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Destinations > Europe > Switzerland > Paragliding in Kandersteg

Skydiving Without the Jump

You can definitely go skydiving in Switzerland…

If you've ever been too scared to skydive, but you've tried out parasailing (where you are towed behind a boat while attached to something similar to a parachute), then this would be the next step.

You aren't attached to a boat via a rope like parasailing, but you also aren't experiencing the feeling of falling out of an airplane either. Paragliding is similar to the experience that a person would have after they've opened their parachute when skydiving. It is a rather gentle and slow decent to the ground while getting the views from the sky.

Think of it like walking down a hill and then suddenly floating in the air. It’s a really cool experience!

If you’re planning on trying out this amazing experience while you’re in Switzerland, consider picking up a customs and culture guide before you go to have the most in-depth and exciting experience. You’ll really get pulled into how amazing Switzerland is by reading this affordable, but short, book.

Tandem Paragliding

We signed up to go paragliding through the Kandersteg International Scout Center (KISC), but you can also book an Interlaken Paragliding experience here if you aren’t going through KISC.

After we were signed up, we needed to walk to a location not far down a trail in Kandersteg and meet up with the professionals. We then walked with them to the gondola/ski-lift and arrived near the top of the mountain. We then walked up a hill until we could find a decent spot to set up the paraglider and strap in.

The professionals got everything ready while we waited. They would be the ones who would be controlling it after we took off - and giving us all the instructions as we are strapped to them. Essentially, we are flying “tandem” while attached to them and looking forward. Tandem flying means you are on the front, but they are doing the majority of the work and giving you instructions from behind as you two are strapped together. It’s really easy as you don’t have to know how to do anything on your own.

You generally start off on the top of a hill or mountain and do a slow jog down the hill with the parachute behind you.  Eventually it lifts you up and you're in the air sailing toward some amazing views!

Taking Off and Flying into the Air

It's all done tandem with your paragliding guide strapped behind you. Once both of you are strapped in, the guide will tell you to start running down the hill. You’ll do this for a few seconds until the wing pulls you up into the air and you start soaring through the sky. It’s a very smooth transition - we were expecting it to be a bit rougher or something, but it just felt like we were floating. Once you’re in the air, look around and see how beautiful Switzerland is from this perspective. It’s really amazing!

If you're feeling more daring, the guides can also do exciting tricks on your descent and it will feel more like a roller coaster as you corkscrew down and turn quickly side to side. Just hang on tight, and enjoy the ride! If not, no worries as your guide will not do anything to frighten you if you’re only up there for the views!

You can also go paragliding in Lauterbrunnen as well. We highly recommend giving it a try!

Our Paragliding Video

See the video of our paragliding experience below. Let us know if you have any questions!

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