Interlaken Day Trip with Tandem Paragliding from Zurich

From Zurich to Interlaken: the road into the Alps

The day starts at 08:00 near Zurich main station. Many travellers search for an Interlaken day trip from Zurich because the town is the gateway to the Jungfrau region yet lies only about two hours away by road. From the coach window you watch the gentle Swiss plateau of farms and orchards give way to the foothills, and then the first glimpse of the high Alps as you approach the Bernese Oberland.

Your driver-guide shares background on the regions you cross and practical tips for the day, so you arrive ready for the flight without worrying about trains, changes or tickets. Compared with going alone, how to get to Interlaken from Zurich by rail involves a change and a timed flight booking; on this trip both are arranged for you, and the coach brings you back to Zurich in the early evening.

Interlaken, the town between two lakes

Interlaken stretches across the flat land between Lake Thun and Lake Brienz, and its name comes from the Latin for between the lakes. Its main avenue, the Höheweg, runs along a vast open meadow, the Höhematte, which has been kept free of buildings so that the snow-covered Jungfrau stays in view from the town centre.

Grand nineteenth-century hotels, chalets, watch and souvenir shops line the avenue, and just across the Aare river lies Unterseen, a quieter old quarter with a church tower and timber houses. Interlaken is also known as one of the adventure capitals of Europe: paragliding, canyoning and rafting all start here. Is Interlaken worth visiting on a day trip? For anyone who wants the Alps, lakes and a dose of adrenaline in one day, very much so.

Tandem paragliding over Interlaken

The flight is the centre of the day. You meet your pilot, put on a harness and helmet and receive a short safety briefing. Take-off is usually from a grassy slope on the mountainside above town, often around Beatenberg, chosen according to the wind. A few running steps and the wing lifts you gently into the air.

Flights typically last ten to twenty minutes depending on the thermals. Below you, Lake Thun and Lake Brienz shine in different shades of blue, the Aare winds between them, and the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau fill the horizon on clear days. If you feel confident, the pilot may let you hold the controls for a moment, or keep things smooth and calm if you prefer. The landing is soft, usually on the Höhematte meadow right in the town centre, where friends can watch you come down.

Lake Thun and Lake Brienz from above

Seeing the two lakes from the air explains the whole landscape. Lake Thun, to the west, is larger and softer, framed by villages and the pyramid of Mount Niesen. Lake Brienz, to the east, is deeper in colour, a striking turquoise caused by fine rock flour that glacier streams carry into the water.

Many people ask about the best time to visit Interlaken for paragliding. Flights run through much of the year, but summer and early autumn bring the most stable conditions and the warmest air at altitude. Mornings are often calmer; afternoons can bring stronger thermals and occasional showers. Winter flights over snowy forests are magical but colder, so wrap up well. In any season the pilot alone decides whether conditions are safe, and a flight can be delayed or cancelled at short notice.

Free time in Interlaken

After your flight the rest of the visit is yours. You can sit on the Höhematte with the Jungfrau in front of you, stroll along the Aare between the two stations, or cross to Unterseen for its small old square. Shops along the Höheweg sell Swiss watches, knives and chocolate.

For lunch, Interlaken has a good range of restaurants, including a few that serve halal food, which is easier to find here than in the smaller mountain villages. If you prefer a viewpoint, the Harder Kulm funicular starts a short distance from Interlaken Ost station, though tickets are not included and you must keep an eye on the clock. Your driver-guide tells you the exact return time to the coach, so you can enjoy the town without stress.