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Hiking the Best of Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Operated by Intrepid Travel
Tripcode: SKTB
Overview
Destination:
United States Of America,
Start:Asheville, United States Of America
Finish:Asheville, United States Of America
Finish:Asheville, United States Of America
Duration:5 days
Type:Group tour (max 9)
This product has sold out, you can still contact us for other options.
Get up close and personal with the picture-perfect peaks and enchanting waterfalls of Great Smoky Mountains National Park on this five-day hiking adventure. With a museum visit to set the scene, you’ll soon stretch your legs in search of the spectacular views offered by Charlies Bunion, hiking along the historic Appalachian Trail. Grotto Falls, Mouse Creek Falls, Linville Falls and more will have you falling fast for their natural charm, while the summit of Looking Glass Rock will leave you feeling on top of a lush, green world. No wonder this is the US’ most visited national park!
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
1. A completed registration form is required to join these trips. You will not be confirmed for the trip until your form has been received and reviewed. We may ask for a medical release signed by your physician for medical conditions or circumstances which could possibly compromise your safety or the safety of others on this trip – please speak to your agent for further details.
3. A signed disclaimer (Acknowledgement of Risks Form) is required at the time of booking for this trip – please speak to your agent for further details.
4. To help ensure this trip is right for you, this trip is subject to additional ‘Essential Eligibility Requirements’ – see the ‘Itinerary Disclaimer’ section of the Essential Trip Information for further details.
5.This trip is operated and run by Wildland Trekking, an Intrepid company. You will be travelling with a mixture of both Wildland Trekking customers and Intrepid customers.
6. You will meet your guide and group at the Holiday Inn in downtown Asheville for an orientation meeting at 5:00 PM the evening before the trip begins. We’re happy to give you a ride to this meeting if you’re not staying at the Holiday Inn. Your guide will then pick you up the next morning for transport to the trailhead. This trip will conclude at approximately 5:00 PM on the last day.
7. A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. The single supplement applies to all nights on your trip and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.
3. A signed disclaimer (Acknowledgement of Risks Form) is required at the time of booking for this trip – please speak to your agent for further details.
4. To help ensure this trip is right for you, this trip is subject to additional ‘Essential Eligibility Requirements’ – see the ‘Itinerary Disclaimer’ section of the Essential Trip Information for further details.
5.This trip is operated and run by Wildland Trekking, an Intrepid company. You will be travelling with a mixture of both Wildland Trekking customers and Intrepid customers.
6. You will meet your guide and group at the Holiday Inn in downtown Asheville for an orientation meeting at 5:00 PM the evening before the trip begins. We’re happy to give you a ride to this meeting if you’re not staying at the Holiday Inn. Your guide will then pick you up the next morning for transport to the trailhead. This trip will conclude at approximately 5:00 PM on the last day.
7. A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. The single supplement applies to all nights on your trip and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.
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Standard inclusions
- Meals: Meals: 5 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 4 dinners.
- Transport: Private vehicle.
- Accommodation: Cabin (2 nights), Hotel (2 nights).
- Shuttle from Asheville to Townsend.
- Great Smoky Mountains National Park - Mountain Farm Museum visit - Townsend.
- Great Smoky Mountains National Park - Appalachian Trail hike.
- Great Smoky Mountains National Park - Highest Point visit - Townsend.
- Great Smoky Mountains National Park - Open air camp style hot breakfast - Townsend.
- Great Smoky Mountains National Park - Cades of Cove historic district visit.
- Great Smoky Mountains National Park - Waterfall hike - Townsend.
- Great Smoky Mountains National Park - Pioneer Cabins and Grotto Falls hike - Asheville.
- Great Smoky Mountains National Park - Midnight Hole Falls & Mouse Creek Falls hike - Asheville.
- Shuttle to Asheville.
- Blue Ridge Mountains - Linville Falls Viewpoints Hike.
- Blue Ridge Mountains - Table Rock Mountain Hike.
- Pisgah National Forest - Looking Glass Rock hike - Asheville.
- Pisgah National Forest - Looking Glass Falls visit - Asheville.
- Asheville - Blue Ridge Parkway scenic drive.
Itinerary
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Collapse allDay 1: Asheville to Townsend
Welcome to Asheville, North Carolina! Your Appalachian adventure will begin with a welcome meeting at your hotel, after which you’ll hit the road for a scenic drive along to the Oconoluftee entrance of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. A visit to the Mountain Farm Museum will provide a glimpse at the human history of the park, from the original Cherokee inhabitants to the Appalachian settlers of the 19th century. Then, you’ll head into nature for the first hike of your trip. Starting at Newfound Gap, follow the Appalachian Trail to the stone outcrop of Charlies Bunion where you’ll be provided panoramic mountain views. After descending, continue to your accommodation in Townsend, Tennessee, and head out for an Appalachian dinner to cap off the day’s efforts.
Day 2: Townsend
If the weather allows, start the day on the right note with a picnic breakfast at Cades Cove. There’ll also be the chance to explore the Cades Cove historic district, wandering through pioneer log cabins and restored churches while keeping an eye out for black bears, deer, elk and more! Then, you’ll set out on today’s hike, starting from the historic logging area Tremont. Following the Middle Prong of the Little River, make your way up to the Lynn Camp Prong Cascades where you’ll pause for a picnic lunch. A final push onward through the river valley takes you to the tranquillity of Indian Flats Falls, where there’ll be time for photos before you make your way back to the trailhead.
Day 3: Townsend to Asheville
Fuel up with a breakfast at a local family-owned restaurant before tackling the first of today’s two hikes. Head to the Roaring Fork Motor Trail, which offers rushing mountain streams and glimpses of old-growth forest on your way to the picturesque Grotto Falls. Follow the trail behind the torrents of tumbling water for a great photo opportunity! Lunch will take place alongside the Little Pigeon River, and the afternoon’s hike involves chasing two more waterfalls – Midnight Hole Falls and Mouse Creek Falls. Once you’ve finished the hike, a short shuttle ride will take you back to Asheville where local farm-to-table cuisine awaits.
Day 4: Asheville
From your new base in Asheville, you’ll head east to the stunning Blue Ridge Mountains. On the way, stop by the Pisgah National Forest and the Linville Falls Visitor Center. A short hike will take you through multiple viewpoints of the captivating falls – the area well and truly earns its Cherokee name of ‘the river of many cliffs’! You’ll then drive to your second hike, which’ll see you reach the top of Table Rock Mountain. At the distinctive peak there’ll be spectacular views back over the Linville Gorge, whose natural treasures you spent the morning discovering. If time allows, a final hike will take you to the fairytale-like waterfall at Crabtree Meadows, before the Blue Ridge Parkway offers more awe-inspiring Appalachian views on the drive home
Day 5: Asheville
It’s the last day but it certainly won’t be the least, as it’ll see you summit the iconic Looking Glass Rock. Rising above the lush forest below, the curved outcrops may look impossible to climb – but a hiking trail will provide a clear path. The summit will reward you with stunning, sweeping views back across rolling green hills, which you’ll have plenty of time to ponder as you have a picnic lunch. After leaving Looking Glass Rock, you’ll drive to Looking Glass Falls which itself looks plucked from a painting. Then head back along the Blue Ridge Parkway to Asheville, where you adventure will end on arrival.
Operator
Intrepid Travel
Intrepid is a small group tour travel company with humble beginnings that now sends over 100,000 travellers a year on grassroots and responsible travel tours.
Important Information
*Terms and conditions
Please note: We are proud to be an independent agent to travel providers of hotels, flights and other related services. We are not a tour operator. Details and information on the offer are provided by 3rd party businesses and although we do our best to verify the information, we cannot guarantee its accuracy on all occasions. These offers are not available in conjunction with any other offer unless otherwise stated. Pricing and availability are subject to change without notice.
For more information, please see Terms of Use
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$5,285
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4 nights
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