Discover the beautiful Atlantic coastline with long stretches of unspoilt white sand and little coves of alternating rock and sand. Experience Yzerfontein, Langebaan and life in the fishing villages St Helena Bay (Shelley Point) and Paternoster.
Overview
The cycling tour includes two nights’ accommodation in Langebaan and two nights in the quaint village of Paternoster, situated in a beautiful Klein Paternoster Bay, as well as two nights at the unique !Khwa ttu San (Bushman) cultural center. You will also experience the West Coast National Park and and the West Coast Fossil Park and can enjoy local cuisine and hospitality. Up to about 200 km cycling trails in safe environment.
Highlights
- Unique coast & fishing villages
- Whales are regular visitors to the West Coast from middle winter onwards
- Glorious display of Wildflowers every spring, from August to September/October
- West Coast National Park and Cape Columbine reserve
- Bushman culture- !Khwa ttu San Heritage Centre
- West Coast Fossil Park- well-preserved fossil faunal remains- 5 million years ago
Itinerary
Pricing approach
Pricing factors and what is included
- The published rate is an indicative price. It will be confirmed on request. The following pricing factors will be considered: standard or superior accommodation, room sharing or single, group size, extra nights, transfers, bicycle rent, guiding and other services.. A minimum of 2 people per group. Twenty percent deposit and the balance 6 weeks before trip.
- The following items are included:
- Excellent and varied 4 star accommodation, including breakfast. Choice of standard or superior rooms.
- All transfers from !Khwa ttu and back to this point after completion of the tour.
- Luggage transfer
- Route directions, area information and electronic maps to allow self-guided cycling
- Support by Route Manager
Not included
- Items not mentioned above, eg.
- Flights
- Bicycle rent
- Transport to the start of the tour and from end of route, back to the start. Transfers from Cape Town and back can be arranged, on request.
- Lunches, dinners, drinks with meals, wine tastings
- All admission fees to reserves, parks and attractions
FAQ's
The West Coast is a semi arid region. The climate is influenced by the Atlantic (cold water) ocean. In summer the West Coast is hotter, drier and more windswept than Cape Town. It is consistently windy, especially during the blustery summer months. It becomes increasingly drier further north and fog banks hug the coastline in winter. Spring is a great time to visit when spectacular wildflowers appear in the fields . Peak flower season is July to September after the winter rains.
For international visitors: Fly to Cape Town International airport and from Cape Town to !Khwa ttu San Heritage Centre by car or transfer.
From Cape Town. The route to !Khwa ttu San Heritage Centre is as follows:
Follow R27/West Coast Road. Total distance 95 km from Cape Town International airport- Driving time: 1 Hour 33 Mins
Wearing a helmet while cycling is mandatory and bicycles need to be equipped with basic repair kit. These items can be provided with bicycles rented via us. Bring your own if you prefer so. If you decide to bring your own, a MTB is the best choice (not a road bike or hybrid).
It is important to be comfortable when cycling. The best is to wear thin layers of clothing. Fast drying and hard-wearing synthetic fabrics are ideal as a base layer. These allow your skin to breathe and wick the moisture away from your skin to the next layer, avoiding the chill which cotton T-shirts can cause. A thin fleece or sweatshirt is ideal as the next layer. Also take a lightweight waterproof jacket (breathable and windproof material is best). Sport shoes are fine for cycling and for when you stop off to visit places on foot. For your daily needs, you are advised to have a day-bag, a plastic bag to line your day-pack (to protect the contents from rain), sunglasses, sun block, a water bottle, plastic picnic box (for transporting lunches), first-aid kit, camera and an extra plastic bag for litter.
Stay at some of West Coast’s finest hotels and guesthouses and visit restaurants serving mouth watering international cuisine. A variety of establishments has been selected, offering differences in character. All bookings are subject to availability.
Overall rating of West Coast Cycling is Easy/Moderate. You do not need to be ultra-fit but certainly able to cycle about 50 km per day and be able to cope with undulating countryside and some hills. See Cycling grades Day 1 – Arrival : Day 2 -Moderate : Day 3 – Easy : Day 4 – Moderate: Day 5 – Easy : Day 6 – Moderate
Your holiday can be extended or amended to include additional activities, for instance a game drive in a private nature reserve. The costs of additional options will be quoted on request.
Any time of the year, but we recommend spring or autumn. During spring, late July to beginning October, the normally dry coastline becomes a wildflower tapestry. This is normally the highlight of the year. A beautiful autumn day or windless winter’s day on this coastline is a gem and something to experience. The winter temperature is mild and the West Coast is a low rainfall area During the winter (low season) accommodation is normally more freely available. It is a good option for local guests who are either prepared to accept weather risks or can change their plans based on 7 day weather predictions. During December and January (high season) strong south easterly winds can be unpleasant.
It is recommended that appropriate holiday insurance is arranged with cover for illness, injury, and loss or damage to luggage. This insurance should also cover the possibility of any cancellations.
Our detailed route notes and -description allow you to ride self-guided and at your own pace amid splendid scenery while we transport your luggage. As soon as we have finalised your booking we will specify your hotel schedule. (We are using different hotels/guest houses from time to time). The tailor-made Route guide include hotel details, route notes, maps and GPS references. Going self-guided is simple and convenient with our Route guide. It allows you to set out when you like, stop where you want and visit sites en route that are of interest to you. Our notes include information on monuments, places of interest along the way and suggested stops for lunch, wine tasting etc. The Route guide will be given to you on the date of your arrival. We can provide a file which can be imported to a gps or computer for navigation on a cellphone or gps device.
Comments by guests who have experienced a self-guided cycling/hiking holiday offered by Trails and Travel in South Africa- “Overall, the holiday was invigorating- You certainly went out of your way to make the whole time memorable- We are recommending it to our cycling community in the States- Fantastic cyclings, wines and accommodation” For details go to Reviews
You can enjoy Paternoster, Jacobsbaai, gorgeous beaches and view whales and wildflowers (in season) on the West Coast Cycling- a self-guided cycling holiday. To find out more about the area, go to Read more. West Coast Cycling is a convenient way to see and experience the atmosphere of this unique part of South Africa.
