40th birthday gift: tandem skydive
A tandem skydive voucher for a 40th birthday costs €170–€280 in Italy. Validity is typically 6–12 months. The recipient must weigh ≤95 kg and be in good general health. Jumps happen from 4,000 m.
Forty deserves a gift that lands hard. Not a spa day, not a bottle of wine — something they'll talk about for the next decade. A tandem skydive from 4,000 m fits that brief exactly. Here's everything you need to buy the voucher, hand it over with confidence, and make sure they actually get to jump.
Why a tandem skydive is the right gift for a 40th
At 40, most people have enough stuff. What they don't have is 60 seconds of freefall at 200 km/h with the Italian landscape spread out 4,000 m below them. That's the gap you're filling.
The experience is also genuinely accessible. No prior training, no fitness test, no licence. The recipient jumps strapped to a certified instructor who handles everything technical. Their only job is to show up and breathe.
And there's a practical side: buying an experience voucher means zero guesswork on size, taste, or style. You pick the school, pay online, and hand over a certificate. Done.
How the gift voucher works
Most Italian skydiving schools issue digital or printed vouchers valid for 6 to 12 months from the purchase date. The recipient books their jump date directly with the school — they don't need to commit to a day when you buy.
Weather is the main variable. Skydiving is grounded by low cloud, strong wind, or rain. If conditions are bad on the booked day, the school reschedules at no extra cost. This is standard practice, not a favour.
What to check before you buy:
- Exact validity window (6 months vs. 12 months matters)
- Extension policy if the window closes before conditions cooperate
- Whether the video package is included or sold separately
- Cancellation terms if the recipient can't jump at all
Most schools allow one free extension request. After that, policies vary — some charge a small admin fee, others issue a credit note. Ask before purchasing, not after.
How much it costs altogether
Base jump prices in Italy sit between €170 and €280, depending on the school, the drop zone altitude, and the season. That covers the jump itself, the instructor, and the equipment.
Video and photos are almost always sold separately:
- Helmet-cam footage (instructor-mounted): €40–€80
- External videographer (dedicated camera flyer): €80–€150
- Photo + video bundle: €100–€150
If you're gifting this for a 40th, budget for the video. Freefall lasts 60 seconds. Without footage, you're relying on memory alone.
For a full breakdown of what's included at each price tier, see our complete tandem skydive cost guide.
Recommended schools for major Italian cities
Drop zones aren't in city centres — they're at airfields within driving distance. The schools below are the closest vetted options to Italy's five largest cities. Click through for drop zone address, jump altitude, prices, and booking info for each location.
- Rome → Tandem skydive near Rome
- Milan → Tandem skydive near Milan
- Naples → Tandem skydive near Naples
- Turin → Tandem skydive near Turin
- Florence → Tandem skydive near Florence
If the person you're gifting lives elsewhere, use our full Italy drop zone map to find the nearest school.
What the recipient needs to redeem the voucher
Before they show up at the drop zone, make sure they meet these requirements. Turning up unprepared wastes a trip.
- ID — Valid photo ID on jump day
- Age — 18+ to jump independently; 16–17 with written parental consent
- Weight — ≤95 kg (some schools cap at 90 kg — confirm at booking)
- Health — Self-declaration of good health; no active heart conditions, epilepsy, or recent surgery
- Clothing — Comfortable clothes, lace-up trainers or closed shoes
There's no formal medical exam required for a tandem jump in Italy, but the health self-declaration is legally binding. If the recipient has any doubt about their fitness, they should consult their GP first.
For the full requirements list, including pregnancy, recent operations, and medication considerations, see tandem skydive requirements.
Recommended schools for major cities
Frequently asked questions
- What happens if the voucher expires before the recipient can jump?
- Most schools allow one extension request if you contact them before the expiry date. After expiry, options depend on the school's policy — some issue a partial credit note, others don't. Always check the extension terms when you buy. If bad weather caused repeated cancellations within the validity window, most schools will extend as a courtesy.
- Can the jump date be changed after booking?
- Yes. Schools expect rescheduling requests — weather cancellations alone make flexibility essential. Most allow free date changes with 24–48 hours' notice. Same-day cancellations may incur a fee. The recipient should book as early as possible within the validity window to leave room for rescheduling if conditions are bad.
- Can the recipient choose a different school from the one on the voucher?
- No. A voucher is issued by a specific school and is valid only at that drop zone. If you want the recipient to have flexibility, buy a voucher from a school with multiple drop zones, or choose the school closest to where they live. Check the school's locations before purchasing.
- Is there a minimum age, and is parental consent needed?
- The minimum age in Italy is 16. Jumpers aged 16–17 need written parental or guardian consent on the day. Under 16 cannot jump, regardless of parental consent. At 18 the recipient is fully independent. There is no maximum age limit, though some schools may ask older participants to provide a GP clearance note.
- What is the maximum weight allowed?
- The standard limit is 95 kg. Some schools set it at 90 kg. Weight is checked on arrival — if the recipient exceeds the limit, the jump cannot go ahead and the voucher may be non-refundable. If there's any doubt, contact the school directly before the jump day to confirm their specific limit.
- What happens if it rains or is too windy on the jump day?
- The jump is postponed, not cancelled. Schools will not fly in unsafe conditions — low cloud, strong wind, or rain all ground operations. The recipient simply reschedules at no extra cost. This is why booking early in the validity window matters: it leaves time to find a clear-weather day without rushing against the expiry date.
- Can two people jump together as a gift for a couple?
- Yes. You can buy two vouchers and request back-to-back slots so both people are at the drop zone on the same day. They won't be in freefall simultaneously — each tandem pair jumps separately — but they can watch each other land. Booking both slots together when redeeming ensures the timing works out.