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The Carolinas Bike Tour: Active Greenville to Arty Asheville
Duration
5 days
From
$3,599 USD
Join a 5 day cycle tour of the Southern Appalachians on a tour filled with natural splendour, vibrant culture and some of the most spectacular riding on the East coast. From outdoorsy Greenville to artsy Asheville, you'll be sure to find your ideal spot in the Carolinas. Enjoy the elegant charm of George Hincapie’s cycle-centric hotel and the opulence of George Vanderbilt’s sprawling estate. Experience a superb bike tour and don't forget to delight your taste buds with the regional specialities on offer, including farm-to-table cuisine and craft brewery explorations on this Carolinas' cycle tour.
- CategoryEasy-going & Leisurely
- TypeFully Guided
- Duration5 days
- Culture LevelFamiliar
- Skill Level3 - Intermediate
- Activity Level3 - Active
- Elevation3 - Intermediate
- TerrainHilly
- Distance84.5 miles
- Avg. Daily Distance16.8 miles
operated by
Backroads
BackroadsBest Price Guarantee
No booking or payment fees
Quick Stats
- Duration5 days
- Main DestinationUnited States
- Distance84.5 miles
- Avg. Daily Distance16.8 miles
- Elevation3 - Intermediate
- TerrainHilly
Route Map (click to view larger image)
Itinerary Details
- Day 1Day 1
On the first day of the trip, meet your Trip Leaders (the folks in Backroads T-shirts) at 11 a.m. at the Hampton Inn & Suites Greenville Downtown (864-271-8700), located at 171 River Place in Greenville, South Carolina. Please arrive dressed in your biking clothes and bring your luggage and a daypack with your rain gear and anything else you may want for today's ride (your luggage will be transported to your first night's accommodations).
BIKING OPTIONS:
Swamp Rabbit Trail Route:17km/11 Miles* (500' elevation gain)
Piedmont Route: 45km/28 Miles (1,700')
* with shuttle
Welcome to South Carolina! Once you meet up in Greenville you will be shuttled to a nearby park and enjoy a delicious picnic lunch, after which your Backroads Trip Leaders fit you to your bike and give a brief talk on biking techniques and safety. Then set out on your first spin through this lush pristine landscape, following the renowned Swamp Rabbit Trail. Named for the old steam train which puffed its way along the swamps of the Reedy River from 1888 to 1979, the Swamp Rabbit Trail is now part of Greenville's "Rails-to-Trail" program, which converts retired railway lines into multiuse public recreation spaces.
Enjoy the winding backcountry roads and rural farmland as you head toward Hotel Domestique, your home for the next two nights. In keeping with the dynamic and artistic sensibility of the region, your hotel seamlessly blends luxury accommodations with rustic charm. Settle into your spacious guest room with views of the Blue Ridge Mountains and relax before regrouping to enjoy a welcome reception and special dinner at the hotel.
- 10.6 - 28 miles
- Hotel Domestique
- Lunch and Dinner
- Day 2Day 2
BIKING OPTIONS:
Saluda Loop: 35km/22 Miles* (1,000' elevation gain)
Greenville Watershed Loop: 53km/33 Miles (2,400')
West Fork Extension Route: 61km/38 Miles (3,200')
Hincapie's Gran Fondo Switchback Challenge Route: 91km/57 Miles (4,400')
*with shuttle
After breakfast, set out along the low-trafficked, backcountry roads of Henderson County, a cyclist's paradise. Start out with a climb through the lush forests of the Greenville Watershed, levelling off for a spin around Lake Summit and across the Saluda Grade, the steepest standard-gauge mainline railroad east of the Rockies. The route leads to the Victorian mountain town of Saluda, where you can grab lunch on your own and explore.
If you just can't get enough of what George Hincapie has dubbed "one of the best places in the world to be cycling," test your mettle with a section of his celebrated Gran Fondo route, pedalling through forested roads along the Green River. Push yourself to the limit with 17 switchbacks that climb back toward Saluda before continuing on to the hotel.
Not quite ready to tackle the Gran Fondo? Enjoy a more leisurely ride past the North Saluda Reservoir before descending back to the hotel. For more mileage, continue on a long, smooth downhill with one big climb along the West Fork Extension, a favourite route of local cyclists.
If relaxing at the hotel this afternoon sounds like a better option, grab a lounge chair on the sun-soaked courtyard, take a dip in the saltwater pool, schedule an in-room massage or delve into a good book in the hotel's library. The choice is yours! (Massages are not included in the trip price. Advance reservations are required.)
Tonight you'll dine at the hotel's Restaurant 17, named for the 17 times George Hincapie rode in the world-famous Tour de France.
- 21.7 - 56.5 miles
- Hotel Domestique
- Breakfast and Dinner
- Day 3Day 3
BIKING OPTIONS:
Carolinas Cruising Route: 38km/24 Miles* (900' elevation gain)
Domestique Route: 58km/36 Miles* (1,500')
Caesars Head Route: 70km/44 Miles* (3,800')
The Whole Shebang Route: 96km/60 Miles* (4,300')
*with shuttle
Get an early start this morning to tackle the toughest route of the week—the climb to Caesars Head. After pedaling up meandering mountain roads to the summit, take in panoramic views of the surrounding mountains, including Table Rock, and relish a gradual descent across the state line into North Carolina. Or, if you prefer a more relaxed start to the day, hop in the shuttle at the base of the Caesars Head climb for a lift to the top. From here, jump on your bike and roll along a leisurely ride through the forest and Carolina farmland to the small outdoors-loving town of Brevard, where you'll stop for a picnic lunch.
In the afternoon you can peruse some of the shops on Brevard's Main Street and perhaps stop for a craft beer at a favourite pub The Hub, which also has an outdoor gear shop. Or continue riding on country roads to the entrance of Pisgah National Forest and your home for the night, Pilot Cove, where you'll stay in private cabins that blend right into the landscape.
- 23.6 - 59.7 miles
- Pilot Cove
- Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
- Day 4Day 4
BIKING OPTIONS:
Blue Ridge Parkway Route: 30km/19 Miles* (1,300' elevation gain)
Biltmore Route: 53km/33 Miles* (2,500')
Pisgah Forest Route: 55km/34 Miles* (3,800')
Pilot Cove to Biltmore Route: 93km/48 Miles (5,000')
*with shuttle
Today's route starts along the headwaters of the Davidson River and enters Pisgah Forest, whose over 500,000 acres are riddled with waterfalls and white-water rivers. You'll pedal past Courthouse Falls and its narrow 45-foot plunge and then climb toward 76-mile forest Heritage Scenic Byway. Then you'll hit the famed Blue Ridge Parkway, which runs for 469 picturesque miles through Virginia and North Carolina, making it the longest stretch of protected parkway in America and "America's most scenic drive"... or bike ride! Enjoy a thrilling descent, biking through several tunnels before coasting into the North Carolina Arboretum (which features 65 acres of cultivated gardens) for lunch.
After lunch, continue riding through Biltmore Forest to your hotel, the Inn on Biltmore Estate. Sweeping views, luxurious décor, meticulous service and attention to detail are just a few of the qualities that put this property in a class of its own. If time permits, delight in some R&R at the spa, explore the Biltmore House's sprawling gardens or head over to Antler Hill Village and Winery to sample the estate's local vintages. (Spa treatments are not included in the trip price. Advance reservations are recommended.)
This evening you'll toast to your Carolina adventure before shuttling just beyond the estate's grounds for dinner.
- 18.6 - 57.8 miles
- Inn on Biltmore Estate
- Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
- Day 5Day 5