Summer Tip: Two Wonderful Boat Tours on Lake Thun & Lake Brienz

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“And when are you going on summer vacation?” Every year, the same astonished looks when one office party after the other says goodbye to the holidays, and I reply to the question: “Not at all”. Of all people, the one who is usually on the road year in and year out, holds her ground in the office during the summer months. But why should I leave? I like summer in Switzerland. In no other season are there so many great opportunities for spontaneous excursions, and when I walk out of the office between 17:00 and 18:00, the day is far from over. Open-air cinema, gelati fun or an evening cruise on the lake – these are the little holiday moments on a regular weekday.

And we were able to experience what such holiday moments feel like twice last week. On a wonderful Wednesday evening, we were out and about on Lake Thun with the lounge ship “OaSee”. Three days later, the steamship “Lötschberg” set off on a sunset cruise on Lake Brienz. Two lakes, two ships, two completely different experiences!

Lake Thun: Evening on the Lounge Ship OaSee

Among all the ships that are moored at the pier in the early evening, it is not clear at first glance with which we will soon set sail. The MS Stockhorn hides behind its larger colleagues. The small two-storey lounge ship exudes an intimate atmosphere and is mainly used for event purposes. We are warmly welcomed by the ship’s crew and guided to our reserved seat; two comfortable lounge sofas on the upper deck. I order a glass of “Mir isch glych” Dôle Blanche and make myself comfortable on the sofa – the sun on my face, the wind in my hair – great!

In the meantime, we have set course for Lake Thun and glide past Schadau Castle into the open water. With the unmistakable sneeze as a panorama, the culinary part of the boat trip starts. From the lower deck, a delicious barbecue smell already penetrates up to us. On the lounge ship “OaSee”, an appetizer buffet with various salads, antipasti and breads is first served and then grilled. So everyone can try their way through the buffet at their pace. Vegetarians are not neglected. Pineapple slices marinated with ginger and honey, grilled cheese with thyme from the Mamishaus cheese dairy (extremely fine!), salt-crusted potatoes and stuffed pepperoni are also prepared on the grill. We commute between the barbecue buffet and the lounge and enjoy the relaxed atmosphere.

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The boat trip takes us up to the height of Merligen. Here we turn around and drive back towards Thun with a view of the setting sun. Fascinated, I watch the play of colors of the sunset and feel really grounded at this moment.

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Shortly before we reach our starting point in Thun after an almost two-hour round trip, we are served a dessert: a refreshing Chübeli Rohrmoos ice cream. It’s nice to see how the ship’s catering relies on regional products. A successful evening excursion that provides a holiday feeling in the middle of the week.

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The round trip with the lounge ship “OaSee” will be operated every Wednesday and Thursday until 12 September 2019 (excluding 1 August) and costs CHF 78 for adults, including salad and barbecue buffet à discretion (there is a discount with the Half-Fare travelcard and GA travelcard). The start and end point is at the Thun boat landing stage. All further information can be found here: Lounge ship «OaSee»

 

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Boat trip on Lake Thun: practical tips

• The lounge ship “OaSee” departs every Wednesday and Thursday evening at 7:10 p.m. from Thun station and is back at the pier at 9:15 p.m.
• This is not a regular scheduled trip, so the GA/Half-Fare travelcard is not fully valid as usual on Lake Thun. But there is a discount.
• There are no other piers on this evening cruise.
• Every Tuesday to Saturday, there is also an after-work trip on the steamship “Blüemlisalp” on Lake Thun. Here the steamship runs according to the timetable and stops at all stations between Thun and Beatenbucht

Lake Brienz: Evening Cruise by Steamboat Lötschberg

Two days later, the weather is not equally kind to us. On the steep mountain flanks around Interlaken, clouds accumulate. “Will the weather hold?” We are excited. Today we are on the road with the venerable steamship “Lötschberg”. Commissioned in 1914 as a noble “saloon paddle steamer”, the DS Lötschberg is still a magnet more than 100 years later and is able to inspire guests from near and far. In any case, the stylish ambience of the steamboat fits perfectly into the wildly romantic landscape of Lake Brienz. It seems as if time has not only stood still on the ship.

The evening cruise on Lake Brienz is carried out as a normal scheduled boat trip. GA travelcard and Half-Fare travelcard are valid and the ship’s floors are divided into first (upper floor) and second (basement) class. Basically, you have a great view of the impressive mountain panorama everywhere on the ship. However, if you want to combine the excursion with a fine dinner, you will benefit from the fully glazed restaurant in first class. Here we sit sheltered from the wind behind windows and still have the feeling of being “right in the middle of it”. During the first thirty minutes, I find it difficult to tear myself away from the magical combination of the turquoise green shimmering Lake Brienz and the rugged mountain scenery. While on Lake Thun it felt like the vastness dominated, here on Lake Brienz I feel like I’m on a small nutshell.

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Shortly before Iseltwald, the growling stomach leads me to take a look at the menu. On the evening cruises with the DS Lötschberg there is the possibility to eat à la carte or to order one of the three-course menus (daily menu and fish menu). The fish menu with marinated salmon trout fillet from the Grabenmühle Sigriswil as a starter and poached Swiss char as a main course sounds “delicious” and lives up to expectations. The friend tries the Fischchnusperli and is also impressed. If you just want a little “sniff”, you are well served with the Brienz platter with dried sausage, raw ham and smoked beef from Ballenberg, sliced cheese, Eiger cheese and pickled vegetables.

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Once the biggest hunger has been satisfied, we turn our full attention back to the impressive landscapes we glide past. We leave Iseltwald behind us, set course for Giessbach and then take a break for almost 20 minutes in the harbour of Brienz, before a dessert trilogy and a colourful play of clouds await me on the way back towards Interlaken.

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The impressive backdrop, the intense colours and the nostalgic steamboat atmosphere: it seems to me that every evening cruise on Lake Brienz is a uniquely beautiful experience.

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The evening cruise with the steamship “Lötschberg” will be carried out every Saturday evening in July and August 2019 and costs CHF 54 for adults (2nd class without food). GA travelcard and Half-Fare travelcard are fully valid. The start and end point is at the Interlaken Ost pier. All further information can be found here: Evening cruise steamship «Lötschberg»

 

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Boat trip on Lake Brienz: practical tips

• The evening cruises on Lake Brienz start at 7:07 p.m. at the pier at Interlaken Ost station and last until 9:53 p.m. (perfectly coordinated with the train timetable with a connection at 10:00 p.m. in the direction of Thun/Bern).
• The 3-course fish menu costs 52 CHF. The à la carte menu also includes various smaller dishes. If you want to be sure of a table, you can reserve it in advance.
• Between Interlaken Ost train station and the boat landing stage is the nice bistro Pistache – here you can easily bridge the waiting time for the boat departure with an aperitif.