IAESTE Rafting Weekend
June 27 - 28, 2009

 Rafting

Berner Oberland is the sort of region where rubber-necked visitors lean out the train windows on a clear day exclaiming "Oh my God, isn’t it beautiful?"

Standing in Interlaken, gazing at the massif Jungfrau in the distance its possible to sense the romance of place that attracted early package holiday tourists in the 19th century. Nowadays, this attractive mountain ringed town is one of the world top adventure sports centres . On this weekend we go river rafting…the ultimate team adventure sport...

 

View from the Sunnighorn

View from the "Sunnighorn"

Program

After the river rafting on Saturday we are going to offer you two options for Sunday: The first one involves another sportive activity: Climbing the "Sunnighorn" to enjoy the magnificient view. The second one is a more relaxed visit of the open-air museum Ballenberg where a unique collection of traditional houses, crafts and customs from all over Switzerland is hosted.

Saturday, June 27

  • Arrival at 10:51 in Interlaken WEST
  • Check-in at hostel, deposit of luggage
  • go to BBQ site at lake-side (bad weather: BBQ under shelter)
  • walk back to hostel (approx 1h15min walk)
  • 15:30 rafting on the black Lütschine between Lütschental and Zweilütschinen.
  • 19:30: Dinner at hostel
  • After dinner: Feel free to discover the nightlife in Interlaken

Sunday, June 28 - First Option, Climbing

  • 07:30 - 08:30 Breakfast
  • Leave hostel, catch train at 09:00 in Interlaken West.
  • Climbing the "Sunnighorn"
  • Evening: Take train back from Spiez.

Sunday, June 28 - Second Option, Ballenberg

  • 08:00 - 09:00 Breakfast
  • Leave hostel, catch train at 9:50 in Interlaken West.
  • Visiting the open-air museum Ballenberg
  • Evening: Take train back from "Ballenberg West".
One of the houses in Ballenberg.

One of the many traditional houses in Ballenberg.

Participation fees

  • With SBB General Abonnement (GA): 145.-CHF
  • With SBB half-fare (1/2): 150.- CHF
  • Without SBB half-fare (1/2): 155.- CHF

If you do not yet have a SBB half-fare card, we recommend you buying one! Check the SBB website!

A surcharge of 20.- CHF will apply for participants who are not affiliated with IAESTE or its partner organisations.

The money will be collected at the start of the weekend . Only cash is accepted!

Climbing the Sunnighorn 

Climbing the Sunnighorn.

Included in the participation fee

  • Riverrafting on Lütschine River (incl. all equipment such as boat, neoprene suit, life jacket and helmet)
  • Lodging Saturday to Sunday
  • Dinner Saturday
  • Breakfast and lunch pack Sunday
  • All transports during the weekend
  • Entrance to Ballenberg (for option B)

Not included in the participation fee

  • ticket from your home town to Interlaken
  • ticket from Spiez (Option A) respectively "Ballenberg West" (Option B) to your home town
  • Party costs :-)

Cancellation Policy 

If you cancel your registration

  • less than 36 hours before the start of the event (that is, 10:00 PM, June 25. 2009), you pay the entire participation fee
  • 36-48 hours before the start of the event, you pay 75% of the participation fee
  • 48-72 hours before the start of the event, you pay 50% of the participation fee
  • 72-108 hours before the start of the event, you pay 25% of the participation fee

Checklist - Remember to Bring

  • Cash (plz, bring exact amount) for paying the participation fee
  • Lunch for barbecue on Saturday
  • Swimming suit, towel
  • Clothes depending on the weather
  • Sunglasses and sun cream
  • Hiking shoes for the hiking tour (Option A)
  • Optionally: A helmet for hiking, can be a helmet for cycling or similar (Option A)
  • Good mood and a portion of courage!
  • Lots of energy and your best smile!
  • No Sleeping bag required

We will not be able to leave our baggage at the hostel on Sunday, please pack accordingly. If you chose to do the hiking, you will be able to leave your bag at the bottom of the mountain, therefore bring a small backback to carry food and water during the hike!

Please Note

  • Important remarks about rafting: Rafting is an adventure sport, and a wild river is not harmless: You must be able to swim and be in normal health-condition. Non-swimmers won't participate on the rafting. Alcohol before and during the rafting is strictly forbidden. Before the raft you get introduced to the techniques of controlling the boat, and each boat is lead by an experienced rafter. A neoprene-wetsuit, a helmet, neoprene shoes and a life jacket protect you. If you wear glasses, we recommend you to fix them with a rubber band as they can easily fall off.
  • Important remaks about hiking: We will climb a 753m high rock face, walking on narrow pathes or climbing. There is a rope you can hold to, but you will not be secured. During the hike, and for sure from the top too ;-) , you get an amazing view over the Lake of Thun and the Lake of Brienz. The way back is on a small path through the forest. The way up lasts about 2:30 hour and the way down about 1 hour. WARNING : This activity is reserved to fit people, who have no vertigo! You HAVE TO wear good hiking shoes (no sports shoes). Take with you: enough Water (at least 1l.), sun cream and sun glasses, ... and your camera!!! No prior knowledge or special equipment is required. Please note that the hiking trip is only going to take pleace in case of good weather conditions, otherwise everybody will visit Ballenberg. We will also limit the maximum number of participants on the hike on a first-come-first-served basis.
  • Insurance: IAESTE Switzerland is not responsible for any damage or accident! IAESTE Switzerland and IAESTE Local Committees Zurich, Basel and Lausanne do not provide any kind of insurance coverage for the river rafting on Saturday and for the hiking on Sunday. Participating on the weekend means participating at one's own risk. Make sure that you are well insured (medical, accidental & liability insurance!)

Meeting point and train connections

  • Meeting Point for All Participants: We will meet at Interlaken West train station on Saturday, June 27. at 10:55
  • People coming from Zürich: we will meet at 08.45 at the meeting point in Zürich main station (main floor, under the big clock). A Group Reservation will be made for the train leaving Zurich at 09.00.
  • Everyone should be on the same train leaving Bern at 10:04 (supposed to be track 5).


From Basel 



 

 

From Zurich

 

 

 

 

 

From Lausanne

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

To Basel (after Hiking)   +/- 1h

 


To Zurich (after Hiking)   +/- 1h

To Lausanne (after Hiking)   +/- 1h

 

 

To Zurich (after Ballenberg)  +/- 1h

To Lausanne (after Ballenberg)  +/- 1h

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For further information on train connections, check the SBB website.

Registration

The maximum number of participants allowed for this event is 42 (including organizers and helpers) and the registration is on a first-come, first-served basis. If your registration is not among the first 42, it will be put on the waiting list.

The online registration closed on Monday, 22 June 2009, at 18:00:00.

Check out the list of participants for this event.

Contact

If you have any questions, write to Show e-mail address.