Bike Trails & Wine in the Cape Region

After breakfast at the hotel, a short transfer will bring us to the wine region of Somerbosch, where numerous mountain-bike trails await. The trails can be connected in different ways or shortened, depending on fitness levels. Lunch will be served at the end of the ride, with the possibility to indulge in some wine tasting. Afterwards, we’ll drive back to the hotel.

After breakfast we’ll take a shuttle to the coastal town of Kleinmond – another trip highlight, worthy of multiple photo stops. The town will be the starting point for today’s bike tour. The black loop leads us into the hinterland, a great mix of mountainous backdrops and seascapes. Back in Kleinmond, we’ll grab a small bite to eat before continuing to Hermanus.

Today serves up a varied bike loop in the hinterland of Hermanus. The trail winds steadily up and down, following in the tyre tracks of the Cape Epic of 2017 and 2019. Both events included these sections of the trail and we'll certainly never get bored here. For the final kilometers, we’ll have a fantastic view of the coast and Hermanus, our end point for the day.

For those interested, there is an optional whale-watching excursion to join. The coastal town of Hermanus is famous for its whale sightings – these giant marine mammals show up in the area between May and December. We’ll head out on a boat trip before sunset. During the whale season, we’ll be keeping our eyes peeled for these magnificent creatures; during the other months, we’ll simply enjoy the view of the rugged coastline. Once back on shore, the evening will conclude with a lovely meal in a trendy restaurant by the cliffs.

Winemaker Peter Visser has built wonderful single trails on his farm in Oak Valley. They wind through beautiful landscape with lots of forested areas, small lakes, apple orchards and grapevines. The loops were exquisitely made, just like a good wine!

Our accommodation for the next two nights is an absolute trip highlight. A luxurious campsite with beautifully furnished tents and two small natural pools frequented by zebras in the evening – a soothing experience for the soul. After a delicious meal served up by the host, we’ll gather around the campfire to reflect on the triumphs of the day.

A transfer will bring us to the starting point of today's bike stage – a steady up and down across meadows and burned forest areas. There are 26 trail sections, named after the letters of the alphabet. The rushing descents of the A-Z Trail are sure to put a grin on every mountain biker's face! Set against the backdrop of the surrounding mountains and wineries, there are beautiful views at every stretch.

A transfer will bring us to the Eikendal Wine Estate, which in addition to vineyards, has a variety of different bike loops to ride. We’ll have lunch at the winery, before taking the transfer to Stellenbosch. Stellenbosch is a small and effortlessly cool town surrounded by a variety of great single trails. Here you can really feel the MTB mania! The abundance of boutiques and wine bars also make it a great place to explore and soak up the atmosphere.

We start today's tour from the hotel. Just beyond the gates of Stellenbosch, a varied and adrenaline-pumping biking area is our destination for the day. The famous G-Spot section belongs on every South Africa trip bucket list. Countless Cape Epic stages, World Cup races, photo shoots and film productions have taken place on these trails. It’s the stuff of legend.

Today we can really let off steam in the Jonkershoek Nature Reserve. Here the challenge of the somewhat steep uphill stretches is justly rewarded with every meter of descent. The beautifully shaped berms make for a flowy and adrenaline-fueled downhill section. The routes can be shortened as needed, depending on energy levels.

Those who are motivated can go for round two after lunch; those who are ready to hang the bike up can return to Stellenbosch and spend a lazy afternoon shopping and sipping on lattes. The choice is entirely yours!

Optional wine-tasting at a winery run by a Swiss winemaker.

Our starting point today is the Muratie Wine Estate, built in 1685 and one of the oldest wineries in the region. A trail network consisting of several blue, red and black loops starts here. It’s easy to see why Nino Schurter considers these trails some of his favorites. The flowing single trails in the hills around the vineyards offer something for every riding ability. The tours can always be shortened or extended as desired. After lunch, we’ll continue to Franschhoek. The establishment of Franschhoek (or ‘French Corner’) dates back to 1688, when about 200 Huguenots emigrated from France and settled here. Among the immigrants were a number of winegrowers who soon realized the area’s potential for winegrowing. In Franschhoek you can still feel the French flair today: galleries, boutiques, cafes and many restaurants line the main street, inviting you to wander.

We start today’s loop directly from the hotel, heading for Franschhoek’s large dam and a viewpoint in the area. The descent to the coast then begins, where we’ll the ride along the shore.

In just under half an hour, a shuttle will bring us to Boschendal and Plaisir De Merle wine estates. These estates are proud hosts of the Cape Epic race and the trail center has only recently been opened to the public. The black trail is always a hit with advanced bikers and the single-trail descents sport tantalizing names like "Inferno", "Sugar Bowl" and "Porcupine". After lunch, the bus will take us to Cape Town.

Today is all about sightseeing. After breakfast we’ll drive to Simonstown to visit the African (Jackass) penguin colony at Boulders Beach. Then we’ll continue to the most southwestern point of the African continent: the Cape of Good Hope. After the obligatory photo stops, we’ll hike up to the lighthouse where the escort vehicle will pick us up. Our drive back to Cape Town takes us along one of the world's most beautiful coastal roads – not a journey to be sleeping through!

We save the best ‘til last. One of the biking highlights of the trip is today's final tour. We start on the "backside" of Cape Town, riding along the coast on partly rocky, partly flowy singletrack. To our left, the rugged mountains of the “12 Apostles” stand proud; to our right, the sea stretches to the horizon. After a solid 10 kilometers, we’ll reach the outermost point of the loop and start our return. The rest of the day is yours to use as you choose. To mark the end of the trip, we’ll have our last dinner together in a great beachside restaurant.

Today we will hike up Table Mountain. The ascent offers a spectacular view of Cape Town. There’s an option to take the cable car down, or alternatively to hike back down to the starting point. Lunch at your leisure and while away the afternoon as you please. A late-afternoon transfer will take you to the airport in time for your return flight.

Early morning arrival in Zurich.