First-Time Flyer's Guide: What to Expect on Your First Tandem Flight
Nervous about your first tandem skydive or paragliding flight? You're not alone — it's one of the most common feelings first-timers bring to the launch site or dropzone. This guide walks through exactly what happens, what it actually feels like, and the practical tips that make your first flight go smoothly, whether you're jumping from a plane or launching off a Swiss hillside.
Almost everyone feels some anxiety before their first tandem flight, and that's worth normalising right away. The good news: for both skydiving and paragliding, the vast majority of first-timers report that the anticipation beforehand was more intense than the activity itself. Once you're actually airborne, nerves tend to shift quickly into exhilaration.
What to expect: tandem skydiving
Before: you'll check in, sign a waiver, watch a safety briefing video, and get fitted into a harness. Your tandem instructor will walk you through exactly what will happen, step by step, before you ever board the plane.
During the climb: the plane ride up takes 15–20 minutes and is often scenic in its own right — many first-timers say this is actually the most nerve-wracking part, since you have time to think.
At the door: this is the moment most people fear most. But it passes fast — your instructor manages the exit, and because the plane is moving forward, there's no dramatic "drop" sensation; you transition smoothly into freefall.
Freefall: roughly 45–60 seconds of freefall at high speed. Most first-timers describe it as loud, windy and intensely exhilarating rather than frightening — many say it's over before they've had time to process it.
Under canopy: a sudden shift to quiet as the parachute opens, followed by 4–7 minutes of a calm, scenic glide back to the ground.
First-timer tip: try to keep your body relaxed and follow your instructor's hand signals — tensing up is the most common instinct, and letting go of it makes the whole experience smoother.
Other experiences you might enjoy
A first flight is often the start of a longer love affair with the Jungfrau region. Beyond your tandem paragliding flight in Interlaken or airplane skydiving over the Swiss Alps, gentler-paced first-timers pair it with the Mürren paragliding panorama tandem flight, a trip up to Jungfraujoch – Top of Europe, a relaxed cruise on Lake Thun or Lake Brienz, and a day in Grindelwald or up at the Harder Kulm viewpoint above town.
What to expect: tandem paragliding
Before: you'll meet your pilot, get fitted with a harness, and take a short transfer up to the launch site, where you'll get a brief safety briefing.
At launch: unlike skydiving, there's no jump — you simply walk, then jog a few steps down a gentle grassy slope as the wing fills with air. Many first-timers are surprised by how undramatic this moment is.
In the air: once airborne, most people describe an immediate sense of calm rather than adrenaline — you're seated comfortably in a harness, gliding rather than falling, with time to actually take in the scenery.
Landing: a gentle touchdown on grass, usually with your pilot doing all the work — you may be asked to lift your legs slightly as you come in.
First-timer tip: trust the run at launch — hesitating partway is more likely to cause an awkward launch than committing fully to the first few steps.
Common first-timer questions
Will I be able to breathe and see during freefall (skydiving)? Yes — your instructor will remind you to breathe normally, and while the wind is intense, vision and breathing aren't impaired.
What if I panic mid-flight? Both activities are handled entirely by your certified professional. In skydiving, the instructor controls the whole jump and canopy; in paragliding, the pilot controls the wing throughout. You genuinely don't need to do anything but enjoy it.
Can I wear glasses or contacts? Yes for both, though skydiving operators typically provide goggles to wear over your own glasses.
What if I'm scared of heights? This is one of the biggest differences between the two. Because paragliding launches from the ground and lifts you gradually, many people who are nervous about heights find it far less intimidating than the idea of jumping from a plane at altitude.
Do I need to do anything physical? Skydiving requires almost no physical effort — your instructor does everything. Paragliding requires a short, gentle run at launch and again briefly at landing, well within most people's ability regardless of fitness. Our guide to weight and age limits in Interlaken covers exactly who can fly.
Practical tips for first-timers
- Dress in layers — it's cooler at altitude than at ground level, even in summer.
- Wear closed, comfortable shoes — no sandals or flip-flops for either activity.
- Eat a light meal beforehand — not on an empty stomach, but avoid a heavy meal right before flying.
- Arrive early — rushing adds stress that's easy to avoid with a little buffer time.
- Ask questions — a good instructor or pilot will happily answer anything on your mind; asking eases nerves more than staying quiet.
- Consider the photo/video package — you may be too focused on the experience to remember every detail, and a video lets you relive it.
Timing helps too: a calm morning slot is the smoothest introduction to the air. See our guide to the best time to book and fly in Interlaken for when conditions are gentlest.
Which first flight suits a nervous flyer best?
If your nerves are specifically about heights, falling, or the intensity of freefall, tandem paragliding is generally the gentler entry point: no jump, a gradual launch, and a calmer overall sensation, while still delivering genuine flight over stunning Alpine scenery. If your nerves are more about anticipation than height itself, and you want the single most intense adrenaline experience available, tandem skydiving delivers an unmatched rush precisely because of that brief, all-in moment. For a full side-by-side, see our skydiving vs paragliding comparison.
Whichever you choose, remember: thousands of complete beginners take their first tandem flight in Interlaken every year, and the instructors and pilots here do this every single day. You're in experienced hands from the moment you arrive to the moment you land. If you want the gentlest possible introduction to Alpine flight, this is the flight our pilots use to put nervous first-timers at ease.