The Cable Car experience is something that brings a whole different kind of adrenaline rush. The very thought of floating over chasms, valleys, deep ravines and crevasses, over mountains, forests and rivers in a cable car which is strung only by a bunch of wires gives the kind of thrill that cannot be experienced in any other ride.
10 Cable Car Experiences Around The World
1. Titlis Rotair, Mount TitlisÂ
The Titlis Rotair is the first revolving cable car in the world and it takes passengers up to the top of Mount Titlis in Switzerland. It covers a height of 9908 feet above sea level in a little over 5 minutes and the most spectacular part of the ride is at the end when it passes over one of the largest glaciers in Europe. The cable car revolves 360° in five minutes, giving you a panoramic view of the far-off snow-capped mountains, the deep ravines and the steep rock faces.
2. Peak2Peak, Whistler Canada
Peak2Peak Cable Car is a link between Whistler and Blackcomb Mountains. This is one of the world’s tallest ski lifts and the views from the cable car are simply breathtaking. It offers an unparalleled view of British Columbia, the massive glaciers, the volcanic peaks and the lovely coastal forests of this region. Another fun fact about Peak2Peak is that it glides over one of the longest unsupported stretches in the world.
3. Cable Car, Genting
This amazing cable car ride takes you over a 130 million-year-old rainforest and you get to see this from a height of 630 meters above the ground. The Cable Car Genting is one of the longest ropeways in Southeast Asia and the car takes you up from the Awana Station to the Sky Avenue Station, which is in the Genting Highlands. The beauty of the hilly landscape unfolds before you as you go higher in the cable car and you can enjoy the crisp mountain air as you ascend.
4. Sugarloaf Mountain Gondola, Rio de Janeiro
This cable car connects the Praia Vermelha and the Sugarloaf Mountain and it was first opened in 1912. This was the third ropeway in the world and it has appeared in many movies, including the Bond movie Moonraker. The trip up to Sugarloaf Mountain is divided into two parts and each part takes about 3 minutes. The total number of passengers it carries at a time is 65 and there is a cable car leaving every 20 minutes from 8:30 am to 5:30pm. What to really look out for is the incredible view of the city, its lovely coastline and Christ the Redeemer.
5. Vanoise Express, Les Arcs, France
This is one of the largest cable cars in the world, with two levels and it can take upto 200 passengers at a time. It was a marvelous engineering feat, as it was built to connect Peisey-Vallandry and La Plagne and cross the valley of Peisey-Nancroix without causing any damage to the natural beauty of the valley. Another feather in the hat for this cable car is that it covers a distance of 1824 meters in under 4 minutes, which is a world record in itself. In the winter, this cable car is frequently used by skiers and it lands on a ski slope on the Montchavin side.
6. IFS Could Cable Car, Royal Docks London
The IFS Could Cable Car is the only urban cable car in the UK and it goes across the River Thames at a height of 90 meters. From the cable car, you can enjoy an aerial view of the London skyline from over the Thames. The ride takes about 10 minutes and it is best enjoyed at sunset or you can take the extended nighttime ride when you can see London all lit up.
7. Ba Na Hills Cable Car, Da Nang, Vietnam
The Ba Na Hills Cable Car was listed among the top 10 most awe-inspiring cable car network systems in the world. This Cable Car holds many records, including the heaviest cable, the greatest shift in elevation and the longest gap between the two connecting points. Not only is it convenient to reach the resort complex at the top but the ride also offers spectacular views of Da Nang, the Toc Tien Waterfalls and the surrounding forest region.
8. Stanserhorn CabriO, Lucerne, SwitzerlandÂ
This is one amazing ride in Lucerne, Switzerland and it is the first double-deck and roofless cable car in the world. Each car takes up to 60 people at once and travels over 2320 meters to the top of the Stanserhorn mountain. The entire journey to the top combines a funicular ride for 9 minutes to the intermediate station and then from here onwards, you ride the CabriO for 6.5 minutes.
9. The Ngong Ping 360, Hong KongÂ
This 5.7 km long gondola ride is located on Lantau Island and it is used to connect Tung Chung and Ngong Ping region where the Tian Tan Buddha and the Po Lin Monastery is located. Earlier, it used to take about 1 hour to reach these attractions by a very risky roadway but now with the Ngong Ping 360, it takes only 25 minutes to reach the top and offers excellent views to boot.
10. Mi Teleférico, La Paz-El Alto, Bolivia
This is the world’s longest and highest urban gondola, which covers about 10 km and takes passengers from La Paz to El Alto, which is at a height of 1300 meters. This cable car ride takes a staggering 18,000 people up and down the slope every hour. It was built to solve the problem of traffic congestion for those commuting between these two places. Besides being really efficient in taking care of the said traffic issues, this cable car ride offers spectacular views of the imposing snowcapped Andes, which you should not miss.
Although cable cars are mostly solutions to transportation between mountain peaks and across rivers and deep ravines, riding on them is undoubtedly one of the best experiences you can enjoy. Every one of these rides offers spectacular views from an amazing height as it takes you to the top. When it comes to cable cars, it’s all about the journey!
