What do gentle ocean giants have in common with a drink made from grapes? The answer is cycling: whales and wine come together in South Africa’s three-day, 230km Wines2Whales event consisting of adventure on Nov. 2-4 and a race on Nov. 9-11.

Riders start at the Winelands of Somerset West then cross 13 wineries, 26 private farms, six mountains, historic roads and mountain passes, and nature conservation areas including the Kogelberg Biosphere, which lies 60 km east of Cape Town. At the end of 230km, riders wind up within sight of the whales of Walker Bay in Hermanus: an attractively wild and windswept stretch of South Africa synonymous with whale watching.

En route, riders get to see the Hottentots Holland mountain range that forms a barrier between the Cape Town metropolitan area and the southern Overberg coast. Another highlight, Elgin Valley, has its own website that describes it as, “a lush garden valley,” and, “the natural home for lovers of fresh food, cool-climate wines and beautiful country living.”

According to the organizers, Wines2Whales offers spectacular beauty underpinned by variety: you get a different riding experience every day of the three. “Beneficiaries” include the super-cool Cape Leopard Trust.

Cover Photo Credit: Ndecam / Flickr.com