Best of the Smokies and Asheville
Asheville, NC
5.0 (53 reviews)Trip Highlights
- Smoky Mountain Hikes
- Asheville Area Hikes
- Wonderful Accommodations
- Diversity, Beauty & Adventure
- Fascinating Natural & Cultural History
- Impressive Cascading Waterfalls
- Guides Choice Trip
Description
Our 5-Day Best of the Smokies and Asheville hiking tour combines the highlights of Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the amazing Asheville Area Mountains into one all-inclusive, purely Appalachian outdoor hiking vacation. You’ll intimately experience the Smokies’ diverse forests, waterfalls, historical sites, scenic drives, sweeping vistas, and the famous Appalachian Trail. Then we’ll move on to some of Appalachia’s best hikes in the Blue Ridge Mountains. This is all in one action-packed hiking package! We’ve also meticulously handpicked the inns/hotels and restaurants to make your week as comfortable and enriching as possible!
Our hikes focus on 5 areas of the Great Smoky Mountains and the Asheville Area, giving you a comprehensive experience of Appalachia, and we stay in different charming accommodations that are unique and historical in their own right. The meals are a combination of picnic and trail meals prepared by your guide and restaurant meals at carefully selected, award-winning establishments that reflect the local color and culture of Appalachia.
$650 Single Supplement
Unless otherwise requested, we will attempt to find you a roommate of the same gender. If you would like a single room, the single supplement will apply.
DIFFICULTY LEVEL 3
Scale of 1-5. 1 is least difficult; 5 is most difficult
This trip travels along maintained trails. Day 1 will be the toughest along the Appalachian Trail then moves to “rails to trails” type of routes on days 2 and 3. There is moderate elevation gain that can be rocky. Light exposure on day 1 that can be avoided if needed. Day 4 and 5 will be along rougher trails that are in designated Wildernesses that do not see a lot of maintenance.
Hiking Distances:

6-8 mi
Backpack Weight:

8-12 lbs
Terrain:

Moderately Rugged
Max Daily Elev. ↑↓:

1650 ft
Heights Exposure:

Light
PHYSICAL DEMANDS OF THIS TRIP
- Hiking uphill or downhill with a 8-12 lb backpack for 5-7 hours
- Maintaining balance and footing on moderately rugged terrain
SOLITUDE LEVEL 2
1 least solitude, 5 most solitude
We rate this Great Smoky Mountains backpacking trip a solitude 2. You can expect as much as an hour of solitude at a time.
TRAVEL TO ASHEVILLE
All North Carolina trips begin and end from Asheville, North Carolina. Asheville has an airport served by Allegiant Air, Delta, United, and US Airways. One can also fly into Greenville, South Carolina or Charlotte, North Carolina and drive to Asheville. It is a 1.5-hour drive from Greenville to Asheville and a 2-hour drive from Charlotte on good roads.
FROM ASHEVILLE AIRPORT
Asheville Airport Express (http://www.ashevilleairportexpress.com, 828-231-1053) and Harry’s Car Service run (828-774-8178) shuttles to and from downtown. Also a number of taxis are usually available on the curb in the Arrivals area.
FROM GREENVILLE/CHARLOTTE
Asheville Airport Express also runs daily vans from Charlotte and Greenville to Asheville.
CAR RENTALS
Avis: 800-331-1212; Hertz 800-654- 3131; National: 800-227-7368; Thrifty: 800-367-2277; Alamo: 800-327-9633
MINIMUM OF 2 GUESTS
If a trip does not reach the minimum number of guests, you may choose to transfer to another trip date or another trip, be refunded your payments in full, or you may have the choice to pay a supplemental fee to run the trip with fewer guests. We make the final determination for these trips 4-6 weeks before the departure date, and notify guests of changes and options immediately.
Private Trips
Travel in perfect company by booking a private trip exclusively for your group!
Our sliding scale for private trips is based on the final number of guests in your group. Rates are per person and do not include sales tax, national park fees or guide gratuity. The final rate is based on the actual number of guests on the trip and may adjust based on cancellations or additions.
Please Note: you can also enjoy a private trip at our normal scheduled rates by filling any empty tour to capacity. However, if group members drop from the tour those spots will automatically become available on our website for instant booking. By purchasing a private trip at the rates listed below, your trip will remain exclusive to your group regardless of cancellations.Â
Private Rates FOr This Trip
- 2 People: Rate x 2.5
- 3 People: Rate x 2
- 4 People: Rate x 1.5
- 5+ People: Rate x 1.15
*all rates are per person and single supplements apply
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