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The Golden Round Trip to the Peak of Mount PilatusBY TRAVELING CANUCKS
POSTED IN: EUROPE, FEATURED, HIKING, NATIONAL PARK, PHOTOGRAPHY, SWITZERLAND, TRAVEL STORIES, WORLDATTRACTIONS
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The Golden Round Trip to Pilatus Kulm in Lucerne, Switzerland
We’ve been meaning to tell you the story about our trip to Pilatus Kulm in the Swiss Alps, but weseem to keep putting it on the back burner. It feels like we just returned from our trip to Europe but,in reality, several months have already passed. Did you hear that Christmas is only a couple weeksaway?! Apparently so is the end of the world, at least according to the Mayans. I guess that means Ishould stop rambling and get on with it then!
When we decided to add Lucerne to our Switzerland itinerary we did a quick search to educateourselves on its popular attractions. We wanted to take full advantage of our surroundings and getoutdoors, but we needed to find an excursion that was also baby friendly.
Aside from the iconic stone water tower and wooden bridge in the Old Town, the Golden Round Tripto Mount Pilatus appeared to be the hot ticket. So we decided to give it a go.
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The Golden Round Trip is an interesting half-day or whole-day excursion that includes a boat trip onLake Lucerne and ride up the world’s steepest cogwheel railway to the peak of Pilatus Kulm (altitude2,132 metres or 7,000 feet). The image above gives a great visual of the tour, starting in Lucerne(spelled Luzern in Swiss) and traveling left on the boat before going up to the peak.
After exploring the futuristic facility, you descend down an aerial cableway and a series of panoramagondolas until reaching the town of Kriens. From Kriens, you catch a local bus back to Lucerne,completing the round trip. It offers a little something for everyone.
The first part of the trip was a 90 minute boat ride from central Lucerne to Alpnachstad. We capturedthe above photo of Mount Pilatus from the water. She’s quite the looker!
Here are more photos from that boat trip.
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We disembarked the boat at Alpnachstad and made our way to Pilatus Bahn
After almost losing each other because it took a few moments to fold up our baby stroller (the Swissare an efficient people with no tolerance for tardiness, even if said tardiness is baby related), weboarded the world’s steepest cogwheel railway and began the 30 minute journey deep into the Swissalpine.
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Baby B enjoyed the soothing clickity clack sounds of the railway and caught a quick nap, allowing usto soak up our beautiful mountain surroundings. It’s quite impressive to think about the developmentand technology behind such a rail system.
When we finally reached Pilatus Kulm we had worked up quite an appetite. It took a while for anoutdoor table with a view to open up, but it was well worth the wait. The panoramic views of theSwiss Alps made for an unforgettable lunch setting.
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Cam’s lunch – traditional wiener schnitzel with pomme frites and a cold bottle of Eichhof Lager (seemore tasty beer from Europe here)
Nicole’s lunch – Aelplermagronen, a popular Swiss dish consisting of creamy macaroni and potatoes,servied with sweet apple sauce
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A para-glider sets up his gear and gets ready for flight…
… in search of a different perspective!
Guests also have the option to spend the night at the legendary Pilatus-Kulm Mountain Hotel
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The main facility on the mountain peak looks like something straight out of a sci-fi movie. We halfexpected it to transform into a spaceship and take off into space.
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Within minutes, the weather changed and thick storm clouds began to circle the rocky summit. Asyou can see, one side is clear skies while the other covered by grey storm clouds.
A lone hiker on a personal mission
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After lunch and some wandering around the mountain top facility, we began our initial descent andboarded the Aerial cableway. It was mid-day, so there was quite a line to board the tram, but it onlytakes 5 minutes to complete each trip, so things moved fairly quickly.
At each gondola station there are a variety of summer activities, including central Switzerland’s largestsuspension rope park and the longest summer toboggan run. There’s enough activities to keep youplaying for days, in summer and winter.
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The gondola floats above the city before it arrives at Kriens
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Thinking about visiting Pilatus Kulm?
How to get there – You can take the Golden Round Trip described in this post or you can go theother way and start in Kriens. You don’t have to take the boat to Alpnachstad, you can also take thetrain from the main Lucerne railway station (Bahnhof Luzern). However, if the weather is nice, werecommend you take the boat option – here’s why.
How much does it cost – prices vary depending on your trip itinerary. You’re best to visit thePilatus website for current pricing. Here’s the link – http://www.pilatus.ch/en/railway-cableways/prices/
Note – the cogwheel railway is only open during the summer months, from May to October.
More posts from our trip to Switzerland:
From Our iPhone: A Photo Story from Switzerland
Cruising Around Lake Lucerne
Luzern, Switzerland – We Love Surprises
From Our Lens – Exploring Zurich, Switzerland
Special thanks to the good people at Pilatus for providing us complimentary passes on the cogwheelrailway, aerial cableway and gondolas. As always, expressed opinions are our own.
Related posts:
1. Baby B goes to Europe, a Video Slideshow
2. Our 10 Most Memorable Travel Experiences of 2012
3. Drinking Beer Around the World – The Euro-Edition
4. From Our Lens – Cruising Around Lake Lucerne
Strasbourg'sCutestNeighbourhood -Le Petite France
Baby B goes toEurope, a VideoSlideshow
From Our Lens -Cruising AroundLake Lucerne
Our 10 MostMemorableTravelExperiences of2012
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TAGS: Europe, Lake Lucerne, Lucerne, Mount Pilatus, Mountain, Photography, Pilatus, Rail Europe, Switzerland
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Cameron and Nicole Wears are a Canadian couple and newbie parents living in beautiful Vancouver, BritishColumbia. A passion for travel and outdoor adventure has taken them to over 65 countries & territories on 6continents in the past 7 years. Consider following us via RSS Feed, Twitter, Facebook, Google + Profile andsubscribe to our Newsletter. Read our website disclaimer
17 Comments
ChristinaPosted December 9, 2012 at 12:59 PM
Nice photos! We wanted to go to the top of Pilatus but it wasn’t in our budget to do that and go to
the top of Jungfraujoch – next time!
Christina recently posted..The Nine Towers of Lucerne
Traveling CanucksPosted December 12, 2012 at 2:55 PM
It was a fun excursion – hopefully you’ll get a chance to visit on you’re next trip!
Traveling Canucks recently posted..Video: Helicopter Tour over the Hawaiian Islands
RachelPosted December 10, 2012 at 12:06 AM
Wow it looks sooooo uhmazing! This round-trip adventure is definitely in my bucket list now. It
seems a little expensive though I think it’s worth it. Isn’t it? I love the star wars vibe of it.
Traveling CanucksPosted December 12, 2012 at 2:56 PM
Switzerland as a whole is very expensive. But if you budget accordingly it won’t sting as bad
Traveling Canucks recently posted..Get Festive at Canada’s Favourite Christmas Markets
AndreaPosted December 10, 2012 at 6:40 AM
LOVE the Alps – so many great vantage points
Andrea recently posted..Top Tips For First Time Visitors To the Australian Open In Melbourne
Traveling CanucksPosted December 12, 2012 at 3:06 PM
Indeed – they are spectacular!
Traveling Canucks recently posted..Video: Helicopter Tour over the Hawaiian Islands
Natasha von GeldernPosted December 10, 2012 at 5:45 PM
I did this a couple of years ago (without baby) and had similar clouds in my photos Enjoyed it
very much though!
Natasha von Geldern recently posted..Bali: A Menjangan Island Dive Trip
Seattle Dredge
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Posted December 11, 2012 at 12:20 AM
Looks like a fun journey! Love the cable car photos.
Seattle Dredge recently posted..Swimming With Sharks & Stingrays
The Traveling FoolPosted December 11, 2012 at 10:35 AM
Great photos and a beautiful place. I was there many years ago. I think I would need lots of pain
pills for the aftermath of taking the stairs now.
The Traveling Fool recently posted..The Number 1 Way to Ruin Your Trip
Cathy SweeneyPosted December 11, 2012 at 3:39 PM
I’ve taken this ride — such fun! Enjoyed having lunch at the top with that fabulous view!
DeanPosted December 12, 2012 at 4:57 AM
Beautiful scenery. That facility does look a little too futuristic to be sitting on top of a mountain
peak. Certainly very different!
Dean recently posted..Up close with a pride of lions in Serengeti National Park, Tanzania
DebPosted December 14, 2012 at 9:40 AM
Fantastic! We didn’t get the chance to go up this while in Lucerne. The weather was just way too
bad. Totally socked in with clouds and fog. I’m glad I had the chance to see what we missed. Looks
like a great time.
Deb recently posted..12 Days of Christmas – The Safari Version
DaniPosted December 27, 2012 at 3:27 PM
This looks like an amazing trip – definitely have to do this when we make it to Switzerland. And I
have to try the Aelplermagronen – I have never heard of that dish, but it sounds quite interesting
Dani recently posted..What I Wonder When I Wander: Can you ever really go back?
MichaelPosted January 6, 2013 at 2:54 PM
Wow, beautiful pictures!!! I had never even heard of this place, will definitely be checking it out
if/when I go to Switzerland.
NicoPosted January 9, 2013 at 11:43 PM
The lift really does go up and up and up, but the view from the top looks well worth it.
Nico recently posted..Lighthouse in the Clouds
Danny QPosted February 18, 2013 at 1:29 PM
I am 35 and have only ever really been on lads holidays and trips to beaches which I have
absolutely loved but for the last few years I have wanted to do some “proper” traveling rather than
just party holidays. I have been looking around your blog for a few minutes and I can already see
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just party holidays. I have been looking around your blog for a few minutes and I can already see
how I have really limited my options in the past and how closed minded I have been. There is a lot
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