Switzerland - Home to the Alps
Look beyond the chocolate, cuckoo clocks and yodelling – contemporary Switzerland, land of four languages, is all about once-in-a-lifetime journeys, heart-racing Alpine pursuits and urban culture.
Switzerland's ravishing landscapes demand immediate action – grab boots, leap on board, toot bike bell and let spirits rip. Skiing and snowboarding in Graubünden, Bernese Oberland and Central Switzerland are winter choices.
When pastures turn green, hiking and biking trails abound in glacier-encrusted mountain areas and lower down along lost valleys, glittering lake shores and pea-green vineyards.
View the grandeur from a hot-air balloon or parachute, or afloat a white-water raft. Then there's those must-do-before-death experiences like encountering Eiger's chiselled north face up close or reaching crevassed ice on Jungfraujoch.Most extraordinary of all, you don’t need to be a mountaineer to do it.
Visit lake Geneva, where memories are born and reborn. Maybe it’s the way the sun light shimmers on the lake or the way the sunset hits the trees. Or maybe it’s the amazing sensation of soaring through the air and laughing with friends on a zip line adventure, or a fun filled day on the trails. Or maybe … it’s just an afternoon of pampering and relaxation at one of the many area spas, or taking a stroll on the shore path or in downtown Lake Geneva, browsing in the unique shops or stopping for a bite to eat. Whatever your choice, Lake Geneva offers events, colors, tastes and wonders for each and every season.
The beauty of winter is upon us, music is in the air, and the joy of winter fun is everywhere. Ski the slopes, explore the Ice Castles, take a snowshoe hike through the woods, or skate on a bed of glimmering ice. There's ice fishing for both the novice or the expert, and for the real adventurer, winter zip-lining. If a hot stone massage and hot tub are more your speed in winter, the Lake Geneva area is the mecca of beautiful spas, offering restorative treatments, luxury amenities, and a world of complete comfort.
Credit to lonely planet guide