Things to do in

Franschhoek

Uncover the lush beauty of the Franschhoek valley on a hop-on hop-off tram tour. Travel by airconditioned coach from Cape Town and hop aboard the tram which stops at wine estates. Savor a range of wines while you take in the views on the tram. Depart Cape Town by coach and head directly to the Franschhoek valley to join the Franschhoek hop-on hop-off wine tram and bus. The Franschhoek Wine Tram offers a choice of two hop-on hop-off lines (Orange or Purple) to choose from, operating in opposite directions. Each route visits eight wine estates showcasing a separate part of the Franschhoek Valley, including Noble Hill, Babylonstoren, Backsberg, Vrede & Lust, Plaisir de Merle, Allee Bleue, Boschendal, and Solms Delta. Realistically, you will be able to visit 5-6 estates in one day.  (Please note: Available tram routes vary depending on the day of operation during the winter) Enjoy transportation by a combination of tram and tram-buses around a loop. Each stop is at a different wine estate, allowing you to hop on and hop off at any of the estates. The tram or tram-buses pass each stop once an hour, so you can explore at your convenience to move from one estate to the next. Each of the lines has a wide selection of wine estates to visit, from boutique to marquee estates and each offers a unique perspective on the Franschhoek wine experience. At 4:00 PM, head back to the motor coach for your transfer back to Cape Town.

Meet your guide at Hey Joe Brewing Company in Franschhoek, a village with centuries-old vineyards and historic regional architecture. Learn how to ride your e-bike, adjust the seat post, and grab a helmet. Cycle through the countryside following picturesque trails and roads. Take in the breathtaking scenery while avoiding the main roads. Visit 2–3 wineries and cycle through vineyards, tasting wine at each spot. Take pictures of lovely Franschhoek Village and the surrounding mountains from different angles. Listen as your informative guide fills you in on the rich history of the area.

Enjoy a day filled with beautiful scenery and wine and cheese tasting on this tour of the Cape Winelands. Get a taste of history as well as you visit historical landmarks, like the prison where Nelson Mandela was kept. Get picked up at your accommodation in the morning by a tour guide/driver in a luxury minibus and head off on an all-inclusive, full-day Cape Winelands tour. Follow the Stellenbosch, Paarl, and Franschhoek wine route in all its splendor and enjoy lunch surrounded by vineyards. Enjoy wine tasting at up to 5 wine estates, and will also visit monuments, enjoy a town orientation tour in Stellenbosch and explore the town of Franschhoek. Travel along the scenic N2 and stop at DeMorgenzon wine estate in Stellenbosch for the first wine tasting of the day. DeMorgenzon is unique in that they have musical speakers scattered across the vineyards from which soft classical music can be heard. They also produce one of the best Chenin Blanc wines in the region. From there, proceed to one of the oldest towns in South Africa, Stellenbosch, for a town orientation tour. Continue to Marianne Wine Estate in Paarl to experience biltong and taste their wines. Marianne believes that pairing different types of biltong with red wine enhances the flavors of their wines. Continue to Fairview Vineyards and Goats Cheese for a cheese and wine tasting. Purchase your favorite cheese and condiments from the deli, as well as wine from a choice of 3 ranges in the tasting room. As you follow along this route you’ll stop in front of Drakenstein Prison to see the Nelson Mandela monument. This prison is where Nelson Mandela spent his last days of incarceration before his walk to freedom. Next, you’ll have a chance to explore the town of Franschhoek, known as the food and wine capital of South Africa. It is home to some of the finest restaurants and wine estates in the country. Learn about the French influence on the Cape Winelands and explore a bit of the town itself. Take a break for lunch (at your own expense) and later visit the Mont Rochelle wine estate owned by Sir Richard Branson. Your last wine tasting for the day will be at Delaire Graff, known as the jewel of the Cape Winelands. Afterward, you’ll head back to Cape Town and be dropped off at your accommodation.

Uncork the Cape winelands and get drunk on its rich history, culture, and scenic vistas on a day trip from Cape Town with a guide who takes the terror out of terroir. Travel in a spacious bus and enjoy tastings of wine, cheese, and chocolate. Take in the countryside with a vineyard lunch. Hop aboard spacious and airconditioned bus in Cape Town and take in the wine country views on the way to the Paarl wine region which is famous for its cheese and wine tastings and great views. Continue to the Franschhoek wine region, a historic French enclave and the granddaddy of South African viticulture. Admire stunning mountain views as you make your way to the to student-settled Stellenbosch for home-cloned Pinotage and award-winning farms. Stop for a delicious a la carte lunch with vegetarian options. Visit a1688 French-run slave farm which was turned into a 21st century community-driven wine project. Immerse yourself in the facinating story of the region with a local guide. Travel along Cape Town's high roads and back roads tasting and learning about South Africa’s bubbly Cap Classique, heady ports, sweet dessert wines, and plenty of red and white wines.

Join this guided tour to explore the 3 wine regions of Paarl, Franschhoek, and Stellenbosch. Be treated to chocolate, a wine tasting, and a cellar tour at Rheboksloof wine farm near Paarl. Drive through Paarl and then enjoy a photo stop at the Drakenstein Prison. Arrive at Franschhoek and spend some time exploring the town on your own. Enjoy lunch or indulge in an extra wine tasting. Afterward, take a scenic drive over the impressive Helshoogte Pass to the picturesque town of Stellenbosch. Have a walk around Stellenbosch before heading off to Simonsig. Take part in an afternoon wine tasting with a cheese platter at Simonsig in the Stellenbosch region before heading back to Cape Town. Your wine guide will highlight points of interest along the way and will be on hand to answer any questions you have about the route or wine farms.

Embark on a breathtaking journey through the winelands of the South African Cape. Learn all about the process of making fine wines, from the vineyard to the bottle, and visit the historical towns of Stellenbosch, Franschoek & Paarl. After pickup from your hotel in Cape Town, set off to explore the Stellenbosch Winelands, just 20 minutes away from the city/ Enjoy superb scenery, completely different from the landscape of the Cape peninsula. Numerous grapes are grown in the region, such as Chenin Blanc, Shiraz, Pinotage, and the Méthode Cap Classique. Explore the small yet vibrant town of Stellenbosch. Enjoy a tour of a wine cellar followed by a wine tasting session. You will have the opportunity to purchase wines to bring back home to enjoy and continue enjoying the region's wonderful vintages even after your visit. Next, visit Franschoek ("the French Corner") which is an old Huguenot village. With its numerous streets and estates with French names, feel the remnants of French culture and the town's old-world charm. Taste the region's delicacies, cheeses, and best wines. Experience a unique and leisurely way to see the Franschhoek Valley as you journey through rolling vineyards in an open-side tram. Stop at the site of the Drakenstein Prison, a low-security prison between Paarl and Franschhoek. The prison is famous as the place where Nelson Mandela spent the last part of his imprisonment campaigning against apartheid. Discover the town of Paarl, which offers a fascinating window into Afrikaner culture and tradition. As a former haven of the Huguenots pioneers who came from Europe at the beginning of the 17th century after the Edict of Nantes, the town boasts a monument dedicated to the Huguenots. You will also be able to visit the town's vineyards where you will taste the region's finest wines. Finally, head back to Cape Town with drop-off at your hotel.

Taste the local culture with this cellar tour. All wine tastings are paired with customized cheese, chocolate and cured meats. Visit 4 different wine estates in both regions: famous farms and some hidden gems known only to locals. Learn how wine is made, how to taste wine, what foods and wines pair best, and what bottles to order at restaurants. Enjoy a delicious light lunch served in the middle of the wine lands overlooking the Franschhoek valley.  Benefit from a diverse range of wine styles, local treats of cured meats paired with selected wines, artisanal chocolate and stroll down the beautiful main road of Franschhoek.

Depart from the convenient meeting point in Stellenbosch by e-bike for the first part of the exciting trip to Franschhoek. Cycle along mostly jeep tracks and mountain bike trails over the Helshoogte Pass, a route used by the first Dutch and French families who settled in the Olifantshoek valley in 1688.  Enjoy fantastic views and sites along the way and learn about small mission stations and local people living in the Banghoek Valley. Get a chance to spot eland and blue wildebeest as you cycle along multiple mountain streams in the Banhoek Conservancy. Enjoy a mouthwatering lunch and wine tasting on a Franschhoek wine estate and have time to explore the beautiful town of Franschhoek. The tour concludes with transport by vehicle back to Stellenbosch.

Depart Cape Town and travel by luxury Mercedes Benz C-Class or Hyundai H1 towards the wine estates of Stellenbosch, Paarl and Franschhoek in the Cape Winelands. Travel along the N2 highway to the wine estate of DeMorgenzon, where you will stop for your first tasting at an award-winning winery and producer of one of the best Chenin Blanc wines in the region. (Wine tasting fees not included) Next, stop in Stellenbosch for an orientation tour of the town. Continue to the Marianne Wine Estate in Paarl and sample some biltong (dried meat) during a wine tasting at a winery that believes it enhances the flavors of their red wine. (Wine tasting fees not included) Travel to Fairview Wine and Cheese for a cheese and wine tasting and the chance to purchase your favorite cheese and condiments as well as wines from a choice of 3 labels. (Wine tasting fees not included) Make your way to the food and wine capital of Franschhoek, stopping at Drakenstein Prison to see the monument to Nelson Mandela along the way. Upon arrival in Franschhoek, visit the French Huguenot monument en route to the wine estate of Haute Cabrière. Taste their version of champagne, known as "MCC" ("Methode Cap Classique"). End your wine tasting tour at the Delaire Graff wine estate in the "jewel" of the Cape Winelands. (Wine tasting fees not included) Enjoy lunch (at your own expense) at one of the recommended restaurants, such as those at the Delaire Graff or La Petite Ferme wines estates or any of the many eateries in Franschhoek suitable for a light lunch. Return to your accommodation at the end of the day, or get dropped off at a restaurant in time for dinner.

Explore the magnificent mountains and wine farms surrounding the Franschhoek Valley in an exciting and family-friendly way. During the tour, you will freewheel down the gentle slopes of wine farms and also through the Mt Rochelle Nature Reserve with breathtaking views over the Franschhoek Valley. The route is easy to navigate and the only requirement is that you are able to ride a bicycle. All tours are guided by professional qualified guides and also accompanied by a photographer who will take action photos of the tour. The pictures are for sale after the tour giving you time to enjoy the action while you have the option to buy photos and make the memories last after the tour. Scooters are non-motorized and propelled by gravity. You don't need to be fit to enjoy this activity, but you must be able to balance a bicycle.