FAQ
TRAVELING TO TURKEY
Visitors from Europe, Israel, Japan, New Zealand, and many South American countries can enter Turkey visa-free for 30-90 days. Travelers from over 100 countries, including Australia, Canada, and the USA, can apply for an e-visa online, with fees ranging from $20 to $60 depending on the country.
You can easily apply online at: https://www.evisa.gov.tr/en/
The nearest airport is Dalaman (DLM), which is about a 45-minute drive from Fethiye. From the airport, you can take a taxi to Ölüdeniz or use the airport shuttle (there are two companies: HAVAŞ or MUTTAŞ), which last stops at Fethiye Bus Terminal. From there, you can continue by taxi or public minibus (dolmuş).
The nearest airport to Çameli is Dalaman (DLM), about a 2-hour drive away. From Dalaman, you can either take a taxi directly to Çameli or travel to Fethiye by airport shuttle (HAVAŞ or MUTTAŞ) and then continue by bus. Çameli Koop is the only bus company operating between Fethiye and Çameli, with a journey time of around 1.5 hours. While you don’t need to book in advance, it’s recommended to check the schedule beforehand (buses typically depart at 07:00, 09:30, 12:00, 14:00, and 16:00).
Alternatively, renting a car at the airport gives you more flexibility.
There are many accommodation options. Hotels near the beach and main street are more expensive and often noisy. For quieter and more affordable options, consider staying in Ovacık, a nearby town (only 4 km from Ölüdeniz). Airbnb is also a good choice, especially for groups.
There are three hotels in Çameli. Condor Air Sports Paragliding School is located next to the beautiful Çameli Stone Lodges, offering private stone houses, a restaurant, an open-air swimming pool, and a Turkish bath. As a Condor pilot, you can book a double room here at a discounted rate. For cheaper options, there’s Ata Hotel in the town center and Doğa Hotel, located a few kilometers outside of town, on the way to the launch. Our school also has a hostel with bunk beds, the most affordable option, but be sure to check availability.
Çameli Stone Lodges: https://maps.app.goo.gl/a8kr7ahuhavRuyZC9
Ata Hotel: https://maps.app.goo.gl/1RVzx21EbdRQwDm37
Doğa Hotel: https: //maps.app.goo.gl/z7eSZ7TaBXqvSusw8
As a general guideline, during the high season (May-September), you can expect the following:
- Rooms per person: No less than 30 euros
- Meals: Around 10 euros
- Takeoff fee: Approximately 15 euros
- Taxi ride between Ölüdeniz and Fethiye: About 20 euros
All hotels, restaurants, and shops accept major credit cards. There are also ATMs throughout Ölüdeniz and Fethiye where you can withdraw Lira, Euro, or Dollar.
PARAGLIDING IN ÖLÜDENİZ
Ölüdeniz is a popular resort town with good infrastructure and the bonus of a 1,960m mountain, Babadağ, which offers excellent flying conditions in all wind directions. Light winds and a cloudbase of 2,500-3,500m are common, with smooth sunset flights in the morning and evening.
It’s a great place to fly and combine a flying trip with a family holiday. On a non-flying day, you can consider exploring the stunning Butterfly Valley and an abandoned village of Kayaköy, or enjoy a scenic boat trip along the coast. At the beach, you can rent SUPs for some water fun. For an off-road adventure, quad bikes and motorbikes are available for hire. Additionally, the ancient ruins of Tlos, the breathtaking Saklıkent Gorge or Patara Sand dunes make for excellent day trips.
Yes, you need to register with your pilot license in order to fly in Ölüdeniz. Visit the official site to create an account. P3 and higher pilots can fly without issues, but P2 pilots need to upload a “letter of commitment” from an instructor. You must generate a QR code for each flight and present it at the ticket office to obtain a “flight pass” for access to the launch areas.
You can either pay to hop on a tandem van from the beach, stopping at the cable car for your flight pass, or take a taxi or minibus to cable car station and then take the cable car to the launch. Both options take about 35 minutes from the beach to the 1700 m (main take-off).
There are five launch sites in Ölüdeniz, and you can expect to fly from multiple launches in a single day:
- 1200m – Faces west, ideal when the mountain is above cloud base or higher launches are blown up.
- 1700m – The main take-off, facing west-southwest, located at the top of the cable car.
- 1800m – Faces northeast and is accessible by shuttle vans or a chairlift from 1700 m.
- 1900m North – Faces northeast-east, accessible by free shuttle vans that run from 1700 m.
- 1900m Patara – Faces south-southeast, accessible by free shuttle vans that run from 1700 m.
Being a laid-back Mediterranean tourist town, Ölüdeniz offers some of the most consistent flying weather in the world, with great conditions from March to June and September to December for solo flyers. June through August can be too hot and crowded with tandems for optimal flying. During spring and autumn, cloudy and windy days can occasionally affect flying.
You can check the real-time weather on the launches and landing here: https://www.babadagteleferik.com.tr/en/weather
There is no designated landing zone in Ölüdeniz, so both pedestrians and pilots share the promenade next to the beach, making it busy at times. The beach is 1.5 kilometers long, so it provides a suitable space for bailout landings if needed. During our clinics, we use the quieter east end of the beach for a more relaxed final approach and landing.
PARAGLIDING IN ÇAMELİ
In Çameli, a small town surrounded by mountains and lakes with 17,000 people, there’s lots to see and do. In a non-flying day, you can go for a hike or bike (both mountain or road) ride in the hills nearby. All the trails are marked and very well kept.
You should check out Kibyra Ancient City in Gölhisar, just 23 km away. You can head to Salda Lake for a swim—it’s only 85 km, 1.10 hours’ drive. Want more? Ölüdeniz is less than 1.30 hours (85 km) away. And if you’re up for it, Pamukkale is a 1.40-hour (120 km) drive, where you can see cool terraced pools and an ancient city.
There’s lots of dining options in town considering the size of it. The Stone Lodges, right next to our school, boasts a decent restaurant and a chill poolside bar. After a long flying day, it’s practically a tradition for pilots to kick back with a cold beer and take a dip in the pool. As for Çameli, it’s a quaint little town with most eateries lining the main street. You’ll find a range of options from beef, chicken, or fish dishes to Turkish specialties like pide (Turkish pizza) and gözleme (Turkish flatbread). There are a few Turkish home-cooking eateries as well, as they offer traditional veggie dishes for the vegetarians and vegans.
And let’s not forget about the Turkish tea. It’s everywhere! Consider it the Turkish way of saying “hello” or “goodbye.” So, get ready to sip on it a lot. And if you’re in the mood for something stronger, you can find Turkish coffee in all the cafes and restaurants. Just remember to specify your sweetness preference beforehand—whether you like it plain (“sade”), medium (“orta”), or sweet (“şekerli”).
The locals are no strangers to paragliding community and they are always very friendly and welcoming. It’s easy to hitchhike back to town when bombed out.
There is no bar culture in Turkish countryside, but you can buy alcohol in liquor stores. Some restaurants offer alcohol. Please note, it is forbidden to use any kind of drugs in Turkey.
Condor Air Sports is located right at the entrance of Çameli, next to Stone Lodges. Just type ‘Condor Air Sports’ on Google Maps and follow the directions.
All pilots flying in Çameli must hold a minimum P4 (FAI, APPI) rating or its equivalent. Pilots with a P2-P3 (or equivalent) rating must either fly under the supervision of a local instructor or obtain approval from a local instructor to fly unsupervised.
The launch in Çameli is located on top of Yaylacık Mountain. Condor van goes up to Yaylacık Mountain every day throughout the flying season. The launch can be crowded, especially on weekends and public holidays during the summer months. Please reserve your spot on the van a day before coming to fly.
If driving yourself, follow the yellow “Paragliding Takeoff” signs. The Google Maps route ascends from the south, but the signs lead to a better-conditioned road.
Yaylacık Mountain offers well-maintained launches with artificial grass in all wind directions. Light wind days can make choosing a takeoff side challenging. Watch out for dust devils!
Thermal activity may start as early as 9:30 AM and continue past 8:00 PM throughout much of the year. Expect varying wind conditions near terrain due to thermal activity.
Cloud base is generally 3000 m and more. In the middle of April, pilots occasionally reach 3500 m. From May to September most flights reach to 4500 m as ceiling.
Main winds are southerly in which tasks in comps are defined as zigzags to the north. Out-and-return and FAI triangle type flights are easily done in light wind and coming back to Çameli Valley is in the end of the day is quite usual.
The XC season in Çameli (and Southwest Turkey in general) extends from February to November, with optimal conditions typically from May to September. While most major flights historically head north, flying large triangles to the east and south or directly to Ölüdeniz is also common. Check tracklogs on XContest for more information.
Pilots must fly with GPS-based (InReach, Spot) or GSM-based (XCTrack, FlySkyHy) live tracking services.
Landing in uncultivated/plowed fields is permitted. Be cautious for power lines during landing.
The locals are familiar with the paragliding community and are known for their friendly and welcoming nature. Hitchhiking back to Çameli after landing is easily achievable.
In case of any emergency, dial 112.
Please contact Condor Air Sports for any further assistance.
SIV CLINICS
You should be able to take off and land independently, without guidance.
The ideal periods are April-May and late September-October. These are the times we organize the clinics as well. You can check the Calendar!
You will need to bring your own gear (wing, harness, helmet and reserve), as the SIV course is designed to help pilots improve their connection with their own wing and harness. Cellphone, radio (144-147) and earpiece is a must. Gloves and layers of clothing (launch site may get pretty cold in early spring), sunglasses, hat and GoPro (only knee or chest mount is accepted) are recommended.
The SIV course improves your understanding of flight dynamics, helping you react confidently in various flight scenarios. You will learn how to recover from extreme situations and strengthen your control over your glider. Whether it’s your first SIV or you’ve done multiple courses in the past, there’s always something to be learned from this course.
For your first SIV, you can expect an exciting yet challenging experience that will significantly boost your piloting skills. You’ll be guided step-by-step, starting with active piloting exercises (pitch and turn) and gradually progressing to more advanced ones (collapses, spirals, auto-rotations). The focus is on getting more connected with the wing and giving you the confidence to handle it. We do not rush you and respect that everyone learns at their own pace. What you accomplish during your first SIV is completely based on your skills and mental state.
Absolutely. In a typical group, about half of the students are doing their first SIV, while the other half are returning to work on advanced skills like stalls, wingovers, or even starting to learn acro tricks. Since we create a personalized plan for each pilot, you’re free to focus on improving a specific skill rather than following a set course schedule. This flexible approach ensures you get the most out of your training, no matter your experience level.
Absolutely. We offer a specialized SIV program for 2-liners. As long-time XC pilots with extensive experience on 2-liner wings, we not only focus on technique but also connect the practice to real-life flight scenarios. It’s crucial for pilots flying 2-liners (EN C or CCC) to be trained by instructors who have significant hands-on experience with these wings. As an SIV and XC school, Condor Air Sports is the perfect choice for your 2-liner SIV.
Dora Göksal, one of Turkey’s top and most experienced instructors, leads our SIV courses. As an APPI Master Instructor, he teaches around 50 students all around the world each year, ensuring personalized attention and well-structured instruction. Additionally, being locals allows us to offer more flexibility in setting dates and conditions, as we don’t need to travel to Ölüdeniz like other schools. This means you can expect a more tailored, relaxed and convenient experience when you choose Condor Air Sports for your SIV clinic.
At Condor Air Sports, we prioritize one-on-one instruction. To ensure quality training, we limit each group to a maximum of 6 students.
Yes, we offer private SIV courses for 1-2 pilots if our scheduled clinics don’t align with your preferred dates. Contact us to find a suitable date.
Yes, additional guided flights can be arranged for an extra day, subject to availability and additional fees.
During our SIV Clinics, we typically aim for 2-3 flights per day.
Yes, you must get personal insurance that covers paragliding activities prior to your arrival in Turkey.
We’ve got you covered! All SIV flights are recorded on full HD video, so we can review your maneuvers and track your progress. You’ll also be provided with a 150 kN life jacket, and a safety boat is always on standby.