Included:

• • An experienced, local hiking guide with extensive knowledge of the area
  • 4-day Appalachian trail backpacking kayak tour
  • All necessary gear (backpack, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, tent)
  • Meals: All dinners and breakfasts
  • Some snacks (it’s recommended to bring your own to supplement)
  • Accommodation: 3 nights in tents and sleeping bags/pads
  • Gear: Backpack, tent, sleeping bad, sleeping pad (if needed, you’re welcome to bring your own)
  • Shuttle from the meeting location to starting trailhead
  • Permits and parking tags
  • Hiking poles
  • Water filter, first aid kit, stove and fuel

Not included:

• • Flights
  • Transportation before and after the trip
  • Meals not indicated in the itinerary (lunches)
  • Personal items
  • Guide gratuities — optional
  • Insurance — available to add at checkout

This trip is rated challenging, which means that a great level of fitness is required to participate. Plan to hike for 6-10 hours per day, most days on steep, rocky, rooty, wet, uneven and sometimes exposed terrain. Depending on permitted routing, one or more days of this itinerary may include backpacking up to 21 km (13 mi), with up to 914 m (3,000 ft) of elevation gain/loss.

Participants will be carrying their own packs weighing 13.6-15.9 kg (30-35 pounds) throughout the trip. To maximize the enjoyment of the trip, it’s recommended that participants engage in a regular exercise regimen beginning at least 3 months prior to the departure.

Discover more Appalachian trail tours here!

Your guides provide freeze-dried or dehydrated meals and some snacks. Freeze-dried or dehydrated meals are perfect for Smokies backpacking because the Leave No Trace principle will be maintained effortlessly.

The meals are lightweight and can accommodate a wide variety of dietary desires or needs. Snacks come in the form of bars, such as Clif, Lara, Fig, Nature Valley, etc.

Here’s a list of the equipment you need to bring:

• • Water bottle or hydration bladder (2L capacity)
  • Backpack, tent, sleeping bad and pad — provided by the guides, but you can bring your own if desired
  • Lightweight hiking boots or shoes
  • Comfortable hiking clothes
  • Waterproof rain jacket
  • Waterproof rain pants
  • Fleece or puffy jacket
  • Spare clothes for layering (shorts, t-shirts, pants, socks)
  • Underwear
  • Camp shoes
  • Sunhat
  • Swimsuit
  • Toiletries (sunscreen, hand sanitizer, toothpaste, medications, bug spray, tissues, etc.)
  • Headlamp or flashlight
  • Sunglasses
  • Utensils (a single spoon, fork, or spork)
  • Mug, bowl — optional
  • Camera — optional (but recommended)

Optional and recommended additional items:

• • Bandana
  • Knife
  • Small plastic bags (for dirty clothing)
  • Lip Balm
  • Ziplock bags (for food trash)
  • Map of the Great Smoky Mountain National Park
  • Backpacking pillow
  • Large trash bag
  • Camp towel
  • Book
  • Whistle
  • Compass

Dress comfortably and for the weather in clothes you can move in. We suggest bringing clothing appropriate for the season. Layers are best and don’t wear jeans.

Got everything you need? Grab your gear through Active Junky and earn cash back on top outdoor brands — plus a $10 bonus on your first $25+ purchase. Shop now at Active Junky!

Group sizes and pricing

• • For this Appalachian trail backpacking kayak tour, the usual client-to-guide ratio is 3:1. Should the group be fully booked, it will be accompanied by 2 guides.
  • It takes a minimum of 4 people for this tour to operate. The maximum group size is set at 6 participants.

An Appalachian trail backpacking kayak tour can be arranged for larger groups. Contact us to make arrangements.

Min. age requirements

• • If you are older than 18, you’re good to go.
  • Minors older than 16 may be permitted to join the Appalachian trail backpacking kayak tour on a case-by-case basis, but must be in the presence of a parent or legal guardian.

If your group has participants under the age of 18, contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.

The starting point of your Appalachian trail backpacking kayak tour is Fontana Dam. To get there, most people fly into Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL). From there, you can use public transport or rent a car to reach Fontana Dam.

Once you’re there, you will meet your guide at 9am in the Fontana Dam Visitors Center.

We highly recommend that you cover all your bases with insurance. To make your booking and traveling experience as carefree as possible, you’ll be offered to simply insure your trip with Redpoint at checkout.

Redpoint—the official 57hours insurance partner—tailors protection packages for adventure travel, offering a comprehensive travel program, even in remote locations! Trip cancellation, natural disasters, pandemic coverage, medical evacuation, primary medical expenses—regardless of the travel interruption that may happen, Redpoint will have you covered.