The Canton of Bern is Switzerland's second-largest canton, stretching from the UNESCO-listed medieval capital city to the dramatic peaks of the Bernese Oberland. Home to the federal capital of Switzerland, picturesque alpine lakes, and world-class ski resorts, Bern blends political significance with breathtaking natural beauty.
Top adventure experiences
The most exciting activities Bern has to offer.
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1
Paragliding from Interlaken
Tandem paragliding from the Beatenberg or Grindelwald launch points above Interlaken with certified pilots, soaring over Lake Thun and Lake Brienz with the Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau as a backdrop. One of the world's most spectacular paragliding destinations.
Best season: May-October (weather dependent)
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2
Canyoning in the Saxeten Valley
Guided canyoning through the spectacular Saxeten and Chüenzenen gorges near Interlaken—abseiling waterfalls, jumping into glacial pools, and sliding natural rock slides in a raw alpine environment.
Best season: June-September
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3
River Rafting on the Lütschine
White-water rafting on the Schwarze Lütschine and Weisse Lütschine rivers in the Bernese Oberland, with stretches ranging from gentle family floats to proper Grade III-IV rapids. Excellent views of the Grindelwald valley throughout.
Best season: May-September (peak flow June-July)
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4
Skydiving over the Bernese Oberland
Tandem skydiving from 4,000m over the Bernese Oberland with certified instructors from the Skydive Interlaken operation—a 60-second freefall with views of the Jungfrau massif before the parachute opens for a 5-minute canopy flight.
Best season: May-October
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5
Via Ferrata at Grindelwald
The Grindelwald Eiger Ultra-Trail area has several excellent via ferrata routes fixed with iron rungs and cables up the rock faces above the valley, offering heart-pounding exposure and extraordinary Eiger views for those with a head for heights.
Best season: June-October
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6
First Flyer Zipline (Grindelwald)
The First Flyer at Grindelwald is one of Europe's longest alpine ziplines—800 metres at up to 84 km/h across the Grindelwald valley with jaw-dropping views of the Eiger. The attached open-air gondola returns riders to the First station.
Best season: June-October (weather dependent)
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7
Mountain Biking at Grindelwald First
The Grindelwald First area has excellent mountain bike trails from the gondola summit, including the famous Trottibike self-balancing scooter descent and a network of marked enduro trails through alpine meadows above the Grindelwald valley.
Best season: June-October
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8
Skiing at Adelboden-Lenk
One of Switzerland's finest ski destinations, Adelboden-Lenk offers 210km of pistes across varied terrain from beginner slopes to challenging off-piste. Adelboden hosts the FIS Alpine Ski World Cup every January, attracting 35,000+ spectators.
Best season: December-April
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9
Ice Climbing on the Grindelwald Glacier
A certified mountain guide leads a half-day ice climbing introduction on the glacial ice near Grindelwald—crampons, ice axes, and belay instruction included. An extraordinary and increasingly rare experience as the Grindelwald glacier retreats.
Best season: November-April
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10
Aare River Drift (Bern city)
Bern's unique urban adventure—drifting downstream in the powerful Aare River from the upstream entry point to the Marzili lido exit is a beloved local tradition. The 2km current drift takes around 20 minutes and is an extraordinary experience unique to Bern.
Best season: June-August
Activities by type
Find adventures that match your interests.
Land adventures
Rock climbing (Bernese Oberland limestone faces), Mountain biking (Grindelwald, Mürren), Via ferrata (Grindelwald), Trail running (Northface Trail, Harder Kulm), Canyoning (Saxeten gorge), Caving (Beatushöhlen near Lake Thun)
Water adventures
River rafting (Lütschine, Aare), Aare River drift (Bern city), Kayaking (Lake Thun, Lake Brienz), White-water kayaking (Kander River), Stand-up paddleboarding (Lake Thun)
Air adventures
Paragliding (Interlaken area), Skydiving (Interlaken), Zipline First Flyer (Grindelwald), Hang gliding (Bernese Oberland), Hot air balloon (Swiss Balloon, Château-d'Oex)
Expedition treks
Multi-day Alpine trekking (Berner Höhenweg ridge trail), Ski touring (Bernese Oberland high routes), Snowshoeing (Adelboden, Kandersteg), Summit climbing with guide (3,000m+ peaks), Overnight alpine hut stays
Difficulty levels
No experience needed. Suitable for most fitness levels.
Basic fitness required. Some prior experience helpful.
Good fitness and some experience required.
Significant experience and high fitness essential.
Recommended operators
Vetted companies for safe adventures.
Outdoor Interlaken
One of the Bernese Oberland's largest and most reputable adventure operators, offering paragliding, canyoning, rafting, skydiving, and bungee jumping with certified guides and safety-first approach.
Alpin Raft Interlaken
Specialist white-water and alpine adventure company offering river rafting, canyoning, kayaking, and family-friendly adventure activities in the Bernese Oberland rivers.
Skydive Interlaken
Switzerland's premier tandem skydiving operation based at Interlaken Airport, offering year-round tandem jumps from 4,000m with mountain views across the Bernese Oberland.
Bergführer Grindelwald (Grindelwald Mountain Guides)
The official certified mountain guide association of Grindelwald, offering climbing, ski touring, glacier trekking, and customised alpine expeditions for all ability levels.
Paragliding Interlaken
Specialist paragliding operation based in Interlaken with launch sites at Beatenberg and Grindelwald, offering tandem flights and paragliding courses with certified SHSF pilots.
Adventure safety
Stay safe while pushing your limits.
Never go on adventures alone in remote areas. Always use reputable guides for challenging activities.
Get comprehensive travel insurance that specifically covers adventure activities and emergency evacuation.
Check weather conditions and be prepared to cancel or postpone. Mountain weather changes rapidly.
Know your limits. Choose activities appropriate for your fitness and experience level.
Acclimatize properly before high-altitude activities. Altitude sickness is serious.
Preparation & gear
Get ready for your adventure.
Essential gear
- Quality hiking boots (broken in)
- Layered clothing system
- Rain gear and sun protection
- First aid kit
- Headlamp and batteries
- Water purification
Physical preparation
- Start training 6-8 weeks before
- Build cardio endurance
- Include strength training
- Practice with loaded backpack
- Get medical clearance if needed