Cape Town & the Garden Route

Cape Town · Hermanus · Knysna · 9 nights

Nine nights from Cape Town to Knysna, paced around the days that matter.

The Journey

Nine nights across three stops: Cape Town for three nights, Hermanus for three and Knysna for three. Every transfer between them is private and timed around the day's plan.

The days are built around Table Mountain and the City Bowl; Whale Watching from the Cliffs; Lagoon, Heads and Oysters; and Cape Peninsula. Each one is set out below with what you will see, how you get there and which meals are included.

The defining moment of this route: whale-watching season charter out of Hermanus. Your travel specialist can add a night, swap a day or change the order before you book.

Signature Highlights

Whale-watching season charter out of Hermanus
Table Mountain and the City Bowl, Cape Town
Cape Peninsula, Cape Town
Whale Watching from the Cliffs, Hermanus
Hemel-en-Aarde Wine and the Coast, Hermanus
Lagoon, Heads and Oysters, Knysna

Day by day

Your Itinerary

10 days

01
Day 1 · Cape Town
Arrival in Cape Town
Arrive at Cape Town International, about 25 minutes by road to the city and transfer privately to your base. Time today to walk the V&A waterfront with Table Mountain behind you.
- Private transfer via Cape Town International
- Walk the V&A waterfront with Table Mountain behind you
- Time to settle in before dinner
Meals:
D
02
Day 2 · Cape Town
Table Mountain and the City Bowl
The cable car up Table Mountain, which closes in high wind, then Bo-Kaap, the Company's Garden and the District Six Museum for the city's harder history.
- Table Mountain cableway (wind dependent)
- Bo-Kaap walk and Cape Malay lunch
- District Six Museum
Meals:
BL
03
Day 3 · Cape Town
Cape Peninsula
Chapman's Peak Drive, the Cape of Good Hope and Cape Point, the Boulders Beach penguin colony at Simon's Town, and Kirstenbosch on the return.
- Cape Point and Cape of Good Hope
- Boulders Beach African penguins
- Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden
Meals:
BL
04
Day 4 · Hermanus
Cape Town to Hermanus
Drive the coast road from Cape Town around False Bay. On arrival, walk the cliff path above the bay and scan for blows offshore.
- Drive the coast road from Cape Town around False Bay
- Walk the cliff path above the bay and scan for blows offshore
- Timings reconfirmed locally the day before
Meals:
B
05
Day 5 · Hermanus
Whale Watching from the Cliffs
Southern right whales calve in Walker Bay roughly June to November and are often visible from the twelve-kilometre cliff path, with permitted boat approaches too.
- Cliff path whale watching (June-November)
- Permitted boat-based whale trip
- Old Harbour museum
Meals:
BL
06
Day 6 · Hermanus
Hemel-en-Aarde Wine and the Coast
The Hemel-en-Aarde valley's Pinot Noir and Chardonnay estates, and the fynbos coastline out towards Gansbaai and De Kelders.
- Hemel-en-Aarde wine tasting
- Fynbos coastal drive
- Grotto Beach
Meals:
B
07
Day 7 · Knysna
Hermanus to Knysna
Drive the Garden Route east from Hermanus or Mossel Bay. On arrival, walk the waterfront and look out through the Knysna Heads.
- Drive the Garden Route east from Hermanus or Mossel Bay
- Walk the waterfront and look out through the Knysna Heads
- Timings reconfirmed locally the day before
Meals:
B
08
Day 8 · Knysna
Lagoon, Heads and Oysters
A boat across the lagoon to the Featherbed private reserve beneath the Heads, with a guided walk and an oyster tasting on the waterfront.
- Featherbed Nature Reserve
- Knysna Heads viewpoint
- Lagoon oyster tasting
Meals:
BL
09
Day 9 · Knysna
Tsitsikamma and the Forests
The Tsitsikamma section of the Garden Route National Park, the Storms River suspension bridges, and the indigenous forest at Diepwalle.
- Storms River Mouth suspension bridge
- Tsitsikamma coastal walk
- Knysna forest drive
Meals:
BL
10
Day 10 · Knysna
Departure from Knysna
A lagoon morning before continuing along the coast. Private transfer to George airport in good time for your onward flight.
- A lagoon morning before continuing along the coast
- Late check-out arranged where the hotel allows it
- Private departure transfer
Meals:
B

Inclusions

Handpicked luxury accommodations across the journey
Daily breakfast; select lunches and dinners as noted
Private airport transfers and inter-city ground movement
Curated experiences and reserved access as listed
24×7 on-trip concierge from our India desk

Not included

International airfare unless explicitly mentioned
Visa fees, travel insurance and personal expenses
Meals and experiences not listed in the itinerary
Gratuities for guides, drivers and hotel staff
Anything of a personal nature (spa, minibar, laundry)

Transfers

Private arrival and departure transfers with a named driver
Moves between stops by private car, rail, ferry or domestic flight, as shown day by day
Timings reconfirmed with you the evening before each transfer

Visa & Documentation

Visa guidance provided by our documentation desk
Recommended to hold passport valid for 6+ months
Digital pre-arrival forms handled on your behalf where possible

Common Questions

When can we see whales at Hermanus?+

Southern right whales are usually seen from June to November, most reliably in September and October, often from the cliff path in town.

How long is the drive along the Garden Route?+

Cape Town to Hermanus is about one and a half hours, and Hermanus to Knysna about five hours along the coast. The plan breaks the drive with stops.

Is the Garden Route safe to self-drive?+

Many people do, but this journey uses a private driver-guide, so you can enjoy the coast and the wine stops.

How far in advance should we book?+

Three to four months ahead gives the widest choice of rooms and guided days, and more for school holidays, festivals and peak season. Shorter notice is often possible; ask and we will check live availability.

Can the itinerary be customised?+

Yes. Every journey is a starting point: add or remove nights, swap a day's plan, change hotels or reorder the route, and your travel specialist re-plans the whole trip around it.

What is the payment schedule?+

Your quote sets out the deposit that confirms the booking and the date the balance is due. Both depend on the hotels, airlines and guides involved, so they are agreed with you before you pay anything.