Walking The Appalachian Trail, USA Walking Holiday

Essential Information

Trip Profile

8 daywalks. Altitude maximum 1605m, approx. average 830m.

Accommodation

1 night 3-star hotel (en suite) in New York, 9 nights participatory camping; high quality camping equipment provided (excluding sleeping bags).

Both camping and lodge departures are available for this tour; please enquire for details or visit our website to see lodge and camping departure dates.

Start hotel accommodation will be in clean, comfortable three star hotels or lodges with en suite bathroom facilities, chosen for their friendly atmosphere and proximity to the highlights of the region. You will be roomed with a fellow passenger of the same sex on a twin share basis (two people per room) unless you are travelling as a couple. In the event that you cannot be matched with another passenger there will not be a single supplement charge.

Camping Departures: Our camping tours use National and State Park campsites and also a wide assortment of private campgrounds. Most will have flush toilets and hot showers. Many campgrounds charge an additional fee of US$1-3 for showers. You will sleep in high quality, heavy duty, four person tents which single travellers share with one other passenger of the same sex. Our high quality camping equipment also includes top of the line field kitchens, thick inflatable sleeping pads, food storage and camp lanterns and chairs. Most campsites have a quiet time from 10pm to 7am. Please respect your fellow campers who are there to enjoy the peace and tranquillity of camping.

Tour leaders will organise food shopping, meal preparation and clean up on camping based tours. However, camping departures are participatory, and in order for you to get the most out of the experience you should be prepared to get involved and help out with camp chores. With the assistance of your leader(s) you will be expected to help set up and pack away the tents/kitchen and assist leaders as required. Typically it takes only 15 minutes to set up the tents and camp kitchen.

Lodge Departures: A number of departure dates for this tour are offered as lodge departures for those who prefer the comfort of a bed at night. On lodge departures all accommodation will be in clean, comfortable, tourist class hotels/motels based on a twin share basis (two people per room) with en suite bathroom facilities. Rooms will have two beds wherever single travellers are sharing. All bedding and towels are provided. On days 3-4 (4-5 Ex London) in the White Mountains, the lodge is called Highland Lodge at Crawford Notch, all rooms are private twin share however, some have shared bathrooms.

Food

9 breakfasts, 8 lunches and 9 dinners included on camping departures. On lodge departures four course dinner included at lodge in White Mountains only.

Reality Check

This tour is operated in partnership with our sister company Grand American Adventures (GAA), as such the group may be a mixture of Exodus and Grand American Adventure clients.

This trip is booked through Exodus and you will receive the same award winning customer service that you are used to. GAA operate with the same core principles used by Exodus and champion the benefits of small group travel.

This walking tour is designed for active adults and offers a well-paced mix of walks, all of which are day walks and are therefore optional. Whilst a number of the walks, such as the Hopper Trail, Lonesome Lake and Ocean Path hikes are suitable for all fitness levels, others require a good level of fitness suitable for those who are used to regular exercise. All walks are at low altitude.

The hikes available on this trip vary in both difficulty and duration, ranging from short (approx. 2 hour) leisurely low gradient strolls on well marked trails, to longer (approx. 6-10 hour) moderate and challenging hikes on steep and/or loose terrain.

The Franconia Ridge Hike and the Mount Katahdin/Baxter Peak climb are both considered challenging, and involve steep ascents and descents with some scrambling over rocks and boulders. Our leaders enjoy spending as much time as possible on the trail with their groups.

As interests and capabilities vary, our leaders will typically guide day hikes according to group's needs and the difficulty of particular hikes. With two tour leaders on this trip, they will either guide separate hikes chosen by the majority, or offer additional activities and support. However, it will not always be possible for every hiker to be accompanied by a guide when groups divide up to explore different trails. Many of the day hikes allow walkers to do their own thing so it is essential for participants to have a reasonable knowledge of the outdoors and show a degree of common sense. 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.

The leader will also advise those who do not wish to participate, of the other options available in the area. Please note, some of the areas are remote and hiking or relaxing will be the only possible entertainment. In order to get the most out of the holiday and have the best experience, those on participatory camping departures will be expected to get involved with camp chores including cooking, cleaning, pitching tents and tidying up.

There are a couple of longer drives on this trip (4-6 hours), although the scenery en route is stunning and there will be plenty of stops for refreshments, stretching your legs and taking photo's. Although each tour follows an itinerary, there is a certain amount of flexibility and from time to time your tour leader may suggest changes. This may be due to road conditions, weather or a visit to a special attraction or event that happens to be in progress. Flexibility is key and often a side diversion will be a highlight of the tour.

Hikes and optional activities cannot be guaranteed and may vary depending on ability, group interest, local weather conditions and time of year.

Normal group size and age

Normally 5 to 12, plus 2 leader/drivers. Minimum age 18.

Misc

Lodge departures are also available on selected dates if you prefer a little more comfort. These include 10 nights 3-star hotels/lodges. Unlike our camping version of this trip, meals are not included on the lodge departures.

Icons explained

The vast majority of Exodus adventures are adult group holidays. Groups are always small in size. We strongly believe that this adherence to small groups means a better experience for all; more time with your guide, less waiting around and a reduced impact on the communities and environments visited.
Each group is generally made up of like-minded travellers - with singles, couples and friends all joining in together. All these trips are suitable for single travellers, but if you prefer to travel with clients booking individually, please see our Solo Departures page.

Fitness is important and you may have to improve yours before departure. Most treks at this grade compare to extended walking in mountainous terrain such as the Lakes of Snowdonia, but usually at significantly higher altitudes; climate and remoteness can also play a part. Previous trekking experience is desirable, but not vital if you are confident of your physical condition.

Exodus is always looking to improve our current itineraries and to offer something different. With many new trips this year, there is something unique and different to try every year.

Walking & Trekking: Trips are wholly trekking-focused or simply include a significant number of walking days during the itinerary.

Wildlife: Trips may be wholly wildlife focused, or contain an element of wildlife viewing within a less specific itinerary.

Wilderness: Visit the deserts, jungles, plateaux, tundra and mountains of all seven continents, including Antarctica.