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Smoky Mountain Scenic High Van Tour
4.7
14 Ratings
Gatlinburg
Experience the breathtaking beauty of the Smoky Mountains on a scenic high van tour. Sit back, relax, and let us take you on a journey through the sea of mountains, with photo stops and fascinating insights into the history of the Smokies.
Experience the breathtaking beauty of the Smoky Mountains on a scenic high van tour. Sit back, relax, and let us take you on a journey through the sea of mountains, with photo stops and fascinating insights into the history of the Smokies.
Duration:
2 hours, 30 minutes
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
- A Walk In The Woods - We will meet at the Sugarland’s Visitor Center where you will have a chance to explore the Park museum and support the Park with your gift purchases at the book store. From there, we will travel up the mountain and learn the human and natural history of the Park before getting out and experiencing a slice of the famous AT….
- A Walk In The Woods - We will meet at the Sugarland’s Visitor Center where you will have a chance to explore the Park museum and support the Park with your gift purchases at the book store. From there, we will travel up the mountain and learn the human and natural history of the Park before getting out and experiencing a slice of the famous AT. Your guide will regale you with stories of the Cherokee, the settlers, the Civil War history and the creation of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Stop and experience beautiful vistas, learn the medicinal and edible uses of wild plants, take your time as you soak in the beauty of these ancient mountains.
- Sugarlands Visitors Center - Departure and return location.
- Newfound Gap Road - Newfound Gap Road has many scenic vistas and points of interest.
What's Included
- Snacks
- All Fees and Taxes
- In-vehicle air conditioning
- Professional naturalist guide
- Snacks
- All Fees and Taxes
- In-vehicle air conditioning
- Professional naturalist guide
What's Not Included
- Gratuity for your guide.
- Bottled water
- Rain Gear - We do have emergency ponchos on hand if needed.
- Private transportation
- Gratuity for your guide.
- Bottled water
- Rain Gear - We do have emergency ponchos on hand if needed.
- Private transportation
Additional Information
Relax and let us handle the driving as we transport you to the summit of the Smoky Mountains, where you can marvel at the expansive mountain views. Your guide will make several stops for photos, providing insights into the rich human and natural history of the Smokies. Please be aware that while we strive to adhere to the planned itinerary, adjustments…
Relax and let us handle the driving as we transport you to the summit of the Smoky Mountains, where you can marvel at the expansive mountain views. Your guide will make several stops for photos, providing insights into the rich human and natural history of the Smokies. Please be aware that while we strive to adhere to the planned itinerary, adjustments may be necessary due to road closures or unforeseen events.
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
- A maximum of 14 people per booking
- Collapsible wheelchairs with removable wheels can be accommodated providing the passenger is accompanied by someone who can assist them board and disembark
- Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately
- Please note that, while we do our best to follow the itinerary listed, we may need to pivot due to road closures or events outside of our control. We require a minimum of 2 people to operate this tour. We operate rain or shine.
Location
Sugarlands Visitor Center
Fighting Creek Gap Road
At the Visitors Center, we meet at the flagpole. If we meet you at the Visitors Center, you will need a Parking Tag to leave your vehicle there. There are kiosks out front where you can get your tag. Day tags are $5 and Weekly tags are $15.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
4.7
(14 Ratings)
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1 star
Linda_m
Jul 12, 2025
Magnificent - It was totally efficient and accommodating. We were two senior women who got the best accommodations and the most respect from
our tour guide - Mike. Mike shared so much information and history about the Smokie Mountains. He was very pleasant and conversational.
Review provided by Viator
100mikag
May 12, 2025
A Beautiful Comfortable Informative Tour of a National treature! - So grateful to have the opportunity to tour Great Smoky Mountain Park with guide Luci - a former teacher and a warm, charming guide! She is a wealth of information, regarding history and foliage. Luci seemingly has her favorite spots, and shared them with us. We stopped for breathtaking scenery and, of course, photos. Although the park does have wildlife, we didn't see any. (I think you need to go very early or late in the day.) I have been in the fjords of Norway and this reminded me of that trip - beautiful soaring mountains, some very different from others. As tourists, we could not leave our dog in the hotel, so this was a perfect trip for the three of us. I am not a hiker, but we did see a great many people starting the trek. I prefer the van. . . it must be brutal to hike in the summer! Our weather was perfect and the day was one to remember. Thank you Luci, and thank you National Park Service and the states of TN and NC for keeping this beautiful park available to all the people of our planet.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Val
Oct 19, 2024
Fall Colors Van Tour. - Our original tour was cxld for road closures due to ice. They notified us early enough and offered an alternative guided hike/ tour which was excellent.
Our guide Luci was sooo nice and shared a ton of fun & interesting facts & history about each area, and put our bear concerns to rest. We highly recommend these tours for 1st timers or anyone that likes to leave the planning and driving to someone more experienced so you can enjoy all the sites.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Ken_g
Sep 5, 2024
Great time in the Smokies. - At the top with the clouds below. Had a great driver China. She really knows her stuff. She went above and beyond to explain things.
Review provided by Viator
Bill
Jun 4, 2024
Phenomenal Beauty - The Great Smokies are a must visit in your lifetime! Their beauty and history highlights what made the United States great
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Tlemk
Jun 25, 2022
Amazing guides - 3rd hike w “A walk in the woods”. 1st 2 were 4 yrs ago w 3 young teens and we all had a fabulous time and learned a lot. This time we are back in town w senior citizens. We wanted them to see as much as they could of the park while keeping them safe. This was a great choice.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Maureen_p
Aug 31, 2021
Ben, the Best - I enjoyed the expertise of Ben, my guide. He had the answers to all my questions and volunteered more interesting and pertinent information. We also had fun as I was able to see the best of the park in just two hours.
Review provided by Viator
Scrubs1484
Jul 13, 2021
Best Day with Nature - Group of 6 hiked with Meagan today! She was wonderful and definitely made the hike more enjoyable! She was very knowledgeable and shared many facts about our surroundings areas. The pace was perfect for all levels in our group. Meagan was so helpful in capturing photos of our group.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
E9282mbmarian
Mar 27, 2024
Great hiking experience - Hiking in this beautiful view is so soul healing. Our tour guide is very knowledgeable and fun. Later, I will come with my kids again.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Bola_a
Aug 10, 2025
Buyer Beware - The main road to the main attraction (Newfound Gap) closed the night before with communications going out in the early morning. The tour guide did not inform us until after we arrived at the meeting point. Since this was the major attraction and family had come from Europe, this was disappointing on many levels. One hour of the tour talked about cabins and woods at a cabin. History that could’ve been discussed in the vehicle and quickly shown. She seemed like she was stalling. We had to ask the guide 3 times to visit views as spending 1/3 of the tour explaining how cabins were put together was not what we came for. The tour was 3 hours, but the guide started to head back after 2 as she thought we booked a 2 hour tour. How could we have paid that amount for 2 hours and 1 was spent on talking about cabins of the settlers? After reiterating that our tour was 3 hours, we went to see another site. We saw a bear and she didn’t slow down so everyone could enjoy. I don’t believe any cars were behind us. Since the guide talked so much about bears and the group was excited to see one, this was disappointing.
We were all disappointed given what we paid and expected and what was delivered. I also felt it was a bait and switch. There was ample time to inform us of the road closure and give us the option to cancel.
I’ve trusted Viator with tours from Europe to Australia and this was the worst. We did enjoy the sites we saw, but it was definitely not worth the price. I do appreciate Viator providing a partial refund after several back and forths.
It is only right to let travelers know that the road to the main attraction is closed so they can make an informed decision (estimated reopen is October). There is another (much longer route) road that one can take on one’s own. This is important to know if you have limited time and still want to go.
Review provided by Viator
