AWOL Tours
City ToursBike ToursHiking & Camping ToursPrivate ToursNature & Wildlife Tours
7:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Monday
7:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Tuesday
7:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Wednesday
7:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Thursday
7:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Friday
7:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Saturday
7:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Sunday
7:00 AM - 7:00 PM
About
AWOL Tours offers exclusive hiking and biking adventures, with opportunities for genuine cultural exchange and natural encounters, personalised to ensure your extraordinary travel experience. AWOL Tours is a leading outdoor travel specialist for hiking and bicycle tourism in Cape Town, South Africa. We offer you opportunities for breathtaking adventure and authentic interactions. Our experienced AWOL team balance expert trip planning with eco-friendly activities, creating thrilling, memorable travel experiences for you. We've been at the forefront of responsible tourism since 2002, with repeated awards and happy client reviews to prove our success.
Cape Town Central, South Africa

Awards
Travellers' Choice
2023

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Tours and Tickets by AWOL Tours
Travellers talk about
(58 reviews)
(73 reviews)
(5 reviews)
Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions

5.0
763 reviews
Excellent
669
Very good
81
Average
7
Poor
2
Terrible
4

Jeff C
3 contributions
Oct 2023 • Couples
AWOL again provided us an absolutely superb experience. After an epic mountain biking trip last year in Stellenbosch, this year we did road biking on the cape peninsula and mountain biking in the Stellenbosch mountains. The guides are super knowledgeable, friendly, and fun. They tailor trips to suit your abilities and goals. And they deliver! I highly recommend AWOL and will use them again and again!
Written 25 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

mars_phoenix
Silver Spring, Maryland4 contributions
Nov 2023 • Solo
I booked the Platteklip Gorge hike which turned out to be more physically challenging than I had expected, but I managed to do it thanks to the patience and support of my wonderful guide Oliver. Everything was looked after. Oliver met me at the ferry terminal in the early afternoon following my tour of Robben Island. I had stupidly forgotten to pack sunscreen and a hat, but Oliver provided the former and did a detour to a mall so that I could buy the latter. Lunch was provided on the trail. I took so long to do the hike that we ended up catching the last cable car down, but Oliver managed to turn this into a positive by finding us a good spot to watch the sunset before driving me back to my hotel. Oliver and AWOL gave me an amazing memory of Cape Town for a lifetime that I will never forget.
Written 19 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Mark A
3 contributions
Nov 2023 • Couples
We booked 3 days of different tours with AWOL Tours including cycling, hiking and kayaking. We were very happy with their flexibility, the guide was always on time, very knowledgeable and friendly. We visited some places we would not dare to visit on our own and we felt safe. The choice of coffe shops and places to eat was excellent. Would recommend to anyone hoping to see the area in a short time and have a variety of experiences
Written 14 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dear Mark A, thank you for taking the time to review your AWOL Tours experience. I'm so pleased that we could contribute meaningfully to your Cape Town adventures. Our experienced team of guides and travel planners provide personal itineraries to help our guests make the most of every moment available. The combination tour of sea kayaking with the penguins followed by cycling to the Cape Of Good Hope is such a unique way to explore the Cape Peninsula. Yes, saftey is always our priority! Thank you again for choosing AWOL Tours and thank you for the very much appreciated review. We look very much forward to welcoming you back to Cape Town for more hiking and cycling adventures. Kind regards, Helen for AWOL Tours.
Written 16 November 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Kira Lang
2 contributions
Nov 2023 • Couples
Nice guy Mike showed us his hometown. Interesting history and present. Really worth doing,I highly recommend to go by bike through capetown....
Written 9 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dear Voyage744064, thank you for taking the time to review your AWOL Tours Cape Town City Cyle tour. This 3 hour scheduled tour departs at 10 and 2pm from the AWOL Tours office in Battery Park VA Waterfront. We are so pleased that you enjoyed the company and expertise of you AWOL Guide Mike. This tour provides an excellent orientation of the city and an insight into the history and diversity of Cape Town's urban landscape. Thank you for the very much appreciated review. We look very much forward to welcoming you back to Cape Town for more cycling adventures. Kind regards Helen for AWOL Tours.
Written 16 November 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

dr_stinky
Singapore, Singapore306 contributions
Oct 2023 • Couples
We had our tour with Shaun. We noticed there hasn’t been many reviews before, so here are some practical tips:

- Shaun shared that the township tours are typically conducted by either him or Luthor (I hope I spelt that right). Both of them live within the area.

- The township is nearer to Hout Bay / Kalk Bay, rather than Cape Town. We took an Uber down from Cape Town, it takes about 45 minutes.

- At no point of the tour did we feel unsafe. The locals seem to know Shaun pretty well.

- Tour was very well-conducted. You can see efforts are made indeed to improve on the education level and conditions of the place, which is encouraging

- We were concerned whether it will end up being somewhat like a human zoo. When we were there, we didn’t get the vibe.

- Shaun was a great guide whom you can tell is genuinely keen to make life better around. We were pretty touched and inspired by his genuinity.

- All in all, this was a great tour, which I would highly recommend

- Bicycles are in functional condition, owned by AWOL tours. It wasn’t terrifying to cycle, and we thought the traffic was reasonable.
Written 19 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dear dr_stinky, thank you for taking the time to review your AWOL Tours Cultural Township cycling tour with local guide Shaun. Thank you for your tips to other travellers, yes we have secure parking and Chasmay Campus very accessible and a safe meeting place. We are very proud of our guides who are so passionate about making a real difference in their communities. We understand that guests might have reservations about visiting an informal settlement and feel awkward at viewing people’s obvious poverty. The local residents in Townships do however welcome and encourage tours to take place in their communities, as it is one way in which they have an opportunity to get involved in the Tourism sector. The tours are operated at a non-profit basis and a fee goes directly to the people we visit and who make this tour possible. The AWOL tourism project in Masiphumelele has generated significant, sustainable benefits and has proven to provide real, lasting benefits for the local people. The residents of Masiphumelele have so much to offer and we look forward to sharing the experience with many more guests to Cape Town. Kind regards, Helen Baker for AWOL Tours
Written 16 November 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

girlsroadtrip2015
London, UK17 contributions
We booked a private guided city tour to explore Cape Town. Matt was a great guide and showed us parts of Cape Town we would have missed if we’d been on foot. Decent bikes and great spots for refreshments with Faeezas tea garden at the Malay quarter on Bo-kaap a particular highlight.
Written 11 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dear girlsroadtrip2015, thank you for taking the time to review your Cape Town city cycle tour with AWOL Tours. We are so pleased that you enjoyed the tour and the company and expertise of your guide. Yes the Bo-Kaap with beautiful colours and rich history is always a highlight and we always feel so welcome at Faeeza's tea garden. Thank you again for choosing AWOL Tours. We look very much forward to welcoming you back to Cape Town. Kind regards Helen for AWOL Tours.
Written 16 November 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Anton
Dubai, United Arab Emirates1 contribution
Oct 2023 • Couples
We had booked 2 cycling and 2 hiking activities with AWOL in Cape Town. The cycling activities went well but then weather changed dramatically and our hiking plans in Cederberg were simply ruined together with washed away trails and collapsed bridges…but… thanks to the AWOL team, they managed to redesign COMPLETELY our tour in few hours and re-booked the whole route and cottages at no extra cost! So we have finally had a nice hiking tour in Cederberg as well as 2-times postponed Table Mountain hike by the tough India Venster trail (that was something we have never experience earlier, sometimes more climbing rather than hiking…)

Many thanks to Sally, Wendy, Hellen for an exceptional support and all the arrangements. A BIG thank to our guide Joel for bringing us a real South African experience and many interesting things.

Our advice for planning Cape Town activities: always have Plan_B and leave 1-2 spare days for rearrangements in case of challenging weather conditions. And use AWOL Tours 🙂
Written 4 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dear Anton; thank you for taking the time to review your Cape Town adventures with AWOL Tours. We have so many amazing experiences available to suit every time frame, from our 3 hour city cycle tour to our multi day hiking and cycling adventures. We do our best to help our guests make the most of every minute they have available. This booking certainly put our team experience and resources to the test and I am so pleased that we could deliver a memorable and exciting adventure. Booking private overnight hiking adventures with AWOL Tours allows for our team to deliver a personal tour with attention to detail. We are so pleased that the weather cleared up for your Table Mountain hike. Thank you again for choosing AWOL Tours and we look very much forward to welcoming you back to Cape Town in the near future for more hiking adventures. Kind regards, Helen for AWOL Tours.
Written 16 November 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

James S
6 contributions
Sep 2023 • Solo
Cycling is a great way to see a city. This tour covered downtown Cape Town. We discussed a lot of history, and experienced gorgeous views, especially Bo Kaap and Seapoint Promenade.
Written 29 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dear jamessR7728UA, thank you for taking the time to review your AWOL Tours Cape Town city cycle tour experience. We are so pleased we could provide a 5 star experience for you. Yes, this 3 hour daily departure tour provides an excellent orientation of Cape Town with a balance of history and culture and urban landscapes. We hope the rest of your travels went well and look forward to welcoming you back to Cape Town for more cycling adventures. Kind regards, Helen for AWOL Tours
Written 16 November 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

SimoneGertLuuk
6 contributions
Aug 2023 • Family
The guide Shaun is living in the township and is a nice and smart young men. He is involved in imported projects to develop children and residents for his township. The library was really great to see. Because Shaun is one of the residents, he is able to present the township. He is very proud to show daily live shared a lot of information and we have had a local lunch. Our son, almost 13 years old, played together with the local boys a football match. That was a great experience. Shaun stimulated and organised the game. Many Thanks Shaun!
Written 25 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dear Simone and Family Thank you for taking the time to review your AWOL Tours Cultural Township cycling tour with local guide Shaun. We are very proud of our guides who are so passionate about making a real difference in their communities. We understand that guests might have reservations about visiting an informal settlement and feel awkward at viewing people’s obvious poverty. The local residents in Townships do however welcome and encourage tours to take place in their communities, as it is one way in which they have an opportunity to get involved in the Tourism sector. The tours are operated at a non-profit basis and a fee goes directly to the people we visit and who make this tour possible. The AWOL tourism project in Masiphumelele has generated significant, sustainable benefits and has proven to provide real, lasting benefits for the local people. The residents of Masiphumelele have so much to offer and we look forward to sharing the experience with many more guests to Cape Town. Kind regards, Wendy Purdon AWOL Tours
Written 26 August 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Tim
1 contribution
Aug 2023
On 04.08.23 my dad and I did the hike up Lion’s head Mountain with guide Oliver which was a very fun experience and a highlight of the trip for me. I would recommend this hike to anyone who enjoys hiking and climbing however you should be aware that there are certain areas that can be challenging. Furthermore I would not recommend this to anyone who is afraid of heights or isn’t comfortable walking close to the edge of a mountain.
Written 17 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dear HikingTim, Thank you for taking the time to review your AWOL Tours private Mountain hiking experience. We are so pleased that we could share a highlight hiking adventure with you and your dad and that you enjoyed the company and expertise of your AWOL Guide Oliver. Yes, Lions head does have adventurous route options but there are also options for children hikers and beginner hikers; private tours allow our guides to ensure that we can assist with selecting the most suitable routes based on our hikers needs, hiking preferences , and available time frame.. as we know many of our guests only have a limited time in Cape Town. Thank you again for taking the time to review your Cape Town Lions Head hiking tour. We look very much forward to welcoming you and your dad back again for more adventures. Kind regards, Helen for AWOL Tours.
Written 17 August 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

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AWOL TOURS (Cape Town Central) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go