Authentic Canyoning: Why We Avoid Artificial Thrills

For some organizers, installed diving boards, taut steel cables, and staged gimmicks are part of the program; for us, however, they have no place in the great outdoors. Our tours deliberately focus on what nature itself has created: powerful water, rocks shaped over millennia, natural slides, jumps into crystal-clear pools, and rappelling down real waterfalls. We call this approach “authentic canyoning,” and it has defined every purelements tour for over 25 years—from avoiding pseudo-action to our principle of taking our time on the trail. On this page, we explain the philosophy behind it and what it specifically means for your experience in the canyon.

The decision to forgo artificial structures is based on a simple conviction: a gorge shaped by water needs no help to inspire awe. Climbing sections over smooth, polished rock, swimming stretches through clear pools, natural slides like the 18-meter-long one in the Starzlachklamm, and rappelling spots at thundering waterfalls provide a level of excitement so intense that no man-made diving board could ever improve upon it. Anyone who nevertheless installs steel cables and additional features is indirectly declaring nature to be inadequate, and it is precisely this way of thinking that we reject. In this context, purism does not mean foregoing the experience, but rather intensifying it, because in our experience, the genuine, timeless experience arises where one immerses oneself completely and devotes time and attention to those special moments—the light in the gorge as well as one’s own heartbeat before taking a voluntary leap. That is why we consistently refrain from using anything that does not belong in the wild. The page on purelements’ philosophy and unique positioning describes the values that guide our actions as a whole.

For us, authenticity involves three additional elements that go beyond simply avoiding pre-planned stops. Time is the first of these, because our guides work without time pressure and adapt to your pace, your wishes, and your needs; a moment of wonder between two waterfalls is an integral part of the program and is never sacrificed for the sake of the itinerary. Honesty is the second pillar, because we see ourselves as partners and trusted advisors rather than mere service providers; this includes being upfront if a tour isn’t suited to your skill level or if weather and water levels prevent it from taking place, because we don’t control the weather, the water, or the canyons either. A deep connection to nature completes this foundation, because we believe nature is our teacher and provides the clearest feedback; our concepts are built on the value-adding connection between people, nature, and the environment, and mindfulness toward the pristine world of the canyons is one of our highest values. You can experience all of this most directly on a tour like the canyoning adventure in the Starzlachklamm.