Is Paragliding in Interlaken Safe — and What to Expect

If you’ve never done it, “running off a mountain under a fabric wing” can sound alarming. In practice, tandem paragliding with a certified pilot is one of the gentlest ways to fly — there’s no jumping, no freefall, and you’re never in control of anything that matters. This guide explains why it’s safe, who’s flying you, and exactly what happens on the day.

The Short Answer

Tandem paragliding in Interlaken is very safe by adventure-sport standards, because the two biggest risk factors — pilot skill and weather — are tightly controlled. Your pilot is a licensed professional, and flights simply don’t run unless conditions are right. No prior experience is required of you at all.

Why It’s Safe

A paraglider is not a parachute. It’s a soft, wing-shaped canopy that you walk off the slope under — it inflates above you first, then carries you down in a long, controlled glide. There is no leap and no drop.

Your pilot does everything. You fly clipped into a harness directly in front of a certified tandem (“biplace”) pilot who handles the take-off, all the steering, and the landing. In Switzerland that certification is serious: tandem pilots are licensed through the Swiss Hang Gliding Association (SHV), which means completing solo pilot training first, then building at least two years and dozens of solo flights of experience, and only then qualifying for tandem-specific training. Many Interlaken pilots have flown hundreds — sometimes thousands — of tandem flights. The established local operators have decades-long safety records.

Flights only run in safe conditions. Paragliding is entirely weather-dependent. Operators postpone or cancel rather than fly in marginal wind or poor visibility, and if your flight can’t go ahead you’re normally offered a reschedule or full refund. A cancelled flight isn’t bad luck — it’s the safety system working. (More on timing in the best time of year to paraglide in Interlaken.)

What to Expect, Step by Step

1. Meet and weigh in. You check in at the operator’s meeting point in central Interlaken, get weighed (it sets the right wing and harness), and meet your pilot.
2. Shuttle to launch. A van takes you roughly 20 minutes up to the take-off at Beatenberg–Amisbühl, about 1,350 m above the north shore of Lake Thun, with the valley opening up below.
3. The briefing. A short, friendly safety briefing — harness, helmet, and the one thing you have to do: run a few steps when the pilot says go.
4. Lift-off. You clip in, the canopy rises overhead, you take a few steps down the slope, and the wing simply lifts you off the mountainside. There’s no stomach-drop — it’s smooth.
5. The flight. Around 10–20 minutes gliding above Lakes Thun and Brienz, with the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau across the horizon. If you’d like more excitement, your pilot can add gentle spirals — or keep it serene if you’d rather.
6. The landing. A soft touchdown on the Höhematte, the grassy park in the middle of Interlaken.

What If I Get Nervous or Motion-Sick?

Tell your pilot — they fly nervous first-timers all the time and will keep it calm and level. Morning flights tend to have the smoothest air, so they’re the best choice if you’re prone to motion sickness. You can also skip the spirals entirely; they’re always optional.

A Word on “Official” Operators

There’s no single official authority running these flights — they’re flown by independent, top-rated companies with SHV-certified pilots. The trust signals that actually matter are high review counts, certified pilots, clearly stated weight limits, and free cancellation. The flights on this site are chosen on exactly those terms.

Ready to Book?

A top-rated Interlaken tandem paragliding flight pairs a certified pilot with free cancellation up to 24 hours before — so you can book with confidence and rebook freely if the weather turns. Check availability, and see the weight, age and clothing rules before you fly.