Every tandem passenger at Kamshet flies with the same certified pilots, from the same hills, with the same helmet, harness and free GoPro footage. What changes between our three packages is the experience in the air: a gentle scenic glide, a hands-on first lesson, or a G-force-heavy aerobatic ride.
Choosing well matters more than most people expect. The right flight for a nervous first-timer is not the right flight for someone who has been watching acro videos for a month, and booking the wrong one is the single most common regret we hear at the landing field. This guide gives you the quick answer, the full comparison, and a persona-by-persona recommendation.
The 30-Second Answer
- Never flown before, a bit nervous, or bringing kids or parents? Book the Joy Tandem. The pilot does everything and you enjoy the view.
- Curious how a paraglider actually works and want your hands on the controls? Book the Instructional Tandem. You steer under guidance after take-off.
- Want spirals, G-forces and a stomach-dropping video? Book the Acro Tandem, but only if you are confident you do not get motion sick.
If you are still torn, the rest of this article walks through prices, what each flight feels like minute by minute, and a persona-by-persona decision guide. You can also compare them side by side on our packages page.
Comparison Table
| Flight | Weekday | Weekend | Duration | Who controls | Intensity (1–5) | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Joy Tandem | ₹2,999 | ₹3,500 | 8–10 min | Pilot, fully | 1 | First-timers, families, seniors, nervous flyers |
| Instructional Tandem | ₹3,950 | ₹3,999 | 10–15 min | You steer after take-off, pilot guides | 2 | Curious minds, future pilots, longer flight seekers |
| Acro Tandem | ₹4,500 | ₹4,500 | 10–15 min | Pilot, performing manoeuvres | 5 | Adrenaline seekers with a strong stomach |
All prices are per person and include the certified pilot, helmet and harness, a pre-flight briefing and free GoPro photos and videos. The only extra is the jeep from the meeting point to take-off, ₹600 one-way split among passengers. A ₹500 per person deposit secures your slot when you book online.
The intensity scores are our own honest rating. Joy is a gentle armchair ride. Instructional adds the mild responsibility of steering. Acro is genuinely intense: think of the difference between a scenic cable car and a roller coaster.
What Each Flight Feels Like, Minute by Minute
Joy Tandem (8–10 minutes)
Minute 0: You are clipped in on the slope at Tower Hill or Shelar Hill, the pilot behind you. On "walk, walk, run" you take a few running steps, the wing inflates overhead, and within three or four strides the harness lifts you off the grass. Minutes 1–3: The pilot settles into a smooth glide and tells you to sit back. The farmland drops away and Pawna Lake appears on one side, the Sahyadri ridges and the forts on the other. Minutes 3–8: Wide, lazy turns along the ridge at a typical 800–1,500 ft above the ground. The GoPro on its pole catches your grin. On a good winter morning the air is so still it feels like sitting on a balcony. Final minute: A long, slow approach to the flat landing field; the pilot says "legs down, stand up" and you take two or three steps as the wing settles behind you.
Instructional Tandem (10–15 minutes)
Minute 0–2: Identical take-off, pilot in control. Minutes 2–3: Once settled at height, the pilot places the brake toggles in your hands and explains: pull gently right to turn right, left to turn left, both a little to slow down. Minutes 3–12: You are flying. The pilot talks you through each turn, corrects your inputs and points out how the wing responds. Most people are surprised by how directly the glider answers a small hand movement, and by how quickly the nerves turn into concentration. The extra minutes come from working the ridge lift, which is why this flight runs longer. Final 2 minutes: The pilot takes the brakes back for the approach and landing.
Acro Tandem (10–15 minutes)
Minute 0–3: Same take-off, but the pilot climbs deliberately to gain a safe height margin. Minutes 3–10: The pilot announces each manoeuvre before it comes. Wing-overs swing you pendulum-style from side to side, higher each time. Spirals tip the glider into a tight, fast descending turn where the G-force pushes you hard into the seat and the horizon spins. Dives give a moment of weightlessness followed by a surge as the wing recovers. Between manoeuvres you get a few breaths of normal flight. Final 2–3 minutes: The pilot bleeds off speed and sets up a normal, gentle landing. Expect wobbly legs and a very loud video.
Decision Guide by Persona
The first-timer
Joy Tandem, especially in the winter morning slot (October to February) when the air is smoothest. If you are the confident, curious type, the Instructional Tandem is also an excellent first flight; the pilot never lets go of the safety margin.
The nervous flyer
Joy Tandem, without question. Tell the pilot you are nervous at the briefing; you will get a slower, wider, more talkative flight. Do not let friends talk you into Acro, and do not book Instructional thinking the responsibility will distract you. Read our notes on how take-off and landing work for nervous flyers.
The couple
You fly one at a time, so you can each film the other from the landing field. Two Joy Tandems on a winter morning is the classic choice. If one of you wants Acro and the other does not, mix packages; you land in the same field within minutes of each other.
The family with kids
Joy Tandem for children (age 6 and above, minimum 25 kg, parent present for under-12s). Teenagers often love the Instructional. Grandparents up to 70 who can take a few running steps are fine on the Joy. We do not fly children on the Acro.
The photographer
You cannot hold a camera in flight, so the question is which flight produces the best GoPro footage. Joy gives the cleanest scenic frames of Pawna Lake and the forts. Instructional gives you footage of yourself actually flying. Acro gives the most dramatic, spinning-horizon clips. Book the winter morning slot for soft light.
The adrenaline junkie
Acro Tandem, at ₹4,500 all week. Eat a light meal beforehand, skip it entirely if you get car-sick on the Lonavala ghats, and be honest with yourself: many people who love roller coasters still find a sustained spiral more intense than expected.
The one who wants to learn to fly properly
Instructional Tandem. It is the closest thing to a first lesson, and our lead pilot Ganesh Shinde is APPI Pro Tandem certified and trained under Mathieu Abrard at Misty Fly, so you are learning from someone who teaches. Ask questions on the ground and in the air.
Common Mistakes When Choosing
- Booking Acro for a nervous friend as a "surprise". This is the one we see most. A frightened passenger cannot enjoy spirals, and the pilot will fly a gentler version anyway, so you have paid Acro prices for an anxious Joy flight. Book the Joy Tandem and let them upgrade later if they want.
- Choosing by price alone. The Joy Tandem is superb value, but if you have driven from Mumbai or Pune specifically to feel the controls, the extra ₹1,000 or so for the Instructional buys a materially different experience and a longer flight.
- Booking Acro with a heavy lunch inside you. Sustained G-forces and a full stomach do not mix. Eat light.
- Assuming Instructional means you take off and land. You do not. The pilot handles both; you steer the cruise portion. That is what keeps it safe for a complete beginner.
- Ignoring motion sickness. If hill roads make you queasy, Acro will too. Joy and Instructional are both fine for motion-sensitive flyers because the pilot keeps turns smooth and coordinated.
- Not declaring a health condition. Severe heart conditions, epilepsy, recent surgery, uncontrolled blood pressure and pregnancy rule out all three flights. Anything else should be mentioned at booking, and it may affect which flight we recommend.
Can You Change or Upgrade on the Day?
Usually, yes, within limits. When you arrive at the meeting point near Hotel Rangoli Pure Veg and settle your balance, tell the team if you would like to switch. Two things need to line up:
- A slot. Instructional and Acro flights are longer and use pilot time differently. On a busy weekend morning the roster may already be full.
- The wind. Acro needs enough height and the right conditions to be flown safely. If the wind on the day does not suit acro manoeuvres, the pilot will say so, regardless of what you have paid.
Downgrading, from Acro to Joy for instance, is always possible and we refund the difference. Upgrading is subject to the two conditions above and you pay the difference at the meeting point. If you know what you want, book it in advance; the ₹500 deposit is refundable in full if you cancel 24 hours or more ahead, and weather cancellations are always rescheduled or refunded.
Note that the Acro Tandem is the only package priced the same on weekdays and weekends (₹4,500), so there is no saving to be had by shifting it to a weekday, whereas the Joy Tandem drops from ₹3,500 to ₹2,999 midweek.
What Is Identical Across All Three Flights
The differences between the packages are about the flight profile, not about safety or quality. Whatever you book, you get exactly the same:
- Certified pilots. Every pilot holds an APPI, BHPA or PAI licence. Lead pilot Ganesh Shinde is APPI Pro Tandem certified with Advanced SIV and First Aid training.
- Helmet, harness and pre-flight briefing, with the same equipment checks before every launch.
- Free GoPro photos and videos, transferred to your phone after landing.
- The same take-off sites (Tower Hill or Shelar Hill, chosen daily by wind) and the same flat farmland landing.
- The same age and weight limits: 6–70 years, 25–90 kg comfortable, assessed to ~95 kg case by case.
- The same booking terms: ₹500 deposit, balance at the meeting point, full refund for weather cancellations or 24-hour notice.
- The same views of Pawna Lake, the Western Ghats and the forts, and roughly two hours on site in total.
Whichever flight you choose, you will be in the air above Kamshet for the same reasons everyone else is: the hills are reliable, the season runs October to May, and it is close enough to Pune, Lonavala and Mumbai to fit into a single day. Pick the flight that matches your temperament, not your friends', and book your slot at least a day ahead.