Mt. Rigi Cheese-Dairy Farm Hike & Overnight
Photo by Ralph Welling
Chäserenholz Farm is a sure highlight for your visit to Switzerland! The stunning 180 degree alpine panorama-featuring many gorgeous snow-covered peaks and valleys above lake Lucerne and villages below. At the 5,000 ft altitude of the farm – the view gives one a sense of the magnificent beauty and grandeur of the alps.
After a day hiking with your guide on Mt. Rigi, you’ll enjoy the beautiful sunsets and see the amazing stars in the clear skies above. The sounds of the dairy cows are comforting – their voices & bells pasturing nearby and, in the barn, providing soothing sounds as you “soak in” the incredible Central Swiss Alps ambiance.
During the overnight you are surrounded by the silence of the Alps and the hospitality of Franz-Toni Kennel’s family, the Chäserenholz alpine farmer and cheesemaker.
This is an easy to moderate 2 -to 3 ½ hour hike on mountain ridge paths, trails and through alpine meadows. Given the conditions of the day, your guide will present you with the best hike so you experience the most awesome views of Mt. Rigi.
Your guide will bring you to the Cheese Chäserenholz Farm stay by late afternoon to get you settled and oriented as to what to expect for the evening and the next day.
For your return to Lucerne the next day, your guide will explain how to get to the respective Mt. Rigi train stations either at Rigi Kulm or Rigi Staffel. You will have a return Mt. Rigi rail ticket and steamer ticket back to Lucerne.
Year Round
The choice of one available room with beds or a mattress on the floor is what the Swiss call a “Massen-lager”, or what some might call “Swiss dormitory style” will be another one of your Swiss Alps highlights! All male and female changing rooms are separate, modern and convenient.
Chäserneholz has a cozy dining room and limited dinner menu. Whatever you order the food will be home- made and very tasty. Whether you choose Käseschnitte (cheese on toast), fondue, a meat & cheese platter or specialities like carpaccio with alpine cheese and other delights – the delicacies at the Alp Chäserenholz will be an unforgettable experience.
The Chäsernholz cheese fondue consisting of 3 different cheeses, all made on site. They make for another highlight – the best Lake Lucerne tasting experience ever!
In the morning, if possible to do, you may respectfully request a possible visit to see Franz-Toni working in the cheese-dairy and cheese storage area where the cheeses are cured.
At “Chaesernholz” Franz-Toni Kennel, the 7th generation family member living on Mt. Rigi, will have completed his morning cheese making activities and will be cleaning up. He normally starts around 5.00 AM, filling his 1300 litre copper vessel with milk provided by the 30 cows he milks, houses and feeds. These activities produce approximately 24 cheese rounds daily.
The Mt. Rigi tour does indeed make one fortunate to have witnessed such an essential and time honored tradition and way of life among the Swiss people for centuries.
Meet Toni-Franz-Kennel, Cheese-Dairy Farmer
Rates
Rates
Price per person:
Includes
Includes
Not Included
Not Included
What to Bring / Wear
What to Bring / Wear
The Chäserenholz only accepts cash so make sure you bring between 50.- to 100.- Swiss francs with you for whatever you consume at night.
Cancellation & Changes
Cancellation policy
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