Montclar is the well known flying site in the Southern Alps, famous due to its generous aerology. For the last twenty years this paragliding site has hosted many important competitions, such as the French open, World championship, British Opens and several Pre-PWCs.

Flying site: https://goo.gl/maps/FmUQRntwYyp

Take off plateau de La Chau: 1907 m ASL 6°22'20.2" E 44°24'10.8" N
The main take off used for competitions is the "plateau de La Chau", (1900m) just under the mountain of Dormillouse (2500m). The launch is covered in lush grass and is very large. The wind is usually coming from the south-west to north-west. It is possible to fly with south wind and north wind, but it's more difficult to fly away. It's possible to fly good distance from 13h. If you reach the crests, with another chairlift, the take off can be earlier, from 11h sometime, with east breezes before the sun turns to the south. The easier way to leave is to follow the crests to the south (the sky highway to St André les Alpes). The first 25km are easy, until you reach the "Estrop" (2961m). To the north, the "Grand Morgon" (2324) is often a good waypoint after having crossed the serre-ponçon lake during 5km, reaching the crests of "La vieille" (Old Woman crest).
https://goo.gl/maps/gLj988Ao3i62

Landing col Saint-Jean: 1335 m ASL - 6°21'06.0" E 44°25'03.3" N
At the landing aera, the ground used is of grass and large, at the "", before the entrance of the ski resort of Montclar (1340m). The wind is usually coming from the north. It can be turbulent with south wind. Sometime, especially in the evening, a big convergence can help you to climb easily to 2,000m or higher.
https://goo.gl/maps/6cJkFc91k1o

Take off St Vincent les Forts 1254m ASL - 6°22'17.6" E 44°26'35.7" N
Another famous flight site is not so far, which is called St Vincent les Forts (1240m). It is a small cliff where you land at the side of the car park and then take off again. It works with north wind, even when north wind is too strong to fly elsewhere in France. The launching area made of a green carpet, however it is a bit small for a large competition. Also the area where the pilots can wait for the start is well known and used by many tandem/bi-gliders. The landscape is wonderful, especially in the evening when you are flying in the last solar breeze, with the sun falling on the lake... It's also a site where you can reach easily the top of Dormillouse (2500m), resting on ridgy afforested.
https://goo.gl/maps/uHBnxqwUNmk

Take off Chabanon - 1968m ASL - 6°17'40.7" E - 44°20'03.9" N
The last launching area, Chabanon, can also be reached with a chairlift, from the little ski resort of chabanon, over the village of Selonnet. It works early in the morning, with south or north wind, but is very difficult to leave, because there is no thermal areas working in the immediate area.
https://goo.gl/maps/f4UaDWaKRS82

For free flying, the best time to visit is August and September, with thermal strengh that can easily reach 4m/s at 2pm. The thermal duration : it start from 11h over 2000m, 12-13h at the take off, until 7pm with convergence. The best time to launch is 2pm, when thermals start to be large and easy to take. Competitions will often come earlier in the season when there are less tourists, allowing better access to the facilities for the competitors.

Usual distance flights start from the Plateau de la Chau or St Vincent, then reach the top of Dormillouse (2500m), then turn the north waypoint (Morgon) or the south waypoint (Estrop) and way back to Dormillouse.

The famous distance flight, reaching St Andre from Dormillouse or the other way, is a classic 80km flight, recently done by many pilots during the B-Stof in July 2014.

On non-flyable days, there are plenty of other activities in the area.:
- kiting/windsurfing on the lake
- hiking to the castle on top of Montclar
- downhill biking in Monclar
- market in Seyne