Garden Route Tours & Trips
South Africa's Garden Route from Cape Town is scenic the whole way, with beaches, forests, mountains all mixed together. Spot elephants at Addo, hike Tsitsikamma's coastal trails, and checking out Knysna Heads. Port Elizabeth's got beaches, Plettenberg Bay's beautiful, and the whole route's full of places worth stopping. The Garden Route's called that for a reason - everything's lush and green.
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Tour was awesome. Zayed was absolutely the best guide, he was very knowledgeable and accommodating.
Garden Route SplendourJust returned after the " the big 5 in South Africa" tour. Well organized and good itinerary. The support was excellent when needed .Thanks to Penny, Rose, Amanda for the excellent arrangements, professional support and daily updates which helped us to enjoy the tour. The guide and driver Abdella was very professional and made the 1000 km drive comfortable and safe.The vehicle provided was comfortable. The hotels were good, clean and comfortable . Suggest the second night stay at Knysna can be changed to Oudtshoorn or George to avoid 2hour drive. Definitely recommand this tour. Antony Thoppil
The Big 5 in South AfricaOur honeymoon vacation through South Africa was amazing! We got to see a little of everything and even with all the traveling around it was stress free. Our guide was terrific and we would 1000% book again!
South Africa : Wildlife, Garden Route & Mother City Cape Town
Traveler Photos & Videos from Garden Route tours
- Garden Route & Addo Group Adventure - 6 Days
- 5-Day Group Garden Route & Addo Adventure Tour (one-way)
- 10 Days Cape Town, Garden Route & Addo Expedition
- The Big 5 in South Africa
- 5 day Best of South Africa Highlights: Garden Route with Addo National Park
- 4 day Garden Route Luxury Selection Small Group Tour from Cape Town
- Super South Africa : Wildlife Safari, Table Mountain, Garden Route
- Addo - Garden Route - Cape Town Chauffeur Drive Tour: 6 Days
- 7 day Garden Route, Cape Point and Winelands Package
- CAPE TOWN & BEYOND Chauffeur Drive Tour: 6 Days
- 4 Day Garden Route Adventure
- South Africa Cape Town 5-Days Attraction Tours: Whale Watching & Cape Peninsula & Wine Tasting & Aquila safari & Paraglading Tour
- Winelands & Garden Route for Wine Lovers - Chauffeur Drive Tour 5 Days
- 3 day Garden Route + Safari Highlights Tour from Cape Town
Table of contents
- The best Garden Route tour packages
- Travel Garden Route your way
- Best tour companies for Garden Route tours
- Best places to start your Garden Route tour
- Discover Garden Route tours for every budget
- Garden Route tours for every type of group
- Top Garden Route travel itineraries to fit your plans
- Demographics
- Best time to visit Garden Route
- Contact our Garden Route travel experts
The best Garden Route tour packages
Compiled by
MelissaGarden Route travel expert at TourRadar
South African wonders include Cango Caves, Monkeyland Sanctuary, and Birds of Eden aviary. Sunset cruises on Knysna Lagoon, wine tastings in Klein Karoo, and Tsitsikamma National Park's coastal forests create unforgettable memories.
Duration 6 days Destinations Cape Town, Grabouw, L'Agulhas, Swellendam, Barrydale, Oudtshoorn, George, Wilderness, Knysna, Brenton-on-SeaSee all destinations Age Range Ages 8+ Operator Cullinan Guided Journeys From
- US$1,468
The Big 5 in South Africa
“Well organized and good itinerary. The support was excellent when needed.”
Antony, traveled in November
An epic route unfolds from Knysna's dramatic lagoon to Oudtshoorn's Cango Caves and wildlife encounters. Ostrich farms, underground cave systems, and wine tasting in Franschhoek Valley pair with upscale accommodations.
Duration 10 days Destinations Johannesburg, Mabula, Knysna, Oudtshoorn, Franschhoek, Cape Town, Table Mountain, Hout Bay, Seal Island, Chapman's PeakSee all destinations Age Range All Ages Welcome Operator Wonderful Holidays UK From $4,769
9% Off- US$4,340
South Africa : Wildlife, Garden Route & Mother City Cape Town
“Our honeymoon vacation through South Africa was amazing! We got to see a little of everything and even with all the traveling around it was stress free.”
Leslie, traveled in December
The route stretches from Knysna's dramatic lagoon to Oudtshoorn's Cango Caves and Wildlife Ranch. Centuries-old vineyards in Franschhoek Valley, Jubilee Creek's historic gold mines, and 4-star hotels create memorable stays.
Duration 10 days Destinations Johannesburg, Mabula, George, Knysna, Oudtshoorn, Franschhoek, Cape Town Age Range All Ages Welcome Operator Wanderful Holidays LLC From $4,199
13% Off- US$3,653
Garden Route Uncovered
“The tour ran very efficiently and smoothly. The hotels were all very comfortable and in excellent locations.”
Catherine, traveled in November
This coastal journey features Tsitsikamma National Park's dramatic coastline, Knysna's famous lagoon cruise, and Oudtshoorn's Cango Caves. Charming Hlangana Lodge and Rex Hotel host visitors exploring this scenic stretch from Port Elizabeth to Cape Town.
Duration 5 days Destinations Port Elizabeth, Tsitsikamma National Park, Knysna, Oudtshoorn, Hermanus, Cape Town Age Range Ages 8+ Operator Cullinan Guided Journeys From
13% Off- US$1,366
South Africa: Cape Town & The Garden Route
“The South African Garden Coast is absolutely stunning. This trip exceeded my expectations.”
Deborah, traveled in June
Your Garden Route adventure spans Addo Elephant Park's wildlife to Tsitsikamma's ancient forests. Highlights include Knysna Heads' dramatic coastline, Robberg Nature Reserve's prehistoric sites, and Mossel Bay's historic lighthouse. Wine tasting in Barrydale and scenic drives through Tradouw Pass complete the experience.
Duration 11 days Destinations Port Elizabeth, Addo Elephant National Park, Tsitsikamma National Park, Knysna, Franschhoek, Cape Town Age Range Ages 12+ Operator G Adventures From $2,499
20% Off- US$1,999
5-Day Group Garden Route & Addo Adventure Tour (one-way)
“The planning, accommodations, travel and dinings were brilliant!”
Muhittin, traveled in August
The scenic Garden Route offers whale watching in Hermanus (July-November), wine tasting along Route 62, paddling through Wilderness National Park, and safari in Addo Elephant Park. Selected accommodations complement traditional South African cuisine.
Duration 5 days Destinations Cape Town, Betty's Bay, Hermanus, L'Agulhas, Oudtshoorn, Wilderness National Park, Sedgefield, Knysna, Tsitsikamma National Park, Addo Elephant National ParkSee all destinations Age Range Ages 18+ Operator Earthstompers Adventures From
20% Off- US$854
CAPE SCENIC SAFARI - Chauffeur Drive Tour: 5 Days
“Our scenic Safari trip was wonderful. He's very knowledgeable about the area and made the trip really memorable.”
Anita, traveled in January
Knysna Heads cruises, Nature's Valley trails, and Plettenberg Bay dolphin watching highlight this adventure. Luxury stays, wildlife encounters at Buffelsdrift Lodge, and coastal drives create lasting memories.
Duration 5 days Destinations Cape Town, Calitzdorp, Buffelsdrif, Oudtshoorn, Wilderness, Knysna, Tsitsikamma National Park, Plettenberg Bay, Mossel Bay, Seal IslandSee all destinations Age Range All Ages Welcome Operator Explore South Africa From
20% Off- US$1,195
Travel Garden Route your way
More travel styles:
Best tour companies for Garden Route tours
Best places to start your Garden Route tour
Discover Garden Route tours for every budget
Garden Route tours for every type of group
Who are you traveling with?
Top Garden Route travel itineraries to fit your plans
Demographics
Solo Travelers103 tours- Couples102 tours
- Young Adults (18 - 39)8 tours
- Seniors (50+)49 tours
Best time to visit Garden Route
- Summer 2026
Summer stretches the daylight hours from December through February, giving you more time to hike Storms River's suspension bridges, swim at Plettenberg's Blue Flag beaches and explore the Knysna Heads by boat. Our early morning game drives catch animals gathering at waterholes, followed by afternoon visits to cultural spots in Oudtshoorn and also Swellendam. Clear skies make sunset drinks at Cape Agulhas special - you can watch the sun sink where two oceans meet.
- popular 102 tours
- Fall / Autumn 2026
Autumn brings smaller crowds and mild temperatures from March to May. The forests show subtle color changes while the wine regions welcome visitors for post-harvest cellar tours and tastings. Our multi-day trips include extra time at Addo, where comfortable temperatures keep elephants active throughout the day. Many tours stop at Oudtshoorn's working ostrich farms during nesting season, where our guests learn about Klein Karoo's rich farming heritage.
- 130 tours
- 131 tours
- popular 133 tours
- Winter 2026 / 2027
Winter along the Garden Route brings prime whale watching from June through August. You can spot southern right whales breaching just 50 meters off the Hermanus coast - our tours time these stops perfectly. The cooler weather makes Addo's elephants more active and social; you'll often see large family groups moving together across the reserve. Many travelers appreciate that Oudtshoorn's caves keep a steady temperature year-round, making them an excellent sheltered activity. The day's explorations end at eco-lodges and treehouses where guests gather around traditional braai fires to warm up and share stories.
- popular 125 tours
- 123 tours
- 113 tours
- Spring 2027
Spring transforms the Garden Route between September and November as fynbos bursts into bloom along Tsitsikamma and Robberg's coastal paths. Our cycling tours through the Winelands are particularly good this time of year - you'll pedal past vineyards waking up with new growth and stop at estates during peak spring production. The warming waters bring pods of dolphins close to Plettenberg Bay's shore, and our kayak trips often catch them playing in the waves.
- popular 110 tours
- 108 tours
- 102 tours
Contact our Garden Route travel experts
Rufus
Expert in Garden Route at TourRadar
Rufus is one of our seasoned Garden Route Travel Experts. Reach out to us to get all your questions about Garden Route tours answered!
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