Best Summer Camps In Switzerland (Fun In The Sun)

best summer camps

Switzerland is world-renowned for its stunning alpine scenery, some of the best chocolate in the world, and one of the top education systems in the world. It’s therefore hardly a surprise that Switzerland is also home to some of the best summer camps in the world.

Sending your child to the best summer camp Switzerland has to offer will likely be a world-class summer experience that they will never forget.

But Switzerland actually has quite a few different summer camps to choose from, which can make picking the right one for your child a bit of a task.

Luckily, we are here to help and have reviewed the best summer camps in Switzerland to make your search a little bit easier.

ENSR Summer Camp

As every year for the past 60 years, the ENSR summer camp takes place over 5 weeks in July and August in Champéry, in the Swiss Alps. Organised by the Lausanne-based international school Ecole Nouvelle de la Suisse Romande, the summer camp welcomes international students from 9 to 18 from all over the world.

The ENSR summer camp is a great opportunity for young international students to discover Switzerland, make new friends and enjoy an unforgettable experience!

Two programs are available for students to develop their skills and spend an amazing summer time:

  • Language Studies,
Sports and Leisure, focusing on language learning and outdoor sports.
  • Multisports
and Leisure, focusing exclusively on sports practice.

Come discover the Swiss Alps in an authentic Swiss chalet!

Les Elfes Switzerland Summer Camp

Les Elfes Switzerland Summer Camp
© Les Elfes International

Les Elfes is located in the charming village of Verbier in the spectacular Swiss Alps in South-West Switzerland. It provides a traditional summer camp experience with lots of exciting outdoor activities, intensive language courses, and cultural excursions to boot.

The camp caters to kids aged 7 to 18, and the programs are designed for different age groups to ensure the experience challenges kids at the right level.

At Les Elfes, kids will enjoy rock climbing, kayaking, mountain biking, and white-water rafting. They will also receive language lessons in English, French, and German and take trips to nearby cities like Geneva and Lausanne on stunning Lake Geneva.

Kids stay in chalet-style accommodation and share rooms with between 1 – 3 other campers. The camp provides three daily meals, snacks, and beverages.

Les Elfes is an awesome destination for children to enjoy outdoor adventures and make new friends from around the world.

HIF Swiss International Summer Adventure Camp

Hochalpines Institut Ftan
© Hochalpines Institut Ftan

HIF Swiss International Summer Adventure Camp is in the quiet village of Ftan in the magical Engadine Valley in the Swiss Alps and welcomes summer students aged 8 to 16.

While at the summer school, kids will learn three languages (German, French, and English) as well as do a lot of exciting outdoor excursions including hiking, rock climbing, and mountain biking.

HIF Swiss International Summer Adventure Camp also organizes cultural excursions, including visits to Zurich and beautiful Lucerne.

Kids stay in modern chalet-style houses and share with up to 1 or 5 other students and get three excellent meals, plus snacks and beverages.

The camp lasts 2 weeks and is one of the top holiday camps in Switzerland with excellent reviews.

International Summer Camp Montana

International Summer Camp Montana
© International Summer Camp Montana

International Summer Camp Montana is situated in the beautiful town of Crans-Montana high above the Rhone Valley in the Swiss Alps. It is an international camp so your kids will make global connections that may last for their whole life.

This camp is for kids between the ages of 8 and 17. It offers various sports onsite, gets kids into the outdoors by providing exciting outdoor activities like mountain biking, hiking, and rock climbing.

There is also an emphasis on learning languages – lessons are offered in French, German, and English plus cultural excursions to nearby cities and Swiss twins.

The camp lasts three weeks, and kids get excellent food, including snacks, drinks, and three meals a day. They also share rooms with one to three other campers.

Beau Soleil Summer Camp

Beau Soleil Summer Camp
© Collège Alpin Beau Soleil

Beau Soleil Summer Camp is based in Villars in the beautiful Swiss Alps and offers a world-class experience for children aged 7 to 17.

The camp lasts 2 weeks and, like all the best summer camps, its focus is on the outdoors, offering awesome activities in the Alps, including adventure courses, boat trips, hikes, and lots more.

English, French, Spanish, and Chinese lessons are also offered at the camp and you can choose which lessons you want your child to take.

Children also enjoy cultural outings to Lake Geneva as well as the city itself and the wonderful town of Montreux.

The kids stay in love chalet-style houses, sharing rooms with other campers. The food is cooked onsite by excellent chefs, ensuring your kids get a balanced diet. Vegetarian menus are also available.

Institut Monte Rosa Summer Camp

Institut Monte Rosa Summer Camp
© Institut Monte Rosa

Institut Monte Rosa Summer Camp is in the beautiful town of Montreux on the shores of Lake Geneva.

It is more of a summer school than a camp, offering lessons in English, French, German, mathematics, science, and art. The school also has an excellent sports & culture program that includes visits to local museums, cultural sites, skiing, snowboarding, watersports, and more.

The school focuses on academic excellence and personal development for kids aged 10 to 18. The staff at the camp are fantastic at ensuring the kids have a great experience.

The children stay in a modern but lovely building in Montreux. Each student shares a room with 1 to 3 other campers. The food and drinks provided are excellent, ensuring the kids stay healthy and enjoy their time to the maximum.

Brillantmont Summer Course

Brillantmont Summer Course
© Brillantmont International School

Brillantmont Summer Course is an excellent academic summer camp in Lausanne on the shores of stunning Lake Geneva.

The summer course fully takes advantage of life on the lake and in the mountains while also providing world-class lessons in languages, robotics, coding, and more.

Each course is a week long and is open to kids between the ages of 10 and 17. Activities include stand-up paddle boarding, banana boating, pedalo, trampoline, tennis, football, beach volleyball, and arts and crafts.

Excursions include high ropes, mountain karting, mountain hiking, boat trips, hiking, museum workshops, city discovery, and more.

The camp’s accommodation is in a beautiful traditional Swiss boarding school, with comfortable rooms shared between two to four students.

The school also provides three nutritious meals a day, as well as snacks and drinks throughout the day.

Surval Summer Camp

Surval Summer Camp
© Surval Summer Camp

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Surval Summer Camp is an all-girls summer camp based again in the beautiful lakeside town of Montreux.

The camp is open to girls between the ages of 10 and 18 and offers 4 themes each week for the girls to choose to learn from.

These include Culinary Arts, Performing Arts, Visual Arts, and STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) as well as intensive language courses.

The school also teaches etiquette and challenges the girls in the outdoors across the land, water, and new limits. Think horse riding, stand-up paddle boarding, white water rafting, abseiling, etc, and you get the picture.

The accommodation and food is world-class, and the girls share a room with one or three other students during their stay.

This is an incredible summer camp that will boost your daughter’s experiences and education to no end.

St George’s International Summer Camp

St George's International Summer Camp
© St. George’s International School

St George’s International Summer Camp is also located in Montreux, Switzerland, and is open to students between the ages of 3 and 18.

You can choose from day camps (great for the younger kids) or 2-week camps for kids aged 4 to 18. All the age groups are divided up so everyone learns at the same level.

The camp is all about providing kids with new experiences, developing new skills, independence, leadership, and more – all curated according to each age group.

Kids will engage in language classes and do drama courses, sports, and cultural activities too. Swimming in the lake, wakeboarding, stand-up paddle, tennis, visiting museums, and cultural activities are integrated into each camp.

The children stay at St George’s International’s modern boarding school, with rooms shared between two to four students.

TASIS Summer Program

TASIS Summer Program
© The American School in Switzerland

The TASIS Summer Program is located in the stunning town of Lugano in southern Switzerland close to the Italian border and is open to students between the ages of 4 and 18.

TASIS offers numerous different programs for each age group, including intensive language learning, sports, academia, and cultural activities.

Every day involves some intense learning across a wide range of courses to choose from and then sports/adventurous activities. Tennis, windsurfing on the lake, golf, and even overnight trips can be added to the camp at extra cost.

Each TASIS Summer Program is designed for each age group; senior campers will learn leadership skills, do start-up workshops, IB Prep, and more.

It is a mighty impressive program and one that will kickstart your child’s future.

Lyceum Alpinum Zuoz Summer Camp

Lyceum Alpinum Zuoz Summer Camp
© Lyceum Alpinum Zuoz

Lyceum Alpinum Zuoz Summer Camp is located in the town of Zuoz, in the heart of Engadine. It offers language courses, digital skill courses (programming and robotics), public speaking, film, and many sports and outdoor activities.

Camps last 1 to 2 weeks depending on the age of the child and are open to kids between the ages of 8 and 17.

Sports activities include skiing, snowboarding, mountain biking, tennis, golf, team sports (such as volleyball or football), yoga, or hiking and rafting in the beautiful Engadine Valley.

Accommodation at Lyceum Alpinum Zuoz Summer Camp is in traditional Swiss chalets, with rooms shared between two to four students. The camp also provides incredibly healthy food that ensures the kids get all the nutrients they need too.

The camp also offers a variety of excursions and trips, including visits to nearby cities such as St. Moritz and Innsbruck.

La Garenne Summer Camp

La Garenne Summer Camp
© La Garenne International School

La Garenne offers both summer camps and winter camps for kids aged 5 to 17 years old. The summer camps run from late June to the end of August and combine languages and other lessons in the mornings along with sports, fun and cultural activities in the afternoon and weekends.

Located in the Alps in Villars-sur-Ollon, your kids couldn’t be in a more spectacular environment, and with more than 36 activities on offer from surfing to sailing, rafting, sports, hiking, and more, they will have an amazing time and make friends from life.

Kids stay in a traditional Swiss chalet with views of the Alps, sharing rooms with two to four students and the food provided is excellent and super healthy.

The camp also offers a variety of excursions such as cultural visits to museums and sites in nearby Geneva and Lausanne.

Collège du Léman Summer Camp

Collège du Léman Summer Camp
© Collège du Léman

Collège du Léman Summer Camp offers summer camps to 8 to 18-year-olds and is located in Geneva, very close to the lake. You can send your kids on day camp or opt for boarding if you are sending them from abroad.

The camps are all about developing confidence, independence, and social skills across the 2-week itineraries. Kids can tailor their experience and pick from 4 activities of 25 to enjoy at the camp.

The camp offers language classes in English, French, Spanish, and Chinese, as well as courses in science, mathematics, and art. Sports activities include tennis, golf, swimming, and lots more.

The camp also offers a variety of excursions and trips, including visits to nearby cities such as Lausanne and Montreux, and outdoor activities such as hiking and kayaking.

Boarders will stay at Collège du Léman school and are well looked after by the boarding staff.

Rosenberg Summer Camp

Rosenberg Summer Camp offers courses for kids of 6-13 years and 14-19 years, each course is specifically designed for the age group.

Lessons in English, French, German, and Spanish, as well as courses in mathematics, science, and art, take place before lunch while the afternoons are reserved for sports such as horse riding, golf, tennis, swimming, and lots more.

The camp also offers a variety of excursions and trips, including visits to nearby cities such as Zurich and Lucerne, and outdoor activities such as hiking and skiing.

Based in St Gallen, transfers from Zurich airport to the summer school are also included in the price.

Préfleuri Summer Camps

Préfleuri Summer Camps
© Préfleuri

Préfleuri Summer Camps are based in the Alps in the town of Villars-sur-Ollon and are available to students between the ages of 3 and 14.

This institution has been running summer camps for over 70 years where “ Children from all over the world and from many different cultures gather together, make friends, and exchange ideas and traditions”.

Lessons and activities are split amongst age groups with 2-year increments so that the learning is specific to your child’s development. Classes in English, French, mathematics, science, and art are on offer as well as hiking and swimming in the Alps.

Cultural trips to the sites and museums of Lausanne, Montreux, and Geneva are also on offer.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is the most expensive summer camp in Switzerland?

JT Camp (Junior & Teen) is the most expensive summer camp in Switzerland and the entire world. It costs 18,000+ CHF per child for the full 6-week course.

What is the best age to go to summer camp?

The best age to go to summer camp totally depends on the child. Most summer camps in Switzerland are open to kids from 8 to 18 but some even go down to 3.

Spending weeks away from home in a new place with new people can be very daunting, so be sure your child is ready for the experience so they get the most out of it.

How much does summer camp cost?

Summer camps in Switzerland range in price depending on the camp and how long the summer camp is. You should expect to pay between 1000 CHF and 5000 CHF per week.

Written by Ashley Faulkes
As a twenty-year resident of Switzerland, I am passionate about exploring every nook and cranny of this beautiful country, I spend my days deep in the great Swiss outdoors, and love to share these experiences and insights with fellow travel enthusiasts.

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