Booking choice: The winter kayak tour, from $169 per person. Check dates Tour details
Visitors arriving in December are often caught out. The boats from Interlaken Ost to Iseltwald, Giessbach and Brienz are a spring-to-autumn service, and the 2026 season on Lake Brienz ends on 6 December. From the next day there is no scheduled boat on the lake until spring.
This post covers the dates from the 2026 BLS timetable, what Lake Thun runs over the winter, and the two trips that put you on Lake Brienz in the cold months anyway.
The quick answer
BLS boats on Lake Brienz run from 3 April to 6 December 2026, with a thinner autumn and winter timetable from 12 October. Lake Thun runs all year, on a winter timetable from 15 November 2026. On Lake Brienz in winter you can join a 3-hour guided kayak tour in a drysuit (November to April) or a short winter jetboat ride, both from Bönigen.
When do the Lake Brienz boats stop in 2026?
The last scheduled day is Sunday 6 December 2026. From 7 December, BLS runs no boats on Lake Brienz until the spring.
The 2026 BLS timetable splits the Lake Brienz year into three parts: spring from 3 April, summer from 23 May, then a combined autumn and winter timetable from 12 October to 6 December. That last stretch has only a few sailings a day, so check the departure before you plan Iseltwald or Giessbach around it. The Lake Brienz-only day pass is sold only until 6 December as well.
One more thing from recent years: when the water is low, BLS has moved Lake Brienz departures from Interlaken Ost to Bönigen. Check which pier your boat leaves from in late autumn.
| Lake (2026 timetable) | Spring | Summer | Autumn | Winter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Brienz | 3 Apr to 22 May | 23 May to 11 Oct | 12 Oct to 6 Dec | No boats from 7 Dec |
| Lake Thun | 28 Mar to 8 May | 9 May to 11 Oct | 12 Oct to 14 Nov | 15 Nov to 12 Dec, then the new timetable |
When do Lake Brienz boats start again in 2027?
BLS had not published its 2027 Lake Brienz dates at the last build. In 2026 the season opened on 3 April, and the Berner Oberland Pass page gave the same date.
The pattern of the last few years is an early-April start, so plan on spring. The full summer timetable, with more sailings and the paddle steamer Lötschberg, came in late May in 2026.
If your trip falls in March, Lake Thun is the lake with boats. BLS's 10% day-pass discount runs from 1 December 2026 to 31 March 2027, and over that period it effectively applies to Lake Thun.
Does Lake Thun have boats in winter?
Yes. Lake Thun runs all year, and its winter timetable starts on 15 November 2026. Expect a reduced service between Thun, Spiez and Interlaken West.
Winter on Lake Thun is a slower, quieter lake with fewer departures, so look up the day's boats before you set out from Interlaken West. Swiss Travel Pass, GA and Berner Oberland Pass holders ride free in winter too.
Some shore stops close for the season. Oberhofen Castle opens mid-May to the end of October. Thun Castle's museum opens on Sundays from 13:00 to 16:00 between November and January (Schloss Thun). Our Lake Thun cruise guide has the route and the stops.
Over the winter the day pass is a Lake Thun ticket: Interlaken West, Spiez and Thun on one day.
Check dates for the boat day pass for both lakesCan you kayak on Lake Brienz in winter?
Yes. Hightide Kayak School runs a 3-hour guided winter kayak tour from Bönigen between November and April, in groups of no more than six, with a drysuit and neoprene boots provided.
No experience is needed. The route passes Ringgenberg Castle and the cliffs of the north shore, with a stop for hot tea and cookies on the water. The kit list is serious: an expedition drysuit, neoprene boots, thick socks, plus a digital photo and video package. You bring the thermals: a thermal top and bottom, a thin jumper and extra layers if you feel the cold.
Limits: age 12 and up, and a maximum of 120 kg. There is no pickup; meet at the kayak base on Am Quai in Bönigen. The tour is rated 4.9 from 281 reviews, and Andrea's from Apr 2026 sums up the mood: "We spent a good amount of time (our choice) just sitting in our kayaks in the middle of Lake Brienz enjoying the quiet and peace of the lake and beauty of the mountains."
Lake Brienz under snow from a kayak: drysuit, boots and a guide for six at most, with photos and video included.
Explore the winter kayak tour Tour detailsIs there a winter jetboat on Lake Brienz?
Yes. The jetboat operator in Bönigen runs a winter version of its ride, 35 minutes in all with about 20 minutes on the water, and lists it from November to March.
It is a shorter, colder cousin of the summer jetboat ride: spins, the captain's commentary and the snowy shore from water level. You get a waterproof outer layer, a life jacket, waterproof gloves, a beanie and photos. Dress as for skiing underneath: ski pants, a winter jacket and winter shoes.
Up to 11 guests per boat, a minimum height of 110 cm and a weight limit of 150 kg. It meets at Am Quai 5 in Bönigen, a short bus or taxi ride from Interlaken Ost. Rated 4.9 from 26 reviews.
Want the lake in winter in under an hour? The winter jetboat comes with gloves, a beanie and a waterproof layer.
Check dates for the winter jetboat rideWhat else can you do on Lake Brienz in winter?
See Giessbach Falls on foot, reach Iseltwald by bus, or join a road tour that covers Iseltwald, Giessbach and Brienz all year.
The Giessbach funicular and the boats to Giessbach run from April to October, but MySwitzerland notes the falls can be reached on foot all year. PostBus line 103 links Interlaken Ost and Iseltwald when the boats are off. The Iseltwald, Giessbach and Brienz tour runs all year with hotel pickup.
| Winter option | Starts from | Season | What to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winter kayak tour | Bönigen | November to April | 3 h, age 12+, drysuit provided, bring thermals |
| Winter jetboat ride | Bönigen | November to March (operator) | 35 min, min height 110 cm |
| Iseltwald, Giessbach and Brienz tour | Hotel pickup | All year | 4 h by road, no boat |
| Boat day pass | Interlaken West | All year on Lake Thun | Lake Brienz part ends with the season |
Iseltwald's jetty, Giessbach Falls and Brienz by road in about 4 hours, with hotel pickup, on days when no boat runs.
Explore the Iseltwald, Giessbach and Brienz tour Tour detailsFrequently asked questions
Do boats run on Lake Brienz in December?
Only until 6 December 2026. BLS runs no scheduled boats on Lake Brienz from 7 December until the spring.
Do boats run on Lake Thun in winter?
Yes, all year. A reduced winter timetable applies from 15 November 2026.
Is winter kayaking on Lake Brienz cold?
You paddle in an expedition drysuit with neoprene boots and thick socks, and wear your own thermal layers underneath. There is a hot tea stop on the water.
When does the Lake Brienz boat season start in 2027?
BLS had not published 2027 dates at the last build. The 2026 season began on 3 April.
Ready to book
Choose your trip
Free cancellation on every option: Winter Kayak Tour on Lake Brienz up to 3 days before; Winter Jetboat Ride on Lake Brienz up to 24 hours before; Iseltwald, Giessbach Falls & Brienz Tour up to 24 hours before. Prices are from-prices in USD and move with the season.
Winter Kayak Tour on Lake Brienz
Snowy peaks from a kayak, drysuit and boots provided
Winter Jetboat Ride on Lake Brienz
Snowy shores and spins, with gloves and a waterproof layer
Iseltwald, Giessbach Falls & Brienz Tour
The Crash Landing on You jetty, the falls and Brienz
