Family experiences: Nature

Crossing the Schin Gorge between Tiefencastel, Alvaschein and Sils in Domleschg was not for nervous travellers.

Do you know where ibexes and marmots most like to sunbathe in summer?

Ballons du Léman offers several exceptional hot-air balloon flights, from discovery flights to fondue tastings on board a balloon or high-altitude flights. They operate all year round in French-speaking Switzerland.

Goat-Peter lives in Tigignas, a small mountain hamlet high above Savognin where the kids can help him feed the goats and taste the cheese.

Even on the way up from Malans in the little yellow gondola cabins, you can enjoy the view as far as Chur and Graubünden's Rhine Valley. More views await you 1,200 metres further up in the cosy mountain restaurant. Like the restaurant, the railway is operated by enthusiastic locals.

The name Tüfelsschlucht means “The Devil’s Gorge” and this is considered to be one of the most beautiful of the numerous gorges in the Jura. The 2.2km long gorge winds its way along the Cholersbach Stream and is connected by 32 bridges and catwalks.

It’s finally time to head to the beach in Geneva! Eaux-Vives Beach raises the bar, with superb views of the Jet d’Eau water fountain and its new “Anneau Aquatique” ring-shaped platform right over the water, which is a lovely spot to relax.

This wellness complex is both a place for coming together and a place of rest and relaxation. The complex is known in particular for its unique lakeside location as well as its architecture.

The entrance to the Gasterntal Valley leads through the narrow Chluse Gorge. This passageway was used from earliest times. Mules were used on this narrow pass, which is the first steep ascent on the way to Lötschen Pass.

The journey in the big Säntis cable car from Schwägalp across the rocky ridges to the mountain station is an impressive experience in itself. And once you reach the “weather mountain”, the view of six different countries will take your breath away.

A nature experience that really gets under your skin: This is the Wolfsschlucht Gorge in Thal Nature Park in the Solothurn Jura region. It is also an ideal adventure playground for children.

Not far from the vibrant hustle and bustle of the city of Bern you’ll find the Sense-Schwarzwasser nature reserve. Here, large glacial meltwater rivers have dug impressive gorges into the molasse rock.

Lucerne’s lido sits on the shores of Lake Lucerne, spanning a length of over 300 metres.

A trip to the Breggia Gorges is a real time travelling experience. In this part of the Mendrisiotto along the Breggia River you will find some unusual geological formations.

The Schönenbodensee nestles in an idyllic location amid lovely scenery in a protected moorland zone.

An unforgettable experience, pure adventure; that is Flying Fox. On the six courses of varying difficulty you can slowly approach your limits. You cross challenging balance bridges, hanging bridges and tyrolean slides loaded with action.

The Suspension Rope Park on the Pradaschier Mountain is equipped in such a way that even children from ages 10 upwards (accompanied by adults) can have fun.

The Schöllenen Gorge is probably the most legendary section of the historic Gotthard route. On the Devil's Bridge over the roaring Reuss, you can get an idea of how hard and dangerous the path across the Alps once was.

Operated by the Südostbahn railway company, the modern Treno Gottardo travels from Zurich, Basel, Lucerne or Locarno to Andermatt. From there, you will take the Gütsch-Express to the middle station, where you can enjoy coffee and croissants at the Matti family restaurant. Afterwards, you will continue on towards Gütsch by gondola and then hike to the Schneehüenerstock, passing the breathtaking Lutersee mountain lake on the way.

Get away from it all and visit the sandy beaches at Yvonand. When the sun is shining on Lake Neuchâtel and the waves are lapping softly, it is almost like being at the seaside.

The journey from Engelberg to Ristis serves as the starting point of the Walenpfad, a popular high-altitude hike from Ristis to Bannalp. The cable car ride up to Ristis, featuring breathtaking mountain panoramas, is worth the trip itself.

Bathe and dine like the ancient Romans. Embark on a journey back in time to the heyday of the Roman Empire. The Roman-Irish Bath is the backdrop for a sumptuous bathing ritual as once observed in ancient Rome.

Forest bathing is a gentle, guided, half-day relaxation program in nature. It is organized in the parks of Basel (mostly in the Merian Gardens) and in the forests around Basel. By experiencing nature, it promotes health and is a simple relaxation technique.

This suspension rope and bike park is located on the Flüela Pass, right by the “Stilli” bus stop. Enjoy extraordinary thrills and spills on five courses with varying levels of difficulty. The children’s course perfectly tailored to younger visitors.

It’s no wonder that the Moléson has a special place in the hearts of Fribourg’s citizens: the journey up to the panoramic peak is an adventure in itself. Once you reach the summit, you are greeted by wonderful 360° panoramic views of the Gruyère Pre-Alps and the Bernese and Valais Alps.

The pool and spa in the middle of the mountains offers the latest indoor and outdoor pool technology, pure relaxation and fun for the little ones.

The most popular open air bathing spot in Bern. As with all other public baths in the town of Bern, the Marzilibad is completely free. The separate “Paradiesli” and “Männerbad” areas allow men and women to sunbathe unclothed.

A water spectacle of the three-tiered Zillibach Falls in Braunwald. A natural spectacle to behold, especially in spring!

Inspired by the Niagara Falls and created over seven years of painstaking manual labour: the rock gallery of the Roffla Gorge.

Discover the Taubenlochschlucht gorge near Biel/Bienne. Steep rock faces, wooden footbridges and the sound of the river Schüss accompany you through the Bernese Jura. You will experience one of the most popular excursion destinations in the Biel/Bienne region.

This augmented-reality digital game is a new attraction offered by TéléMarécottes. You can play it on your smartphone or tablet while exploring the area around La Creusaz on foot!

In the Areuse Gorge in the canton of Neuchâtel, you cross the Areuse River 17 times on stone arched bridges and narrow footbridges. Between high limestone walls, it goes down 340 meters, from Noiraigue down to Boudry.

In just ten minutes, the panorama funicular takes guests from Interlaken up to its local mountain Harder Kulm.

The Apple Trail and a walking route through the village attest the longstanding importance of fruit-growing in Altnau's agriculture. 24 information panels with puzzles, jokes and questions about apple varieties impart valuable knowledge about the apple-growing region and the rosy-skinned fruit itself. Visitors will also meet Fredi, Lisi and Emma – three appealing apple mascots.

A circular trail leads from Tête-Noire to the tantalisingly named Gorges Mystérieuses – mysterious gorges.

Connbächli is a stream located at Flims, and it is also the official route for cruises of the little “Connschiffli” boats. Families are invited to make their own boat from bark, then follow it for an hour and a half on its cruise through the forest of Flims.