Kitesurfing in Switzerland

At 1,800 m in the Engadin valley, Lake Silvaplana is the birthplace of alpine kitesurfing and one of the most scenic spots anywhere. The thermal Maloja wind sweeps down the valley from the south-west almost every summer afternoon, hitting the lake with impressive reliability. The dedicated kite beach on the Silvaplana shore, glacier-fed turquoise water and 3,000 m peaks all around make it a bucket-list session — bring a wetsuit even in July.

Windy: May – Sep

The Urnersee — the southern fjord-like arm of Lake Lucerne — is central Switzerland's most consistent inland wind spot. Steep cliffs funnel both the southerly Föhn and the reliable afternoon thermal down the lake toward the kite launch at Isleten, backed by a strong local windsport community. Deep, dark-blue water, dramatic rock walls and surprisingly punchy wind make it feel more like a Norwegian fjord than a Swiss lake.

Windy: Apr – Oct