Foodies will love this unusual tour taking in South Africa’s culinary delights. Cycle some of the Cape’s most scenic routes whilst feasting on everything from traditional West Coast fare to authentic Karoo style delicacies.
Highlights
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1 Night | Cape Town | Hout Bay
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2 Nights | Cape West Coast | Paternoster
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3 Nights | Karoo Region | Prince Albert
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2 Nights | Cape Winelands | Franschhoek
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1 Nights | Cape Winelands | Paarl
This fully guided group tour is conducted by Bike & Saddle and includes all meals, refreshments and drinks, accommodation, ground transportation, bikes and all equipment. The tour departs from Cape Town on set departure dates.
Terms & Conditions Apply. E.&O.E.
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Day 1 to 2 | Cape Town
Meet your group at the Cape Grace Hotel in the historic V&A Waterfront. After a light breakfast, briefing and introduction from your expert guides, mount your bicycle and cycle along the Atlantic Seaboard, past beautiful beaches, deserted coves, with whales and dolphins in season. Ride over the breath-taking Chapman's Peak Drive, with superlative vistas over the deep blue sea and Hout Bay Harbour. Your first day ends with a chef's table, as the sun sets over the Atlantic, treating you to a feast of tasting sensations by arguably one of Cape Town's most sought after chefs.
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Day 2 to 3 | West Coast National Park
Today you will be transferred to the West Coast National Park where you will cycle through a spectacular natural fynbos and coastal landscape. The bird life is diverse with flamingos, pelicans, sandpipers, and many other wetland species. Mammals include the Eland, Red Hartebeest and Caracal and in season, look out for dolphins and whales frolicking in the ocean. You will overnight at the quaint seaside village of Paternoster but first enjoy sundowners followed by a traditional seafood braai or BBQ consisting of crayfish (lobster), a seafood potjie (stew) and sumptuous west coast wines, right on the beach and expertly prepared by your celebrity chef and host.
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Day 3 to 4 | Paternoster and Darling
At sunrise enjoy a spectacular hike on a pristine stretch of beach before kayaking out to the west bank with your local wildlife guide. A sumptuous lunch is enjoyed at Gaatjie restaurant, possibly the best-kept secret on the coast. After lunch you will be shuttled to Cloof Wine Estate, Darling for a wine tasting typical of the west coast cultivars. Enjoy afternoon tea over cabaret at Darling Theatre with Pieter Dirk Uys, one of South Africa’s most renowned satirists (when in play). Then head to Groote Post Wine Estate for a wine tasting. An evening without the 'Noisy Oyster' will not do, and it's exactly here where you end your final evening on the West Coast.
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Day 4 to 5 | Paternoster to Prince Albert
After a hearty breakfast you will be shuttled via Veldrift, Piketberg, Gouda, Wolseley, Ceres and Matjiesfontein to Prince Albert. En-route you have time to cycle and visit the Matjiesfontein Hotel and Museum and sample the hospitality of an era unaffected by a the tempo of a modern world. Then onto Prince Albert, the jewel of the Karoo, arriving at sunset. This town is a charming setting for your next gourmet culinary and cycle experience. Dinner is served at the African Relish Restaurant in the heart of town. You will meet your culinary hosts, Philip and Lisa, over a glass of Karoo port, for an introduction to the town and its fascinating people.
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Day 5 to 6 | Gamkaskloof
Start your exploration and cycle of this extraordinary area with a visit to Gamkaskloof, also known as ‘Die Hel’, surrounded by the Swartberg Nature Reserve. The name 'Gamka’ is derived from the Gamka River, which crosses through the bottom of the valley. No one is sure where the nickname comes from, but one version is that a livestock inspector of the 1940's had to travel to Gamka Poort every two months and usually gained access by a steep foot path called 'The Ladder'. He described these excursions as sheer 'Hell' and soon the name became common use among the locals obviously excluding those living in the valley. This afternoon enjoy an authentic country cooking experience celebrating the Karoo culinary heritage.
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Day 6 to 7 | Swartberg Pass
Your second day is filled with good food, cooking and a cycle of the Swartberg Pass. The Swartberg Mountains make up a mountain range that runs roughly east-west along the northern edge of the semi-arid Little Karoo in the Western Cape province of South Africa. To the north of the range lies another large semi-arid area, the Great Karoo. The Swartberg is amongst the best-exposed fold mountain chains in the world, and the pass slices through brilliantly scenic geological formations. Later you will enjoy another cooking lesson. You have the late afternoon at leisure and with sunset, the eating may begin!
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Day 7 to 8 | Prince Albert to Franschhoek
On your final morning in Prince Albert you will cycle out to one of the olive farms just outside town for a tasting and introduction to farming and biodiversity in the area. You will also visit a ham curing and deli for lunch, before hopping onto the bus that will take you to your next stop, Bonnievale, via the scenic Route 62 and a late afternoon wine tasting in Robertson, before arriving early evening at Le Quartier Franscais in Franschhoek. Dinner is served in the Common Room, the menu is packed full of lip smacking delights served as snacks of the best ingredients. Prepare yourself for a mouth-watering dining experience after a full day.
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Day 8 to 9 | Franschhoek
Boasting some of the top restaurants in the country, Franschhoek is often described as South Africa’s culinary capital. You will be shuttled to the scenic Franschhoek Pass for your first cycle of the morning. Then embark on a taste journey of discovery. Enjoy a wine tasting, cellar tour and barrel tasting at Haut Espoire, before cycling to Bread & Wine to meet the Master Chef of Charcuterie who will entertain you with the art of curing and smoking meats, followed by a light lunch. The Village Chocolate Shop is next and you will be guided through the process of making chocolate. The day ends with a nine course African surprise menu, paired with local wines at The Tasting Room.
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Day 9 to 10 | Paarl Valley
This morning starts with a leisurely breakfast before shuttling to the Paarl Valley for a magnificent cycle and visit to two of the region’s most sought after wine estates. Lunch is catered outside overlooking the Paarl Valley and late afternoon is reserved for a well-deserved rest. Your evening is booked at the famed Bosman's Restaurant at Grande Roche. Set amidst the heady opulence of the hotel, award winning Bosman's Restaurant ranks as one of the country's finest, for its outstanding gourmet cuisine and service.
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Day 10 | Paarl to Cape Town
Chance for one more delicious breakfast before making your way back to Cape Town, there is enough time to stop at an award-winning cellar for those last purchases, before arriving back in vibrant Cape Town.
| Tour Rates |
Per Person*Pricing subject of change |
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Low Season
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R*
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This fully guided group tour is conducted by Bike & Saddle and includes all meals, refreshments and drinks, accommodation, ground transportation, bikes and all equipment. The tour departs from Cape Town on set departure dates.
Valid for travel until 31 October 2011. E.&O.E.
