Jamie Fehr

Interlaken is probably one of the most beautiful mountain towns that you might ever visit. No trip to Switzerland is complete without a stop here. Just be prepared to feel it in your wallet.

Paragliding

Interlaken is a paragliding mecca, on a clear day at nearly any point you can see at least 4 parachutes in the sky gliding there way to the towns center.

Paragliding isn’t parasailing and isn’t sky diving, but it is a bit of both. You start strapped into a parachute laying on the ground on a steep hill, you start running forward and eventually your feet are no longer on the ground. From that point forward your pretty much a bird floating around a big valley looking patterns that will give you good “lift” (increase your altitude). Eventually gravity kicks in and you head back down to the ground entirely relaxed and ready for the hot tub at the Interlaken fitness center.

I really enjoyed my paragliding experience. As beginners the four of us had to fly tandem. Also our “pilots” gave us flight tickets. Beatenberg to Interlaken, Mhhmm, I guess it’s a government policy that even non-powered aircraft have to give out flight coupons.

Price: CHF$150

Schilthorn

The Shilthorn offers some great views and hiking along with a rotating restaurant at the top. But you really should go see their sight for the details, they got more info then I really feel like copying onto my site.

Price: CHF$72 (off season round-trip cable car ticket)

Trummelbach Falls

Most people will tell you about the water falls that are in the mountain near Interlaken and that they’re amazing. While in the mountain may not be the most accurate description of them they really are spectacular.

The Trummelbach falls are a comprised of many mountains’ runoffs. And they twist and turn inside this narrow crevasse unlike anything you have ever seen before.

Price: CHF$11

Backpackers Villa

This hostel just might be my new favorite place to spend the night. The showers had recirculating pipes so that when you turned on the tap the water was instantly hot, the rooms were clean, the breakfast was complimentary, the transit passes gratis, and local pool passes included. All that with a great view out the patio window every morning you wake up. What more could you ask for?

Price: CHF$33/person/night

I like Interlaken and I am glad that Avant hosts their bi-ennial Europe conference there. The thing that really caught me off guard was the the full on nudity at the local fitness center. I really am not used to being in the same room as naked women be they young or old. I found it best to stay in the hot tub were swimsuits are mandatory and avoided the saunas and steam rooms of immorality.