Chania paratriking is a tandem flight in a motorised three-wheeled trike hung under a paraglider wing, flown by a licensed pilot for 10 to 20 minutes over the coast, Lake Kournas and the White Mountains of western Crete. Tours across the rest of the country are listed on Greece Tours.
The sections below cover the flights you can book, how a flight works, the take-off points, the views, the pilot, who can fly, what to wear, the conditions and booking, with links into the Chania pages. The flight shown is checked on GetYourGuide.
What is Chania paratriking?
Chania paratriking is a tandem flight in a motorised trike hung under a paraglider wing. A professional pilot flies, and the passenger sits behind. Flights last 10 to 20 minutes over the coast and mountains west of Chania.
A paratrike is a three-wheeled frame with two seats and an engine at the back. A propeller pushes it along the ground until the wing above fills with air. The trike then lifts off and flies.
Paratrikes count as ultralight aircraft, so the pilot holds a dedicated trike licence.
The pilot steers with the wing lines and sets the height with the engine. The passenger does nothing but sit, look and talk to the pilot. Chania paratriking needs no earlier flying experience.
Paragliding Crete Power Fly runs the flights from bases in the Chania region. Its founder, George Kissanakis, has flown tandem guests over western Crete for more than twenty years.
Which Chania paratriking flight can you book?
One Chania paratriking flight is listed on GetYourGuide: Chania: Coastal Paratriking with a Professional Pilot. It lasts 15 minutes in the air. The operator also sells 10-minute paratrike flights from Kolymbari, Falassarna and Omalos.
- Coastal Paratriking with a Professional Pilot (GetYourGuide): 15 minutes over the city and coastline
- Tandem Paratrike in Kolymvari: 10 minutes, with take-off at Kolymbari
- Tandem Paratrike in Falassarna: 10 minutes, with take-off near Kissamos
- Paratrike flight to Omalos: 10 minutes over the mountain plateau
The GetYourGuide listing names Lake Kournas and the Lefka Ori, the White Mountains, among the sights. A travel guide to the same flight gives 20 minutes in the air. Its route crosses Barypetro mountain and Falassarna beach.
How does a Chania paratriking flight work?
A Chania paratriking flight starts with a briefing and a helmet fitting on the ground. Pilot and passenger strap into the two seats of the trike. The engine pushes the trike along until the wing lifts it into the air.
- Arrive 30 minutes before the flight
- Hear the briefing and put on the helmet
- Strap into the rear seat behind the pilot
- Roll forward as the wing rises overhead
- Fly for 10 to 20 minutes, then land on the wheels
Both helmets carry a wired intercom, so pilot and passenger talk during the Chania paratriking flight. The pilot points out the landmarks below.
The trike lands on its three wheels and rolls to a stop. A video of the flight, filmed on the pilot’s camera, comes on a memory card afterwards.
Where does Chania paratriking take off?
Chania paratriking takes off at Kolymbari, about 23 km west of Chania town. The Falassarna flight leaves from near Kissamos on the west coast. A third route flies over the Omalos plateau in the White Mountains.
Kolymbari sits at the base of the Rodopou peninsula, on the Gulf of Chania. Its flat coastal ground suits the rolling take-off of a trike.
The fishing village of Kolymbari also holds the Gonia monastery on its seafront. On the Kolymbari route, the Gulf of Chania and the Rodopou peninsula spread out below the trike.
The Falassarna route takes in the long beach of Falassarna on the far west coast. The Omalos route rises over the Omalos plateau, at the top of the Samaria gorge.
Listings differ on the exact meeting point, so the booking confirmation sets the place. Hotel pickup in the Chania area is part of the Chania paratriking package on one listing.
What do you see on a Chania paratriking flight?
A Chania paratriking flight looks down on the coast of western Crete and up to its mountains. Riders see Lake Kournas, the White Mountains and the beaches below. On clear days, the Psiloritis range shows far to the east.
- Lake Kournas, the only freshwater lake on Crete, near Georgioupoli
- The White Mountains, the Lefka Ori, rising over the coast
- Barypetro mountain and the beach of Falassarna
- Psiloritis, the highest mountain on Crete, in the background
- The coastline and the town of Chania
One listing notes that riders can spot loggerhead turtles in the sea and on the beach below. These turtles nest on the sandy beaches of western Crete through the summer.
The open trike gives a full view in every direction. Chania paratriking has no cabin or window between the rider and the view.
Who flies the paratrike, and is Chania paratriking safe?
George Kissanakis, founder of Paragliding Crete Power Fly, leads the Chania paratriking flights. He is an APPI instructor in paragliding, paramotor and paratriking, and a professional tandem pilot. He holds a licence for ultralight trikes.
APPI is an international body that trains and certifies paragliding pilots and instructors. Kissanakis trained in France and Germany to raise his level. He also teaches student pilots across Greece.
He also holds a certificate from the University of Thessaly as an organiser of outdoor tourist activities.
Weather decides every Chania paratriking flight. Strong wind or poor conditions move the flight to a new slot. Sellers allow a new date or a full refund when a flight cannot go ahead safely.
- A licensed tandem pilot at the controls
- A helmet with intercom for the passenger
- A pre-flight briefing on the ground
- Flights only in safe weather
Who can do Chania paratriking?
Chania paratriking suits adults and children from age 6 with no flying experience. The passenger weight limit is 110 kg. People with heart problems do not fly. One listing describes the flight as wheelchair accessible.
The rolling take-off needs no running, unlike foot-launched paragliding. That makes Chania paratriking open to guests who cannot run to launch.
Family days in the same region are on the Chania with kids page.
What is included, and what do you wear for Chania paratriking?
Chania paratriking includes flight preparation, the pilot, a helmet and hotel pickup and drop-off on one listing. A video of the flight on a memory card and a flight certificate come afterwards. Wear a light jacket and closed shoes.
- A light jacket or sweater for the cooler air aloft
- Closed-toe sports shoes
- Water or a snack for the wait
- A phone for photos on the ground
Personal cameras and GoPros stay on the ground. The pilot’s own camera films the Chania paratriking flight. Avoid a heavy meal before take-off.
Which months and conditions suit Chania paratriking?
Chania paratriking needs light wind, since a strong wind grounds every trike. Western Crete has long, dry summers. The meltemi, the summer north wind of the Aegean, also reaches Crete in July and August, and the weather sets each slot.
Clear days give the widest view from the trike. On those days, Psiloritis stands out far to the east, and the line of the White Mountains shows sharp against the sky.
A flexible date helps when the wind rises. Flights that cannot go ahead move to a new slot on a calmer day.
How does Chania paratriking compare with paragliding, and how do you book it?
Chania paratriking uses an engine and wheels. Paragliding launches on foot from a slope and glides without power. Book online, and free cancellation runs up to 24 hours before the flight. Payment can wait until later.
The same operator flies paragliding tandems at Theriso, Omalos and Falassarna, each listed at 20 minutes. Foot-launched flights across Crete are covered on the Crete paragliding page.
Tandem paragliding on the Ionian side of Greece is on the Corfu paragliding page. Private group flights are available on request. Weather sets each slot, so the booking stays flexible by a day where possible.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Chania paratriking the same as paramotoring?
No. In paramotoring, the pilot wears the engine on the back and takes off on foot. In paratriking, the engine sits on a wheeled frame with two seats. The trike rolls to take off, so the passenger never runs.
How long is a Chania paratriking flight?
Listings give 10, 15 or 20 minutes in the air, by route and seller. The whole session, with the briefing, the helmet fitting and the landing, runs longer. Guests arrive 30 minutes early for the preparation.
Can you take your own photos in the air?
No. Personal cameras and GoPros are not allowed on the flight. The pilot films it on fixed equipment, and the video comes on a memory card. Phones stay with the passenger’s bag on the ground.
Does Chania paratriking take off from Chania town?
No. The listed take-off points are Kolymbari, an area near Kissamos and the Omalos plateau. Hotel pickup in the Chania area brings guests to the base on one listing, so riders staying in town still reach the flight.
Which other flights run from the same base?
Paragliding Crete Power Fly also sells paramotor flights over Omalos and Rethymno, each listed at 10 minutes. A paratrike flight in Rethymno runs from a base outside the Chania region.