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Hiking the Best of Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Hiking the Best of Great Smoky Mountains National Park

From $ 5,285 AUD

Description

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!

Trip Name
Hiking the Best of Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Last Updated
2024-04-30
Days
5
Capacity
9
Highlights
  • Walk along sections of the historic Appalachian Trail, established over 100 years ago and now walked by nearly 3 million people a year.
  • Chase the magical waterfalls that make up some of North Carolina’s most photographed spots, and even walk behind the tumbling torrents of Grotto Falls.
  • Take in the scenic view from the Blue Ridge Parkway, an (officially) All-American Road that weaves its way through the Appalachians.
  • Learn about the history of the 19th century settlers and the original Cherokee inhabitants of the park during a vist to the Mountain Farm Museum.
  • Spend you nights in Appalachian lodges and cabins sitting just on the outskirts of the Smoky Mountains, allowing you to soak up the serenity of the park.

Itinerary

ITINERARY CHANGES Our itineraries are updated regularly throughout the year based on customer feedback and to reflect the current situation in each destination. The information included in this Essential Trip Information may therefore differ from when you first booked your trip. It's important that you review this information prior to travel so that you have the latest updates. Due to weather, local conditions, transport schedules, public holidays, political unrest or other factors, further changes may be necessary to your itinerary once in-country. Your group leader or local representative will keep you up to date with any such changes once your trip is underway. OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES A selection of optional activities that have been popular with past travellers are listed in the day-to-day itinerary. This isn't an exhaustive list and should be used as a guide only for some of what might be available. Prices are approximate, are for entrance fees only, and don’t include transport to and from the sites or local guides unless indicated. All activities are subject to availability, and maybe on a join-in basis. It may not be possible to do all the activities listed in the time available at each destination, so some pre-planning for what you are most interested in is advised. When it's recommended that travellers pre-book these activities, look for a note in the Special Information section of the day-to-day itinerary. For most, they can either be organised independently on the day, or let your group leader or local representative know you are interested at the Welcome Meeting and they can assist. Where activities are considered medium or high risk, we work with operators whose safety and credentials we have sighted and assessed. Although it is possible that you may find the same activity cheaper with another operator on the ground, we cannot vouch for the safety or quality of that operator. Medium and high-risk activities not listed above have not been assessed by us and as such our staff and group leader or local representative are unable to assist you with organising these activities. Activities that contravene our Responsible Travel policies are also not listed. Please remember that the decision to partake in any activity not listed is at your own discretion and risk. In order to travel on this trip, you: 1. Must be able to understand and recognize the risks and hazards inherent in the activities of the trip, must be able to decide to assume those risks and hazards and must actually and voluntarily assume those risks and hazards. 2. Must be able to withstand exposure to the outdoors including exposure to diverse climactic conditions during the trip, including temperatures ranging from below freezing to +100 degrees F, potentially rapidly changing precipitative conditions from dry conditions to precipitation including monsoons and flash floods, for the duration of the Program. 3. Must be able to monitor and evaluate changes in personal health condition including the onset of dehydration, hyponatremia, heat illness or stroke or hypothermia and must be able to communicate any changes in personal health condition or safety concerns to the guide(s). 4. Must be able to participate in all activities at the time scheduled for each activity; e.g. to beat the heat, guest pick-up and hike start times during summer months may range between 3-6 a.m. 5. Must be able to manage all personal care and mobility during extended periods of exertion of 10-plus hours per day, either independently or with the assistance of a companion or an approved assistive device. 6. Must be able to enter and exit a multi-passenger vehicle either independently or with the assistance of a companion or approved assistive device. 7. Must be able to withstand up to eight hours as a passenger in a multi-passenger vehicle, transporting up to 14 passengers at a time, either independently or with the assistance of a companion or an approved assistive device. 8. Must be able to immediately comprehend and follow verbal instructions either independently or with the assistance of a companion or approved assistive device. 9. Must be able to traverse wet and dry, sandy, rocky, uneven and/or unstable ground over a distance of 10-plus miles per day including elevation differential (gain and/or loss) of +3,000 feet per day, for a period of up to 10 hours per day, while carrying: a) BACKPACKING/BACKCOUNTRY TRIPS- a backpack weighing 25-50 pounds, b) FRONTCOUNTRY/LODGE, BASECAMP AND INN-BASED TRIPS - a fully loaded backpack weighing 10-15 pounds, either independently or with an assistance companion or an approved assistive device. 10. Must be able to self-manage and self-navigate unsupervised while in the designated camp area either independently or with the assistance of a companion or approved assistive device. 11. Must be able to perform basic camping activities including sleeping on the ground, consuming water from back country sources, consuming food prepared in a backcountry setting and maintaining personal health and hygiene in accordance with guide directives either independently or with the assistance of a companion or approved assistive device. The use of an assistive device to meet any element of the essential eligibility criteria must be approved in advance by Intrepid Travel.

Day 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.

Trip Dates

StartEndPrice FromRoom Type
19-05-202423-05-2024AUD $ 5,285-
20-05-202424-05-2024AUD $ 5,285-
10-06-202414-06-2024AUD $ 5,285-
15-09-202419-09-2024AUD $ 5,285-
23-09-202427-09-2024AUD $ 5,285-
07-10-202411-10-2024AUD $ 5,285-
14-10-202418-10-2024AUD $ 5,285-
28-10-202401-11-2024AUD $ 5,285-
11-11-202415-11-2024AUD $ 5,285-

Accommodation

Cabin (2 nights),Hotel (2 nights)

Transport

Private vehicle

Map