We pick you up
From Zurich airport, your hotel or the train. A comfortable ride, a friendly face, no taxi queue.
Private local hosts · Central Switzerland
Travel Switzerland like you’re visiting a good friend.One who knows every corner.
We pick you up, book the table locals fight for, steer you around the queues and know which view is worth the early alarm. Lucerne, the lakes and the mountains, the way people who live here enjoy them.
No queues. Tables locals
actually book. Door-to-door.
actually book. Door-to-door.
Lake LucerneGolden hour
What a good friend does
Everything you’d text a local friend about. Handled.
The right hotel
Not the biggest name, the right one for you: lake view, quiet street, or the chalet with the hot tub.
Tables locals book
Fondue where the farmers eat, fish straight from the lake, the terrace you would never find alone.
Hidden spots
The viewpoint without the selfie sticks, the swim spot in the lake, the village that still feels like 1950.
Skip the crowds
We know when the cable car is empty and which boat the tour groups don’t take. Your time goes to the good parts.
Plans that bend
Rain on the summit? We swap the day in minutes on WhatsApp. One chat, one friend, all trip long.
Experiences
Start with an idea. We shape it around you.
Every trip is private and tailored. These are starting points our guests love; prices on request, depending on group size and season.
1 day
Lucerne like a local
Old town lanes before the crowds, coffee where the locals queue, a private boat hour and dinner by the river.
1 day
Lake & summit day
Paddle steamer to Vitznau, cogwheel up Rigi, lunch on a farm terrace and the last light over the lake.
1–2 days
Engelberg snow day
Glacier views on Titlis without the shuffle, sledding with a local, then a fireside fondue in the valley.
3–5 days
Central Switzerland, the long weekend
Hand-picked hotels, two mountains, one lake swim, a cheese cellar and a road trip over a pass. Fully planned, fully flexible.
How it works
Four steps. The first one is a text message.
- 1
Say hi
Tell us on WhatsApp or by email when you’re coming, who’s travelling and what you love.
- 2
We plan
Within a day you get a plan with hotels, tables and ideas. You tweak, we book.
- 3
We pick you up
Your friend meets you on arrival. From here on, you just enjoy.
- 4
We adjust live
Weather, mood, jet lag: one message and the day changes with you.
Watch before you pack
Little films from our backyard.
Short clips from the spots we take our guests. Coming soon on TikTok and YouTube Shorts.
LucerneThe bridge at 6:40 am. Nobody here.
RigiSunrise above the clouds
Lake LucerneOur secret swim spot
EngelbergFondue at the farmer’s hut
BürgenstockThe walk tour groups skip
Your friend in Switzerland
Hi, I’m Simon.
“When friends visit Lucerne, I don’t send them to the postcard spots. I take them where I go myself. Helvetravel is that, for you.”
Simon Tuna · Founder, Lucerne
Lucerne-based local networkEnglish-speakingOne contact, start to finish
Questions
Good to know.
Is Helvetravel a tour operator?
No group tours, no buses, no fixed schedules. We plan and host private trips for you and your people, the way a local friend would.
Which areas do you cover?
Central Switzerland: Lucerne, Lake Lucerne, Rigi, Pilatus, Bürgenstock, Engelberg and the passes around. On request we connect you with trusted friends in other regions.
How far ahead should I get in touch?
Ideally four weeks or more, especially for summer and the ski season. Short notice? Text us anyway; we often make it work.
What does it cost?
Every trip is tailored, so we quote per trip once we know dates, group size and wishes. No obligation until you confirm.
Get in touch
Text us like you’d text a friend.
Our WhatsApp line opens soon. Until then, send us an email or use the form and Simon gets back to you personally.
Email: [email protected]