DAY 1
Scheduled arrival at Cape Town International Airport. Upon arrival, a Wilderness Safaris representative will meet and transfer you by road to The Auberge Le Quartier Francais Hotel for three nights.
AUBERGE LE QUARTIER FRANCAIS
Basis: Inclusive of breakfast daily
A country inn of captivating charm, The Auberge le Quartier FranVais is situated in the heart of the Cape Winelands is the French Huguenot Village of Franshoek. The Auberge le Quartier FranVais combine the atmosphere of a European retreat with the warmth of a family home.
There are 15 individual deluxe rooms and 2 luxurious suites. The rooms are cooled by ceiling fans in summer and warmed by wood-burning fires in winter. The spacious bedrooms feature Egyptian cotton linen, deep down duvets and a comfortable sitting area. The rooms and the private library look onto the central garden courtyard and the swimming pool. Le Quartier FranVais is renowned for its innovative cuisine: an eclectic blend of Cape flavours with a provenVale influence.
DAY 2
After breakfast you are collected from the Auberge Le Quartier Francais Hotel to begin your cycling and walking adventure. From the hotel we travel along the N1 to the historic town of Paarl and onto the Paarl Mountain Reserve where we will meet up with the Biking Guide. We first ascend Gordons Rock, one of the enormous 500 million year old granite rock triplets.
From here there are great views of the striking landscape surrounding the Paarl Mountain Reserve and if the weather is clear you can see all the way back to Table Mountain. We then cycle on a variety of trails and terrains over a 14-kilometre loop ride in the reserve and end with a healthy picnic lunch. After lunch we leave the bikes and drive towards Franschoek and onto our luxury accommodation at the Auberge Le Quartier Francais. Spend the rest of the afternoon relaxing and later on enjoy a wine tasting before dinner in the hotels award winning restaurant.
DAY 3
After breakfast you will be collected from the Auberge Le Quartier Francais Hotel and transferred by road to the top of Franschoek Pass for wonderful views over the "Valley of the Huguenots". You will then begin a demanding hike to the top of Du Toits Kop Peak to enjoy spectacular views of the valley, the town of Franschoek, the Wemmershoek mountains and southwards to the Theewaterskloof Dam and the distant Overberg.
We then descend to the Kat Se Pad at the start of our trail, returning to the village afterwards. We then return to the hotel to freshen up before enjoying lunch at one of the fine restaurants in town. The remainder of the day is at leisure to explore this charming town with its many galleries and shops or partake in a cheese tasting at the La Grange gallery, horse riding or the fine wines at the Mont Rochelle Wine Estate. Dinner this evening will be at one of the fine restaurants in the village (for the guests own account). Return to the Auberge Le Quartier Francais for overnight.
DAY 4
Depending on your schedule we can travel to Hermanus and the Hemel en Aarde Valley for further wine tastings and perhaps some walking in the Fernkloof Reserve behind the town with the chance to see the Southern Right Whales which migrate from the Antarctic convergence to the waters of Walker Bay to mate and breed during the winter and spring (June to November). We return to Cape Town where you can be transferred to Cape Town International Airport or back to your hotel where the tour will end and you continue with your own arrangements.
