What to Bring to Your Interlaken Adventure
Your tour is booked. Now for the details: where do you meet us? What goes in your bag? What can you safely leave at the hotel? This page answers every practical question so that on the day itself, you can focus entirely on the good stuff.
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Before You Go
Eat a proper breakfast. Energy makes the difference, especially on full-day tours. Tuck a few snacks into your bag too. You will be glad you did.
Know your meeting point. Most activities start from our main hub, the OUTDOOR Base in Wilderswil (Industriestrasse 17), a short ride from central Interlaken.
Getting there:
- Bus: The Adventure Bus (Line 108) stops directly at the Base (Wilderswil Eichelti). About 10 minutes from Interlaken.
- Train: From Interlaken Ost, take the train towards Lauterbrunnen or Grindelwald, get off at Matten b. Interlaken. 5-minute walk from there.
- Car: Paid parking available at the Base. Alternative: Park & Ride in Matten.
Some activities have different meeting points (the Via Ferrata, for example, meets at Intersport Mürren). Check the Location Finder and your booking confirmation email.
Be on time. Shuttles leave on schedule. A few minutes early is always a good idea.
Check the weather. Most tours run in almost any conditions, but knowing what is coming helps you pack right. Up here, layers are your best strategy. Always imagine it slightly colder than what the forecast says: flying through the air, getting out of the water, or waiting in the shade feels different from standing in the sun in Interlaken.
Summer Activities (April to October)
Season: April to October
The water is cold. Properly cold. Your wetsuit handles it, but the first few seconds still get a reaction. That is part of it. You climb, slide, jump and rappel through a canyon of rock and water. Changing often happens outdoors, so wear your swimwear underneath your clothes before you arrive.
Provided: Wetsuit, neoprene jacket, neoprene shoes, life jacket, helmet, harness. Grimsel and Chli Schliere tours include a light lunch.
Bring: Warm clothes to change into afterwards, cash for video packages.
Don't bring: Cameras, phones (including waterproof ones), jewellery, watches. More info on cameras.
Good to know: Glasses are fine with a sport strap to keep them secure.
Season: May to September
Paddling, waves, teamwork, and yes: you will get wet. That is the point. Your wetsuit keeps the cold at bay, but having warm, dry clothes waiting for you afterwards feels like the best reward of the day.
Provided: Wetsuit, neoprene jacket, neoprene shoes, life jacket, helmet.
Bring: Warm clothes to change into afterwards, cash for photo packages (a photographer joins the tour).
Don't bring: Cameras, phones (including waterproof ones), jewellery, watches. More info on cameras.
Good to know: Glasses are fine with a sport strap to keep them secure.
Season: Year-round
A 15-minute scenic flight over Lake Thun and Lake Brienz, the door opens at 4,000 metres, and then 45 seconds of freefall with the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau right there in front of you. The view is not a backdrop. It is the whole point.
Provided: Jumpsuit, goggles, tandem equipment, transport to Reichenbach airfield.
Bring: Sturdy footwear (no heels, no flip-flops), cash for photo/video packages. In winter: warm layers under your jumpsuit. Full winter packing guide: How to dress for a skydive at 13,000 feet.
Good to know: Up to 8 tandems can jump from the same plane, so your whole group can fly together. Total duration including transport: approx. 3 to 3.5 hours. Cameras available through official packages only. More info on cameras.
Season: April to October (Bungee), April to November (Canyon Swing)
The bungee: you stand in a gondola at 1,350 metres above sea level. Below you, a deep green mountain lake and 134 metres of air. Then you jump. The canyon swing sends you into freefall into the Grindelwald Glacier Gorge, reaching 120 km/h. Either way: bring something to eat. The bungee day including transport can take up to 5 hours, and waiting at altitude makes you hungry.
Provided: Harness, full jump equipment.
Bring: Something to eat, extra warm layers for while you wait.
Don't bring: Cameras, jewellery, loose items. More info on cameras.
Good to know: Photo and video packages are available on-site. It can get cold while you wait for everyone to jump, so that extra layer pays off.
Season: April to October (summer), November to March (winter paragliding)
You launch from Beatenberg and float for 10 to 20 minutes above Interlaken: Lake Thun to your left, Lake Brienz to your right, the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau behind you. Landing is on the Höhematte meadow in the centre of town. The air is noticeably colder up there than on the ground, even on a warm day. Dress for wind, not for sunshine.
With hanggliding, your pilot shapes the flight around what you want: calm and gliding, or with more movement. You can leave your camera and phone in the bus and pick them up after landing.
Provided: Helmet, harness, warm clothing if needed, transport to the launch site.
Bring: Sturdy footwear (no flip-flops, no heels), cash for the photo/video service (CHF 40 for paragliding).
Don't bring: Large cameras for the flight. Own cameras are not permitted at launch.
Good to know: Maximum weight for Paragliding Big Blue: 100 kg (80 kg for the 07:15 and 16:45 flights). Photo and video available through the official service. More info on cameras.
Season: April to October
Full speed across Lake Brienz, past Iseltwald and the Giessbach Falls, with 360-degree spins and tight turns. Your captain tells you what you are seeing along the way. Front seats get wet. That is not a bug.
Provided: Splash jackets, life jackets.
Bring: Sunscreen, sunglasses.
Good to know: A video of the tour is available to purchase (CHF 29). Total time on the water: approx. 50 minutes.
Season: April to October
Beams, ropes, suspension bridges and zip-lines through the forest at up to 23 metres above the ground. 14 courses, from easy to genuinely challenging. Most people want to go again.
Provided: Harness, helmet, safety equipment, guided introduction.
Bring: Sturdy closed-toe shoes (no flip-flops), comfortable clothing, camera (allowed), cash for snacks.
Don't bring: Scarves, long coats (anything that reaches the knees).
Good to know: Children from 1.10 m height can join with a supervising adult on 2 courses. Lockers available for valuables. BBQ area on-site.
Season: Year-round
Hidden trails, mountain panoramas, local food stops along the way. This is not a workout. It is a relaxed way to discover the region with a bit of tailwind. Everyone comes back in a good mood.
Provided: E-bike, helmet.
Bring: Sunglasses, light rain or wind jacket, camera (allowed), sturdy footwear.
Good to know: Minimum age 16. You need to be comfortable riding a bike. Total duration: approx. 2.5 hours.
Season: May to October
About two hours paddling on Lake Brienz: along steep cliffs, past hidden beaches, with Ringgenberg Castle in the distance. No experience needed. Your guide explains everything, sets the pace, and takes photos along the way that are yours to keep.
Provided: Kayak, paddle, life jacket, guided tour, photos by the guide included.
Bring: Sports clothing that can get wet, sturdy footwear, sun protection.
Good to know: Total duration approx. 3 hours. No experience required.
Season: Year-round
Bouldering close to the ground, then clipping in and seeing how high you want to go. You quickly realise it is more about reading the wall than raw strength. Surprisingly satisfying, even with zero experience.
Provided: Climbing equipment (harness, shoes, belay device), guided introduction.
Bring: Comfortable sports clothing, water bottle.
Don't bring: Jewellery, watches.
Good to know: Wednesdays only at 6:15 PM. Minimum age 12. Under 15s must be accompanied by an adult. Under 18s need written parental consent. Meeting point: Orbit climbing hall at the OUTDOOR Base.
Season: Late April to November
Walls of rock rising 300 metres above you, the sound of glacier water below, and a 170 m² net suspended over the gorge you can actually lie on. One of those rare places that feels both completely calm and a little breathless at the same time.
Provided: Entry ticket, guided path.
Bring: Weatherproof jacket, sturdy shoes, camera (allowed).
Good to know: Total duration 1 to 2 hours, approximately 2 km return. Runs in almost any weather.
Season: June to October
Six hundred metres of rock face beneath your feet. You clip along the steel cable, cross narrow ledges, a tyrolean traverse and a suspension bridge above the Mürren stream. Your mountain guide knows every metre of the route.
Provided: Via ferrata kit, helmet, harness, mountain guide.
Bring: Sturdy ankle-support hiking boots, sun protection, water, snacks, weatherproof jacket.
Don't bring: Flip-flops, heavy backpacks.
Good to know: Groups of max. 8 people. Good fitness required. Meeting point: Intersport Mürren. Departures at 9:10 AM and 2:10 PM.
Season: May to October
You stand on the largest glacier in the Alps, roped to your mountain guide, crampons under your feet. Around you: silence, ice and a vastness that is hard to put into words. It is cold up there even in summer. The reflection off the snow is strong. Pack accordingly.
Provided: Crampons, rope, mountain guide.
Bring: Warm clothing (multiple layers), sturdy mountain boots, sunglasses, high-factor sunscreen, snacks, water, and your Jungfraujoch train ticket (booked separately from Jungfrau Railways).
Good to know: Minimum age 14. Departure 9:45 AM. Full-day experience. The Jungfraujoch train ticket is not included and must be booked separately.
Winter Activities (December to March)
Season: December to March (depending on snow conditions)
First turns in the snow, with an instructor who knows how to get beginners balanced without overwhelming them. The Bodmi Arena in Grindelwald is your classroom. The Eiger is the view.
Provided: Transfers, skis or snowboard, boots, helmet, transport to the slopes, Bodmi Arena lift ticket.
Bring: Ski gloves, ski trousers, jacket, sunglasses or ski goggles, sunscreen, money for lunch, camera (allowed).
Good to know: Equipment can be rented at the OUTDOOR Shop. Temperatures shift throughout the day. Layers are the smartest strategy.
Season: December to March (depending on snow conditions)
Off at 6 PM, sled in hand, through snowy forests in the light of the moon or the stars. Quieter than you would expect, and more beautiful. Kids from age 10 are welcome.
Provided: Sled, professional guides, transport, gondola ticket.
Bring: Warm winter clothing, gloves, ski trousers, jacket, sturdy winter boots.
Good to know: Children from age 10 (under 12 with a supervising adult). Total duration: approx. 3 hours. Equipment rental available at the OUTDOOR Shop.
Season: December to March (depending on snow conditions)
On snowshoes, you reach places most people never see: quiet trails through snow-covered forest, deep silence, fresh footprints in untouched snow. No experience needed. Your guide shows you how it works within the first few minutes.
Provided: Snowshoes, professional guides, transport, gondola ticket, snacks and drinks.
Bring: Ski gloves, ski trousers and jacket, sunglasses or ski goggles, camera (allowed), sturdy winter boots.
Good to know: No experience required. Total duration approx. 3 hours. Equipment rental available at the OUTDOOR Shop.
Season: December to March (depending on snow conditions)
First through the winter forest on snowshoes, then fondue in a mountain hut with the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau as your backdrop, then back down to the valley on a sled. Three hours of movement, one hour of melted cheese, the best possible order for a winter day.
Provided: Snowshoes, sled, mountain boots if needed, professional guides, transport, gondola ticket, fondue lunch.
Bring: Ski gloves, ski trousers and jacket, sunglasses or ski goggles, camera (allowed), sunscreen, warm spare clothes.
Good to know: Total duration: 5 to 6 hours. Start time: 9:30 AM. Equipment rental available at the OUTDOOR Shop.
Season: November to March
Cold air on your face, a crystal-clear view of the winter landscape below. Paragliding in winter is calmer than in summer and has its own kind of beauty. The mountains look bigger when there is snow.
Provided: Helmet, harness, transport to the launch site in Beatenberg, warm clothes and boots if needed.
Bring: Warm, windproof clothing, sturdy boots, cash for the photo/video service.
Don't bring: Large cameras for the flight.
Good to know: Maximum weight 100 kg. Flight time: 10 to 20 minutes. Landing on the Höhematte in central Interlaken. Total duration approx. 1.5 hours. Photo and video available through the official service. More info on cameras.
Skydiving in Winter
Season: Year-round
Same jump, different scenery. In winter, the alpine landscape takes on another dimension: white peaks in every direction, 45 seconds of freefall with the whole world below you. Warm layers under your jumpsuit make all the difference.
Good to know: Full winter packing guide: How to dress for a skydive at 13,000 feet.
A Note on Cameras
A lot of guests ask whether they can bring their own camera or GoPro. The answer depends on the activity: for water sports like canyoning and rafting, personal cameras are not permitted. For jump activities, clear safety rules apply. The full breakdown is here: Cameras on OUTDOOR Activities.