Rafting In Switzerland: 9 Best Spots

rafting switzerland

Traveling to Switzerland and you want to go rafting while you’re there? Then you’ve come to the right place because this detailed guide covers all the best rafting spots in the Alpine country!

It doesn’t matter which part of the country you’re visiting – there’s at least one Swiss river that offers excellent rafting in the area, and you’ll be able to read all about it below. From easy rafting suitable for beginners to some of the most challenging rafting experiences in the country, here’s everything you need to know about excellent and exciting rafting, Switzerland style!

Lütschine River Rafting

Lütschine River
Lütschine River © Wikipedia

The Lütschine River flows through Interlaken, Grindelwald, Lauterbrunnen, and into Lake Brienz, with mesmerizing views of the Swiss Alps in the background. It’s one of the most popular whitewater rafting destinations in Switzerland, especially among experienced rafters.

This river offers grade 3 and 4 rafting (intermediate and advanced), so it’s not something we would recommend for a first-time river rafting experience. Outdoor Switzerland AG is one of the most popular providers of river rafting Lütschine. They are based in Interlaken, so they’re ideal for people who are staying in the Jungfrau region. This company offers a four-hour rafting adventure, with transport to the rafting location. Their prices for white water rafting start at 135 CHF, depending on what exactly you want to be included in the package.

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Rhine River Rafting

Rhine River
Rhine River

The Rhine River is one of the largest rivers in Europe, so as you can imagine it offers quite a few excellent rafting opportunities. In Switzerland, the River Rhine takes you through the Swiss Grand Canyon, locally known as Ruinaulta or the Rhine Gorge.

Swiss River Adventures is the company to contact for Rhine river rafting. Rhine Gorge rafting is by far their most popular river rafting tour, and it’s available from May to October. The tour takes around 4 hours in total, with approximately 2 hours on the water.

It’s worth noting that the company offers this rafting experience with different difficulty levels. You can sign up for an easier tour, which is perfect for beginners, or you can sign up for a more advanced tour if you want a proper adrenaline rush. Regardless of which tour you choose, you’ll experience gorgeous views of the stunning scenery in the area and panoramic vistas of the Swiss mountains.

The prices for Rhine river rafting start at 115 CHF for adults and 75 CHF for teenagers between the ages of 10 and 17.

Landquart River Rafting

Landquart River
Landquart River © Wikipedia

Rafting on the Landquart river is great for more experienced rafters, who want to experience the adrenaline rush that can only come when you’re rushing down wild rapids. Landquart river rafting is operated by wasserchRaft, a water sports company that specializes in outdoor adventures in eastern Switzerland.

Children must be at least 14 years old to be eligible for rafting on the Landquart river, because of the technical difficulty of the rafting tour. All participants must also be strong swimmers and are required to bring their own swimming costumes. It’s possible to choose between half-day and full-day tours, and it’s worth noting that meals and snacks are included only in the full-day tour.

Half-day tours start at 95 CHF (for kids) and 135 CHF for adults, while full-day tours are from 145 CHF (for kids) and 180 CHF (for adults). It’s worth noting that you can only book a tour for a minimum of four people.

Rhone River Rafting

Rhone River
Rhone River

The Rhone River offers excellent rafting opportunities in the Valais canton. Rafting adventures on this river are operated by multiple companies, and they range from easy three-hours adventures to challenging full-day tours.

Whether you’re looking for family-friendly rafting on the Rhone or an exhilarating adventure suitable only for experienced rafters, you won’t be disappointed. Most rafting tours start in Sierre, Visp, Sion, and Oberwald, so it doesn’t matter too much where exactly you are in the region, especially because there are frequent trains and buses between the Valais towns.

The cost of rafting on the Rhone River ranges from 100 CHF to 150 CHF, depending on the type of tour you choose. Most will include a transfer for an extra cost, as well as a discount for the youngest rafters. The minimum age for rafting on this river is 6-10 years old, depending on the difficulty of the chosen tour.

Simme River Rafting

Simme river rafting is quite popular in the Simmental Valley and a great option for families in the Bern canton. Most rafting tours are organized from either Interlaken or Därstetten, so if you’re staying in either of the two towns you can easily sign up for a rafting adventure.

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This is a class II-III river, so most rafting tours are fairly easy and perfectly suitable for families with children. There’s an age limit of 10 years minimum, but it’s worth noting that participants don’t need to be very experienced swimmers. They must be comfortable with being in the water and familiar with the basics of swimming, but confidence and wider experience are not required.

That’s because these are easy tours that last for 2-4 hours, including the time necessary for transport and briefing. Expect to spend an hour or two on the water. The price of Simme river rafting is approximately 100-140 CHF, depending on the tour chosen and the number of people in the group.

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Arve River Rafting

Arve River Geneva
Arve River

Arve River Rafting is a great option for anyone in or near Geneva. The river flows through France and Switzerland and into the Rhone, and most rafting tours take place in France. But some tours take place entirely in Switzerland, allowing you to discover Geneva’s beautiful surroundings.

The Swiss rafting tours of the Arve river depart from Pont de Sierne, which is easily accessible by public transport from central Geneva. These tours include about an hour and a half of activity on the water, for an easy rafting adventure suitable for families and kids who are at least six years old. It’s worth noting that this is one of the more affordable rafting opportunities in Switzerland, starting at around 90 CHF for adults.

If you want a more exciting rafting adventure, head to Chamonix in France. This part of the river boasts class II and III rapids, as well as spectacular views of Mont Blanc. Kids must be at least 10 years old to participate and all participants must be able to swim.

Saane River Rafting

Fribourg at the Saane River
Fribourg at the Saane River

Saane river flows through the cantons of Vaud and Bern, and it’s a great river for challenging rafting in western Switzerland. Most rafting tours on the river depart from Château d’Oex, Gstaad, and Saanen, and you should choose the departure point according to the tour’s difficulty.

Tours from Saanen are generally more challenging and include a minimum age limit of 12-14 years. Participants in these tours must be confident swimmers, and the price is between 115 and 145 CHF, depending on the participants’ age.

The rafting tours from Chateau d’Oex are medium difficulty and last for a total of three hours. They’re moderately difficult tours that feature narrow passages through gorges for a fun and unique experience.

Inn River Rafting

Inn River
Inn River – Image courtesy of Wikimedia

Rafting on the Inn River is an adventurous experience for people of all fitness levels. The minimum age for this rafting adventure is 14 years, and participants aren’t required to have any previous rafting experience. The course is approximately 10 kilometers long for a rafting adventure of 2 hours, but the total round-trip with the safety briefing is around 4.5 hours.

This is if you sign up for the Inn River rafting experience organized by the Engadin Outdoor Center, one of this region’s best outdoor sports centers. They only organize this adventure between June and September, so you’ll have to visit Switzerland in the summer to be able to admire the beautiful surroundings of the Giarsun Gorge while rushing down class IV rapids.

This rafting adventure starts at 139 CHF per person (for adults), and it’s a little cheaper if you’ve got a group of at least 10 people.

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Aare River Rafting

interlaken aare river
Aare, River

Aare is a river in northern and central Switzerland that offers excellent rafting opportunities in these regions. It’s the of the best rivers for rafting from Bern and Interlaken, especially because it is possible to choose between easy and more challenging rafting tours on the river. This is the longest river that lies entirely inside Swiss borders, so there are plenty of rafting adventures to choose from.

Outdoor Switzerland AG offers half-day rafting adventures, as well as a round-trip rafting experience from Thun to Bern. These are mostly easier tours suitable for children who are at least 8 years old, as well as people who don’t consider themselves to be particularly strong swimmers.

It’s worth noting that, even if you are situated in Bern, you will need to make your way to Thun for a rafting adventure on the river Aare.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which city in Switzerland is famous for rafting?

Interlaken is a city famous for rafting, among other things. The Swiss city is a Mecca for adrenaline lovers and outdoor adventurers, offering excellent rafting on the Aare and Lütschine rivers, but also bungee jumping, parasailing, paragliding, and much more. 

Is rafting in Switzerland safe?

Yes, rafting in Switzerland is perfectly safe. The instructors who take you rafting are all trained professionals, and it’s mandatory for all participants to wear safety equipment. Also, there is a minimum age depending on the difficulty of the course, plus it’s not allowed for pregnant women or people who weigh more than 125 kilograms.

How much does rafting in Switzerland cost?

A Switzerland rafting tour can cost you anywhere from 50 CHF to 300 CHF. It depends on a few different factors, most notably the location and the length of the rafting tour, as well as the inclusion of other extras (meals, transport, refreshing drink, etc.). 

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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