Based in Cape Town, Quality Touring Services have been in operation since 1997.

Garden Route Classic Tour

4 Days ; 3 Nights

Our Garden Route Classic Tour covers all the highlights, natural beauty and diverse wonders of the Garden Route in South Africa.

It is located on a narrow belt between the Outeniqua and Tsitsikamma Mountains on the one side, and the Southern Coast of Africa on the other. The Garden Route is loved for its unique diversity and includes a blend of charming towns, dramatic & scenic landscapes, tall trees, deep gorges, shimmering lakes, majestic mountain ranges, golden beaches and lush indigenous forests.

The Classic Garden route Tour starts from Cape Town, enabling you to experience the longest wine route in the world and fabulous rugged mountain scenery on Day 1 while traveling to Oudtshoorn. Day 2 & Day 3 explores the scenic splendour of the Garden route, especially the areas of Knysna, Plettenberg Bay and Tsitiskamma and provides many wonderful photographic opportunities.

The variety of activities along the Garden Route is so diverse and so many, you will have the opportunity to select those that fits your unique interests. Examples are leisurely activities to experience the scenic wonder, or leisurely boat cruises, water-based activities, adventure activities, wildlife experiences and hiking activities. We return to Cape Town on Day 4 with a leisurely exploration via Mossel Bay and Swellendam.

The Garden Route, perennially green, has a mild Mediterranean Maritime climate. It is one of the top highlights in South Africa and should be added to your travel bucket list of must-do experiences. To ensure you experience the very best of the Garden Route, join one of our fabulous Garden Route Tours, conducted by our friendly and knowledgeable Tour Guide professionals, who will ensure you leave with wonderful holiday stories and travel experiences.

All aspects of our private tours can be customised : start and end destinations (e.g. Cape Town / George / Port Elizabeth), the routes, itineraries, duration, highlights and accommodation venues. Our small-group Garden Route Tours allow lots of flexibility and choices within the tour itinerary.

Garden Route Classic Tour Itinerary

Our fabulous itinerary is the following. Then we customise around your requirements. on our private tours. And provide you with flexible options within the itinerary on our small-group tours.

Day 1 : CAPE TOWN TO OUDTSHOORN (meandering along the R62, longest wine route in the World)

Dramatic du Toit’s Kloof Pass – mountain views, steep cliffs, gorges, waterfalls (in rainy season)

Ever-changing colours of majestic Mountain ranges, fruit orchards and Vineyards

Kogman’s Kloof Pass with its rugged sandstone formations

Through the fertile Tradouw Valley with its tapestry of fruit orchards and vinyards

Over the Huisriver Pass with its sandstone formations

Charming Oudtshoorn, Ostrich Capital of the World

Cango Caves with its chambers with magnificent limestone formations

Overnight Venue : Guest House / Hotel in Oudtshoorn

(Classic Modest or Elegant Luxury 3 and 4-star Value for Money Options or

Exquisite Premium 4 and 5-star Ultimate-in-Luxury Options)

Day 2 : OUDTSHOORN & KNYSNA

Optional: Guided tour on a Ostrich Ranch with the opportunity for close interaction with the ostriches

Breathtaking Outeniqua Mountains – lush green carpet of indigenous Fynbos (Fine Leaf Bush), the smallest of the six plant kingdoms in the world

Arrive in beautiful Knysna, Jewel of the Garden Route, situated on the Knysna estuary, surrounded by lush ever-green forests.

The Knysna Heads is one of the most striking geological features along the entire southern African coastline.

Featherbed Eco-excursion in Knysna : A boat trip on the Knysna Lagoon to the Featherbed Nature Reserve followed by a buffet lunch ; then a drive in a Unimog up to the top of the Western Head and an easy hike down the head with spectacular views over the Knysna Lagoon and the Indian Ocean

Overnight Venue : Guest House / Hotel in Knysna

(Classic Modest or Elegant Luxury 3 and 4-star Value for Money Options or

Exquisite Premium 4 and 5-star Ultimate-in-Luxury Options)

Day 3 : KNYSNA, PLETTENBERG BAY AND TSITSIKAMMA

Plettenberg Bay with its wonderful ambience and weather and its beautiful golden beaches

When open again : Groot River and Bloukrans Passes through the indigenous forests descending deep into the gorges following the old wagon trails

Tsitsikamma Coastal Park with its startling beauty is located at the foot of the Tsitsikamma Range and is cut by rivers that have carved deep ravines into the ancient forests with its centuries-old trees such as Yellowwood, Stinkwood, Hard Pear, Ironwood and Kamassi.

Optional excursions for the day include:

Leisurely stroll in the Tsitsikamma Coastal Park to the Suspension Bridge at the mouth of the Storms River

Tree-top Canopy Tours in the Tsitsikamma Forest

Boat-based Whale Watching (mostly seasonal July to November) and Dolphin Watching in Plettenberg Bay

Tsitsikamma Coastal Park: Boat trip to view the otherwise inaccessible Storms River Gorge.

Woodcutters Trail at Storms River in the Tsitsikamma Forest: Journey down the old Storms River Pass, and experience the indigenous forest from the comfort of a specially-designed vehicle.

Guided River Ferries and Boat cruises

Forest and Beach hikes in the Tsitsikamma Forest

Enjoy the Golden beaches

Bungi Jumping at Bloukrans Bridge

Oyster Tasting at Knysna, oyster Capital of South Africa.

Snorkelling and Scuba diving at Storms River in Tsitsikamma Coastal Park

Knysna Elephant Sanctuary – opportunity to interact with the six tame African Elephants : touch and feed ; elephant-back riding and “walking with Elephants”

Monkeyland, the world’s first free roaming multi-specie primate sanctuary

Birds of Eden, the Garden Route’s very own world class free flight bird sanctuary

Overnight Venue: Guest House / Hotel in Knysna

(Classic Modest or Elegant Luxury 3 and 4-star Value for Money Options or

Exquisite Premium 4 and 5-star Ultimate-in-Luxury Options)

Day 4 : KNYSNA TO CAPE TOWN

Through Lake District with its six lakes

Through Wilderness with its beautiful sandy beaches and rivers

Kaaiman’s Pass

Mossel Bay, stopping at Dias Museum and the old Post Office Tree

Through Swellendam, an 18th century frontier town

Through Houhoek Pass

Via Apple Country

Sir Lowry’s Pass provides beautiful views of the Hottentots Holland Mountains, Somerset West, False Bay, Strand and the Cape flats and Table Mountain in the far distance.

Arrive in the “Mother City” ( Cape Town)