Cycling the Cape & Winelands

Name: Cycling the Cape & Winelands
Brand: Exodus
Rating: 4.6 (56 reviews)

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12 Days from

14 Days from

USD 4,179

incl. Taxes

4.6/5 from

Cycling

Ways to Travel :

Guided Group, Private Group Adventures

Activity :

Cycling

Activity Levels :

3 out of 7 - Moderate

Group Size :

4 - 14

Ages :

16+

Trip Code :

MZC

Cycle through vineyards, over mountain passes and along the spectacular coastline of South Africa

Renowned as one of the most beautiful places on Earth, Cape Town and its surroundings provide a stunning backdrop for this tour. Our unique circular route allows us to take in the fantastic sights the Cape Peninsula has to offer. In addition to Table Mountain and the chance to sample the famous wine from the estates of Stellenbosch, the wild coastline and rugged interior provide classic riding on peaceful roads with little traffic. The stunning scenery, a rich cultural history, unique flora, and unusual wildlife encounters make this a fantastic destination to discover on two wheels.

Highlights

Discover Cape Town and Table Mountain
Try regional produce from the vineyards of Stellenbosch and Franschhoek
Visit Cape Algulhas - the southernmost point of Africa

Key Information

9 days cycling with full vehicle support
95% tarmac, 5% hard pack dirt roads
Group normally 4 to 14, plus leader. Min age 16 yrs
7 nights guest houses and 4 nights lodges, all en suite
E-bikes available to hire

Countries visited: South Africa

What's Included

All breakfasts
All accommodation
All transport and listed activities
Tour leader throughout
Local bike hire

What's Not Included

Travel insurance
Single accommodation (available on request)
Visas or vaccinations
E-bike hire

9 Days of Cycling

Pace:

Moderate: 13-16km/8-10miles an hour

Terrain:

Low altitude; 95% tarmac, 5% hard pack dirt roads

Day 2

50 km / 31.1 miles

Day 3

70 km / 43.5 miles

Day 4

65 km / 40.4 miles

Day 5

35 km / 21.7 miles

Day 6

60 km / 37.3 miles

Day 7

55 km / 34.2 miles

Day 9

90 km / 55.9 miles

Day 10

25 km / 15.5 miles

Day 11

50 km / 31.1 miles

People, Places & Planet

We work hard to create trips that have a positive impact on the people and places we visit and look after the planet we explore. Learn more about our sustainable travel ethos and practice here and find out about the work of the Exodus Travels Foundation here.

Some sustainable travel highlights of this trip include:

People

How this trip helps improve life for local communities.

Local guides keep you well informed about local traditions and cultural-social sensitivities.
This trip brings income and opportunity to the destination community through the inclusion of locally owned hotels, restaurants, and other enterprises, and by championing locally produced food wherever possible.
While in Barrydale, a quiet old Dutch village we visit a local co-op cellar and have an opportunity to taste their produce, including the local Chardonnay which is well respected for its unique taste.
Read more about our other initiatives here.

Places

How this trip helps protect and conserve local landscapes and nature.

By travelling in a small group we ‘tread lightly’ to minimise our impact on local resources and the environment.
We work with our partners on the ground to proactively reduce waste; this includes eliminating all single-use plastic water bottles by providing refills for re-usable bottles.
The payment of entrance fees to natural reserves generates income which is used for upkeep and development of these important sites. We visit Bontebok National Park and Cape Agulhas on this trip.
Our trips adhere to ABTA’s industry-leading animal welfare guidelines to ensure the best possible practices regarding wildlife viewing. Our animal welfare policy can be found here.
We rewild 100 square metres per passenger to compensate for all trip and flight emissions.
Read about our commitment to nature protection and restoration here, including our rewilding commitment for every customer who travels with us.

Planet

How we seek to keep the carbon footprint of this trip low.

Accommodation and restaurants in the itinerary use locally sourced food which has not been transported long distances.
Cycling trips like this have very little detrimental impact on the environment and the locals, as it is a quiet, low impact activity requiring comparatively few resources to support.
Read about our climate action here, including our carbon reduction and compensation commitments.

Tips for sustainable travel on this trip

Leave no trace: we do all we can to ensure we leave no rubbish in the wild and beautiful places we visit; we ask that you do the same. If there are no recycling facilities in-country, consider bringing recyclable materials home with you.

Plastic waste reduction: please bring a re-usable water bottle on this trip, also consider avoiding single-use hotel toiletries, which generate a large amount of plastic waste.

Itinerary

Arrive Cape Town; the day is free for relaxing, shopping, catching a few rays of sunshine or exploring the endless activities in and around the city. The guide will be on hand to advise and assist, but here are a few recommended options: a cable car ride up Table Mountain for the fantastic view over Cape Town and the coastal regions; a visit to the world famous Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens or a half-day trip to the infamous Robben Island, the prison where Nelson Mandela and other members of the ANC served their long sentences (this trip can be done on day 12 depending on the weather on Table Mountain).

City Lodge Hotel Victoria & Alfred Waterfront or similar

This morning we have a short transfer from our lodge to the harbour and then we cycle to Bloubergstrand - it's from here that the iconic pictures of Cape Town with the backdrop of Table Mountain are taken. After taking the obligatory photos, we're off on a short transfer into the centre of the winelands. In the afternoon we cycle over Hellshoogte' (Hell's Heights) and then freewheel the rest of the way to the famous Boschendal vineyards where we stop for a well-earned drink (optional) before transferring to our accommodation in Stellenbosch.

San Gabriel Homestead or similar

Meals Included: Breakfast

In the morning we have a short transfer before cycling through Franschhoek and up the Franschhoek Pass (739m) for some of the most breath-taking views of this region. We then continue to cycle to Villiersdorp. After a lunch we get back on our bikes and cycle towards Nuy Valley and then take a short transfer to Montague.

Montague Hotel or similar

Meals Included: Breakfast

Today we head east, cycling from our accommodation in Montague to our accommodation in Barrydale. Along the way the landscape changes to the semi-arid desert of the Great Karoo, a huge ancient plateau making up almost a third of South Africa's landmass and littered with remains of ancient Bushman cultures. We cycle a scenic back road traversing a more fertile region known as the Little Karoo, a short climb brings us to the Tradouws Plateau before arriving in Barrydale, our base for the night. This quiet old Dutch village is in a fertile valley surrounded by a colourful mix of vines, fruits and wild flowers (in season). While here we will visit a local co-op cellar and have an opportunity to taste their produce, including the local Chardonnay which is well respected for its unique taste.

Karoo Art Hotel or similar

Meals Included: Breakfast

After breakfast a short climb takes us up and over the spectacular Tradouws Pass. Near the top of the pass is the remains of a prison camp once home to the convicts that constructed the pass in 1873. From here the route is mainly downhill through the Langeberge Mountains to the small town of Suurbrak. Built by the London Missionary Society in 1812 many of the buildings have been restored and now the town has the feel of a living museum. Moving on we reach our base for the night - Swellendam. From here we drive to the Bontebok National Park. This park boasts some rare antelope as well as mountain zebra and some endangered crane species. The park has two 2km self guided nature trails, which can be explored independently.

Aanhuizen Guest House or similar

Meals Included: Breakfast

A short transfer (20km) brings us into the Overburg district, and we cycle through the cultivated farmlands of the Western Cape to Bredarsdorp. The road gently rolls through neat wheat fields and remote fishing villages facing the Indian Ocean, arriving at Cape Agulhas. This is the southernmost point of Africa, and South Africa's newest national park, encompassing a large area of wetlands and coastline and extending some kilometres out to the sea. Whales and other sea life that frequent the warm waters of the Indian Ocean enjoy the protection within its boundaries. It also provides a home to thousands of sea birds and seals that can be seen along the rugged beaches.

Cape Agulhas Guest House or similar

Meals Included: Breakfast

This morning we cycle through the picturesque hamlet of Elim and past 55km of undulating farmlands to the coastal town of Kleinbaai. Following lunch, we take a short transfer into Standford where have the chance to sample local beer at the Birkenhead Brewery. We finish our day in the town of Hermanus - famous for the very close sightings of the Southern Right Whale, which come into the secluded bay to mate and calf each year from June through to November, it is a great place to relax. In the afternoon we have the option of cycling from one of the local viewpoints of Walkersbay along the Hermanus coastal road to our accommodation, offering the best chance of spotting the whales.

Windsor Hotel or similar

Meals Included: Breakfast

We have a free day today to rest our legs in Hermanus. In the 1920's the town was known as a place to convalesce and was being recommended from as far a field as London. Grand hotels were built and its reputation as a holiday resort was established. Nowadays it still manages a delightful balance between the two industries of fishing and tourism. In addition to this the World Wildlife Foundation recognises Hermanus as among the twelve best places in the world for whale watching.

Our September to October departures give the best opportunity to see whales swimming off the coast.

Windsor Hotel or similar

Meals Included: Breakfast

Today we cycle the Whale Coast, from Hermaus to Gordon's Bay, possible one of the most scenic rides in the world. The road follows the rugged coastline passing through fishing villages with dramatic views over False Bay and the Cape of Good Hope. Along the route there is a good chance that our efforts will be encouraged by the numerous troops of Cape Baboon. Today is the longest cycle day, but those preferring a shorter ride can catch a lift in the support bus for part of the day. We transfer at the end of the day from Gordon's Bay to Simonstown.

Quayside Hotel or similar

Meals Included: Breakfast

After breakfast, a short 30km transfer brings us to the Cape Point Nature Reserve. We then walk from the Cape of Good Hope to the old lighthouse at Cape Point. From here we cycle through the Cape Point Nature Reserve and then along the very scenic coastal road to the historic village of Simonstown, downhill for most of the way, with panoramic views over False Bay. After a rest stop and lunch at Boulders Beach we visit the local penguin colony (optional). We then continue our cycle along the coastal road to our overnight accommodation.

Quayside Hotel or similar

Meals Included: Breakfast

The ride today follows part of the annual Cape Argus route, one of the largest cycling events of the world, and is arguably the most scenic route that South Africa has to offer. We complete our circuit by cycling from Glencairn over the redhill pass along an old navy road to Scarborough and then all along the Atlantic coast via the stunning Chapman's Peak drive into Hout Bay. After lunch in Hout Bay we cycle up Suikerbos Ridge past Llandudno and then on to Cape Town via Camp's Bay and the 12 Apostles all the way to our accommodation in Seapoint. We celebrate the end of the cycling at one of the many venues at the Waterfront.

City Lodge Hotel Victoria & Alfred Waterfront or similar

Meals Included: Breakfast

The day is free for last minute shopping, catching a few last rays of sunshine or the half-day trip to Robben Island before the trip ends here.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Essential Info

Visa

British passport holders and most European and Commonwealth Passport holders do not require a visa to travel to South Africa. Please note that all travellers to South Africa who do require a visa are required to have a minimum of 2 blank consecutive pages in their passport i.e. a left hand page and a right hand page to enable an entry visa to be issued.

Please note that new regulations from the 1 June 2015 mean that any child under 18 travelling to South Africa needs to be in possession of an unabridged birth certificate with the names of both parents.

If a child under 18 is only travelling with a single parent, they will also have to have an affidavit, no less than 3 months old, from the absent parent confirming the child can travel with the other parent; a court order granting full legal guardianship of the child; or a death certificate of the deceased parent.

Vaccination

No vaccinations are obligatory but some vaccinations are recommended. These include typhoid, yellow fever,hepatitis A, hepatitis B, rabies, measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) andinfluenza.

Eating and Drinking

All breakfasts are included on this holiday.

For breakfast you can expect a continental style buffet with fresh fruit, cereals, bread, yogurts and tea and Coffee. On some days our guides will prepare a cooked breakfast when they have the facilities to do so. Lunches can consist of a good spread of fresh salads, cold meats, cheese, bread, condiments, fresh fruit and a selection of cold drinks. For evening meals you can expect a large Braai (BBQ) with lots of locally sourced steaks, sausages and vegetables. Restaurant menus are very varied and our guide will be on hand to recommend the best options for your personal tastes and budget. you can expect You can expect stews, pasta, curry and steaks.

Vegetarians and vegans can be well catered for on this holiday - please do inform us before departure of any special dietary requests so that our local team can be well prepared.

Weather

The best time to see the carpets of wild flowers and fruit blossoms is in the spring (August and September). In the summer months the south easterly wind can blow up to 70km/h at least a few times a month. This helps to cool things off, but can be a little tiring if cycling into it. Our programme is flexible enough to accommodate any major changes in weather, and yet still be enjoyable. February is the hottest month in Cape Town with an average temperature of 23c. June is the coldest month of the year with an average temperature of 13c so we avoid running trips at this time. At the times we run most of our trips you can expect warm days with the temperatures around 20C.

Weather Charts

Is this trip for you?

This tour is classified: Road

Activity level 3 (Moderate)

9 days cycling with an average distance of approximately 55km (34 miles) per day with full vehicle support.

A classic road tour with relaxed rides and the opportunity for a few challenging climbs. Mainly good quality tarmac with a few excursions onto hard-packed graded roads. This trip uses main roads which can be busy, but the scenery from the route we take is wonderful. All of the roads used are of good quality tarmac except the occasional stretch of dirt road in the wine district and at Cape Agulhas.

Legal Note: all group members joining this tour will be asked to sign an indemnity form at the start of the holiday. This indemnity form is a requirement of the South African Tourism Service Association which our local supplier is a member of. As a client of Exodus Travels Ltd, your rights under the Package Travel Regulations (1992) are unaffected, and Exodus remains liable for the actions of our sub-contractors.

Following a review of all our trips we have categorised this trip as generally not suitable for persons of reduced mobility. However if you are a regular traveller on such trips, please contact customer services to discuss the trip and your personal condition.

Ros Cotton

TAKE factor 50 suncream

Suggestions

A gazebo would have been nice to,provide some shade when we stopped for refreshments

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Covid-19 refund commitment

You will get a refund if you have to cancel your trip due to COVID-19.

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