8 Days & 7 Nights

4.7

Lucerne's Lakes and Mountains

Explore the lakes and mountains of the Swiss region of Lucerne
Enjoy easy going walks with all cable cars, boats and trains included
Summit Mount Rigi and Mount Pilatus for panoramic views of central Switzerland
Spend a magical night in the 3* superior Pilatus hotel at a lofty 2132m
Relax in comfortable hand-picked hotels with fabulous lake side locations

Experience the best of central Switzerland on this inn to inn walking holiday around the picturesque Lake Lucerne Riviera staying in comfortable lake side hotels and a spectacular mountain 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 2,132m in a 3* superior hotel. Once the day trippers have left you have a real sense of having the 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 $3,675.00

Select Date Inquire Tour Brochure

Gallery

All Photos (11)

Itinerary

Expand all

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 Walk 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 nights here. Today’s walk can be shortened in various places with the use of public transport.

Walking: 21, 14 or 8km, Ascent/Descent 600/600m

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 walk to Rigi Kaltbad, cable car to Weggis 3.5 miles / 6 km

Take the cable car to the hamlet of Rigi Kaltbald and change to the cog railway which will take you to the summit of Rigi at 1797m. 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 walk back down to Rigi Kaltbad. Take the cable car back down to Weggis.

Ascent/Descent: 130m/450m

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, walk the Panorama Trail, boat to Beckenried 7.5 miles / 12 km

For the first 7km of today's walk you will be following the Rigi Panorama Trail, and the former railway line from Rigi Kaltbad to Rigi Scheidegg. 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, where you can hop on the cable car to Vitznau. Take the ferry from Vitznau to Beckenried, a pretty town on the south bank of Lake Lucerne.

Ascent/Descent: 150m/1186m (including cable car)

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 walks 10 miles / 16 km

Take the cable car from Beckenried to Klewenalp, which happens to be the longest cable car ride in Central Switzerland! Pass Brisenhaus, a mountain hut located at 1753m. Descend on a rocky path, arriving in Niederrickenbach, a 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 and return to Beckenried, or for those who still have the energy, follow the easy woodland trail to Stockhuette.

Walking: 16 or 5km, Ascent/Descent: 800m/800m or 80m/400m

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 Walk 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. 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 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!

Ascent/Descent: 450m/450m

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

This historic mountain hotel was built in 1890 and was renovated in 2010. Rooms are modern and comfortable, yet the hotel still manages to retain that feeling of Belle Époque glamour.

Hotel Bellevue

The 20 standard double rooms in the Hotel Bellevue*** are comfortably furnished. All rooms in the Bellevue Hotel have a private bathroom with a hairdryer and offer panoramic views.

It features a terrace with panoramic views over the Swiss Alps and the bay of Lucerne. The restaurant serves typical Swiss specialities. Half-board includes breakfast and a 4-course dinner.

Day 7 Cable car to Frakmuntegg and walk 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 is gently descending 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 and arrive back in Lucerne the way you left, on foot.

Ascent/Descent: 100/1000m

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 4kg per person per night, meaning it’s one of our best trips! For comparison, a carbon count of 4kg is equivalent to 2.5 avocados. 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.

Reviews

Expand all

Other Information

Expand all

Is it for me?

Looking for an easy-going walking holiday which 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 walks are around 5-11km, and quite straight forward as cable cars and cog railways are used to take care of the tough ascents and descents. You should be comfortable using cable cars and steep cog railways to get the most of this 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
Detailed information pack, route notes and maps
GPX tracks and access to our GPS Macs Adventure smartphone app
24/7 telephone support from our UK office

Excluded

Travel insurance (required)
Travel to and from Lucerne
Lunches & 6 Dinners
Bus/train on day 2 if you choose to shorten the walk
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 trousers), sun hat and sunscreen. Your information pack has a detailed equipment list which includes standard walking gear such as good walking 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.

How fit do I need to be? Which is the best airport to fly to? How far in advance do I need to book? What personal equipment do I need? How do the baggage transfers work? When is the best time of year?

Featured

Why Macs

Reasons to believe in Macs Adventure:

The Biggest Choice

Self-guided hiking & biking is all we do - we have hundreds of tried & tested trips.

Founded in 2003

We’re still founder led & the world’s number one self-guided operator with mountains of experience.

23,000+ Customer Reviews

Plus, with a Feefo Platinum Service Award & British Travel Awards, you know you're in good hands.

B Corp Certified

We’re proud to be B Corp certified, reflecting our commitment to sustainable travel that supports communities and upholds the highest social and environmental standards.

Lucerne's Lakes and Mountains

Lucerne's Lakes and Mountains

Gallery

Itinerary

Other Information

Single Rooms & Solo Walkers

Meals

Best of the Bernese Oberland In Style

Walking the Salzburg Lakes

Walking in the Bavarian Alps

Why Macs

The Biggest Choice

Founded in 2003

23,000+ Customer Reviews

B Corp Certified