This Rafting Trip Serves Up Wine, Potatoes, and Melted Cheese—All While You Float Down a Mountain River

Key Points

• In Switzerland’s Bernese Oberland, travelers can experience “Raclette Rafting”—a cozy, winter river float paired with melted cheese and wine.
• Guests can drift from Bönigen to Interlaken under fleece blankets, savoring raclette, tea, and stunning mountain views.
• Available from September through April, the guided 90-minute excursion offers one of the most scenic and unique dining experiences in the Alps.

As the sun sets on the snow-covered peaks of the Bernese Oberland and the day’s adventures come to an end, a different sort of journey begins—something a bit more … indulgent. It all starts at the glacier-fed waters of Bönigen, Switzerland, and involves an unlikely pairing: a raft and melted cheese.

Known as “Raclette Rafting,” the excursion combines the comfort of a traditional Swiss meal with the quiet magic of a winter float. Aboard an inflatable raft, guests drift down the Aare Canal toward the town of Interlaken, Switzerland, savoring a meal of bubbling raclette served over potatoes and two generous glasses of white wine. Cozy fleece blankets keep the chill at bay, while a steaming cup of tea rounds out the meal. A guide steers the raft, allowing guests to sit back and enjoy the views.

As darkness falls and the lights of Interlaken begin to light the riverbanks, the raft becomes what might be the most scenic dining room in Switzerland. From your watery vantage point, you can see the Bernese Oberland, which is home to the Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau peaks, rise from the shore.

The journey from Bönigen to Interlaken by water lasts around 90 minutes. The starting point is just a short walk from the departure location, making the return trip easy and enjoyable. 

Raclette Rafting is ideal for small groups, as the boats can hold up to eight people. Despite being on the water, the experience is warm, dry, and comfortable. It is designed for easygoing travelers and families—and anyone who likes open air, hot cheese, and mountain views.

The experience is only available in the fall and winter months, from September through April, when the crisp air and snow-covered peaks add to the atmosphere. The trips are led by Outdoor, a guided adventure company, which specializes in experiences in the Bernese region of Switzerland.

The price for Raclette Rafting is 90 Swiss francs (around $113 USD) per person and includes a full raclette dinner, wine, tea, blankets, a guide, and safety gear. The minimum age is 8, and children under 14 must be accompanied by an adult. To charter a full boat, which fits up to eight people, the cost is 695 Swiss francs (around $873 USD). The trip can be booked on Outdoor’s website.