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Hiking and Kayaking Adventure in the Smoky Mountains, North Carolina
Date and group size

Add-ons

Most meals are included in the price of this trip. Special dietary requirements can be accommodated, please let us know down below if you have any.

Select your adventure protection

Redpoint travel protection
Weather shifts, flights cancel. Core and Premium include Redpoint travel protection to cover you when they do. Standard follows 57hours' booking policy. See full coverage
Every booking, whichever you pick
Cancel within 48h of booking 100% refund
Cancel 60+ days before departure (Any or no reason) 70% refund
Full coverage details
Basic Standard terms Most popular Core protection Recommended Premium protection
Cancel within 48h of booking
100% refund 100% refund 100% refund
Cancel 60+ days before departure (Any or no reason)
70% refund 70% refund 70% refund
Cancel any time (Covered reason)
75% refund 100% refund
Cancel any time (Any or no reason)
75% refund
Cancel under 60 days (Any or no reason)
75% refund
Travel: canceled flights, lost baggage, delays
Up to $1,000 p.p. Up to $1,000 p.p.
Rescue, evacuation, and medical coverage
Up to $100,000 p.p. Up to $100,000 p.p.
Basic Standard terms
Cancel within 48h of booking
100% refund
Cancel 60+ days before departure (Any or no reason)
70% refund
Cancel any time (Covered reason)
Cancel any time (Any or no reason)
Cancel under 60 days (Any or no reason)
Travel: canceled flights, lost baggage, delays
Rescue, evacuation, and medical coverage
Most popular Core protection
Cancel within 48h of booking
100% refund
Cancel 60+ days before departure (Any or no reason)
70% refund
Cancel any time (Covered reason)
75% refund
Cancel any time (Any or no reason)
Cancel under 60 days (Any or no reason)
Travel: canceled flights, lost baggage, delays
Up to $1,000 p.p.
Rescue, evacuation, and medical coverage
Up to $100,000 p.p.
Recommended Premium protection
Cancel within 48h of booking
100% refund
Cancel 60+ days before departure (Any or no reason)
70% refund
Cancel any time (Covered reason)
100% refund
Cancel any time (Any or no reason)
75% refund
Cancel under 60 days (Any or no reason)
75% refund
Travel: canceled flights, lost baggage, delays
Up to $1,000 p.p.
Rescue, evacuation, and medical coverage
Up to $100,000 p.p.
Cancellation policy

The percentages in the table above are of the full trip price, not of what you’ve paid at the time of booking.

Cancellations made within 48 hours of booking receive a full refund on all plans, including booking fees and insurance. After the 48-hour window, your refund depends on your selected protection plan and when you cancel. Core and Premium plans extend your cancellation rights beyond the Standard policy:

  • With Core, a covered reason gets you 75% of your trip cost back — even the day before you go.
  • With Premium, a covered reason gets you 100% of your trip cost back — and any other reason gets you 75%, right up to the day you leave.
What counts as a covered reason
  • Sudden illness or injury — yours, a travel companion’s, or an immediate family member’s, confirmed by a doctor
  • Death of a traveler or an immediate family member
  • A natural disaster affecting your destination or your departure point
  • A government travel advisory against travel to your destination

Changing your mind isn’t a covered reason. Premium is the only plan that covers that. Documentation is required for all insurance claims.

Everything the travel insurance covers

Both plans include travel insurance through Redpoint Travel Protection. Core insures 75% of your trip cost; Premium insures 100%.

Maximum per person:

  • Trip cancellation — up to 100% of your trip cost
  • Cancel for any reason — up to 75% of your trip cost (Premium only)
  • Trip interruption — 150% of the trip cost limit
  • Trip delay — $200 a day, $1,000 max
  • Itinerary change — $250
  • Single occupancy supplement — up to 100% of trip cost
  • Missed connection — $1,000
  • Travel inconvenience — $250 each, $750 max
  • Pet return — $1,000 per pet
  • Baggage and personal effects — $2,500, max $300 an item
  • Baggage delay — $600, after 12 hours
  • Baggage delivery — $100 per trip
  • Emergency medical expenses — $100,000
  • Medical evacuation and repatriation — up to $1,000,000

These are maximums. What a claim actually pays depends on what you can document and on the policy’s exclusions — pre-existing conditions and undeclared activities among them. We’ll send the full policy wording with your confirmation.

Reserve deposit (30%) $0
Second Payment Amount: $0
Hiking and Kayaking Adventure in the Smoky Mountains, North Carolina
Itinerary
Hiking and Kayaking Adventure in the Smoky Mountains, North Carolina
Date(s)
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Number of travelers
1 Person
  • Hiking and Kayaking Adventure in the Smoky Mountains, North Carolina
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  • We’re trading roads for waterways and hotels for a backcountry basecamp. First up—paddling across Fontana Lake, where misty peaks tower over glassy waters. We’ll pull up to our remote campsite, stash the boats, and hit the trails—because the Smokies aren’t just seen, they’re explored. We’ll hike through deep forest, past forgotten homesteads, and into the kind of wilderness that makes us forget what day it is. Afternoons mean lakeside swims, evenings bring campfire laughs, and every night, the stars put on a show. Three days off-grid, all in one adventure!

    • Our adventure kicks off at 9am with an orientation at the Fontana Lake Visitors Center, where we’ll go over gear, safety, and what to expect over the next few days. After getting everything squared away, we’ll head to the marina and launch our kayaks into the serene waters of Fontana Lake. As we paddle deeper into Great Smoky Mountains National Park, we’ll hear the fascinating story of Fontana Dam—how it transformed the landscape and became the tallest dam in the East.

      By midday, we’ll arrive at our remote backcountry site, set up camp, and secure our gear before heading back to the lake for a refreshing swim. With the mountains rising around us and the water sparkling in the afternoon light, it’s the perfect start to an unforgettable adventure.

      Meals: Dinner
      Accommodation: Camping

      Canoe on a lake

    • After a peaceful night under the stars, we’ll fuel up with a hearty breakfast before lacing up our boots for a full day of hiking. Our route takes us deep into one of the most remote corners of the Park, where few visitors venture. Along the way, we’ll uncover remnants of old homesteads, overgrown rail lines, and traces of the people who once called this wilderness home.

      With a mix of shaded trails, gentle climbs, and sweeping ridge views, this hike offers a taste of the Smokies’ rich history and rugged beauty. By mid-afternoon, we’ll make our way back to camp for another dip in the lake and some relaxed paddling before dinner around the campfire.

      Meals: Breakfast, dinner
      Accommodation: Camping

      Hikers with a guide

    • We’ll start the day with a short morning hike, letting the cool mountain air wake us up as we stretch our legs one last time. Then, it’s time to break down camp and pack up our gear before paddling back across the lake. The return trip gives us a final chance to soak in the stunning scenery, spot wildlife along the shore, and reflect on the past few days in the backcountry. By midday, we’ll pull into the marina, say our goodbyes, and start dreaming about the next adventure.

      Meals: Breakfast

      Sunrise stroll

    • Included:

        • An experienced hiking and kayaking guide with extensive knowledge of the area
        • 3-day Smoky Mountains kayak & hike tour
        • Accommodation: 2 nights of camping
        • Gear: Backpack, tent, sleeping bag + pad (you are welcome to bring your own if you want)
        • Meals: All dinners and breakfasts
        • Some snacks (bring your own to supplement)
        • Shuttle from the meeting location to starting trailhead
        • All permits and parking tags
        • Water filter, first aid kit, stove and fuel
        • Hiking poles

      Not included:

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

    • This Smoky Mountains kayak tour is great for beginner backpackers and intermediate paddlers. Participants should be capable of hiking 3-5 hours and up to 10 km (6 mi) each day, and paddling up to 8 km (5 mi) on Day 1 and Day 3, with as much as 457 m (1,500 ft) elevation gain and 640 m (2,100 ft) elevation loss.

      Expect steep, rocky, rooty, wet, and uneven terrain with possible stream crossings. Participants will be carrying their own backpacks weighing 13.6-15.9 kg (30-35 pounds) on Day 1 and Day 3, and just carrying daily hiking necessities on Day 2.

      Discover more Appalachian trail tours here!

    • The 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 Smoky Mountains 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.

      A Smoky Mountains 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 younger than 18 may be permitted to join the Smoky Mountains 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 Smoky Mountains 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 at 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.

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