8 Days & 7 Nights

4.8

Lucerne's Lakes and Mountains

Explore the lakes & mountains of the Swiss region of Lucerne over 7 nights
Enjoy easy going hikes with all cable cars, boats & trains included
Reach Mount Rigi & Mount Pilatus for panoramic views of the Bernese mountains
Treat yourself to a magical night at the top of Mount Pilatus with 4 course dinner & inspiring views
Relax in comfortable hand-picked hotels with fabulous lake side locations

Experience the best of central Switzerland on this inn to inn hiking vacation around the picturesque Lake Lucerne Riviera staying in comfortable lakeside hotels and a spectacular mountain top hotel. Use cable cars and cog railways to reach dizzying heights allowing you to enjoy sweeping views of cobalt blue lakes and snow capped peaks with minimal effort. Get away from the tourist hotspots and on to the trails where your only company will be a few locals and some Swiss Alpine cows. Explore Mount Rigi and Mount Pilatus even spending a magical evening on the summit of Pilatus at 7,000ft in a 4 star hotel. Once the day trippers have left, enjoy feeling as though you have the entire mountain all to yourself. Your adventure starts and finishes in Lucerne, giving you plenty of time to discover this pretty town and its famous monuments and bridges.

From $2,950.00

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Itinerary

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Day 1 Arrive Lucerne

Fly into Zurich, Bern or Geneva then continue by train to Lucerne (1, 2 or 3.5 hours).

Lucerne has long been popular with visitors, with an impressive mountainous backdrop and clear lake waters running through its centre, it’s easy to see why. Visit the famous Chapel Bridge, the oldest wooden covered bridge in Europe. Wander to the Lion of Lucerne, a poignant rock relief commemorating Swiss Guards who died during the French Revolution. Or simply enjoy a glass of Swiss wine in a lakeside bar and watch the world go by.

Overnight Lucerne

Accommodations

A sample of our typical carefully chosen accommodation in this location. Where you stay will vary depending on availability, but will be a similar standard.

Altstadt-Hotel-Krone-Lucerne---Lucerne---Switzerland

Hotel Krone | 3 Star | Hotel

The Old Town Hotel “Krone” is located at the wine market of Lucerne and represents the time-honoured tradition of Swiss hospitality.

Hotel Des Alpes | 3 Star | Hotel

This hotel benefits from a fantastic location in the heart of the old town and only a short walk from the train station. Enjoy the view of the river Reuss and its clear blue waters as well as the famous Chapel Bridge from the comfort of your balcony.

Day 2 Hike to Weggis 8.5 miles / 14 km

Say goodbye for now to the hustle and bustle of Lucerne! Follow trails to the town of Adlingenswil before continuing on country roads and descending to lake level. Ascend once more to follow country tracks along the hillside, offering fantastic views of the lake. Arrive in Weggis, a charming, relaxed, lake-side town popular with locals and tourists. Spend two leisurely nights here. Today’s hike can be shortened in various places with the use of public transport.

Hiking Options: 5, 9 or 13 miles (8, 14 or 21km)
Ascent/Descent 600/600m (1,969ft/1969ft)

Overnight Weggis

Accommodations

A sample of our typical carefully chosen accommodation in this location. Where you stay will vary depending on availability, but will be a similar standard.

Hotel Beau Rivage | Hotel

This friendly and high-quality spa hotel is located directly on the lakeside in the town of Weggis which has a definite hint of ‘Riviera’ to it.

Hotel Rössli Gourmet & Spa | 4 Star | Hotel

On the shores of Lake Lucerne and in a very quiet location you will feel at home. A place marked by a diverse SPA area and exquisite gourmet cuisine.
In all our activities, they attention to the respectful use of our resources of our environment.

Day 3 Cable car to Rigi Kulm and Hike to Rigi Kaltbad, Cable car to Weggis 3.5 miles / 6 km

Experience the breadth of Switzerland's incredibly efficient public transportation today. It also makes for some incredible landscape viewing. Enjoy the cable car to the hamlet of Rigi Kaltbald, then hop on the cog railway, which will take you to the summit of Rigi at 1,797m/5,896ft.

On a clear day, you can see no fewer than 13 lakes and an impressive panorama of mountain peaks. Have a bite to eat or relax with a drink in the summit restaurant before starting this easy-going hike back down to Rigi Kaltbad. From there you can take the cable car to Weggis.

Ascent/Descent: 130m/450m (427ft/1,476ft)

Overnight Weggis

Accommodations

A sample of our typical carefully chosen accommodation in this location. Where you stay will vary depending on availability, but will be a similar standard.

Hotel Beau Rivage | Hotel

This friendly and high-quality spa hotel is located directly on the lakeside in the town of Weggis which has a definite hint of ‘Riviera’ to it.

Hotel Rössli Gourmet & Spa | 4 Star | Hotel

Day 4 Cable car to Rigi Kaltbad, hike the Panorama Trail, boat to Beckenried 7.5 miles / 12 km

For the first 7km/4.5mi of today's hike you will be following the famous high-alpine Rigi Panorama Trail, and the former railway line from Rigi Kaltbad to Rigi Scheidegg. Enjoy the very easy-going trail before a short ascent that rewards you with incredible views of Lake Lucerne and Lake Zug down below and the Alps all around. If you are feeling peckish, there are two traditional mountain restaurants at Rigi-Scheidegg to chose from.

From here, it's a steady descent to Hinterbergen through farms and paths that cross hillside pastures. Listen for the tinkle of Switzerland's famous cowbells. Further down you'll hear the sound of mountain streems and smell the fragrant giant pine trees. After your hike, hop on the cable car to Vitznau and enjoy the lull of the ferry ride from Vitznau to Beckenried, a pretty town on the south bank of Lake Lucerne.

Ascent/Descent: 150m/1186m (492ft/3,891ft) please note that includes the cable car down

Overnight Beckenried

Accommodations

A sample of our typical carefully chosen accommodation in this location. Where you stay will vary depending on availability, but will be a similar standard.

Hotel Nidwaldnerhof | 3 Star | Hotel

A wonderful and modern 3* superior hotel with a fantastic location. Enjoy a drink on the lakeside decking or even take a dip in the lake itself, just ask at reception for a fluffy dressing gown to relax in afterwards! The on-site restaurant boasts panoramic views as well as fresh local cuisine.

Hotel de Roessli | Bed and breakfast

The hotel-restaurant Rössli offers a picturesque and tranquil place to visit. The hotel is situated at the very centre of their lively village, and, being right on the banks of the lake, offers spectacular uninterrupted view Hotel de Roessli offers 11 bedrooms that face the lake. These are fitted with a shower or bath, toilet, phone, radio and TV. Most of these have a balcony onto the lake. 4 rooms that face the street are fitted a little more simply with a shared bathroom.

Day 5 Cable car to Klewenalp, choice of hikes 10 miles / 16 km

Today, experience the longest cable car ride in Central Switzerland from Beckenried to Klewenalp! Pass Brisenhaus, a mountain hut located at 1753m/5,751ft. Descend on a rocky path, arriving in Niederrickenbach, a quaint hamlet only accessible to the general public by cable car or on foot. Explore the small Cloisters area and the lovingly kept garden. Return to the cable car for the trip back to Beckenried, or for those who still have the energy, follow the easy woodland trail to Stockhuette.

Hiking Options: 5 or 16km (3 or 10mi)
Ascent/Descent: 118/438m (387ft/1,437ft) or 812m/822m (2,625ft/2,625ft)

Overnight Beckenried

Accommodations

A sample of our typical carefully chosen accommodation in this location. Where you stay will vary depending on availability, but will be a similar standard.

Hotel Nidwaldnerhof | 3 Star | Hotel

Hotel de Roessli | Bed and breakfast

Day 6 Hike to Stans, train and cog railway to Pilatus 8 miles / 13 km

Walk out of Beckenried via quiet country roads and trails. If time allows, take the cable car from Stans to the summit of Stanserhorn at 1,898m/6,227ft for . With its open top design, this is a cable car with a difference!

Take a train to Alpnachstad (25 mins easy change at Hergiswil). Board the steepest cog railway in the world, enjoying the views as you ascend through alpine fields and rocky tunnels. Arrive at Pilatus Kulm and check into your 3* superior mountain hotel in the clouds and enjoy spectacular views from the comfort of your room. Staying here is a real highlight of the trip and a truly unique experience! Enjoy an included dinner and relish your time on the mountain top after the tourists have left for the day.

Ascent/Descent: 467m/452m (1,532ft/1,483ft)

Included Dinner: Pilatus-Kulm

Overnight Pilatus-Kulm

Accommodations

A sample of our typical carefully chosen accommodation in this location. Where you stay will vary depending on availability, but will be a similar standard.

Hotel Pilatus-Kulm | Hotel

The historic Hotel Pilatus-Kulm**** (built in 1890) offers a breathtaking mountaintop escape with modern, comfortable rooms and stunning views of the Bernese Alps. Blending Belle Époque charm with contemporary amenities, it promises magical moments from sunrise to starlit nights, while dining features refined Swiss cuisine paired with panoramic views above Lake Lucerne, with half-board including breakfast and a 4-course dinner.

Hotel Bellevue

The 20 standard double rooms in the Hotel Bellevue*** are comfortably furnished. All rooms have a private bathroom with a hairdryer and offer panoramic views. Step out onto the terrace for incredible views over the Swiss Alps and the bay of Lucerne. Dine on quintessential Swiss cuisine in the hotel's restaurant. Half-board includes breakfast and a 4-course dinner.

Day 7 Cable car to Frakmuntegg and hike to Lucerne 6.5 miles / 10 km

After a hearty breakfast, explore the various short routes around Pilatus Kulm. The views of the surrounding lakes and peaks are tremendous.

Take the cable car to Frakmuntegg and follow the ubiquitous yellow and black signs to Kriens. The path gently descends, and there are a few places to stop for some food en route. Once you reach Kriens, you can choose to jump on a bus to Lucerne or continue on foot and arrive back in Lucerne the way you left.

Ascent/Descent: 103/1078m (338ft/3539ft)

Overnight Lucerne

Accommodations

A sample of our typical carefully chosen accommodation in this location. Where you stay will vary depending on availability, but will be a similar standard.

Hotel Krone | 3 Star | Hotel

The Old Town Hotel “Krone” is located at the wine market of Lucerne and represents the time-honoured tradition of Swiss hospitality.

Hotel Des Alpes | 3 Star | Hotel

Day 8 Onward Travel

THIS TRIP'S CARBON SCORE

This trip has a carbon score of 8kg per person per night, meaning it’s one of our best trips! For comparison, a carbon count of 8kg is equivalent to 12 pints of local beer at a bar. Here at Macs, we pride ourselves on being a responsible travel company and continue to adopt, develop and innovate ways to positively impact the environment. Find out more information about how we've carbon counted our trips.

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Other Information

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Is it for me?

Looking for an easy-going hiking vacation that offers fantastic mountain and lake views and comfortable accommodations? Then this is the trip for you. Public transport is used to keep the ascents to a minimum and you should be comfortable travelling in cable cars and cog railways with a steep incline. Stay in Lucerne, Weggis and Beckenried in hotels with lake views and spend one night in the Pilatus-Kulm hotel, a truly unforgettable experience.

Tour Type:

Slower Adventures | Where walking and cycling meet easy-going exploring, our Slower Adventures are the perfect combination. Most days are filled with picturesque journeys with some free time to dive into the destination and experience the people, local food and culture as you go.

Activity:

Inn to Inn Walking | Walk from place-to-place changing accommodations each night. Generally staying in B&Bs, inns, and guesthouses.

This trip is suitable for:

Solo Travellers, Families with Teens

The minimum age for this tour is: 12 Years

Ideal if you have an interest in:

Alpine Walking

Activity Level & Terrain

This trip is graded ‘easy—moderate’ overall, as the hikes are around 5-11km/3-7mi, and quite straight forward as cable cars and cog railways are used to take care of the tough ascents and descents. You should be in reasonably good shape to get the most from this trip. Its a perfect trip for a first time hiking adventure as the public transport infrastructure is fantastic, giving you lots of flexibility. You should however be comfortable using cable cars and steep cog railways as these are an integral part of the trip.

Please be aware that earlier/later in the season there may be some residual snow lying in patches on some of the trails, but this will not require any special equipment or skills.

Accommodation & Meals Navigation What's Included

Included

2 nights in 4* spa hotel, 3 nights in 3* superior hotels and 2 nights in 3* hotels
7 Breakfasts
1 Dinners
Bag Transfers
'Tell Pass' giving unlimited travel on the region's public transport from Day 3 to Day 7 inclusive
GPX tracks and access to our GPS Macs Adventure smartphone app
24/7 telephone support from our UK office

Excluded

Travel insurance (recommended)
Travel to and from Lucerne
Lunches & 6 Dinners
Bus/train on day 2 if you choose to shorten the hike
Drinks and snacks
Personal equipment

Extras

Additional nights before, during or after the walk

When to go Travel & Transfers Info & FAQ

General Information

The distances and ascents/descents are approximations of the recommended routes. Please be prepared by packing all necessary items, for example, proper rain gear (jacket and pants), sun hat and sunscreen. Our award-winning app has a detailed equipment list that includes standard hiking gear such as good hiking boots or shoes, warm and waterproof clothes for the cooler months and lightweight clothing for summer, and a day pack.

Travel Insurance

It is a requirement of booking this tour with Macs Adventure that you have suitable travel insurance which covers you for the activity, emergency evacuation and hospital care.