Hiking Mt.Rigi - 22nd June

Queen of Swiss Mountains

From Zurich, we went to Mt. Rigi via Arth-Goldau, a very short train ride. From there, we took the cogwheel train to the summit at Rigi-Kulm (1,800m). The trip offered incredible vistas, typical Swiss farmhouses, and hundreds of cows with bells that provided a charming soundtrack. Reaching the top, we were rewarded with a magnificent panorama of Alpine peaks crowding around the convoluted contours of Lake Lucerne. The weather was nice initially, but it gradually started getting dark. On a clear day, one can even see Mount Titlis from the summit.

Perhaps the most glorious hike I’ve enjoyed in Switzerland is from Rigi Kulm to Vitznau. This trail isn’t listed in the guide map, but we aimed to reach Vitznau to take a ferry to Luzern, avoiding further expenses on the special Swiss mountain cogwheel train. The trail is well-defined, though most people prefer to hike up rather than down, which was the opposite in our case. The first part of the hike to Rigi Kaltbad (1,438m) is easy, but the steepness increased significantly as we descended, offering occasional views of Lake Lucerne.

With greenery all around and Swiss cows wearing engraved and embroidered cowbells, the lazy grazing of these placid beasts sent a tinkling melody rippling across the clear mountain air. It was serenity all the way, far from the hustle and bustle of city life. The lake stretched out on one side, while on the other were Europe’s greatest mountains. Now I understand the importance of hiking poles; by the end of this hike, my legs were completely exhausted, and I lost my normal walking style for the next few days.

On reaching Vitznau, we had our afternoon meal. We then boarded a ferry and enjoyed the lovely one-hour boat ride to Luzern. At leisure, we visited the city’s main sights in the Old Town, including the famous Chapel Bridge, a main tourist attraction. After exploring the top sights of the city, we returned to Zurich for one last time.