2 Peaks in 1 Day: Mt Rigi and Mt Pilatus Guided Day Trip

Your guide will pick you up at 7:00 am at your hotel. If you’re not staying in Lucerne, you will meet them at Lucerne Torbogen.

We leave promptly at 7:18 am by train.

Meet your guide early so there is time to grab a quick snack or breakfast before boarding the local train for a 30 min ride alongside Lakes Lucerne and Zug to link up with the cogwheel mountain railway which takes you on a scenic journey up to Rigi-Kulm (the summit of Mt Rigi).

This is the mountain peak where Alpine tourism began over 200 years ago, and before that, in the Middle Ages it was considered as the Center of the World.
Here you enjoy impressive 360-degree views over the Alps stretching way out into the distance. On a clear day you can even see as far as France to the West and the Black Forest in Germany to the North.
Take a gentle 30 min walk down to a 7th generation family-owned alpine dairy and artisan cheese-maker and see just how much physical labor is involved in making a wheel of cheese.
Continue to hike on for about an hour along a mountain trail, over alpine meadows and along a ridge path with spectacular views over the lakes and far into the distance. If the wind is blowing in the right direction, you may be able to watch paragliders launch themselves off the mountain.
At Rigi-Kaltbad you catch the aerial cable-car down to to Weggis so as to be in time to catch a Lake Lucerne boat for a scenic 40 min cruise back to Lucerne. Sit back and relax while enjoying a picnic lunch provided by your guide (let us know in advance of any special dietary restrictions).

Once in Lucerne, walk across the street and board the local bus for a 15 minute ride and then a short walk to the Mt. Pilatus gondola station. Climb aboard a 4-person gondola and enjoy the views over the city and surrounding hills. Then transfer to the “Dragon Ride” aerial cableway that whisks you up to 2,032 m / 7,000 ft to the top of Lucerne’s other home mountain, the Mt. Pilatus.
Once on top, there is time to take in the magnificent views over the Alps. Follow the Dragon Caves walking trail (500 m/0.3 miles) and learn about the legends of the mountain’s dragons and its surprising connection with Pontius Pilate. Take an adventure walk along the Flower Trail to the Tömlishorn (the highest peak at 2128 m) where, on a clear day, you can see the famous peaks of the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau in the distance. If you are lucky, you may even encounter a few wild ibex along the way, and hear the clanging of cowbells in the air.
Return to the main are for refreshments and souvenir shopping at the Pilatus Kulm visitor center. The return trip to Lucerne begins with a descent to Alpnachstad on the world’s steepest cogwheel train with 48% gradients and through numerous tunnels. More wonderful views of the Swiss Alps accompany you on your descent. In Alpnachstad board the local train for a quick and easy ride back to Lucerne.

We return to Lucerne around 5:30 pm.