Why canyon in Interlaken
Why canyon in Interlaken
The adventure capital of the Alps
Interlaken sits between two lakes beneath the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau, and it's Switzerland's undisputed capital of adventure sport. The mountains around it are laced with steep, glacier-carved gorges of polished granite and turquoise water — the perfect natural playground for canyoning, and the reason operators here are among the most experienced anywhere.
Abseil, jump, slide, swim
Canyoning is the full-body way through a gorge: you rappel down waterfalls on a rope, leap from ledges into deep plunge pools, ride water-polished rock as natural slides, zip-line across chasms and swim the calm stretches between. It's part adventure, part swimming, part nerve — and endlessly exhilarating in surroundings you could never otherwise reach.
No experience required
You don't need to be a climber or an athlete. Trips supply a wetsuit, helmet, harness and shoes, and professionally qualified guides lead every step, teaching the technique as you go and setting the pace. There are gentle canyons built for first-timers and hard, technical ones for thrill-seekers — the key is choosing the right level.
How the day runs
How the day runs
A canyoning trip is a tightly-run half-day: kit up, get to the gorge, descend it, warm up. Times vary by canyon, but it usually goes like this.
- 01 Base
Meet and kit up
You meet at the operator's base in or near Interlaken, sign in, and are fitted with a wetsuit, neoprene socks, canyoning shoes, a harness and a helmet. The guides brief the group on safety and what the day holds.
- 02 Transfer
Drive to the gorge
A short minibus transfer — anywhere from ten minutes to about an hour depending on the canyon — takes you to the top of the gorge. The Grimsel-area canyons involve a longer, scenic drive into the mountains.
- 03 Descend
Into the canyon
The main event: a couple of hours working down the gorge, abseiling waterfalls, jumping into pools (jumps are almost always optional), sliding natural chutes and zip-lining, with the guides rigging each obstacle and coaching you through.
- 04 Flow
Nerve, then flow
The first abseil or jump is the daunting one; after that most people find a rhythm and the fear turns to grinning adrenaline. The glacial water is cold but the wetsuit and constant movement keep you warm, and the scenery is extraordinary.
- 05 Warm up
Out, changed and back
At the bottom you hike or walk out, change into dry clothes at the base, and are back in Interlaken by afternoon or early evening — usually buzzing and hungry.
The canyons & choosing one
The canyons & choosing one
Interlaken's operators run several different gorges, and they're not all the same. Matching the canyon to your nerve is the most important choice.
Gentle canyons for first-timers
The 'local' or beginner canyons (like the Chli Schliere's easier sections and the Interlaken-area gorges) are built for people who've never done it — lower jumps, gentler slides, more swimming, and plenty of time. If it's your first canyon or you're nervous about heights, start here.
Big, technical descents
Canyons like the Grimsel Gorge and the harder Chli Schliere trips crank everything up: 50-metre abseils, bigger jumps, faster slides and long, committing descents. These reward confident, reasonably fit adventurers who want a serious adrenaline day.
Water, cold and wetsuits
The water is glacial meltwater and genuinely cold, but every trip provides a thick wetsuit and you're moving constantly, so most people are comfortable. Warmer mid-summer days are the most pleasant; early and late season the water is colder and some canyons close.
Getting there
Everything runs from a base in or near Interlaken with transfer to the gorge included, so you don't need a car. Interlaken is easy to reach by train from Zurich, Bern or Lucerne, making canyoning a natural add-on to a Jungfrau-region trip.
Canyoning around Interlaken, in pictures
Canyoning around Interlaken, in pictures
Turquoise gorges, waterfalls and the glacier-fed rock the sport is played on.
Trip options & what's included
Trip options & what's included
| Option | What it includes | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Beginner / local canyon | Wetsuit, gear, guides, transfer; gentler jumps and slides | The best first canyon — the fun without the biggest drops |
| Grimsel Gorge tour | Full gear and guides, a 50 m abseil, jumps, slides and a zipline | A bigger, more scenic day; a longer transfer into the mountains |
| Advanced / Chli Schliere | The hardest descents — high jumps, long rappels, technical terrain | For confident, fit adventurers chasing serious adrenaline |
| Add-on: photos | The guides' action photos of your descent, bought on the day | Your hands are busy — let the guides capture the jumps |
Ways to book a canyoning trip
Find a canyoning trip for your dates
Each option below books through GetYourGuide with live availability, and the final price shows in your own currency before you pay.
Planning your canyoning day
Planning your canyoning day
Match the canyon to your nerve
This is the single most important decision. If you're a first-timer or wary of heights and jumps, pick a gentle beginner canyon; if you want maximum adrenaline and you're reasonably fit, go for Grimsel or an advanced descent. The listing states the difficulty and minimum age — read it before booking.
Book in the short summer season
Canyoning around Interlaken runs roughly May to early October, water levels and snowmelt permitting, and the peak weeks of July and August book out. Reserve ahead for your dates, and note that trips can be cancelled or moved for heavy rain and high water, for safety.
What to bring and wear
The operator provides the wetsuit, helmet, harness and canyoning shoes; you bring a swimsuit to wear underneath, a towel and dry clothes for afterwards. Leave watches and loose valuables behind. Contact lenses or a strap for glasses are wise, as you'll be underwater.
Fitness, age and confidence
You don't need to be an athlete, but you should be comfortable in water and able to walk over uneven ground. Most canyons have a minimum age (often around 10–14 depending on difficulty) and a weight range. Jumps are optional — you can almost always climb or abseil down instead.
Booking flexibility
The GetYourGuide listing offers free cancellation up to 24 hours before and often reserve-now-pay-later, so you can hold a spot and adjust around the weather. The exact terms and what's included are shown before you confirm.
Planning a canyoning day in Interlaken
Planning a canyoning day in Interlaken
FAQ
Canyoning in Interlaken — your questions
What is canyoning?
Canyoning is the sport of descending a mountain gorge using a mix of techniques: abseiling (rappelling) down waterfalls on a rope, jumping from ledges into deep pools, sliding down water-smoothed rock, zip-lining across gaps and swimming the flat sections. Around Interlaken it's done in glacier-carved granite gorges with a wetsuit and professional guides, and it's one of the region's signature adventures.
Do I need any experience?
No. Canyoning trips are built for beginners: the operator supplies a wetsuit, helmet, harness and shoes, and qualified guides teach the technique as you go and rig every obstacle. You should be comfortable in water and reasonably mobile, but you don't need to be a climber or an athlete. Just pick a canyon that matches your confidence level.
Is it dangerous?
Canyoning is an adventure sport, so there's inherent risk, but Interlaken's operators are among the most experienced in the world and safety is tightly managed — professional guides, proper gear, group briefings and optional jumps. Choosing a reputable operator (as on GetYourGuide) and an appropriate difficulty level, and following the guides, keeps the risk low.
How cold is the water?
It's glacial meltwater, so genuinely cold — but every trip provides a thick wetsuit, and because you're moving and active the whole time, most people stay comfortable. Mid-summer days are the warmest and most pleasant; in early and late season the water is colder and some canyons close.
Which canyon should I choose?
It depends on your nerve and fitness. Gentle beginner or 'local' canyons have lower jumps, softer slides and more swimming — ideal for first-timers. Bigger descents like the Grimsel Gorge add 50-metre abseils, higher jumps and a longer, more technical day for confident adventurers. The listing states each trip's difficulty and minimum age.
What should I bring?
Wear a swimsuit under the wetsuit and bring a towel and dry clothes for afterwards; the operator provides all the technical gear. Leave watches and loose valuables at the base. If you wear glasses, bring a strap or use contact lenses, since you'll be underwater. That's really all you need.
Can I book with free cancellation?
Yes. The GetYourGuide listing offers free cancellation up to 24 hours before your trip and often a reserve-now-pay-later option, so you can hold a date and adjust around the weather. The exact terms are shown on the listing before you confirm.
Not sure which canyon, or whether it's for you?
Leave your email and roughly when you're travelling — we'll send a short rundown of how the Interlaken canyons compare, which suit first-timers versus thrill-seekers, how cold the water is, and what a half-day actually involves.