Private Pilatus Hike from Lucerne

Starting from USD 265

Join us on a Mount Pilatus Private Day Hike.

This is a beautiful scenic hike combined with a full tour of the mountain. Besides walking, during the summer season, you will use five different modes of transportation: postal bus, gondola, aerial cable car, cogwheel train, and a lake cruise.

On this Pilatus Hike you will climb one of the most famous mountains in Switzerland: Mount Pilatus.

Enjoy the assistance of an English-speaking local guide who will make the commute and the hike easy and safe. Learn more about the flora and fauna in Central Switzerland, and marvel at the panoramic views from the mountaintop.

This Pilatus day trip is private, so you can set the pace and length of the hike depending on your fitness level and the weather conditions.

     EXCELLENT  
  1053 reviews

Highlights

Pilatus Day Hike - Alpine Views

This Pilatus Hike has been designed to let you experience the best of the Lake Lucerne area.

During the summer season, ride the steepest cogwheel train in the world and discover a breathtaking panorama of Central Switzerland’s ten lakes and innumerable peaks.

Eat lunch at an alpine restaurant, enjoy a trip back to Lucerne on a 100-year-old steamer.

Detailed Itinerary

Pickup

Your local English-speaking Guide will meet you right at your hotel in Lucerne at 9:15 am.

Staying outside of Lucerne? No problem! Simply meet your guide at the iconic Torbogen (the Arch Monument) just outside Lucerne’s main train station—easy to find and centrally located.

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Day's Overview

We depart at 9:40 am to Eigenthal Talboden, where we’ll start a gentle hike through beautiful alpine meadows to the foot of Mt. Pilatus. From there, we’ll ride the gondola to Fräkmüntegg station, and then take the cable car all the way to the summit of Pilatus. Once at the top, we’ll enjoy a short summit hike and give you time to explore the many attractions Pilatus offers.

Afterward, we’ll descend the mountain aboard the world’s steepest cogwheel railway to Alpnachstad. Here, during the summer season, we’ll board a historic 100-year-old steamer for a relaxing cruise across the calm waters of Lake Lucerne, heading back into the heart of the city.
During the winter season, we will take the Aerial Gondola down to Kriens.

IMPORTANT

The true highlight of this tour is the breathtaking panoramic view from the top of Mt. Pilatus. Our mission is to get you to the summit at the best possible time so you can fully experience the stunning alpine scenery.

Given Mt. Pilatus’s 7,000 ft (2,132 m) height, clouds often gather around the summit — especially in the afternoon, but sometimes even in the morning. To make sure you catch the best views, we may adjust the day’s schedule.

If needed, we’ll prioritize getting you to the summit early. Later, we’ll descend by gondola and cable car, enjoy the forest hike, and take the postal bus back to Lucerne.

Our goal: make sure you experience Pilatus at its very best!

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Return

Once in Lucerne, your guide will accompany you back to your hotel and provide recommendations for restaurants or shops.

You’ll be back in Lucerne around 5:00 pm.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is included?

What is not included?

What do I need to bring?

How much does the tour cost?

The price of the trip depends on the number of participants and starts at USD 265.

Price reductions may apply for children, teens, Swiss Travel Pass and Half Fare card holders.

What kind of transportation is used?

Important Note: This adventure is available year-round! The mode of transport may vary depending on the season—cogwheel trains, boats, cable cars, and gondolas are used where available.
Pilatus cogwheel train runs May to November; in winter, we switch to the gondola route. Any seasonal adjustments to your itinerary will be communicated in advance.

What's the best season to book?

This tour runs all year round.

Both summer and winter offer their own unique charm and unforgettable experiences.

Is this tour family friendly?

Absolutely! It’s designed to be family-friendly, so everyone, from little explorers to curious grandparents, can enjoy.

Min age recommended is 14.

How difficult is the tour?

The activity level is easy, perfect for all ages and fitness levels. Just bring your curiosity and comfy shoes!

My wife and I did the Lucerne Cheese and Farm tour, with our guide Amalia. Would HIGHLY recommend this tour, but specifically ask for Amalia. It was a group of six of us and a really relaxing atmosphere. We got to pet some baby calves and tasted some amazing cheese. It lasted for about 3-4 hours and would be best for people who have the ability to walk a decent amount without issues. Amalia was incredibly knowledgeable about the history of Lucerne and Switzerland, but also incredibly personable and down to Earth.

Kyle F

September 5, 2026

Great tour guide Joana Lisa took my wife and I on a walking tour of a Lucerne farm and cheese shop. Joana was really knowledgeable and friendly and we had a great time. I highly recommend Joana Lisa as a guide

Heather J

September 5, 2026

Rural tour. Great to experience a bit of the rural area outside Lucerne with a local. Joanna was a great source of information and local stories and generous with her time. She showed us a side of Switzerland that we might not otherwise have seen. Thank you for an interesting experience Joanne.

Sarah S

September 5, 2026

Great Overview of Geneva We had a lovely morning learning all about the history of Geneva with Agnes! She then gave us wonderful suggestions for our lunch and afternoon!

Brian F

September 3, 2026

The e-bike tour with Monika Fellmann is fantastic Monika Fellmann was our guide for the day on a wonderful tour of Lake Lucerne. Originally we had booked a e-bike tour of four lakes plus a ferry ride. Our original start time schedule got jammed up by flight delays the day before. Monika accommodated our timing shuffle by delaying the start time of our ride and then she created an alternative route plan to make better use of the day. We absolutely loved the route she created for us (husband/wife) which took us around the lake starting at the train station and into the forrest and farmhouses along the way to Kussnacht. There we got to participate in the town festival for the last weekend of August. Monika got us sorted out with a picnic lunch and gave us some free time to shop around in the summer markets. And throughout the ride, Monika shared stories and fun facts about the areas we were riding through as well as many landmarks that were visible across the lake. We will be adding a return trip to Switzerland in the future and a lot of that has to do with how great of an experience we had with Monika during our ride. Also worth mentioning, the bikes we used were current model e-bikes from Specialized and were in excellent condition. Perfect day for us in Lucerne and we would highly recommend this tour company based upon our experience with Monika.

Richard M

August 31, 2026

Hiking Melanie was great and tailored a hiking experience that was perfect for us taking into account our skill level and the weather! We would definitely book with her again.

Anthony & Linda Nussbacher

August 28, 2026

Wonderful excursion Outstanding trip, planning and execution. The guides were outstanding: Leo, Michael and Gabriela We have to highlight the great job that Gabriela did. She is caring and always looking out to make sure that we are doing well. She is knowledgeable and flexible to suit our needs. We enjoyed our group brought together by her. Looking forward to the next Echo trip. Thanks Andrea

Amanda B

August 19, 2026

Perfect Itinerary The whole family agreed this was our best vacation ever. It was the perfect blend of exertion and relaxation with each day revealing a new awe-inspiring perspective of the natural and manmade beauty of Switzerland. Our guide, Walter, was pivotal in providing peace of mind, humor, and education. He helped make our itinerary feel customized to our interests and energy levels - and quickly felt like a trusted friend. He managed all the logistics and made informed recommendations for ancillary activities that allowed us to simply relax into the experience. I highly recommend this tour and our expert guide, Walter!

Neal B

August 18, 2026

Simply put, WOW My Mountains did a fantastic job curating this trip. First time traveling to Switzerland and participating in a multi-day village-to-village hiking trip. The ease of booking and communication before the trip was excellent. Before arriving, the guides opened up a group chat for direct and easy communication. WE did the self-guided tour, but it did include a meet-and-greet guide on the arrival day, and then on the first full day of hiking we did have a guide, which was very useful. Our Guide (Thomas) was very friendly and knowledgeable. He stayed in contact throughout our trip with several tips and ideas to change up hikes if we needed to. All the hiking trails were just amazing, granted we had perfect weather. Each day brought a new adventure, and at times we felt like the only people around. If you enjoy hiking, this trip is for you. Worth every penny!

Andrew G

August 18, 2026

Switzerland exceeded all expectations We took a family vacation to Switzerland during which we hiked for 8 days. Most days involved leaving a village in the morning, hiking for roughly 5-6 hours, and then spending an afternoon exploring a new village. Each evening we had dinner with our guide (Walter) who was an absolute pleasure getting to know. He was informative about the areas we were visiting, attentive to our needs, quick to respond to any logistical issues (which were few), able to offer suggestions that met our interests and abilities, and extremely adept at adjusting the agenda based on our desires. He kept us on track but did so while being flexible and adjusting to our impromptu wishes. The scenery we experienced, the food we ate, the culture we were exposed to - all exceeded our expectations. I would highly recommend doing this trip AND requesting that Walter be your guide. He was incredibly accommodating and allowed us to get the most out of this once-in-a-lifetime trip.

Laura Beth Franklin

August 17, 2026

Michail was a great tour guide. We really enjoyed the information, cheese, fresh milk, apple juice, and ice cream. This was a good activity even in the rainy weather.

Explorer38056833097

August 17, 2026

Highly recommended! Michail was a great tour guide! Between telling us the history of Lucerne and answering the many questions we had, he was knowledgeable, accommodating, and friendly. Our group of 8 got to visit a dairy farm, meet some of the cows, and tried a few of the cheeses they make. The cost was very fair for the length of the tour and everything we experienced. There is a fair amount of walking on hilly paths, but mostly downhill. Also, we did have some rain so bring a raincoat or umbrella if needed. Highly recommend!!

stefania p

August 17, 2026

Best day at countryside! It was an amazing experience, totally worth it! Michalìs the tour guide was very informative and helpful! I recommend it 100%

Anestis A

August 17, 2026

Amazing trip It was an amazing experience, very useful information about the country, the area, the countryside, history... I definitely recommend it!

Anna B

August 15, 2026

BEST TRIP EVER! Walter was an amazing guide who was very personable and a strong leader! He went above and beyond to make our trip unforgettable. The 8-day hike was beautiful, a vacation we will never forget.

chris f

August 14, 2026

Lake Walensee My daughter and I did the 5.7 miles Lake Walensee hike with Leo on August 10, 2026. Absolutely beautiful and enjoyable hike, and if you are lucky like us, you will see some Chamois. Leo is an excellent guide - very knowledgeable about the local history of Switzerland and enjoyable to spend part of the day with. I highly recommend this hike for anyone who desires to experience a hike the locals do and also highly recommend Leo as your guide.

Charles R

August 12, 2026

TOTALLY Pleased My 'My Mountains' trip guide was Lou Stone, and I could not have been more pleased with her knowledge of the general area we were visiting as well as the specific path we followed. She was patient in answering my questions, and patient with the 'slower pace' at which I was walking/hiking. She always had a "Plan B" (and even a "Plan C" when one was necessary), and had everything imaginable in her backpack to meet any needs along the way. Her 'pre' and 'post' communications (regarding our "meet-up" and follow-up) were excellent. AND... she was MOST pleasant to be with. All-in-all... I was TOTALLY pleased.

Terell310

August 9, 2026

The best Swiss experience We had a wonderful time touring Lucerne with Joana. She was an attentive guide, communicating well before the tour to ensure we had a custom experience. We are a family of 5, with 3 teenage boys and Joana made sure to keep it interesting. We did a 3-hour cheese and chocolate tour, and truly, it was the best. An intimate tour and delicious, high quality food. Worth every penny. I would recommend this tour to anyone looking for a true Swiss experience.

Billcw23

August 3, 2026

Fun, interesting, and delicious tour of Lucerne Outstanding tour and guide! Amalia was knowledgeable, engaging, and enthusiastic. She provided great detail insight into history of Lucerne and the historic landmarks. Delicious cheese and chocolate tasting, very fun! I would highly recommend the tour with Amalia.

Prashant Kamath

July 31, 2026

Fantastic experience of the cheese making tour with Leo, he did a great job of explaining the details and history of farming and cheese making. After that the cheese tasting experience was superb.

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