Adventure Sports in Switzerland

1. Toboggan Ride in Graubunden: When in Switzerland, you must head over to the Graubunden to experience Switzerland’s longest toboggan ride! A toboggan can be best described as a traditional sledge which was used as a form of transport in mountainous terrain across the globe.

Today, riding your way down the side of a mountain with a toboggan has become a popular adventure activity. The toboggan’s path leads through 31 steep curves and overjumps stretching over a total length of 3,060 metres, making for a thrilling ride. If you are looking for unique adventure activities in Switzerland, then this is your place!

Location: Pradaschier, The Adventure Mountain, Girabodawäg 16, 7075 Churwalden
Price: CHF 18 or Rs. 1,318
Timings:
 Summer (May to October): 9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Winter (December to March): 10:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Difficulty: Moderate

2. Bungee Jumping at Contra Dam: If you are in Gordola, in the canton of Ticino, then you have to head over to the Contra Dam or the Verzasca Dam. Made famous by the James Bond movie GoldenEye, today the dam is a premium bungee jumping destination. This mammoth construction allows jumpers to dive from a height of 220 metres right towards the valley floor. Since this is the world’s highest bungee jump station, the thrills offered by this place are quite literally unparalleled.

Location: Via Valle Verzasca, 6596 Gordola, Switzerland
Price: 119 CHF
Timings: 1:00 PM to 4:40 PM

3. Canyoning in the Bernese Oberland: The Bernese Oberland region of Switzerland is a treasure trove for adventure seekers. There are several trails which follow gushing rivers where you can jump, dive and swim through the canyons. The routes around towns like Interlaken, Lauterbrunnen and Grindelwald offer some spectacular, pristine Alpine scenery and thrilling opportunities where you can dive off cliffs, rappel down mountains and climb through the boulders. No matter whether you have had prior experience or not, this is one of those adventure activities in Switzerland that everyone can try.

4. Rock Climbing in the Western Alps: Right from the notorious Matterhorn to the famous Eiger trail, there are hundreds of places in Switzerland where you can partake in this adventure sport. Whether you have had prior experience or not, the Western Alps present some unique opportunities where you can enjoy some of the most fun and challenging climbs in the world.

You can choose to go rock climbing in a group with a dedicated leader and expert who will guide you through the way. Or, you can simply buy the supplies and get rock climbing! The best time to go rock climbing in Switzerland is the summer season, between June to August, due to high altitudes.

5. Kayaking in Interlaken: Adventure in Switzerland can be found in every nook and cranny and that holds true for Interlaken as well! With its two magnificent lakes, Lake Thun and Lake Brienz, the place offers some truly spectacular scenery. Kayaking on the azure waters of the lakes allows you to explore the different parts of the lake at your own pace. There are several hidden natural and man-made wonders that surround the lake which you can explore as you go out on your kayak or canoe.

Location: Lake Thun, Lake Brienz
Difficulty Level: Easy

6. Paragliding over Geneva: There is no better way to experience the scenic natural surroundings and vibrant atmosphere of Geneva than by paragliding over it. The flight over Geneva actually starts in France where you have to leap off of the Salève mountain to enjoy a bird’s eye view of the city. You can try paragliding on your own or choose to go tandem to experience the rush of mountain air hitting your face as you are suspended miles above the city!

Price: CHF 130 or Rs. 9,502
Difficulty Level: Moderate

7. Ziplining in Grindelwald: The zipline in Grindelwald, locally known as the First Flieger is an extremely fun way of experiencing the natural beauty of the stunning Alpine landscape. The zipline here is designed to whizz you down the length of a mountain at speeds reaching 55 miles per hour, making it one of the most interesting adventure activities in Switzerland!

The length of the zipline is around 2,480 feet and it covers a vertical drop of 674 feet, making for a heart-thumping experience! Apart from Grindelwald, you can also try zip lining in the Forest Fun Park at Zermatt, Parco Avventura in Gordola, Charmey and Alpenhof.

Location: First Flieger, Bergstation Firstbahn, 3818 Grindelwald, Switzerland
Price: From CHF 50 or Rs. 3,658
Difficulty Level: Easy

8. Skydiving in front of Eiger: The north face of the Eiger presents some of the most challenging hikes in the entire country but what is little known is the fact that it is an excellent place to try skydiving around. You can choose to jump from an ungodly height of 15,000 feet in the air and plummet at a speed of 120 miles per hour in front of Eiger!

The beautiful mountainous terrain looks spectacular from a bird’s eye view and once your parachute is pulled, you can glide your way around the beautiful peaks. It is an extreme adventure sport in Switzerland that adults of practically any age can try!

Price: CHF 690 or Rs. 50,430
Difficulty Level: Difficult

9. White Water Rafting: Switzerland offers a plethora of white water rafting experiences, from gentle one-way streams to downright ferocious rivers! You can go whitewater rafting in Interlaken, Gstaad Saanenland, Graubünden (Surselva), Engadin and Valais.

Landquart in Graubünden offers one of the most challenging white-water rafting experiences in the country where you get to test your endurance and fight powerful rapids for 11 kilometres! For a more slow-paced and milder experience, you can go rafting in the Simme River where the rapids are fewer and far in-between!

Difficulty Level: Moderate to Difficult

1. Snowkiting: Snowkiting can be best described as a sport born out of wedlock between wind sailing and snowboarding. This is one of the seasonal extreme adventure sports in Switzerland and can be only enjoyed during the winter months.

In snowkiting, you basically ride fresh snow on a ski but use the power of a kite to take giant leaps in the air where you are practically sailing through it! This is not a mainstream sport but is fast gaining a strong fanbase! When in Switzerland, you can try snowkiting at Lake Silvaplana, Grimsel Pass and Simplon Pass.

- Difficulty Level: Difficult

2. Heliskiing or Heliboarding: Heliskiing or Heliboarding is an activity where you use a helicopter or a small plane to the otherwise unreachable peaks and slopes before you ski or skate down the snow. The best part about heliskiing and heliboarding is that you get access to some spectacular scenery and many-a-times untouched, fresh, powdered snow!

The altitudes are higher, the scenery is more dramatic and the path is brilliant! You can book the helicopter solo or go for a cheaper alternative and book it in a group. Although it is still more expensive than booking a day pass at the ski lifts, the experience is simply of a once-in-a-lifetime kind! You can choose Verbier, Zermatt, Arolla or Chamonix as your base.

- Location: Verbier, Zermatt, Arolla and Chamonix
- Price: From CHF 220 or Rs. 16,100
- Difficulty Level: Difficult

3. Skydiving: When in Switzerland, you can choose to jump out of a plane or a helicopter for a little more mainstream but still spectacular experience of skydiving. The experience of watching the Swiss Alps as you are hurtling towards the ground is unlike any other! From the moment the door of the plane opens to the time you open the parachute, it is a heart-thumping experience! The best part is the vistas that you get to enjoy as you cruise down from a height of 11,000 feet above the ground.

- Location: Lauterbrunnen
- Price: From INR 28,000
- Difficulty Level: Medium

4. Canyon Swing & Fixed Rope Course: This activity involves swinging from or walking on ropes that are suspended hundreds of feet above the ground. These ropes connect mountains, valleys and glaciers and offer some stunning views.

Although this may not sound as challenging as diving out of a plane, it sure does take a lot of mental strength to be able to perform the manoeuvre. The plus point is that you have a harness on and the views from the suspension chords are simply unbelievable!

- Location: Gletscherschlucht Canyon, Grindelwald
- Price: CHF 139 or Rs. 10,155
- Difficulty Level: Medium

1. Kayaking: When in Switzerland, you can kayak in some spectacular lakes surrounded by the Swiss Alps. There are several companies that offer kayaking tours where you can learn to kayak in less than an hour before you get in the waters.

Kayaking on these blue waters as you explore the shoreline dotted with ancient castles, forts, ruins and vineyards dating back to the Roman times, is an adventure in Switzerland that you need to have! You can choose to share a Kayak with a partner or go on your own on these lakes that stretch out for miles!

- Location: Interlaken, Switzerland

2. White Water Rafting: White water rafting is another adventure sport in Switzerland which is enjoyed by both amateurs and experts alike! If you have had former experience at river rafting and you want to test your endurance, then you can choose to go white water rafting in the might Lutschine which offers miles of non-stop adventure! If you are new or still gathering experience, then you can choose to go rafting on the Simme River. It has fewer rapids and plenty of calm waters to give you time to settle yourself!

- Location: River Lutschine and River Simme

3. Paddle Boarding: Paddleboarding is exactly what it sounds like. You stand on a board which is slightly bigger than a normal surfboard and paddle yourself around water. This is the perfect water-based activity for people of all ages and has seen a surge in popularity in the past few years! Lake Lucerne and Lake Geneva are excellent spots to polish your paddle boarding skills as you take in the spectacular views of the surroundings!

- Location: Lake Lucerne and Lake Geneva

4. Canyoning: Canyoning is another thrilling water-based activity that you can try in Switzerland as there are several canyons, especially around Interlaken. It involves following gushing rivers as they roll down the slopes. With canyoning, you dive from cliffs, rappel down mountain faces and jump off waterfalls. It also involves swimming in natural pools, giving you a chance to relax in-between the rigorous activity! The rugged landscape and the twisting canyons of Switzerland make canyoning here a truly unique activity.

- Location: Interlaken

5. Speed Boating: If speed is what you live for, then speed boating is the perfect alternative to cruising for you! You can hire a speed boat or jet ski and race through the waters, reaching the far-flung ends of the waterbody. When in Switzerland, you can ride past waterfalls, reach the lake-side castles and visit islands at most lake destinations on your jet ski in half the time it would take you to cruise!

- Location: Lake Brienz

6. Windsurfing: If you are at or around Lake Lucerne, head over to Urnersee to get the best windsurfing experience in the country! You can maneuver your surfboard, adjust your surfing speed and ride the waves here! The winds at the lake vary with every few kilometres, allowing you to choose how fast or how slow you want to go! You can choose to bring your own gear or hire surf boards and sails on the spot!

- Location: Urnersee, Switzerland

1. Seilpark Interlaken: Seilpark, literally ‘rope park’ in German is an adventure park in Interlaken where you can expect a thrilling forest-based adventure filled with zip lines, Tarzan swings and wooden bridges. The park has a total of nine courses of varying lengths and heights and 120 different challenges that go as high as 20 metres above the ground. At Seilpark, there is an adventure awaiting everyone, no matter if you are an amateur or a seasoned thrill-seeker!

- Location: Wagner Strasse, 3800 Interlaken, Switzerland

2. Alpamare Waterpark: The Alpamare Waterpark is the biggest waterpark in the entire country. The park brings adventure in the form of water slides, pools and jungle-themed activities. You can slide down the Balla Balla, a legendary Alpamare slide which goes on for 261 metres. It starts in the dark and a few twists and turns later, you are light speeding along the water! There are several other swings like Mini Canyon, Triple Slide and Ice Express among others, all offering distinct experiences!

- Location: Gwattstrasse 12, 8808 Freienbach, Switzerland

3. Connyland: This is a small amusement park near Kreuzlingen in Switzerland which has been designed for kids! If you are travelling with family, this is where you will find an adventure for kids of all ages! They have mini free-falls, swinging pirate ships, indoor climbing structures, trampolines and even rope courses! Apart from these land-based attractions, they also have a few water-based attractions like mini log rides, rafts and spray guns which are a lot of fun on a hot day!

- Location: Connyland Strasse 1, 8564 Wäldi, Switzerland

4. Charmey Adventure Park: A the Charmey Adventure Park, you can try your hand at everything from treetop courses to ziplining and even treasure hunts. The adventures range from easy, intermediate, technically advanced to physically challenging! There are eleven ziplines in total with some of them being over 300 metres in length, having a vertical drop of 400 metres!

- Location: Rapido Sky, Charrières 3, 1637 Val-de-Charmey, Switzerland

1. Canton Grabunden: Tobogganing or traditional sledging is one of the most popular adventure sports in Switzerland. You can take the 5-kilometers long toboggan trail which starts from the Alpine city of Chur which sits 1,000 metres above sea level! You start your run in Chur and sledge down the local mountain of Brambrüesch. Other tracks can be found in the towns of Feldis and Tschiertschen along with the legendary toboggan run of Preda-Bergün which is not located very far away!

- Location: Girabodawäg 16, 7075 Churwalden, Switzerland

2. Cantons Appenzell & St. Gallen: The longest sledging run of Eastern Switzerland is situated in these cantons. It starts from the summit of the Kronberg mountain and ends at Jakobsbad. The approximately 4 miles of sledging track covers an altitude difference of 2,532 feet. You can arrive at the summit by a cable car and enjoy a thrilling ride with breathtaking views of the north wall of the Santis Mountain and Lake Constance on your way down.

- Location: St. Josefstrasse 2, 9108 Jakobsbad, Switzerland

3. Valais: Sledging in Valais comes in all shapes and forms. There are several tobogganing runs where children and adults of all ages can participate, making it the perfect winter sport. You can try the 13-kilometre long run that starts at Goms Valley and ends at Aletsch Arena. There are several excellent sledging spots in lower Valais like Verbier with a 10-kilometre long track, Les Marécottes with a 9-kilometres long track and Champex-Lac with a 7-kilometres long track, among others.

- Location: Valais, Switzerland

4. Bern: The whole canton of Bern can be easily called a hub for adventure activities in Switzerland and therefore it comes as no surprise that it should have some of the best sledging spots! You can try the 15-kilometre long sledging track in Grindelwald or go sledging in the Simmen Valley. Other lesser-known but equally beautiful destinations include Saanen Valley, Kander Valley and Engstligen Valley.

- Location: Bern, Switzerland

1. Stoos Funicular: This funicular is the world's steepest funicular and overcomes a height difference of 744 metres in only 1.7 kilometres! The funicular connects the Hintere Schlattli to the village resort of Stoos and apart from being an engineering marvel, offers spectacular views of the surrounding mountains.

- Location: 6432 Schwyz, Switzerland

2. Santis Cable Car: The cable car that travels from Schwägalp and takes the visitors over the ridges to the mountain station is an unforgettable experience in itself! The ride stands at 2,505 metres above the sea level at its highest point and offers views that are simply out of the world!

- Location: Talstation Schwebebahn, 9107 Schwägalp, Switzerland

3. The Moleson: The beautiful mountain peak of Moleson is made accessible by two main cableways. These connect the summit of the peak Moleson to Plan-Francey in Fribourg. The cable cars have panorama windows which offer stunning views of the Fribourg Alps and Valais Alps right up to Mont Blanc.

- Location: Moléson, 1663 Gruyères, Switzerland

4. Männlichen Cable Cars: The modern gondola and cable cars that lead to the winter sports haven of Männlichen allow access to some top-quality skiing and snowboarding sites. When you are in the cable car, you can enjoy spectacular views of the surroundings as you gain altitude. Apart from adventure sports, they also allow access to romantic trails and children’s playgrounds!

- Location: Männlichen, 3823 Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland

The best time for adventure activities around Switzerland is between December and April if you want to visit for snow-based activities like skiing, snowboarding, heliskiing, etc.

Alternatively, if you are planning to try white water rafting, jet skiing, canyoning, hiking, etc. then the summer months from June to August are the best. Air-based activities, on the other hand, can be done practically any time during the year.

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