One of the best ways to explore the Smoky Mountains is with a professional guide! Whether you have a limited time in the Smokies or feel more comfortable with someone else navigating through the mountains, there are several fantastic options available! This is also a great way to learn about the history of the area while interacting with a guide who is happy to answer any of your questions! Here are the top 3 guided tours of the Smoky Mountains:
1. Newfound Gap Tour with Pink Adventure Tours
One of the top tours of the Smokies is the Newfound Gap Tour with Pink Adventure Tours! After boarding a Pink Jeep Wrangler, you will be off on your 3 hour adventure to experience stunning views from nearly a mile high at Newfound Gap! You’ll learn about the history of the towns along the way and get to enjoy a short interpretive walk along the West Prong of the Little Pigeon River. The return trip from Newfound Gap includes stops for more photos, as well as a breathtaking off-road ride through a trail on private land! Pink Adventure Tours offers several other guided tours of the Smoky Mountains too, including the Roaring Fork Tour, Foothills Parkway Tour, Gatlinburg Loop Tour, and Valleys & Views Tour.
2. Mountain Heritage Tour with Double Decker Bus Tours
The Mountain Heritage Tour is the perfect way to experience the most spectacular scenery in the Smokies! During this fun 3 hour tour, you will travel through Townsend and Wears Valley in style aboard an Executive Luxury Shuttle Bus. This tour is like traveling back in time as you learn about the fascinating history of Wears Valley that was settled back in 1792! The Townsend and Wears Valley area is a place that is rich in culture with historical churches and schools, which show what life was like in the mountains. Local wines, moonshine, crafts and stories are all a part of the Mountain Heritage Tour, so you won’t want to miss this exciting overview of the Smoky Mountains!
3. Cades Cove Mountain Loop Tour with A Walk in the Woods
Another one of the top guided tours is the Cades Cove Mountain Loop Tour with a Walk in the Woods! Since this tour is a guided full day hiking tour rather than a driving tour, it’s the ideal selection for those who prefer to explore by foot! Cades Cove is one of the most popular areas of the park and can get quite busy, but this walking tour allows you to experience the best of The Cove without the crowds! The hike starts by passing the cabin of the first permanent settler of Cades Cove, then turns up into the mountains that protected settlers for generations! Throughout the 8 hour hike, you are likely to encounter many types of wildflowers, views of the surrounding valleys, and perhaps even a glimpse of the American black bear! A Walk in the Woods also offers several more guided full day and half day hikes that visit some of the other beautiful areas in the Smokies!
Although these guided tours of the Smoky Mountains take place by vehicle or on foot, did you know that you can also explore the Smokies by horseback? Check out this information about horseback riding in the Smokies!
