Interlaken Airplane Skydiving: 45-Second Freefall

For most travellers chasing a bucket-list jump, yes. Interlaken is one of the world's top scenic dropzones — Lake Thun, Lake Brienz and the Eiger-Mönch-Jungfrau wall all in the same freefall frame. OUTDOOR has 25+ years of tandem operation, with 4.9 across 585 reviews. At $519 it's the most expensive air activity in the region, so the question isn't whether it's good (it is), but whether the freefall is something you really want to do once in your life.

The booking is about 3.5 hours total, but the jump itself breaks down into three phases: a 15-20 minute scenic flight climbing to 4,000 m, then a 45-second freefall at 200 km/h (120 mph) from 4,000 m to roughly 1,500 m, then a 5-7 minute parachute descent to the airfield. The freefall is the headline; the canopy ride is where you actually look around.

No experience required. This is a tandem skydive — you're attached to a licensed tandem master who handles every part of the jump, from the exit to the parachute deployment to the landing. Your job is to keep the arch position they show you in the briefing and enjoy the ride. Hundreds of first-time jumpers do it every season.

Meet at the OUTDOOR shop at Höheweg 95 in central Interlaken. The operator runs a free transfer to the Reichenbach airfield in the Kandertal valley — a 30-minute drive south. Spectators can't ride the jumper bus; they need to drive themselves or take public transport to Reichenbach to watch.

Minimum age is 12 (with parental consent). Weight band is 40-105 kg (88-231 lb), and minimum height is 140 cm (4 ft 6 in). These are firm — the dropzone manager can decline on the day if you don't meet them. The tour isn't suitable for pregnant travellers or anyone with heart conditions, recent surgery or serious back issues.

Tandem skydiving with a professional operator is statistically very safe — significantly safer than driving the distance you'd cover from Interlaken to Reichenbach. Tandem masters are SHV-licensed with thousands of jumps, gear is checked before every flight, every tandem rig has a reserve canopy with an automatic activation device. OUTDOOR has run jumps for 25+ years with a clean record.

If conditions aren't safe, the operator cancels or reschedules — you get a full refund or another date. Skydiving needs more weather margin than paragliding, so book early in your Interlaken stay to have a backup day. Booking on your last morning is risky; if it doesn't go, there's no time to retry.

Standard 24-hour cancellation window — cancel more than 24 hours before for a full refund. Inside 24 hours, no refunds unless the operator cancels themselves (which they do for unsafe weather). Set a calendar reminder when you book.

No — photo and video packages are extra and decided on the day. Options are handcam (filmed from the tandem master's wrist), separate cameraman (subject to availability, films the freefall from outside), or both. Several reviewers warn that the photo-only package is essentially screenshots from the video; if you want footage, the video package is the one to get.

Sporty, comfortable clothing — leggings or tracksuit, a t-shirt and a light layer for the cold at 4,000 m. Well-fitting sneakers (laced firmly). No heels, sandals, flip-flops or skirts. The operator provides the jumpsuit, harness, helmet and goggles. Leave loose items behind; you can't carry anything in the freefall.