Cape Town: Lion's Head Scenic Loop or Summit – Sunrise or Sunset
Traveler rating
5.0/5
Based on 6 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Quick answer
Is Cape Town: Lion's Head Scenic Loop or Summit – Sunrise or Sunset worth booking?
Cape Town: Lion's Head Scenic Loop or Summit – Sunrise or Sunset is a 3.5-hour experience in Cape Town, South Africa, from $51 per person. It scores 68 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Solid Choice”, based on a 5/5 rating across 6 reviews. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Same-day spots are currently showing.
- Outty Ranking
- 68 / 100
- Rating
- 5/5 (6)
- Duration
- 3.5 hours
- From
- $51 per person
Experience Lion’s Head your way with a qualified local mountain guide. Choose the relaxed Scenic Loop for spectacular views without the summit climb, or take on the classic Summit Route for a more adventurous ascent to t
What you get
About this experience
Experience Lion’s Head your way with a qualified local mountain guide. Choose the relaxed Scenic Loop for spectacular views without the summit climb, or take on the classic Summit Route for a more adventurous ascent to the top. Both routes showcase incredible views of Table Mountain, Camps Bay, the Atlantic Ocean and Cape Town. Your guide will set a comfortable pace, share local stories and hiking knowledge, and stop at some of the best viewpoints for photos along the way. Summit hikers can experience Lion’s Head’s steeper upper sections, scrambling, chains and ladders, while Scenic Loop guests enjoy the lower mountain trails without the technical summit terrain. Choose sunrise or sunset and shared or private, and enjoy a Lion’s Head experience matched to your preferred adventure level.
What's included
Included
- Small Group Experience
- Qualified Local Adventure Guide
- Photos Throughout the Experience
- Headlamp (Sunrise & Sunset)
- First Aid & Emergency Preparedness
- Local Stories & Recommendations
- Comprehensive Safety Briefing
Not included
- Gratuities - Optional but always appreciated.
- Water and snacks
- Transport can be arranged when available at
What you'll see and do
Lion's Head
Your adventure begins at the iconic Lion's Head trailhead, where you'll meet your qualified local mountain guide for a route overview and safety briefing. You'll follow the route selected when booking. The Scenic Loop offers a more relaxed Lion's Head experience with beautiful viewpoints and photo stops without the demanding summit climb. The Summit Route continues to the top and includes steeper terrain, scrambling and the famous chains and ladders. Along the way, enjoy spectacular views of Table Mountain, Camps Bay, Clifton, Signal Hill, the Twelve Apostles, Cape Town and the Atlantic Ocean. Your guide will share local insights, assist where needed and allow time for photos at some of Lion's Head's best viewpoints. Depending on your selected booking option, experience Lion's Head around sunrise or sunset, before completing your guided descent or loop back to the trailhead.
180 minutes here
Where it starts and ends
Meeting point
Cape Town
Meet your guide at the Lion's Head trailhead signboard on Signal Hill Road. Please arrive 10 minutes before your scheduled departure. Roadside parking is available nearby. Please use Google Maps to navigate directly to "Lion's Head Hike Parking"
Hotel pickup
No pickup: everyone meets at the start point.
Ends at
Meet your guide at the Lion's Head trailhead signboard on Signal Hill Road. Please arrive 10 minutes before your scheduled departure. Roadside parking is available nearby. Please use Google Maps to navigate directly to "Lion's Head Hike Parking"
Options you can book
Summit - Shared
Duration: 3 hours: The complete hike can tae roughly 3-4 hours depending on the pace of the group and length of breaks. Lion's Head Summit: Summit hike via Lion's Head's adventurous upper trail, with steep sections, chains and ladders. Enjoy spectacular 360° views.
Summit - Private
Duration: 3 hours: The complete hike can take roughly 3–4 hours depending on the pace of the group and length of breaks. Lion's Head Summit: Summit hike via Lion's Head's adventurous upper trail, with steep sections, chains and ladders. Enjoy spectacular 360° views.
Scenic Loop - Private
Duration: 2 hours: The hike can take 2-3 hours depending the pace of the group and length of breaks. Lion's Head Scenic Loop: A relaxed guided loop around Lion's Head with spectacular viewpoints and no summit climb, chains or ladders.
Scenic Loop - Shared
Duration: 2 hours: The hike can take 2-3 hours depending the pace of the group and length of breaks. Lion's Head Scenic Loop: A relaxed guided loop around Lion's Head with spectacular viewpoints and no summit climb, chains or ladders.
Before you book
- Cancellation
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
- Languages
- en
- Ticket
- Mobile Only
- Runs on
- Every day
- Group size
- Up to 8 travelers per booking
- Operated by
- Outdoor Addicts
Know before you go
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- Wear comfortable hiking shoes with good grip.
- Bring at least 1 litre of water per person.
- Dress according to the weather and bring warm layers for sunrise & sunset.
- Tours operate in most weather conditions unless deemed unsafe by your guide.
- Sunrise and Sunset departure times vary throughout the year and will be communicated after booking.
- Two route levels are available: the Scenic Loop offers a less strenuous experience without the technical summit sections, while the Summit Route requires moderate fitness and includes steep, uneven terrain and scrambling.
- Chains and ladders may be encountered on the Summit Route depending on the route used.
- Guests should select the route appropriate to their fitness, hiking experience and comfort with heights.
Photos
What travelers are saying
Outty’s summary of the themes that recur across 6 traveler reviews. Written by us, not quoted from reviewers.
The guide
6 mentionsTravelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.
Physical effort
6 mentionsExpect real walking or climbing: reviewers mention the effort involved.
Knowledge and storytelling
3 mentionsReviewers describe the commentary as informative rather than scripted.
Photo opportunities
2 mentionsThe views and photo stops come up again and again.
Traveler reviews
6 verified traveler reviews for Cape Town: Lion's Head Scenic Loop or Summit – Sunrise or Sunset. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Perfect Morning in Capetown
We made a sunrise hiking and it was very nice. The Guide is very friendly and speak very good english. He knows a lot about culture in Cape town and give us lights for the hiking. I was safe the hole time. It was a perfect morning.
Response from the operator: Thank you for the wonderful review! We’re so glad you enjoyed your sunrise hike and felt safe and well looked after along the way. It was a pleasure sharing some of Cape Town’s stories with you... what a great way to start the day!
via Tripadvisor
Fantastic Hike to Lions Head with Rob
Our hike with Rob was an exceptional experience. He was incredibly friendly, knowledgeable, and made the trek both fun and informative. His expertise and clear explanations gave us great insights into the trail and surroundings. We always felt completely safe. Rob guided us with confidence, ensuring we tackled every section with ease. If you’re looking for a great guide for Lion’s Head (and for sure also more advanced hikes), we highly recommend Rob—an absolute professional who makes the experience unforgettable!
Response from the operator: Dear Luca, We are delighted to hear you had such a great hike with Rob - he truly is amazing! Thank you for the positive feedback and we will continue to offer only the best of experiences - we hope to see you again soon!
via Tripadvisor
A brilliant experience!
Wow! What an amazing experience Yvette gave us. Very good communications from my first enquiry right up to the day itself. Yvette’s preparation meant we literally just had to turn up at the meeting point in the right clothes….Yvette takes care of everything else from backpacks to water to snacks. Yvette then got us up the climb safely, pointing out interesting facts about the flora and fauna on the way…using her expert knowledge to make sure that we then descended safely slightly before sunset to avoid the hoards and make sure we had front row seats for the setting sun (complete with home made brownies!). We had a fabulous time, and couldn’t recommend Yvette highly enough as a guide…we will be back!
Response from the operator: Hello Miles ☀️ Thank you so much for taking the time to give us some feedback on your experience. We are thrilled that you had a wonderful time and we would love to see you again for another adventure! It was such a pleasure to meet you and wish you all the best!
via Tripadvisor
Amazing hike with the best guide and gorgeous views
This was such an amazing experience!! A must-do if you are visiting CapeTown. We do the hike in a little group and everyone was super nice, it was very special. The hike is fun and with breath-taking views. Our guide was super nice and he helped us all the time, explaining interesting facts, and also took amaaazing videos and pics of us during the way up and at the top. We did the sunset hike and it was beautiful to see the city lights form the top, but I’m sure the sunrise is also great. We will recommend him to anyone visiting CapeTown!
Response from the operator: Thank you so much for the wonderful feedback! We are so happy to hear that you enjoyed the hike and we look forward to seeing you again in the future for some more mountain adventures! All the best from the Outdoor Addicts Team!
via Tripadvisor
Table mountain hike
Idrees was a fantastic guide, knowledgable and really easy going. It was great to be able to arrive in Cape Town and make the most of time and be trekking straight away. We saw an amazing sunrise and he knew a brilliant route which avoided the cloud as long as we could. He even thought to take some great pics along the way while I was too busy enjoying the views. Highly recommend!
Response from the operator: Dear Rachel, Thank you so much for your wonderful review. We appreciate that you took the time to share your experience with Idrees on the mountain. We hope to see you again!
via Tripadvisor
Good to know
- Duration
- 3.5 hours
- Free cancellation
- Up to 24h before
- Minimum age to book
- All ages
- Availability
- Bookable today
- Runs on
- Every day
- Price range
- $51 to $1850
- Hotel pickup
- No pickup, meet at start point
- Booked in 30 days
- 2
- Verdict
- Solid Choice
Why this scores 68
The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.
Cape Town: Lion's Head Scenic Loop or Summit – Sunrise or Sunset: questions travelers ask
Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for Cape Town.
How much does Cape Town: Lion's Head Scenic Loop or Summit – Sunrise or Sunset cost?
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Prices start at $51 per person. The final price depends on the date, the time slot and the number of travelers, and peak weekends in Cape Town usually price higher than midweek mornings. Live pricing and remaining availability are confirmed on the booking screen before you pay.
How long does Cape Town: Lion's Head Scenic Loop or Summit – Sunrise or Sunset take?
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Plan for about 3.5 hours from start to finish, not counting travel to the meeting point. Most travelers leave another 30 minutes on either side so the rest of the day in Cape Town is not rushed.
Is Cape Town: Lion's Head Scenic Loop or Summit – Sunrise or Sunset worth it?
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It holds an Outty Ranking of 68 out of 100, which we label "Solid Choice". That score blends traveler sentiment (5/5 across 6 reviews), the depth of that review evidence, recent booking momentum, value for money against comparable last minute in Cape Town, and how flexible the cancellation terms are.
Can I cancel or reschedule Cape Town: Lion's Head Scenic Loop or Summit – Sunrise or Sunset?
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Yes. Cancel free up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Inside that window the booking is non-refundable, and no-shows are not refunded.
Is Cape Town: Lion's Head Scenic Loop or Summit – Sunrise or Sunset suitable for kids and families?
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Yes, all ages are welcome. Families should still weigh the 3.5-hour running time, and strollers are easier on the earlier, quieter departures.
How far in advance should I book Cape Town: Lion's Head Scenic Loop or Summit – Sunrise or Sunset?
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Around 2 people booked this in the last 30 days, so popular slots go early. Two to three weeks ahead is comfortable in shoulder season, while summer weekends and holidays in Cape Town can sell out a month out. Same-day spots do open up when other travelers cancel, so it is worth checking if you are already in town.
What should I bring or wear?
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Bring photo ID, your booking confirmation on your phone, a refillable water bottle and comfortable shoes. Dress for the weather in Cape Town and add a light layer if any part of the 3.5-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.
Where does Cape Town: Lion's Head Scenic Loop or Summit – Sunrise or Sunset start and how do I get there?
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The exact meeting point and directions are on your voucher once you book, and they sit in central Cape Town within reach of public transport. Arrive 15 minutes early: late arrivals are treated as no-shows by most operators.
What are the best things to do in Cape Town?
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On Outty we rank every Cape Town experience on the same 0 to 100 scale, and alongside this one the highest scorers right now include Cape Town: Lion's Head Sunrise/Sunset Hike, Cape Town Airport Private Transfer, Ocean Wildlife Encounter in Cape Town. The city page groups everything into most popular, highest reviewed, last minute and family-friendly so you can build a day around what actually delivers.
When is the best time to visit Cape Town?
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Booking patterns follow the same curve: prices and queues climb in peak weeks, while shoulder season gives you better availability on the top-ranked experiences and more room to change plans.
How many days do you need in Cape Town?
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Three full days covers the headline sights without sprinting. A workable rhythm is one anchor experience each morning, such as this one, an unhurried afternoon in a single neighborhood, then a food or nightlife booking in the evening. Five days lets you add a day trip outside the city.
Do I book through Outty or through the operator?
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Outty ranks and explains the experiences, then hands you to Viator to complete the booking with the operator directly. The price is the same as booking on Viator yourself, and Outty earns an affiliate commission on the referral, which is how the rankings stay free to read.
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