Paragliding in the Swiss Alps with Kids

Looking for an adrenaline rush that is also kid-friendly? Then look no further than paragliding in the Swiss Alps

Cloudy day? Take a funicular above the clouds to catch some sun.

With an experienced guide, paragliding is no more dangerous than a carnival ride...and a lot more memorable.

The first time I jumped off a mountain, I was as a childless traveler back in 2005. While Mrs. AK really didn't enjoy the experience, it still stands as one of the most amazing things I've ever done in Europe. 

Fast forward twelve years, when planning our first family trip to Switzerland I was determined to jump off a mountain again. Thanks to some good Googling, I found a paragliding company, clicked on the FAQ and my heart skipped a beat reading the "age guidelines" for their jumps.

Open and recommended for children age six and older. 

It is a well known stereotype that Europeans are bit more relaxed about social issues. That laissez faire attitude apparently flows into safety issues. Regardless, I was so excited of the prospect that I had to inquire and confirm.  So I sent a simple email. 

Subject line: Question about paragliding

Body of email: Saw your web site. Paragliding looks amazing. Can I take my nine-year-old and jump off a mountain!? 

Response: Yes. We would be happy to. Children love jumping off mountains and we gladly take them. We even provide a helmet.

Helmets = safety. Even more so in a land where the name "Helmut" is about as common as "Jason" in America.

Game on!

How we made it happen

Paragliding was my top priority for our Columbus Day weekend vacation to Europe. After landing in Zurich, we hopped on a Swiss train that had a special car with an on-board playground for kids and took the short (less than two hour) jaunt to Lucerne.

Day one of this particular adventure was spent climbing the medieval walls, eating chocolate and absorbing the Swiss-ness of the town. 

Day two...Jumping time!

Our plan was to hike a bit and enjoy the beauty of Mt. Pilatus -- a mountain that is near Lucerne -- before leaping off the side of it. This means suiting up in comfortable hiking clothing. Layers are a must, because while it was drizzling and chilly in Lucerne, the temperature drops as you head up into the mountains. We also dashed into a grocery and bought food and drinks for the day.

Watching his brother sail off down the mountain

Our choice for paragliding was Tandem Flug which offers jumps off Mount Pilatus. There are other options within a short distance from Lucerne, but this operator worked best for our needs. And we were excited to take our boys on the Golden Round Trip -- an itinerary that includes boat, cogwheel rail and gondola rides. You can purchase bundled tickets in advance or as you go -- we chose to buy them individually because my son and I wouldn't need the gondola portion -- because we'd be floating down the mountain! 

From our hotel in Lucerne, we walked to the town's main boat dock and purchased a one-way ticket from Lucerne to Alpnachstad on one of the lovely boats that tour Lake Lucerne. This is a beautiful and stress-free way to enjoy the Swiss scenery. It was a bit brisk on the deck, so after a few minutes we made our way to the indoor cafe and bought the boys hot chocolate. 

It's just gravity.

After reaching Alpnachstad, we boarded the world's steepest cogwheel railway. This is by-far my favorite way to get up the mountain. The train doggedly climbs 2,132 meters above sea level, rising above the clouds to reach the summit of Mt. Pilatus.

Perched Atop Mt. Pilatus

Once at the top of the mountain, there are a number of hikes suited to a variety of interests and abilities. Our boys loved the hike through the mountain where they could read all the folk tales about Mt. Pilatus and its dragon. There are also restaurants and a hotel at the summit along with the ubiquitous gift shop and a beautiful sundeck stocked with chairs. After an exhilarating hour or two scrambling around the peak, we parked ourselves on the sundeck and soaked up some rays while we recharged. There's no better spot to enjoy a cold beer.

We spent a few hours hiking and enjoying the crisp mountain air and sparkling sunshine -- so very different from the weather when we left Lucerne! -- but our paragliding adventure was almost upon us. 

As Mommy AK was pregnant, she opted to hang out with our five-year-old. Per the operator, he could have joined in the paragliding fun, but we thought that might be pushing it a wee bit. Instead, he enjoyed an alpine slide adventure as they journeyed down the mountain. 

Are we really doing this?!

Our paragliding guides met us near the sundeck, and then we walked through the procedures. 

Step 1: Put on a harness

Step 2: Attach the harness to the jumping guide (these are tandem flights)

Step 3: Run to the edge of the mountain

Step 4: Jump

It is really that simple. As we were getting ready, the guides laid out the parachutes and a small crowd gathered to watch us jump. I was going first. Snap in the harness, run, jump and fly.

With a whoosh, I'm gliding up and over craggy mount ledges. The rush of cool air envelops you and there is no sound but that of the wind hitting the chute. There is not a cloud above us but a pillowing carpet of white clouds below that were drizzling on the town. 

Bravely, or stupidly, I have my iPhone out filming take off and taking pics along the way.

Floating, flying, flipping through the air for twenty minutes and time starts to slow down. We hit the edge of the cloud deck and suddenly we are dropping through them. Everything is white, and I can't see the blue sky above or the ground below. In fact, I wonder how far down the ground is. Could be 1,000 feet or 100 as far as I knew.

Shot on my iPhone as I paraglide down from 7,000 feet

No idea where my son is either. I assume that he has jumped by this time. Mommy AK told me later that the gathered crowd gave him a cheer when he took off.

After about four minutes in the clouds, I feel a pang of relief when they finally start to thin out and I can see the ground below.

The ground comes up fast now, and three minutes later my feet hit hard on terra firma.

Looking up, I don't see my son. No biggie, but it would be a full 20 minutes before he lands.

Because he weighs so much less, it took him a lot longer to float down.

iPhone at the ready, I film his landing and snap some forever keeper pics of perhaps the biggest smile he has ever had which is now frozen on his face.

So how was it?

If You Go: Tips for Paragliding in Switzerland

1. Wear hiking gear, good shoes and layers: It is usually colder up in the mountains and definitely cold when you are flying through the air. On the day we jumped, though it was sunny and warm up on top of the mountain, it was rainy in the town below.

2. Book ahead of time and reconfirm the morning of: The weather can change quickly, and if the winds aren't right the guides (smartly) won't jump.

3. Decide ahead of time if you want to rent a GoPro or have the guide film you. My son's guide had a GoPro and a selfie stick in his gear so it was all set up and I didn't have to worry about taking pictures.

4. Don't do selfies in flight (unlike me!). You don't want to be the dummy that drops his phone from 3,000 feet in the air.

5. Buy a one-way ticket on the Pilatus train: You'll be jumping down.

6. Take a treat: A bit of Swiss chocolate or a beer for Dad will taste so much more heavenly immediately after you land when your adrenaline is still pumping.