Lucerne's Lakes and Mountains Short Break
- Explore the lakes and mountains of Lucerne in a long weekend
- Enjoy easy going walks with cable cars taking care of the ascents
- 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
Gallery
Itinerary
Day 1 Arrive WeggisFly into Zurich , Bern or Geneva then continue by train to Lucerne (1, 2Â or 3.5 hours). From Lucerne, take a scenic boat journey or a train to Weggis (about 45 mins).
Weggis is a charming, relaxed, lake-side town popular with locals and visitors alike. This area of the lake is known as the ’Lake Lucerne Riviera’ and it’s easy to see why. Idyllic and peaceful, it’s also at the foot of famous Mount Rigi, also known as ‘Queen of the Mountains’. With easy cable car access to the summit of Rigi, Weggis is a great place from which to explore.
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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.
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.
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.Â
Ascent/Descent: 150m/1186m (including cable car)
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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
The Old Town Hotel “Krone” is located at the wine market of Lucerne and represents the time-honoured tradition of Swiss hospitality.
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.
After breakfast check-out of your hotel and make your onward journey. If you are planning a longer Swiss tour, the Bernese Oberland combines perfectly with Lucerne, contact us for more info.
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.
Other Information
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.
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.
Inn to Inn Walking | Walk from place-to-place changing accommodations each night. Generally staying in B&Bs, inns, and guesthouses.
Solo Travellers, Families with Teens
The minimum age for this tour is: 12 Years
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.
Your accommodation will be a mix of a 4* spa hotel, 3* superior hotels and 3* hotels. In Lucerne, Weggis and Beckenried we book lake view rooms where possible. If these are not available, a small reduction will be taken off the cost of your trip
Single Rooms & Solo Walkers
This trip is available to solo walkers and a supplement is payable. Single rooms are on request and again a supplement is payable.
Meals
Continental breakfasts are included. One 4 course dinner is included at the Pilatus Kulm Hotel. Other dinners and lunches are not included so you are free to choose where you eat each day. Lucerne has numerous restaurant options, and in the smaller towns of Weggis and Beckenried you can eat at a local restaurant or at your hotel. Lunch can be bought at restaurants along the way or you can pick up a packed lunch from the bakery or supermarket. Food in Switzerland is hearty and traditional, with cheese being one of the dominant ingredients! Fondue and raclette are popular and a must try. Roesti is another classic which is a bed of grated then fried potato, with various toppings like cheese, bacon or fried eggs
Walking trails are generally very well signposted in Switzerland and together with access to our GPS-following app and maps, you will have no problem finding your way on our suggested walks.
- 1 night in 4* spa hotel, 2 nights in 3* superior hotels and 1 night in a 3* hotel
- 4 Breakfasts
- 1 Dinner
- Bag Transfers
- 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
- Gondola to Mt. Pilatus
- Travel insurance (required)
- Travel to Weggis and from Lucerne
- Lunches & 3 Dinners
- Public transport to, from and during the walks
- Drinks and snacks
- Personal equipment
- Additional nights before, during or after the walk
This trip is available to start any day of the week, from the end of June til the end of September, subject to availability. Any time during this period is ideal for hiking, in late June/early July you can experience Alpine flowers at their finest while in bloom. August can be busy as this is the main holiday making month for many Europeans. Â
Fly into Zurich , Bern or Geneva then continue by train to Lucerne (1, 2 or 3.5 hours). From Lucerne, take a boat or train/bus to Weggis. Train timetables and details of public transportation in Switzerland are available via the excellent travel planner at www.sbb.ch.
From Lucerne train station you can get to any major European destination easily. Trains to Zurich airport take 1 hour and are direct.
Bag transfer is included in this trip. You will leave your bag at the hotel reception by 9am in the morning and it will be delivered to your next hotel by 6pm that day. We ask that you limit your baggage to one bag per person with a maximum weight of 20kg per person.Â
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.
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.
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 in reasonably good shape to get the most from this trip. Its a perfect trip for a first time walking holiday 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.Â
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.
The closest airport is Zurich which is served by flights from throughout Europe and around the world.
We suggest you book as soon as your plans are finalised. This is a very popular region for holiday makers.Â
You will need good walking shoes/boots (ideally waterproof), comfortable walking clothes, waterproof jacket and trousers a day pack and hats/gloves etc. Your information pack has a detailed equipment list which includes standard walking gear such as good walking boots or shoes, warm and waterproof clothes and a day pack. A detailed kit list is included in your information pack.
Bag transfer is included in this trip as standard. We ask that you limit your baggage to one bag per person with a maximum weight of 20kg per person. You will leave your bag at reception by 9am and it will be picked up and delivered to your next hotel by 6pm at the latest.Â
This trip is available to start any day of the week, from the end of June til the end of September, subject to availability. Any time during this period is ideal for hiking, in late June/early July you can experience Alpine flowers at their finest while in bloom. August can be busy as this is the main holiday making month for many Europeans.Â
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