Hiking Tours on the Appalachian Trail

The first three days of your 10-day-long Preparation Course for AT Thru-Hike are dedicated to arrival and orientation. Your first night is dedicated to orientation on the Appalachian Trail and covering details such as how to read the signs and guidebook, or how to get the necessary supplies before you start hiking. The entire second day of your adventure is intended for getting the camping gear and hiking supplies you need. Your guide will be happy to assist and take you to local supply shops.

Day three is where the adventure begins! You will be on the road by 10 am, heading to Amicalola Falls State Park, GA. Once you get there, you’ll register for the hike, set up camp, and go over the Appalachian Trail registration process and what to expect, including discussing gear and food one more time. After a short 2.5-mile hike to stretch your legs, you’ll head to town. The evening will be spent sleeping in tents. Please note, if you drive to the park, your car can remain parked in the lot for the entire duration of your hike (for $55).

Start hiking to the first shelter. Every day, you will hike around 6-10 miles on average, depending on your group’s skills and desires for the day. Filtering water along the way, you’ll camp and prepare your food. If the shelter (a basic, three-sided building) is open, you can opt to sleep there rather than in your tent. After another day of hiking, you will reach Neels Gap, a supply point with a hostel and outfitter store. Make the most of this stop to reevaluate your gear and get food for the next section. Here is where you can get new boots, tents and everything else that a hiker might need. What’s more, many hikers use this opportunity to send packages home and get rid of the equipment they might not need anymore, or even exchange their gear for new stuff. This is also a great opportunity to take pics or buy souvenirs if desired.

You will continue hiking up to ten miles per day with a quicker pace, as things are getting more challenging and your hiking days are becoming more diverse, with several steep uphill climbs and descents.

As you are continuing with your hike, you will cross more demanding terrain and reach new heights. Continue reading your guidebook and checking supply points. At this point, you will already know most of the hiking tricks and will be able to do everything on your own. Don’t be surprised if you see around 50-70 people pass these trails, keep going as soon you will be reaching your final point.

By the last day, you’ll be skilled enough and ready to continue the thru-hike on your own. You might be saying goodbye to your guide, but they remain available via email or phone for any help or support during the continuation of your hike. By now, you already have a team of people who have been with you for the last 10 days. Here is where you can say your goodbyes and get what you need from your supplies before continuing this hiking adventure.

During this week, you will spend each day at a different location along the Appalachian Trail hiking to various views, waterfalls, and fire towers. You will be based at Kennedy Creek Resort for the week. You will hike to Amicalola Falls SP, Springer Mt, Long Creek Falls, Ramrock Mt, Preachers Rock, Blood Mt, Mt Albert firetower, Standing Indian Mt, Wayah Bald, Wesser Bald fire tower, the NOC area and more if time allows! Daily schedule is flexible according to the weather and the group’s abilities. Shuttle, lodging, and meals on trail will be provided each day.

Head to Amicalola Falls State Park, GA where you’ll meet your guide and group. Once you get there, you’ll register for the hike, set up camp, and go over the itinerary and what to expect, including discussing gear and food. After a short 2.5-mile hike to stretch your legs, you’ll head to town. The evening will be spent sleeping in tents. Please note, if you drive to the park, your car can remain parked in the lot for the entire duration of your hike.

Start hiking to the first shelter. Every day, you will hike around 6-10 miles on average, depending on your group’s skills and desires for the day. Filtering water along the way, you’ll camp and prepare your food. If the shelter (a basic, three-sided building) is open, you can opt to sleep there rather than in your tent. After another day of hiking, you will reach Neels Gap, a supply point with a hostel and outfitter store. Make the most of this stop to reevaluate your gear and get food for the next section. This is also a great opportunity to take pics or buy souvenirs if desired.

You will continue hiking up to ten miles per day with a quicker pace, as things are getting more challenging and your hiking days are becoming more diverse, with several steep uphill climbs and descents.

As you are continuing with your hike, you will cross more demanding terrain and reach new heights. Continue reading your guidebook and checking supply points. At this point, you will already know most of the hiking tricks and will be able to do everything on your own. Don’t be surprised if you see around 50-70 people pass these trails, keep going as soon you will be reaching your final point.

Spend your last day recapping the adventure and saying goodbye to your group and guide. Some hikers might continue thru-hiking and others will return to the starting point where they can collect their cars and head back home. By now, you will have realized why the A.T. is one of the best trails in the world — and maybe you’ll even start planning a thru-hiking adventure of your own!

The first day of your week-long hike is dedicated to arrival and orientation. Once you meet your guide at the agreed meeting point around 1 pm, you’ll register for the hike and go over the itinerary and what to expect, including discussing gear and food. After a short 2.5-mile hike to stretch the legs, you’ll head to town for pizza and beer. The evening will be spent sleeping in tents. If you drive to the meeting point, your car can remain parked there for the entire duration of your hike.

In the morning, you will start hiking to the first shelter. It’s a six-mile uphill hike under the forest canopy. Filtering water along the way, you’ll camp and cook food. If the shelter (a basic, three-sided building) is open, you can opt to sleep there rather than in your tent.

After a climb to the top of Springer Mountain, you will officially be on the Appalachian Trail from this point on. An easier day of hiking, it’s eight to ten miles depending on the skill level of the hikers in the group. Another night spent in tents.

Hiking between six to eight miles, this is one of the challenging hiking days, with several steep uphill climbs and descents. Enjoy nature and wildlife along the way and spend the night under the stars.

Depending on the mileage of the previous day, this day is an easier hike in terms of terrain. You’ll get your first real view of the mountains. After hiking out of the woods you’ll shuttle back to the park to have a meal and then make your way back up to the trailhead to camp.

To maximize the fun on your final day on the trail, you will be slackpacking today. This means that you’ll only carry a daypack with just water, snacks and daily provisions. There are two options for hiking. The first option is to hike the 11 miles up and over Blood Mountain, a trip highlight with amazing views. This is a full day of hiking from 9am to 5pm. The other option is a shorter six-mile loop up and over Blood Mountain. It’s a later start with more time spent on top of the mountain enjoying the views! Once you return to the hostel, pack up and head back home.

The first day of your week-long hike is dedicated to arrival and orientation. Once you meet your guide at the agreed meeting point around 1 pm, you’ll register for the hike and go over the itinerary and what to expect, including discussing gear and food. After a short hike to stretch the legs, you’ll head to town for pizza and beer. The evening will be spent sleeping in tents. If you drive to the meeting point, your car can remain parked there for the entire duration of your hike.

With your backpacks full of supplies and bellies full of breakfast, set off on your hiking journey to the first shelter. Over the next few days, you’ll traverse numerous amazing sceneries — Buzzard Rock, Grayson Highlands State Park, pastures, mountains, and an occasional Walmart for resupply. There will always be several possible stops along the way where you can refresh and catch a breath. All of the spectacular views will make the challenges on this hike worth it.

To maximize the fun on your final day on the trail, you will be slackpacking today. This means that you’ll only carry a daypack with just water, snacks and daily provisions. This will be a full day of hiking from 9am to 5pm, so take some pictures and enjoy the views before you return to the hostel, where you’ll pack up and head back home.

The first day of your week-long hike is dedicated to arrival and orientation. Once you meet your guide at the agreed meeting point around 1 pm, you’ll register for the hike and go over the itinerary and what to expect, including discussing gear and food. After a short hike to stretch the legs, you’ll head to town for pizza and beer. The evening will be spent sleeping in tents. If you drive to the meeting point, your car can remain parked there for the entire duration of your hike.

In the morning, you will start hiking to the first shelter. It’s a six-mile uphill hike under the forest canopy. Filtering water along the way, you’ll camp and cook food. If the shelter (a basic, three-sided building) is open, you can opt to sleep there rather than in your tent.

After a climb to the top of Springer Mountain, you will officially be on the Appalachian Trail from this point on. An easier day of hiking, it’s eight to ten miles depending on the skill level of the hikers in the group. Another night spent in tents.

Hiking between six to eight miles, this is one of the challenging hiking days, with several steep uphill climbs and descents. Enjoy nature and wildlife along the way and spend the night under the stars.

Depending on the mileage of the previous day, this day is an easier hike in terms of terrain. You’ll get your first real view of the mountains. After hiking out of the woods you’ll shuttle back to the park to have a meal and then make your way back up to the trailhead to camp.

To maximize the fun on your final day on the trail, you will be slackpacking today. This means that you’ll only carry a daypack with just water, snacks and daily provisions. There are two options for hiking. The first option is to hike the 11 miles up and over Blood Mountain, a trip highlight with amazing views. This is a full day of hiking from 9am to 5pm. The other option is a shorter six-mile loop up and over Blood Mountain. It’s a later start with more time spent on top of the mountain enjoying the views! Once you return to the hostel, pack up and head back home.