Wildlife watching experiences

In the Grande Cariçaie, some spots are known by experts for their frequent visits from beavers. Why not spend an evening on their trail?

Watching birds is a fascinating and relaxing pastime. You just need a little time and patience.

In and around Urnäsch seven Adventure Farms offer visitors various opportunities to experience what it is like to live in the countryside in Appenzell. One of them is the small farm Alp Nasen, where the farmer makes his cheese in the summer.

For visitors, it’s an undiscovered gem, for local residents an annually recurring highlight: As soon as the first grass sprouts in the valley, the ibexes of the Albris colony migrate towards Pontresina and can be observed grazing, basking in the sun or playfully fighting at the upper end of the village. And best of all: With its new Ibex Paradise, Pontresina pays special tribute to the “King of the Alps” starting this spring.

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

Barren highland moors, flower-filled lowland fens and unspoiled moorlands are a treat for the senses! Moors stretch out as far as the eye can see. Nowhere else in Switzerland has as much national protected moorlands in one small area than Entlebuch.

In the Val Trupchun, in the Engadine region, you will find the Swiss National Park. This place is teeming with unspoiled natural life, wild animals and paths much loved by families. To get to it, there is a little train called the “Express Parc Naziunel”.

The Bolle di Magadino around the estuaries of the Ticino and Verzasca rivers in the Upper Lago Maggiore is among Europe’s important meadow landscapes.

The special topography of this mountain pass offers experienced hikers many opportunities for bird watching, especially during the fall migration between August and October.

A stork's nest to take hold of: Even today, the storks really do perch in their nests on the high roofs of the farmhouses in Altreu. Since 1948, the Altreu stork colony has endeavoured to ensure the welfare of these birds. Sometimes more than a hundred storks live there.

Discover Liechtenstein on the wings of an eagle. The Galina Falconry Centre in Malbun offers visitors a unique hands-on experience with a golden eagle.

There are many marmots to be found in Spielboden near Saas-Fee, sometimes hiding in their burrows, but often coming out to greet visitors.

A ride in a cable car, a legendary hiking trail, a summit at sunrise and a rustic mountain hut where you can even make Alpine cheese – the perfect mountain hike experience awaits on the Fluonalp above Lake Lungern!

The Silberweide nature reserve provides a unique view of the fascinating flora and fauna found in the Greifensee region.

Red deer, ibex, chamois and marmots abound in Val Trupchun in the Swiss National Park, a paradise for animal watchers. Lucky visitors may also spot bearded vultures or golden eagles. Some 500 red deer live in Val Trupchun during summer; their cries echo through the valley during the September rutting season. Guides accompany guests for 6-7 hours, showing them the animals through a telescope.

Ready to take off and experience one-of-a-kind views from Switzerland’s highest vantage point? A hot air balloon flight is definitely a memorable adventure and offers the best views over the city of Geneva.

Explore and discover the mountain forests in the Parc Ela together with Evla the golden eagle: with its different research equipment and a forest diary, the mountain forest goodie bag contains everything that is needed for an exciting day out in the nature.

Near this historic town with its richly painted houses thousands of resting and over-wintering ducks can be encountered, especially during the cold season.

At the heart of the Peuchapatte wind farm (canton Jura), this original educational trail will teach you more about wind energy, the wind and the Franches-Montagnes region.

The renowned holiday destination of Laax is home to the longest treetop walkway in the world. The 1.5-kilometre-long walkway, also known as “Senda dil Dragun”, winds between the trees at a height of up to 28 metres. This gives visitors the opportunity to experience the forest and all its many facets from a new perspective.

On the 1.5 square kilometer reservoir lake between Klingnau and Kleindöttingen, shortly before the confluence of the Aare and the Rhine rivers, you can observe water and wading birds easily all year round.

The Rhône Delta on the eastern shore of Lake Geneva is an internationally significant resting place for migrating songbirds and an important habitat for water and wading birds. So far over 250 species have been observed here.

A stroll through Geneva can be easily combined with bird watching.