Panorama Rundweg Thunersee, Stage 2/4

From Sigriswil, the trail leads to Merligen on Lake Thun, where you meet the Way of St. James. At the foot of the Niederhorn mountain, the route passes the St. Beatus caves with their stunning waterfall. As well as the lakeside path through the nature reserve, the towns of Unterseen and Interlaken also tempt you to make a quick detour.

From the Sigriswil, Dorf bus stop, the trail leaves the village near the church. Right at the start, it reaches the hike’s highest point at around 800 metres. The route then descends through open meadows and sections of woodland to Merligen. Despite the overall descent, several counter-climbs add up to around 460 metres of ascent.

Beyond Merligen, the yellow-waymarked hiking trail alternates mainly between woodland and more open terrain. Roughly halfway along, the St. Beatus-Höhlen lie directly on the route. This network of limestone caves is located below Beatenberg and makes a distinctive intermediate stop before the trail reaches Lake Thun at Sundlauenen.

Water defines the final section of the hike. Staying close to the shore, the route continues through flatter terrain and further stretches of woodland towards Interlaken. After a total of 17 kilometres and just under five hours, the hike ends in Interlaken; Interlaken West railway station is only a few steps from the finish.