Meiringen’s tourist attractions include the Aare Gorge and the Reichenbach Falls. This is where Sherlock Holmes supposedly fell to his death, only to come back to life a few years later. Cyclists, too, come to life in the saddle, riding leisurely through Aarboden and towards Lake Brienz. When it’s not raining, the colour of the Aare River above Lake Brienz is turquoise. Otherwise, people talk about the “Green Aare”. The difference in colour is caused by the so-called glacial milk, that is, cloudy meltwaters from the glacier that can be grey or milky white in colour. The turbidity is results from the transport of rock flour, which ultimately leads to the spectacularly turquoise waters of Lake Brienz. The unclouded Giessbach Falls plummet towards Lake Brienz. By the end of the 18th century, landscape painters got inspired by these enchanting waterfalls. Iseltwald, the only community on the southern shore, is just as idyllic and far away from traffic.

From Interlaken, the views of the three famous peaks of Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau are stunning. If you see moving dots of colour while looking at the mountains, they’re probably hang-gliders who like to use Höhematte for landing. On sunny days, Lake Thun is teeming with sailboats. However, when thunder is heard around the often-windswept lake, it doesn’t take long for the boats to disappear. The route along the lake is very scenic, and you mostly ride on a generous, dedicated bicycle lane. This comes in handy because only a few meters away traffic is moving fast. Better look to your right to catch a glimpse of a great crested grebe, a proud family of swans or even the pollen that gives the normally deep-blue waters a yellowish tint.

The journey around the lake is a delight for many road users. The route is particularly popular among avid cyclists who surely let their gaze wander across the lake every so often. There’s indeed plenty to see: the Niederhorn, Beatenbucht (where legendary Saint Beatus is said to have fought the terrible dragon), the Sigriswil Ridge or the pretty hillside villages. We stay on the southern shore, ride through Faulensee with its mild climate and shortly thereafter arrive at Spiez, the town that boasts perhaps Europe’s most beautiful bay…