Interlaken Adventure Sports: 2026 Complete Guide

Paragliding, canyon swings, skydiving and white-water rafting — Interlaken is Europe's adrenaline capital. Your 2026 guide.

The Adventure Capital of Europe

Wedged between two glacier-fed lakes and ringed by the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau, Interlaken has spent thirty years earning its title as Europe's adventure capital. In 2026, the menu is wider than ever: tandem paragliding flights from the Beatenberg ridge, skydives from 4,000 m above the Lauterbrunnen valley, canyon swings deeper than the Statue of Liberty is tall, and Class IV rafting on the Lütschine. Most activities are operated by long-established outfits — Outdoor Interlaken, Alpin Raft, Skydive Switzerland — with strong safety records.

Paragliding Above the Lakes

The signature Interlaken activity is the 20-minute tandem flight from Beatenberg or Niederhorn down to the Höhematte meadow in the centre of town. Pilots launch by simply walking off a grassy ridge with you strapped to the harness. Cost in 2026: roughly CHF 200. Mornings and late afternoons offer the smoothest air and the best photos.

Skydiving from 4,000 m

Skydive Switzerland flies tandem jumps from a helicopter rather than a fixed-wing plane, which means you exit directly above the Jungfrau massif with a 60-second freefall over snow and ice. Expect to pay around CHF 480. It is the single most cinematic adrenaline rush in the Alps.

Canyoning, Swings and Rafting

For travellers who prefer water to air, canyoning at the Saxetbach or the Chli Schliere combines abseiling, jumps and natural waterslides. The Stockhorn canyon swing drops 134 m. White-water rafting on the Lütschine river is short (90 minutes) but punchy, with rapids up to Class IV in early summer when snowmelt is highest.

When to Go

Most adventure sports run mid-May through mid-October. Paragliding flies year-round (yes, pilots launch off snow). Skydiving runs all year too, weather permitting. Canyoning and rafting close from late October to April.

• Tandem paragliding off Beatenberg (20 min, CHF 200)
• Helicopter skydive over the Jungfrau (CHF 480)
• Saxetbach canyoning half-day (CHF 159)
• Stockhorn 134 m canyon swing (CHF 220)
• Lütschine white-water rafting (CHF 130, May–Sep)
• Bungee jump from the Stockhorn cable car

Safety and What to Bring

Every reputable operator briefs in English and supplies wetsuits, harnesses and helmets. Bring closed-toe sport shoes, a swimsuit under your clothes for canyoning, and a GoPro mount if you want personal footage (operators charge CHF 35–50 for theirs).

Final Thoughts

Three days in Interlaken is the sweet spot: one in the air, one in the water, one for a quieter Lauterbrunnen valley walk to recover. Book activities online a week ahead in July and August — the popular morning slots fill fast.