Lütschine and Simme River Rafting

River rafting on the Lütschine is a guided white-water trip on the glacier-fed river that runs through the Lauterbrunnen and Grindelwald valleys and meets Interlaken in the Bernese Oberland, Switzerland. The run is rated class III to IV, with a Simme valley option available for a different stretch of river. Trips depart from Outdoor Interlaken (outdoor.ch) at Industriestrasse 17 in Wilderswil, about 5 minutes from Interlaken Ost by train or bus, and last roughly 3 to 3.5 hours including transfers, with around 1.5 hours on the water. The grade is moderate: no experience is required, but participants must be able to swim, follow paddling commands and handle cold water and some physical effort. Minimum age and weight limits are set by the operator and should be confirmed at booking. Wetsuit, helmet, life jacket and shoes are supplied, so visitors usually bring only a swimsuit and a towel. Guides lead each raft, give a safety briefing on paddle commands, falling out, and swimming position, and travel with the group through the rapids; the operator uses standard river-rescue practice with throw ropes and safety techniques. Because the water is melt from glaciers, it is cold and high in early summer, and the best period is June to August when flow is strongest, with trips running roughly May to September. Water level changes with weather and snowmelt, and very high water after heavy rain can lead to a changed route or cancellation. Prices are around CHF 109 to 147 (about $134 to $181) per person, with Saturday prices running higher. Visitors often combine rafting with another activity in Interlaken in the same day, and warm dry clothes for afterwards are worth packing.