Things to do in Switzerland

The Adventure Travel World Summit brought us to Switzerland for the second time in our lives. Back in 2002, we did not know much about the country except that it was expensive and it is a Mecca for offshore banking. We really did not have a list of things to do in Switzerland before going back then. My sister won a lottery through work to stay at a Chalet in Chateaux d’Oex, so when she invited us along, we jumped at the chance. We packed our snowboards and did not do anything else besides hitting the slopes and drink wine. It was wonderful.

We have come a long way since our first visit to Switzerland. We see a lot more during our travels and know a lot more about the country. We know that all women are named Heidi, everyone owns a cow, and when hiking through the mountains you will hear men yodeling over the valleys.

OK, that is not true at all. Switzerland is a modern, efficient country that is a leader in adventure travel. The Swiss have come up with some unique things to do when not making copious amounts of money inside their famous Swiss banks and we had the chance to try some fun adventures while we represented Expedia.com as their adventure experts. In addition, here is what we found.

E biking in the Swiss Alps

E biking is all the rage in Switzerland and at $4000 – $6000 CHF ($4300 – $6463 USD) why not? When you are Swiss and rich, what is a few grand on a bicycle? However, a tourist can enjoy a bike for as little as $15 CHF for an hour or up to $50 (55 USD) for the day. There is no better way to cycle through the Alps than on a bike. It is the most relaxing way to climb hills and whizz along on straight-aways. As you glide through the single lane roads cutting through farms and valleys without breaking a sweat, you think to yourself “I could ride my bike all the way to England” And people do! There are bike tours that ride from Zurich to London and I would love to join one.

What is a bike? A bike is the ultimate chill out biking experience. It runs exactly like a regular bicycle, but there is an electric motor on it. You still pedal and shift gears as you would any other bike, and you still get your exercise, but you have a little momentum to help you out. There is just enough battery power to keep from having to work too hard when climbing hills and enough oomph to let you fly through the straight-aways. One thing we learned about biking is that the less work you put into pedaling, the more efficient the bike runs. Believe me, even the most pure cyclist’s love biking, a you will too!

Trotti Bikes

Trotti biking has to be one of the zaniest things we have ever done, especially in Grindelwald. Take the gondola up to Mount First for a hike through the stunning vistas and a visit to the nearby lake. You can take the entire day there and then take make your descent a thrill ride instead of taking the gondola. From 2000 meters above sea level, you will board your trotted bike and race down the mountain on a 40-minute journey back to the village of Grindelwald. What is a trotted bike you ask? Simple, it is a scooter. However, these scooters are a little more rugged, they have brakes, and the Swiss are just a little crazier than other people allowing tourists to zip through the countryside as they balance on two precarious wheels while dodging cows, tractors and their fellow bikers.

You will find men in suits commuting to work on trotter bikes, tours trotting through city streets as they check out the sights and kids scooting around the neighborhood. Trotter bikes are hot stuff in Switzerland.
For more information on Trotti Biking, check out Trotti bike Grindelwald buy a one way or return ticket includes for 28 CHF. Swiss cards and Swiss passes give you 50% off.

High Ropes

Do you have a fear of heights? Well, the high ropes may just be the thing you need to get over that fear. Hitting a high rope course in Switzerland is beaucoup du fun. There are different levels for everyone. Find yourself clipping in to steel cables as you climb trees, walk over dangling obstacles like hanging tires, balance beams and ladders before jumping on swings or surfing over a span of open air. It is a great thrill. You can start off with an easy green route which keeps you on the lower level of the trees, to the black diamond routes (just like skiing) to the more difficult obstacles and much higher course well over 30 meters (90 feet) in the air!

The best thing about rope parks is that most routes end with a zip line! Not only do you get a workout and fun as you tackle obstacles in mid air, you end with the thrill of zipping down to the ground.

Via Ferrata

Known as the iron route, Via Ferratas date back centuries to help connect mountain routes. Ladders, cable bridges and wooden steps are attached to the side of mountains where brave souls climb routes daring to look down as they tightrope their way across deep valleys. Do not worry though, you are constantly clipped onto a cable and never once are you not attached. It was in World War I that troops used these cables and ladders attached to rock faces to move at high altitudes and now it has gone on to a favorite pastime all through the Pyrenees, Dolomites and of course the Swiss Alps. . Anyone can do it! There are different via ferrates for different levels and even children dangle hundreds of meters in the air. Advanced climbers can challenge themselves with higher routes with overhangs and climbs that require great skill and athletics. While it may be considered less technical than rock climbing, it is still a challenge and it can be terrifying!