Is Lauterbrunnen a good base for an AFF course?

Yes. Actual drop zones are 60–80 km away in the Mittelland, but the drive is very manageable and your jumps will include Alpine panorama views.

I've seen BASE jumpers here. Can I do that after AFF?

BASE requires 200+ skydives and a dedicated BASE First Jump Course. AFF is the correct starting point — BASE comes much later for those who choose to pursue it.

How much does the AFF course cost?

CHF 3,200–3,800 for a full AFF package at Swiss Boogie or DZ47, covering ground school, all 8 level jumps, and equipment rental.

AFF Skydiving Course
near Lauterbrunnen

From the valley of 72 waterfalls to 4,000 m above the Bernese Alps — earn your Swiss parachute licence with one of the world's most spectacular AFF backdrops.

Find AFF Drop Zones

8AFF Levels

72Waterfalls in the valley

from CHF 3,200Full AFF course

4,000 mExit altitude

AFF Skydiving Licence Training above the Lauterbrunnen Valley

Lauterbrunnen is one of the most spectacular valleys in Switzerland — 72 waterfalls, 300 m granite walls, and the Jungfrau massif towering overhead. This is also the world's leading BASE jumping destination, drawing elite aerial athletes from across the globe. For skydivers earning their AFF licence, the Bernese Oberland drop zones provide an extraordinary Alpine training environment.

AFF (Accelerated Freefall) is the internationally recognised pathway to a full skydiving licence. After a full-day ground school you complete 8 supervised freefall jumps, progressively gaining independence from dual-instructor assistance in Level 1 to completely solo performance by Level 8.

After your AFF levels and consolidation jumps you'll pass a brief theory exam and receive your Swiss parachute licence, valid at drop zones across Europe.

AFF Course at a Glance

💧Setting: Valley of 72 waterfalls, 300 m granite cliffs, Jungfrau massif

🎓Ground school: Full-day theory covering freefall, canopy, and emergency procedures

✈️8 AFF jumps: Levels 1–3 dual instructor, Levels 4–8 single instructor to solo

📋Requirements: Min. age 16 (parental consent under 18), max. ~100 kg, good health

💰Course cost: CHF 3,200–4,500 depending on drop zone and progression

🏅Licence: Swiss parachute licence, FAI-recognised throughout Europe

Drop Zones Offering AFF near Lauterbrunnen

The nearest AFF training centres for the Lauterbrunnen and Bernese Oberland region.

Swiss Boogie — Kappelen BE

~60 km from Lauterbrunnen

Switzerland's largest and most established skydiving operation. Long AFF tradition, large landing area, modern fleet, and regular AFF intake weekends throughout the season.

AFF Info →

Dropzone 47 — Grenchen SO

~80 km from Lauterbrunnen

Full AFF packages, Pilatus Porter PC-6 to 4,000 m, experienced multilingual instructors. One of the most efficient AFF operations in Switzerland.

AFF Info →

From Valley Floor to Solo Skydiver

Ground School

A full day with your instructor: body position, altitude awareness, emergency procedures, canopy control, and landing circuit.

Levels 1–3 (Dual)

Two instructors exit with you and assist in freefall. Master stable arch, altitude checks, and controlled deployment.

Levels 4–5 (Assisted)

One instructor accompanies you. Demonstrate 360° turns, forward movement, and precision deployment.

Levels 6–8 (Solo)

Your instructor follows at a distance. Perform solo manoeuvres and earn your final sign-offs.

Licence & Beyond

Consolidation jumps, theory exam, and your Swiss parachute licence. The sky is now yours.

AFF in Numbers

8AFF Levels

72Waterfalls in the valley

300 mValley cliff walls

200 km/hTerminal velocity

AFF near Lauterbrunnen — Common Questions

Lauterbrunnen is spectacular, and many students plan their AFF training around a stay in the valley. The actual drop zones are 60–80 km away in the flatter Bernese Mittelland — this is because the steep valley walls and restricted mountain airspace make parachute training impractical inside the valley itself. The drive is very manageable and the views during your jumps will include the Bernese Alps.

Lauterbrunnen is the world's #1 BASE jumping destination, but BASE requires a very different and much longer progression path. The standard minimum is 200+ skydives, specific freefall skills, and a dedicated BASE First Jump Course (FJC). AFF and a skydiving licence is the correct first step — BASE is a separate discipline that comes much later for those who choose to pursue it.

A full AFF course near Lauterbrunnen (at Swiss Boogie or DZ47) typically costs CHF 3,200–3,800, covering the ground school, all 8 level jumps, and equipment rental. Repeat levels (if needed) are charged individually at approximately CHF 200–280. Post-AFF consolidation jumps at Swiss drop zones run approximately CHF 40–60 each.

No. AFF starts from zero — the ground school teaches you everything before your first jump. A tandem jump beforehand is not required, though many students choose to do one first to experience freefall sensation before committing to the full course.

AFF Courses in Other Swiss Regions

Zurich Interlaken Bern Geneva Lausanne Lucerne Basel Grindelwald Lauterbrunnen Zermatt Davos St. Moritz

More Skydiving near Lauterbrunnen

Tandem Skydiving — LauterbrunnenExperience freefall above the waterfall valley. BASE Jumping in SwitzerlandLearn about the path from skydiving to BASE. Skydiving Costs in SwitzerlandFull AFF and tandem price breakdown. AFF Course — InterlakenSame drop zones, nearby Interlaken hub.

AFF Skydiving Coursenear Lauterbrunnen