Full day winelands hike and taste

Best option for: A quick, easy hike with spectacular views, that is close to wine tasting and restaurant options. A good hike and wine combo option.

Duration: 2 – 3 hours / 5km (3 miles)

Grade: Moderate – a mixture of easy walking through the vineyards and protea farms with some stiffer mountain trails on the lower slopes of the mountains above.  Some short, easy rock scrambles can be expected.

Description: A manicured trail through a historic wine estate, following a well-marked route through the vineyards before taking to the lower slopes of the mountain with stunning views of the Franschhoek Valley and Simonsberg Mountain.  Descending back to the farm, we pass through a beautiful protea farm and pass the historic graveyard before finishing back at the wine estate for a restaurant lunch on the estate.  We spend the rest of the afternoon exploring the village of Franschhoek and enjoying insider access to a neighbouring wine estate before making our way back to Cape Town.

Best option for: fit hikers wanting to get high above Franschhoek. A great winter hike following snowfalls on the mountain.

Duration: 4 – 5 hours / 7.5km (4½ miles)

Grade: Moderate to Hard – a sustained climb on good mountain trails to a rocky summit followed by a long but gradual descent

Description: This route follows a mountain trail through the beautiful Mont Rochelle Nature Reserve, high up in the mountains above Franschhoek.  Bubbling streams, pristine mountain flora and stunning 360° views of the surrounding countryside greet you from the summit, followed by a picnic lunch at a stunning viewpoint before making your way back to the village to enjoy an afternoon of insider access to a local wine estate.

This route often receives snow in August/September.

Best for: hikers wishing to experience the mountains before an afternoon of wine tasting in Stellenbosch.

Duration: 2 – 4 hours / 6.5km (4 miles)

Grade: Moderate – undulating hiking on good mountain trails.  Expect some short steep ascents and a high level traverse.

Description: Just outside the popular winelands town of Stellenbosch lies the stunning mountain reserve of Jonkershoek.  Start the day with a hike up the lower slopes of the surrounding mountains to take in great views of the surrounding area before tackling an exposed traverse offering stunning views of the high mountains on the other side of the valley.  Pristine mountain flora, birdlife, waterfalls and wonderful mountain scenery grace the morning before spending the rest of the day enjoying our exclusive insider access to a nearby winery.

Best for: Fit, experienced hikers wishing to get high with spectacular views across the winelands

Duration: 4 to 5 hours / 8km (5 miles)

Grade: Moderate to Hard– sustained ascending and descending on rocky mountain trails.

Description: Its distinctive outline visible from Cape Town, Simonsberg is to the Cape Winelands what Table Mountain is to Cape Town. Ascending through the vineyards of Tokara wine estate and up into the protected indigenous flora of the Simonsberg Conservancy, tackle a sustained climb on rugged mountain trails to ultimate summit with spectacular 360° views of the surrounding mountains and patchwork of vineyards spread out below you.  Descending via the same route, we spend the rest of the day enjoying our exclusive insider access to a nearby winery.