Outdoor Winter Alternatives
5 Outdoor winter activities if you do not ski or snowboard
Lenzerheide. Zermatt. Verbier. St. Moritz. These are some of the most famous mountain resorts in Switzerland. Go to any train station during the winter season and you will see countless people wearing ski boots or carrying snowboards as they head to the slopes. But what if these sports are not your idea of a good time? Luckily, we are spoiled for choice when it comes to outdoor winter activities. Because cold and ice is twice as nice…
01. Winter Kayaking
You may be longing for warm days so you can enjoy Switzerland’s lakes and rivers once again. However, summer does not have a monopoly on water fun. In Interlaken, you can take a winter kayak tour with Hightide Kayak School. Great for swimmers and non-swimmers alike, all you need to do differently is to dress warmly (bring some sun protection, just in case, and a snack too.) Hightide provides everything else, including a drysuit and boots.
Winter Kayaking Tours
Tour duration: 3 hours with 2 hours on the water
Included: Top quality Sea Kayak and Sea Kayak Coach, palm`s top of the range Aleutian dry suits and boots to keep us dry, digital photo package and hard-earned cups of tea to warm us up after our paddle.
What to bring: Warm clothes to be worn under the dry suit: Thick socks, thermal bottom top and a thin jumper. Extra layers if very cold, sunglasses, sunscreen (you never know), change of clothes in case you get sweaty or a bit wet.
Price: CHF 130.-
Minimum age: 15 years old
For swimmers and non swimmers
Winter Kayaking Tours
Tour duration: 3 hours with 2 hours on the water
Included: Top quality Sea Kayak and Sea Kayak Coach, palm`s top of the range Aleutian dry suits and boots to keep us dry, digital photo package and hard-earned cups of tea to warm us up after our paddle.
What to bring: Warm clothes to be worn under the dry suit: Thick socks, thermal bottom top and a thin jumper. Extra layers if very cold, sunglasses, sunscreen (you never know), change of clothes in case you get sweaty or a bit wet.
Price: CHF 130.-
Minimum age: 15 years old
For swimmers and non swimmers
Family Fun Sessions / Half Day and Evening Tours
Season: Available in Summer (May – October)
Tour duration: 3 hours with 2 hours on the water
Included: Top quality Sea Kayak and Sea Kayak Coach, palm`s top of the range Wetsuits, digital photo package and entry to the Strandbad Bönigen with heated pools and aqua park on the lake.
Price: CHF 105.-
Minimum age: 5 years old
For swimmers and non swimmers
02. Thermal Spa
Another way to enjoy the water during the winter season is to visit a thermal spa. At the Grand Resort Bad Ragaz, you can luxuriate in a number of outdoor and indoor thermal baths, a variety of saunas and receive massage and beauty treatments. There is also a special family spa where children can splash around, take swimming lessons and host pool parties. If the kids get tired of the water, you can take them to the Children’s Villa for two floors of adventure and childcare.
Ideally located just minutes from the Bad Ragaz train station and only one hour’s drive from Zürich, St. Gallen, and Davos, it’s the perfect way to have a getaway weekend.
03. Fat Biking
Biking may be another thing you may think can only be done in warmer weather. Or, if you really wanted to bike in the winter, you would have to stick to the inside of a fitness center. If you have a fat bike though, you can ride on outdoor trails, through forests, and over rough terrains in wintry conditions. Equipped with tyres much wider than those found on normal bikes, visit the region of Gstaad to partake in your fatbiking adventures. You can participate in the full moon tour in Gsteig bei Gstaad (which comes optionally with bike rental and, at Hotel Bären Gsteig, a delicious fondue dinner you’ll surely be craving after biking away all those calories). In addition, if you’re feeling competitive, enter the Snow Bike Festival, the first snow mountain bike race to receive accreditation from Union Cycliste Internationale, the worldwide governing body for cycling. You can still have fondue at the hotel afterwards; hopefully while celebrating your win!
04. Dog Sledding
You may have a beloved dog who does not like going outdoors during the cold winter months. That’s not the case with the gorgeous Alaskan and Siberian huskies who call the snow their home. The Swiss Mushing Company offers dogsledding rides in cantons Valais and Vaud.
Explore the icy, fairytale-like, alpine landscapes. Dog lovers unite – Mush! Mush!
05. Cliff Walking
Experience the mountains while suspended 3000 meters above sea level and 500 meters off the ground. How? By crossing the highest suspension bridge in Europe on the free Titlis Cliff Walk. Marvel at the astonishing mountains surrounding you and gaze at the treacherous abyss below as you realize you are enveloped in an actual winter wonderland. Of course, that’s not all. Titlis also offers other attractions including Trübsee Snow Park, a glacier cave, and the Titlis Rotair, the world’s first revolving cable car.
