Bernese Oberland tour from Zurich: Private minivan, nine stops

See the Bernese Oberland's waterfalls, gorges and peaks without driving yourself

A nine-hour private minivan tour from Zurich through the Bernese Oberland with a live English guide, stopping at Lungernsee, the Aare Gorge, Giessbach Falls, Brienz, Lauterbrunnen, Trummelbach Falls and Isenfluh. You walk through the 1,400-metre Aare Gorge, ride a funicular to a boat across Lake Brienz, see the 300-metre Staubbach Falls, and end at Isenfluh for views of the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Bernese Oberland highlights

• Drive via 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, stop souvenir shopping
• Walk to Staubbach Falls
• Visit Trummelbach Falls
• Drive to Isenfluh, enjoy mountain views

The experience

The tour leaves Zurich in a private, air-conditioned Mercedes minivan with Chris as your guide for the full nine hours. He drives the Brunig Pass route and stops first at Lungernsee, a lake stop on the way to the Bernese Oberland proper. From there the day branches into a sequence of valleys, gorges and waterfalls, each one a different kind of landscape: you choose which sights matter most to you as the day unfolds.

The Aare Gorge is the first major stop: a 50-minute walk through a canyon 1,400 metres long and up to 200 metres deep, with steep cliffs and a milky-coloured river running through. Admission costs 6 CHF. From there you move to Giessbach Falls and the 200-year-old Giessbach hotel, where you can have lunch overlooking Lake Brienz (lunch is your own cost). A free ride on Europe's oldest funicular takes you down to a boat that crosses the lake to Brienz, a 400-year-old lakeside village where you walk past a traditional wood carving shop and Brungasse, a street lined with period buildings. The drive then follows the Lauterbrunnen valley, where you stop to see the Staubbach Falls dropping 300 metres from the cliff face. A short walk takes you within 10 metres of the water. Two kilometres further on sits Trummelbach Falls, the only waterfall in Europe that runs inside a mountain: over 10 chutes of water crash through the rock at speed, carved by thousands of years of erosion. Admission is 11 CHF. The tour ends at Isenfluh, where you walk the village and look out at the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau, three peaks all close to or over 4,000 metres high.

Interlaken sits in the middle of the route as a souvenir stop, and the guide handles all the driving between sites. Water is included. You bring or buy lunch. Children from age 10 are welcome, and the minivan seats up to eight passengers.

What’s included

• Water and transport by air-conditioned minivan with a live English-speaking guide for the full nine hours are included.
• admissions to the Aare Gorge (6 CHF) and Trummelbach Falls (11 CHF) are your own cost, as is lunch.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 09:30

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (18 and older) · Child (10 to 17 years) · Under 10: can't be booked

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

ConfirmationConfirmation within 48 h

Prices and times updated 8 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Typically Swiss Tours

Is this one for you?The minivan picks you up from your Zurich hotel or a central meeting point, so you don't need a rental car or Swiss driving license to reach the Bernese Oberland. Chris handles all the driving and route decisions, which means you can focus on the stops themselves and the views instead of navigating between them.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (10 to 17 years). Children under 10 can't be included in the booking.

How long is the walk through the Aare Gorge?

The Aare Gorge walk takes 50 minutes. You move through a canyon with steep cliffs on both sides and a milky river running along the bottom, and the admission fee is subsidised at 6 CHF.

What are the Trummelbach Falls and why are they different from other waterfalls?

Trummelbach Falls is the only waterfall in Europe that runs inside a mountain rather than down its face. Over 10 chutes of water crash through the rock at high speed, and the constant flow has been carving the gorge for thousands of years. Admission is 11 CHF.

Do I need to pay for lunch, or is it included?

Lunch is not included in the tour price. You can eat at the Giessbach hotel overlooking Lake Brienz, or bring your own food. Water is provided.

What can I see from Isenfluh at the end of the tour?

From Isenfluh you see the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau: three peaks all close to or over 4,000 metres high, known locally as the Pearly Whites. The village itself is small and walkable, with views across the valley.

Is there a cable car option at Isenfluh?

Yes. After walking through Isenfluh village, you can choose to take the cable car up to Sulwald for even more extensive views of the peaks and the surrounding landscape.

How many people can fit in the minivan?

The private Mercedes minivan seats up to eight passengers, so families or small groups travel together without joining other bookings.