One more time with the sun on your face. One more time barefoot through the moss, water in your hair and mud on your knees. August is the big finale before fall – and it’s the perfect time for wild ideas under open skies. Before the namuk Outdoor Challenge 2025 slowly comes to an end, we've once again teamed up with Switzerland Tourism to scout out five unforgettable places that smell like sunshine, freedom, and adventure.
We’ll take you deep into jungles of ferns and roots, to gold veins hidden underground, through knee-deep moors, and past wooden walkways and slides under palm trees. Whether it’s cool water, wild forests, or sparkling cliff walls – summer is going all in one last time. So let’s go!
Naturally Different: The Natural Swimming Pool in Riehen (BS)
A swimming spot that feels like a hidden mountain lake – right in the middle of the city? Welcome to the Naturbad Riehen! No chlorine here – just water lilies, clear water, and birdsong instead of noise. Wooden walkways lead you through the reeds, down the slide, and into natural pools that adapt to the landscape rather than forcing nature to adapt to them.
From diving platforms and waterslides to shady picnic spots beneath the trees, this pool is built for both wild little swimmers and tired grown-up feet. Look closely and you might spot tadpoles or water snails stretching through their morning yoga. Perfect for anyone who loves to swim, relax, count dragonflies – or simply believes that water adventures can be quiet too. With wet hair, a sandwich in hand, and the sun on your face.
On the Hunt for Gold: The Gondo Gold Mine (VS)
It sparkles – but is it really gold? Deep inside the mountain, where pickaxes once rang out and around 500 men searched for treasure, a real underground adventure awaits today: the Gondo Gold Mine. Helmet on, headlamp ready – and into the darkness we go. The narrow tunnels whisper stories of the past, and the rock walls still guard a few glittering secrets.
On a guided tour, you’ll explore old mine shafts and learn about the fascinating history of gold mining in Valais. How was gold found in the old days? What remains of the great gold rush? And what does it feel like to stand in a tunnel where people once worked over a hundred years ago?
Now and then, you might spot a shimmering gold vein on the wall – but be warned: only those with patience (and a little luck) will strike it rich. At the historic gold washing station, you'll get the chance to try your hand at panning and maybe even catch a few tiny gold flakes.
And if you don’t? You’ll still leave with something special: a story to tell – and that unmistakable sparkle in your eye that only real explorers know.
Barefoot into the Wild: The Sihlwald Forest Adventure Trail (ZH)
The forest isn’t just green – it whispers, creaks, smells, and tells stories. And that’s exactly what you’ll experience on the Forest Adventure Trail in Sihlwald, the largest natural forest reserve in the Swiss midlands. Here, nature is allowed to be just that – wild and free. And you’re right in the middle of it.
This 2-kilometer loop trail invites you to explore the forest with all your senses: count tree rings on massive trunks, listen to dry leaves crunching, balance across roots, touch rough bark, and feel the sparkle of bog water under your bare feet. Twelve carefully designed stations invite you to climb, wonder, touch, and dream.
No phone signal. No asphalt. No noise. Just birds singing, the scent of moss, and plenty of space to ask questions, explore, and play. Sihlwald shows you how wild forests grow – and reminds us that sometimes, the most magical thing is simply standing still and looking up into the treetops.
Moor Magic with Guaranteed Muddy Boots: The Mooraculum Sörenberg (LU)
Sounds mysterious, doesn’t it? Mooraculum! And that’s exactly how it feels: like a giant adventure playground in the middle of the wild moorlands of the UNESCO Entlebuch Biosphere. At Rossweid near Sörenberg, you’ll find the largest moor discovery park in the Alps – complete with rafts, suspension bridges, water trails, and even a lichen labyrinth.
Here, you don’t just observe nature – you experience it with all your senses: Wade through wet moss barefoot, paddle across a moor pond on a raft, or watch the sundew sparkle in the sunlight. There are over 30 stations for exploring, playing, and experimenting – from the Dragonfly Lounge to the Moor Bathing Island.
Perfect for curious little feet and big nature questions – and for anyone who thinks that mud between your toes is a summer must. Tip: The Sundew Trail, which is stroller-friendly, takes you right through this world of wonder – with views of meadows, forests, and maybe even a troll footprint or two in the moss.
A Visit with Cows, Chickens & Farm Dogs: Sleeping on a Swiss Farm
What does freshly cut hay smell like? Who sneaks through the barn at night? And what exactly does a farmer do before breakfast? If you’re curious, trade the hotel for a hayloft – and discover what real farm life feels like.
At Agrotourism Switzerland, you’ll find farms where you can sleep in straw, stay in cozy holiday flats with mountain views, or even spend the night in a treehouse. In the morning, the rooster crows (more or less on time). During the day, there might be a tractor waiting for a co-pilot – or a goat waiting for cuddles. Sometimes you can help with the feeding, other times you just watch. But there’s always something to discover: clucking chickens, humming tractors, or dew sparkling on the grass.
Perfect for anyone who loves to tiptoe barefoot across the yard, collect fresh eggs like treasures, and fall asleep where the fox might just whisper a soft “good night.”
