Guided hikes on Table Mountain & Lion’s Head

Which route fits you, which guided hike walks it, what it costs per person — and the detail most listings bury: none of these hikes include the cable car ride down.

Browse the hikes → Which route?

Cable car down not included in any hike

Sunrise & sunset on Lion’s Head

24 h free cancellation on every tour

Guided hikes on Table Mountain and Lion’s Head side by side

Cable car inclusion checked for every hike

Platteklip, India Venster, Skeleton Gorge, Kasteelspoort

Free cancellation up to 24 h on every tour

Table Mountain rises straight out of Cape Town, and there is more than one way up: the direct Platteklip Gorge on the city side, the India Venster scramble, Skeleton Gorge from Kirstenbosch garden, or Kasteelspoort on the Atlantic side. Lion’s Head next door is the shorter, steeper summit that people climb for sunrise and sunset. The guided hikes below walk these routes with local guides — and they differ more than their titles suggest.

The biggest difference is one you only find in the small print: the cable car. None of the guided hikes here include the ride down. If you want it, you buy the descent ticket separately — online or at the top station — and on windy days, when the cable car stops, you walk down. Each card below says what is in and what is not.

The guided hikes, compared

Table Mountain and Lion’s Head, every guided option side by side with the same facts for each. Open a card for the full details.

The Cape Town Local

Lion’s Head or Table Mountain Guided Hike

Pick your mountain when you book: Lion’s Head in about two and a half hours, or Table Mountain in about three and a half. Pickup is optional; the cable car ride down is not included.

Duration: 2.5 hours (Table Mountain option about 3.5 hours)
✓ Free cancellation up to 24 hours before

from R 720 ★ 5.0 (2,269 reviews)

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Full hike details

About this hike

One booking, two mountains: you choose between a guided hike up Lion's Head and a guided hike up Table Mountain. Lion's Head is the shorter outing; the Table Mountain option runs to about three and a half hours.

The cable car is not part of this booking. If you want to ride down from the top of Table Mountain, the descent ticket is bought separately — online or at the top station. Hotel pickup is available as an option.

What's included

Guided hike on Lion’s Head or Table Mountain (chosen when booking)

Not included

Cable car ticket for the descent — bought separately (online or at the top station)

Know before you go

Pickup is optional — check the options on the product page.
If the cable car is closed because of wind, the way down is on foot.

Content taken from the operator's product page on the booking platform.

Widevision Travel

Sunrise or Sunset Hike: Lion’s Head or Table Mountain

A three-hour guided hike timed for first or last light, on either mountain. The cable car is not included.

Duration: 3 hours
✓ Free cancellation up to 24 hours before

from R 720 ★ 5.0 (845 reviews)

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Full hike details

About this hike

A guided hike timed for the light — sunrise or sunset, on Lion's Head or on Table Mountain. The cable car is not included; on the Table Mountain option, a ride down means buying the descent ticket separately, online or at the top station.

What's included

Guided sunrise or sunset hike

Not included

Cable car ticket for the descent — bought separately (online or at the top station)

Know before you go

Sunrise and sunset hikes finish or start in low light — a head torch is worth packing.

Content taken from the operator's product page on the booking platform.

Widevision Travel

Table Mountain Guided Summit Hike

Three hours to the summit plateau with a guide. The product title mentions a cable car descent, but the ticket is listed as not included — plan to buy it separately or walk down.

Duration: 3 hours
✓ Free cancellation up to 24 hours before

from R 975 ★ 4.9 (781 reviews)

Book on GetYourGuide →

Full hike details

About this hike

A guided hike to the summit plateau of Table Mountain.

One point to read carefully: the product title mentions a descent by cable car, but the cable car ticket is listed under what is not included. Plan to buy the descent ticket separately — online or at the top station — or to walk down.

What's included

Guided summit hike

Not included

Cable car ticket — not included, although the product title mentions a cable car descent

Know before you go

If the cable car is closed because of wind, the way down is on foot.

Content taken from the operator's product page on the booking platform.

Cape Mountain Guides

Half-Day India Venster Hike

The scrambling route up the front of Table Mountain, with a guide, over four and a half hours. For sure-footed hikers with a head for heights. Cable car not included.

Duration: 4.5 hours
✓ Free cancellation up to 24 hours before

from R 950 ★ 4.9 (18 reviews)

Book on GetYourGuide →

Full hike details

About this hike

India Venster is the adventurous way up the front of Table Mountain: a steep route with scrambling sections where you use your hands as well as your feet. This half-day hike takes it with a guide.

The cable car is not included. For the ride down, the descent ticket is bought separately — online or at the top station.

What's included

Guided India Venster hike

Not included

Cable car ticket for the descent — bought separately (online or at the top station)

Know before you go

India Venster involves scrambling — a head for heights and a good level of fitness help.
If the cable car is closed because of wind, the way down is on foot.

Content taken from the operator's product page on the booking platform.

Cape Mountain Guides

Skeleton Gorge & Kirstenbosch Hike

Table Mountain from the back, starting in Kirstenbosch garden. Listed at three and a half hours; pickup and the garden entrance fee are not included.

Duration: 3.5 hours
✓ Free cancellation up to 24 hours before

from R 1,050 ★ 4.9 (36 reviews)

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Full hike details

About this hike

Table Mountain from the back: the hike starts in Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden and climbs Skeleton Gorge towards the plateau.

Hotel pickup and the Kirstenbosch entrance fee are not included in this booking.

What's included

Guided Skeleton Gorge hike from Kirstenbosch

Not included

Hotel pickup
Kirstenbosch garden entrance fee

Know before you go

You make your own way to Kirstenbosch and pay the garden entrance there.

Content taken from the operator's product page on the booking platform.

OTC Adventures

Kasteelspoort & Diving Board Hike

The Atlantic-side route past the Diving Board photo ledge, with transport included. Four hours; the cable car is not included.

Duration: 4 hours
✓ Free cancellation up to 24 hours before

from R 2,000 ★ 4.9 (19 reviews)

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Full hike details

About this hike

Kasteelspoort climbs Table Mountain from the Atlantic side, away from the city face, and passes the Diving Board — a rock ledge that is one of the mountain's best-known photo spots.

Transport is included. The cable car is not: for the ride down, the descent ticket is bought separately — online or at the top station.

What's included

Guided Kasteelspoort hike
Transport

Not included

Cable car ticket for the descent — bought separately (online or at the top station)

Know before you go

If the cable car is closed because of wind, the way down is on foot.

Content taken from the operator's product page on the booking platform.

Cape Escape Tours

Lion’s Head Sunrise or Sunset Hike with Coffee

Lion’s Head at first or last light, with coffee as part of the outing — four hours, the roomiest time frame for this peak on this site.

Duration: 4 hours
✓ Free cancellation up to 24 hours before

from R 874 ★ 5.0 (388 reviews)

Book on GetYourGuide →

Full hike details

About this hike

A guided Lion's Head hike at sunrise or sunset, with coffee as part of the outing, as the product title states. At four hours it is the most generous time frame among the Lion's Head hikes on this site.

What's included

Guided Lion’s Head hike at sunrise or sunset
Coffee (named in the product title)

Know before you go

Sunrise and sunset hikes finish or start in low light — a head torch is worth packing.

Content taken from the operator's product page on the booking platform.

Atlantic Outlook

Guided Lion’s Head Hike at Sunrise or Sunset

A three-and-a-half-hour guided Lion’s Head hike at sunrise or sunset. Transport is not included, so you meet at the start.

Duration: 3.5 hours
✓ Free cancellation up to 24 hours before

from R 1,200 ★ 4.9 (312 reviews)

Book on GetYourGuide →

Full hike details

About this hike

A guided Lion's Head hike at sunrise or sunset. Transport is not included, so you make your own way to the start.

What's included

Guided Lion’s Head hike at sunrise or sunset

Not included

Transport to and from the start

Know before you go

Parking near the Lion’s Head trailhead is limited, especially around sunset.

Content taken from the operator's product page on the booking platform.

Not hiking? The cable car and hop-on hop-off bus

For anyone in your group who would rather ride up: the one product on this site that includes the cable car, return.

City Pass Cape Town

Table Mountain Cableway & Hop-on Hop-off Bus

Not a hike: a return cable car ride plus a one-day hop-on hop-off bus ticket covering three routes. The one product on this site that includes the cable car.

✓ Free cancellation up to 24 hours before

from R 1,049 ★ 4.6 (3,517 reviews)

Book on GetYourGuide →

Full hike details

About this hike

Not a hike: a return ride on the Table Mountain cable car combined with a one-day hop-on hop-off bus ticket covering three routes. The bus stops at the lower cable car station.

The cable car stops running in strong wind; check the product page for how a closure is handled.

What's included

Table Mountain cable car, return
1-day hop-on hop-off bus ticket (3 routes)

Content taken from the operator's product page on the booking platform.

Before you pick a hike

Which route up Table Mountain suits you?

Platteklip Gorge is direct and exposed to the sun, India Venster is a scramble, Skeleton Gorge starts in Kirstenbosch garden, and Kasteelspoort passes the Diving Board. Our route guide matches each route to the guided hike that walks it — plus Lion’s Head at sunrise and sunset.

Compare the routes →

Which guided hike fits you?

Three quick questions — we’ll point you at the right hike.

Where do you want to stand on top?

What kind of hike do you like?

Hiking with children?

Your match

Book on GetYourGuide →

Guided hikes on Table Mountain and Lion’s Head compared

Tap a column header to re-sort.

Hike	What's in it	Rating ↕	Price ↕	Book
Lion’s Head or Table Mountain Guided Hike	Guide · Lion’s Head or Table Mountain · pickup optional · cable car not included · 2.5 h (Table Mountain about 3.5 h)	★ 5.0 (2,269)	R 720 per person	Book now →
Sunrise or Sunset Hike (Lion’s Head or Table Mountain)	Guide · sunrise or sunset · cable car not included · 3 h	★ 5.0 (845)	R 720 per person	Book now →
Table Mountain Guided Summit Hike	Guide · summit plateau · cable car not included despite the title · 3 h	★ 4.9 (781)	R 975 per person	Book now →
Lion’s Head Sunrise or Sunset Hike with Coffee	Guide · sunrise or sunset · coffee · 4 h	★ 5.0 (388)	R 874 per person	Book now →
Guided Lion’s Head Hike at Sunrise or Sunset	Guide · sunrise or sunset · transport not included · 3.5 h	★ 4.9 (312)	R 1,200 per person	Book now →
Skeleton Gorge & Kirstenbosch Hike	Guide · from Kirstenbosch · pickup and garden entry not included · 3.5 h	★ 4.9 (36)	R 1,050 per person	Book now →
Kasteelspoort & Diving Board Hike	Guide · transport included · cable car not included · 4 h	★ 4.9 (19)	R 2,000 per person	Book now →
Half-Day India Venster Hike	Guide · scrambling route · cable car not included · 4.5 h	★ 4.9 (18)	R 950 per person	Book now →

All prices are live from GetYourGuide and include taxes and booking fees — the number here is the number at checkout. “What’s in it” summarises the product page — check the full inclusions there before you book.

What to know before you book

The cable car is not part of any hike. Buy the descent ticket separately — online or at the top station — or plan to walk down. One summit hike mentions a cable car descent in its title, but the ticket is listed as not included. Wind closes the cable car. According to the operator it stands still on roughly 60 to 90 days a year, and on those days the only way down is on foot. Summer heat is real on the front of the mountain. Platteklip Gorge faces north with little shade — start early and carry more water than you think you need. It is harder than it looks. In November 2025 alone, rescue teams were called out for an exhausted hiker on Platteklip Gorge and for a group stranded on the mountain in the dark after the cable car had closed.

A word on safety

Armed robberies on hiking trails in Table Mountain National Park were reported during 2025, and in January 2026 a couple was attacked on The Glen trail off Upper Kloof Road. SANParks has deployed additional ranger units in the park. It is a reason to plan rather than to stay away: hike in daylight, keep valuables to a minimum, stay on the main routes, and consider going with a guide — someone who knows the mountain and means you are not on the trail alone.

Around the mountain

The hop-on hop-off bus stops at the lower cable car station — our sister site hoponcapetown.com covers the bus tickets. Seeing the mountain from the air is the job of capetown-helicopter.com, and if you would like to pair a day on the peninsula or in the vineyards with your hike, visitcapepoint.com and capewinelandstour.com cover those day tours.

Why this site exists

Every guided Table Mountain hike on one page

No sales calls, no callbacks, no login. We show you the bookable guided hikes on Table Mountain and Lion’s Head with the same facts for each — including the ones that only turn up in the small print — so you can compare them in one place. When you book through a link on this page, GetYourGuide pays us a small commission — it comes out of their margin, not out of your ticket price. We are an independent site, not SANParks and not the cableway company.

Table Mountain hikes — FAQ

The questions people ask before they lace up.

Is the cable car included in the guided hikes?

No. None of the guided hikes on this site include the cable car. If you want to ride down from the top of Table Mountain, the descent ticket is bought separately — online or at the top station. One summit hike mentions a cable car descent in its title, but its product page lists the ticket as not included. The only product here that includes the cable car is the cableway and hop-on hop-off bus combination, which is a sightseeing ticket rather than a hike.

Which route up Table Mountain should I choose?

Platteklip Gorge is the direct route up the front of the mountain and the usual choice for a first summit. India Venster is a steep scramble for sure-footed hikers with a head for heights. Skeleton Gorge climbs the back of the mountain from Kirstenbosch garden, and Kasteelspoort comes up from the Atlantic side past the Diving Board photo ledge. Our route guide compares them in detail and names the guided hike that walks each one.

Lion’s Head or Table Mountain?

Lion’s Head is the shorter outing — the guided hikes run from two and a half to four hours — and the classic choice for sunrise or sunset. The upper section has chains and ladders. Table Mountain is the bigger climb with more route choice, and the cable car gives you an option for the way down. If you can only do one, pick Lion’s Head for the light and Table Mountain for the summit plateau.

How hard is it to hike Table Mountain?

Harder than it looks from the city. Even Platteklip Gorge, the most direct route, is a steady, steep climb, and rescue teams have repeatedly been called out for hikers who ran out of energy or daylight. Start early, carry plenty of water, and choose a route that matches your fitness rather than your ambition.

Is it safe to hike Table Mountain?

Armed robberies on hiking trails in Table Mountain National Park were reported in 2025 and again in January 2026, and SANParks has deployed additional ranger units in the park. Hiking with a guide or in a group, keeping valuables to a minimum and staying on the main routes in daylight are sensible precautions. The risk is real, and it is a reason to plan the hike rather than improvise it.

What happens if the cable car is closed because of wind?

The Table Mountain cable car stops running in strong wind — according to the operator, on roughly 60 to 90 days a year. On those days the way down is on foot, which takes time and is hard on the knees. Before you set off, keep in mind that a closure can happen while you are on the mountain.

When is the best time to hike in the southern summer?

Early. Platteklip Gorge faces north and has little shade, so summer afternoons on the front of the mountain get hot. Morning starts avoid the worst of the heat, and sunrise hikes on Lion’s Head get you down before the day warms up. Watch the forecast for strong southeasterly wind and for the “tablecloth” cloud that can cover the summit.

Can I cancel my booking?

Every tour on this site offers free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start. The policy shown at checkout on the product page is the binding one, so give it a quick look before you book.

Ready for the mountain?

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