South Africa’s Blue Train & Cape Town

Imagine the possibilities to come as you arrive in Cape Town today and a transfer takes you to your hotel. Choose between our handpicked four-star and five-star hotels on a B&B basis. Once you have settled in, get to know your new surroundings on a half-day guided tour of Cape Town.

Get a better understanding of Cape Town's history as you drive past the Parliament Buildings, City Hall and the Slave Lodge. You'll visit the Company Gardens and learn more about the history of the Bo-Kaap and its people as you make your way up the cobblestoned hills to the Malay Quarter. Watch a professional diamond cutter at work while visiting a diamond-cutting factory, and drive past the V&A Waterfront, Cape Town Stadium, Sea Point, Clifton and Camps Bay as you make your way to Table Mountain. Here, you can admire the views from the lower cable station or buy a ticket to reach the summit. 

Enjoy a free day in Cape Town today, allowing you to continue getting to know the city better. When it comes to views, Cape Town has most other cities beat, and if you want to get closer to the remarkable scenery, you can hike the mountains, including Table Mountain, or spend time on the stunning beaches.

The "Mother City" is also an excellent place for coffee lovers, as Cape Town has a vibrant coffee community filled with cozy cafés and specialty roasters. Alternatively, you can visit a brewery or wander around sampling some of the excellent street food. You can also choose one of our optional excursions, which are available as a supplement.

Enjoy a second free day in Cape Town and dig deeper into this beautiful city. Perhaps visit a museum or an art gallery and experience world-class culture at every turn. Take your camera to the beach to take immersive shots of nature and the alluring coastline, or bring it along while hiking in the mountains. There are plenty of places to shop for souvenirs and try the local culinary offerings, including the city's amazing food markets. Or, for a more structured day, choose one of our optional excursions for a guided tour.

Leaving Cape Town today, you transfer from your hotel in the city to the station, where the elegant Blue Train awaits. This luxurious train journeys from Cape Town to Pretoria, traveling through diverse and spectacular scenery on its 54-hour route.

Canapes are served as the train departs the station, and lunch is served in the dining car, transporting you to a bygone era. After lunch, you can relax in your sumptuous accommodations and watch the landscape drift by your window.

An elegant dinner is served in the restaurant car, where a dress code of jackets or waistcoats is requested for men. After, retire to the Club Car for an after-dinner drink, and get to know your fellow passengers.

A continental or full English breakfast is served in the dining car and can be enjoyed at leisure. Relax while watching the scenery until lunch, and then after, the train arrives at the Open Mine Museum, where you'll take a tour of this historic mine. Following the tour, the train departs once more, venturing toward Kimberley Station, where you're greeted with a glass of sherry. Before dinner, the train gets underway for the night, making its way toward Pretoria as you enjoy another delicious dinner onboard.

Take your breakfast in the restaurant car whenever you please this morning as the Blue Train rolls along, showcasing the inspiring landscapes that grace this part of South Africa. After lunch onboard the train, you'll arrive in Pretoria, where you disembark for the final time and conclude this once-in-a-lifetime journey.

Once in Pretoria, enjoy an included transfer to your hotel. Choose from our handpicked five-star hotels on a B&B basis, and enjoy a free evening to soak in its amenities. 

Spend some time appreciating the amenities of your hotel today or getting a taste of Pretoria's many offerings while exploring independently. Later in the day, an included transfer takes you from your hotel to Johannesburg Airport for your return flight home. Your incredible journey comes to an end as you board the plane for an overnight of traveling, arriving back in the United States in the morning.