Outdoor escape game near Lausanne: an adventure in English, 27 minutes from the city

Looking for something to do around Lausanne that is not another museum, and that works even if your French is still a work in progress? KeyQuest runs outdoor escape games in Echallens, a small market town 27 minutes from Lausanne by train. Most adventures can be played in English.

What is an outdoor escape game?

No locked room. Your team gets a tablet and a bag of props, and heads outside on foot. GPS triggers each puzzle at the right spot, augmented reality reveals what the eye cannot see, and the story moves forward as you solve. You play at your own pace, on your own: no guide walking behind you.

Routes are 1.1 to 2.3 km on flat ground, through the forest, along the Talent river and into the old town. No fitness level required: you walk a little and think a lot.

Adventures available in English

• The Magic Portal — fantasy, 2 hours, 2.3 km through town, river and forest. Age 10+. The best pick for a first visit.
• Operation MindFall — spy mission, 2 hours, 1.4 km in the old town. Age 14+. The hardest one.
• The Magic Portal – Kids — 1.5 hours, 1.1 km. Age 10+, with an adult.
• Bachelor Royal and Bachelorette Royal — stag and hen parties, 1.5 hours, up to 12 players.

One adventure, Treasure Island (age 8+), is currently in French only. Choose your language on the tablet at the start. The welcome briefing is given by our team on site; let us know when booking that you would like it in English.

Prices: per team, not per person

• CHF 99 for two players (Duo rate) on The Magic Portal and Operation MindFall.
• CHF 149 per team of 3 to 5 players on the same adventures.
• CHF 99 per team of 2 to 5 for The Magic Portal – Kids.

Rain ponchos and umbrellas are provided. The game runs in all weather; only a severe weather warning leads to a free reschedule.

Getting there without a car

Take the LEB train from Lausanne-Flon (the station under Place de l'Europe, where metro lines m1 and m2 meet). Trains leave every 15 minutes and reach Echallens in 27 minutes. A regular Mobilis ticket is all you need, and the Half Fare card and GA are valid. From Echallens station, it is a 10-minute walk to KeyQuest, Route d'Yverdon 9A.

Coming by car? Parking is available a 2-minute walk from the meeting point. See the access page.

How to book

The booking pages are in French, but short: pick an adventure on the adventures page, choose a date and a time slot (availability is live), enter your details and pay online. Free cancellation up to 48 hours before.

Prefer to book in English? Write to contact@keyquest.ch or call +41 21 353 60 70.

Make a day of it

Echallens is the main town of the Gros-de-Vaud, the "breadbasket" of French-speaking Switzerland. Before or after your mission: the Swiss Wheat and Bread Museum with its bakery, the Saturday morning market, and the Talent river trail, a 10 km waymarked forest walk that starts at the edge of town.

Planning a team event? We also run team building for groups of colleagues. A child's birthday? Read Kids' birthday party near Lausanne.

Frequently asked questions

Can we play in English?

Yes. The Magic Portal, The Magic Portal – Kids, Operation MindFall, Bachelor Royal and Bachelorette Royal are available in English on the tablet. Treasure Island is in French only.

How far is it from Lausanne?

27 minutes by direct LEB train from Lausanne-Flon, every 15 minutes, then a 10-minute walk. By car, about 20 minutes from Lausanne.

How much does it cost?

Prices are per team, not per person: CHF 99 for two players, CHF 149 for a team of 3 to 5 on The Magic Portal and Operation MindFall. The kids' adventure is CHF 99 per team.

What happens if it rains?

The adventure runs in all weather. Rain ponchos and umbrellas are provided. Only a severe weather warning, such as a violent storm or heavy snow, leads to a free reschedule.

Can we bring our dog?

Yes, dogs are welcome on most adventures at no extra cost. In the canton of Vaud, dogs must be kept on a lead in forests from 1 April to 15 July.