Exploring Cape Town takes you from the rolling valleys and mountains of the winelands to the rocky coastlines and sandy beaches that attract flocks of summer visitors. A Cape Town itinerary will take you across the peninsula, through plenty of nature reserves, along winding mountain passes, from bustling markets and humming cafes to secret beach coves, and beyond to where ocean activities show you how much natural beauty exists both on shore and at sea.
Active travellers get so much out of a Cape Town city stay because the opportunities to discover the outdoors are abundantly at your fingertips. Some of the most popular hikes and cycling excursions around Cape Town take outdoor enthusiasts, families, couples, and groups along the coastal roads, up Table Mountain and Lion’s Head, and into the vineyards and scenic dirt roads of Franschhoek and Stellenbosch. You get to appreciate the fresh sea air and the mountain views and feel the benefit of all those endorphins rushing through your veins, while enjoying the Cape’s excellent selection of wine farms, picnic spots, artisanal cafes, and natural sights.
Cape Town hiking and biking tours come highly recommended by our team members who are keen trail runners, beach bums, and cyclists, and we’re here to help. Bikes n Wines have a couple of not-to-be-missed specials on their Cape Town hiking and biking tours we want to share with you to make sure your days spent in the Mother City are as fun and adventurous as you want them to be!
HIKING TOURS
Table Mountain half day hike (with optional cable car descent)
Hiking up Table Mountain is one big tick off the bucket list for active visitors, and locals are equally as enthusiastic about the challenging and incredibly rewarding journey up and down the famous peak. The view is astonishing and there are various trails that take you to the top. What’s more, is that if you decide hiking up is all the exercise you need, you can hop on the amazing cable car to get a ride down. Here’s what this Bikes n Wines Table Mountain hike has to offer:
Summit the iconic Table Mountain via a choice of the three most popular routes to the top of this Natural World Wonder. A choice of descent awaits those with tired legs, via the cableway or back down on foot, for a well-earned rest and lunch in the city.
- Min/Max: 2/8
- Distance: 6-8km
- Price: R655.00 pp (2018) and R730.00 pp (2019)
- Departure: On request
Inclusions:
- Fully guided tour – 1 guide per 10 guests
- Snack pack (including bottled water, chocolate, peanuts/raisins)
- Return transfer from the &Bikes Café in Loop Street, CBD
Exclusions:
- Gratuities
- Cable car ticket (if opted for) – R190 per adult one way (18+ years old); R90 per child one way (4-17 years old)
Lion’s Head sunset hike (with bubbles and cheese to end)
Lion’s Head flanks Table Mountain and is a favourite spot for sundowners and picnics among Cape Town locals because it only takes a couple of hours and has a spectacular view of Table Bay, Robben Island, Camp’s Bay, the CBD, and of course: the sunset! Summiting Lion’s Head can be done in under an hour if you make a mission of it, but a leisurely climb is suitable for most semi-frequent hikers. It is far less challenging than the Table Mountain climb and on this specific guided hike, the pace is enjoyable and it ends with a bottle of bubbles and a cheese platter to make the sunset even sweeter.
Take a short transfer from the &Bikes Café in Loop Street, to the base of Lion’s Head, where you will embark on a 3-hour hike to the top of this iconic Cape Town view point. Once you summit, you’ll be rewarded with bubbles, canapés and 360-degree views of the city. Hike down under the watchful eye of your guide, before returning to the vibrant city centre.
- Min/Max: 2/8
- Distance: 5km with 300m ascent
- Price: R810.00 pp (2018) and R890.00 pp (2019)
- Departure: On request
Inclusions:
- Fully guided tour – 1 guide per 10 guests
- Vehicle transfer from &Bikes Café in Loop Street
- Small snack
- Bottled water
- Sparkling wine and cheese and charcuterie platter
Exclusions:
- Gratuities
- Any additional purchases made on the day
CYCLING TOURS
Cape Peninsula road bike tour (with a visit to the penguins and plattered lunch to end)
Touring the beautiful coastal nature reserves of the Cape in the saddle of a bicycle takes a visit to this stunning part of the Cape from memorable to unforgettable. Keen cyclists will find this ±60km cycle tour a refreshing and highly rewarding excursion, plus it incorporates a visit to Boulders Beach where the protected African penguins reside, and a cruise through Cape Point Nature Reserve. Ending with a lunch platter and some well deserved wine tasting at Cape Point Vineyards puts the cherry on top of this brilliant coastal cycle led by Bikes n Wines.
What better way to explore Cape Town’s breath-taking natural beauty than by bicycle? The Cape Peninsula Pedal takes you through the historic navy suburb of Simon’s Town, into the midst of the penguin colony at Boulders Beach and on a meander through the Cape Point Nature Reserve. Your effort will also be rewarded with a lunch platter overlooking the ocean at Cape Point Vineyards.
- Min/Max: 2/15
- Distance: 30-80 km
- Price: R1565.00 pp – 2018R1670.00 pp – 2019
- Departure: Daily, Subject to availbility
Inclusions:
- Fully guided tour (limited to maximum of 15 guests)
- Racing bike/hybrid mountain bike and helmet rental
- Support vehicle
- Snack pack (including bottled water, chocolate, peanuts/raisins)
- Stop-off at Boulders Beach penguin colony
- Entry into Cape Peninsula National Park
- Wine tasting at Cape Point Vineyards
- Lunch platter at Cape Point Vineyards
- Toll fees
Exclusions:
- Gratuities
- Any additional purchases made on the day
Franschhoek family tour (with kids’ activities and wine tasting for Mom and Dad)
Franschhoek is wine tasting country and a very popular hangout for tourists and locals alike. There are plenty of exquisite wineries and world class restaurants, and the village itself is full of French history. The Hottentots Holland mountain range, rolling green vineyards, old Cape Dutch architecture and farm houses make for some seriously magnificent sight seeing, and what better way to see it all than from the saddle? This tour is designed for families who want the perfect combination of kid-friendly fun, while offering adults the best of the wine tasting region.
Designed with families in mind, this winelands cycle tour is accessible to all ages and fitness levels with loads of child-friendly activities to enjoy along the way. While Mom and Dad soak up the sights, sounds, and flavours of the Franschhoek winelands, our trained guides will keep a close eye on the kids, keeping them safe and entertained throughout.
- Min/Max: 3/15
- Distance: 9km
- Price: R855.00 pp (2018) and R950.00 pp (2019) and R200 pp under 6 years old.
- Departure: Daily, subject to availability
Inclusions:
- Fully guided tour – 1 guide per 10 guests
- Mountain bike and helmet rental
- Child seats, baby buggy or children’s bikes according to the size of the child
- Snack pack (including bottled water, chocolate, peanuts/raisins)
- All wine tastings on route (3 estates visited)
- Non-alcoholic tastings & ice lollies for children under 18 years old
Exclusions:
- Lunch at a wine estate
- Gratuities
- Additional wine purchases made on the day
Want more from Cape Town? Take a look at our choice for best food markets to visit while you’re in the city. Or are you travelling in winter? Here are our reasons why you can still make the most out of Cape Town’s winter season.