Not down along the lake, but up in the air via Sigriswil and Beatenberg.

Actually, one imagines a bike ride from Thun to Interlaken to be quite "easy". Simply cycling along the lake. Not so on the "royal stage" 61.1 high above Lake Thun. After Steffisburg, the route climbs steeply towards Goldiwil. But the view from the "balcony of Lake Thun" is first-class: Gantrisch chain, Stockhorn, Niesen and the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau triumvirate. On the way you pass farm shops selling sweet cider or cheese.

For a short while you are on the Herzroute 99 (popular with eBikers), which branches off at Ringoldswil towards Eriz. The first ascent to Goldiwil or even Heiligenschwendi can also be mastered by bus; a special ticket is required for bike transport. But if you want to go even higher, you can take your bike along forest paths to Blume (1392m) and then climb the steel lookout tower on foot.

Then follow the real panoramic routes with only gentle ups and downs to the suspension bridge village of Sigriswil. Walking on the bridge costs 8 Swiss francs, less with a guest card or VCS pass, the price is valid for a return trip.

After Sigriswil, you need to buy a ticket for CHF 5 to travel by road to the quiet Justistal and Beatenberg. But this only applies to car drivers and motorbike riders... Narrow and rocky, the path leads up through deciduous and coniferous forests, hardly any traffic. Near the Grönhütte, a huge boulder flaunts the message that it broke loose on the Sigriswilergrat on 2 May 1974 and fell between the construction hut and the transport cable car. Miraculously, everyone present escaped with a fright. And miraculously, it seems, you can get back out of the Justistal through narrow tunnels to the "Waldbrand" ridge. The road was once built by the military, and the entrances to the large fortress can be seen in the rocks, which was oriented towards the Aare valley.

Finally, Beatenberg is perhaps the longest village, after which we reach tranquil Unterseen and Interlaken after a winding final descent.