Interlaken to Brienz, Aareschlucht & Meiringen – Lakes, Gorges & Alpine Wonders

Your English-speaking driver will pick you up from your hotel in Interlaken and set off along the lake’s turquoise shoreline. Within half an hour, you’ll reach Iseltwald, a peaceful fishing village that feels almost suspended in time. Its wooden chalets, flowered balconies and the still surface of Lake Brienz make it one of the most photogenic places in Switzerland. Walk to the famous Iseltwald pier, known worldwide from the series Crash Landing on You, or simply breathe in the alpine air while sipping coffee by the water.

Continuing along the lake, you’ll arrive in Brienz, a quiet lakeside village known for its woodcarving traditions and old-fashioned charm. Here, you’ll board the legendary Brienz Rothorn Bahn, one of the last steam cogwheel trains still in operation. As the locomotive begins its climb, the world below shrinks into patterns of blue and green. Clouds drift between the trees, and the smell of steam and pine fills the air. In less than an hour, you’re standing at 2,350 meters, surrounded by a panorama of peaks — the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau stand proudly in the distance. At the summit, enjoy lunch or coffee at the mountaintop restaurant, take photos, or wander along the walking paths before descending back to Brienz.

Season 2026: • Operation to Planalp (mid-station): 9 May – 5 June 2026 • Full operation to Rothorn Kulm: 6 June – 25 October 2026

This ride isn’t just transport; it’s a time machine to the golden age of travel.

From here, the journey continues toward the dramatic Aare Gorge. The landscape tightens into cliffs and forested slopes before opening into one of the most fascinating natural formations in the Swiss Alps. For nearly two kilometers, a wooden walkway clings to the rock face as the river rushes beneath. Narrow tunnels alternate with open views where sunlight cuts through the mist, creating a moving play of color and sound. The gorge is both peaceful and powerful — a masterpiece of natural engineering. Walking through it feels like moving through time itself, where stone, water and wind have written their own language.

Before returning, you’ll stop in Meiringen, a town framed by mountains and waterfalls. Fans of classic literature may recognize it as the setting where Sherlock Holmes met his end at the Reichenbach Falls — but the real attraction is the atmosphere. Stone bridges, river trails, and alpine calm create a setting that feels untouched by time. You can visit the waterfall viewpoint (weather permitting) or relax in a café before your return journey.

The route back follows the shimmering edge of Lake Brienz, now golden in the afternoon light. The day’s journey ends just as it began — with stillness, reflection and that unmistakable feeling that Switzerland’s beauty doesn’t shout, it whispers.