National Geographic Traveller (UK)
GET ACTIVE FOUR MORE OUTDOOR ADVENTURES
Using Interlaken — Europe’s biggest extreme sports hub — as a base, you’ll find no shortage of ways to get the pulse racing, whether it’s on water, land or in the sky
On the rocks
Towering above Grindelwald, the peak of First is fantastic fun in summer. A cable-car hauls you to the summit, where you can hurtle towards the Eiger on zip-lines at up to 50mph. Descend the mountain a little to Schreckfeld to pinball down the slopes on a chunky go-cart, as the forests, meadows and peaks whizz past. Stop at Bort and switch to a trottibike, a Swiss take on a scooter, for the speedy ride back down to Grindelwald. jungfrau.ch
In the sky
If ever you’re going to jump from a helicopter, do it in style in front of the Eiger’s notorious north face: a view enjoyed by only the most committed, hardened of rock climbers. After a 15-minute scenic flight to the top of the summit, you’ll freefall for a slow 45 seconds before the parachute opens and you glide noiselessly down to Grindelwald, the Jungfrau’s parade of peaks and glaciers all around. Flights are available on weekdays and mornings are best in summer. Good weather is essential. skydiveinterlaken.ch
On the water
A plunge in the region’s gaspingly cold, turquoise lakes and rivers is truly invigorating. Interlaken is the base for some top-notch watersports; here you can whitewater raft on the foaming rapids on the Lütschine River, right in the Eiger’s shadow, or dive into a nearby canyon to abseil, jump and slide down waterfalls. If you prefer something gentler, kayak or standup paddleboard to placid lakes Brienz and Thun, never lovelier than when the day fades into a pastel dusk. outdoor.ch
On ice
The snow glare, the ethereal blues, the sun breaking above horn-like mountains — a twoday summer hike across the 14-mile Aletsch Glacier, the longest glacier in the Alps, is unforgettable. This adventure heads properly off-piste, with a night in the spectacularly perched Konkordiahütte at 9,350ft. The only prerequisites are a head for heights and the ability to walk for six hours with a backpack, at times as a roped team. outdoor.ch