Red paraglider, Snow mountains, Alpine

Alpine altitude

Sightseeing in the Alps often demands driving through winding, narrow mountain passes, cramming into cable cars, or strapping on crampons to tramp up slippery slopes. So in this elevated section of Switzerland, flight equals freedom—as our paraglider pilot pal is experiencing firsthand. We're only getting a small slice of their panoramic view, which includes more than just mountains. Beneath the thick snow below, the mighty Aletsch Glacier snakes between the steep Bernese Alps, forming the largest ice mass in the Alpine countries.