PlanetSKI Hits the Mountains & Valleys in Switzerland

14th February 2026 | Nick Dalton

It was, as they are saying, a sport of two halves

So usually PlanetSKI is instructed that there’s rather more to winter within the mountains, and so usually we’re not absolutely satisfied.

Different pastimes after we may very well be on the slopes?

Er, no thanks.

However Switzerland’s Jungfrau area and its elegant lakeside city of Interlaken has made us assume once more.

THE SKIING

Grindelwald has probably the most dramatic settings in Europe, gazing up on the mighty north face of the Eiger and its surrounding peaks.

It’s a part of the Jungfrau Ski Area that encompasses two valleys and three resorts, with greater than 200km of runs.

Grindelwald ski runs – Picture © PlanetSKI/Nick Dalton

Grindelwald-Wengen, linking the 2 picturesque villages, with greater than 100km of piste, is central.

View of the Eiger. Great to get up to this view – Picture © PlanetSKI/Nick Dalton

The Eiger Specific gondola, panoramic vehicles seating 26, hurries up from Grindelwald Terminal simply exterior city, opens up a world of piste with views of the Jungfrau, Eiger and Mönch.

It’s simple sufficient to ski over to fairly Wengen, and you may even take the snaking, tree-lined Lauberhorn, at 4.5km the longest males’s downhill on the circuit.

It’s simple to get there and again earlier than lunch, or one can hop on the prepare for one cease to Lauterbrunnen for lifts into the Murren ski space, one other 54km of runs, together with these on the Schilthorn.

Right here the Schilthorn 20XX (that’s its title, not an enhancing error!) gondola, accomplished for the 24-25 season, reaches 2,970m Piz Gloria, for a shocking run down.

Nice lunch spot is the restaurant at Kleine Scheidegg, really a railway station serving native trains in addition to the Jungfraujoch prepare heading up contained in the mountains.

Kleine Scheidegg  – Picture © PlanetSKI/Nick Dalton

However that’s not all.

Again in Grindelwald there’s Grindelwald-First, a standalone space throughout city – a resort in itself anyplace else, with 56km of runs all the best way down the Bus Cease a bar in an outdated bus really on the cease for the bus again into city.

Grin First – Picture © PlanetSKI/Nick Dalton

Grin First – Picture © PlanetSKI/Nick Dalton

That is an space good for freshmen and people who like different actions.

There’s a enjoyable park, two zipwires, First Glider (4 passengers hanging horizontal, facet by facet) and First Flyer (seated), and First Cliff Stroll, a dizzying cliff-hanging metallic walkway – all free with raise move.

First Cliff Stroll – Picture © PlanetSKI/Nick Dalton

The snowboarding is lofty, from 2,333m in Grindelwald, and a couple of,970 in Wengen, so snow is all however assured properly into April.

I visited in early February and though there was no snow for per week, circumstances have been fabulous and the skies have been principally blue.

Every week later snow was falling properly.

Loads of lodges however search however Boutique Lodge Glacier, simply down the hill away from city however with panoramic Eiger views from the lounge (and from the rooms with their balcony), and proper by the bus cease for Grindelwald Terminal.

Boutique Lodge Glacier – Picture © PlanetSKI/Nick Dalton

INTERLAKEN

Sitting between Lake Thun and Lake Brienz and surrounded by peaks, Interlaken additionally manages to be a river city.

The Aare, trying little greater than a canal on its 5km path by means of the traditional streets, passes by means of each lakes on its 295km path from mountains to the Rhine.

The prepare reaches right here in a few hours instantly from Zurich airport and its common Swiss Air flights, and it’s then half-hour by cog railway to Grindelwald. https://www.interlaken.swiss/en/

It’s a beautiful place to remain for a number of nights, whether or not one of many extravagant lodges from one other period – the Victoria-Jungfrau Grand – or one thing easier.

The 70s tower block of the Lodge Metropole is likely to be questionable nevertheless it’s all lately revamped inside.

All rooms have spectacular views, 84 of the 96 trying on the Jungfrau, together with my Thirteenth-floor room with paragliders cruising previous to the park reverse for touchdown.

And the 18th-floor Prime o’Met restaurant and Metro bar have greatest views of all.

Prime o’Met – Picture © PlanetSKI/Nick Dalton

Another choice is Lodge Salzano on the sting of city, chalet-style with up to date bar, gardens rising herbs, a cool spa and restaurant serving ‘Alpine pure expertise delicacies’ additionally together with ‘issues from the woods’ – my tasting menu featured a number of dishes, not least pancetta with cauliflower and tartare of char.

Interlaken gives splendid lakeside strolls and river walks that absorb tiny bridges, medieval buildings and prepare crossings.

Paragliding

Interlaken’s paragliding is reckoned among the world’s most dramatic… snow-covered mountains, glistening lakes.

Paragliding Interlaken was an organization there at first, greater than 35 years in the past, and reckons to run 40,000 flights yearly with as much as 190 every day.

From their foremost avenue workplace it’s a reasonably 20-minute hairpin experience up the mountain to a south-facing (and, for us, grassy) slope.

5 minutes of laying the equipment out, then I used to be strapped right into a sling, pilot behind me, operating down till the surprisingly balmy February breeze crammed the ‘chute and we have been off.

Nick paragliding…. then we have been off! – Picture © PlanetSKI/Nick Dalton

Pilot Mike, an area, steered us right down to skim a tree-faced cliff, twirled us over city and river, selfie stick waving.

A 15-minute thrill experience dropping a number of thousand toes encircled by snowy peaks then as we headed down near our resort.

I agreed to a gymnastic end… twists, turns and toes flying in all instructions, earlier than dropping gently on to the glass.

Paragliding… up within the air – Picture © PlanetSKI/Nick Dalton

Kayaking

Now, I’m not identified for my kayak abilities, however this was great.

A short bus experience (free with the complimentary vacationer card) and I used to be at Lake Brienz.

It was 9.30am, the solar hadn’t topped the mountains and it was chilly, even within the watertight swimsuit masking from toes to neck.

Kayak on Lake Brienz – Picture © PlanetSKI/Nick Dalton

Hightide Kayak Faculty’s  Patricia led our group into the center of the lake and the world modified because the solar popped up.

We gently paddled into the Aare, then adopted the cliffs on the lake’s far facet to a little bit chapel the place we sat with tea and biscuits.

Extra paddling then again to the little seashore the place we wallowed within the chilly water to indicate simply how waterproof our fits have been.

Kayak on Lake Brienz – Picture © PlanetSKI/Nick Dalton

Raclette Rafting

Wild and wacky, consuming molten cheese whereas being rowed round within the darkness on an inflatable raft.

Room for eight, every with their very own mini range, melting copious thick slices of raclette cheese.

Departing from the identical seashore because the kayaking, our early night dinner underneath the celebrities was led by Dave, a wide-eyed New Zealander who manned the oars, pausing solely to get the chilled white wine out from underneath the desk that each one however crammed the craft.

There was a crazed really feel as, in ski gear and underneath blankets, we made our haphazard method.

Organising firm, Out of doors, additionally has a daytime Chocolate Fondue Float… choccy dunking together with wine (or tea, should you should).

Raclette Raft – Picture © PlanetSKI/Nick Dalton

Raft View – Picture © PlanetSKI/Nick Dalton

Jungfraujoch

“The Prime Of Europe” is the slogan, a prepare experience by means of the Eiger and to a viewpoint 3,454m up the Jungfrau, Europe’s highest railway station.

Regardless of what number of occasions you do it, the journey is outstanding – electrical trains now however they’ve been doing it since 1912.

Grindelwald Station – Picture © PlanetSKI/Nick Dalton

It’s a splendid time out with exterior views over the Unesco-listed Aletsch glacier, the Alps’ largest – 22km lengthy – and a panorama of France, Germany and Italy.

Indoors, there’s an ice palace, tunnels, ice sculptures, retailers and eating places.

Lower than an hour to the highest from Grindelwald Terminal, beginning with the Eiger Specific gondola, and the identical once more from Interlaken Ost rail station.

Practice Time

One in every of Switzerland’s most scenic rail journeys is the Lucerne-Interlaken Specific, a close to two-hour experience, carriages which might be principally home windows for views of six lakes, beginning with Lake Brienz, ending with Lake Lucerne.

Discover Lucerne’s refined streets or simply go (and are available again) for the experience.

There are waterfalls, rivers, a cogwheel part over 1,000m Brunig Cross and steep gradients that make your soup lean dangerously should you’re having lunch within the wonderful however unfussy ding automotive.

Particular, but a daily prepare – and it’s on the Swiss Journey Cross all-in ticket.

Verdict:

It’s easy – don’t do one with out the opposite!

Cut up per week between Grindelwald and Interlaken, or go for a long-weekend break only for the actions.

There’s an excessive amount of enjoyable right here to only persist with snowboarding – however the snowboarding’s too good to offer it up for different issues.

Maybe, take two journeys.

FACT BOX

*Grindelwald-Wengen ski space is open till April 26, 2026. *Grindelwald-First is open till April 6, 2026.*Murren ski space is open till Could 3, 2026.*Discover out extra about snowboarding within the Jungfrau Ski Area, together with raise move costs, in addition to Jungfraujoch tickets, CLICK THIS LINK*For Outlook Raclette Rafting and different actions together with night time sledding with fondue, skydiving and be taught to ski and snowboard packages CLICK THIS LINK*For year-round Hightide Kayak Faculty excursions CLICK THIS LINK*For year-round paragliding and different actions together with jet boat journeys from Paragliding Interlaken CLICK THIS LINK*Swiss Journey Cross choices and costs may be discovered right here CLICK THIS LINK*For extra on the Lucerne-Interlaken Specific, CLICK THIS LINK

Nick Dalton – Picture © PlanetSKI/Nick Dalton

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