Drama in Greece is a year-round paradise for paragliders. For many, the word “drama” is synonymous with conflict or TV series, but in Greece, it is also the name of a city full of surprises. Drama is a medium-sized town in Northern Greece, surrounded by hills and farmland with the Falakro mountain range as a backdrop.
Beyond these mountains lies the Fraktos forest, one of the most untouched natural areas in Europe. The forest is part of UNESCO’s World Heritage and is home to a rich variety of wildlife and plants, marking the border with Bulgaria before the next mountain range is reached.
A Norwegian story in the sky
I discovered Drama through paragliding. What’s excellent about flying here is that the conditions suit pilots of all levels, and it’s rare to find a more welcoming community. The first time Norwegians became aware of the place was in 2010, when the city hosted the Paragliding World Cup. The following year, Kjell Harald Nessengmo and Rita Iversen traveled down, and the idea of flydrama.com was born.
In 2012, I joined the very first organized trip – there were about 16 of us, and we were immediately sold. The combination of stable flying weather, local hospitality, delicious food, and a charming town life is rare. Many of us have returned several times since.
There’s a road leading up to every launch site, and thanks to the flat valley, it’s easy to find a safe landing spot almost anywhere. The main landing areas are large and straightforward. Amazingly, there are still places you’d rather not land. I have plenty of stories from more or less lucky landings, but one experience sums up the place and the people perfectly: A pilot once landed inside a fenced solar park and thought he was in trouble. Instead of scolding, the man working there insisted on serving him both coffee and cake. The result? The pilot missed out on more flying that day because he spent so much time at the impromptu feast before finally calling the FlyDrama pickup service.
Tandem flights and courses
Want to take someone with you in the air – or try paragliding yourself? Several operators offer tandem flights and beginner courses in the area.
Drama’s hills provide good take-off and landing options, especially well-suited for beginner training. Autumn, winter, and spring often bring calm conditions, while summer is usually too strong for this type of flying.
Since 2012, FlyDrama has facilitated trips for Norwegian clubs and schools arranging their courses here. While FlyDrama does not organize the classes themselves, they handle all the logistics – from transport and accommodation to local contacts and daily briefings.
Many participants describe the experience as unique: skilled instructors, comfortable accommodation, fantastic food – and, most importantly, many flyable days. On a typical two-week course in January, you could log more high-altitude flights than many manage in several months back in Norway. That means you don’t just complete PP2, but often already make good progress toward the next level. When the weather doesn’t cooperate, the time is used for theory, exams, and excursions – including visits to local wineries.
More than paragliding
Eventually, I realized that paragliding was just my gateway to Drama. The sport brought me here, but the region offers so much more: hospitality, nature, history, food, and experiences that keep me coming back – whether to fly or to enjoy life on the ground.
When Lonely Planet published an article by Australian journalist Karyn Noble in 2015, she called Drama an “unspoiled” destination, untouched by mass tourism yet full of experiences. She highlighted the nature, wineries, caves, and vibrant city life – summing it up by saying Drama is worth discovering now, before the rest of the world does.
A small selection of highlights:
- Wineries and festivals – Drama’s microclimate produces high-quality wine. Lazaridi and Wine Art Estate are worth the trip alone, and the Dramoinognosia festival celebrates Dionysus with wine, food, music, and dance.
- Aggitis Cave – an underground river with spectacular stalactites and a constant temperature of 17°C, perfect on hot summer days.
- Ancient Philippi – just 20 km away, this UNESCO World Heritage site was founded by Philip II of Macedon and features an impressive amphitheater still in use today.
- The Rhodope Mountains – a national park rich in wildlife, waterfalls, hiking trails, and skiing opportunities on Falakro. It also hosts the Virgin Forest Trail, an internationally renowned ultramarathon.
Noble summed it up like this: “If you’re looking for a place untouched by mass tourism but full of experiences, Drama is worth discovering now – before the rest of the world does.»
A place you’ll return to
Drama is known for its stable and predictable flying conditions. The local club has hosted several major competitions, and since 2012, FlyDrama has made it easy for pilots to experience the area.
One of my fondest memories was when we rented sailboats to the island of Thassos. We swam ashore at a beach, soaked up the sun, and later continued to the town center for dinner before sailing back to Kavala – one of our favorite spots for a swim in the sea.
When the weather hasn’t allowed flying, we’ve visited wineries, raced go-karts, explored caves, and come up with spontaneous activities. Drama and its surroundings are full of little discoveries – whether you’re after adrenaline or want to enjoy life.
Coffee, food, and hospitality
The city is lively but calm, with a charm that makes you feel at home quickly. It’s full of coffee bars, and coffee is taken seriously here. Locals are quick to sit down for a chat, and it’s easy to make new friends.
The food is a story in itself – from traditional Greek dishes to fresh seafood on the coast, and not least the local mountain-raised meat. Karyn Noble wrote that in Drama you should “pack an extra stomach” – and she wasn’t exaggerating. The region boasts a vibrant food culture, offering a diverse range of ingredients, including game meat, local vegetables, fresh berries, mushrooms, and herbs sourced from the surrounding mountains. The potatoes from Nevrokopi even have their own protected geographical status. Combine this with taverna classics like pastourmas (spiced, dried beef), local pasta varieties, and slow-cooked goat, and it’s easy to see why your stomach gets a workout.
Why visit Drama?
Because it’s one of those places that gives you everything – whether you come to fly or to experience Greece at its most authentic, here you get the combination of spectacular nature, an active local community, endless experiences, and a warm welcome – every single time.
And these are just a few examples of what you can enjoy:
- Beach life: Just 40 minutes away are the long sandy beaches of Kavala, perfect for a swim after a day in the mountains or vineyards.
- Kayaking and rafting: In Paranesti, just over half an hour from Drama, you can paddle the Nestos River, try rafting, or challenge yourself in the climbing park.
- Mountain adventures: The Rhodope Mountains offer hiking trails, waterfalls, cycling, and the chance to spot eagles, deer – and, with some luck, brown bears.
- Culture and history: With Philippi nearby and the city’s own museums and archaeological treasures, there’s always something new to learn.
- Food and wine: From the wineries of Adriani and Mikrochori to small mountain tavernas – everything is close enough to combine in a weekend trip.
In short: you can wake up to mountains and paragliding, have lunch at a winery, take an afternoon swim in the Aegean Sea, and end the day at a coffee bar in town – without it ever feeling rushed.
Practical information
Drama is located in Northern Greece. The easiest route is via Thessaloniki, the country’s second-largest city with over one million inhabitants. From there, renting a car is the most practical option – both affordable and flexible in Greece.
Alternatively, you can take the bus or arrange transport through local providers. Many are happy to assist – not only paragliding operators but also hotels, wineries, and activity organizers who help with logistics.
In short: Drama is easy to reach and even harder to leave – simply because the place offers so much more than you’d expect. Whether you come to soar in the skies, explore the mountains and vineyards, or enjoy the hospitality and coffee culture, Drama is a discovery you’ll carry with you long after.
Paragliders’ Paradise, written exclusively for Daily Scandinavian by Raymond Sebergsen.
Raymond is a self-taught multidisciplinary problem solver with over 30 years of experience in IT, sales, product and service development, and management. His career began in local radio and TV, where he discovered the joy of communicating, creating, and doing things his way. This approach continues to characterize his work: curious, practical, and driven to understand and improve. He will share his experiences and essential knowledge with Daily Scandinavian readers. Here are more tips and guides by Raymond Sebergsen.
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Feature image (top) © Tor Kjolberg/Daily Scandinavian.