Gems off the Beaten Path - Excursion ideas

What man doesn't wish to do this? To drive around the white pistes in a vehicle with a lot of horsepower, leaving traces in the snow. Adelboden enables you to do this - in a two-hour crash course it introduces hobby caterpillar drivers to the technical details and practical applications. You practise on the cross-country track, followed by a more difficult ride on the mountain, where you prove yourself in the company of an experienced driver.

Cut the ski short, add some wood - and the Skibock is complete. The Adelboden way to go sledding reminds one of riding a unicycle, but it is easier to learn. And it is much more fun. Especially if one builds the Skibock oneself. Adelboden offers an entire event program where the Skibock is built and tested under expert guidance. After the nighttime sledding party, the "Swiss-certified Skibock builders" are rewarded with a fondue dinner.

The 2-seat chairlift is comfortably upholstered and lifts you to the peak of pleasure. Lounge and deck chairs beckon at fabulous vantage points beside the chillout run. And on the sun-terrace of the Sattelhütte, the Relax-Lounge makes for heart-warming moments - Hotpot included. At the Brüggerhorn this winter season is all about enjoying the piste instead of racing down at breakneck speed. Visitors will find plenty of opportunity to relax.

May we offer you a welcome drink? Every Monday, after 3 p.m., Arosa Mountain Trains offer superlative personal service on the way to the peak. They even send a butler to the piste. Attired in proper style with top hat and tails, a staff member of the mountain trains offers winter sports fans refreshments they can savor without regrets: the colorful welcome drinks are sure to add to the guests' good spirits, but are definitely alcohol-free.

First comes fun, then enjoyment: under the direction of an experienced igloo-builder, "would-be eskimos" learn how to correctly saw snow blocks and set them in such a fashion, that the typical round igloo shape is created. Afterwards, you celebrate your accomplishment with a fine alpine herbal fondue in the wonderfully authentic mountain hut. It is worth your while to warm yourself a bit at the tiled stove, since you will be spending the night in the bracing mountain air, within the house of snow you built yourself.

She really has many stories to tell: the tower warden Marie-Therese Lauper leads her guests up 254 steps to the highest church steeple in Switzerland, that of the Münster of Bern. However, she does take a break: There is a pause in the bell chamber, where "Heavy Susanna", the heaviest bell in Switzerland, sets the tone. And finally enjoy a breathtaking view over the rooftops of Bern at the top of the 101 meter high tower with a glass of hot spiced wine.

He is said to be the most important man in Bern, for all the clocks in the city follow his lead - the timekeeper of the Zytglogge. Every day, while making his rounds, he manually winds up the medieval clockwork of Bern's "Zytglogge" ("time clock"), the measure of all things having to do with time. Anyone interested can accompany him on his tour and can not only listen to a lot of exciting information about the history of time measurement and about this clock, which is the emblem of the City of Bern, but also help wind it.

The old bear pit was the landmark of the City of Bern for over 150 years, and was home to up to twelve animals. Now the furry four-legged creatures have moved to a new, large bear park that has an area of 6000 square meters. Guests can go on a tour of the old bear pit as well as the new bear park, accompanied by the bear keeper. They get to see the new park with its green hilly terrain, which includes caves and the "Bear Bath" in the Aare River. The highlight is the feeding of the young bear couple - viewed from a safe distance.

This private bubbly bath high above Bern's treetops and rooftops is really an exciting experience: Enjoy the legendary culture of pampering at Bern's Congress Center and Grand Hall (Kursaal) in the VIP Jacuzzi. You can relax with a glass of sparkling prosecco. You just have to ring for a private butler, who fulfils your special wishes. Lulled into a sense of peace and relaxation in your warmed bath robe, you can let your thoughts roam free while the evening comes to a pleasant end.

It's not a wild animal, it's not a type of hard liquor - the "Alpuschnaager" is simply a caterpillar vehicle. And it takes the whole family comfortably from Bürchen to the Bürchen Alp or Moos Alp. In the mountain restaurants local delicacies await you, as well as a breathtaking view of Bietschhorn and the next adventure: for the daring take the Ghosky-Sled on their journey down to the valley. The first sled that can really be steered guarantees a fast and thrilling ride down.