Blue Ridge & Smoky Mountains
From $1399 (was $1649)
Per person, double occupancy, excludes roundtrip airfare
8 Days
View Dates and PricesThis program is currently sold out but new dates are coming soon! Call 877-332-6185 for more details.
Blue Ridge Parkway & Smoky Mountains Tour Details
Experience the spectacular natural beauty of the Blue Ridge Parkway on this unforgettable journey from the Appalachian Highlands through the Smoky Mountains, Kentucky Bluegrass Country, and all the way down to Music City, Tennessee.
Tour Includes
Sightseeing- Charlotte
- Grandfather Mountain
- Boone
- Biltmore Estate
- Asheville
- Great Smoky Mountains National Park
- Pigeon Forge
- Cumberland Gap National Historic Site
- Louisville
- Nashville
- 7 Nights
- Moderate hotels based on twin/double occupancy
- 7 Breakfasts and 1 Lunch
- A professionally trained local tour director who is knowledgeable of the area and will provide you with a wealth of information. Their friendly service will make your trip a memorable experience.
- To and from your hotel room throughout your land tour for one piece of Checked Baggage per person.
Activity Level
Click here for full details.
Tour Highlights
- Travel down the Blue Ridge Parkway
- Walk the Mile High Swinging Bridge at Grandfather Mountain State Park
- Explore the Biltmore Estate, the largest house in America
- Learn about the Cherokee Nation at the Museum of the Cherokee Indian
- Experience the beauty of the Great Smoky Mountains from the top of Clingmans Dome
- Visit the Kentucky Derby Museum
- Backstage tour of the famous Grand Ole Opry House
Mandatory Vaccinations Against COVID-19
All guests, including minors, must be fully vaccinated, at least 2 weeks prior to departure, to participate. Guest vaccination requirements are currently for all departures until further notice.
*Web prices reflect Instant Rebate pricing. Offers valid for new bookings only and subject to availability. Offer may be cancelled at any time.
Please follow the steps below to price your vacation with YMT Vacations. When you complete all the steps, click “Reserve” next to the date on which you would like to travel.
Step 1
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| Depart | Base Price | Taxes & Fees | Single Supplement | Triple Reduction | Quad Reduction | Flight Cost | Total Price per person | ||||||
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(Click the map to enlarge)
Blue Ridge & Smoky Mountains
Blue Ridge & Smoky Mountains
Tours Starts: Charlotte, North Carolina
Tours Ends: Nashville, Tennessee
Day 1
Arrive in Charlotte
Welcome to Charlotte, the Queen City! If you purchased airline tickets from YMT, a representative will meet you at the airport and transport you to the hotel.
Home2 Charlotte Uptown or similar
Day 2
Boone via Henry River Mill Village
As you travel from Charlotte to Boone you’ll
have a chance to step back in time to the last
century on a guided tour to learn about the rich
heritage of western Carolina mill towns. You'll
visit the Henry River Mill Village Historic District.
In 1860 the Henry River area was known for
its waterpower and by 1905 two families had
partnered together to establish the Henry River
Manufacturing Company. You’ll
have time on your own to explore the historic area.
Take the scenic route on the Blue Ridge
Parkway. “America’s Favorite Drive” is a U.S.
National Parkway that winds 469 miles through
the rugged mountains and pastoral landscapes
of the Appalachian Highlands.
Spend the afternoon relaxing in Boone. This
evening, you’re invited on an optional dinner
show. "Horn in the West" is a dramatization of
the life and times of the early local settlers,
including Daniel Boone. (B)
La Quinta Inn Boone or similar
Day 3
Grandfather Mountain and Asheville via Biltmore Estate
This morning you will vist Grandfather Mountain
State Park, known for its incredible vistas and
unmatched ecological diversity. The Mile High
Swinging Bridge, found at the top of the park, is
America’s highest suspension footbridge.
Take the Blue Ridge Parkway to Asheville,
crossing the iconic Linn Cove Viaduct. This
dazzling bridge hugs the side of Grandfather
Mountain and creates the illusion of being
suspended in midair above the lush vegetation.
Its views can’t be beat!
Next, stop at the magnificent Biltmore Estate.
Completed in 1895, George Vanderbilt’s 250-
room chateau is as impressive today as it was
more than a century ago. Biltmore House is truly
a wonder of architecture and hospitality. Enjoy
a self-guided tour of the house, as well as the
beautiful gardens and grounds surrounding it,
which were designed by renowned landscape
architect Frederick Law Olmsted. (B)
Holiday Inn Express Asheville Southwest or similar
Day 4
Pigeon Forge via Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Continue down the Blue Ridge Parkway, then
stop at the Museum of the Cherokee Indian
in the town of Cherokee. Experience 13,000
years of Cherokee history, from the time when
mastodons roamed the southern Appalachians
to the present day. The Cherokee story is told
through computer generated animation and
special effects, life-sized figures, artwork, and
priceless artifacts.
Continue to Clingmans Dome, which at 6,643
feet is the highest point in the Great Smoky
Mountains National Park. Enjoy spectacular
views of the Smoky Mountains and the
surrounding high elevation spruce-fir forest.
Your evening in Pigeon Forge is yours to
enjoy, or you may sign up for the optional Dolly
Parton's Stampede dinner show. (B)
Hampton Inn Pigeon Forge or similar
Day 5
Louisville
Welcome to Kentucky’s Cumberland Gap
National Historic Site, the first great gateway
to the west. History was made here: follow the
buffalo, the Native American, the longhunter,
and the pioneer, who all traveled this route
through the mountains into the wilderness of
Kentucky.
After a beautiful drive through the Daniel Boone
National Forest, get settled at your hotel. This
evening, you’re invited to sit down and savor the
finer things with your fellow guests at a bourbon
tasting, followed by an included dinner. (B, D)
Hampton Inn Louisville Northeast or simila
Day 6
Louisville & Nashville
Spend the day in Louisville. Visit the Kentucky
Derby Museum, where you will learn all about
“The Greatest Two Minutes in Sports.” Hear
about past Derby winners and the rich history
of Churchill Downs. Walk through the property
to the paddock and out to the grandstand,
learning trivia and fun facts along the way.
From horseracing, “the sport of kings,”
continue to a mecca of America’s pastime.
The Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory is
all about celebrating the extraordinary role of
the Louisville Slugger bat in baseball’s past,
present, and future. Since the sport is such a
big part of American history and culture, even
visitors who don’t consider themselves big fans
find something that resonates with them. Travel
to Nashville for an evening at leisure. (B, L)
The Inn at Opryland or similar
Day 7
Nashville
Nashville is home to the iconic Grand Ole Opry.
Discover the best the legendary Music City
has to offer. Experience Nashville’s landmarks
and sites on a city tour including the Historic
Downtown District and “Honky Tonk Row,”
Riverfront Park, the Tennessee State Capitol,
Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park, the
Parthenon, Vanderbilt University, and Music Row.
After lunch on your own, head to the Grand Ole
Opry House, which debuted in 1974. Experience
a fully guided backstage tour and see where
the world’s longest-running live radio show is
still performed. Walk in the footsteps of country
music's legends and get an exclusive behindthe-
scenes look at this world-famous show. (B)
The Inn at Opryland or similar
OPTION: GRAND OLE OPRY SHOW:
See the Grand Ole Opry, the show that made country music famous, which features a dynamic line-up of new stars, superstars, and legends of country music. Balcony seating $65 p/p. Please add this option at time of booking. Please note that artists and schedule are subject to change without notice
Day 8
Depart for Home (B)
Please note that this is a proposed itinerary; the actual itinerary may vary due to season, special events, or weather. Hotels may differ depending on date. Because our tour arrangements are often made a year or more in advance, YMT Vacations reserves the right to alter the itinerary. Itinerary changes are made to improve your vacation experience, as well as respond to any unforeseen circumstances that mandate alterations. By their nature, all tour vacations involve a certain level of physical activity. While YMT tours have been designed with our guests in mind and are not physically demanding, this tour does include walking and periods of standing during the sightseeing visits. You will also encounter steps and some uneven ground along the way, particularly at older, historical sights. Please ask your Travel Consultant for more information.
YMT Vacations itineraries may contain suggestions for activities for your leisure time; these suggestions do not constitute a recommendation nor an endorsement of any specific service provider and the decision to participate in any such activities should be made independently.
FAQ
Don't see what you are looking for? Check out our general FAQ page here.
You have the ability to move your booking to another date or destination. We'll waive all land or cruise penalties and transfer you to the new vacation (airlines impose different change policies and penalties). See our Peace of Mind Program for more details.
A worry-free experience for our guests is very important to us. With guest's help and the implementation of a few changes and new protocols such as increased sanitization, responsible social distancing, and enhanced tour director training, you can continue to enjoy peace-of-mind while traveling. For more information on our new safety protocols, please see our Travel Safe Program.
Guests do not need a passport or visa for this tour. Starting October 1, 2021, guests are required to have a REAL ID-compliant identification which includes REAL ID-compliant driver's licenses, US passports, US passport cards, US military IDs, and federally recognized tribal-issues photo IDs.
A full list can be found here:
https://www.tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/identification
Before this date, any government-issued ID, including any state driver's license and any federal ID, will suffice.
You will need U.S. dollars.
No, guests will not need to bring adapters or converters as the U.S. use standard 110V plugs.
