If you've ever thought about the sensation of flying, you have two real options in Latvia. The Aerodium wind tunnel in Sigulda, where you float in a controlled airstream a few meters above the ground. And skydiving, where you fall from 4,000+ meters at speeds up to 200 km/h. Both are about "flying" β but they're as different as swimming in a pool and diving in the ocean.
What is Aerodium and what to expect
Aerodium is a Latvian invention and the first open-air vertical wind tunnel in Eastern Europe. It's located in Sigulda, at the 47th kilometer of Vidzeme Highway β about an hour from Riga. The company became world-famous after the 2006 Turin Winter Olympics closing ceremony, where Aerodium technology let acrobats fly above the stage.
In the wind tunnel, a powerful airstream (up to 215 km/h) lifts you a few meters into the air. An instructor is beside you the entire time, holding you and helping control your body position. For first-time flyers, the sensation is striking β you really do fly, even if not very high.
Price: from β¬45 (2 min flight), recommended first flight 4β6 min β from β¬59
Total time: ~60 minutes (registration, briefing, gearing up, flight)
Age: from 4 years old
Season: MayβOctober (open-air tunnel, closed during storms)
Location: Sigulda, Vidzeme Highway km 47
Prior experience: not required
What is a tandem skydive and what to expect
A tandem skydive is a jump from an aircraft at 4,000+ meters, harnessed to a professional instructor. The freefall phase lasts roughly 40β60 seconds β you fall at speeds up to 200 km/h. Then the parachute opens, and you glide under it for another 5β7 minutes, enjoying the landscape from a bird's-eye view.
Skydive Latvia offers tandem jumps from LimbaΕΎi airfield β about an hour from Riga. No prior experience needed: the instructor controls everything from the jump to the landing. All you need to do is enjoy the moment.
Price: from β¬239 (tandem from 4,000+ m), from β¬490 (oxygen jump from 5,500 m)
Total time: ~3β4 hours (briefing, waiting, flight, landing)
Age: from 16 (16β17 with parental consent)
Season: springβautumn (weather dependent)
Location: LimbaΕΎi airfield (~1h from Riga)
Prior experience: not required
Head-to-head comparison: facts side by side
π Aerodium
- Height: 2β5 m above ground
- Freefall sensation: simulated
- Actual flight time: 2β6 min
- Price: from β¬45
- Minimum age: 4 years
- Weather dependency: partial (storms only)
- Repeatability: multiple flights possible
- Adrenaline level: moderate
πͺ Skydiving
- Height: 4,000β5,500 m
- Freefall sensation: real
- Actual flight time: 6β8 min (fall + parachute)
- Price: from β¬239
- Minimum age: 16 years
- Weather dependency: full
- Repeatability: usually one jump per session
- Adrenaline level: maximum
The difference in sensations β what nobody tells you
People often ask: "Is the wind tunnel similar to skydiving?" Short answer: the physical sensation is similar, but the emotional experience is completely different.
In the wind tunnel, you know you're a few meters from the ground. The instructor is holding you. You're focused on body position, and that's interesting β but the sense of safety never goes away. It's a great experience, especially for families and children.
In skydiving, there's a moment when you stand in the open aircraft door at 4,000 meters and know that in three seconds you'll fall. That's a completely different state β something primal kicks in that simply doesn't happen in the wind tunnel. And then, when the parachute opens and you float in silence over the Vidzeme landscape β that's a meditation in the air that lasts several minutes.
Both experiences are valuable β but they fill different niches. The wind tunnel is about an entertaining physical experience. Skydiving is about pushing your own limits.
Who should choose which experience
π Aerodium is a better choice if:
β’ It's a gift for a child or teenager (ages 4+)
β’ You want to try the flying sensation without major stress
β’ You're planning a family or team event (groups can fly in rotation)
β’ Budget is limited (~β¬45ββ¬90)
β’ You're interested in body flight as a sport (Aerodium also offers a flying school)
πͺ Skydiving is a better choice if:
β’ You're looking for an experience that genuinely shifts perspective
β’ You want to overcome fear and prove you're capable of more
β’ It's a gift for an adult who has "already tried everything"
β’ The scenery matters β the parachute glide over Vidzeme forests is unforgettable
β’ You want an experience you'll talk about for years
Can you try both?
Absolutely. Many people start with Aerodium β it gives you a first taste of what "flying" means, at a lower stress level. If after the wind tunnel you realize you want more, a tandem skydive is the logical next step.
Interestingly, skydiving instructors regularly train in wind tunnels β that's how they refine body control during freefall. So these experiences don't compete β they complement each other.
If you're buying a gift, consider the combination: an Aerodium gift card + a Skydive Latvia gift card. That way the recipient can start with the wind tunnel and, when ready, move on to the real thing.
Ready for the next level?
A Skydive Latvia tandem jump from 4,000+ m β an experience that can't be simulated. Gift cards never expire.
View gift cards βFrequently asked questions
Is the Aerodium wind tunnel the same as skydiving?
Which is safer β wind tunnel or tandem skydive?
What's the minimum age for the wind tunnel and skydiving?
How much does Aerodium cost vs a tandem skydive?
Can you fly in the wind tunnel in winter?
Should I try the wind tunnel before skydiving?