Adventure Holidays in Switzerland: 5 Winter Sports That Make The Grand Swiss Adventure

‘There are two kinds of adventurers; those who go truly hoping to find adventure and those who go secretly hoping they won't.’

When I strengthened my resolve to go adventure hopping in Switzerland, I fell in the second category. Brave enough to say, ‘Yes, let’s make this happen!’ but secretly wishing that some of the crazy ideas don’t materialize. I would have surely done a turnabout for few thrilling activities had it not been for my partner in crime – my brother. Being an adventure lover, he made sure I ticked off the winter sports in Switzerland from my check-list.  And yes, we did it! Before I go on with the ‘I did myself so proud’ declaration, let me give you an insight on what’s in store for you in Switzerland if you are seeking the adrenaline rush.

Winter calling, where are you?

We landed in La Suisse in the month of October, when the leaves turn a beautiful golden colour streaked with shades of red and copper. Beyond the crisp fresh air and quaint little towns stand the majestic Swiss Alps in all their glory, beckoning us mortals to test our sense of thrill and adventure. We started with the simplest (or so we thought) and the most common winter sport – Skiing.

Skiing

My first walk on snow turned out to be in ski boots. Nervous and somewhat wobbling under the weight of three layers of clothing, I made my way to the ski lift area in Les Mosses ski resort, near Montreux. The only relief at that stage was the sight of my ski instructor, who looked self-assured and had a charming smile. I could stand there and chat away, but my family was there to learn skiing. After a few practice rounds, we headed up the mountain on the T-bar lift. Ski poles and goggles in place, I cautiously started skiing, with my instructor’s help of course, down the gleaming white slopes.

The turns were slow and I fell more than once in those few hours. But I laughed it away because the experience of snow, sun and skiing was unmatched, and remains so till date.

For the adventure enthusiast: If you want to bite off more than you can chew, head out to the slopes when the weather prophets would rather have you sit cozy at home. I have skied in -15 degrees when the winds gave way to a snowstorm. I was scared to death that time but was it worth it? Totally!

Another hair-raising adventure is heli-skiing and snow-boarding in Interlaken. The helicopter drops you off in the middle of a mesmerizing white terrain to let you ski down untouched powder snow. Talk about a natural high!

Read more: Top 5 Luxury Experiences To Grab in Switzerland

Bob Run

The Olympia Bob Run in the glittering town of St. Moritz is the king of all adventures. Whooshing down the natural ice track at a speed of up to 135 km/hour, you would think you are a champion. You probably are, since you have mustered up enough courage to do this. My advice - Hold on tight and nature will take care of the rest. Once this whirlwind ride is over, you get to take home a track souvenir and a ‘Bobbapatism’ certificate. Years down the line, you would look at the memorabilia and say ‘Wow that was one crazy ride!’

Extreme Ice Karting

As kids, an ideal day of fun was go-karting in an amusement park with friends followed by ice-cream. Well, in the ever-popular town of Verbier, my brother and I decided to take it up a notch higher and try Extreme Ice Karting. Wearing a monkey cap to shield myself against the biting cold, I tried my level best to beat him in the 10-minute race. I never won but I did get a surprise dinner treat! With piping hot fondue and Swiss roll with custard, my bittersweet loss quickly became a faint memory.

Glacier Bungee Jumping

We arrived in Switzerland just in time to do an activity unheard of back home – Glacier Bungee Jumping. Jumping off a cliff is scary, but letting yourself go 85 metres into the Grindelwald glacial gorge near Interlaken? That’s madness, or so I believed till I saw fearless athletic youngsters plummeting against the backdrop of Jungfrau Mountains. There’s danger, thrill, excitement – all what an adventure sports enthusiast craves for. For the rest of us, remember the Nike tagline ‘Just Do It’ and take the leap of a lifetime. You are going to tell this tale for a long time! 

Read more: Following Ranveer Singh’s Switzerland Trail​

Glacier Trekking

Hiking and trekking is quite common but the regular simply does not suffice in Swiss Alps! For the ‘wow’ factor, try glacier trekking.  The opportunity is too good to pass, and you can always do this in Interlaken, a mecca for winter sports enthusiasts. A one-day trekking excursion is ideal, although you can opt for more. Ice cold streams, cravasses, and sunshine that makes snow glitter – get ready for paradise on Earth!

From regular to off-beat sports, I have tried new ways to experience the surreal Alpine beauty. What about you? Are you game for adventure?

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