Can you imagine a more eco-friendly and adventurous weekend trip than a wine tasting and vineyard bicycle tour? This isn’t the mere fantasy of wine lovers everywhere—you truly can experience it in the South African cape winelands of Stellenbosch.
Soak up the culture and beauty of the local vineyards in Stellenbosch by taking a tour via bicycle—where you can travel, get exercise, and sample the wares of area vintners while remaining “carbon negative.”
Aimed at wine enthusiasts and young-at-heart lovers of the outdoors, these tours offer a unique perspective to tourists and visitors to the region, combining fresh air and exercise on mountain bikes with respites at up to four of the best wine estates in Stellenbosch.
Located just over thirty miles from the urban setting of Cape Town, visitors can easily make this a day trip, or stay in the area at a variety of inns. Bike tours are led down gorgeous vineyards, quiet farm roads and along peaceful country roads flanked by trees.
With a variety of tours to choose from, there is something for everyone. With tours available for all ages and all fitness levels, including customized tours to meet your individual tastes and larger tours for teams and corporate groups, you’re sure to find a tour that suits your needs.
Each tour offers a different level of intensity, with shorter or longer distances, some with luxury extras added, like a stop at a world renown brandy distillery to taste some of their distinctive brandies. Experts will guide you through the tours, educating you about the wine tasting process and the variety of grapes and blends offered by each winery.
There are easier rides, like a 5 mile tour that takes a slow pace and passes a wildlife sanctuary, stopping at two wineries plus a brandy distillery, with a picnic lunch under towering oaks at a winery estate. From there, the tours extend up to an intense ride of more than 18 miles, which is comprised of a private tour through Elgin Valley in the Overberg mountains.
There is even a family tour that involves a ride of just under five miles, with tastings at two incredible wineries and a brandy distillery for the parents. Safety is of the utmost concern, so expert guides will stay by your children’s sides to ensure that everyone enjoys a safe trip, leaving the happy parents the freedom to enjoy the day.
These trips depart in the mornings for a full day tour or in the early afternoon for a shorter afternoon tour. Prices range from about $37 to $75 per person, depending on the tour and the amenities included. The price tends to include your expert guide for the cycle trip, the bike rental and a helmet, and all tastings that occur on the trip.
Additional fees will apply for extra tastings, pairings, personal wine purchases, and a return transfer back to the meeting point, if desired. The price does not include gratuities for the guides, lunch, or any entrance fees that may be applicable to certain tours.
These fantastic trips are an excellent way to learn about the South African Winelands and to immerse yourself in the local culture. Because of their popularity, it is highly recommended that you book well in advance, as the tours do fill up.
