Canyoning Trips: From the Allgäu Through Ticino to the World

After the first gorge, many guests find themselves wanting more—and our program has an entire map full of options to satisfy that desire. Right on our doorstep, five gorges—from the Starzlachklamm to the Stuibenfälle—serve as our home base; in Ticino, purelements CH operates its own canyoning base in Cresciano, right in the heart of a world-renowned canyoning region; and our adventure trips take you as far as the Azores and South Africa. All of this is supported by a global network of professional guides—many of whom were trained by founder Thomas Waibel—and our deliberate collaboration with local businesses. We’ll introduce the destinations and explain how our travel philosophy works.

If you ask canyoners around the world about their dream destination, one name comes up time and again: Ticino in southern Switzerland. Smoothly polished granite, emerald-green pools, and an extraordinary variety of tours make the region a world-renowned canyoning destination, and with purelements CH, we’re firmly established there with our own canyoning base in Cresciano and Managing Director Florian Schauwecker. The on-site offerings range from leisurely tours for beginners to challenging canyons for experienced canyoners, complemented by canoe trips on Ticino’s waters and an experience unlike any other: With heli-canyoning, a helicopter flight takes you directly to remote gorges far from roads and everyday life, where smooth granite, clear pools, and natural slides await in complete seclusion. The location is just a few hours’ drive from the Allgäu, making it ideal for a long weekend of canyoning—a perfect way to combine your local canyon with a dream destination. The purelements Switzerland website in Ticino provides a comprehensive overview of all Ticino tours, dates, and base information.

Beyond Europe, adventure trips open up destinations that combine canyoning with an expedition-like experience. In the middle of the Atlantic lie the evergreen Azores, where you can practice rappelling down waterfalls instead of just lying on the beach, and swap an evening of TV for up-close whale watching; the archipelago is one of Europe’s most rewarding destinations for whale watching. A road trip through South Africa offers truly breathtaking panoramic views, combining outdoor adventures with a landscape that leaves a lasting impression. The same philosophy underlies all our trips: the destinations are handpicked, usually led by a local guide alongside a German-speaking guide, and infused with the feeling of traveling with friends. We deliberately partner with local businesses because this makes the experiences more authentic and gives something back to the country we’re visiting; we know many areas from personal experience, and occasionally we explore new destinations together with guests. In-depth consultation before booking is part of every trip. All destinations and dates are listed in the overview of purelements’ adventure trips.