so you can talk throughout the flight.
What can you see from the air?
The coast, the White Mountains, Psiloritis and Lake Kournas, and reviewers report spotting loggerhead turtles offshore.
Is the flight guaranteed on the day?
No, it depends on the weather. The operator contacts you a few days before to confirm the time and location.
Check dates and prices for the Chania paratriking flight.
Location
Paratriking Experience with a Professional Pilot is located at Chania. The map below shows the exact spot; Google Maps and Waze give turn-by-turn directions.
