INDUSTRY. Looking for a novel way to get high? Take a ride up the 1900-metre Stanserhorn near Lucerne on the just-opened Cabrio, the world’s first double-decker open-topped cable car-sundeck included.

People wave during the inauguration trip of the world's first open-air doubledecker cable car system, the newly-built ”Cabrio”, on the Stanserhorn mountain, near Lucerne, Switzerland. The lake and the city of Lucerne are seen in the background. (Photo: REUTERS/Christian Hartmann)

Between the breezy top deck and a cabin made primarily of glass, it’s a six-minute fifteen-second ride you won’t soon forget. The journey starts on a historic funicular from 1893, with guests then transferring to the new aerial cableway. Suspended on supporting parallel cables, the Cabrio consists of two cabins that move in opposite directions at a speed of eight metres per second. Each cabin can hold 60 passengers, with half – the brave half-being able to access the stairway to the sundeck at a time.

Once you’re at the top, feast your eyes on the expansive view of lakes and peaks, or just feast – the revolving restaurant Rondorama serves everything from Sunday breakfast to candlelight dinners. Go to www.stanserhorn.ch/en for more info. Fares start at $36.50 one way. Bonus: Fare is half price with a Swiss Pass (swiss-pass.ch).

Photo: REUTERS/Christian Hartmann

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