The short version
I expected a bumpy ride. My tandem flight in Kamshet with Harish felt surprisingly smooth. Here’s how I remember it, with my original reel and photos.
Before I went tandem paragliding in Kamshet, I had a very particular idea of what it would feel like. I expected jerks. I thought I’d be getting shaken around up there, and the more I pictured that, the scarier the whole thing sounded. If you’d asked me beforehand what I thought I’d remember about the flight, I probably would have said the height. Ask me now, and my answer is how smooth it felt.
I took a tandem joyride with Paragliding Mantra. My pilot was Harish, and he was amazing. When I recorded my feedback afterwards, I gave him and the team five out of five for safety. The reason was quite simple. I’d gone in wondering whether I would feel safe in the air, and on my flight with Harish, I did.
My feedback after the flight
The part I’d got wrong about paragliding
It’s easy to look at a photo of someone paragliding and imagine the view. What I couldn’t tell from a photo was what being under that wing would actually feel like. That was the bit I’d filled in for myself, and I’d filled it in with a lot of bumps.
My flight felt much smoother than the one I’d imagined. That might sound like a small detail, but it was the answer to the question I’d brought with me. Someone could have shown me ten more beautiful pictures of Kamshet and I’d still have wanted to ask, “Yes, but does it feel jerky?” Now, if a friend asks me that, I can give them an honest answer about my own ride. I expected it to. It felt smooth to me.
Why I remember my pilot
When I look back at the experience, Harish deserves a mention by name. As a tandem passenger, you share the flight with someone, and the pilot is a big part of how you remember it. I can’t give you a technical account of how Harish flew. I can tell you what his flying felt like from my seat, and why I was happy to recommend him afterwards.
There’s a difference between someone telling you before a flight that you’ll enjoy it and being able to say afterwards, in your own words, that you did. My five out of five came afterwards. That’s also why I’m sharing this for anyone who has the same little worry I had. I know how easy it is to picture the uncomfortable part very clearly before you’ve even tried something.
One thing I’d tell someone coming to Kamshet
We got good weather on the day of my joyride. In my feedback I suggested coming early, and that’s still the practical tip I’d pass on from my visit. I’d check the reporting time with the flying team when planning the trip. I can tell you what worked out well for me that day, and they can tell you when to come for yours.
I’d also tell a friend to say what they’re actually wondering about. “I’m a little scared” is one way to put it. “I’m worried the ride will feel jerky” was much closer to what was on my mind. If that’s your question too, you’re welcome to borrow it.
My five out of five
At the end of the reel, I gave two scores. Five out of five for safety, because I felt safe on my flight with Harish. And five out of five for the experience, which I described as enlightening.
What stays with me is how differently I describe paragliding now. Before Kamshet, I would have told you what I thought flying under a wing must feel like. Now I can tell you about the ride I actually took, the pilot I flew with, and the thing that surprised me most. I went up expecting bumps. I came back talking about how smooth it was.
Real moments
A closer look at the experience
