Laid-Back Luxury in South Africa: Cape Town & Winelands - 7 Days

Highlights

• Take a private helicopter ride over the dazzling scenery of Cape Town
• Taste fine reds, like pinotage, on private tastings in the Cape Winelands region
• Play a few rounds at a signature golf course in the heart of wine country

Brief Itinerary

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive in Cape Town, Dinner at GOLD

Welcome to South Africa! With only a week to spare, it's best to focus on one region—and you can't do better than the Western Cape. This coastal area is home to both the regional capital of Cape Town and the famed Cape Winelands vineyard region. You'll spend your time in these two stars of South Africa, enjoying the best food, wine, and cultural experiences on a luxury vacation for the books. 

At the airport, a driver will be waiting to take you to your hotel. Nestled in the hills of central Cape Town, the 4-star Camissa House offers both proximity to city fun and the tranquility of a mountain hideaway. It's the very definition of a "boutique" hotel, as it features a mere eight luxury guest suites with private terraces offering panoramic city views. If you like, take afternoon high tea down by the infinity pool, which also overlooks Cape Town's most iconic landmarks, like the massive Table Mountain.

Dinner tonight is an exclusive experience at one of the city's best restaurants. Located in the scenic (and trendy) V&A Waterfront district, GOLD features a 14-course tasting safari that spans the continent. But the food is only part of the experience—each night on stage, African musicians and dancers perform for the guests. The night begins with Champagne flecked with 24-carat gold leaf flakes, followed by the meal and a curated "spice experience." This gastronomic storytelling adventure will take you down the continent's ancient spice routes, from Uganda to Burundi, one bite at a time. 

Day 2: City Tour, Table Mountain & Helicopter Ride

See more of the "Mother City" this morning on a private guided city tour. Explore its historic landmarks as you learn about South Africa's history and the people who shaped it. Stops along the way include the Company's Garden heritage site, the Houses of Parliament, the 17th-century Castle of Good Hope, and the Iziko Slave Lodge. You'll also visit Green Market Square, which once served as a slave market but nowadays hosts a popular flea market.

Experience more culture and history with a visit to the colorful Bo-Kaap. This neighborhood's brightly painted houses belies a painful history. This was the arrival point for enslaved Malaysians and Indonesians in the 18th century. When they were finally granted the right to own property, they painted their all-white houses bright colors as a symbolic expression of freedom. Their culture and delicious cuisine endured over the ages and remain a vital part of the city's fabric.

Afterward, head over to the base of Table Mountain. This sandstone monolith and UNESCO World Heritage Site stands 3,562 feet (1,086 m) over the city, and you'll ascend it via a dramatic five-minute cable car ride. From the summit, enjoy panoramic views of Cape Town, the Atlantic Seaboard, Robben Island (where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned), and the mountains of the Cape Peninsula. Cap the day with a private scenic helicopter flight over the area to enjoy more incredible bird's-eye views.

Day 3: Marine Biologist for a Day, Dinner at Fyn

The Western Cape region supports diverse marine life thanks to its extensive coastline along the Atlantic and Indian oceans. Get in touch with your inner marine biologist this morning as you return to the Cape Peninsula to spend time with some of the region's most famous aquatic animals. This private tour includes hikes through coastal fynbos shrubland as you spot animals like African penguins, dolphins, and (from Jun-Nov) humpbacks and southern right whales. Along with an expert guide, you'll explore this coastal wilderness and its deserted beaches, and even swim in a kelp forest.

Return to Cape Town in time to enjoy dinner at Fyn. One of the city's most popular fine-dining restaurants, it features a mouthwatering Japanese-inspired African menu, with highlights including nylon shrimp sashimi and Atlantic Ridge kinglip baked in kelp. The dining room is centered around an open kitchen, which puts guests in the center of the action. Expect first-class table service and artistic dishes enhanced by intricate Japanese-style plating techniques. 

Day 4: Cape Town Community Project, Sunset Champagne Cruise

Even during a luxury vacation, there are opportunities to give back. Experience an authentic slice of South Africa as you head to Cape Town's eastern townships (districts) with Uthando (Love). The goal of this responsible tourism nonprofit is to raise awareness of the millions of South Africans living in extreme poverty who struggle to survive on a daily basis. Uthando does this by creating links between travelers and local community development projects.

During this half-day experience, you'll meet some unsung heroes doing great work in these communities while learning about the country's turbulent history and unique challenges. It's all about the people, as you'll visit several inspiring public works projects, which might include urban agriculture collectives, youth-led dance or music programs, special education, or refugee support.

After this heady and rewarding experience, you'll have some time on your own until the end of the afternoon. Then, transfer to the waterfront and board a luxury catamaran for a sunset cruise. As the sun bathes the Atlantic Ocean in a golden glow, you'll relax on deck and toast the experience with a glass of bubbly. It's the perfect end to a memorable day—or the perfect start to an evening of revelry in the city.

Day 5: Transfer to Franschhoek, Cape Winelands Tour & Tasting

Wine lovers rejoice! The day has arrived when you get to make the one-hour journey west to Cape Winelands, the premier wine region in the country. This scenic area is home to more than 500 wineries, and you'll visit a few of the best for a tasting on this private, full-day adventure.

Throughout the day, you'll travel between colorful Winelands valleys like Stellenbosch, Paarl, and the traditionally French town of Franschhoek (where you'll overnight). As you go, you'll visit estates producing top wines and enjoy tasting tours. At each one, you'll taste incredible cabernets, syrahs, and other varietals and pair them with delicious tidbits like homemade goat cheese and artisanal chocolates.

At the end of the afternoon, you'll return to Franschhoek and your luxury accommodation, La Cotte. This redesigned farm was built by French immigrants in the late 17th century and enjoys a privileged location beneath the soaring Cape mountains and surrounded by well-manicured gardens. The elegant guest rooms and cottages at this manor homestead feature high ceilings, French doors, and private terraces. An on-site gourmet restaurant serves everything from farm-fresh breakfasts to garden salads with locally harvested greens and line-caught Franschhoek river trout.

Day 6: Golf at Pearl Valley, Wine Blending Workshop

You don't have to travel far to enjoy one of the premier golf experiences in the country. Your private driver will take you just north of your hotel in Franschhoek this morning to play a few rounds of golf at Pearl Valley. Nestled amid Cape Winelands' rolling hills and vineyards, this championship course features impeccably maintained holes designed by the legendary golfer Jack Nicklaus. It's a challenging day on the links, to be sure, but you'll be rewarded at each hole with panoramic views of the surrounding mountains, vineyards, and lush countryside. 

After gathering your things back at the clubhouse, you'll leave the course and head to a café in Franschhoek for a private "winemaker for a day" workshop. Over two hours, under the guidance of an expert winemaker, learn about different grape varieties and how they're blended to create wines that become more than the sum of their parts. It's not just theory, either. You'll create your own blend, complete with custom cork and label. Take the bottle home as a souvenir—or enjoy it with dinner tonight at the chic bistro in town.

Day 7: Winelands Horseback Ride, Transfer to Cape Town, Depart

Put an exclamation mark on this weeklong adventure with a memorable horseback ride around the gorgeous Winelands. Meet your guide in the morning at a local stable, then hop in the saddle for a ride around some of Franschhoek's top vineyards. At each estate, you'll sample top wines paired with locally grown treats and produce. Afterward, your driver will transfer you back to Cape Town and the airport, where you'll catch your flight home. Safe travels!

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