Ultimate Outeniqua

4 Day/5 Night Luxury MTB experience in the heart of the Garden Route

A 5 Night all-inclusive experience, starting in the village of Uniondale, and taking you along beautiful country roads, jeep tracks and single track, as you make your way through four days of cycling to Knysna, Wilderness, George, Oudtshoorn and finally finishing off in Prince Albert. This journey will have you cycling iconic routes as you crisscross the Outeniqua mountain range, including the seven passes between Knysna and George, the challenging yet rewarding Montagu Pass, and then finish with the infamous, yet stunningly beautiful Swartberg Pass.

Price: R13 850.00 Per Person/Sharing (double or twin rooms) OR R15 650.00 Single – Strictly Limited to 8 Riders, 50% Deposit secures your booking, balance due on arrival.

What’s Included: 5 Nights of luxury accommodation, all meals (excluding drinks), 4 fully supported MTB stages, guide fees, park entries where applicable, Big-5 Game Drive, 30-minute massage per day, a sunset cruise through the Knysna Heads, and return transfer from Prince Albert to Uniondale on the final day.

Route Overview:  Day one seas you depart from Uniondale and head mostly downhill towards the coast, starting along some single track and jeep tracks for the first few kilometres, before joining the district road and descending into Knysna through the forests. Day two you ride out from Thesen Island, along the lagoon, before starting your climb up Phantom Pass, the first of the famous 7 passes route, and will have you stop for brunch at the Garden Route Bike park, before finishing your ride with an incredible descent into Wilderness, where you will spend the night at the Wilderness Hotel. Day three starts with a big climb out of wilderness, before completing the last of the seven passes as you make your way through Saasveld and along the shores of the Garden Route dam, into George, before taking on the iconic Montagu Pass, a tough but rewarding climb into the langkloof, and finally ending off for a well-deserved safari experience and overnight treat at Buffelsdrif Game Lodge. The fourth and final day of riding has you heading out from Oudsthoorn over the iconic and stunning Swartberg Pass, and dropping down the valley to the final overnight stay at the timeless Swartberg Hotel in Prince Albert. 

Itinerary:

• Day 0: Arrive at leisure throughout the afternoon, and check in to the hotel. arrangments have been made for vehicles to be safely left at the hotel for the duration of the trip. Alternatively, a shuttle can be arranged from George Airport. Once everyone has checked in, there will be welcome drinks and a ride briefing at the bar, followed by dinner at the Hotel. Overnight – Schulthiem Hotel – Uniondale

• Day 1: Early breakfast buffet served on the verandah of the hotel, before departing at 07:00 for Knysna, following a short section of singletrack out of town, before joining the district road through the poort, and then dropping down through the forest into Knysna via Simola hill, then ride along the lagoon onto Thesen Island. After settling in and freshening up, you will be taking on a sailboat cruise through the Knysna Heads, with champagne and Oysters, followed by a seafood dinner in the waterfront. – Overnight – Thesen Island Lodge Apartments – Knysna (86km, 1410m elevation, 4km Single Track, 77 Gravel)

• Day 2: A big day of riding ahead, so we get an early start, with breakfast served on the verandah from 6:00, and you start riding at 06:45. You will head out along the lagoon, following the bike track to the red bridge, before starting your climb up Phantom pass, and then continue on the 7 Passes route towards Wilderness. Stopping for coffee and snacks at the Garden Route Bike Park, and finishing off with an exhilarating drop back to sea level along the wilderness heights road. – Overnight – Wilderness Hotel ( 72km, 1870m Elevation, 7km single track, 44km gravel)

• Day 3: After an early breakfast at the hotel, we start riding again at 07:00, and have a steep climb out of Wilderness, rejoining the 7 passes route and completing the final stretch into George, via the Saasveld campus and the Garden Route dam on single track, before taking on the iconic climb up the Montagu Pass, stopping at the old toll house for coffee and pancakes before finishing the climb in the village of Herold, where freshly bake roosterkoek awaits, followed by an easy ride along jeep tracks to Upington, before finishing the ride at the entrance to Buffelsdrif Game Reserve, where game drive vehicles will pick you up and drive you to the lodge. After freshening up, an late afternoon game drive will be followed by dinner around the campfire. – Overnight – Buffelsdrif Game Reserve – Oudtshoorn. (101Km, 1550m Elevation, 25km single/Jeep Track, 60km Gravel) 

• Day 4: Last day of riding, today is a relatively short day, but don’t underestimate the Swartberg Pass. After an early breakfast overlooking the Waterhole at the lodge, you will start riding around 08:00 this morning. heading from the lodge over the (in)famous Swartberg, and then dropping down the steep descent into Prince Albert, where a well-deserved celebratory drink awaits on the front porch of the Swartberg Hotel, followed by afternoon tea once everyone has freshened up. Don’t eat too much though, as a traditional karoo lamb will be on the spit for dinner tonight. – Overnight – Swartberg Hotel – Prince Albert (62Km, 1390m Elevation, 35km Gravel)

• Day 5: After a few days of solid riding, this morning you can enjoy a bit of a lie-in, followed by a scrumptious breakfast spread. There will be a shuttle back to Uniondale for those who left vehicles there. Alternatively, a shuttle to George Airport can also be arranged.

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