Classic 4.7 feefo-stars

Bluegrass Country & the Smoky Mountains

featuring Louisville, Lexington, Gatlinburg & Asheville
8 DAYS
From $4,549
$4,449 pp*
Save up to $100
*Rate is per person, land only, double occupancy.

About This Tour

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Take a delightful trip through the heart of Appalachia, discovering the equestrian culture of Kentucky, the pioneer spirit of Tennessee, and the mountainous beauty of North Carolina. Get a taste of Bourbon, baseball, and Thoroughbreds in Louisville and Lexington, Kentucky. Travel through Daniel Boone National Forest as you make your way to Gatlinburg, Tennessee. From your home base of Gatlinburg, explore the natural wonders of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Travel on to Asheville, North Carolina, and enjoy the city’s historic architecture, engaging neighborhoods and robust arts districts. Tour the Biltmore Estate, George Vanderbilt’s "little mountain escape” in the Blue Ridge Mountains. When you leave, you’ll have the warmth and charm of southern Appalachia still in your heart.

Your Tour Includes
  • 4 Handpicked Accommodations
  • 11 Meals
  • 2 Choice on Tour Options
Included Highlights
  • Churchill Downs
  • Kentucky Derby Museum
  • Old Louisville Walking Tour
  • Choice on Tour: Louisville Slugger Museum or Frazier Museum of Kentucky History

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Your Tour at a Glance

Stay

8 Days

7 Nights


Meals

11 Meals

7 Breakfasts

1 Lunches

3 Dinners


Activity

2 - Moderate

What's This?

Travel Style

Classic

What's This?
Book with Confidence

* With Insurance Purchased

  • *No Hassle Refunds
  • Travelling Well Safety
  • No booking fee, *no change fees
  • Top Rated Travel Protection

Getting Prepared

Know Before You Go

Enhance Your Tour

Accommodation

Arrive Earlier

Pre Night: Hilton Garden Inn Louisville Downtown
From $155 per night

...
Hilton Garden Inn Louisville Downtown

Nights 1-2

...
DoubleTree Suites by Hilton Hotel Lexington

Nights 3-4

...
Hilton Garden Inn Gatlinburg

Nights 5-6

...
Cambria Hotel Downtown Asheville

Nights 7-8

Need More Information?

We're here to help

Call us toll free at 1300 792 196

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Trip Reviews

Live, Unedited, & Independent Traveler Reviews

Rating

56 reviews
Overall Trip Rating
4.7
Out of 5
feefo-stars
Based on 56 independent reviews
5
45
4
8
3
3
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    The tour was great. The Smokey mountains was beautiful.
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    The tour manager was very knowledgeable of the area.
    Virginia Kubenka
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    4star
    I think the tour was very nice. Food was great. Tour director did an amazing job. I have already recommended trip to several people. Buffalo Trace needed some better way to deal with all the people buying things! That tour was great , but no way we could buy. The line was a half mile long. Maybe a busy day for them. Not a Collette problem. Just wanted you to know.
    Teresa De Vries
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    Fun trip....lots to do and see ...great local guides...beautiful countryside in Kentucky. Tour manager was excellent....she made it a fun trip.
    Kevin Greeley
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    Everything went smoothly,
    Janet Follstaedt
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    Great tour mgr and bus driver. All3hotels we’re top notch; however the 2nd hotel had a less-than good breakfast.
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    If there was a “glitch” and there usually is with travel, it was taken care of quickly & seamlessly.
    Kathleen Swierlik
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    Everything about this tour was first class. Thoroughly enjoyed it.
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    The tour itself checked all the boxes for the area The tour guid was outstanding
    JUDITH BUDLONG
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    Mainly the tour guide made the tour great Tim was knowledgeable , personable and efficient
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    4star
    Venus were excellent. Seats at the shows were not. Could only see the backs of performers at the Christmas Stampede.
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    titanic exhibit and biltmore visit exceeded expectations. opryland hotel was spectacular. smoky mountains magical. nashville fun music city
    Pamela Chinelli
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    Well organized fun activities
    Janet Kawa
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    Dolly's Stampede. I loved the trick riders and their horses.
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    3star
    Most of my issues had to do with the director. She knew very little about the area. She should have gone there earlier to scope it out and give us suggestions as to where to go and what to do. We were in gaitlenberg a Christmas area. She knew nothing.
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    Everything happened as planned.
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    The tour was filled with great excursions. Our tour manager and motor coach driver were excellent. Both made sure we had the best experiences.
    Lillie Kramer
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    Tour guide was excellent. Only the accommodation in Gatlinburg was slightly above average. Everything else was excellent.
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    Excellent from start to finish and everything in between.
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    The sights included were wonderful. I particularly enjoyed touring Churchill Downs and the horse farms .
    Thomas Michelmore
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    Wonderful itinerary! Includes a taste of the culture, history, local cuisine, and fun and unique activities to experience and enjoy in Bluegrass Country. Who would have expected a Titanic Museum nestled amongst the amusements of Pigeon Forge? Our visit was filled with information, facts, understanding of the events, and feeling like one of the passengers in "Titanic" proportion. Excellent Tour Manager, awesome Coach driver, very knowledgeable Step on Guides, and a group that blended quite well.
    Maria Luisa (Louie) Despeaux
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    Churchill Downs narration by the guide.she was so knowledgeable and able to answer all questions..
    Brenda Crumb
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    Churchill Downs, Smoky Mountains. Tour Manager Tim was awesome and very knowledgeable and went the extra mile with the travelers.
    JJKOBE
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    4star
    Some hotels did not meet my expectations. Hot tub was nearly impossible to get into in one hotel, and most breakfasts were of limited menu items, or were not very hot when served
    Diane Pellett
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    This was our first Collette tour and we were very satisfied. We especially enjoyed the visit to the horse farm in Lexington.
    Ruth Elin Riley
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    Excellent itinerary, nice accommodations and pleasant tour guide.
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    3star
    Churchill Downs and horse farms were great. Tour manager was average at best.
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    3star
    Bus driver was the best. He provided snacks and water throughout the tour. Wrong time for tour. Two weeks late for summer weather and 2 weeks early for fall colors.
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    Nice itinerary and pacing was just right
    Robert Faria
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    4star
    Biltmore - Last hotel on trip was very good.
    Dwight Schulz
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    Very well organized tour that included all the highlights I wanted to see. The tour manager was excellent.
    Barbara Grcevic
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    This was my first tour with Collette and it was fabulous. Very informative, great choice of hotels, and all tours were great. I hope to plan another one soon.
    Margaret Lapage
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    Loved the Churchill Downs, The Smoky Mountains, The Biltmore Estate, and all the stops along the way. Margaritaville Resort was an added bonus that I loved.
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    Great tour, very informative
    Michael Sweeney
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    Highlight was Churchill Downs & horse farms.
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    Best trip ever. Great Tour Manager.
    Jimmie Crane
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    4star
    There were certain things with the hotels, as I mentioned in the previous survey. I also felt it was awkward with the tipping policy especially for the local guides, and I feel the tipping should be handled by Collette vs the indiviual guests.
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    Enjoyed the tour, the driver was competent and fun, the tour leader was excellent!
    Jan Charbonneau
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    4star
    The overall experience was very good.
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    The visit to Churchill Downs and the horse farms .... and being able to tour the Biltmore Gardens.
    Linda Travis Plato
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    Visiting Studio B and getting to record a CD in the same room as Elvis stood and recorded his music.
    Donald Danyo
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    Two of them.......the "Horse and Dinner show" and the surprise trip to Bush's Bean Factory....and not to diminish any of the other parts of the trip because every single part of the trip was super!
    Jimmy Gilbertson
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    Went to Churchill Downs and 2 horse farms. Very good guides at both. The 3 distilleries were very good and enjoyed the samples. In Gatlinburg, enjoyed the large craft show (Not on our schedule) and Dolly Stampede & dinner. Also, enjoyed the unscheduled stop at Bush Bean factory. The farewell dinner at Isa's French Bistro was excellent. All in all great trip.
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    4star
    I enjoyed the Dollywood and their wild west show.
    Jill Marine
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    Loved everything about this trip. Have told all my friends about it and recommended they take this trip by Collette.
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    Our tour guide was very friendly and knowledgeable of every tour site, the bus and driver were excellent and our excursions were well planned . The best way to sum up is to just say we had a great time!
    Anna Villegas
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    Great itenary .
    Fred Weaver
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    Everything was great! Dolly’s Stampede.
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    Wonderful tour, interesting, great tour guide and fun.
    Linda Purdy
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    Lots of pre planning for a smooth trip. Very accommodating. Good pace. Enough time in gift shops. Favorite- Biltmore Estate.
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    Churchill Downs Biltmore Estate
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    I liked that the our included Dollywood..
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    4star
    Enjoyed seeing Churchill Downs, horse country, and smoky mountains...and of course the Biltmore. Gatlinburg was a shock with all the stores and attractions. I thought it would be a sleepy mountain village with lots of local arts and crafts. Was shocked that it was like Las Vegas without gambling. I did not like the Dolly Parton Stampede.
    Susan Avelar
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    Enjoyed Churchill Downs and Great Smoky Mountain Park the most.
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    Churchill Downs, Boone's Tavern, Biltmore
    Gertrude Klepper
Reviewed on
  • Trip Rating:
    5star
    Buffalo Trace tour and the Biltmore in Asheville
    Bette Wilkinson

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