The best canyoning tours in Ticino
Nestled between Valais and Graubünden, you will find Ticino, Switzerland's 3rd canton of the southern Alps. This colourful place is the basin of the Ticino River which shaped this area to be a perfect spot for canyoning, an outdoor activity that involves hiking, climbing, abseiling, swimming, and even cliff jumping in a natural setting.
From the Alpine to the Mediterranean, the Ticino River and many others carved monumental gorges in the rock, creating the perfect natural playground. Read on to find the tour that best suits your needs and desires and go on a canyoning adventure in Ticino, full of excitement and adrenaline.
Starting with the easiest excursion, we have selected the best canyoning tours in Ticino for you so you can explore the incredibly rich natural wonders this place has to offer. Each activity for beginners features various jumps, abseils and slides, all of them being optional with the possibility of going on an easy route for those who are not quite experienced yet.
1 - Discover canyoning in Vira
For those who are new to this sport, canyoning in Vira is a great option to start discovering this fun activity. Since it is a low-water canyon, people who are not experienced swimmers or families with children can easily take their first dives in the cool waters of Lake Maggiore, close to Tenero and Locarno.
- Highest jump: 8 metres
- 2 Abseils and 2 small slides to repeat
- Duration of the Activity: 2 hours
- Fitness level: Everybody welcome
- Minimum Age: 5 years old
2 - Boggera Canyon Discovery
Boggera Canyon Discovery is one of the best options for canyoning in Ticino, as it is suitable for people of all skill levels, including families with children. It's an incredibly diverse and beautiful canyon that combines emerald-green pools and adrenaline-packed fun thanks to the high jumps, big slides, and a short closed-in section. Don't worry though, everything is optional and there are many ways to rappel or even walk around.
- Highest jump: 6/10 metres
- Several slides and abseils in waterfalls
- Duration of the Activity: 3-4 hours
- Fitness level: Everybody welcome
- Minimum Age: 6 years old
3 - Canyoning in Boggera Canyon, Valle di Cresciano
Another beautiful spot in the Boggera Canyon is the Valle di Cresciano. It has become a mecca for canyoning amateurs, young and old, beginners and experienced alike. On this Canyoning in Boggera, you will find all the usual features with jumps, slides and stunning waterfalls, all of it perfect for an initiation.
- Highest jump: 10 metres
- Abseils: from 17 up to 30 metres
- Duration of the Activity: 3.5-5 hours
- Fitness level: Everybody welcome or occasionally sporty
- Minimum Age: 12 years old
4 - Intermediate canyoning in the Val Grande Canyon
Canyoning in the Val Grande Canyon, near Locarno, is a great stepping stone - pun intended -, as it is accessible for the daring beginners and still fun for the more experienced ones. Here, you will find high jumps, which can also be abseiled down, natural water slides and the mini Niagara, a 25-meter-high waterfall. Enough to send shivers down your spine.
- Highest jump: 10 metres
- Abseils: from 30 metres
- Duration of the Activity: 4.5 hours
- Fitness level: Sporty
- Minimum Age: 12 years old
5 - Intermediate Canyoning in Iragna
Things are about to get challenging with this intermediate canyoning experience in Iragna Inferiore. It is an adventure that is not for the faint of heart, requiring previous canyoning experience to brave the high jumps and thrilling abseils down waterfalls. Canyoning in Ticino has never been more exciting!
- Highest jump: 10 metres
- Abseils: from 40 metres
- Duration of the Activity: 4 hours
- Fitness level: Sporty
- Minimum Age: 12 years old
6 - Extreme canyoning in Pontirone
You will find the Pontirone Gorge in Biasca deep in the Ticino granite, providing you with a thrilling canyoning experience in a cave-like setting. Starting with a beautiful trekk leading up to the canyon, you will soon encounter a spectacular terrain to be conquered. Prepare yourself for some extreme canyoning in Pontirone!
- Highest jump: 11 metres
- Abseils: from 45 metres
- Duration of the Activity: 4 hours
- Fitness level: Sporty
- Minimum Age: 16 years old
7 - Canyoning in Lodrino
Lodrino is the place to be when it comes to canyoning in Ticino. With massive granite rocks, deep crevices and lots of water, canyoning in Lodrino is one of the most beautiful and challenging experiences in the world. It is a technical canyon with elevated abseils, long and fast slides via deep rock grooves, and several high jumps. You will also find deep pools to give you some time to rest.
- Highest jump: 15 metres
- Abseils: from 50 metres
- Duration of the Activity: 7 hours
- Fitness level: Sporty
- Minimum Age: 16 years old
8 - Boggera Canyon by helicopter
If canyoning in Ticino wasn't breathtaking enough, this time you can top it off with a spectacular helicopter flight from the Lodrino airbase to the landing zone at an elevation near 1100 metres. You will fly below the level of the canyon walls, getting a preview of what is awaiting you in the gorge. The natural waterfalls, high jumps and crystal-clear pools guarantee a day of true adventure in the Boggera Canyon by helicopter.
- Highest jump: 16 metres
- Abseils: from 45 metres
- Duration of the Activity: 6-7 hours
- Fitness level: Sporty
- Minimum Age: 18 years old
If you have any questions or doubts about whether canyoning is for you, make sure to check out our complete guide to canyoning. And now that you have seen all the best canyoning tours we offer in Ticino, there is nothing more left for you but to book your spot and start planning the adventure of a lifetime. Imagine the perfect combination of the warm sun and cool water, the Swiss Dolce Vita awaits you this summer!