7 Great Smoky Mountains Tours, Ranked by What You Get

1.7-Line Zipline Experience in Sevierville

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 2,872 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) Our pick

Meet at Legacy Mountain Ziplines on Legacy Vista Drive for a roughly 2.5-hour guided course through the Smokies. You will use provided safety gear, learn the basics, ride seven lines reaching up to 50 mph, and cross three rope bridges. Guides such as Jason, Sergey, Noah, and Mickey are known for clear instruction and comic relief.

“We had the greatest time with our guides Mickey and Sergy! They cared about us being very safe and also entertained us throughout our journey! Even the ride up to the zip lines was fun and memorable, thanks to them! Several in our group of 11 had never been ziplining before and they had a great experience! We all agreed we wouldn’t hesitate to book again with this company!”

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2.2 hour Extended Ghost and Haunt Tour of Gatlinburg

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,171 reviews · 2 hours (approx.)

Start at 9pm on Airport Road for a one-mile walk through Gatlinburg’s darker past. Guides such as Kathy, Pete, and Cass mix local history, crime stories, ghost photographs, and hands-on paranormal equipment. The tour returns to its starting point and runs in all weather.

“Cass was an amazing guide and it was by far the best ghost tour I’ve been on! Also, a great opportunity to learn some local Gatlinburg history.”

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3.Mountaintop Zipline 2-Hours Activity

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 778 reviews · 2 hours (approx.)

Ride an ATV up the mountain, then take six dual zip lines, cross four aerial bridges, and rappel onto the final platform. Guides such as Alex, Cici, Amber, Maddie, and Nat keep the tour safe and upbeat. Plan on about two hours, though waits can stretch it longer.

“Emma,Hadley and Caleb made this experience so fun. At first I was a little nervous but they make you feel so comfortable the whole tour. They make you laugh. The zipeline was such an adrenaline. Letting go and going upside down was so much fun. Thank you all for such a fun day. I will be coming back. Came from Miami, Florida.”

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4.The Escape Game Pigeon Forge: 60-Minute Adventures on The Island

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 646 reviews · 1 hour 15 minutes (approx.) · from $46

At The Island in Pigeon Forge, you and up to seven teammates get 60 minutes to complete a mission in an escape-room adventure. Choose from eight themes, including Gold Rush, The Heist, Ruins, The Depths, Timeliner, and Cosmic Crisis. A game guide explains the rules, offers hints, and debriefs your team afterward.

“Very fun breakout game. We did Mission Mars and it was pretty difficult but we did solve it with 20 minutes left.”

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5.Ocoee River Middle Whitewater Rafting Trip (Most Popular Tour)

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 483 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $48

Spend about three hours rafting five miles of Tennessee’s Middle Ocoee River, with 17 major class III and IV rapids. A guide leads your safety practice, then you ride a bus from the Ocoee outpost to the launch and back. Guides such as Heidi, Mike, Sydney, Max, and Jake are known for clear instruction and good humor. Minimum age is 12.

“The rapids were great. Guide Josh was masterfull. Cherokee Whitewater is a great company. I wholly recommend this tour.”

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6.Top Rated Wine and Shine Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 438 reviews · 3 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $51

Start at 5 p.m. with Jenn or another Smoky Tours guide, then walk between Tennessee Shine Company, Little Bear Winery, and Sugarlands Distilling Company. Your $51 ticket covers generous wine and moonshine tastings, a moonshine cocktail, and a behind-the-scenes distillery visit. The group is capped at 12, but you should be ready to walk, stand, and drink steadily.

“Wild Bill at Tennessee Shine and Payton at Sugarlands supplied extremely entertaining tasting experience. As well very good quality of the shines and bourbon.”

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7.Murder & Mayhem Haunted History Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 404 reviews · 1 hour 35 minutes (approx.) · from $24Best value

Walk downtown Chattanooga for about 95 minutes with guides such as Jason, Jessica, or Maria, hearing murder tales, local history, and ghost stories from outside haunted sites. Expect several stops, photo opportunities, and a lively storytelling style, but no interior visits. Wear comfortable shoes and dress for the weather.

“Jess was very informative and engaged us with the stories of the buildings and the people. Amy was sweet and amazing”

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