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            [HighlightText] => Women's adventure—designed for women, guided by women
            [Description] => Women's adventure-designed for women, guided by women
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            [HighlightText] => Soar above the trees on a zipline course and raft the Nantahala River
            [Description] => Soar above the trees on a zipline course and raft the Nantahala River
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            [HighlightText] => Summit 6,594' Mt. LeConte
            [Description] => Summit 6,594' Mt. LeConte
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            [Description] => stars
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            [Description] => zipline
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            [Description] => female hiker
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            [Description] => sunset
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            [Description] => hills
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            [Description] => at view
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            [Description] => flowers
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            [Description] => flowers
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            [Description] => female waterfall
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            [Description] => river
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Your Guides

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The best people to immerse you in a destination are the ones who live there, which is why we feature local Adventure Guides on our trips. Here are a few that you might meet on this adventure.

Ansley S.

Ansley grew up in the city of Atlanta and spent weekends and holidays in the southern Appalachian mountains. After college she worked in Wilderness Therapy in the North Carolina mountains with troubled youth. In the winters, Ansley goes out west to Utah to ski. She has hiked all around the United States, but the Smoky Mountains always call her back. Her favorite activities include, rock climbing, whitewater kayaking, rafting, scuba diving, yoga, canyoneering, skiing and, of course, backpacking.

Jack L.

Jack Lloyd was raised in Shelby, North Carolina. He grew up playing in creeks and chasing critters in the foothills of Western North Carolina. Before coming to A Walk in the Woods, Jack was a head guide for the Nantahala Outdoor Center, leading ziplining trips and guiding rafts down the river. Over the winters, Jack is a ski instructor working with kids on the slopes. As an avid whitewater paddler, he loves spending hot summer days on the water. He also enjoys gardening and foraging.

China W.

China Whitmire, a Chattanooga native, spent 15 years in Chicago working in non-profit theater and higher education upon completing her undergraduate studies at the University of Chicago. In 2021, China returned to her Appalachian roots by thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail. Now, leveraging her skills, China brings a unique blend of creativity and expertise to her role as a guide. Her love of storytelling and connection with the southern Appalachian region ultimately led her to A Walk in the Woods.

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                    [Headline] => Hike along a pristine mountain stream before visiting a local distillery for a moonshine tasting
                    [ActivityOverview] => 5.4 miles hiking with 800\' elevation gain and loss
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                    [ItinBlock] => Meet your guides and fellow traveling companions this morning in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. After introductions and a trip orientation we\'ll hop aboard our provided shuttle for a quick transfer to our first trailhead. The Cucumber Gap Loop is a perfect introduction to the rich biodiversity, beauty and history of the Great Smoky Mountains. After enjoying lunch and an afternoon on the trail we\'re then off to a local distillery for a tasting of delicious local moonshine. Finally, with our first day of amazing adventure behind us we\'ll arrive at our exclusive camp where we are greeted by our friendly camp host.
                    [Breakfast] => 0
                    [Lunch] => 0
                    [Dinner] => 1
                    [Travel_Type] => 1.5 hours private van transfer
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                    [Itinerary_Location] => 
                    [Latitude] => 35.719
                    [Longitude] => -83.49
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                    [Headline] => Summit 6,594\' Mt. LeConte
                    [ActivityOverview] => 10.5 miles hiking with 2,700\' elevation gain and loss
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                    [ItinBlock] => After a delicious breakfast in camp we\'re off on our unique adventure up Mt. LeConte. At 6,594\', bagging Mt. LeConte is an accomplishment in and of itself. Yet one of the most unique characteristics of Mt. LeConte is that it\'s home to the highest guest lodge in the eastern United States, which can only be reached via a hearty hike to the summit. Once at the summit we\'ll have a chance to explore the lodge and pick up a souvenir at the high-mountain gift shop. Later in the day we\'ll return to our REI Signature Camp where we\'ll enjoy a relaxing and meditative post hike yoga practice and a delicious meal prepared by our camp host.
                    [Breakfast] => 1
                    [Lunch] => 1
                    [Dinner] => 1
                    [Travel_Type] => 2.5 hours private van transfer
                    [Quotation] => 
                    [Quotation_Attribution] => 
                    [Quotation_Location] => 
                    [Itinerary_Location] => 
                    [Latitude] => 35.755
                    [Longitude] => -83.207
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                    [DayFrom] => 3
                    [DayTo] => 3
                    [Headline] => Hike Big Creek Trail with waterfalls and swimming holes
                    [ActivityOverview] => 4.5 miles hiking with 750\' elevation gain and loss
                    [EstimatedLength] => 
                    [ActivityLevel] => 
                    [ItinBlock] => Hike along the turquoise waters of Big Creek and slow down as we explore frequent waterfalls and swimming holes. Midnight Hole is one of the most beautiful natural swimming holes in the Blue Ridge Mountains with its crystal green waters, massive boulders and 6\' waterfall. Part of this hike is along an old logging road and we will learn about the history of the Smokies logging era and how the forest has rebounded. Once back at camp we get to kick off our boots, enjoy another great meal together and recount the day\'s adventures. All meals included.
                    [Breakfast] => 1
                    [Lunch] => 1
                    [Dinner] => 1
                    [Travel_Type] => 1.5 hours private van transfer
                    [Quotation] => 
                    [Quotation_Attribution] => 
                    [Quotation_Location] => 
                    [Itinerary_Location] => 
                    [Latitude] => 35.755
                    [Longitude] => -83.207
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                    [DayTo] => 4
                    [Headline] => Zip-line above the trees and raft the Nantahala River
                    [ActivityOverview] => 2 miles zip-lining; 8 miles rafting
                    [EstimatedLength] => 
                    [ActivityLevel] => 
                    [ItinBlock] => After another delicious breakfast we pack up our things and say a final goodbye to Signature Camp as we load up the van. We take a two hour journey to the Nantahala Outdoor Center, a mecca for outdoor adventure located at the intersection of the Appalachian Trail and the Nantahala River. After another delicious breakfast we pack up our things and say a final goodbye to Signature Camp as we load up the van. We take a two hour journey to the Nantahala Outdoor Center, a mecca for outdoor adventure located at the intersection of the Appalachian Trail and the Nantahala River. After three days of exploring by foot, we take to the air to see the park from above the trees while soaring mountaintop to mountaintop along two miles of zip-lines. With adrenaline pumping, we enjoy 360-degree views of the Smokies and Nantahala Gorge. We then load into whitewater rafts to enjoy a fun Class II and III ride down the scenic Nantahala River, a popular stretch of water for fans of paddling sports, renowned for both its beauty and accessibility. Inspired and rejuvenated, we make our way back to Gatlinburg arriving midevening. Here we bid farewell to new friends. Breakfast and lunch included. Inclement weather may impact the accessibility of the zip-lining course. If this is the case, we may substitute the NOC\'s adventure rope course for the zip-lining activity. In the event of lightening all aerial courses will be closed.
                    [Breakfast] => 1
                    [Lunch] => 1
                    [Dinner] => 0
                    [Travel_Type] => 4 hours private van transfer
                    [Quotation] => 
                    [Quotation_Attribution] => 
                    [Quotation_Location] => 
                    [Itinerary_Location] => 
                    [Latitude] => 35.71
                    [Longitude] => -83.494
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    [ActivityHighlight] => Trip members should be capable of hiking 5-8 hours each day (up to 11 miles) with as much as 2,700\' elevation gain and loss. Zip-lining is suitable for beginners. Weight ranges for zip-lining are 60 pounds minimum and 250 pounds maximum. Rafting is suitable for beginners although comfort in/around water is recommended. Rafting is on rapids classified II-III whitewater.
    [Trip_Level] => 3
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Accommodations

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Private deluxe campground with cozy campfires and delicious meals.

MT Sobek Camp – Great Smoky Mountains

Adventure Camping

A private, deluxe camp with scrumptious meals next to cozy campfires and stories shared under a starlit sky create memories to last a lifetime. The warmth of a cozy sleeping bag beckons and we fall asleep to the sounds of the forest.