ADVENTURES IN SWITZERLAND

Be it up in the mountains or down by a lake, Switzerland offers thousands of ways to spend a great day out. Business Mir selected some of Switzerland’s most enjoyable activities for weekends and holidays “away from it all”.

Going for gold It’s been said that gold lies at the end of the rainbow, although no one is quite sure that any has been found there yet. The River Aubonne in Vaud is one place where finding gold is guaranteed. Owner Patrick Jan shares his passion for gold-panning by presenting various techniques for finding gold as well as information on minerals including gold, garnet and magnetite. Visitors are provided with a unique opportunity to experience the excitement of hunting for gold.Jan Orpaillage: 1170 Aubonne www.jan-orpaillage.com A high altitude hot-air balloon ride At Château d’Oex, everyone’s dream of flying high can come true with a 1-hour hot air balloon flight at 3500 metres above sea level! Passengers can expect spectacular views of the Swiss Plateau and surrounding lakes Geneva and Neuchâtel along with panoramic vistas of the Swiss Alps. It’s the perfect choice for family fun as Easyballoon’s experienced professional pilots welcome groups of 4 to 6 passengers per trip.Hot air ballooning: Philippe Collet CH-1008 Jouxtens-Mézery +41 79 651 81 19 www.easyballoon.ch Fun at the chocolate factory Enjoy a tasty trip on the “Train du Chocolat” which departs from Montreux and crosses Canton Friboug’s typical Swiss landscapes. The first stop takes passengers to visit the picturesque village of Gruyères and includes a tour of a traditional Swiss dairy which produces the region’s world-famous Gruyère cheese. The train goes on to Broc’s Cailler chocolate factory, where passengers learn about the history of Swiss chocolate and enjoy a tasty tour of Switzerland’s most famous treat. The journey guarantees a multitude of everlastingly sweet memories.Train du Chocolat: Rail Center GoldenPass Services 1820 Montreux T. +41 840 245 245 www.goldenpass.ch Sleeping in the trees Just above Le Locle, Les Nids makes spending a night in the woods a unique experience. Four fully equipped bungalows built in the middle of a forest are perched between 5 and 8 meters above the ground. These charming tree houses offer couples a perfect romantic weekend escape for cuddling while being rocked to sleep by the wind. As two of the bungalows can sleep up to 4 people, “les Nids” also gives its guests the opportunity to enjoy a fun overnight excursion with family or friends. Ramps and stairs ensure easy access to these cosy “nests”… Les Nids: 2400 Le Locle T. +41 32 931 32 59 www.lesnids.ch 100 metres under ground Visit the Réclère caves in Canton Jura and view a spectacular array of stalactites and stalagmites. The 1.5 kilometre tour at 100 metres beneath the earth’s surface provides the opportunity to see Switzerland’s biggest stalagmite, which is 15 meters high. After visiting the caves, be sure to stop at Prehisto-Parc and admire 45 life-sized model dinosaurs while wandering along the attraction’s 2-kilometre walking tour.The Réclère caves: 2912 Réclère T. +41 32 476 61 55 www.prehisto.ch