Private Lavaux Vineyard Tour: UNESCO terraces & wine tasting

Walk the terraces, taste the Chasselas, see why Lavaux earned UNESCO status

A private 3-hour tour of Lavaux vineyards from Vevey with a local guide, covering Saint-Saphorin village, Vinorama museum and wine tasting, and stops at Chexbres and Grandvaux for views of the UNESCO terraces and Lake Geneva. Pickup and drop-off included in the Swiss Riviera area. The tour suits travelers with moderate fitness who want to move at their own pace through one of Switzerland's most storied wine regions.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Lavaux vineyards and villages

• Walk Saint-Saphorin medieval lanes
• Visit Gothic church in Saint-Saphorin
• Taste wines and watch film at Vinorama
• Walk vineyards for scenic views
• Stop for photos at Chexbres balcony
• Walk through Grandvaux wine village

The experience

How do you see a UNESCO World Heritage site without feeling rushed? This private tour keeps the group to four guests maximum and moves at the pace that lets you linger. Your guide, who lives in the region, leads you through the narrow lanes of Saint-Saphorin (a medieval winegrowing village with 16th-century vintners' houses and a Gothic church built between 1520 and 1530), then takes you to Vinorama in Rivaz, where you taste Lavaux wines rarely exported and watch a short film about a winegrower's year on the steep terraces. The route includes a walk into the vineyards themselves, rewarded with a view of the terraces dropping straight to Lake Geneva and the Alps beyond.

The day unfolds across four stops, each one chosen for what it shows about how this landscape works. At Chexbres, you stand on the balcony of the vineyards for photos. In Grandvaux, you walk through one of Lavaux's prettiest wine villages, its stone fountains and narrow lanes framed by terraces climbing down to the water. Transportation is handled in a Mercedes GLC or Mini Cooper Countryman, with pickup and drop-off in the Vevey and Montreux area. The tour runs three hours, and you can ask questions and take photos at your leisure. There is no schedule pushing you forward.

What’s included

• A guided walk through Saint-Saphorin village with stops at 16th-century vintners' houses and the Gothic church.
• Vinorama entrance and wine tasting of local Lavaux wines.
• a short walk into the vineyards with views of Lake Geneva and the Alps.
• stops at Chexbres and Grandvaux for photos and exploration of the terraces.
• private transportation in a Mercedes GLC or Mini Cooper Countryman.
• pickup and drop-off in the Vevey and Montreux area.

Options for this experience

2 options

Tour of the UNESCO Lavaux VineyardsGuide in English or Dutch · 09:00, 10:00, 13:00 and 14:00Private tour of the UNESCO Lavaux Vineyards with wine tasting. Includes pickup.

Extended Tour (+1h)Guide in English or Dutch · 09:00, 10:00 and 13:00Optional add-on: an extended version of the tour with a relaxed lunch break, adding one hour. Lunch is paid for at the restaurant. Pickup is included.

You pick the guide language when booking.

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

Before you book

Days and timesTuesday to SundayDepartures at 09:00, 10:00, 13:00 and 14:00

Book up to1d before

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and Dutch

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.You can choose from 24 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Moderate physical effortPublic transport nearbyNot recommended with heart problems

Operated by Best of Swiss Riviera Tours

Is this one for you?The private format and small group size (up to four guests) let you set the pace and spend time at each stop without waiting for a larger group. Choose this tour if you want to move through the villages and terraces at your own rhythm and have time to ask your guide about the history and the wine.

Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Dutch.

What is Vinorama and what happens there?

Vinorama is a museum in Rivaz dedicated to Lavaux wines and the work of growing them on steep terraces. You taste local Lavaux wines, varieties rarely exported, and watch a short film showing a winegrower's year on the slopes above the lake, then have the option to walk into the vineyards for views of the terraces and Lake Geneva.

How steep are the walks, and what kind of fitness do I need?

The tour involves walking through villages and vineyard terraces, and the operator recommends at least a moderate level of physical fitness. The walks are part of the experience, not strenuous hikes, but the terrain is uneven and involves some elevation change.

Can I book this tour if I'm staying in Montreux or Lausanne?

Pickup and drop-off are included in the Swiss Riviera area, which covers Vevey and Montreux. Pickup outside this zone is available on request. Contact the operator to arrange it.

What makes Saint-Saphorin worth visiting?

Saint-Saphorin is a medieval winegrowing village with roots going back to Roman times. Your guide walks you through its narrow lanes past 16th-century vintners' houses and a Gothic church built between 1520 and 1530, showing how the village's architecture and layout reflect centuries of wine production on the terraces above.

Is the wine tasting included, or do I pay extra?

Wine tasting at Vinorama is included in the tour. The tasting features Lavaux wines that are difficult to find outside the region.