Lake Brienz Kayak Tour from Interlaken
Lake Brienz Kayak Tour Prices & Availability
Real-time availability from GetYourGuide. Reserve your spot now and pay nothing today — free cancellation up to 3 days before. This small-group tour is often marked "likely to sell out," so book ahead in summer.
Should you do the Lake Brienz kayak tour from Interlaken? Yes — it's one of the best-value adventures in the region. For about $140 you get a three-hour guided paddle (roughly two hours on the water) in a small group of six, with no experience needed and a digital photo package included. You glide across the turquoise north shore past sunbaked cliffs to the 12th-century Ringgenberg Castle, with hidden beaches and an optional swim along the way. It runs May–October from Bönigen, a 10-minute bus from Interlaken Ost — and the evening tour adds calm water and a sunset.
What You'll Do
- Paddle the famously turquoise water of Lake Brienz at a relaxed pace
- Glide beneath towering, sunbaked cliffs along the quiet north shore
- Reach the 12th-century Ringgenberg Castle and hidden pebble beaches
- Stop for an optional swim in the crystal-clear lake
- Take home a digital photo package your guide shoots along the way
Good to Know
- It starts in Bönigen, not central Interlaken — a 10-minute bus 103 from Interlaken Ost
- Summer season only (May–October); a separate winter tour runs in the cold months
- You're active for about two hours — light effort, but bring some energy
- Bring a swimsuit and a dry change of clothes — you may get splashed
- Gratuity isn't included; towels can be rented on site if you don't bring one
- Minimum age is 12, with a maximum weight of 120 kg (265 lb)
How the Lake Brienz Kayak Tour Works
Three hours from check-in to the photo handover, with about two of them on the water. No experience needed — your coach gets you confident before you launch.
Meet in Bönigen
Check in 15 minutes early at the Hightide base on the Bönigen shore. Pick up your kayak, paddle and neoprene, and stash valuables in a locker.
Coaching & Launch
Your guide runs a short, friendly briefing on paddling basics, then you slip onto the lake across the outlet of the River Lütschine.
Cliffs & Castle
Trace the north shore beneath sunbaked cliffs to the 12th-century Ringgenberg Castle, with hidden beaches and an optional swim along the way.
Return & Photos
Glide back at a relaxed pace. Your guide has been shooting throughout, so you leave with a digital photo package of the day.
Lake Brienz Kayak Tour Photos
What's Included in the Lake Brienz Kayak Tour
Almost everything you need is provided — turn up in a swimsuit with a change of clothes and you're set. Only the extras below cost more.
Sea Kayak & Paddle Included
Top-quality stable sea kayaks suited to beginners, plus paddles. Singles or doubles depending on the group — your guide sorts it on the shore.
Neoprene & Jacket If Needed
Wetsuits, splash jackets and buoyancy aids are provided when the water or weather calls for them — so you stay warm and safe on the lake.
Digital Photo Package Included
Your guide photographs the trip so you can paddle hands-free and still go home with shots of yourself on the turquoise water.
Experienced Coach 6:1 Ratio
A British-Canoeing-trained coach leads a maximum of six paddlers, so you get real attention, clear instruction and a safe, relaxed pace.
Lockers On Site Available
Secure lockers at the base let you leave phones, keys and dry clothes safely while you're out on the water. Changing facilities are there too.
Towels Rental Extra
Forgot a towel? You can rent one on site for a small fee. Sunscreen and a few extras are usually available too if you need them.
Lake Brienz Kayak Tour: Daytime or Sunset?
Both options paddle the same route at the same easy pace — the difference is the light, the water and the mood. Here's the quick visual read.
Bright Water, Full Colour
Midday sun lights up the lake to its most vivid turquoise, the cliffs glow, and an optional swim is at its most tempting. Mornings are calmest if you want glassy water.
Calm Water, Golden Hour
The same itinerary, run as the sun dips behind Interlaken. The wind eases, reflections lengthen and the whole lake turns quiet — the prettiest light for photos and a restorative wind-down.
When to Paddle Lake Brienz
The summer tour runs May to October, and within a day the water changes more than the season does. Lake Brienz is glacier-fed, so it stays cool even in high summer — but the operator provides wetsuits when needed, so comfort isn't the deciding factor. Wind is. Calm water means easy paddling and mirror reflections, and that's a question of timing: the lake is usually glassiest early in the morning and again in the evening, with more of a breeze through the middle of the day.
Calmest Water by Time of Day
What to Expect
Cool, glacier-fed water
Even in July the lake stays cool, which is exactly why it's that vivid turquoise. Wetsuits are handed out when it's needed, so you stay comfortable.
Sun makes the colour pop
The Brienz blue is brightest in direct sun, so a clear day rewards you with the postcard turquoise. Sunscreen and a hat matter more than you'd think on the water.
Quietest in shoulder season
May and late September into October are calmer and less crowded than peak July–August, with the same scenery and often the stillest water of all.
Getting there: it starts in Bönigen
The meeting point is the Hightide base at Strandbad Bönigen (Lütschinenstrasse 24), not central Interlaken. From Interlaken Ost take bus 103 toward Bönigen / Iseltwald (departs around :05 and :35) for about 10 minutes to Bönigen See, then it's a short walk. Drivers will find paid parking nearby. Check in 15 minutes before your start time.
What to Bring for the Kayak Tour
The kayak, paddle and wetsuit are provided — you just need a few personal items to stay comfortable and dry afterwards. These cover it.
Lake Brienz Kayak vs Jetboat vs Boat Cruise
There's more than one way onto Lake Brienz. The kayak is the hands-on, scenic option — here's how it compares with the fast thrill and the easy sightseeing alternatives.
| Kayak TourThis tour | JetboatThrill ride | Scenic CruisePublic boat | |
|---|---|---|---|
| The experienceWhat the trip is | Hands-on paddle Most scenic | Fast adrenaline ride | Relaxed sightseeing |
| Duration | 3 hours (~2h paddling) | ~50 minutes | ~1–2 hours |
| PricePer adult, approx. | ~$140 | ~$148 | from ~$30 Cheapest |
| Group size | Max 6 | ~12 | Large boat |
| Effort | Light–moderate | None | None |
| Photos included | Yes | No | No |
| Best for | Scenery & a swim | A quick rush | Easy, all-ages relaxing |
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Buy at the pier
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How the 3 Hours Unfold
- Meet your guideKayaks, dry-bags and paddling basics — beginner-friendly.
- Launch onto Lake BrienzSmall group, maximum six boats.
- ~2 h on turquoise waterShoreline cliffs and castle views at touring pace.
- Photo stopsThe guide picks the calm corners.
- Land & changeDone inside three hours.
Prefer the Mountains? More Interlaken Tours
Grindelwald First & Bachalpsee Hike
Gondola up to First, then an easy hike to the mirror-like Lake Bachalpsee under the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau.
Jungfraujoch — Top of Europe
The highest railway station in Europe at 3,454 m, with a glacier, the Ice Palace and the Sphinx terrace.
Schilthorn & Piz Gloria Day Trip
The James Bond mountain — the best 360° panorama in the region and the cliff-edge Thrill Walk.
Is the Lake Brienz Kayak Tour Worth It?
Short answer: it's one of the better-value things you can book in Interlaken. Around $140 for three hours — with a small group of six, all the kit, a qualified coach and a digital photo package thrown in — compares very well with the region's pricier mountain excursions, and you come away with something most of them don't offer: time actually on the water, at your own pace, somewhere genuinely beautiful.
The experience itself is gentle. You don't need to have kayaked before, non-swimmers are fine in the buoyancy aids, and the route hugs a sheltered shore rather than crossing open water. The turquoise colour really is that vivid on a sunny day, the Ringgenberg Castle backdrop is a proper highlight, and the optional swim in glacier-clear water is the kind of thing people remember from a whole trip. If you only paddle once in Switzerland, this is a strong pick.
One honest flag: it starts in Bönigen, not central Interlaken — it's only a 10-minute bus on the 103, but build that into your timing. Otherwise the track record speaks for itself: a 4.9 rating across 261 reviews, run by the long-established Hightide Kayak School, with 91% of English-speaking travellers giving it a perfect score. The main thing to check before booking is the minimum age of 12 if you're travelling with younger children.
For most people, yes. At about $140 for three hours — small group of six, all gear, a coach and a digital photo package included — it's strong value next to the region's mountain excursions, and you get real time on the turquoise water past Ringgenberg Castle with an optional swim. Just note it starts in Bönigen, a short bus from central Interlaken.
No. The tour is suitable for all abilities, and your coach starts with a short briefing on the basics before you launch. The route follows a sheltered shoreline at a relaxed pace, so complete beginners are well looked after.
Yes. Buoyancy aids (life jackets) are provided and worn throughout, and the small 6:1 group means the guide can keep a close eye on everyone. The optional swim stop is entirely up to you — you can stay in the kayak if you'd prefer. The minimum age is 12, with a maximum weight of 120 kg.
The session runs about three hours in total, with roughly two hours actually on the water. The pace is easy with frequent pauses for photos and to take in the views, so it's light to moderate effort rather than a workout.
It starts at the Hightide Kayak School base at Strandbad Bönigen (Lütschinenstrasse 24), not central Interlaken. From Interlaken Ost, take bus 103 toward Bönigen / Iseltwald for about 10 minutes to Bönigen See, then walk a short way to the base. Paid parking is available nearby for drivers. Check in 15 minutes before your start time.
Wear a swimsuit underneath and bring a dry change of clothes, water shoes or old trainers, sunglasses, a sun hat and sunscreen. The kayak, paddle and a wetsuit or jacket are provided when needed. Lockers are available for your valuables, and towels can be rented on site.
Both paddle the same route. The daytime tour gives the brightest turquoise colour and the best conditions for a swim; the evening tour follows the same itinerary at golden hour, with calmer water, longer reflections and a quieter mood. Choose daytime for colour and a swim, evening for sunset and stillness.
The summer tour runs from May to October; a separate winter tour covers the colder months. Yes — a digital photo package is included, so your guide photographs the trip and you leave with shots of yourself on the lake without having to risk your own phone on the water.
Ready to Paddle Lake Brienz?
Reserve now, pay later, and cancel free up to 3 days before. Small group of six — and it often sells out in summer, so book ahead.
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