Garden Route Road Cycling Tour
This fantastic Garden Route Cycling Tour is a demanding but rewarding road cycling tour for experienced cyclists. Cycling along the illustrious Garden Route from Port Elizabeth to Cape Town, you will cycle up to 125km per day as you uncover some of the many highlights that South Africa has to offer.
This complete package includes all accommodations with breakfast, a picnic style lunch and dinner, all airport transfers, 7 cycling training tours with professional cycling guide(s) and a support vehicle, luggage transportation, guaranteed entry into the Cape Town Cycle Tour 2019, a custom designed cycle jersey to wear on race day, and invitations to our Race Day Briefing and After Race Party
Fully escorted by our very own cycling fanatic Ingo, this tour will start in Port Elizabeth on 27.02.2019.
DAY 1
WEDNESDAY
Arrive Port Elizabeth – Transfer to Hotel
Upon arrival in Port Elizabeth, please collect your luggage and proceed to the arrivals hall where your driver will be waiting to transfer you to your hotel in Summerstrand. The rest of the day is at leisure.
Overnight: Port Elizabeth
DAY 2
THURSDAY
Free Day Port Elizabeth
Today has been set aside for building your bikes, making any necessary repairs, and preparing for your Garden Route Cycling Tour. At 6pm, we will meet in the hotel bar for a briefing, before enjoying our first dinner as a group.
Overnight: Port Elizabeth
Meals Included: Dinner
DAY 3
FRIDAY
Cycle from Port Elizabeth to Jeffery’s Bay: Cycling Distance approximately 115km
After an early breakfast and hotel check-out, we will load our luggage onto the support vehicle before setting off from the hotel, riding next to the beach and the rocky coastline before heading inland where the terrain will transform from flat roads to rolling hills. We will continue through small villages and farm land until we reach the small town of Jeffrey’s Bay (a mecca for surfers), where we will settle for the night.
Overnight: Jeffrey’s Bay
Meals Included: Breakfast, Picnic Lunch and Dinner
DAY 4
SATURDAY
Cycle from Jeffrey’s Bay to Tsitsikamma National Park: Cycling Distance approximately 110km
Today’s cycle ride starts on easy terrain, as we head out of town and into the rich green countryside that will lead us to the Tsitsikamma Mountains. From here, our route remains relatively flat, but there are a few climbs to test our legs as we make our way through the lush farmland to Storms River where we will spend the night.
Overnight: Storms River
Meals Included: Breakfast, Picnic Lunch and Dinner
DAY 5
SUNDAY
Cycle from Tsitsikamma National Park to Plettenberg Bay: Cycling Distance approximately 85km
After our morning routine of breakfast, hotel check out, and loading the support vehicle, we will leave the pretty village of Storms River behind as we ride through the Tsitsikamma forest and across the magical Bloukrans Pass before heading to the nature lover’s paradise of Nature’s Valley. After a short climb out of the valley, we will continue along the main road to Plettenberg Bay for the night.
Overnight: Plettenberg Bay
Meals Included: Breakfast, Picnic Lunch and Dinner
DAY 6
MONDAY
Transfer to Wilderness: Cycle to Oudtshoorn: Cycling Distance approximately 75km
To cover as much ground as possible today, our day will start with a +/- 1-hour transfer from Plettenberg Bay to Wilderness, where we will start cycling on the old George to Knysna road that will take us up and over the impressive Outeniqua Pass to the Ostrich Capital of the world – Oudtshoorn, where we will spend the night. Today is a demanding day with plenty of climbing.
Overnight: Oudtshoorn
Meals Included: Breakfast, Picnic Lunch and Dinner
DAY 7
TUESDAY
Cycle from Oudtshoorn to Ladismith: Cycling Distance approximately 100km
After breakfast today, we will continue with our ‘mountain stage’ as we cycle from Oudtshoorn to Ladismith via Calitzdorp. In Ladismith, we will load the bikes onto the trailer and transfer approximately 1.5hours to Swellendam, stopping at the famous Ronnie’s Sex Shop on the way.
Overnight: Swellendam
Meals Included: Breakfast, Picnic Lunch and Dinner
DAY 8
WEDNESDAY
Cycle from Swellendam to Hermanus: Cycling Distance approximately 110km
Today our ride will start directly outside the hotel in Swellendam. We will make our way south to Bredasdorp, before continuing to Cape Agulhas, the southernmost point of Africa. Here, we’ll load our bikes onto the trailer, kick off our cycling shoes, and walk down to the famous landmark, before jumping back on the bus and transferring approximately 1.5hours to our hotel in Hermanus.
Overnight: Hermanus
Meals Included: Breakfast, Picnic Lunch and Dinner
DAY 9
THURSDAY
Cycle from Hermanus to Gordon’s Bay: Transfer to Cape Town: Cycling Distance approximately 85km
Our final ride before race day, today we will cycle the incredibly scenic route from Hermanus to Gordon’s Bay along what is, undoubtedly, the most beautiful stretch of coastline in Southern Africa. After cycling some 85km, we will enjoy lunch, before transferring by bus to our final base in Cape Town.
Overnight: Cape Town
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch
DAY 10
FRIDAY
Free Day Cape Town
Today you have a full day at leisure to do exactly as you please.
Overnight: Cape Town
Meals Included: Breakfast
DAY 11
SATURDAY
Cape Town Cycle Tour Registration & Expo
After breakfast today, we will head to the Cape Town Cycle Tour Registration and Expo to collect our race packs. A complimentary one-way transfer from the hotel to registration is provided at 09:00am. The rest of the day is at leisure. 17:00: Please join us for Cocktails & Canapes at our Race Day Briefing. An informal event where you can meet other Equatours guests, enjoy some complimentary refreshments, and ask any last-minute questions about race day.
Overnight: Cape Town
Meals Included: Breakfast
DAY 12
SUNDAY
Cape Town Cycle Tour 2018: Cycling Distance 109km
Today is the day you have been waiting for! After an early breakfast (time TBC), we depart the hotel and cycle the 10-minute ride to the start line where we will join our seeded groups. Once you have crossed the finish line and collected your medal, please enjoy the hospitality area before making your own way back to the hotel (approximately 5-minutes ride). At 18:00h we will meet in the hotel bar for bubbly before transferring to our after-party location.
Overnight: Cape Town
Meals Included: Breakfast & Dinner
DAY 13
MONDAY
Departure
After breakfast today, you will have a few hours to shop for last-minute souvenirs before your driver collects you and returns you to the airport for your return flight home. ***End of Services***
Price Per Person Sharing: £2195.00 (double occupancy)
Price Single Occupancy: £2585.00
Flight & Bike Package: from £550.00 per person
SPACES STRICTLY LIMITED. PLEASE CONTACT US FOR A DETAILED ITINERARY.