Excursions
Excursion possibilities during your stay
The destination Swiss-Chalet Merlischachen is the ideal starting point for activities and excursions in Lake Lucerne Region, trips to Lucerne, Schwyz or Zurich, day trips to the Bernese Oberland or to Interlaken as well as a visit to the federal capital Bern.
We will be happy to advise you at the reception or book the desired excursion for you
Hike over the Allmig to Lucerne
Mountains on the horizon, magical buildings along the way
From Küssnach am Rigi train station via Merlischachen, Bärgiswil, Meggen, Meggenhorn to Lucerne train station
Beautiful views of Bürgenstock, Stanserhorn, Buochserhorn, Brisen. The Pilatus and the Rigi are also in view from time to time.
Equipment
The path is well suited for sneakers because of the many asphalt and road. Hiking shoes are not absolutely necessary.
Rigi – The Queen of the Mountains
Take the first mountain railroad in Europe (1871), the 2 cogwheel railroads from Vitznau or Goldau or the panoramic aerial cableway from Weggis, up the Rigi and enjoy a breathtaking panoramic view. 120 km of hiking and walking trails as well as countless barbecue sites invite you to linger.
Book your ticket to the Rigi directly at the reception. We are happy to be there for you!
Guided tour on the Rigi
Explore the Rigi on a majestic round trip from Lucerne! Enjoy a relaxing boat trip on Lake Lucerne, ride Europe’s first mountain railroad and experience an unforgettable descent on the aerial cable car. A breathtaking 360-degree panoramic view of the Swiss Alps awaits you on Mount Rigi. While there, discover one of the countless hiking trails against a mighty mountain backdrop.
Start the day with a leisurely boat ride on picturesque Lake Lucerne to Vitznau. Take Europe’s first mountain railroad and, after a short walk, climb to the majestic summit of Rigi Kulm. Let your gaze wander from 1,797 m. above sea level over the midlands with 13 lakes and a sea of 620 Alpine peaks. Use the time at your leisure to explore one of the many hiking trails, enjoy a moment of silence in the mountain chapel or fortify yourself in one of the mountain restaurants.
Afterwards, take the rack railroad to the car-free village of Rigi Kaltbad. There, explore the village square and the Mineralbad & Spa by renowned Swiss architect Mario Botta – a true gem for architecture lovers! Follow an easy hiking trail with a gentle ascent to reach the Känzeli viewing platform (2 km, optional).
Enjoy the impressive view of the crystal-clear Lake Lucerne on the descent with the cable car. After a short walk downhill to the Weggis boat station, this is the ideal time to capture the breathtaking view from the Lucerne Riviera with your camera. Now board the ship back to Lucerne and review your experiences against an incomparable natural backdrop.
As you have to walk moderately downhill for 10-15 minutes during the tour, we recommend wearing sturdy shoes and bringing sun and rain protection.
Duration: 7 hours
Departure: Lucerne
We are happy to organize this tour for you. Contact us at the reception.
Rope Park Rigi
On about 4 km you can experience the rope park in the middle of nature on seven different tours. The leisure and sports facility, embedded in the natural surroundings at the foot of the Rigi, offers sports enthusiasts, families, clubs or companies a real adventure.
Hohle Gasse
“Through this Hohle Gasse he must come”. Experience the historical site between Küssnacht am Rigi and Immensee up close and in color. Possible with a guided tour or as a short hike up to the Gesslerburg, also in combination with a visit to the local history museum Küssnacht and / or village tour in Küssnacht.
Admission: free of charge
Visit: possible all year round
More information is available at the reception.
Wilhelm Tell – the most important legendary figure of Switzerland
The folk hero was already known in our latitudes in the late Middle Ages and early modern times, long before Friedrich Schiller helped the character to world fame with his famous stage drama “Wilhelm Tell” (first performance in 1804 in Weimar). Tell is mentioned for the first time in the so-called “White Book of Sarnen”, a chronicle by the Obwalden country writer Hans Schriber around 1470. He has thus been an integral part of the Swiss liberation mythology for over 500 years and is mentioned in the same context as Habsburg oppression by the bailiffs, the Rütli oath, the castle break and liberation battles.
As a blameless mountain farmer, he defends himself against the tyrannical bailiff Heinrich Gessler and shoots him from ambush with his crossbow in the Hohlen Gasse near Küssnacht. He thus becomes a hero and helps trigger the legendary self-liberation of the Confederates around 1300, which reaches its first climax in the Battle of Morgarten (1315).
Tell dies as an old man while rescuing a small child from the raging mountain stream Schächen in the Schächen valley in Uri. To this day he is regarded as the epitome of courage, strength of will and unshakable determination, and for centuries has been a symbol of love of freedom and independence.
Tour of Schwyz
During the walk, eleven panels with pictures and short texts provide you with a variety of information about important squares and alleys, public buildings, patrician houses, monasteries, churches and chapels. You will also learn interesting facts about festivals and customs that have been a tradition in Schwyz for decades.
Duration: 1 hour
Route: 1 km
Admission: free of charge
Start: at the bus stop “Schwyz Post”
Bourbaki Lucerne – Panorama Image
Experience the fascinating story of a medium and its fateful history. As a prime example of a humanitarian commitment, the asylum search of the French Bourbaki Army to Switzerland in 1871 went down in history and was captured in a virtual reality from the time before cinema. Interesting tour to another time!
The Bourbaki Panorama Lucerne – a European cultural monument – commemorates the internment of 87,000 French soldiers who find refuge in Switzerland in the winter of 1871. A gripping story told by painter Edouard Castres in 1881 on the 112 × 10 meter (originally 112 x 14 meter) circular painting. The message of the Bourbaki Panorama has no expiration date and is still relevant after 150 years. Solidarity and exclusion concern our society today more than ever. Today, the medium of the panorama is not only considered the precursor of cinemas, but also the inspiration for 360-degree filmmaking and virtual reality.
Opening hours:
April to October daily 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
November to March daily 10-17 h
Theater Tour at the Historical Theater Lucerne
Marvel at a tour of a special kind. The Historical Theater Lucerne offers you various theater tours with professional acting performances. For example, let the “Ballad of a Chambermaid” take you back to the era of the first great tourist boom in the Lucerne hotel industry and experience the views of a chambermaid at the Schweizerhof.
Jungfraujoch – Top of Europe!
As the highlight of your Switzerland trip, experience an exciting and unforgettable full-day excursion to the Jungfraujoch – Top of Europe! Designated by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site of the Swiss Alps, Europe’s highest train station and numerous other attractions are located at over 3,500 meters above sea level.
A scenic drive takes you into the Bernese Oberland. After a short stop in Interlaken, idyllically nestled between Lake Brienz and Lake Thun, you will reach Grindelwald. Hop on the Eiger Express aerial cable car of the newly opened V-Bahn for a spectacular ride to the Eiger Glacier station, where you transfer to the cogwheel railroad to the Jungfraujoch. The breathtaking views of the world-famous triumvirate of Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau will delight you. Once at the top, a fascinating wonderland of eternal ice, snow and rock lies at your feet. Embark on the “Alpine Sensation” adventure tour, inaugurated on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the Jungfrau Railway, and enjoy the incredible panoramic view from the Sphinx viewing platform and plateau of neighboring countries as well as the longest glacier in the Alps, the magnificent Aletsch Glacier. Don’t forget to explore the Ice Palace, a unique ice world in the heart of the glacier – a unique experience that will be remembered for a long time.
The descent by rack railroad takes you past the famous car-free vacation destination of Wengen to Lauterbrunnen, where the bus is ready for the return journey.
Duration: 10 hours
Departure: Lucerne
Adults: CHF 280
Children: CHF 140
Languages: English, Spanish, Chinese, German
We are happy to organize this tour for you. For all available dates please contact our reception.
Pilatus – The Golden Round Trip
Experience an afternoon full of emotions on this excursion! Various cable cars take you to the summit of the unique Pilatus with numerous hiking opportunities and wonderful photo opportunities. Descent with the steepest cog railroad in the world followed by a relaxing boat trip on Lake Lucerne.
The eventful afternoon begins with a short bus ride to Kriens, where you take the panoramic gondola lift to Fräkmüntegg. Continue with the aerial cable car “Dragon Ride”, whose large panoramic windows give you the feeling of flying and let you enjoy the breathtaking view even more. Once at the top, take a short walk to the top of Mount Pilatus (2132 m) along the Dragon Trail and enjoy the magnificent panoramic view of the surrounding mountains of the Swiss Alps and blue lakes below. Various restaurants will take care of your physical well-being. The subsequent descent on the world’s steepest cogwheel railway* (gradient 48%) to Alpnachstad is a special highlight and will certainly thrill you. Relax on the one-hour boat trip* on Lake Lucerne and enjoy the landscape from a completely different perspective. The excursion ends at the port of Lucerne.
Duration: 5.5 hours
Departure: Lucerne
Adults: CHF 164
Children: CHF 82
Languages: German, English, Spanish
We are happy to organize this tour for you. For all available dates please contact our reception.
