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explore Cape Town

November 2  - 13, 2025

9 Nights • 10 Days

With $1,000 Deposit

Picture being at the southernmost tip of the African continent. You might hear seagulls squawking, waves crashing, and the call to prayer from one of more than 300 mosques across Cape Town. Known as “The Mother City,” Cape Town is a place of breathtaking natural beauty, diverse eras of history, and a unique blend of cultures. Islam in the Cape traces back to the mid-17th century, when enslaved Muslims from Indonesia and Malaysia were brought by Dutch colonists. Among them were scholars and imams, such as Sheikh Yusuf of Makassar, who played a key role in spreading Islam despite colonial repression. Over time, Islam became deeply rooted in Cape Town’s culture, with the Cape Malay community establishing mosques, madrasahs, and a lasting Islamic heritage that continues to flourish today.

Join us as we visit the majestic Table Mountain, one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. We will appreciate the visual splendor of the penguin colony, Cape Point Nature Reserve, Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, Aquila Safari, and local vineyards. Learn more about Cape Town’s political and Muslim history at Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for 18 years. At Auwal masjid, you will see the Quran that political exile Tuan Guru wrote from memory while in prison. In Bo-Kaap, the legacy of Cape Malay slaves is preserved in the colorful homes, historic mosques, and the flavors of traditional Cape Malay cuisine. Nearby is the District Six Museum, commemorating the displacement of an entire community under the apartheid regime. Cape Town brims with art and culture, inviting you to explore its vibrant scene with a leisurely walk along the bustling V&A Waterfront or the lively Oranjezicht Market, where creativity and local flavors come to life.

Cape Town is a spiritual, cultural and intellectual hub ― a must-see for the traveler who not only seeks leisure and beauty, but also profound insights in the quest for meaning.

faculty guide

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Sumaya Jeeva

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Sumaya grew up in Cape Town, with fond recollections of her father taking her family to the beach after school and building sandcastles on the shore with the backdrop of Table Mountain in view. This was ordinary to her, and it was only when she traveled to the Middle East and later moved to the USA did she come to truly appreciate the extraordinary and dazzling beauty of Cape Town. Through her Arabic studies in which she described her roots for various assignments, and having to respond to curious questions from foreigners, the lens through which she perceived her hometown began to broaden. It was no longer ordinary, but rather quite extraordinary.

There is a wealth of barakah in the Cape. From the time when slaves were shipped to the Cape of Storms, Islam was destined to take its roots via the elite of the enslaved. Fast forward centuries, the circles of knowledge have continued to flourish, and the name of God is continuously heard. Our guide Sumaya will enable us to experience today’s Cape Town as a vibrant spiritual, cultural and intellectual hub.

ITINERARY IN cape town

                      SUNday,  November 2                 depart from us or other origin points                       

                      moNday,  November 3                in transit

day 1           tuesday, november 4                arrive in cape town / welcome dinner

day 2           wednesday, november 5          MORNING FREE TIME / TABLE MOUNTAIN AND CITY ORIENTATION

day 3           thursday, november 6             ROBBEN ISLAND TOUR / VICTORIA AND ALFRED WATERFRONT/ AWWAL MOSQUE
                                                                                VISIT 

day 4           friday, november 7                   WALKING TOUR OF BO KAAP / JUMAH AT MASJID UL-QUDS / DISTRICT SIX MUSEUM

day 5           saturday, november 8             ORANJEZICHT MARKET / BABYLONSTOREN OLIVE OIL ESTATE

day 6           sunday, november 9                 KALK BAY / SIMON’S TOWN / BOULDERS / CAPE POINT

day 7           monday, november 10              AQUILA SAFARI DAY TRIP

day 8           tuesday, november 11             MORNING FREE TIME / KIRSTENBOSCH GARDENS

day 9           wednesday, november 12       DAY AT LEISURE / FAREWELL DINNER & ENTERTAINMENT

day 10        thursday, november 13           airport transfers for departure

With $1,000 Deposit

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Since 2017, Bayan has been offering unique faculty-led tours to world heritage destinations such as Uzbekistan, Bosnia-Herzegovina, the Holy Land, Southern Spain, Morocco, Turkey, Egypt, Iran, Senegal/Gambia, and Malaysia. Each year, we offer high-quality curated excursions to these and other destinations to satisfy the interests of our diverse community of fellow travelers.

 

WHY JOIN A BAYAN TOUR?

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Tours offered by Bayan cater to the varied interests and needs of individuals and families, while offering an exceptional educational and cultural program. Each tour is led by one or more faculty members who provide daily background lectures and insights about the historical and contemporary contexts. Local guides are utilized as needed. The itinerary for each excursion is crafted by experienced personnel to maximize your enjoyment and satisfaction. While the scheduled program is robust, ample time is provided to explore on your own, shop for local handicrafts and souvenirs, and enjoy some leisure activities. Bayan’s tour group size is generally kept to 30-35 participants.

TOUR information

tour pricing - LAND PACKAGE ONLY (5-star)

All pricing is double occupancy and per person.  International airfare is not included.

 

A partial deposit of $1,000 per traveler is required upon booking.  This deposit LESS $100 per person is refundable until 6/1/2025, however, a $ 100 per traveler cancellation charge will apply to any refunds processed between 10/17/2024 and 6/1/2025.

 

                                                             Early Bird (Reserve by 1/31/25)                         After 1/31/25

 

Adult                                      $3,795                                                                           $3,995​

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Single Supplement           $1,000                                                                            $1,200​​

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land PACKAGE INCLUSIONS

  • Airport transfers in Cape Town on November 4 and November 13.

  • 9 nights hotel (5*)

  • Ground transportation by private A/C coach

  • All entrance fees for scheduled sites

  • Daily breakfast plus 2 lunches and 3 dinners

  • Safari day trip

  • Daily commentary/discussions with faculty guide(s)

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EXCLUSIONS

  • ​​International airfare to Cape Town (budget about $1,400 round-trip per person from US gateways), and  applicable baggage fees

  • Airport transfers when arriving and departing outside of dates/times specified

  • Tourist entry visa (not needed for US passport holders)

  • Meals not specified in the package

  • Local bus, taxi, metro fares during optional excursions

  • Gratuities for driver(s) and local guide(s)

  • Personal items, hotel incidentals, hotel porters and other individualized services

  • Covid-19 testing costs (if required for entry or return to country of origin)

  • Urgent care, medical treatment and testing, related expenses

  • Travel insurance (recommended)​

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take advantage of early bird pricing!

With $1,000 Deposit

international travel arrangements

arriving to cape town

Numerous airlines provide service to Cape Town, South Africa. Participants should book flights arriving at the Cape Town International Airport (CPT) by midday on Tuesday, Nov. 4, and departing at any time on Thursday, Nov. 13. Participants from the US may need to begin travel on Nov. 2 in order to reach Cape Town on time. If your flight arrives on November 3rd, you may need to arrange your hotel stay on your own that night. We have advised departing on the 2nd, as some flights require more time to arrive in Capetown.  Hotel check-in for the tour begins on the afternoon of Nov. 4. If you arrive prior to midday on Nov. 4, you will need to book your own hotel room for any preceding nights. 

 

departing from cape town​

The tour concludes on the morning of Thursday, Nov. 13. Depending on your departure time on that day, you can continue sightseeing or plan to head to the airport. Your outgoing flight can be to any destination or transit point of your choice. You may also consider spending more time in South Africa after the conclusion of the tour, and plan your flights, local transportation and additional hotel accommodations accordingly.

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booking your flights

Once you’ve paid your deposit to Bayan Tours, you should book your flights as soon as possible to try and obtain well-priced airfare with suitable flight timings and layovers (if you don’t have a direct flight to Cape Town, we recommend that you choose a route with layovers of not less than 90 minutes). You can use your own travel agent, check airline websites, or use other booking sites to select the flight legs that are best for you.

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hotels

Our tour group will stay at the following hotel for the entire duration of the program:

 

  • Hyatt Regency Cape Town / Bo Kaap - 5* (9 nights)

tour highlights

Cape Town​

  • Table Mountain & City Orientation

  • Robben Island

  • Victoria and Alfred Waterfront

  • Awwal Mosque

  • Bo Kaap neighborhood

  • District Six Museum

  • Oranjezicht Market

  • Babylonstoren Estate

  • Cape Dutch Farm

  • Kalk Bay

  • Simon’s Town

  • Boulders

  • Penguin Colony

  • Cape Point

  • Nature Reserve

  • Hiking

  • Aquila Safari excursion

  • Kirstenbosch Gardens

  • Interactions with local scholars and communities
     

With $1,000 Deposit

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  • Who is leading the tour?
    Bayan’s vice president and professor Munir Shaikh will be the faculty escort for the tour. He holds an M.A. in Islamic Studies from the University of California, Los Angeles, with a specialization in the history of Islamic Iberia (Al-Andalus), and certificates from academic programs in Morocco, Egypt and Spain. He has taught undergraduate and graduate courses on Middle Eastern history, Islam, and world history, and led world heritage tours in various countries, including eight previous programs in Southern Spain.
  • What is the expected group size?
    Bayan’s tours are focused on providing a well-rounded experience featuring academic knowledge, historical site visits, cultural exposure, recreational activities, and free time. The itinerary includes visits to mosques and other sites of prayer. By participating in a tour, you are helping sustain and advance Bayan’s mission as a non-profit educational institution. Our group size tends to be in the range of 20-30 participants. This enables participants to get to know one another and develop bonds of friendship and camaraderie that can last a lifetime.
  • When is the registration deadline?
    We are accepting registrations for the tour until February 28, in order to book desired hotel rooms, obtain entrance tickets to monuments, and finalize other details. You must pay a refundable deposit of $750 per traveler. Deposits are partially refundable through January 31, 2025, however, a cancellation charge of $ 100 per traveler will apply for any cancellation requested 24 hours after time of booking. For other important terms and conditions, please click here. Deposits after this date are non-refundable but can be applied to a different tour within a one-year time frame. After payment of your deposit, you will receive an invoice for the remaining balance for your party, reflecting any applicable discounts. The balance payment is due no later than January 31, 2025.
  • Is a visa required for U.S. citizens to enter Spain?
    Bayan’s tours are open to participants who wish to join from anywhere in the world. However, the majority of participants tend to be from the United States. US passport holders do not need to obtain a visa to enter Spain for tourism. This is true for nationals of many other countries as well. However, non-US passport holders are encouraged to check requirements for their nationality and obtain a visa if required. We are unable to assist in obtaining visas.
  • How physically demanding is the tour?
    Our group will be transported from city to city in a luxury air-conditioned tourist bus. However, in each city, since we will be in the historical centers where buses can't go, we will mainly be walking from site to site. In Madrid we will use the metro (subway) at times, as well as taxis. In any case, there will be a significant amount of walking on most days, on slight inclines and steps. The streets at times will have cobblestones. participants should expect to walk roughly 12,000 steps each day (about 6 miles in aggregate) during the first few days of the program, and perhaps 8,000 steps per day during the latter portion of the itinerary. At any given time, we will cover 1/4 to 1/2 mile between rest points. We will take into account the differing abilities and health conditions of group members and regulate the pace and intensity of the tour accordingly. Even so, this tour may not be suitable for those with knee, hip or foot pain that could be aggravated by the amount of walking involved, and a private tour might be preferable. Ideally, all participants should prepare for the tour by walking at least 5,000 steps per day in the weeks leading up to the tour.
  • What type of food will we have on the tour?
    Spain’s food is a mix of Mediterranean and local traditions. Some dishes, such as paella, reveal their roots in Arab/Muslim cuisines. While the types of vegetarian options have grown in recent years in Spain, most local meat dishes feature pork. During the tour, we will dine at restaurants that serve zabiha halal foods, or at places that offer seafood and vegetarian options. We will be sure to avoid any foods prepared with pork or alcohol. You can expect meals to include Middle Eastern, Turkish and Moroccan dishes at restaurants run by local Muslims, and Italian and other types of dishes more generally. You’ll have the option of sampling various suitable tapas, small dishes with beverages.
  • Will you provide more information about the daily schedule and other details?
    Yes, all participants who have completed their full payment will receive a detailed information packet that includes descriptions of the cities and sites to be visited, the daily schedule, currency exchange, local prayer times, electrical adapters, weather, what to pack, and more.
  • What precautions are you taking with regard to COVID-19?
    We encourage participants to be fully vaccinated with at least one booster shot for all who are eligible to receive these shots. U.S. citizens can travel to Spain if they show that they are vaccinated against COVID-19, or have a recovery certificate, or show a negative diagnostic test result performed either within 72 hours prior to departure to Spain for a PCR test or within 24 hours prior to departure for a rapid antigen test. We do not expect to mandate masking during the tour, but we encourage masking whenever possible and according to each individual’s comfort level. For example, when shopping in crowded areas, it would be best to wear a mask. General sanitary practices should be maintained at all times, such as washing hands with soap, using sanitizing gels and wipes, and maintaining a reasonable distance between individuals.
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