Top Asheville Half-day Tours

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.

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.

Asheville is known for its fantastic views of the Appalachian mountains. On this half-day tour, take a scenic bike ride along Blue Ridge Parkway with easy aboard an electric bike. First, bike through quaint Asheville communities before ascending Patton Mountain, with ease. Take in the views before descending and grabbing a drink at a historic hotel.

Cycle to five of Asheville’s most popular microbreweries, enjoying a drink (or two) at each location. You’ll be riding a state-of-the-art e-bike, so the hills won’t be a problem. In addition to soaking up the local vibe and great scenery, you’ll sample some of the best craft brews in town. If you like beer and bikes, you'll love this tour.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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 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.