Kayaking Lake Brienz: Snow-Covered Mountains & Turquoise Water
Paddle into the Alps without leaving the water
Guided kayaking tour on Lake Brienz near Interlaken where you paddle a sea kayak for around two hours surrounded by snow-covered mountains and turquoise water. The tour runs three hours total, includes an experienced coach, small group of no more than six paddlers, full winter gear (drysuits, paddles, booties), and a photo package. No previous kayaking experience is required, but you must be able to handle a kayak independently and have at least moderate fitness.
What’s included
- Experienced sea kayak coach providing instruction.
- top-end sea kayak, paddles, Palm Bora drysuit with neoprene gaskets, poggies and booties.
- small group of 2 to 6 paddlers.
- photo package of the tour.
Times
- Every day except Friday and Saturday 09:15 09:20 13:15 13:20
- Friday 09:15 09:20 13:15 13:20 13:45
- Saturday 09:15 09:20 09:45 13:15 13:20 13:45
Before you book
Operated by Hightide Kayak School GmbH
Prices and times updated today
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The experience
If you have a free afternoon in the Swiss Alps and want to get off the ski slopes, this is how you do it without driving anywhere. You meet your guide at Lake Brienz near Interlaken, get fitted into a Palm Bora drysuit with neoprene gaskets and booties (gear designed to keep you warm and dry in winter water), and spend around two hours paddling. The water is so still it mirrors the snow-covered peaks around you, and because the group stays under six people, there's no crowd noise to break the quiet.
The three-hour session includes instruction from an experienced sea kayak coach who handles the setup and teaches you how to move the boat. You don't need to have paddled before, but you do need to be comfortable operating a kayak on your own once you're on the water. Bring warm layers to wear under the drysuit (thick socks, thermal underwear, a thin jumper), because even with the gear, you're sitting still in winter. The guide photographs the tour and includes the images with your booking.
Public transport runs near the lake, so you can reach it without a rental car. The minimum age is 15, and there's a maximum weight of 120kg. If you have back, neck or joint problems, or a latex or neoprene allergy, check with your doctor first. The drysuit gaskets are unavoidable contact. The guide speaks English or German.
Is this one for you?Book this tour if you want to paddle instead of watch. You're operating the kayak the whole time, not sitting in a boat while someone else rows. The small group size and calm winter water mean you get instruction and quiet rather than a crowded afternoon on the slopes.
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Top questions
What languages is the tour guided in?
Live guide in English and German.
What happens if it rains?
It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. No refund if you cancel.
What's the water like on Lake Brienz in winter?
Lake Brienz stays calm enough in winter that the snow-covered mountains reflect clearly on the surface, which is why the operator calls it mirror-like. The water is cold, which is why the drysuit and layers are essential. They keep you warm and dry while you paddle.
Do I need kayaking experience to join this tour?
No previous kayaking experience is required. The guide is an experienced sea kayak coach who provides instruction, but you do need to be able to handle the kayak on your own once you're paddling, and you should have at least moderate physical fitness.
How much time do I actually spend in the kayak?
The full session is three hours, and you spend around two hours on the water. The rest covers gear setup, instruction and any breaks the guide builds in.
What's included in the photo package?
The guide photographs the tour while you paddle and includes the images with your booking. You get the photos without paying extra or arranging a separate photographer.
Can I reach Lake Brienz without renting a car?
Yes. Public transportation options run near the lake, so you can get there from Interlaken without a rental. The operator lists it as available nearby.
What should I wear under the drysuit?
Bring thick socks, thermal underwear (bottom and top), and a thin jumper. Add extra layers if the weather is very cold. Bring a change of clothes in case you get sweaty or a bit wet, sunglasses, a sunhat and sunscreen.
Kayaking Lake Brienz: Snow-Covered Mountains & Turquoise Water
3h · EN · DE
from US$ 189 per person
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