Central Switzerland Minivan Road Trip: Lakes & Passes

Build your own route through lakes, waterfalls and high mountain passes.

A private nine-hour minivan tour of Central Switzerland with a guide-driver who adjusts the route to your interests, the season and the weather. Pickup and return happen at an exact address within approved areas. The itinerary weaves together Lake Lucerne, Grimsel Pass, Giessbach Falls and Lauterbrunnen Valley, with optional stops at Höhematte Park, lakeside swimming and the Rhone Glacier depending on conditions and what you want to see.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Grimsel Pass1h
2. Lake Lucerne20m

Central Switzerland Scenic Road Trip

• Enjoy views of Lungernsee lake
• Explore Giessbach Falls and hotel
• Visit Lauterbrunnen Valley waterfalls
• Stroll Höhematte Park and shop
• Relax and swim at Lake Brienz
• Drive over Grimselpass mountain pass
• Drive over Furkapass mountain pass
• Drive along Lake Lucerne and swim

The experience

The minivan seats your group alone, and the guide drives the whole day, so you're not navigating or managing transport. The route is planned before you go. You tell the operator what draws you (the high passes, the waterfalls, the villages, the lake views) and they build the day around it. Weather and traffic shape the final stops, and the guide knows which roads are passable and which viewpoints are worth the detour. Bottled water, WiFi and a small Swiss snack travel with you. An air-conditioned vehicle means the long mountain drives stay comfortable.

Giessbach Falls drops over 500 meters into Lake Brienz in a series of cascades, and the pathways let you walk behind the water for a view most visitors miss. Lauterbrunnen Valley opens up with the Staubbach Falls plunging almost 300 meters from a hanging cliff, and the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau peaks frame the whole valley. Grimsel Pass and Furkapass are high-altitude drives through the Swiss Alps: the Rhone Glacier sits near Furkapass, and the Belvedere Hotel (the one from Goldfinger) marks a landmark most travelers recognize. Lake Lucerne itself runs alongside the route, and if time and weather allow, you can stop at the lakeshore for a swim in the turquoise water.

The nine hours includes all driving time, so the stops and the roads both count toward the day. Pickup happens at an exact address you provide within the approved areas, and the return follows the same route. Children from age four are welcome. Infants and small children can travel in a pram or stroller, and you can request a child seat when you book. Service animals ride along.

What’s included

• Private transportation in an air-conditioned minivan.
• a guide-driver for the full nine hours.
• bottled water and WiFi on board.
• a small Swiss snack.
• flexible itinerary planned around your interests.
• pickup and return at your exact address within approved areas.
• parking fees.
• and a requested child seat if you book one in advance.

Options for this experience

2 options

Private tour of the best of Central Switzerland, by minivan, starting in LucerneGuide in 4 languages · 09:00Pickup is included

Zurich pickupGuide in 4 languages · 09:00Pickup in Zurich, included

You pick the guide language when booking.

You see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates & prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 09:00

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (13 and older) · Child (4 to 12 years): free · Under 4: can't be included in the booking

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, French, German and Dutch

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Van Praet excursions

Is this one for you?Choose this tour if you want to set the itinerary yourself. You pick the lakes, passes and villages that matter to you, and the guide builds the day around them rather than following a fixed schedule. The private minivan means your group travels alone, and the guide-driver handles all the roads, so you can focus on the views and the stops without managing navigation or transport logistics.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English, French, German and Dutch.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 12 years): free. Under 4: they can't be included in the booking.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

Can I choose which lakes and passes we visit, or is the route fixed?

The route is flexible and planned around your interests before the tour starts. You tell the guide what you want to see (the high passes, the waterfalls, specific villages or the lake views), and the itinerary is built to fit. Weather and traffic may shift the final stops on the day, but the guide knows the alternatives and will work within what you've chosen.

What is Giessbach Falls and how much time do we spend there?

Giessbach Falls is a series of waterfalls cascading over 500 meters into Lake Brienz. The pathways and bridges let you walk among the falls and even behind them for a unique angle. The historic Grandhotel Giessbach sits at the top with 19th-century architecture, and the time you spend there depends on how much you want to explore: the guide adjusts based on your pace and interest.

Is the drive over Grimsel Pass always possible, or does weather close it?

Grimsel Pass is subject to weather and road conditions. The guide checks forecasts before the day and can take an alternative route if the pass is closed or unsafe. The same applies to Furkapass. Both are high-altitude drives with stunning views, but the operator plans the day around what is actually passable.

Does the nine-hour tour include time for swimming in the lakes?

Swimming is optional and depends on time and weather. If conditions allow and you want to swim, the guide can stop at a designated lakeside area on Lake Brienz or Lake Lucerne for a dip in the turquoise water. The nine hours includes all driving and stops, so swimming time comes out of the day's total.

What's included in the price, and what costs extra?

The minivan, the guide-driver, bottled water, WiFi, a small Swiss snack, fuel and parking fees are all included. Meals, cable cars, trains, boats and attraction tickets are separate. Gratuities are your choice. Personal expenses during the tour are not included in all options. Check which option you're booking.