This Pilatus Private Guided Day Hike has been designed to let you experience the best of the Lake Lucerne area. 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 and enjoy a trip back to Lucerne on a 100-year-old steamer.
Prices are per person when two book together; a solo traveller pays $900.
Larger groups pay less per person.
From the operator’s live schedule on Viator, checked Oct 3.
You will ascend the famous Pilatus mountain with a cable car from Kriens. Once on top of the mountain, your guide will help you explore all the attractions, such as the Dragon Trail, Esel summit with a fantastic panorama, and many more. Perhaps you will even spot an ibex!
You will have an opportunity to ride the steepest cogwheel train in the world: the Pilatus cogwheel railway. It descends at a staggering 48% grade down to Alpnachstad offering breathtaking views of the Alpine peaks of central Switzerland.
In Alpnachstad, you will board a 100-year-old steamer ship for a leisurely 1,5h cruise back to Lucerne.
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
Excurgo comparison of 317 Viator tours, recalculated daily.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Private Guided Day Trip to Pilatus lasts about 8–9 hours. The itinerary has 3 stops.
Prices start at $635 per person for this Lucerne experience, booked through Viator with the price shown before checkout. That is the per-person price when two book together; a solo traveller pays $900. There is 1 booking option, so the final price depends on the option you choose.
According to the operator’s current schedule, it runs every day, starting at 9:15 AM.
Yes. Cancel at least 1 day before the start for a full refund. Later cancellations are non-refundable.
Yes, pickup is offered. Pickup points include El Greco, Hotel Alpina Luzern.
The experience is available in DE, EN, IT.
It is a private experience: only your party takes part. Up to 8 travellers can book together.
Yes, bookings are confirmed instantly.
Travellers rate it 5.0 out of 5 across 19 reviews on Viator and Tripadvisor; it is run by MyMountains.
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
I did the Pilatus Day Hike with Leo and thoroughly enjoyed it. He was an excellent guide, and the breathtaking views made it a memorable day. I also enjoyed learning more about Switzerland along the way, which added another dimension to the experience. A fantastic way to explore Pilatus and appreciate the scenery around Lucerne. Highly recommended!
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.
Thank you so much for this wonderful review! We're thrilled to hear that your family’s 8-day hiking adventure exceeded your expectations. Walter will be delighted to know that his flexibility, knowledge, and care helped make your trip truly unforgettable. We’re so happy you experienced Switzerland to the fullest and truly appreciate your recommendation!
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.
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We're thrilled to hear that Lou made your trip so enjoyable with her knowledge, care, and thoughtful planning. Her flexibility and attention to every detail truly make a difference. We'll be sure to share your kind words with her!
Amalia Was an excellent guild for our hike up Mountain Pilatus. She let us choose the difficulty level of the hike and paced the hike for us. She was knowledgeable about the hike itself and all of Lucern. The weather did not cooperate but she didn’t let that hinder our day. We spent plenty of time at the top of the mountain waiting to let it clear a bit. We took the cogwheel train down, followed by a boat ride back to Lucern. Amelia helped us take pictures and gave us a fabulous day!
Thank you for your wonderful review! We are so happy to hear you enjoyed your Pilatus adventure with Amalia. We're delighted that, despite the weather, she helped make the day so memorable with the hike, cogwheel train, boat ride, and plenty of great photos. Thank you for your recommendation, and we hope to welcome you back to Switzerland soon!
Our guide Lou was amazing. She took the time to customize a day trip to hike Mt Rigi. for my husband and I. I referred to us as the rabbit and hare in our abilities. She made it a day that we both came away from having had a wonderful experience. She is thoughtful, knowledgeable. I would highly recommend spending time with her.
Thank you so much for your beautiful review! We’re delighted to hear Lou created such a personalized and enjoyable Mt. Rigi experience for both of you. Her thoughtful and caring approach truly makes every hike special. We’ll be sure to share your kind words with her!
David was awesome!! Really personable and good recommendations whenever I asked. This experience was definitely a memory I’ll keep with me forever. I hiked from Meiringen to Grindelwald and the views were stunning.
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We’re thrilled to hear you had such a memorable experience with David. The hike from Meiringen to Grindelwald is truly spectacular, and we’re so happy those stunning views will stay with you forever!
Our guide and assistant were top notch. We took the long way, and hiked for a few hours totaling about 600 m elevation from the hotel base to the Seilbahn and then up to the top. A good workout for sure We saw spectacular views, trekked dense woods and fairly steep edged paths. I am not a complete fan of heights but the path widths were just fine. And we made great friends to boot. In May, bring a rucksack and layers to add and remove as needed. Then the relaxing cogwheel train and boat back filled the day.
Thank you for your wonderful review! We are so happy you enjoyed the hike, spectacular views, and the full Swiss experience by train and boat. We truly appreciate your kind words about our guide and assistant, and we hope to welcome you again soon!
We had an amazing time on our hike with our tour guide Jack! He did an awesome job showing us all the sights and informing us on all the history of Switzerland. Very glad this tour was our last stop before we left!
Thank you so much for sharing! We’re thrilled to hear you had an amazing time with Jack—he’ll be so happy to know his knowledge and enthusiasm made your hike special. Ending your trip on such a high note is exactly the kind of experience we love to create!
I hiked the ridge from Klingenstock to Fronalpstock and then down the face of the mountain back to the village of Stoos. It was a beautiful fall day, blue skys and sun above with amazing views of the mountain peaks poking through the cloud ceiling below us. Before we treked down the face of the mountain we stopped at the lodge at the top of Fronalpstock for a snack and a drink. My guide Jack was great. Very friendly and easy going, like I was hiking with an old friend. He offered lots of great insights and was very knowledgeable about the topography, the people and the history of the area. It added a whole other dimension to the trek beyond the views and fresh air. If your up for a good walk, learning about the area and some great views I would highly recommend this tour.
Wow — thank you for such a wonderful review! The Klingenstock–Fronalpstock hike is truly special, and your description of the peaks floating above the clouds sounds absolutely magical. We’re so happy Jack helped make the experience even more memorable! We’d love to welcome you back for another adventure whenever you’re ready for more fresh air and stunning views. Until then — keep exploring!
I am so lucky that my travel agent set me up with My Mountains and this perfect hike, and most especially that my guide was Lou. She communicated with me days before we were to meet so there was no confusion. The trails were enchanting and beyond my imagination, it was a perfect experience. She adjusted to my pace and I felt like I was experiencing everything with a new friend. I would highly recommend Lou and My Mountains to anyone visiting Switzerland!
Thank you so much for sharing your wonderful experience! We’re thrilled to hear that your hike exceeded expectations and that Lou’s guidance, warmth, and flexibility made it truly memorable. It sounds like you not only enjoyed the enchanting trails but also gained a new friend along the way! Your recommendation means the world to us, and we’d love to welcome you back for more Swiss adventures.
| Tour | Duration | Rating | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Private Guided Day Trip to Pilatus | 8–9 hours | 5.0 (19) | $635 | |
 Mount Pilatus Summit from Lucerne With Lake Cruise | 5h 15min | 4.6 (1,468) | $196 | View |
 Mt. Pilatus Peak and Lake Lucerne Cruise Small Group from Lucerne | 5h 30min | 4.6 (678) | $271 | View |
 Mt Pilatus from Lucerne Including Boat Trip, Gondola, Cogwheel | 4–6 hours | 4.5 (275) | $148 | View |
 Mt Pilatus Self-Guided Round Trip from Lucerne | 3–6 hours | 4.6 (97) | $116 | View |
 Mt. Pilatus & Lake Lucerne Cruise Private Tour | From Lucerne | 6 hours | 4.7 (83) | $693 | View |
 Mt. Pilatus Golden Roundtrip Small Group Day Tour from Luzern | 6–7 hours | 4.2 (37) | $444 | View |