Small-Group Swiss Alps Day Trip from Lucerne

Lucerne, Switzerland

Embark on a summertime adventure of gorges and glaciers on this full-day guided tour to the Swiss Alps from Lucerne. Venture over several mountain passes by comfortable minivan, look down at the dizzying depths of the Aare Gorge, see the mesmerizing ice tunnels of the Rhone Glacier and explore the wild landscapes of the Bernese Oberland! Enjoy the sights of the Swiss Alps on a small-group day trip limited to 16 people, ensuring a more personalized experience.

Depart central Lucerne in the morning and sit back and relax as your minivan ventures over the 3,307-foot (1,008-meter) Brünig Pass to the Bernese Oberland. Your first stop will be at the breathtaking Aare Gorge. Over thousands of years, the River Aare has worked its way through the limestone cliffs and formed this stunning gorge. Walk for about 40 minutes along a secure footbridge high above the thundering waters of River Aare through the gorge.

Then, stop for a short lunch break (own expense) before ascending through the wild landscapes of the Bernese Oberland to Grimsel Pass. From here, reach the vast Rhone Glacier. For about one hour, explore the long, blue ice tunnel which leads into the Ice Room, carved deep into the glacier. Don't forget to bring your camera!

Enjoy spectacular views over St Gotthard Massif on your journey over Furka Pass to the mountain village of Andermatt. From here, reach Schollenen Gorge, home to the legendary Devil’s Bridge. According to a local myth, building the bridge was so difficult that the devil himself agreed to build it under the condition that he’d receive the soul of the first traveler to pass over the bridge!

After your Swiss Alps adventure, enjoy a relaxing and scenic drive back to Lucerne in the evening.

USD $159.00

Review by:   Marie S,    September 2017
Pick up was efficient and the minicoach very comfortable. The tour was great for taking us over some of the spectacular high Alpine passes just before they closed for the winter. Our driver/guide, Beat, kept us entertained with facts and stories and made sure we knew what was happening. He was an extremely competent and safe driver._br/_ As a solo traveller with some limited mobility I found the tour was really well organised with plenty of time at each stop. Be aware that there is a descent to the Rhone Glacier so you will need to climb back up the glacier slope. It is fine if you take it easy and/or have walking poles. No problems at the Aare Gorge - it is very easy to navigate.

Review by:   Jo M,    August 2017
Fabulous tour. Karyn was awesome tour guide. Loved being able to walk into the glacier

Review by:   James R,    August 2017
Wow! This was one of the best tours I have ever been on!!! Just going to the gorge would have been worth the whole trip! The sheer rocks, the incredible flowing river and amazing sights were so captivating!!! The man driving the van was delightful with lots of historical facts and information about all we saw. The drive up the Alps was breathtakingly beautiful! We saw lots of gorgeous rivers, lakes and dams in a particular area and the cloud formations were second-to-none! The trip up to the ice cave in the glacier was well worth the hike! Walking inside the brilliant blue ice was a whole new sensation of beauty! When we left the cave, we stopped at a pastry Cafe next to the highway where most of the group bought some inexpensive and very yummy treats! If I had not taken this excursion, I know my trip to Switzerland would have been incredibly incomplete!!!_br/_ James R. Sacramento, CA

Review by:   Robert M,    August 2017
We traveled in a small van to Aare Gorge via the Bruning Pass, a beautiful winding road. The driver was very knowledgeable and excellent driver. We walked along the gorge via a suspended foot bridge foe 45 minutes to arrive at the end at a eating place for lunch.

Review by:   Krista G,    September 2016
This was one of the highlights of my week in Switzerland. They gave the tour even though only 4 people booked it, and 4 was a great number! We had plenty of room in the nice, clean van provided. The tour guide was exceedingly friendly and full of good information. She stopped at scenic overlooks to give us time to take pictures, which was thoughtful. We had an appropriate amount of time at each stop, and I didn't feel rushed. The Aare Gorge and the Rhone Glacier were beautiful, and I don't know if we would have gotten to see the glacier without booking this tour I would not want to rent a car and drive in the mountains myself. Very much worth the money! It was a great way to spend a day in Switzerland.

Review by:   13mahk,    September 2016
This tour is a must when travelling to Switzerland. You will have the chance to explore Swiss Alps and you will be amazed by the most beautiful scenery ever. Aare Gorge was amazing. The tour guide Brigitte Reis was very professional. She did more than expected. She stopped in great locations where you will see amazing views. Definitely recommended

Review by:   Miyeko K,    August 2016
This tour wasn't definitely one of the highlights of our trip to Switzerland. The walk through the Aare Gorge was breathtaking and definitely an experience we will never forget. Then the trip just got better as we arrived at the Rhone Glacier. Having time to walk down to the Glacier and see it up close is something I didn't expect. It was topped off that we were able to enter the glacier and walk right into it in the ice tunnel. The color of the glacier was vibrant blue.

Review by:   jerrieg209,    August 2016
We are really glad that we had someone else driving over the Swiss Alp passes that we took. All the places that we stopped were highlights. I would recommend this trip to others.

Review by:   CHRISTINE C,    July 2016
This was one of best excursions we have taken. Absolutely a must do. The ride through the Alps,_br/_ going into the mountains past tree line, some of the most spectacular scenery I have ever seen._br/_ Loved the gorge, and the glacier tunnel. The driver was absolutely wonderful very informative. Loved everything about this excursion.

Review by:   tnpagg,    September 2015
We loved the idea of the small group. The tour was amazing. We drove up into the alps and saw some amazing views Our tour guide Gallus made the trip very interesting. Would highly recommend this trip if you really want to experience the alps.

Review by:   Claudia B,    August 2015
Absolutely fabulous! Loved the small group 6 people. Loved visiting every site, most importantly, the Rhone Glacier! Switzerland's landscape is simply breathtaking, and no words can describe its beauty. A well done tour with driver who doubled as tour guide.

Review by:   Martina R,    June 2015
Excellent!! Great guide and perfect scenery!!_br/_ Aare gorge is amazing and the glacier is beautiful. You also have the best views while driving around.

Review by:   Peter W,    June 2015
Nice tour worth going on to get a feel of the Swiss Alps. The size of the small bus was just right.

Review by:   Kelsey H,    August 2014
The views were great and the glacier visit is spectacular. Covers all of the Alps in a day

Review by:   Michela,    June 2014
Took both of my teenagers on this tour. _br/_ Positives: Breathtaking scenery, amazing history of Swiss Alps. Great adventure tour. _br/_ Negatives: Tour operator was over a half hour late. Roads are twisty, so if you get carsick, beware. Many unplanned stops by the tour guide on "interesting" things to see. Well, those stops made us late for our dinner reservations that night. Not a long time to stop and have lunch. We rushed through it and choked down our food, then only to wait at the end for a couple who had "taken their time" with their meal. _br/_ All in all, worth repeating.

Review by:   Michael F,    September 2013
We did this tour with the guide Earnest . He made the whole tour. Very informative, can aswer any question. Interesting to listen to. The tour itself is also very good. We took this trip from Lucern. This tour takes you to places you can't easily reach using public transport, thus making this tour the best way to get there. You have amazing views, a stop each 30 mins with a store. You don't get tired from the drive. The viewes are worthwile. The group is actually small and get a chance to hear about switzerland from the local person. From a person to person conversation. I liekd everythign except the galcier. The glacier which is in in the highlights of the trip is less impressive than many other things in this trip, like a damb for example. I expected to climb up on the gaclier, but founf muself in a librint inside it with a lot of other tourists. From my point of view it was not worth visiting at all .But the tour itself i great. 5 stars.

Review by:   Alejandra,    August 2013
We couldn't take the tour, it is a shame. But I'm sure it was an incredible day trip!

Review by:   Aman,    August 2013
This trip was amazing with a nice view of Gorges and lakes with some snow as well. You get personal attention since it is a small group and I really like the whole trip.

Review by:   xiaoli H,    July 2013
It was a very impressive tour. The driver (tour), Andy is very professional.

Review by:   Dianne K,    September 2012
The trip was great eventhough it started out on a bad note. We waited for almost an hour at the meeting spot not knowing for sure if we missed the bus or not. Finally one of the ladies at the information centre called and they said that the bus was running late but they knew that 3 more people were to be picked up at Lucerne. Not 5 minutes later the bus was there. The sights were fanastic especially the glacier and gorge. I wouold recommend it to others.

Review by:   John N,    July 2012
A great day out. Guide (Thomas) was extremely friendly and informative. The scenery was magnificent.

Review by:   Richard L,    July 2012
Excellent Scenery, Very good informative tour guide.Well worth the money