The summit of Harder Kulm displays one of the best panoramic views in the city of Interlaken.  A funicular from the valley station takes you to the Harder Klum.  From there, you can choose from several hiking trails, from beginner to expert climber. The restaurant Harder Kulm sits at the top, from whose balcony visitors can enjoy the breathtaking view.  College Backpacking recommends the hiking trail no.76, Harder Kulm round path that guides hikers to some of the best spots.

    Interlaken holds some of the best mountain biking trails, and for active adventure-seekers, packing a picnic lunch and spending a day weaving through the mountains is a great way to spend a day.  Bike rentals cost CHF 25 for half a day, and CHF 35 for a full day.  Bike tours are also available, where an expert guide takes you through the most scenic parts of Interlaken.  Try www.alpinraft.ch or www.natureevents.ch for bike rentals, or check out one of the several offered within the city.

    For the truly adventurous, see Interlaken from 14,000 feet and then jump.  Choose to take an airplane or a helicopter, strap on your parachute, and get a first-hand look at the beautiful landscape.   Prices range from CHF 410-430, and for those who want to watch their friends but prefer not to jump, an observer can tag along for CHF 95. Check out www.skydiveinterlaken.ch for more information.

    Canyoning means hiking and leaping through clear pools of water, sliding down waterfalls, and repelling down the side of rocky canyons. The ravines throughout Interlaken are some of the most popular in the world to explore through this thrill-seeking sport.  For a 3-hour canyoning tour with a guide, it will cost around $100, and the price goes up with the expert level.  Check out these websites for canyoning booking in Inerlaken: www.alpinraft.ch and www.outdoor-interlaken.ch.

    For a gorgeous bird’s eye view of Interlaken and its rivers and mountains, paragliding provides the panorama with a thrill.  Sky Wings offers three paragliding options.  The Sensational, available all year long) has a flight time of 12- 25 minutes (1.5 hours total trip, 9:00am- 6:00pm daily), crosses over the beautiful lakes and mountains, and costs CHF 160.  The Funny is a morning paraglide flight (8:00am) in the summers that keeps you in the air 20-40 minutes (2 hour total trip) over the mountains and lakes, and costs CHF 220.   Finally, The Romanic provides a breathtaking sunset flight (6:30pm) of 25-50 minutes in the summers.  After a 20-minute hike, couples take off towards the sunset for a wonderful view of the city and lakes. The Romantic costs CHF 220. Sky Wings’ website: www.skywings.ch.

    For a thrilling ride through the Interlaken white waters, river rafting provides a great action-packed trip for a group.  Experienced guides take rafters through extreme white waters to calmer streams, depending on the group’s preference.  Rides usually last about 3.5 hours, and expect each person to pay around CHF 100.  For information, check out www.alpinraft.ch or www.outdoor-interlaken.ch.

    Hang gliding is a bit faster and more complicated than paragliding, with the pilot lying horizontal instead of suspended in a harness (as in paragliding).  While hang gliding isn’t as popular as paragliding, it still provides a rush of adrenaline and a spectacular view of the city.  Prices run about CHF 200 to hang glide for 10-30 minutes in the air.  www.paragliding-interlaken.ch offers a hang glide flight, as well as www.skywings.ch.

    Interlaken offers many more activities that will satisfy the most extreme athlete.  The websites below offer boat trips, kayaking, wind surfing, golfing, beach volleyball, glacier walking, mountain climbing and many more adventure sports.

www.surfshop-hangloose.ch

www.alpineraft.ch

www.swissalpineguides.ch

Trains: Interlaken’s two train stations, Westbahnhof and Ostbahnhof bring thrill seeking backpackers to Interlaken from Bern, Geneva, Lucerne, Zurich, and Lugano. 

Address: Hauptstrasse 23

Hours: Metro Bar: 9:00pm- 2:30am, closed Mon. and Tues. in the winter

    Balmer’s provides what every backpacker looks for: an easy, affordable hostel and a friendly, energetic nightlife. Balmer’s Metro Bar describes itself as “a place where locals and international travelers can party under one roof.”  The bar provides a young, student-driven crowd with music, DJs and parties every night.

    Another excellent choice for a hostel, Funny Farm also provides a vibrant nightlife venue.  In the Guinness Tent (May- Sept. 8:30pm- midnight), travelers, students and locals gather around a bonfire to sip drinks and relax after a day of outdoor sports.  The Lounge in the lobby offers a cozy spot to have a drink and watch some skydiving videos.  The Lounge is open from 8:00am until late and features a night of blues music every Sunday.  Finally, the dancers and late night crowd head to Club Caverne (10:30pm- 1:30am), where DJs play thumping club music and backpackers keep the adrenalin rush going.