Scenic Van Tours
The “Classic” Great Smoky Mountain Tour
Your all-encompassing highlight tour of the Smokies in three hours.
- Duration
- 3 hours
- Difficulty
- Easy
From$60 per person
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Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Your adventure starts here.
The only one-stop, full-service guide company for Gatlinburg and the Tennessee side of the Smokies. Guided hikes, scenic tours, backpacking, fly fishing, and kayaking for all ages and abilities.
- Hundreds of 5-star reviews
- Guiding the Smokies since 2011
- Wilderness First Responder guides
- Small groups, max 8 guests
Choose your adventure
Six ways to experience the Smokies
From a 2-hour family nature walk to 4 nights on the Appalachian Trail, every trip is led by a professional local guide.
2–8 hoursGuided Day Hikes
Waterfalls, balds, and Appalachian Trail summits with a professional interpretive guide.
From $165 · View trips
- 3–8 hours
Small Group Van Tours
Comfortable, guided scenic tours to Newfound Gap, Clingmans Dome, Cades Cove, and beyond.
From $60 · View trips
1–5 nightsGuided Backpacking Trips
All-inclusive 1–4 night trips with permits, gear consultation, and backcountry meals handled.
From $250 · View trips
2–8 hoursGuided Fly Fishing
Beginner-friendly instruction to multi-stream backcountry days. All gear provided.
From $200 · View trips
Half to full dayFlatwater Kayaking
Peaceful lake and river paddles with swimming holes, wildlife, and mountain reflections.
From $150 · View trips
3 hours – overnightSeasonal Tours
Synchronous fireflies, spring wildflowers, and fall color, guided by locals who track them daily.
From $450 · View trips
Guest favorites
Most-booked trips
Not sure where to start? These are the trips our guests book, and rebook, most.
Scenic Van ToursMountain Heritage: Cades Cove
A guided auto tour into historic Cades Cove, without driving yourself.
- Duration
- Half day
- Difficulty
- Easy
From$110 per person
View & book- Day Hikes
Appalachian Waterfalls
A gentle introduction to the Smokies, ending at a quiet waterfall.
- Duration
- ~4 hours
- Difficulty
- Easy
From$180 for 1–3 guests
View & book - Day Hikes
Mt. LeConte Summit
The bucket-list hike of the Great Smoky Mountains.
- Duration
- Full day
- Difficulty
- Strenuous
From$310 for 1–3 guests
View & book - Fly Fishing
Half-Day Guided Fly Fishing
Four hours of instruction-focused fishing on wild mountain streams.
- Duration
- 4 hours
- Difficulty
- Easy
From$200 for 1 angler
View & book - Kayaking
Fontana Lake Full-Day Paddle
Island lunch, the Appalachian Trail, and the tallest dam in the East.
- Duration
- ~10 hours (6–8 on water & trail)
- Difficulty
- Moderate
From$150 per person
View & book - Backpacking
Appalachian Trail: 3-Day
Live a slice of the thru-hiker life on the A.T. through the Smokies.
- Duration
- 3 days / 2 nights
- Difficulty
- Moderate–Strenuous
From$655 per person
View & book - Seasonal Tours
Synchronous Firefly Tour
One of nature’s rarest light shows, for just a few nights each year.
- Duration
- Evening
- Difficulty
- Easy
Live pricing
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See it for yourself
A day in the mountains with Smoky Mountain Guides
Ridgelines, waterfalls, and the stories behind them. Take a look at what a guided day in the most visited national park in the country really looks like.
- Guiding the Smokies
- 2011
- Every trail in the park, hiked
- 900 Miler
- Guests per group
- 8 max
Simple from start to summit
How it works
Pick your adventure
Choose a trip, or tell us your group’s ages, fitness, and goals and we’ll recommend the right trail.
Book online in minutes
Real-time availability and instant confirmation. Just book at least 24 hours ahead.
Meet your guide
Most trips meet at the Gatlinburg Welcome Center (upper parking lot). Downtown hotel pickup is often available.
Limited-time events
Don’t miss the season
Wildflowers fade. Fireflies synchronize for only days. Fall color peaks briefly. Our guides track it all daily so you arrive at the peak.
March – May
Spring wildflowers
Over 1,500 flowering plant species, timed to peak bloom across elevation zones.
Late May – early June
Synchronous fireflies
Thousands of lightning bugs flashing in unison for just a few nights each year.
Mid-Oct – early Nov
Fall color
Gold, crimson, and orange ridgelines, without losing hours to traffic.
3,000+
Smokies trail miles logged by guide David, a 900 Miler Club member who has hiked every trail in the park.
Why guests choose SMG
We’re not a meet-up group. We’re professional mountain guides.
The Smokies are the most visited national park in the country, with 850+ miles of trails, fast-changing weather, active wildlife, and limited cell service. Our job is to handle all of that so you can simply experience the mountains.
- Pre-trip weather and route review on every trip
- Guides trained in Wilderness First Aid / First Responder and CPR
- Wildlife protocol and emergency planning built in
- Routes chosen to avoid the crowds, matched to your ability
- Fresh, local meals that are often a highlight of the trip
- Real interpretation: Cherokee, settlers, loggers, and moonshiners
Private & corporate
Team building, retreats & private groups
Custom programs since 2011 for teams like Air France, KLM Cargo, Mars, and Alcoa. Family reunions, church groups, and celebrations too.
Plan a group experience
Smoky Rides
Hiker shuttles & event transportation
Daily shuttles to Mt. LeConte trailheads, plus Sprinter vans for weddings, distillery tours, and corporate groups.
Explore Smoky RidesHundreds of 5-star reviews
What our guests say
Real reviews from families, couples, and groups who explored the Smokies with us.
High Points tour, amazing!
“My husband, 11-year-old son, and I went on the High Points Tour with Clayton and he was able to customize the tour to our needs and went above and beyond what we expected. I can’t recommend them highly enough!”
Lynnette B.High Points Tour Fantastic waterfall hike
“Clayton was our guide and he was phenomenal. Beyond the waterfalls he explained a lot of the history of the settlers. He also showed us a lot of the plant life. Highly recommend.”
22rynelamWaterfall Hike We LOVED it!
“We took the “Classic” tour over spring break and absolutely loved it! He took us to many beautiful locations throughout the park and explained the history along the way. Very knowledgeable and accommodating!”
megand271The Classic Tour Above and beyond
“SMG went above and beyond to accommodate our needs.”
222DianePrivate Tour Worth every penny
“So much knowledge and insight.”
ekkarkoskiGuided Hike We really enjoyed the tour!
“Kind and friendly, super knowledgeable about the history.”
alannasantiagoVan Tour
Good to know
Questions, answered
Still deciding? Our team has been planning Smoky Mountain adventures for years and is happy to help.
When do your tours leave each day?
Monday through Saturday, hikes and scenic tours depart at 9am and 2pm. We request at least 24 hours notice on all daily hiking and scenic tours.
Where do tours start?
Most tours begin in the upper parking lot of the Gatlinburg Welcome Center at 1011 Banner Rd., Gatlinburg, TN. If you’re lodging downtown we’ll do our best to pick you up, depending on traffic. Group and private pickups can be arranged.
How many people are on a tour?
We keep most tours to a maximum of 8 guests and can accommodate more by request. For large groups, we also offer step-on guides for buses.
Will there be other people on my tour?
We keep tours small and personal, but may combine small parties. Private tours are guaranteed with 4 paying guests, or by paying the total price of 4 (for example, two of you paying for four).
When should we book?
Right now! Spots fill quickly, especially in summer, firefly season, and fall. All we ask is that you book at least 24 hours in advance.
What’s the best way to book?
Book online in a couple of minutes using any “Book Now” button. Prefer to talk it through or customize? Call us at 865-223-5397.
Your Smoky Mountain adventure starts here.
Book online in minutes, or call and we’ll help you choose the right trip for your group.