Tandem paragliding over Interlaken

What it involves

It is a tandem paragliding flight: you sit in front of a professional pilot, in the same harness, and he does all the work. You take off running a few steps down a slope above Interlaken and, as soon as the canopy fills, you are in the air. During the flight you see the town below, between Lake Thun to the west and Lake Brienz to the east, and in the distance the Eiger, the Mönch and the Jungfrau. You land in Interlaken.

You need no experience or special physical fitness: it is enough to be able to take a few quick steps at take-off and follow the pilot's instructions.

Who runs it

Skywings Paragliding Interlaken is a paragliding school in Interlaken with an office on the Alpenstrasse. Its tandem flight is called The Golden Eagle and costs CHF 190 per person, with between 10 and 20 minutes in the air. It offers it in summer, from April to October, and in winter, from November to March, at the same price. In summer you can double the flight time for CHF 90 more, and at any time of year the photo and video package costs CHF 40. For the winter it publishes a CHF 10 discount code on its website.

Paragliding Interlaken GmbH also operates in Interlaken, with an office on the Höheweg, which presents itself as the original company, since 1990. It publishes tandem flights in winter, from 1 November to 31 March, and combined with skydiving or with a speedboat; check its prices on its website.

Duration, times and meeting point

The flight lasts 10 to 20 minutes, but the whole activity is longer: the meeting, the transfer to the take-off, the preparation and the flight. Allow at least an hour. Skywings runs several slots a day, the first at 7:10 and the last at 16:00 and 17:00. When you book they confirm the meeting point and time.

Weight, age and requirements

At Skywings, the maximum weight is 80 kg on the 7:10, 8:10, 16:00 and 17:00 slots. Children under 30 kg can only fly on the 7:10, 8:10, 9:20 and 10:30 slots, when the air is calmest. It publishes no minimum age, and asks those over 65 to contact the school before booking.

The weather rules

Paragliding depends on wind and cloud. If the weather does not allow flying, the school cancels or changes the slot; ask about the cancellation conditions when you book. First-thing flights tend to be smoother and midday ones, with more thermals, bumpier.

What to bring

Closed shoes with a good sole for take-off, comfortable layered clothing and a windproof, even in summer, because it is cooler up there. In winter, gloves, a hat and genuinely warm clothing. Sunglasses with a strap. Do not carry anything loose in your hands: if you want photos, the photo and video package is better.

Combine it

The flight takes a morning and leaves you the rest of the day free. In the afternoon you can take the cogwheel train up to Schynige Platte, which leaves from Wilderswil, next to Interlaken.