Where there are mountains, even hills, then paragliding and paralpinism are readily available. The difference between the two generally is that the latter is tacked on to the end of a mountaineering expedition, while the former is done from a more easily reached summit.

From California to Rio de Janeiro and the Canary Islands to Jungfrau, paragliding and paralpine options are available. Watch the sunset as you glide over the hills of Santa Monica or spy CopaCabana from above.

In the Alps, numerous summits lend themselves to paralpine experiences. They are especially popular on some of the most prominent, including Mont Blanc, Jungfrau, the Breithorn and Blauherd.

While it takes a bit of training to master the techniques, patience is rewarded with incredible experiences. Training courses that last for a weekend or so are help all over the place, including California and Switzerland.

Taking one of these will cement the basics of the sport into your memory and ensure that many more amazing aerial adventures await you in the future.