North Carolina High Country

The Crown Jewel of the Appalachians

Exhilarating road biking, spectacular mountain views, small town charm and exquisite dining await you in the remote, northwest corner of the

Destination

North Carolina

Activity

Biking

Level

Intermediate

Duration

7 days / 6 nights

From $3,045 PP 7 days / 6 nights

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Exhilarating road biking, spectacular mountain views, small town charm and exquisite dining await you in the remote, northwest corner of the Tarheel State. Your cycling covers the rural counties of Watuga, Avery, Yancey and Mitchell. You’ll bike the famous Blue Ridge parkway and catch majestic views of the surrounding mountains and valley townships. Leaving the parkway and getting off the main routes, you’ll be guided through little known country roads where you find small towns, Christmas tree farms dotting the hillsides, general stores, rushing waterfalls and upscale ski town resorts.

Tour Essence

Blue Ridge Pkwy National Park
Linn Viaduct
Linville Falls
Penland School of Arts and Crafts

What to Expect

Start Location

Burnsville, NC

End Location

Burnsville, NC

Mileage

Average Daily: 39 miles Total: 272.2 miles

Once you have a trip confirmed, we will feed you a steady diet of additional pre-departure information that includes: How to train, prepare, pack and all the wonderful, inspirational and practical things you want and need to know before you go! Our Travel Advisors will be available to help plan your pre- and post-tour travel.

Van Support
The services of 2 or more experienced bike tour guides
All lodging
Transfer to and from the airport.
Maps
GPS mapping
Mechanic
Covid bag: Chamois butter, sunscreen, wipes, hand sanitizer, gloves, and face mask.

What’s Included

ROAD BIKE & Hybrid ($195): Trek Domane Road bike 2.3
Giant hybrid E-Bike ($375)
Hybrid Trek (Upon request only)

All accommodations
All breakfasts
Picnic lunches on riding days
5 dinners
Cocktail social hour on the 1st evening

Entry into Grandfather Mountain

Dates

2022

Jun 17-23

Available

Sep 10-16

Available

From $3,045 PP 7 days / 6 nights

$440 Optional Single Supplement

Book Now

Schedule A Call

Download Itinerary

Any of our tours can be made private. Contact us to learn more.

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Itinerary

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Start Location

Burnsville, NC

Fly Into

Asheville, NC

End Location

Burnsville, NC

Fly Out Of

Asheville, NC

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STYLED MAP

Day1

Welcome to North Carolina!

Meet the guides in Burnsville NC at 2:00 pm at the hotel Terrel House. Today we will go for a short warm up ride then for our welcome dinner in town!

Meals Provided

Dinner

Average Mileage

25 miles

Elevation Gain

1,800 feet

Meals Provided

Dinner

Accommodations

Terrel House, Burnsville

Once a dorm for a western North Carolina Presbyterian school in the early 1900’s, the historic Terrell House Bed and Breakfast Inn accommodations are perfect for a weekend getaway.

Luxury Level

Day2

Burnsville Loop

Today we start with a lovely breakfast at the Terrel House B&B Our ride takes us from the Yancy County seat of Burnsville, home to small eateries, good local art and nice quiet back roads. We follow the shaded creek front roads along Paint Branch to a casual lunch stop in the college town of Mars Hill before we loop back to Burnsville. ( up to 40 miles and 3100 feet of elevation)

Meals Provided

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Average Mileage

40 miles

Elevation Gain

3,100 feet

Meals Provided

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodations

Terrel House, Burnsville

Once a dorm for a western North Carolina Presbyterian school in the early 1900’s, the historic Terrell House Bed and Breakfast Inn accommodations are perfect for a weekend getaway.

Luxury Level

Day3

Burnsville to Little Switzerland

Takes us out of the town of Burnsville with it's in town square and mountain top village of Mountain Air, a fly-in, fly-out resort. On to the remote towns of Bakersville and Penland. Penland is home to one of the country's oldest arts and crafts school. There we tour the campus and it's art studios and enjoy a lunch on the Green. We work our way to Spruce Pine. Redundant in name, yes there are Christmas tree farms. Then on to The Blue Ridge Parkway for the evening in Little Switzerland. (45 miles, 3272 elevation gain)

Meals Provided

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Average Mileage

45 miles

Elevation Gain

3,272 ft

Meals Provided

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodations

Switzerland Inn

The Switzerland Inn, located directly on the Blue Ridge Parkway, is your vacation destination for a North Carolina mountain getaway. Fine dining, generous accommodations, on-site shops, relaxing spa, all in a peaceful, scenic mountain setting in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina.

Luxury Level

Day4

Little Switzerland to Banner Elk

We head out of Little Switzerland through the tiny village of Linville Falls. For those who would like, we can take a few hours break and do a bit of trekking through the High Country's claim to fame hiking destination. We skirt around the west side of Grand Father Mountain. From Grandfather Mountain, we follow the river beds to North Carolina's ski country, riding in the shadows of Beech Mountain, Sugar Mountain and Seven Devils. Banner Elk, another upscale resort town is our stay for the evening. (41 miles, 4228 elevation)

Meals Provided

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Average Mileage

41 miles

Elevation Gain

4,228 ft

Meals Provided

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodations

Best Western, Banner Elk

Luxury Level

Day5

Banner Elk to Blowing Rock

We want you to keep your eyes wide open. Leaving Banner Elk, you may see elk and bear and we don't want you to miss the white dots in the road that we refer to as towns. Valle Crucis is home to the south's oldest general store. Following a visit to Mast General Store, we sneak past some upscale country club communities so perfectly placed in the local valleys. We now climb out of the valley to Blowing Rock, "Crown of the Blue Ridge." Here you'll find popular family attractions including Tweetsie Railroad and The Blowing Rock, a plethora of unique downtown shops, exquisite dining and outdoor adventures ranging from hiking to spelunking and nearby waterfalls. Dinner will be on your own tonight as the selection is varied within the small upscale village.

Meals Provided

Breakfast, Lunch.

Average Mileage

26,2 miles

Elevation Gain

2,800 ft

Meals Provided

Breakfast, Lunch.

Accommodations

Meadowbrook Inn, Blowing Rock

Meadowbrook Inn is a tranquil mountain retreat located in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains in scenic Blowing Rock, North Carolina.

Situated one block from the upscale shops, restaurants, and galleries on Blowing Rock’s Main Street, Meadowbrook Inn offers a relaxing mountain escape in the midst of some of the High Country’s most popular attractions.

During your stay, enjoy the indoor swimming pool, fitness center, wireless internet, as well as lovely landscaped grounds all just one block from the center of downtown.

Luxury Level

Day6

Blowing Rock to Little Switzerland

We can take hiking time near the Moses Cone Manor or head straight out on the bikes. Then we make our way to a southward hop along the Blue Ridge Parkway to the most pictured spot in North Carolina, The Linn Viaduct, an amazing engineer feat of the road as it suspends over the rocky cliffs of Grandfather Mountain. The Viaduct is a worthwhile stop to enjoy the magnificent views. Grab a few pictures of the small villages of Pineola and Crossmore before we reach our park lodge in Little Switzerland.

Meals Provided

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Average Mileage

45 miles

Elevation Gain

4,458 ft

Meals Provided

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodations

Switzerland Inn

Luxury Level

Day7

Little Switzerland to Weaverville

Our final day out of Little Switzerland, on morning seven, we are on the Blue Ridge Pkwy passing the infamous Mt. Mitchell State Park. Locals and cyclists from around the world participate in the Assault on Mt Mitchell every year. Don't forget your headlight and tail lights! We have numerous tunnels to pass through before we head off the parkway and finish our ride in Weaverville by the famous and friend owned Well-Bred Bakery! A van tranfer will take us back to Bursville to pick up your cars. At the conclusion of the tour, we will drop off at your vehicle by 4 PM or to the Asheville airport by 6 PM.

Meals Provided

Breakfast, Lunch.

Average Mileage

50 miles

Elevation Gain

5400 ft

Riding Terrain

MT. MITCHELL!!!

Meals Provided

Breakfast, Lunch.

Accommodations

North Carolina High Country

Luxury Level

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North Carolina High Country

The Crown Jewel of the Appalachians

Download a Detailed Itinerary

Destination

Activity

Level

Duration

Tour Essence

What to Expect

Start Location

End Location

Mileage

What's Included

What’s Included

Dates

2022

Itinerary

Start Location

Fly Into

End Location

Fly Out Of

Welcome to North Carolina!

Meals Provided

Average Mileage

Elevation Gain

Meals Provided

Accommodations

Terrel House, Burnsville

Burnsville Loop

Meals Provided

Average Mileage

Elevation Gain

Meals Provided

Accommodations

Terrel House, Burnsville

Burnsville to Little Switzerland

Meals Provided

Average Mileage

Elevation Gain

Meals Provided

Accommodations

Switzerland Inn

Little Switzerland to Banner Elk

Meals Provided

Average Mileage

Elevation Gain

Meals Provided

Accommodations

Best Western, Banner Elk

Banner Elk to Blowing Rock

Meals Provided

Average Mileage

Elevation Gain

Meals Provided

Accommodations

Meadowbrook Inn, Blowing Rock

Blowing Rock to Little Switzerland

Meals Provided

Average Mileage

Elevation Gain

Meals Provided

Accommodations

Switzerland Inn

Little Switzerland to Weaverville

Meals Provided

Average Mileage

Dramatic mountain views and fairytale towns