The Rider Experience

INCLUDED

• Daily guided gravel rides

• Vehicle support on all rides with trailer, plus water and snack stops

• 4 nights accommodation in Ladismith at Karoocible

• All 4 breakfasts and 4 dinners

• A selection of wine, beer, soft drinks and G&T's

EXCLUDED

• Bicycle rental excluded. Bring your own gravel or mountain bike, or inquire about rental assistance. 

• Airport transfer is excluded from the price

NOTES

• Ride distances can be tailored to your  needs. i.e. Ride the distance that suits you on the day.

Terms

• Confirm your spot by paying a 50% deposit

• Balance due 30 days before the tour

• There are 11 Spots available on this tour

We take an hours drive and drop you off at a dead end, (the Gamkapoort dam) to ride one of the Western Cape's most spectacular passes, Bosluyskloof, with its 60 bends remarkably fitted in a 7.6 km length.  The historic pass dates back to 1862 and was completed by Thomas Bain's brother-in-law, Adam de Smitdt. From there we turn left into a Certified Unesco World Heritage Site (Seweweekspoort) with is easy gradients, multiple river crossings and mind-boggling geology. We cycle through the towns of Amalienstein and Zoar, former German mission stations. The home stretch is via the fruit-producing Hoeko valley where one can find the birth place of C.J. Langenhoven. and unique Ladismith style architecture. 

On Day 2 we do a short shuttle by car to where the gravel start. We then follow the district road a further 42 kms to Van Wyksdorp, a undiscovered corner of the Klein Karoo. It is a cultural kaleidoscope untouched by the modern hustle and bustle of city life and ecologically rich in succulent Klein Karoo biodiversity. A visit to the Van Wyksdorp Mall add some shopping to our agenda.  From here we cycle the Rooiberg pass, built in 1928 to join Van Wyksdorp with Carlitzdorp. With a total of 69 bends, corners and curves which include 6 hairpins, this pass is not to be trifled with. Our reward: spectacular views to the North and South with valleys and ridges bedecked in fynbos. The pass lies within the Rooiberg conservancy, a 60 000 hectare mountainous area that forms part of the Gouritz biodiversity meander, which aims to conserve this incredible meeting place of three biomes, one of only 35 biodiversity hot spots in the world. The home run include navigating the downhill where we will take a 30 minutes drive back to Ladismith. 

On Day 3, we take an hours drive to Oudshoorn. Leaving Oudtshoorn, the route drifts onto quiet gravel backroads that trace the foot of the Swartberg Mountains, where orchards and ostrich farms give way to rolling Karoo scrubland. The road winds through the Groenfontein Valley, one of the Klein Karoo’s most beautiful hidden corridors, with sandstone ridges, remote farms and old homesteads tucked among dry riverbeds. Gradually, the gravel dips and climbs through koppies and valleys scented with fynbos and dust, before descending into the green folds of Calitzdorp, where vineyards and the promise of a glass of port mark the end of a day carved out of pure Karoo solitude. A 30 mins drive will take you back to Ladismith. 

This scenic gravel loop sets out from Karoocible Guest House, easing riders into the open landscapes west of Ladismith. The route drifts through farmlands and quiet backroads, passing working Klein Karoo homesteads, guest farms, and orchards tucked below weathered sandstone ridges. Gentle river crossings and winding tracks lead you deeper into the countryside, where the expansive Buffelsdrift Conservancy offers classic Karoo solitude and wide-open riding.

The loop flows effortlessly between fertile valleys and rocky riverbeds before turning back toward town. As the gravel straightens and the horizon lifts, Towerkop’s iconic split peak comes back into view — a dramatic landmark welcoming you home and the perfect full-stop to a truly authentic Ladismith gravel experience.