Tour Spa Baths in the Western Cape

A spa holiday brings up thoughts of complete luxury, pampering and indulgence. And so it should! Spas are an exquisite way to pamper your body and revitalize yourself. The term “spa” first came about in Belgium where a town called Spa treated illnesses caused by an iron deficiency with drinking iron bearing (chalybeate) spring water. And so the tradition has grown to not only help one’s health but one’s happiness and serenity as well. South Africa has many spas available boasting organic and indigenous beauty products and highly skilled beauty therapists, not to forget the incredible scenery and wildlife of the area. The Western Cape has fantastic spa facilities set amongst a scenic route with wine farms and rustic charm. The perfect way to explore these spas is a self driven tour through the Boland to Hermanus.

The ideal start to the tour would be Cape Town, the Mother City and host to all things modern, glam and cosmopolitan. The accommodation available is a range from five star exclusive hotels to comfortable backpackers. However, if participating in a spa trip, it would be worth finding accommodation at some of the various spas in the area. Many of the exclusive hotels in the area are host to their own spa facilities. Unforgettable pampering and indulgence are available in areas such as Newlands, Camps Bay, Sea Point, Constantia, the V&A Waterfront and Durbanville. Other exiting activities available in Cape Town are festivals, wine farming, a theme park, beautiful beaches, award winning restaurants and state of the art shopping malls. After spending two days in Cape Town, the tour moves on to Paarl.

Paarl is situated approximately a 40 minute drive from Cape Town and is part of the Winelands area. The scenery is peaceful yet dramatic and provides the perfect setting for visiting the spas available. There are two main spas, one on a golf resort and the other in a hotel resort with a wellness centre. The accommodation in Paarl is varied, ranging from hotels to B&B’s but as aforementioned, it would be ideal to stay at one of the spa facilities which offer accommodation. Other activities to keep you entertained in the area are wine tasting, golf, hikes, museums, a nature reserve and horse trails. After two nights relaxing and playing in Paarl, the tour heads for Arniston.

Arniston is a quiet town built in a quaint seaside style and founded when a boat named the Arniston floundered of its coast. Today there are many wrecks to be explored off the coast and make an ideal snorkelling excursion. Other activities available are bird watching, whale watching and exploring the nature reserves. The town has one spa which doubles up as a hotel, providing the perfect place for a stopover. The town also offers accommodation in self catering cottages and guest houses. With amazing scenery, situated just outside the little fishing village the spa is a great place to unwind and relax. After spending a night in Arniston, the tour moves on to Hermanus.

Hermanus is a world famous seaside town, namely due to the whales which come to visit in spring to mate and calve. Humans flock to this town just as the whales do to spend quality time in the amazing and vibrant area! Hermanus has six spas and some available are part of major resort hotels, providing an amazing town for indulgence and fun! Other activities available are shark cage diving, whale watching, art galleries and vineyards. The accommodation available is anything from exclusive five star hotels to backpackers and many of the spas are part of hotels. After spending two wonderful days in Hermanus, the tour heads back to Cape Town for the final two days of the tour.

Back in Cape Town, the Mother City is available for all the exploring and spa needs you may have. If the first two days were spent at a city spa, why not try a country spa or seaside spa as Cape Town offers all of these. And after nine days of sheer luxury, the tour comes to an end on day ten.