Kayaking in Interlaken, Lake Brienz

- Turquoise water all around you, the colour behind every Lake Brienz postcard - Sun-warmed cliffs, hidden beaches and Ringgenberg Castle, seen from the water - A crossing of the open lake, with up to 260 metres of water beneath you - Photos and videos of your tour from your guide, sent to you for free - Never kayaked? Come along: clear instructions, an easy pace and breaks whenever you need one - A small group, with a guide beside you the whole way

Your paddle dips into water so turquoise it feels unreal, and from down here the mountains around Lake Brienz look even bigger. You set off from the Hightide base in Bönigen, right on the shore. Your guide fits you with a sea kayak and a carbon paddle, shows you the first strokes, and you push off. Then you follow the north shore, under sun-warmed cliffs, past small beaches you cannot reach on foot, with Ringgenberg Castle on its hill above the water. The pace is gentle and nobody is counting kilometres. You stop for a photo, for a breather, for the view. On the way back you cross the open lake, with up to 260 metres of water beneath your kayak. Your phone waits in a free locker. Your guide films and photographs the whole tour and sends you everything afterwards, so all you have to do is be there.

- Adults: CHF 115 per person - Children 12 to 15: CHF 80 - Departures in October (autumn tour): CHF 125 for adults, CHF 90 for children 12 to 15 - Photos and videos from your guide: included

- Sea kayak and carbon fibre paddle - Buoyancy aid - Wetsuit and splash jacket on cooler days - Experienced guide, in English and German - Photos and videos of your tour, sent for free afterwards - Free lockers, big enough for backpacks and shoes Not included: - Transport to Bönigen (bus 103 from Interlaken Ost, about 10 minutes) - Parking (paid public car park on Parkstrasse) - Insurance: Hightide does not insure participants and recommends cancellation, accident and rescue cover - Towel and swimwear

- Swimwear or quick-dry sports clothes, no cotton: it stays cold when wet - A towel and dry clothes for afterwards - Sunscreen, a hat and sunglasses with a strap - A water bottle - Sport sandals or water shoes if you like; barefoot is fine - Leave your phone and camera in the free locker: the lake is up to 260 metres deep

- Never kayaked? Come along: no experience needed, your guide teaches you the basics and stays with the group - Anyone who wants Lake Brienz from the water, at an easy pace with photo stops and breaks - Friends, couples and families with children from 12 - Ages 12 and up; guests under 18 need a parent's or guardian's permission - Guided in English and German - Not suitable for children under 12 or for guests over 120 kg (265 lbs) - Not suitable under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Good health is required: with a medical condition, write to info@hightide.ch before you book, with your tour and date

- Season: May to October (in winter, see our Winter Kayak tour) - Morning departures: 09:15 or 09:20 - Afternoon departures: 13:15 or 13:20 - Evening departure at 17:15: on request with Hightide only - Days and start times vary: the booking calendar shows the open slots - Duration: about 3 hours, around 2 of them on the water - Meeting point: Hightide Kayak School, Am Quai 1, Bönigen, opposite the Bönigen See bus stop - Arrive 5 minutes before your start time

- Bus 103 from Interlaken Ost towards Iseltwald leaves at :05 and :35 and takes 9 to 10 minutes to Bönigen See. Skip the EXP103 express that also leaves at :35 - Mornings are often quiet and atmospheric, afternoons warmer and sunnier, evenings calmer: pick the mood you want - Ask for a single kayak: lighter, easier to turn, and you paddle at your own rhythm. A few doubles exist, and your guide decides on the day - Bring a strap for your sunglasses: the lake keeps what falls in

Hightide Kayak School paddles out of Bönigen with one motto: "To inspire people to live differently!" It is an official partner school of Swiss Canoe, and its guides coach as well as guide. Guests rate it 4.9 out of 5 across more than 2400 reviews on Trustindex, which gathers Tripadvisor, Google, GetYourGuide and Viator. We chose them for their small groups and for a team that cares about teaching you properly. The activity is organised and run by Hightide Kayak School GmbH. Swiss Local Adventures acts as an intermediary in the name and on behalf of Hightide Kayak School GmbH.

*I have never kayaked. Can I join? Yes, come along. Your guide explains the basics before you launch and helps you the whole way. The sea kayaks are stable and the group paddles at an easy pace, with breaks. *I can't swim. Is that a problem? Hightide's own pages welcome non-swimmers, while its terms ask for swimming skills on every programme. Write to info@hightide.ch before you book so they can confirm for you. *How do I get to the start? Bus 103 from Interlaken Ost towards Iseltwald, about 10 minutes to Bönigen See, not the EXP103 express. The base is at Am Quai 1, by the Hotel Oberländerhof. By car, use the paid public car park on Parkstrasse. *Should I take my phone on the water? Leave it in the free locker. The lake is up to 260 metres deep and keeps what falls in, and your guide sends you the photos and videos for free. *Single or double kayak? Singles for most guests: lighter, easier to turn, your own rhythm. Hightide has a few doubles, and your guide decides on the day what works best. *How big is the group? The booking calendar shows six places per group. *Can I paddle here in winter? Yes, with a separate Winter Kayak tour from November to April, in a drysuit. See our Winter Kayak page.

Hightide runs its tours in most weather, rain and snow included, and provides a wetsuit and jacket when it is cool. Thunderstorms or very strong wind can delay or cancel a tour, and Hightide decides on the day. If they cancel, you receive a full refund or choose a new date. Check that your phone number and email are right when you book, so they can reach you.

- Cancel in writing - More than 96 hours (4 days) before the start: Hightide's terms list no fee - From 96 to 24 hours before the start: 50% of the price - Less than 24 hours before, or no-show: 100% - Late arrival or leaving early: no refund - Groups of 10 or more have their own scale: ask before you book - If Hightide cancels for weather, safety or too few participants: full refund or a new date - Hightide recommends cancellation insurance, taken out when you book