Top Tours & Experiences in Asheville and Western NC

Take a scenic train ride on excursions along the Nantahala and Tuckasegee Rivers, over the mountains, across valleys and through tunnels. Choose from a variety of train adventures departing from Bryson City. Many special event train rides including beer, wine and Polar Express.

Discover a hidden gem rich with art and history adjacent to The Omni Grove Park Inn. This site is home to Grovewood Gallery, an outdoor sculpture garden, two museums, and Eldr restaurant. 111 Grovewood Rd. Free on-site parking.

Learn about Asheville’s rich African-American history through this interactive driving or walking tour that tells a powerful story of resilience. Created by artist, poet, and visionary DeWayne Barton, Hood Tours also creates opportunities for grassroots economic development, community green spaces, and initiatives that benefit Black communities in Asheville. 

Explore an outstanding collection of American art of the 20th and 21st centuries and discover the richness of Western North Carolina’s unique artistic history at the Asheville Art Museum. Groups of ten or more adults are invited to schedule a guided tour of the Museum’s Collection or special exhibitions led by volunteer educators.

Offering private and customizable tours of downtown Asheville, Biltmore Village, the River Arts District, and auto tours along the Blue Ridge Parkway with scenic views of the Blue Ridge Mountains. They also offer private guided hikes to waterfalls and stunning views. Tours include comfortable transportation, complimentary water, Gatorade, and snacks.

Take the most fun city tour ever in a bright purple bus full of laughter! Through captivating stories, comedy skits, and an enthralling musical soundscape, experience Asheville's history, current culture, and counterculture with their 90-minute interactive bus tours that depart from downtown. Haunted and beer tours, too!

Summer, a WNC native, can help you plan your getaway to Hendersonville, Asheville, Brevard, and surrounding areas. She crafts personalized itineraries that will save you time, help you discover local gems, and allow you to be more present for your getaway. You won’t need to spend hours searching for your next restaurant, hike, or activity—she will do the work for you—and it will be in the palm…

Take a full-service, guided fly fishing or bass fishing trip near Asheville. You can enjoy the Appalachian Mountains by boating and/or wading in North Carolina's stream-fed lakes and rivers. Professional fishing guides ensure exciting fishing on the best pristine rivers in WNC.

Add rejuvenation and relaxation to your next Asheville adventure. Choose from an eclectic menu of lighthearted experiences, including yoga hiking, forest bathing, tarot readings, massage, goat yoga, and more, to build your own custom mini-retreat. Asheville Wellness Tours specializes in girls getaways, corporate retreats, and wedding day wellness with a goal to help you connect more deeply to…

Experience the magical display of blue ghost fireflies — only found in a handful of spots in the eastern United States, including Buncombe County. Led by an experienced guide, take a short walk to an "enchanted forest" where you’ll sit in a chair and wait for darkness. As the last light fades, you’ll begin to see the first fireflies, their light trails moving slowly…

This well-equipped outdoor store in downtown Bryson City has everything for your adventure. Services include kayak, paddleboard and gear rentals, a hiker shuttle, and guided tours! Their craft beer taproom & bottle shop has 10 rotating brews on tap with an additional 200+ bottles and cans to go.

Get picked up at your accommodation in the Asheville area for a guided, half-day waterfall excursion that will take you to three impressive waterfalls in two protected forests. Plus, ride on a very scenic portion of the Blue Ridge Parkway. Licensed & Insured. 

Dive into bee life with a seasoned beekeeper: you’ll don a beekeeper’s suit, explore the apiary, and conduct a hive inspection. Enjoy a curated honey tasting session with a food pairing. Learn all about life inside a colony, stewardship…

Hike gorgeous mountaintops and visit 5-star waterfalls! TripAdvisor ranks Asheville Hiking Tours as one of Asheville's top tour companies! Offering COVID-safe activities. Your guides are expert naturalists and locals, showing you the hidden gems of Pisgah National Forest and the Blue Ridge Parkway. Tour Options: 2-hr, 1/2-day, Full Day, and Private Tours.

See Asheville the best way possible - by electric bike! The Flying Bike provides unforgettable tours and rentals on their Pedego electric bikes. Join them on a tour and see Asheville’s noteworthy architectural gems, take in the stunning mountain scenery from carefully chosen viewpoints, and hear the stories behind Asheville’s best historic sites.

Take a "forage to table" tour with No Taste Like Home. Our area is a Garden of Eden with over 300 wild edibles. During a guided tour, gather wild mushrooms, plants, and other “extreme cuisine.” Then, a chef transforms your finds into a delicious meal. 

Expert guides offer a wide array of hiking excursions, including outfitting gear. In addition to group hikes, they can also customize a trip just for you. Experience sunsets, waterfalls and high peaks at a variety of locations including the Appalachian Trail, the Blue Ridge Parkway, DuPont State Forest, Pisgah National Forest and more. 

Take the only brewery tour in Asheville led by a certified beer expert! Learn how beer is made and how to taste it. Get special access to Asheville's breweries and learn the stories behind the pints. On the short walks between breweries, your guide will share stories of the early days of Asheville.

Explore Asheville’s urban art and city landscapes on this fun walking tour learning the best photo spots and how to capture them. Each tour is 1 hour and you’ll receive professionally edited photos of your tour. They’re perfect for family vacations and reunions, bachelorette parties, anniversaries, corporate groups, girl’s trips, and more. 

History at Hand offers tours to Downtown history and architecture, Montford architecture, Riverside Cemetery and more. All walking tours are given by appointment. Tours must be booked in advance.

Summer, a WNC native, can help you plan your family reunion or family vacation in Western North Carolina. She crafts custom group itineraries that will save you time, help you discover local gems, and allow you to make the most of your weekend away. You won’t need to spend hours searching for the best group restaurant, hike, or activities—she will do the work for you—and every member of your…

Will you be visiting Asheville and the Blue Ridge and Great Smoky Mountains this year? Not sure where to go for the best photos, or how to best capture them? Make reservations for private photo tours and personal instruction.

Adventure Mountain Off Road Tours is the WNC region's only “You Drive” off-road adventure! Professional guides lead tours through heavily wooded steep slope trails, over rock beds, and through troughs and turns climbing about 1,400 feet to panoramic ridgeline views of Mount Mitchell, Craggy Pinnacle area, Blue Ridge Parkway, and Balsam Mountains.

Adventure Mountain is 220…