5 Dishes To Try When Travelling To... Switzerland
August 27, 2015
Switzerland's magnificent landscape of commanding peaks, steep valleys and serene lakes makes it the perfect destination for a wide range of holidays. Whilst many choose to relax on the shores of Lake Constance or stroll the charming streets of Bern, others may be looking for a more exciting adventure.
Switzerland is more than prepared to cater for travellers who are seeking their next adrenaline rush, providing many activities that aren't for the faint-hearted. Here are just a few that you may want to add to your bucket list.
Your journey starts with a cable car ride (something you will become very familiar with during a holiday in Switzerland) to the top of Mount First. Once you have enjoyed the views from the top and picked your jaw off the ground, the quickest way back down is via a zip line known as the First Flyer.
Up to four people at a time can climb into the harnesses and hurtle down the mountain at speeds of up to 55 miles per hour. The 800-metre stretch of steel cable suspends you 50 metres above the ground and will land you in the village of Schreckfeld in no time. From there, you can continue your journey down with the help of specially adapted go-karts.
Copyright: oeschinensee.ch
Depending on whether you are visiting in the summer or winter there are two different toboggan runs on offer from the area surrounding Oeschinensee. The beautiful mountain lake can be reached via cable car from the village of Kandersteg. Once at the mountain station, it is a short walk to the shores of the lake and other activities in the area.
A thrilling way back down in the summer is the rodelbahn. You sit in a plastic toboggan on wheels with a leaver between your legs which applies the break. Navigating twists and turns on the journey back down to Kandersteg, you travel along a 750-metre metal slide. Alternatively, in the winter, a two-mile sledge run takes you back down via the snow. Both are exhilarating activities and offer fantastic views of the surrounding Doldenhorn Mountains.
The Schilthorn is one of the most famous peaks in the Bernese Oberland and Thrill Walk is one of its newest attractions. There are three different stages as you make your way up the mountain and a number of exciting attractions (including this one) await on the half-way station of Birg.
Thrill-seekers can walk along a 200-metre-long pathway bolted to the side of the cliff and suspended over the abyss below. As well as sections of glass where you can see straight down beneath your feet, there is a tube of wire mesh that you can crawl through and a tightrope to walk along if you are feeling extra brave.
If you prefer your thrills without the heights then this next activity will be perfect. Switzerland's first commercial Jet Boat can be found on Lake Brienz in Interlaken and is a great way to combine a little bit of sight-seeing with an activity that will really get the pulse racing.
Your 75-minute adventure will take you from the port of B�nigen to the beautiful Giessbach Waterfalls, as you accelerate to high speeds and feel the spray of the water in your hair. The experienced captain will include a few twists and turns along the way, so don't expect to stay dry.
The Gelmer Funicular was never built to be a tourist attraction but has been transformed into the steepest transport of its kind in Europe. Originally created to help transport materials used whilst building the Gelmer Dam, the funicular has been given a rollercoaster-like makeover to be able to take people on the same journey.
A gradient of more than 100 percent makes this attraction one of the most vertigo-inducing we have ever seen, but that doesn't stop us from wanting to try it. Just getting to the lower station involves crossing the Handeck suspension bridge, so this is perhaps the most daunting of all the activities on our list.
