USA – 5 Days Blue Ridge Parkway to Great Smoky Mountains
Overview
Check off your bucket list with these 2 most popular destinations in the USA. The Blue Ridge Parkway is a National Parkway and All-American Road in the United States noted for its scenic beauty. The parkway, which is America’s longest linear park, runs for 469 miles through 29 Virginia and North Carolina counties, linking Shenandoah National Park to Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park straddles the border between North Carolina and Tennessee. The sprawling landscape encompasses lush forests and an abundance of wildflowers that bloom year-round. Streams, rivers and waterfalls appear along hiking routes that include a segment of the Appalachian Trail.
Highlights
Visited Places:
• The Blowing Rock – Charlotte, NC
• Grandfather Mountian
• Linville
• Linn Cove Viaduct
• Mount Mitchell
• Blue Ridge Parkway
• Asheville
• Grand Smoky Mt National Park
Travel Experience:
- Small groups adventure
- Road Trip
- Fall Foliage
- Hiking / Walking
- Local Cuisine
6 Reasons To Book This Trip
1. Affordable Adventure – Traveling with a like-minded group is not only fun but also it’s cost-effective instead of traveling solo.
2. Forget About The Planning – We take care of permits, transportation, and logistics, so all you have to do is show up.
3. Shared Photos – At the end of every trip we will have a google photo album where we share our wonderful tour pictures. We can also share to this website and multiply the memories!
4. Make New Friends – On every trip you will meet new people, it’s a good opportunity to make friends for your life while enjoying the group event.
5. Group Leader – Event organizer will be there every step of the way, making sure that the trip goes as smoothly as possible.
6. Unforgettable Memories – All events are designed keeping in mind to have an unforgettable memory of your lifetime.
Notes
Charlotte
Knoxville
USA
Flights
- Arrival: Day01 arrive Charlotte before 2pm
Airport: Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT)
- Return: Day05 anytime after 12pm
Airport: McGhee Tyson Airport (TYS)
Meeting Point
- The group meets at the arrival airport or at the hotel on Day01.
- More details will be provided via group chat on WhatsApp
Availability
- Seat available till the booking is open!
- Balance due 2 months before the tour departure date!
* Minimum number of members requires for all group tour. Please confirm with the organizer before any flight booking!
Itinerary
Charlotte
Description:
Arrival in Charlotte, transfer to the hotel near one of the Blue Ridge Parkway entrance. On the way stop at the popular stop Blowing Rock.
The Blowing Rock is an immense cliff 4,000 feet above sea level, overhanging Johns River Gorge 3,000 feet below. The phenomenon is so-called because the rocky walls of the gorge form a flume through which the northwest wind sweeps with such force that it returns light objects cast over the void.
Evening free time to relax and explore the closeby area at your leisure.
Activities Included:
- Airport transfer
- The Blowing Rock
Accommodation:
- Hotel near Blue Ridge Parkway
Grandfather Mt - Linville
Description:
Today after breakfast you will be heading to Grandfather Mountain is a North Carolina state park near Linville, NC. At 5,946 feet, it is the highest peak on the eastern escarpment of the Blue Ridge Mountains, one of the major chains of the Appalachian Mountains. You will start the exploration with Mile High Swinging Bridge, America’s highest suspension footbridge, was built to give visitors easy access to the breathtaking view from Grandfather Mountain’s Linville Peak. The 228-foot suspension bridge spans an 80-foot chasm at more than one mile in elevation.
Later continue the adventure with most popular hike MacRae Peak, it is one of 3 peaks on what’s known as Grandfather mountain. The route to MacRae goes in and out of wind dwarfed spruce and fir, across and around rock walls, and requires the use of cables and ladders to get to the peak.
After hike continues to make a photo stop at Linn Cove Viaduct is a 1,243 feet long, concrete segmental bridge which snakes around Grandfather Mountain. Before heading to the hotel, stop at the Linville Gorge to explore the area with a short hike and amazing waterfalls.
Activities Included:
- Sightseeing/walking
- Hiking
Meals Included:
- Breakfast
Accommodation:
- Hotel near Spruce Pine (Blue Ridge Parkway)
Mount Mitchell - Cherokee
Description:
Today after breakfast continue the road trip to Cherokee, NC while making multiple photo stop and popular hikes. You start with Mount Mitchell is the highest peak of the Appalachian Mountains and the highest peak in mainland eastern North America. Enjoy the 27-mile beautiful drive to Mount Mitchell, explore the area with a short hike Summit Trail is a 0.4 mile heavily trafficked out and back trail that features beautiful wildflowers and is good for all skill levels.
Next stop at Craggy Gardens offers one of the most dramatic viewpoints on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Stunning vistas of the Blue Ridge Mountains stretch far into Tennessee to the west and toward central North Carolina to the east.
A 1.4-mile round-trip hike to the top of the 5,892-ft. summit, Craggy Pinnacle. at Craggy Gardens. The exceptional panoramic 360-degree views are hard to beat in Western North Carolina’s the Blue Ridge Mountains
Next, while enjoying fall foliage, you will stop at the highest point on the Blue Ridge Parkway – Richland Balsam. And there’s a great highland hike that offers a cool hiking option on hot summer days. There are two overlooks for Richland Balsam, near Milepost 431.
Activities Included:
- Sightseeing/walking
- Hiking
Meals Included:
- Breakfast
Accommodation:
- Hotel near Cherokee
Great Smoky Mountains
Description:
Today you will explore the Great Smoky Mountains by doing some great hikes, overviews and waterfalls. You will start your day with:
Charlies Bunion, enjoy breathtaking mountain views along the world-famous Appalachian Trail on this hike to a picturesque stone outcrop known as Charlies Bunion.
Hiking Distance: 4.0 miles one way to Charlies Bunion
Trail Conditions: Elevation change of 1,600 feet; this is a firm-packed trail that traverses some exposed cliffs.
Climb Clingmans Dome
A 1-mile roundtrip hike from the parking lot, Clingmans Dome is the highest point along the Appalachian Trail at 6,643 feet. It’s also the highest point in Tennessee.
Laurel falls
Laurel Branch and the 80-foot high Laurel Falls are named for mountain laurel, the roundtrip distance to the waterfall is 2.6 miles – out and back trail and the hike is considered moderate in difficulty. It takes about 2 hours to hike to the waterfall and back.
Evening free time in and around Gatlinburg, TN.
Activities Included:
- Sightseeing / walking / hiking
Meals Included:
- Breakfast
Accommodation:
- Hotel near Gatlinburg
Knoxville
Description:
It’s time to say goodbye to your fellow travelers and the guide as the tour ends today. Hoping that you have captured the best moments on camera and packed in a host of travel memories to carry back home with you.
Activities Included:
- Airport transfer
Meals Included:
- Breakfast
Inclusions
Price Includes
- 4-nights hotel accommodations (Double Occupancy)
- Hotel breakfasts (mostly continental)
- Event host
- All ground transportation (SUV / VAN)
- Fabulous National Park Hikes / Walks
- Blue Ridge Parkway
- Entrance to all parks
Price Excludes
- Flights (If you are flying)
- Meals (other than mentioned above)
- Personal Expenses
- Tips
Reviews
