Mt. Pilatus and cruise on Lake of Lucerne Private Tour from Basel
Overview
Towering over the city of Lucerne like a monument to the Swiss wilderness, Mt. Pilatus is a must-visit for nature lovers. This stunning massif boasts several stunning peaks, set within a playground of soaring rock faces, lush rolling valleys, and a network of meandering emerald lakes. The tallest peak in the group, Mt. Pilatus, reaches a heady 2, 132 meters above sea level and is beloved by visitors for its sensational views over the region. We'll take you to the heart of the sights, with opportunities to explore the Lake of Lucerne, Pilatus summit, and ride the famous dragon aerial cable cars.
Inclusions
- Private local expert guide
- Standard rail ticket (1st class ticket provided upon request)
- Mt. Pilatus golden route pass (from June 2023)
- Lake of Lucerne cruise ticket
- Entry/Admission - Pilatus Luzern
- Entry/Admission - Lake Lucerne
What to expect
Itinerary
This is a typical itinerary for this product
Stop At: Basel, Basel
Your guide will greet you at your hotel, before whisking you away on a whistle-stop tour of the city.
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: Lake Lucerne, Lucerne Switzerland
From May to October, we will take the boat from Lucerne to Alpnachstad instead. While from November to April we will do a round cruise on the lake of Lucerne then board the train to Alpnachstad.
Arrived in Alpnachstad, take the cogwheel train where the engine will climb the foothills of Pilatus, taking you to the end of the steepest rack railway in the world. Admire the views over the Alps from 2, 073 meters high, as your guide reveals the history, culture, and culinary delights of each area.
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: Pilatus Luzern, Schlossweg 1, Kriens, Lucerne 6010 Switzerland
At the top, you will have the option to keep soaking up the stunning valley views from the restaurant or enjoy a leisurely hike to the summit of Mt. Pilatus. The top of this famous peak offers a bird’s eye view of historic Lucerne and panoramic vistas of the surrounding countryside. Enjoy the clean mountain air from the viewing platform as you gaze out over an expanse of crystal clear lakes, lush green meadows, and rolling peaks and valleys.
Learn how Pilatus came to be haunted by legends of dragons and why many believe the body of Pontius Pilate was laid to rest within its foothills.
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: Pilatus Luzern, Schlossweg 1, Kriens, Lucerne 6010 Switzerland
Our descent from Mount Pilatus will take us aboard the iconic “dragon ride” aerial cable cart, where we will float back to earth suspended in a giant glass cabin. The windowed walls provide 360 views of the Lucerne region, and many compare the experience to flying. Enjoy an ever-changing perspective of the Alpine landscape, as historic Lucerne pulls back into focus as we approach the end of the line. The ride is a highlight of any trip to Mount Pilatus.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Basel, Basel
After a full day of adventure, your guide will return you safely to your hotel in Basel.
Duration: 1 hour
This is a typical itinerary for this product
Stop At: Basel, Basel
Your guide will greet you at your hotel, before whisking you away on a whistle-stop tour of the city.
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: Lake Lucerne, Lucerne Switzerland
From May to October, we will take the boat from Lucerne to Alpnachstad instead. While from November to April we will do a round cruise on the lake of Lucerne then board the train to Alpnachstad.
Arrived in Alpnachstad, take the cogwheel train where the engine will climb the foothills of Pilatus, taking you to the end of the steepest rack railway in the world. Admire the views over the Alps from 2, 073 meters high, as your guide reveals the history, culture, and culinary delights of each area.
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: Pilatus Luzern, Schlossweg 1, Kriens, Lucerne 6010 Switzerland
At the top, you will have the option to keep soaking up the stunning valley views from the restaurant or enjoy a leisurely hike to the summit of Mt. Pilatus. The top of this famous peak offers a bird’s eye view of historic Lucerne and panoramic vistas of the surrounding countryside. Enjoy the clean mountain air from the viewing platform as you gaze out over an expanse of crystal clear lakes, lush green meadows, and rolling peaks and valleys.
Learn how Pilatus came to be haunted by legends of dragons and why many believe the body of Pontius Pilate was laid to rest within its foothills.
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: Pilatus Luzern, Schlossweg 1, Kriens, Lucerne 6010 Switzerland
Our descent from Mount Pilatus will take us aboard the iconic “dragon ride” aerial cable cart, where we will float back to earth suspended in a giant glass cabin. The windowed walls provide 360 views of the Lucerne region, and many compare the experience to flying. Enjoy an ever-changing perspective of the Alpine landscape, as historic Lucerne pulls back into focus as we approach the end of the line. The ride is a highlight of any trip to Mount Pilatus.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Basel, Basel
After a full day of adventure, your guide will return you safely to your hotel in Basel.
Duration: 1 hour
Additional information
- Service animals allowed
- Near public transportation
- Stroller accessible
- Surfaces are wheelchair accessible
- Most travelers can participate
- Transportation is wheelchair accessible
- Wheelchair accessible
- This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
- This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Ticket delivery
You can present either a paper or an electronic voucher for this activity.
Cancellation
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start time of the experience.
CMK550
October 2023
The views were amazing. My guide Ray was very knowledgeable, personable and accommodating. A very enjoyable day!!
The views were amazing. My guide Ray was very knowledgeable, personable and accommodating. A very enjoyable day!!paullF4023VE
July 2023
Our guide was exceptionally knowledged and a pleasure to be with the entire day He was very accommodating with my wife that had mobility issues
Our guide was exceptionally knowledged and a pleasure to be with the entire day He was very accommodating with my wife that had mobility issuesN6387KBmichaelo
July 2023
Our guide, Jonás, was very knowledgeable and extremely nice the trip itself was awesome. The view from the mountain, the train ride, the boat ride were all wonderful.
Our guide, Jonás, was very knowledgeable and extremely nice the trip itself was awesome. The view from the mountain, the train ride, the boat ride were all wonderful.Claude_T
July 2023
We never understood how a personally guided tour could be so fantastic until this one. Through our guide we became familiar with the trams of Basel, the trains of Switzerland, and many other aspects of travel in Europe. The boat cruise on Lake Lucerne let us relax and just soak in the beauty. ...
We never understood how a personally guided tour could be so fantastic until this one. Through our guide we became familiar with the trams of Basel, the trains of Switzerland, and many other aspects of travel in Europe. The boat cruise on Lake Lucerne let us relax and just soak in the beauty. The Mt. Pilatus cog railway and cable cars were a trip highlight. Little did we know, “There be Dragons about!”. Great visuals abounded and our guide imparted a happy, informal and engaging attitude. We wish her the best and can say only the best about Viator.31ovidiup
May 2023
Wonderful tour, Jonas was very helpful guide, thanks a lot for amazing day. We definitely recommend it if you wish to discover the beauties of Switzerland.
Wonderful tour, Jonas was very helpful guide, thanks a lot for amazing day. We definitely recommend it if you wish to discover the beauties of Switzerland.shelleyn459
May 2023
Beautiful Swiss Alp vistas atop Mt Pilatus. Our guide, Jonas, was a wonderful and knowledgeable host. We also enjoyed our cruise on Lake Lucerne. This was one of our favorite tours while in Europe. Note: Be prepared to be flexible. Received a last minute tour time change at 10:00pm the night be...
Beautiful Swiss Alp vistas atop Mt Pilatus. Our guide, Jonas, was a wonderful and knowledgeable host. We also enjoyed our cruise on Lake Lucerne. This was one of our favorite tours while in Europe. Note: Be prepared to be flexible. Received a last minute tour time change at 10:00pm the night before our tour that our guide would meet us at 8:30am the next morning instead of a later previously scheduled time, which made it difficult for us to reach participants in our group. The choice we were given was to accept the new tour time or go on our own with their resources. It was nice for other visitors since they were squeezing in another tour later in the afternoon, but it disrespected what they had set up for us. This was inconvenient & disappointing, but it still was a lovely excursion.