Top Asheville Day Trips

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.

Visit the Blue Ridge Mountains with your own private guide on this tour from Asheville. You'll visit the scenic Blue Ridge Parkway, go on a quick hike in the Pisgah National Forest, and see Mount Mitchell, the highest point east of the Mississippi. You'll also stop in the towns of Blowing Rock and Swannanoa before heading back to Asheville.

Discover the natural beauty that lies just outside of Asheville by booking a guided hike. This private experience can be tailored to your needs and preferences, whether you want a challenging adventure or an easy-going walk. Depending on where you go, your tour may include waterfalls, mountain views, or biodiverse forests.

Sharpen your photography skills with a custom half-day photo tour from Asheville. Get picked up at your hotel and meet your guide for a private photography-focused tour. Personalize the itinerary according to your interests and set out for a trip into the Blue Ridge Mountains. Learn new techniques from a professional photographer and bring home stellar photographs.

Come join us on the trails for an easy-moderate hike and a relaxing, guided meditation in nature. Soothe your nervous system and ground into the healing powers of the earth with a guided sensory-meditation and sound-healing experience aimed at helping you connect with the earth and melting away stress. We will hike for about an hour at an agreeable pace for the group, then stop in a secluded spot for our meditation which will include a combination of sensory activation, chimes and/or drumming. There will be some time to explore the area before heading back to the trailhead refreshed and relaxed! Snacks and transportation are included; please specify dietary restrictions when booking. Tour requires a minimum of 2 hikers to operate. Blue Ridge Hiking Company has been in business for 13 years; we believe the trail is there for everyone at every phase of life. All guides are certified in Wilderness First Aid and CPR, and knowledgeable in local history, flora, and fauna.

Maximize time in Downtown Asheville with a sightseeing tour led by a local guide. Learn about Asheville's history and culture during a city stroll that includes breweries, distilleries, cafes, and historic sites. See popular landmarks like the Basilica of St. Lawrence, Grove Arcade, and the Leaf Global Arts Center. Taste local beer and spirits during brewery and distillery visits. In lieu of a tour ticket, tip your guide whatever amount you find fair.

Maximize time in Asheville with a guided walking tour focused on the city’s history, architecture, and culture. Meet your guide for a sightseeing tour including top landmarks like the Thomas Wolfe Memorial, Grove Arcade, and the Basilica of Saint Lawrence. Get to know the unique city of Asheville from the perspective of a local.

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.

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 the spooky side of Asheville with this small-group nighttime walking tour. Meet your guide for a city stroll focused on Asheville's haunted and paranormally active locations. Hear stories about local history as you walk past landmarks including the Basilica of St. Lawrence, Battery Park Hotel, and Pack's Tavern. Choose between two different tour lengths depending on your needs and interests.

One of the most biodiverse spots in the nation, the Blue Ridge Parkway shouldn’t just be driven—it deserves to be seen on foot, with a naturalist leading the way. With your guide at the helm, you and your small group will hike to gorgeous waterfalls, up to panoramic mountain views, and through the technicolor meadows, hills, and valleys that make Asheville and the Pisgah National Forest so beloved.

Asheville’s reputation as one of the top cities for brews in the Southeast is well-deserved, but the huge number of breweries to choose from can be intimidating for visitors. Discover which breweries are worth the hype on this Asheville brewery tour, which takes you to craft breweries with behind-the-scene access and ample pours at each. Unlike other Asheville brewery tours, this one is led by a certified cicerone, a recognized expert when it comes to beer.

Follow your guide on a 45-minute horseback riding adventure at Arrowmont Stables and Cabins outside of Asheville, North Carolina. Choose from a variety of departure times, and ride the beautiful Fern Forest Trail, traveling through a dense forest on relatively flat terrain at 4,000 feet. This gentle trail, situated in the Nantahala National Forest, is suitable for all skill levels. Guided safety training plus a ‘test drive’ and helmet (mandatory for those under 18) are provided.

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.

Get out of town for a half-day hike up to scenic waterfalls with this small-group hiking experience for up to four people. Your certified naturalist guide will lead you and your group on a challenging hike up to beautiful waterfalls, teaching you how to identify local plant life along the way.

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.

Enjoy the beautiful guided waterfall adventure for a whirlwind tour to The North Carolina Highlands. This tour offers waterfalls, cliffs, quaint towns, and adventure! You will also have your very own personal photographer!

Travel along the beautiful Blue Ridge Parkway, with plenty of stops along the way to check out natural and cultural features, with this private guided tour. You'll check out the Folk Art Center, hike to the summit at Craggy Gardens, and see the cascades at Linville Falls and Roaring Fork Falls with your professional, local guide.

Explore the beautiful, Bohemian city of Asheville in western North Carolina on this full-day driving and walking tour. Situated in the magnificent Blue Ridge Mountains, Asheville enjoys spectacular views and is famous for its vibrant arts scene. Enjoy strolling around the River Arts District with its hundreds of converted artists’ studios, and the lively Downtown Art District with its hundreds of cafes, galleries, buskers and boutiques. Asheville is known for its relaxed and friendly atmosphere as much as for its historic architecture – like the Basilica St Lawrence, and for its craft breweries. Discover the charming Biltmore Village designed to house employees of the vast Biltmore Estate, and today lined with stucco cottages, cafes and shops, galleries and award-winning farm-to-table restaurants.

Explore America’s most popular national park totally worry-free on this full-day tour. After pickup from your Asheville area hotel, sit back and enjoy the ride to Great Smoky Mountains, where you’ll guide will take you to all the best spots. Choose what you would like to do—visit a historic grist mill? Walk up Clingmans Dome? Hike Graveyard Fields? See a waterfall? It’s all possible on this comprehensive tour.