Best Of The Smokies

5 days
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Small Group Tour
Our Best of the Smokies combines the highlights of the Smokies into one all-inclusive, purely Appalachian outdoor vacation. You'll intimately experience the Smokies' diverse forests, waterfalls, historical sites, scenic drives, sweeping vistas, and the famous Appalachian Trail all in one action-packed hiking package. We've also meticulously handpicked the inn...

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Overview

Trip type
Small Group Tour
Lodging level
Basic - 2 star
Physical level
Strenuous
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Highlights

    • The Park's best hikes
    • Diversity, beauty and adventure
    • Most historically rich areas of the Smokies
    • Wonderful, hand-picked accommodations
    • All-around experience of the Smokies
    • The park's most impressive cascading waterfalls

What's this trip about?

    Our Best of the Smokies combines the highlights of the Smokies into one all-inclusive, purely Appalachian outdoor vacation. You'll intimately experience the Smokies' diverse forests, waterfalls, historical sites, scenic drives, sweeping vistas, and the famous Appalachian Trail 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 all areas of the Park, giving you a comprehensive experience of the Smokies, and we stay in different charming Appalachian towns 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.

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Details

Itinerary focusActive and Outdoor Sports
Group sizeIntimate group - max of 9 people
Age rangeNo age restrictions
Flights and transportAll internal ground transport included
Start CityAsheville
End CityAsheville

Travel Themes

  • Hiking & Walking
  • National Parks
  • Nature & Wildlife

Destinations

  • North America
  • United States

Activities

  • Culture
  • Hiking
  • Nature
  • Photography
  • Wildlife viewing

Trip includes

    • 4 nights of lodging at local, hand-picked, Appalachian inns, hotels and/or cabins (Lodging Details)
    • Dinners at local restaurants selected for their local color and great food
    • Breakfasts, picnic lunches prepared by your guide, and trail snacks
    • Use of a day pack and trekking poles
    • A professional, knowledgeable, certified Great Smoky Mountains hiking guide
    • Transportation for the duration of the tour originating and concluding in Asheville, NC
    • Emergency equipment including a company-issued first-aid kit and satellite phone
    • You will receive a Lifetime Hiking Membership entitling you, your spouse and kids to a lifetime discount of 10% off any Wildland Trekking hiking trip after your first one!

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Itinerary

Travel Map

Day 1

Shuttle to the Smokies: 1.5-hour drive from Asheville

Hiking Mileage: 8 miles

Elevation Gain/Loss: 1300 feet

Accommodations: Dancing Bear Cabins

This inn-based Great Smoky Mountains hiking tour starts with a scenic drive from Asheville to t...

Day 2

Shuttle to trailhead: 30 minutes

Hiking Mileage: 8 miles

Elevation Gain/Loss: 1140 feet

Accommodations: Dancing Bear Cabins

Today starts with a hearty Appalachian breakfast cooked by your guide at the Cades Cove Picnic area (weather dependi...

Day 3

Shuttle to Newfound Gap: 1-2 hours

Hiking Mileage: appx 8 miles

Elevation Gain/Loss: 1640 feet

Accommodations: The Everett Hotel and Bistro

Our third day starts with another amazing breakfast cooked by your guide in one of the Park’s picnic...

Day 4

Shuttle to trailhead: appx 45 minutes

Hiking Mileage: 7.5 miles

Elevation Gain/Loss: 900 feet

Accommodations: The Everett Hotel and Bistro

Today starts with breakfast in Bryson City. After eating, we will head over to the highest dam East o...

Day 5

Shuttle to trailhead: appx 20 minutes

Hiking Mileage: appx 5 miles

Elevation Gain/Loss: 600 feet

Shuttle to Asheville: 1.5-hour drive

The final day of our Appalachian Hiking Experience begins with a loop hike in the Deep Creek area. During ...

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Dates & Availability

Price From $2,095
Price per day$419
Single supplement (single occupancy)$300
Last Updated: 12/24/2021

Check Current Availability, prices, specials with Wildland Trekking.

The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.

Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.

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Unforgettable Hiking Vacations

 

What we offer is specific - unforgettable hiking vacations - but our focus is broad in terms of destinations and trip styles. We have a tour that fits nearly anyone who loves to hike in world-renowned, breathtaking landscapes. For people seeking solitude, wildness and adventure, a backpacking trip is a sure choice. Folks interested in a backcountry experience but without the heavier packs should consider one of our stock/porter supported trips. For people seeking an outdoor experience but with showers and comfortable amenities, a basecamp trip is an excellent choice. And for guests interested in really living it up while getting great hikes in, our inn-based trips are wonderful options. Regardless of what you're looking for, it's very likely we have a trip for you!

 

Exceptional Guest Reviews:

With more than 7,000 people joining our tours annually, we have a proven track record of providing quality trips that exceed our guests' expectations. You can read reviews on Trip Advisor, Facebook, and on our website.

Highly Acclaimed Guides:

Our absolute commitment is to hire and train the best guides in the industry. Our philosophy is that our guides, gear, food and logistics comprise our product, and the guides are the most important ingredient!

Top-Notch Meals And Gear

Concerning gear: every guest travels with as much as $1,000 retail value of top-of-the-line gear we provide. As for meals: we carry real ingredients and the guides create the menus specifically for each group!

Wild land Trekking Today

Today we accommodate more than 8,000 guests annually. We operate hiking and backpacking tours in over 20 parks and wilderness areas in 9 different U.S. states, and in 9 countries. We run a variety of "trip styles" including hiking tours, backpacking trips, llama-supported treks, and ski and snowshoe tours. We employ more than 120 staff and have 5 offices in Arizona, Utah, Montana, California and North Carolina. And we donate more than tens of thousands of dollars annually to conservation and non-profit efforts worldwide.

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Logistics

What's excluded

    • Clothes, raingear, and footwear
    • Sunscreen, toiletries and personal items
    • Water bottles and a headlamp or flashlight
    • Guide gratuity (industry recommendation is 10-20% of trip cost)

Accommodation

,Dancing Bear Cabins - 2 Nights This unique and inviting Appalachian lodge and cabins offers relaxation and natural beauty with wonderful accommodations and 38 forested acres on the Peaceful Side of the Smokies! Everett Hotel - 2 Nights Situated in the heart of Bryson City’s historic district and overlooking the charming town square, this luxury boutique hotel has magnificent mountain views and perfectly cozy rooms.
Guides
Guides Your tour will be led by a trained, experienced professional with a solid guiding background, years of personal wilderness and hiking experience, medical certifications, and a passion for leading people into breathtaking landscapes. Check out our Meet Our Team page for staff bios. Guide Working Parameters Guides are required to take 8 hours off each 24-hour period to sleep, recuperate, take personal/down time...etc. In addition, as part of the 8 hours off they must sleep/rest or be in their tents/rooms uninterrupted for a minimum of 5 hours each night. We ask guests to respect these requirements and to not interrupt guides' off time and sleep time unless there is a true emergency.
Travel Insurance
We strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance alongside your travel package to safeguard against unforeseen circumstances such as medical expenses, trip cancellations, and other contingencies. It offers you peace of mind and ensures you are prepared for unexpected events that may occur before or during your journey
Visa requirements
Visa requirements vary depending on your country of origin and your country of destination. It is your responsibility to familiarize yourself with the relevant requirements. For a handy tool that can help you quickly find the requirements, please visit this link .
Age Requirements
No age restrictions
12 and older to join scheduled tours (mixed groups) 5 and older to join private tours, with final approval and specific logistical requirements (such as porter or stock assist) determined on a case by case basis
Additional Information

Please Note: We always do everything in our power to follow the set itinerary, however it can change occasionally based on temporary access restrictions, weather, lodging/campground availability, guest ability/injury, natural events like fires and flooding, and other potential causes.

Meals: What To Expect

This tour features a combination of restaurant meals and meals prepared by your guide. We provide breakfasts and lunches for the trip. For optimal taste and energy, we supplement all our meals with spices, herbs, oils, cheeses, butter, sugar, and fruits and vegetables. In addition, we provide you with with an assortment of trail mix, snacks, and dried fruits to eat at your own discretion.

We regularly accommodate vegan, vegetarian, kosher and non-gluten diets and will make adjustments for food allergies. These and other special dietary requests may require an additional fee.

Gear We Provide

We provide all group gear which includes the following:

Deuter or Osprey backpacks

Leki or Black Diamond trekking poles

Company-issued first-aid kit

Satellite phone

What Gear To Bring

We ask that you supply a couple of gear items on your hiking tour. These items are two 1-liter water bottles per person and either a headlamp or flashlight per person. Basic items like sunscreen, bug repellent, lip balm, and toiletries are also important. All of these items are available online at Wildland Trekking Outfitters.

What Clothes To Bring

Please refer to the trip packet for a recommended clothing list (we email you a detailed trip packet when you inquire and when you register). All trips require a sturdy pair of hiking shoes or hiking boots (reliable brands include Montrail, Lowa, Merrell, Vasque, and Salomon), rain gear, and non-cotton clothing layers. A minimum of three pairs of wool or synthetic hiking socks are also required. All of these items are available online at Wildland Trekking Outfitters.

Trip ID
wildla1-BesSmoWil

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