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Added by debndave on October 22, 2012
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It was the Adventure Travel World Summit that brought us to Switzerland for the second time in our lives. Back in 2002we didn’t know much about the country except that it was expensive and it’s a mecca for offshore banking. We reallydidn’t have a list of things to do in Switzerland before going back then. My sister won a lottery through work to stay at aChalet in Chateaux d’Oex, so when she invited us along, we jumped at the chance. We packed our snowboards anddidn’t do anything else besides hitting the slopes and drink wine. It was wonderful.
The beautiful landscape of Grindelwald, Switzerland
We’ve come a long way since our first visit to Switzerland. We see a lot more during our travels and know a lot moreabout the country. We know that all women are named Heidi, everyone owns a cow and when hiking through themountains you’ll hear men yodelling over the valleys.
OK, that’s not true at all. Switzerland is a modern, efficient country that is a leader in adventure travel. The Swisshave come up with some pretty unique things to do when not making copious amounts of money inside their famousSwiss banks and we had the chance to try some fun adventures while we represented Expedia.com as their adventureexperts. And here’s what we found.
Four Unique Things to do in Swi erland1. E-Bikes
Four Unique Things to do in SwitzerlandYou are here: Home » Europe » Switzerland » Four Unique Things to do in Switzerland
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E-biking in the Swiss Alps
E-biking is all the rage in Switzerland and at $4000 – $6000 CHF ($4300 – $6463 USD) why not? When you’re Swissand rich, what’s a few grand on a bicycle? However, a tourist can enjoy an ebike for as little as $15 CHF for an hour orup to $50 (55 USD) for the day. There is no better way to cycle through the alps than on an ebike. It’s the most relaxingway to climb hills and whizz along on straightaways. As you glide through the single lane roads cutting through farmsand valleys without breaking a sweat, you think to yourself “I could ride my bike all the way to England” And people do!There are ebike tours that ride from Zurich to London and I would love to join one.
Dave prepares his ebike after lunch
What is an ebike? An ebike is the ultimate chill out biking experience. It runs exactly like a regular bicycle, but there isan electric motor on it.You still pedal and shift gears as you would any other bike, and you still get your exercise, butyou have a little momentum to help you out. There is just enough battery power to keep from from having to work toohard when climbing hills and enough oomph to let you fly through the straightaways. One thing we learned aboutebiking, is that the less work you put into pedalling, the more efficient the bike runs. Believe me, even the most purecyclists love ebiking, an you will too!
Find out more about ebikes at Switzerland’s most famous ebike manufacturer The Flyer Factory,
2. Trotti Bikes
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Cow feeds in field in the Middle of the Alps
Trotti biking has to be one of the zaniest things we’ve ever done, especially in Grindelwald. Take the gondola up toMount First for a hike through the stunning vistas and a visit to the nearby lake. You can take the entire day there andthen take make your descent a thrill ride instead of taking the gondola. From 2000 meters above sea level, you’ll boardyour trotti bike and race down the mountain on a 40 minute journey back to the village of Grindelwald. What is a trottibike you ask? Simple, it’s a scooter. But these scooters are a little more rugged, they have brakes and the Swiss arejust a little more crazy than other people allowing tourists to zip through the countryside as they balance on twoprecarious wheels while dodging cows, tractors and their fellow bikers.
You’ll find men in suits commuting to work on trotter bikes, tours trotting through city streets as they check out thesights and kids scooting around the neighbourhood. Trotter bikes are hot stuff in Switzerland.
For more information on Trotti Biking, check out Trotti bike Grindelwald buy a one way or return ticket includes for 28CHF. Swiss cards and Swiss passes give you 50% off.
3. High Ropes
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Do you have a fear of heights? Well, the high ropes may just be the thing you need to get over that fear. Hitting a highrope course in Switzerland is beaucoup du fun. There are different levels for everyone. Find yourself clipping in to steelcables as you climb trees, walk over dangling obstacles like hanging tires, balance beams and ladders before jumpingon swings or surfing over a span of open air. It’s a great thrill. You can start off with an easy green route which keepsyou on the lower level of the trees, to the black diamond routes (just like skiing) to the more difficult obstacles andmuch higher course well over 30 metres (90 feet) in the air!
The best thing about rope parks is that most routes end with a zip line! Not only do you get a workout and fun as youtackle obstacles in mid air, you also end with the thrill of zipping down to the ground.
Find out about the High Rope Park at Gantrisch
4. Via Ferrata
Known as the iron route, Via Ferratas date back centuries to help connect mountain routes. Ladders, cable bridgesand wooden steps are attached to the side of mountains where brave souls climb routes daring to look down as theytightrope their way across deep valleys. Don’t worry though, you are constantly clipped onto a cable and never onceare you not attached. It was in World War I that troops used these cables and ladders attached to rock faces to move athight altitudes and now it has gone on to a favourite pastime all through the Pyrenees, Dolomites and of course theSwiss Alps. . Anyone can do it! There are different via ferratas for different levels and even children dangle hundreds ofmeters in the air. Advanced climbers can challenge themselves with higher routes with overhangs and climbs thatrequire great skill and athletics. While it may be considered less technical than rock climbing, it’s still a challenge and itcan be terrifying!
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We tried hard to make our via ferrata happen. I was ill during our pre-summit day on the via ferrata so Dave decided tostay with me to work on his speech (he was one of the speakers at the summit) and then the two times more we triedafter the summit, we had inclement weather one day and then they were fully booked the next. However, we have donea via ferrata before and they are not to be missed!
For a list of Via Ferratas in Switzerland, visit My Switzerland.com
Switzerland is a small country and it’s easy to get around. The Swiss rail system is easy and efficient or you can rent acar to have the freedom of being on your own schedule. You can find all these things to do throughout the country, sostart planning your Switzerland adventure today!
We were in Switzerland representing Expedia.com at the Adventure Travel World Summit andshowing you everything Switzerland. Make your own adventure vacation with ourrecommendations and Expedia’s Vacation packages to Switzerland.
One Of The Most UniqueHotels
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Disclosure: Some of the posts on The Planetd do make us money but we never sacrifice our integrity inexchange for a favourable review.
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11 Responses to Four Unique Things to do in Switzerland
The landscape of Grindelwald is something out of a fairly tale. Such a beautiful place. To be honest I have notseen a more beautiful place than this landscape of Grindelwald. I have not heard of e-bicking before but seemslike a cool idea.
Shalu recently posted..Bhang, India’s holy marijuana
Hi Shalu, you are right. Grindelwald is beautiful. We hiked there for a day and it was some of the mostspectacular scenery we have ever seen. The alps are striking and the countryside is so green and lush.There is a lake up there and forests and there is even a place where all the trees are sitting on the side ofa mountain slope on an angle. Dave is putting together a photo story of the area. It was a photographersdream.
Wow…what an adventure in Switzerland my friends and loved the trotting bikes…would love to try them outsomeday! Thanks for the journey thru Switzerland!!
Jeff Titelius recently posted..ArtSmart Roundtable – the Emergence of Gothic Architecture
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ShaluOctober 22, 2012 at 4:46 pm
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debndaveOctober 22, 2012 at 4:52 pm
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Thanks Jeff. The Trotti bikes are so much fun, especially downhill. We tried them in town too and that wasok, but doing it down a mountain is the way to go. Highly recommend it. I had a big grin on my face theentire way down.
Would love to try ebiking in Switzerland – its the right combo of mountain biking and a touch of added motor!And although I’m not that big on mountain climbing/abseiling I think I could give the via ferrata a go! Beautifulphotos!
Natasha recently posted..Glameating: 5 Amazing Food Experiences in Europe
That’s what we love about the Via Ferrata, even if you don’t know how to rock climb, you can still have athrill. The ebiking was surprisingly awesome. We tried it for the first time in Spain and now in Switzerlandand we’re hooked.
Switzerland is high on my to do list. The E-bikes sound like fun, or the rope courses. I’m not sure about theFerratas. My knees shake just looking at your photos!
Donna Hull recently posted..Sea Kayaking at Refugio State Park
Haha, if you can do the ropes, you can do the Via Ferratas. It’s just like the ropes only higher.
That’s some serious adventure with spectacular landscapes to match – I’d love to tackle the high ropes. E-Bikes are great, they are currently popular in Rio and superb for cruising along the beach fronts.
Addison S. recently posted..Comment on Cambodia Visa by Information on Visa Types for Cambodia «visahunter
The high ropes were so much fun! I’m addicted. I hear we have some in Ontario so i am going to look themup and have some fun. Cool to hear they are popular in Rio too. Looks like ebikes are taking off.
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October 23, 2012 at 7:55 pmReply
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