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Golden Round Trip with Lake Cruise to Mt Pilatus from Lucerne Self-Guided Tour
4h30
Instant confirmation
About this activity
Taking the cruise ship right in front of the train station of Lucerne the Golden Round Trip starts. After a 1-hour boat trip on Lake Lucerne you arrive at the Valley Station in Alpnachstad. There the cosy Chalet Restaurant serves traditional food on its terrace (own expenses). The world’s steepest cogwheel railway (since 1889) brings you through fascinating rock faces, sparkling mountain streams and lush meadows carpeted with Alpine flowers to the top of Mount Pilatus.
Encounter yourself in an Alpine environment at 2132 meter altitude (7000 feet’s). Enjoy the panoramic views over the lake of Lucerne and the Alps on the summit and decide yourself if you want to stay inside the panoramic gallery, relax on the terrace, climb one of the peaks (5-10 minutes) or enjoy a meal in our restaurants (own expenses).
Enjoy the exhilarating 5-minutes ride by the new aerial cableway “Dragon Ride” down to Fräkmüntegg. Thanks to its spacious interior, cockpit-like design and large windows the “Dragon Ride” gives you the impression of being in a helicopter - only flying is more exhilarating.
If you are up to some activities Fräkmüntegg is the place to be. Test your agility climbing our rope park and get your adrenaline pumping (own expense). Go on by taking the panorama gondolas. A 15-minute ride brings you down to Krienseregg. In Krienseregg the “Pilu Land”, a playground for children awaits you. Sitting on the terrace of the Restaurant Krienseregg (own expenses) you can relax and enjoy your time while the children are playing. Continue by panorama gondola which brings you down to Kriens in 15-minutes.
After a 5-minute walk you reach the bus station (Kriens, Zentrum Pilatus). Take bus number 1 and in 10-minutes you arrive at the railway station in Lucerne.
Please kindly check below in the itineraray to see the departure timetable.
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Encounter yourself in an Alpine environment at 2132 meter altitude (7000 feet’s). Enjoy the panoramic views over the lake of Lucerne and the Alps on the summit and decide yourself if you want to stay inside the panoramic gallery, relax on the terrace, climb one of the peaks (5-10 minutes) or enjoy a meal in our restaurants (own expenses).
Enjoy the exhilarating 5-minutes ride by the new aerial cableway “Dragon Ride” down to Fräkmüntegg. Thanks to its spacious interior, cockpit-like design and large windows the “Dragon Ride” gives you the impression of being in a helicopter - only flying is more exhilarating.
If you are up to some activities Fräkmüntegg is the place to be. Test your agility climbing our rope park and get your adrenaline pumping (own expense). Go on by taking the panorama gondolas. A 15-minute ride brings you down to Krienseregg. In Krienseregg the “Pilu Land”, a playground for children awaits you. Sitting on the terrace of the Restaurant Krienseregg (own expenses) you can relax and enjoy your time while the children are playing. Continue by panorama gondola which brings you down to Kriens in 15-minutes.
After a 5-minute walk you reach the bus station (Kriens, Zentrum Pilatus). Take bus number 1 and in 10-minutes you arrive at the railway station in Lucerne.
Please kindly check below in the itineraray to see the departure timetable.
Included
- Cruise ship (2nd class)
- Cogwheel train ride (operating from middle May till 17 November 2019)
- Panorama gondola ride (closed due to revision 21 October to 8 November 2019)
- Aerial cableways ride (closed due to revision 21 October to 8 November 2019)
- Bus ride from Kriens-Lucerne main station (or vice versa)
- All taxes, fees and handling charges
Not included
- The listed price does not include a CHF 5 parking fee (per day)
- Food and drinks
- Guide
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Lunch
Additional
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Don't miss the last transportation down to the valley
- Please note tour is unguided
- Only printed vouchers will be accepted
- Operates in almost all weather conditions, please dress appropriately
- Cable ways are not in operation in the case of storms
- Starting direction 1: Take the cruise ship at the railway station in Lucerne (Quai 2 in front of the train station)
- Starting direction 2: Take bus number 1 at the railway station in Lucerne to Kriens, Zentrum Pilatus
- IMPORTANT: From 21 October to 8 November 2019 cable cars are not running due to revision.
- From 21 October to 17 November 2019 only two cruise ships courses are available (departures from Lucerne: 9:14 and 13:38).
- It is not possible to book a specific time slot
- Wheelchair accessible
- Stroller accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Near public transportation
- Transportation is wheelchair accessible
- It's not a guided tour, there is not a meeting point.
- The world's steepest cogwheel railway is operating from middle May till 17 November 2019.
- Most travelers can participate
Features
Tourism
95%
Cultural
60%
Original
30%
Reviews
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I did the tour in reverse, which means I started with the bus trip to Kriens, then obtained my ticket at the gondola. I did not have to wait at all to start my trip. This is the only way to go!!! When I came down the cogwheel train, there was a massive line waiting to get on. The views at the top are amazing. There were several different musical things going on which were very enjoyable. Note that the walk from the bus up to the gondola is slightly uphill and can be strenuous, but so worth it.
Good experience but try not to book too far in advance so you can check the weather. Even booking in advance for August turned out to be spoiled by rain, thunder and lightning so we didn’t get the full and best experience that being on Mt Pilatus would provide. Voucher provided all instructions which were easy to follow though not quite 100% on exactly how/where to get the bus from to get back to Lucerne but this was only minor. Also, despite the name of ‘Golden’ this is only second class on the boat leg of the journey but the views are just same from the lower deck anyway!
Started Golden Round Trip with Lake cruise at 8:38 (supposedly start at 8:30) contrary to previous reviews saying 9:30. Very smooth and wonderful ride. Ride up to the Pilatus was exciting but unfortunately it was cloudy day so not much was visible to look down. If you stay in Lucern for a few days, I'd recommend take this trip on a clear day even if you have to cancel and change the date. Viator ticket I purchased in USA before the trip was smart decision and saved a lots of time and headache.
Rain and clouds made for a different kind of day, but for the adventurous, it was still fun. Viator sent us to get on the boat 8:30 AM, however a person on the boat saw us waiting and came over to us, and about 6 others booked in error by Viator or its parent company, Tripadvsor. The ship does not sail at 8:30 AM, but more than an hour later. Together some of us decided to not wait for the later sailing and decided to go the route backwards, which did let us start closer to on time but it was abackward version of trip we anticpated.
We had an incredible time and the ticket setup with Viator was perfect. We'd definitely Book through them again cheers Ricky and Mandy Stewart
I strongly recommend this trip. Nice cruise on a beautiful lake. We took the trip with the cruise first. The cog wheel up was amazing and the view and hikes we're spectacular. Just do it!
The only critical comment I have for the entire Tour is on the instructions when starting via the Bus from the Train station. The instructions for getting off for the Gondola was not clear. There were two stops for Pilatus and we should have exited on the second. We had to ask a local and there suggestion was the 1st. Now for healthy travelers....Not an issue. There were signs and we just followed them around the town making our way up to the Gondola where we found the second stop right there at the Gondola.....Dang : The problem was that one of us had COPD and walking up the hills streets/Sidewalks was very challenging for them. We made it and from there it was spectacular!!!! I had a Private guide tell me this was a tourist trap and that we should get out and see the real Switzerland....Maybe so, but this was spectacular in it's own right. I loved every bit of it....except the instructions for departing the bus :
I had the best experience on this trip. What a great way to book!The only problem we had was that the ticket said 8:30 am, but it did not start until 9:30 a.m Not a huge deal, but would be helpful to have the right time for planning. Luckily, Luzern is so easy to get around so we found things to do in the spare time.
I would recommend to booked this trip unguided tour so there is no rush and you take your time. It was an amazing experiences and adventures.
What a fun loop that brings you to Mt. Pilatus! You get to see beautiful Swiss scenery on the boat ride. The cog railway is a fun way up to the peak. Great views from the top and several restaurants to choose from. The tram brings you about half way down and offers amazing scenery. You can do a mountain coaster at this point if you like. After that you switch to smaller gondolas that glide just above tree tops. The last leg is catching the bus back to Lucerne. This was the only negative-there is not clear signage where to get the bus. No obvious bus stop. Thats not the tours fault. Just might need to flag down bus. Swiss Alps do not disappoint!!!
This is not to be missed...boat ride, cogwheel train going straight up a mountain dropping you at the most magnificent views of the Alps. Traditional Alpenhorn players, plenty of food and viewing options followed by 2 different gondola/cable car decents to a bus that will take you back where you started! You go at your own pace which allows you to do everything you might want to do. We loved the entire day!
A must to trip. The lake cruise was beautiful. The cog rail train to the top was a thrilling ride over amazing landscape. The time at the top of Mount Pilatus was incredible and the view constantly changing as a clouds would roll over the mountain side. The Gondola ride down was breathtaking. One of my all time favorite tours and a must do!!!