18 Days - November 4 to 21, 2011 SOLD OUT

18 Days - November 2 to 19, 2012 IN PLANNING

All-Inclusive accompanied tour to Cape Town, Stellenbosch, Paarl, Hermanus, Robertson,
and Garden Route with 2 nights in Dubai

FAQ | Register | Price | Itinerary | 2010 Tour Photos | Trip Extension

Join wine personality Steve Thurlow, Wine Access Senior Editor, as he leads this 18 day excursion of discovery and enjoyment. Visit wineries and vineyards set in an awesome natural beauty, tasting and dining in 17th century Cape Dutch architecture with winemakers and winery owners. Bathe in the warm ocean, experience the joy of life exhibited by South Africans who have such optimism for the future of their country and marvel at awesome natural beauty carved out of ancient rocks by the forces of nature.

In November each year after fall in Toronto, there is plenty of warm sunshine in the Cape Winelands; daily highs of 26-28°C and lows of 14-16°C should be expected. In Robertson and Calitzdorf it was 37-39°C in November 2010.

As well as tasting and dining at many of the major wineries we will find time to visit Cape Town and Franschhoek South Africa's "culinary capital" and to see the penguins at Betty's Bay and if lucky whales basking close to the shore near Hermanus. We will feed elephants near Knysna and see ostriches up close. Staying in five luxury hotels near Cape Town, Stellenbosch, Hermanus, Montagu and Knysna with 2 nights in Dubai en route and an unforgettable night at a luxury tented game park with 2 bush safari excursions.

All inclusive economy class air travel is booked with Emirates, one of the world's top airlines. We fly via Dubai to Cape Town and return from George via Johannesburg and Dubai.

Outbound we stopover in Dubai for 2 nights for a glimpse of this amazing city. Some will choose to be on the golf course, others will visit the extensive shopping and some will choose to take a rest day in the sunshine to ease themselves into a vacation mind set.

One of the thrills of the trip will surely be to fly on the amazing new super jumbo Airbus 380 on the flights between Toronto and Dubai. The First Class private cabins with on board spa are not included in the trip fee, though upgrades to Business and First Class can be arranged at additional cost.

Trip Extension Ideas

Several visits to game reserves on the Garden Route are included in the all-inclusive trip. Some travelers may choose to stay longer in Africa for a more in-depth wildlife experience. We can arrange change flight dates for a small fee.

A trip extension from Johannesburg to South Africa's Kruger Park or to the Okavango Delta in Botswana can be arranged. Typically a visit to the majestic Victoria Falls would form a part of such an extension. If this is of interest we will be pleased to assist with these trip arrangements for an additional fee.

Register for the Tour

Email: Steve Thurlow steve@stevethurlow.com

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Price

The trip price assumes double occupancy in hotels and includes scheduled flights with Emirates from Toronto via Dubai. It also includes all hotels, and luxury coach transportation. Also included are buffet breakfasts every day, winery visits and tastings, and 21 meals with wines, all led by Steve Thurlow. The price for the 18 day trip in 2011 was C$6050 per person assuming double occupancy plus air taxes and fees. The price for 2012 will be similar.

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Itinerary 

(Included meals: B= Breakfast L= Lunch D= Dinner)

Day 1: Friday

Departure from Toronto this evening on Emirates A380 for Dubai.

Day 2: Saturday Dubai

Upon arrival in Dubai late in the evening we will be transferred to the luxury Ramada Dubai hotel for our two night stay.

Day 3: Sunday, Dubai

Sunday can be a day of relaxation. However experience tells us that the golfers will not want to miss this opportunity to play a few holes on one of the courses close to our hotel.

We are within walking distance of some of the world's best shopping, so that will be a destination for others.

However many will take a day off to sit by the pool at the hotel and get themselves into the holiday mood. There are no group activities organized for this day. (B)

Day 4: Monday , Cape Town

After two nights in Dubai it is time to continue the journey with Emirates to Cape Town where we arrive late afternoon for transfer to our hotel on the beach in the northern suburbs of Cape Town.

Leisure Bay Luxury Suites is a 4 star hotel member of the Relais Group of hotels.

You can walk directly onto an endless stretch of white beach from the hotel's terrace. This stylish luxury suite hotel is set right on the dunes with panoramic views of Table Mountain and Robben Island. Each suite faces the sea with spectacular sights of the sun setting over the ocean. Click here for a virtual tour.

After the chance to settle in, there will be a welcome dinner in the hotel with some of our South African winery hosts pouring some of their wines, probably on the terrace with the lights of Cape Town twinkling in the distance. (B,L,D)

Day 5: Tuesday , Cooking School Durbanville

We leave the hotel for the short drive to Meerendal Wine Estate in the Durbanville Hills. Meerendal was founded in 1702 and was one of the first wine farms in the Tygerberg region.

Cape cooking is a delightful mixture of the culinary influence of traditional dishes from the Dutch, English and Huguenot (French) heritage with native African cuisine.

Add in the very evident influence of the many immigrants from the Indian subcontinent and you have a unique cuisine that relies on fresh ingredients and the abundant seafood readily available.

The morning will end with a hands on cooking session for those who wish to help with the preparation of lunch. There will be a general introduction to the wines of South Africa and guidance on how to match them with food. When all is complete lunch will be served with wine.

After lunch we return to the hotel for a few hours of relaxation.

Early evening we depart for the nearby Durbanville Hills Winery for a tasting, tour and winery visit to be followed by a traditional "braii" (South African Barbecue) with Cellar Master Martin Moore as we watch the sunset over the ocean bathing Table Mountain in pink light. (B,L,D)

Day 6: Wednesday , Cape Town

Weather permitting this morning we will take the cable car to the top of Table Mountain.

From here, on a good day, you take in a 360° view of the surrounding area; from Cape Town immediately below, to Durbanville in the north and the Winelands surrounding Simonsberg to the east and Cape Point to the south.

We take the cable car back down and follow the coast south via Camps Bay and Llandudno to Hout Bay.

Hout Bay has a whitesand beach, and is a popular attraction for tourists and locals alike. It has one of the busiest harbours in the Western Cape with an established tuna, snoek and crayfish industry. The harbour is home to several restaurants. We will stop here awhile for a walk on the beach, to wander around the town and harbour and to grab a bite to eat.

We then head back to Constantia for a regional tasting of the wines of the region hosted beside the pool at Constantia Glen.

So be sure to bring swimsuits and towels. The event will close with a braii and an opportunity to meet the winemakers. We return early evening to the hotel. (B,D)

Day 7: Thursday , Cape Town

This morning after breakfast we leave the hotel for the centre of Cape Town.

There will be a guided walking tour of the city visiting Company Gardens and Greenmarket Square and all of the popular sights in the city.

After the tour there will be a couple of hours for wandering the city individually.

Many will gravitate toward the Waterfront for the excellent shopping and to select a spot for lunch.

Early afternoon the bus will pick up the group as we leave for a tasting and early supper at Steenberg winery. (B,D)

Day 8: Friday , Langa and Stellenbosch

We check out of our hotel Leisure Bay for the 45 km drive to Stellenbosch in the heart of the Cape wine region. Soon after leaving the hotel we arrive in Langa.

The restaurant specializes in African traditional food. There will be a cooking demonstration when we will learn about traditional food of the region. There will be an opportunity for dialogue with students and learn about their life in South Africa. After having assisted with the preparation we will sit down and enjoy an African meal.

Langa is a suburb of Cape Town that was established in 1901. It is one of the many areas in South Africa that were designated for Black Africans before the apartheid era. It is the oldest of such suburbs in Cape Town and was the location of much resistance to apartheid.

At the centre of the township is Eziko Cooking and Catering School. It was established in 1996 by a former Langa High School teacher, Victor Mguqulwa. His mission is to address the unemployment that strikes the township communities which is not fully solved by formal education.

Eziko restaurant provides a basis for the training centre. In addition, and very importantly, the profits of the restaurant go to maintain the school as well as to sponsor the students who enroll in the Cooking and Catering Centre.

After lunch there will also be an opportunity to shop at the craft shop.

We leave Langa and drive towards Stellenbosch. Just before we reach the town we will stop at the Spier Wine Estate.

This estate is home to the Cheetah Outreach program. We will first interact with the cheetahs before a tasting of the wines of the estate.

After the tasting we set out for our hotel a few minutes drive away.

The university town of Stellenbosch is surrounded by vineyards and wineries. We will stay for the next three nights in the vineyards just outside Stellenbosch at Devon Valley Hotel

The hotel is enclosed by its own working Sylvan Vale Vineyard.

This 4 star hotel has a colourful history spanning six decades of fine hospitality and offers the comforts of modern living to create a calm haven from which we will explore Stellenbosch and the surrounding area.

We have dinner this evening at the hotel with the wines of Spier led by a Spier winemaker. (B,L,D)

Day 9: Saturday , Stellenbosch

We will visit three wineries in the area during the course of the day. These will include KWV in Paarl and Fairview.

We will have lunch at one and return to the hotel late afternoon for a few hours of relaxation.

Early evening we will depart for the town of Franschhoek the "culinary capital" of South Africa. We will visit the Boekenhoutskloof winery for a tasting and then into the small town with so many restaurants to choose from.

Day 10: Sunday , Stellenbosch

We continue visiting wineries in the area. Today we will include Delheim, Boschedal and Warwick with lunch at one. Simonsberg which dominates the region is always in view.

Cape Dutch architecture has been well preserved both in the interior and exterior of the many wineries that are still in use today.

We return to the hotel late afternoon. The evening dinner will be at the Laborie Estate in the manor House with the wines of Laborie and Cathedral Cellar. (B,L,D)

Day 11: Monday , Hermanus

We check out of our hotel in Stellenbosch and head south until we reach the ocean at Gordons Bay. We follow the seashore eastwards towards Hermanus.

En route we will stop at Betty's Bay to visit the Penguin colony.

We will soon be in the Hemel-en-Aarde valley which has the reputation for fine Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.

We will meet several producers and taste their wines over lunch at the Creation winery.

After lunch we check into our hotel in Hermanus. Our base for the next three nights is the Harbour House hotel perched on the cliff overlooking the sea in the centre of town.

Hermanus is the centre of the whale watching region. In the season the whales come in very close to the shore. Not far from here, the Indian and Atlantic Oceans meet creating a great feeding ground and consequently an area for breeding and birthing. You will often see mothers with young calves close by.

The rest of the day is for settling into the hotel and discovering the town of Hermanus. That evening we return to the Hemel-en-Aarde valley to have a tatsing and dinner at the Bouchard Finlayson winery. (B,L,D)

Day 12: Tuesday , Elim and Cape Agulhas

This morning we head southwest towards Cape Agulhas, the southern most point on the African continent. We will stop briefly in the small town of Gans Baii. Whales often come in close to shore here and we may be lucky to have a sighting before heading inland to Agulhas Wines near Elim.

After tasting their wines we will enjoy an alfresco dining experience with seafood and other local produce.

Early afternoon we return to Hermanus. The balance of the day will be free to explore the town and to find a spot for dinner at ione of the many restaurants in town. (B,L)

Day 13: Wednesday , Robertson

After breakfast we check out of the hotel to drive north to the Robertson wine region. The wine industry in Robertson has grown from less than 25 cellars in 1995 to more than 50 registered wine cellars today.

It is also a very beautiful landscape completely surrounded by mountains with vineyards in every direction.

We check in to the Montagu Country Hotel and spend a while visiting the small picturesque town of Montagu finding a bite to eat.

Late afternoon we leave for a tasting at Springfield followed by tour, tasting and dinner at Graham Beck. (B,D)

Day 14: Thursday , Calitzdorf and Buffelsdrift

We leave our hotel in Montagu continuing our journey westwards along the Garden Route.

We pass between the Swartberg mountains in the north and the ocean to the south.

We soon arrive in Calitzdsorp renowned for its port style wines. We will be at the Calizdorf Wynkeller at lunchtime for a tasting of the wines of three producers in the area including De Krans and Boplaas winery, where they use elephants in the vineyards. After lunch we continue our jouney eastwards.

Our accommodation is in a luxury tented hotel. Soon after arrival we will leave for the first of two safaris to view the abundant wild game in the area. We will have dinner under the stars with the sound of the wildlife in the area very evident. (B,L,D)

Day 15: Friday Knysna

Up early this morning for our second bush safari before breakfast. We leave late morning to continue our journey along towards Knysna.

We head north briefly into the Swartberg mountains to visit Kango Caves.

The principal cave is one of the country's finest, best known and most popular tourist caves and attracts many visitors from overseas. The caves contain spectacular halls and grand limestone formations.

After visiting the caves we head to the Karusa winery for a tasting and lunch and then to the Highgate Ostrich Farm.

Late afternoon we head toward Knysna where we stay for the next two nights at the Knysna Quays hotel in Knysna. Located in the centre of this small town right on the waterfront.

Day 16: Saturday Plettenberg and Knysna

This morning is free for a continuing visit of the town and its many shops. Late morning we will visit the Knysna Elephant reserve where there will be an opportunity to feed the elephants.

Later we will visit the Bramon wine estate for a tasting and lunch.

Our final evening will be spent in the Knysna lagoon on board the John Benn for a sunset cruise with dinner and a reprise of some of the best wines discovered on the trip. (B, L, D)

Day 17: Sunday George

There will be time on our last day for a leisurely start since our flight from the nearby airport at George leaves around noon. Time to savour the sea-breeze, the warm sunshine and a last cappuccino.

We take a short flight to Johannesburg which connects with the Emirates flight to Dubai with onward connection to Toronto.(B,L)

Day 18: Monday, Dubai and Toronto

We arrive in Dubai in time for breakfast at the ultra modern airport as we await the connecting flight on the A380 to Toronto, where we arrive early afternoon.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is the age range of the group?

These tours appeal to a wide range of ages, since we can love wine, food and travel at all stages of life. Typically the range is from 30 to 65 though we have had some older and younger than this join in the past.

Do you need to be a wine connoisseur to participate?

Absolutely not. These are tours of discovery and enjoyment, of the wine, food, culture and history of the region. You will certainly return home with a greater appreciation of wine. I have been told it is impossible to spend days traveling with me without learning more about how wine is made and enjoyed with food.

Is the trip price really all-inclusive?

Almost all costs other than souvenirs, an occasional cup of coffee and maybe a slice or two of pizza are included and a few meals. I frequently hear that there is too much wine and too much food such that, during free periods, people don’t need to eat or drink anything else.

These trips seem to be very reasonably priced, what is the catch?

I only run on average one or two trips per year to places to which I would be going anyway; so why not take a few others along with me? These trips are not a fundamental part of what I do in life and so I price them reasonably so all can afford to join. Additionally I receive sponsorship subsidies from airlines, wine regions and wineries who are keen to show off to my guests their splendid products and services in the hope that they will spread the word.

We have never traveled with a group before; will there be enough free time?

I used to dislike traveling on buses with groups and also found I needed time away from the group. Consequently we have frequent stops to do stuff when we are traveling by bus plus the schedule has lots of free time built in. Moreover nothing is compulsory, people sometimes take a day off to enjoy life away from the group.

We have many frequent flyer points and wish to arrange our own air travel. Is this possible?

It is often difficult to get flights using points at a specific time but if you are able then you can certainly join the trip in Cape Town and leave the group in George and organize your own air travel. We will be able to reduce the cost of the trip by removing the Dubai portion and the airline cost. Send me an email and I will give you a reduced price.

We have heard that it is dangerous to travel in South Africa. Will we be safe on this trip?

It is true that there are significant security issues in many parts of South Africa, however the Western Cape area is generally one of the safest parts. You will be completely safe when traveling with the group, at any of the hotels or on any of the organized visits and you will never be placed into an unsafe area at any time. However you do need to take reasonable precautions, as you would in Canada or the USA, in the tourist areas with your belongings and valuables.

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Conditions

The above itineraries are as planned. However we reserve the right to make adjustments depending upon weather, and other constraints, to substitute visits to alternative wineries and to arrange accommodation at hotels of similar standard in the towns mentioned. Prices are for double occupancy in twin/double rooms (single supplement on request), flights are in economy (business class upgrade available) on scheduled flights to and from Toronto. Air and hotels subject to availability. The price for the tour covers all transportation (flights, hotels, and luxury coach transportation) and entrance fees and guide fees to all attractions described in the itinerary. Also included are breakfasts every day, winery visits and tastings, and 21 meals with wines, but does not include Airport Taxes and Fuel Surcharges which are subject to fluctuation (in February 2011 air taxes and fees totaled C$226.38). This price is correct at present but may change as a result of currency variations, airline surcharges or other circumstances beyond our control.

In accordance with the Ontario Industry Travel Act, below is the registered name, address and registration number of the provider of the travel services:

UNIGLOBE Enterprise Travel
34 Britain Street, Suite 200
Toronto, Ontario
M5A 1R6

Agent: Steve Thurlow

TICO Registration Number: 1810380

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