Top North Carolina Half-day Tours

Hike the best of the Blue Ridge Parkway on this guided day trip to three scenic waterfalls from Asheville. Take in views of the mountains as you tour the classic road in a comfortable van and hear stories about the area’s natural history and culture from your local guide. Watch for blooming laurels and rhododendron as you walk the easy to moderate trails through lush oak and hickory forests. Enjoy light refreshments along the way with plenty of time to relax by the falls before returning to Asheville.

Explore the "Paris of the South"—Asheville, North Carolina—on a Segway during this 2-hour guided tour. Traveling via Segway allows you to cover much more ground than you would on foot, which makes this a great comprehensive tour for first-time visitors. You'll get lessons on how to maneuver the 2-wheeled, self-balancing electric scooter before you depart; even beginners will feel safe and comfortable.

Horseback riding through the Blue Ridge Mountains is a beautiful way to explore the area’s natural attractions. Trot through fern groves, past rows of wild flame azaleas, and into a white pine forest on well-trained, gentle horses. This tour includes a safety training, too, making it a good choice for beginner horseback riders and children.

Discover the best of Asheville on this 2-Hour Public or Private Guided Sightseeing Walking Tour with Local Guide. As you take in some of the historical city sites, make your way over to a few local cafes, breweries, and distilleries for some bonus tastings. This tip-based tour allows you to pay what you think it’s worth in the end! You will learn how Asheville became the unique, quirky city you see now and what we are doing to "Keep Asheville Weird." Your Local Guide will lead you along the Urban Trail, passing by top sites such as the Flatiron Building, Basilica of St Lawrence, Vance Memorial, and Grove Arcade. Stop along the way for a private tour of Leaf Global Arts Center spirits at Cultivated Cocktails Distillery, and a beer at Twin Leaf Brewery (tickets provided for BOGO at the end) Tastings are provided by local businesses who provide them when open/available. No spirits on Sundays

Take a spooky stroll through the streets of downtown Asheville on this ghost walking tour. Led by an expert local guide, learn about the area’s hair-raising tales and dark history, like the woman who haunts the Omni Grove Park Inn, the body entombed in the wall of the Basilica of St. Lawrence and much more. It's a fascinating, spine-tingling adventure.

Discover Asheville’s noteworthy landmarks and architectural gems while covering plenty of ground. This 2.5-hour tour by electric bike lets you safely navigate Asheville’s hilly terrain. Follow your guide through city streets, greenways, and picturesque neighborhoods. At carefully chosen viewpoints, you’ll stop to hear the stories behind historical sites. Numbers are limited to seven riders per tour to ensure personalized attention.

As featured in Southern Living Magazine and MSN News, discover the authentic beauty of the Blue Ridge Parkway with a naturalist guide to show you the best vistas, photo spots, and waterfalls that make Asheville famous. This intimate, small-group tour makes it easy to get to know your experienced, expert guide and learn more about the region. -Learn about the area’s history, plants, and wildlife from your naturalist guide -Visit famous waterfalls and ones that most tourists miss -See the best of the Blue Ridge Parkway’s expansive mountain views

Explore some of Asheville's most haunted and paranormally-active historic locations during this Guided Night-Time Walking Ghost Tour. Learn the truth behind Asheville’s gruesome and chilling history as your knowledgeable guide walks you past top sites such as the Basilica of St. Lawrence, The Legal Building, Battery Park Hotel, and Pack's Tavern while recounting chilling tales set back during the Great Depression, Prohibition, and the Gilded Age. Travelers have the option of selecting the standard 60-minute tour which includes 8 stops, or opt for the extended tour which lasts 90-minutes and visits an additional 4 stops (12 stops total). Tour Highlights: • Guided Night-Time Walking Ghost Tour of Asheville • Standard 60-Minute or Extended 90-Minute Tour Options • Hear haunted tales of Asheville set back during the Great Depression, Prohibition, and Gilded Age. • Learn the chilling history as you visit sites such as Basilica of St. Lawrence & Battery Park Hotel. • Knowledgeable Guides

During our half day hiking tours, you and your guide will check out one of our favorite hikes in the Asheville area! Hikes are easy to moderate, and average 3 to 5 miles. We typically feature a hike on the Blue Ridge Parkway (ex: Mt Pisgah, Black Balsam Knob, Rattlesnake Lodge, Hawkbill, etc) on Saturdays and the Appalachian Trail (ex: Max Patch, Rich Mountain Firetower, Lovers Leap, etc) on Sundays. Transportation and snacks are included, and our group size is limited to 5 guests to ensure an intimate experience for everyone. Blue Ridge Hiking Company has been in business for 13 years; we believe the trail is there for everyone at every phase of life. We have a team of professional guides with a variety of different backgrounds who have a wealth of knowledge on local fora, fauna, and history of the area. Minimum of 2 hikers required for tour to operate.

We’ll work directly with you to create a custom, private tour that is perfect for you and your photography interests. Together we'll pick locations that fit your interests and your desired amount of hiking, from a couple of miles to no hiking at all. This is ideal for travelers looking to go off the beaten path. And we pick you up! We offer small, private tours that focus on helping you capture better photos. Our tours take you to the most breathtaking locations across the Blue Ridge Mountains that only the locals know about. Our award-winning photographers know the Blue Ridge Mountains better than anyone else in the area! We are currently open and taking safety precautions for our guests! Visit our website to learn how we're handling COVID.

Join us for a waterfall hiking tour and see some of the Western NC's famous waterfalls! Your guide will meet you at our downtown Asheville location then drive you to the trailhead. You'll enjoy a 3-5 mile hike, featuring one or more waterfalls (depending on the location). Our tours are designed for beginner to intermediate hikers, but are beautiful enough that even the most seasoned hiker will have a great time! Your hike could be in Pisgah National Forest, Dupont State Forest, or Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Your guide will select the best hike for the day based on factors like weather, trail conditions, and participant fitness level. All of our guides have extensive hiking and backpacking experience, and all hold CPR and Wilderness First Aid (or higher) medical certifications. Minimum of 2 hikers required for tour to operate.

Paddle 7 miles (11 km) with a private guide on the picturesque French Broad River. You’ll pass by Asheville’s massive Biltmore Estate and hear about its history. Learn stand-up paddleboarding tips and techniques from your SUP instructor and keep an eye out for native wildlife like turtles, herons, otters, and osprey. Enjoy the fresh air and exercise during a morning or afternoon.

The captain works with the guest to design a custom outing based on his 30 years of cruising experience in the local area. With knowledge of the local sea conditions and coastal ecology. you build a custom experience. Typically, Guests experience: * Offshore sailing * Relaxing in secluded Anchorages * Intracoastal Excursions *Transits to Wilmington or Southport (return fee not included)

Discover the scenic views, mountain trails, wildlife, and plants of the Blue Ridge Mountains with a local guide to lead the way. With so much to see in the region, nature lovers can get overwhelmed deciding where to go and what attractions to prioritize. By traveling with a guide you don’t have to worry about the logistics and can rest assured you don’t miss any of the highlights.

This is a chance to float down the third oldest river in the USA. This is a chance to get out of the house and enjoy a fun time on the river with your family or close friends.

The Blue Ridge parkway Scenic driving tour is chauffered by a certified Naturalist that can tell you all about the flora, fauna an history of the parkway. He will stop at great vistas for photo opportunities and for some short hikes if the guests would like to.

Join us for an evening hike featuring one of the most beautiful aspects of our area - our sunset! We will start hiking while it is still daylight, and hopefully catch a sunset at a western-facing peak close to town. Snacks are provided while we watch sunset. After sunset, we'll hike back down to the trailhead. The hike will likely finish in the dark, so each participant will be given a headlamp to use during the trip. We have a couple of hike options to choose from - ranging from 1.5 to 5 miles and from easy to moderate in difficulty. You'll work with your guide to select the best hike location for you! Curious about the other hikes we offer? Check out our website.

Need a guide to help you find the elk in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park? We’re offering just that! We currently have a 100% success rate in finding the elk! For our private Half-Day Elk & Waterfall Photo Tour, we put a lot of effort into thinking about what would be the most enjoyable half-day winter tour we could possibly put together. What we came up with is a trip that takes you about an hour west of Asheville out to Great Smoky Mountain National Park to see the elk herds in Cataloochee Valley and visit a couple of waterfalls. Our Elk & Waterfall tours are very adventurous and sure to please! We know when and where to find the elk We can get you (safely) close to the animals! We’ll make sure you have the right settings to capture the elk! Things we'll cover on this tour: - Long exposure settings for getting smooth, silky waterfall effects - What filters to use and why - The best settings to use for wildlife - And so much more!

This is a certified naturalist led kayak tour around Lake Lure, located in the North Carolina Mountains. A serene lake and blue sky...what could be better? Your guide will also point out local flora and fauna and talk to you about the history of the area. Feel free to jump in and swim!

Lead by a certified naturalist, the Lake James kayak tour is a half day tour spent on a serene lake beneath blue skies. Along the way your guide will point out the flora and fauna of the area along with some history.

The Blue Ridge Mountains are one of the oldest ranges in the world, arising from tectonic plates colliding hundreds of millions of years ago. With misty mountains, winding roads, and sprawling green vistas, the blue mountain parkway is one of America's most beautiful drives. The Blue Ridge Mountains in North Carolina are stunning no matter the season - with fresh blossoms in the spring, rushing waterfalls in the summer, rusty autumnal colours in the fall, and peaceful snow cover in winter. On your private excursion, your guide will take you through the mountains on the Blue Ridge Parkway, where you will enjoy several scenic highlights and have the opportunity to hike, should you wish to. You will stop for lunch in a quaint town, where your guide will recommend a place for the best Southern food and hospitality. After a day spent exploring the towns dotting the highway and the striking geological features of the ridge, your guide will drive you back to your hotel in Asheville.