Walking the Appalachian Trail

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This adventure through Northeastern USA lets you hike in the footsteps of history, exploring the twists, turns, valleys and peaks of America's oldest and most popular footpath, the Appalachian Trail! Explore the many mountain ranges of New Hampshire, Vermont, Maine and Massachusetts on our guided day hikes, including a visit to the highest peak in the Northeast - Mt. Washington. Autumn transforms the countryside to crimson and orange as we look out across the best preserved forests of New England. This tour is a nature lover and photographers paradise.

You can now check your email and keep in touch with family and friends while on the road with our wi-fi enabled vehicles. (Maximum 5 users at a time. Fair usage restrictions may apply. Only available in USA & Alaska).

• Canoeing US$35-US$75
• Microbrewery visit US$10
• Visit the famous 'Cheers' bar US$FREE
• White Mountains Cog Railway US$62

New England's Fall foliage is legendary. During September and October the leaves turn from green to gold, crimson and orange, and it's the perfect time for hiking. We recommend booking early for these popular dates.

Our range of 3 - 4 day Mini Adventures are just the ticket for extending your tour and experiencing North America's most incredible 'must see' highlights. Check out the following adventures relevant to this trip.

NEW YORK TO NIAGARA FALLS MINI - 3 DAYS

> Scenic Drive through the Delaware Water Gap/Poconos
> Finger Lakes hiking & swimming
> Niagara Falls and the Maid of the Mist scenic boat cruise
> College town of Ithaca, NY
> Woodbury Common Outlet Mall
> View tour

NEW YORK TO WASHINGTON DC MINI - 3 DAYS

> Gaze upon The Statue of Liberty
> Tour the historical monuments in Washington DC
> Sightseeing tour of Philadelphia's highlights
> Included pizza meal in New York!
> View tour

If you are spending extra time in our gateway cities, you can now plan in advance by pre-booking unique city sightseeing day tours in addition to your trip.

NEW YORK

All city day tours are operated by local experts who are dedicated to take you behind the scenes so you know it like a local! When booking your trip, simply select your chosen city tours from the Tour Extras section on the online booking form.

> View City Sightseeing Tours

Why not arrange your own Grand American Adventures departure? For groups of 8 or more, we can offer private departures on any of our published itineraries enabling friends, families or organizations to enjoy our style of travel at special rates. Although tours will run as per our standard itinerary shown here, slight modifications may be considered and dates can be chosen to suit your needs. (Subject to seasonal/operational restrictions). So contact us today and start planning your own adventure.

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Trip Itinerary

Our routes have been carefully chosen to include the best night stops and highlights. However, as local and operational conditions may vary and unforeseen circumstances can arise, the following itinerary should be used as a guideline.

As this tour departs at 0730 we recommend that you book pre-tour accommodation. Please request hotel details at the time of booking.

Day 1: New York Area to Green Mountains National Forest

After leaving New York Newark area, we begin our journey passing through the Catskill Mountains into the state of Massachusetts where Mount Greylock, the highest point in the Berkshire Mountains and the famous Appalachian Trail awaits. Take in incredible views as we stroll along the wooded paths of the Berkshires that once inspired the famous American authors, Melville and Hawthorne. Today we walk the Hopper Trail which is a moderate to strenuous hike following the blue blazes to the summit of Mt. Greylock. This is a point to point walk where you are met at the other end and driven into the foothills of the Green Mountains where you can relax around the evening campfire, topping off an exciting first day.

There are multiple marked and well signposted trails in the areas you travel to on this tour. We have included walks noted for their natural beauty ranging in difficulty and scenery. On this tour you have the benefit of two walking guides and we do our best to accommodate the group should there be various fitness abilities. Should you wish to try one of the alternative trails without a guide you will be suitably briefed in advance of what to expect and given a meeting point.
Accommodation: Camping with meals included

Day 2: Green Mountains National Forest

"The Greens", as local hikers sometime refer to this small mountain range, are a perfect warm up for the hikes that lay ahead. Today you can choose from various short walks in the wooded valleys however, the guide will take you on The Long Trail/Appalachian Trail. You follow a wilderness path that runs around and through the ridge of Mount Glastonbury of the Green Mountains near Bennington. Rated as a moderate hike it starts with a steep ascent up a series of stone steps. After 1/2 mile, the trail levels out, and continues through a combination of thick forest and open meadows. At its 2,325 foot summit, you will find views of the Bennington Monument, the Taconic Range, and Mount Anthony. The views are rewarding and you can walk at your own pace.
Accommodation: Camping with meals included

Day 3-4: White Mountains National Forest

En route to the camp we stop at the fully functional Sugarbush farms to sample and opt to buy the fresh cheeses and maple syrup.

You will walk the 'backbone' of the northern Appalachians, the White Mountains of New Hampshire. Many of the trails here are above the timberline offering wonderful views of this impressive range. On arrival we delve straight in to the beauty of this area with a planned hike to Lonesome Lake. Most of the trail is tree covered so will be shaded from the sun. The trail leads to the southern end of Lonesome Lake with an additional half mile to an Appalachian Mountain hut with the possibility of extending.

We have the opportunity to enjoy the Franconia Ridge Hike that starts right at our campsite. Rated as one of the best hikes in New England, we get to scale three peaks (Little Haystack, Mount Lincoln and Mount Lafayette) that are all above the timberline and offer wonderful views. This area is known to hikers all over the world, both for its stunning scenery and constantly changing weather. Challenge the elements here or catch the Cannon Mountain Aerial Tramway, which began operation in 1938 and was the first passenger aerial tramway in North America. From the top there are panoramic views of three states. We take time exploring and discover nature's changes on our return.
Accommodation: Camping with meals included

Day 5-7: Baxter State Park

We travel from one of the most well-known segments of the Appalachian Trail, to the most pristine. Baxter State Park is home to Mount Katahdin, the finishing point of the 2200 miles long Appalachian Trail. Wander and enjoy the largest and most remote wilderness in the eastern United States. Here you can truly 'get away from it all' on footpaths that wind through undisturbed forest and along the crystal-clear lakes and streams of northern Maine.

Keep both eyes and ears open for the chance of meeting some of the wildlife that abounds here. This tranquil wilderness is virtually untouched since the days of the first settlers, over three hundred years ago. As we pause to reflect on the solitude of this beautiful place, it is quite impossible to imagine that two-thirds of America's population lives within a day's drive.

There are two options with varying difficulty; the first is Mt. Katahdin / Baxter Peak which is a strenuous hike with more than 4,150 ft. elevation gain and taking approximately 10 hours. The rewarding views on this trail are some of the finest in New England however, should only be attempted by those fit enough.

The second option is to Daicey and Kidney Pond, an easy to moderate walk with little to no elevation difference. This is a nature trail with the Appalachian Trail running through a section of it. Canoes can be rented after a couple of miles or why not simply sit back and admire the views.
Accommodation: Camping with meals included

Day 8-9: Mount Desert Island and Acadia National Park

We continue our journey by visiting the incredible Acadia National Park on Mount Desert Island. Acadia National Park is simply one of the most beautiful and magical natural places on the North American continent. Blessed with towering mountains, islands and ocean it creates a unique sensory splendour that has become the crown and glory of Maine. Towns, such as Bar Harbour blend with Acadia National Park land creating a unique blend of pristine landscapes. Rocky coastlines, Granite Mountains, lakes, moss and evergreen, rolling waves and abundant wildlife mix with local character and seafood in this magnificent place. Borders of the park are dotted by picturesque harbour villages such as Bar Harbour, Northeast Harbour, Southwest Harbour and many more.

Of course the reason Acadia National Park has built such an incredible reputation is due to the sheer volume of walking trails. Acadia National Park has about 125 miles of hiking trails which are often interconnected and range in difficulty from easy to strenuous. Add to this the famous Carriage Roads and you have a wide selection of enjoyable hiking options. In the afternoon we hike an easy / moderate trail but one of the best of its class in this area. The unsurpassed scenic Ocean Path walking trail meanders in a southerly direction along the eastern shore of Mount Desert Island until it arrives at Otter Cliff and Otter Point with numerous points to stop for the perfect picture. For those not wanting to trek today you can try one of the optional excursions this area is so well known for such as sea kayaking or deep sea fishing.

The following day we walk one of Acadia's most beautiful hiking trails, the Acadia Mountain Trail. The walk is moderate / strenuous with a tough scramble up to some spectacular views of the Somes Sound, the ocean, Echo Lake, Gulf of Maine, Cranberry Isles and surrounding mountains.
Accommodation: Camping with meals included

Day 10: Acadia National Park to Boston

From Acadia National Park we continue our journey onto Boston through some beautiful and changeable scenery. Boston - the capital of the State of Massachusetts was founded in 1630 by Puritan colonists, it has been in the forefront of American history and in particular the country's fight for independence. Events like the Boston Massacre and the Boston Tea Party played pivotal roles in that struggle and have become part of American Folklore. Faneuil Hall has been a government centre and a market place for centuries and even today it makes the hive of activity in the city centre.


This tour ends at our gateway hotel in Boston at approximately 17:00 hrs. We can book you post-tour accommodation at our gateway hotel if required. If you are planning to fly tonight, please do not book a flight that departs before 21:00 hrs.


Please note: The trails advertised in this itinerary may be altered to suit weather and trail conditions however, we will do our best to ensure you follow the scheduled itinerary as much as possible, or exchanged with walks of a similar standard.

You can easily book your trip online using our secure booking engine. You only need to pay a 10% deposit or (whichever is greatest) with full payment due 8 weeks before departure. We are members of ABTA (Association of Britsh Travel Agents) and are fully financially bonded so your money is 100% safe & protected at all times whether you pay by debit, bank or credit card. If you prefer to book by telephone, please contact our sales office and speak to one our friendly travel consultants.

Prices below are land only . For customers departing from the United Kingdom please call us on 0844 576 1370 for a flight inclusive quote.

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