Vilan – Älpli

Vilan – Älpli is a Swiss launch at about 1,861 m, facing southwest, rated for both ridge soaring and hike-up approaches. Access is easy via the Älplibahn gondola from Malans, so pilots can choose a lift-served day or walk up if they prefer. Weather deserves real respect here: foehn is a recognised hazard at this site, and the Rhine Valley below can carry quite strong winds even when the mountain itself looks calm, so check both before committing to a flight. Swiss airspace in general is layered and worth confirming ahead of time too — this is standard advice for any Alpine launch, but doubly relevant given how exposed this site is to foehn conditions. Between the gondola access and the soaring rating, it's a flexible mountain, provided you respect the wind risks that come with the Rhine Valley setting.

Getting there & local rules

Reachable via the Älplibahn gondola from Malans.

Local rules & hazards

Foehn is a recognised hazard at this site, and the Rhine Valley below can carry quite strong winds even when the mountain looks calm — check both before flying. Swiss airspace is layered; confirm current restrictions too.

Check conditions before you fly

A forecast for the valley is not a forecast for the launch. Before heading to Vilan – Älpli, read the wind and thermals for the site itself, confirm the day's rules with the local club, and remember the standing rule — when in doubt, don't launch. In the free OutDare app you can open Vilan – Älpli with a 7-day forecast built from high-resolution weather models, see who else has been flying, and get there with offline maps.