Kayak Tour of the Turquoise Lake Brienz
Overview
Available languages
3 hours
Mobile ticket
Truly unique guided kayaking tour on the beautiful Lake Brienz. Fit for explorers of all skill levels, this outing features the towering cliffs, forested hillsides, and calm waters that make Interlaken one of the most picturesque settings around.
The session lasts 3 hours of which we spent around 2 hours on the water.
What’s included: experienced sea kayak coach, small group sizes (from 2-6), top quality sea kayaks and paddles, as well as a digital photo package.
Additional Info
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Public transportation options are available nearby
Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Check-in is 5 minutes prior to the booked tour start time.
Children 11 and younger are not allowed.
You do not need previous kayaking experience, but you must be able to handle a kayak on your own.
If you have back, neck, lower back, joint or muscular problems, you should carefully consider whether or not to participate.
You should bring swimsuit, change of clothes, waterproof footwear, sunglasses, sun hat, sunscreen, a bottle of water, and snacks.
What To Expect
There's something special about seeing the Bernese Oberland from the water. Launching from Hightide's base in Bönigen, you'll paddle across the turquoise waters of Lake Brienz with the Alps filling the horizon in every direction — the kind of view that's hard to put into words until you're actually in it. The route follows the north shore, where sunbaked cliffs rise straight from the water, a 12th-century castle sits perched above Ringgenberg, and quiet little beaches break up the shoreline. We keep the pace relaxed with plenty of stops for photos, short rests, and just taking it all in. You'll spend around two hours on the water in total. Evening tours run the same route, but there's a different quality to it when the lake goes glassy and the sun starts dropping behind the hills above Interlaken. It's become a favourite for people looking for a calm, unhurried end to the day. No experience needed; this is a gentle, guided outing that works just as well for first-timers as it does for seasoned paddlers. Non-swimmers are welcome too. If you're short on time, there's also a 1.5-hour taster option to sample the lake.
Options
Afternoon Tour 1:20pm
Morning Tour 9:15am
Morning Tour 9:20am
Evening Tour 5:15pm
Afternoon Tour 1:15pm
What‘s Included
Kayak and equipment rental
Guided kayaking tour on Lake Brienz
Photo package
Small-group tour (maximum group size of 6)
Expert guide providing valuable & informative instruction
Gratuities
Cancellation Policy
All sales are final. No refund is available for cancellations.
Reviews
573 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
I would 100% recommend...
Jada N,May 31, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00I would 100% recommend this excursion! The views are stunning and it is the perfect way to get a view of the lake and city. My tour guide Juan was very friendly and attentive. Overall, amazing experience!
Good paddling in Brienz lake.
gadibu,May 25, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00My wife and i enjoyed the paddling in the lake very much. We love to paddle in kayaks and this was a good relaxtion during our trip.
An amazing tour of beautiful Lake Brienz!
Nomad498802,May 24, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00It was a bucket list item for my husband and I to kayak on a turquoise Swiss lake, so when I came across HighTide’s tour of Lake Brienz it was a must for our trip to Switzerland. It did not disappoint! We had so much fun touring the beautiful lake and our guide, Ryan, was very informative and a good laugh! Couldn’t recommend the experience more and we’d definitely do it again if we find ourselves back in Switzerland!
Best Day Kayaking on Lake Brienz!
Heidi W,May 18, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We absolutely loved our kayak tour with Juan! Our day was cloudy and a bit of rain but honestly it was magical! They provided everything you need! My family loved it! One of our top experiences in Switzerland just outside of Interlaken in Bonigen!
My wife and I did this...
Zach H,May 16, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00My wife and I did this experience in May. The location was very easy to get to, either from the bus stop or walking (also driving). Since it was still May (40-45F) we were given dry suits and warm socks. Our guide was excellent, and about halfway through we stopped for a short walk for cookies and tea. It lasted about 3 hours. We would absolutely do this activity again!
Kayak tour
Hannah F,May 15, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00We had an amazing time kayaking and getting to know our guide Ryan! He helped our friend meatball don the dry suit, lots of laughs, and memories made
Best kayak experience ever!
J9512TGelisel,May 3, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00My tour guide, Ben, was super awesome and took me around such beautiful places on the lake! No one else ended up booking at my time slot so it was just me and him! He always made sure to get cool photos and videos of me and just chat as a solo traveler. I had kayak experience, but even if you don’t I feel very strongly that Hightide would teach you and make you feel as confident as possible! Ben’s dog that visits the office was a major plus too :) 10/10 recommend!
This kayak tour was...
Andrew A,Oct 25, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00This kayak tour was beautiful! Sona was a wonderful guide, and the opportunity to kayak over Lake Brienz was stunning. We have only kayaked a handful of times previously and felt like this was doable for beginners. The company supplies wet suits and raincoats, but we recommend bringing a change of dry clothes for after just in case!
Safe again 🫶
H1778KNdoras,Oct 19, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Relaxed tour, very professionally guided, great guide, thank you Sona, was great💝 I would love to come back, then for a winter tour.
Great Morning. Great Views. Great Tour!
PagieLee,Oct 17, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00I really enjoyed everything about this tour. Our guide, Ryan, was very clear in the instructions that he provided to make sure we all had an enjoyable and safe morning of kayaking on the lake. We were provided wetsuits, life jackets, an a locker to place our things. Sunscreen and shades were available for a small cost. The views on Lake Brienz were majestic. Seeing the clouds pass between the mountains was unreal. The waters were calm and we kayaked about 3 miles in about two hours. The tour was very easy to do for the other beginners who never kayaked before. I had some experience, so I had no issues. You can easily hop on a bus to get to shop in the morning. A bus arrived every 15 minutes. All in all, I recommend everyone who visits Interlaken to take this tour.
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Operated by Hightide Kayak School GmbH