Lion's Head at Sunrise or Sunset: Which Guided Hike Should You Book?
6 min read
Book the Lion’s Head Sunrise Hike with Coffee/Tea or Sunset Hike: from €55, 4 hours, 5.0 stars from 407 reviews. You choose sunrise or sunset, with or without a hotel transfer, and the summit photo on the famous rock is part of the description. The guided hike at sunrise or sunset is half an hour shorter and costs €64.41. The sunset-only hike costs €95.
Three Lion’s Head hikes compared
| Tour | Duration | Price from | Rating | Reviews | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lion’s Head Sunrise Hike with Coffee/Tea or Sunset Hike | 4 hours | €55 | 5 | 364 | Sunrise or sunset, optional hotel transfer |
| Guided Lion’s Head Hike at Sunrise or Sunset | 3.5 hours | €64.41 | 4.9 | 312 | A shorter outing with views of beaches and mountains |
| Lion’s Head Guided Hike at Sunset | 3.5 hours | €95 | 5 | 94 | Sunset with a guide who explains flora and fauna |
Sunrise: the one with coffee and the transfer option
Only the cheapest booking attaches a hot drink to sunrise: coffee or tea is in its title, and so is the choice between a version with a hotel transfer and one without. Since sunrise means setting off before dawn, the transfer is the option worth pricing. The €39 is the from-price, so check what the transfer version costs before you decide. This is also the tour that mentions the Insta-famous photo on the summit rock.
Check sunrise dates and transfer options
Sunset: you come down after the sun has gone
Whichever tour you pick, a sunset hike reaches the summit for the ocean light and descends afterwards. If you would rather finish while it is still day, sunrise is the better choice.
The €63.79 hike covers either sunrise or sunset in 3.5 hours, with panoramic views of the city, the surrounding beaches and the mountains. It has 312 reviews against 364 for the cheaper tour, and the extra €24.79 buys half an hour less, and the description names no other difference.
See departures for the 3.5-hour hike
The €95 sunset hike: only for the commentary
Its description is the only one of the three that promises learning about local flora and fauna, plus ocean sunset views and a look at Table Mountain. That is the entire difference, and it costs €56 more than the €39 tour for the same 3.5 hours as the middle option. If you want the flora and fauna talk, this is the one. If you only want a guided sunset, it is hard to justify.
If price is your main concern, the Lion’s Head or Table Mountain Guided Hike costs €48.31, has 2,374 reviews and also offers Lion’s Head at sunrise or sunset.
Our recommendation
Take the 4-hour booking. Choose sunrise and add the transfer if getting to the start before dawn is the obstacle; choose sunset if the ocean light is why you are going.
