IT brings a whole new meaning to getting high on the dancefloor – because this is the disco that’s on top of a mountain almost 10,000ft above sea level, and you can only get there by cable car.

Detour Discotheque, run by a British entrepreneur who opens pop-up nightclubs in the world’s wild places, is set for a three-day festival in the spectacular scenery of the Swiss Alps next month.

View from Birg

It starts on Friday May 9 at Birg, one of the summits of the Bernese Alps, overlooking the valley of Lauterbrunnen. The 8,700ft high venue has a terrace with views of the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau.

Reached only by cable car, it’s here that DJ Erol Alkan will host Detour’s first-ever ‘day’ party, running from 4pm to 10pm. 

Piz Gloria, Schilthorn

But it’s the scene-stealing Schilthorn that is the undoubted star of the show. Saturday May 10 sees the party move to the mountain’s Piz Gloria, a centre that boasts a revolving restaurant made famous as Bond villain Blofeld’s lair in On Her Majesty’s Secret Service.

Fully 3,000m (9,800 ft) above sea level, the 8pm to 3am event will make full use of the renowned sunset terrace, and close with a seat by DJ Paulette, who cut her teeth at Manchester’s iconic Haçienda.

Trinkhalle am Kleinen Rugen

Sunday May 11 brings the party back down to ground, in the surrounds of the romantic 19th century Trinkhalle am Kleinen Rugen (drinking hall) outside Interlaken, with a live set by Kayyak.

In their downtime, revellers can explore the area, home of no fewer than 72 waterfalls, with adrenaline attractions including hiking, paragliding, helicopter trips, river rafting and mountain bike hire.

Detour Discotheque is the brainchild of Jonny Ensall, a journalist, editor and DJ based in London, and a collective of talented people who share his passion for travel and disco.

“It’s a pop-up nightclub bringing peace, love and mirror balls to remote and beautiful parts of the world,” he says. “In 2022, that was the tiny fishing village of Thingeyri, in the Westfjords of Iceland. 

“In 2023, Detour appeared on the Isle of Coll – part of Scotland’s wildly beautiful Inner Hebrides. The journey continues, with many more planned, always with a strong sense of community and fun.”

Coll, to the West of Mull and reached by ferry, is only about 13 miles long by three miles wide and has a population of around 150 people. Its heritage as a settlement dates back to the sixth century.

To keep up to date with Detour’s events, see the official website. For travel, tourism and accommodation advice head over to the MySwitzerland site.