Bernese Oberland Day Trip from Luzern: Waterfalls, Aare Gorge & Lake Brienz

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Free cancellation

1/14

Duration9h

GroupPrivate

LanguagesEN

PickupAt your hotel

Private drive from Luzern to Bernese Oberland with waterfalls, gorge walk and lakeside villages

You’ll wind through Swiss mountain passes from Luzern with a local guide at the wheel—walking Aare Gorge’s echoing tunnels, eating lunch above Lake Brienz, feeling spray from Staubbach Falls in Lauterbrunnen valley and ending your day gazing up at Eiger and friends from Isenfluh village. It’s less about ticking sights off a list than letting Switzerland seep into your bones.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Bernese Oberland highlights

Drive along Brunig Pass
Stop at Lungern for photos
Walk through Aare Gorge
Visit Giessbach Falls and hotel
Lunch at Giessbach hotel
Ride funicular to boat
Boat trip to Brienz
Walk Brungasse street
Drive along Hohweg and stop for souvenirs
Walk to Staubbach Falls in Lauterbrunnen
Visit Trummelbach Falls
Drive to Isenfluh and enjoy mountain views

The Experience

Hands wrapped around hot coffee, I watched Chris—our driver—wipe rain off the van’s windshield before we left Luzern. He grinned and said something about “Swiss weather being like fondue: unpredictable but worth it.” Not sure if that’s an actual saying or just his. Anyway, we set off over the Brunig Pass, clouds hanging low enough to touch. The first stop was Lungernsee—still as glass, blue in that way only Swiss lakes manage. We took photos but mostly just stood there breathing in pine and wet earth.

The Aare Gorge was next. I’d seen pictures but didn’t expect the sound—a constant rush echoing between cliffs so close you could almost reach both sides. The walkway twists along the rock; water below milky and fast. Our guide pointed out marks where floods had scraped the stone years ago. It was chilly inside, damp on my skin—I kind of liked it though. Felt alive, you know? Afterward my shoes were muddy and I didn’t care at all.

Lunch at the Giessbach Hotel felt like stepping into another century—velvet chairs, creaky floors, waiters who somehow made me feel both welcome and a little underdressed (in a good way). The view over Lake Brienz is one I still think about when I’m stuck in traffic back home. We took the old funicular down to catch a boat across to Brienz; the ride was short but oddly thrilling (the cable squeaked more than I’d expected). In Brienz itself, woodcarvers worked behind open doors and there was this faint smell of sawdust mixed with lake air.

Later we drove through Interlaken—paragliders dotting the sky—and then into Lauterbrunnen valley where Staubbach Falls hung like threads of silver against the cliff. We walked up close enough to feel mist on our faces. Someone had left wildflowers on a grave nearby; it felt quietly beautiful. Trümmelbach Falls came last: water thundering inside the mountain itself, echoing so loud my chest vibrated. By then I’d lost track of time completely.

We ended up in Isenfluh as evening crept in—the big three peaks (Eiger, Mönch, Jungfrau) showing through gaps in cloud. Chris called them “the pearly whites,” which made me laugh because they looked nothing like teeth but everything like giants watching over us. I never did figure out if he was joking about that fondue thing.

What’s included

Your day includes private transport by air-conditioned Mercedes minivan starting from Luzern with pickup arranged beforehand.
Water is provided throughout the journey and specialized infant seats are available if needed.
Entry fees and meals aren’t included—but you’ll have time for lunch at Giessbach Hotel above Lake Brienz before continuing on your way back toward Luzern in the evening.

Good to know

Easy physical levelInfant seats available

Operated by Typically Swiss Tours