South Africa 2014:  Insider's Tour of Cape Town & the Winelands 

Discover the unequaled beauty and legendary hospitality of the Western Cape.  This is home to the Winelands of South Africa - Franschhoek, Stellenbosch, Walker Bay, and the cosmopolitan Mother City, Cape Town.

This will be an unforgettable trip and includes

YOUR HOSTS:

As copartners in Laguna Culinary Arts Adventures - we have been leading exclusive small client groups to culinary destinations in France, Italy, Spain, California and Oregon for over 10 years.
Megan Rainnie, Chef-owner of Gourmet Girl on the Go and founding partner of Laguna Culinary Arts Adventures is a Cape Town native, and is excited to show you her favorite flavors, sights and sounds in her home country.
Nancy Milby, owner of LCA Wine and founding partner of Laguna Culinary Arts Adventures is a certified sommelier and looks forward to sharing her knowledge of food and wine (and we will not make her drive on the left hand side!).

TRIP DETAILS

Don't miss this opportunity to visit a land of beauty and creativity. Join us on a unique Cape Town culinary tour. Steeped in history and conflict, almost twenty years after the implementation of sweeping political change, South Africa is a land worth exploring. Our trip is based in the Western Cape, home to the South African wine industry and a region of unsurpassed culinary delights.

Our adventure begins in the charming university town of Stellenbosch, situated in the heart of the winelands. From here, we'll explore nearby Franschhoek in the lovely and fertile valley where the French immigrants settled and planted vineyards in 1688 after fleeing religious persecution in Europe. In the area, we'll visit several wineries, visit and dine with winemakers, enjoy the beautiful gardens of the region and experience the unique and delicious cuisine.

Midweek, we'll depart Stellenbosch for the highlight of our trip - a private cooking class with Olive Hamilton Russell in her beautiful home kitchen on the Hamilton Russell Wine Estate near Hermanus on Walker Bay. Olive and her husband Anthony are devoted to the production of high quality wine in addition to maintaining the traditions of the local cuisine. Olive will share some of her favorite seasonal recipes using only locally grown and caught products. We will of course enjoy the wines of the Estate with our meal!

For the second half of the week our home base will be the vibrant, cosmopolitan city of Cape Town, where we will explore the lush park of The Company Garden, experience the exotic and delicious offerings of the local food market, try our hand in the preparation of the ethnic Malay cuisine and, of course, take the dramatic route south along Cape Peninsula to The Cape of Good Hope.
Our tour concludes on Sunday morning with transfers back to the Cape Town airport.

All meals, wine, accommodations, activities and local transportation are included.

ITINERARY:  Sunday Sept 28th - Sunday, Oct 5th, 2014
Sunday: Arrival to Cape Town, transfer to Stellenbosch. Welcome aperitif and dinner for those arriving in time.

Monday: Breakfast at the hotel, followed by visit to Franschoek, for tour, tasting and lunch at a local winery. Afternoon shopping in town, with optional chocolate demo/tasting. Dinner in Stellenbosch.

Tuesday: Breakfast at the hotel, followed by morning visit to Babylonstoren Gardens followed by lunch at their restaurant. Free afternoon in Stellenbosch. Vineyard visit/tasting and dinner with MAN Vintners at the Joostenberg Manor.

Wednesday: Breakfast at the hotel, followed by hotel check out. Morning departure for Hermanus for visit and cooking class at Hamilton Russell Estate. Afternoon stop for whale watching and optional visit to Abalone Farm (known as Perlemoen). Transfer to Cape Town to check into new hotel, followed by dinner in town.

Thursday: Breakfast at the hotel followed by visit to the Cape Town Malay museum and cooking school, lunch at cooking school. Free afternoon in Cape Town for visit to The Company Garden or the Castle, followed by dinner at a local restaurant.

Friday: Breakfast at the hotel, followed by tour of the Cape Peninsula, including visit to the Cape of Good Hope lighthouse station, Boulders Beach to see the penguins and lunch nearby. Dinner in Cape Town.

Saturday: Breakfast at the hotel, followed by morning visit to the local food market and lunch. Visit to Table Mountain, weather permitting, or free afternoon in Cape Town. Farewell dinner in Cape Town.

Sunday: Breakfast at the hotel, followed by transfer to airport.

New South African Tourism brand video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zv1MU_Nh8ck










Terms & Conditions
Fees: Your fee of $3400 includes accommodations, all meals including wine, admission to local venues as scheduled, local transportation, and group transfers to/from the Cape Town airport.
The price is quoted on a double occupancy basis - a supplement of US$600 is charged for single occupancy, if available.
Deposit: A non-refundable deposit of US$500 per person, made payable to "Gourmet Girl on the Go" is required to secure your booking. Reservations will be confirmed by mail once we receive your signed copy of the booking form, together with the deposit.
Final Payment: The balance of the fee should be received in full by Gourmet Girl on the Go no later than July 31, 2014. If this balance is not paid on time, we reserve the right to regard your reservation as cancelled and retain your deposit.
Cancellations: If we receive written notice of your cancellation 31-60 days prior to departure, (and have also received payment in full for the program), we shall refund 50% of your total fee.
There will be no refund for cancellations 30 days or less prior to departure, unless we are able to fill your place with another participant; in this instance, we shall refund all fees received less your original US$500 deposit.
In the event that Gourmet Girl on the Go must cancel a trip for any reason, all fees, including deposits, will be returned in full. The costs of any travel arrangements you may have made will however not be reimbursed.
Travel Insurance: We recommend that you purchase separate insurance in case you have to cancel your trip, as well as accident, health and baggage and personal effects loss or damage.
Waiver: All participants will be required to sign a Release of Liability Agreement prior to embarkation. Please read this document carefully before signing.
Trip details:Sunday, September 28, 2014 to Sunday, October 5, 2014.
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