Diving and family holidays in Switzerland

Lake Lucerne - Everything the divers heart desires ...

Family vacation de luxe High mountains, lush pastures with colourful flowers, low-turquoise mountain lakes - the perfect Heidi idyll, which some people still know from their childhood. In fact, the reality looks like a picture book: in the Unesco Biosphere Reserve Entllebuch active families find everything their heart desires. Moor water playgrounds, steam trains, summer tobogganing, caves, via ferrata and varied dive sites in nearby Lake Lucerne. In times of the CO2 problem, the hustle and bustle in everyday’s life, the "Next, Higher, More", the decision to make an eco-friendly holiday in Switzerland is a very conscious one. By train it goes from Germany with the children to Switzerland – very relaxing. In Switzerland, the Swiss Travel Pass offers enormous advantages. Children travel for free on their parents' ticket. In addition, it is not only valid for the railways, but also for all buses and ships. When travelling with children, the decision was made to the Reka holiday resort in Sörenberg in the middle of the Entlebuch Biosphere Reserve. At the foot of the Brienzer Rothorn it convinces in several points: easy to reach by public transport, child care, swimming pool with baby pool and lifting floor, indoor sandbox, adventure forest and various programs for children and teens. A great advantage here is the Sörenbergcard - free ride on the gondolas and cable cars Rothorn, Rossheid and Eisee. A hike to the Brienzer Rothorn is truly an adventure. In the early hours, the probability of seeing chamois and ibex is high. The approximately 3.5 hour ascent of the Rossheid but requires a good condition. If you want more comfortable, take the gondola up to the Rothorn. Whichever path you choose, the reward is on your toes. Breathtaking views of three of the most famous mountains: Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau (only three of over 690 peaks that can be seen in good weather). At its foot, Brienzer Lake radiates in an unnatural turquoise with the sky to the bet. After a refreshment in the hut, the children enjoy the descent. Although initially steep and rocky, it becomes more gentle and comfortable from the ice-lake, which invites you to a refreshing bath. Past cows, rock springs where you can refill your water bottles, berry bushes and rivers. Back at the Reka holiday village, adults reward themselves with the free sauna while the kids romp in the pool. Everything the divers heart desires... It’s drizzling... the clouds are hanging low. Nothing is more spooky than a moor hike in this weather – isn’t it? The Mooraculum (free admission) on the Rossheid delights both young and old. Water games, skill parcours, as well as a 1.5km long circular walk through the flat moor meadows and the high moor - here mystic adventure feeling is guaranteed. At 17 adventure stations, you will also learn all about the origin and inhabitants of the moor. Back it goes down fast with bikeboards - a lot of fun (and really fast…). But despite all the lust for adventure, some family members are also looking forward to some nice scuba dives. In a distance of only 40km, Lake Lucerne near Lucerne offers varied dive sites that are rarely found in a lake. There is much to discover together with Reto Loretz from DTC (Dive Club) Lucerne. His favorite diving courses convince. The dive site Lopper impresses already after ten meters. Huge monoliths in the most extraordinary formations stretch along the lake shore to a depth of up to 20m. The views into the rock crevices are worthwhile. If you dive slowly in shallow water in the direction of the old jetty, you will encounter numerous fish such as eglis, capitulas, truffles and eels (the latter at night). Experienced divers are attracted by the Unterwilen dive site: sheer cliffs, clear views, rocks and trees offer everything a diver's heart desires. The canyons at a depth of 30m-40m impress, the trees that fell deep into the water during the big storm provide an excellent protection area for many fish. During the dives, it is ideal for the rest of the family to explore Lucerne. The historic tour along the old defensive wall, climbing the defense towers and a small boat trip on Lake Lucerne delight young and old alike. A relaxed family day without much effort as plan for the next day? A drive with the gondola to the Rothorn and down with the historic cogwheel railway to Lake Brienz. An unforgettable hour through the rugged mountain landscape. A boat tour with the steamboat on Lake Brienz completes the historic day. If you want more action instead, climb the Schrattenflue (karst mountain) on a hiking tour and climb one of the two accessible stalactite caves. Or how about wood-carts (veryyyyy fast)? Whatever the heart desires: the region around Sörenberg offers enough variety for a one- or two-week holiday. Additional tip for divers: Also operated by Reto Loretz – the dive boat on the lake: tauchschiff.ch. Dive sites that no one else dives.

Descent into caves requires concentration. The caves are not commercial and therefore absolutely natural without stairs or ropes (c) Ariane Schild

Hiking in Schrattenflue requires concentration. The trail is lined with holes, crevices and cave entrances (c) Ariane Schild

There are many waterfalls in Switzerland. Not all are as easy to spot as this one on a boat tour (c) Ariane Schild

Töff, töff steam train… the ride on the steam locomotive is like a breathtaking journey through the mountains (c) Ariane Schild

A picture book view. Lake Brie