Me and my wife took this tour Historic Trails & Blue Ridge Mountains in May 2011. We both thoroughly enjoyed it very much. We recommended it to friends but it looks like it is sadly no longer available, Why is that. I am pretty sure it would be heavily booked if it was available again. I would even consider it myself again if it was available. It is such a great tour especially if your like history, nice hotel rooms, great scenery, good company, good bus driver, nice knowledgable tour guide, about the right amount of days. Such a disappointment.

Unfortunately, this tour has been retired. We do offer our America's Historic East with Extended Stay in Washington, DC. This is an 11 day tour instead of 14 days.

Could you please tell me when this tour is available for booking in August 2026

Unfortunately we no longer offer this tour. I have found a couple of similar tours: Coastal New England - August 3 2026 with Cosmos and America's Historic East with Extended Stay in Washington DC with Globus. I only have 1 departure for the Cosmos tour available in August 2026. I don't have any August Departures for the Globus tour, but I have a departure on September 4 if that will work.

how do I book excursions on this tour

Excursion are not able to be booked until 60 days prior to departure. Once you are booked on a tour, you will be advised when the optional excursions are available for purchase.

Is it for beginners- how many miles a day and how hard of a hike

This tour is operated by motor coach. The only time you'll be on foot is during the included sightseeing. I would not consider this itinerary to require a lot of physical exertion.

Is the hotel in Alexandria VA at the first nite included

The hotel on the first night of the tour is included, the night before you start guided sightseeing. Example hotel is Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriot Alexandria West/Mark Center

Historic Trails & Blue Ridge Mountains

14 days

•

Start and end in Washington DC

5.0

41 traveler reviews

View all
Everything ran smoothly from start to finish. Our driver also had some long driving days and coped very well.
Anonymous, traveled in September
5.0
View all

No departure dates available

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Plan your adventure:

Operator: Cosmos
Explorer: Curated to ignite your sense of adventure
Group Tour: Join a group and forge lifelong friendships
Fully Guided: An experienced guide will be with you for the entire tour
Low Intensity: Travelers can expect some light physical activities
Guided in English
Group Size 42 - 50
All Ages Welcome

Image of a map showing the route of the tour

Itinerary

Day 1
Arrival
Start point
Washington, District of Columbia, United States (Meet at your hotel in Washington DC, 17:00)
Day 2
Washington DC to Gettysburg
Meals
Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Washington DC with Local Guide
- Visit Lincoln Memorial
- Visit Vietnam Memorial
- Visit Ford's Theatre
- Visit Gettysburg National Military Park Museum and Visitor Center
Optional Activities
- Dinner at a local restaurant
Landmarks
Lincoln Memorial
Vietnam Veterans Memorial
Ford's Theatre
Gettysburg National Military Park Museum and Visitor Center
Day 3
Gettysburg to Shenandoah
Meals
Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Gettysburg Battlefield
- Visit Harpers Ferry National Historic Park
- Shenandoah National Park sightseeing
Landmarks
Gettysburg Battlefield
Harpers Ferry National Historic Park
Blue Ridge Mountains
Shenandoah Valley
Day 4
Shenandoah to Beckley
Included Activities
- Stop at New River Gorge Bridge
Landmarks
New River Gorge Bridge
Day 5
Beckley to Lexington
Meals
Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Kentucky Horse Park
Landmarks
Kentucky Horse Park
Day 6
Lexington
Meals
Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Sinking Spring Farm
- Visit Lincoln Museum
- Visit Bourbon Distillery with tasting
Landmarks
Sinking Spring Farm
Lincoln Museum
Lincoln Statue (Town Square)
Day 7
Lexington to Gatlinburg
Meals
Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Colonel Sanders' original restaurant and museum
- Visit Museum of Appalachia
Landmarks
Museum of Appalachia
Great Smoky Mountains
Day 8
Gatlinburg
Optional Activities
- Dollywood
Day 9
Gatlinburg to Asheville
Included Activities
- Drive Newfound Gap Road through Great Smoky Mountains
- Visit Biltmore Estate with self-guided tour
Landmarks
Newfound Gap Road
Biltmore Estate
Day 10
Asheville to Lexington
Meals
Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Mount Airy
- Visit Floyd's Barber Shop
- Visit Walker's Soda Fountain
- Visit Mabry Mill
- Visit Natural Bridge
Landmarks
Blue Ridge Parkway
Mount Airy
Floyd's Barber Shop
Mabry Mill
Natural Bridge
Day 11
Lexington to Williamsburg
Included Activities
- Visit Monticello Estate with orientation tour
- Orientation tour of Richmond
Landmarks
Monticello Estate
Richmond
Day 12
Williamsburg
Meals
Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Colonial Williamsburg
Landmarks
Colonial Williamsburg
House of Burgesses
Day 13
Williamsburg to Washington DC
Meals
Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Mount Vernon
Optional Activities
- Farewell Dinner and illumination tour of Washington DC national monuments
Landmarks
Mount Vernon
Day 14
Departure
End point
Washington, District of Columbia, United States (Depart from your hotel in Washington DC, 08:00)
Optional Activities
- Extended stay in Washington DC

Landmarks
Lincoln Memorial
Vietnam Veterans Memorial
Ford's Theatre
Gettysburg National Military Park Museum and Visitor Center

Landmarks
Gettysburg Battlefield
Harpers Ferry National Historic Park
Blue Ridge Mountains
Shenandoah Valley

Landmarks
New River Gorge Bridge

Landmarks
Kentucky Horse Park

Landmarks
Sinking Spring Farm
Lincoln Museum
Lincoln Statue (Town Square)

Landmarks
Museum of Appalachia
Great Smoky Mountains

Landmarks
Newfound Gap Road
Biltmore Estate

Landmarks
Blue Ridge Parkway
Mount Airy
Floyd's Barber Shop
Mabry Mill
Natural Bridge

Landmarks
Monticello Estate
Richmond

Landmarks
Colonial Williamsburg
House of Burgesses

Landmarks
Mount Vernon

What's Included

Expand All

Accommodation
Guide
Meals
Additional Services
Transport

What's Not Included

Flights
Insurance
Optional
Additional Services

Operated by

Cosmos

4.9

(10,146 reviews)

Number of tours

229

Age Range

5 to 99 years old

Response time

within 1 day

Response rate

96%

The Cosmos Story. For nearly 60 years, Cosmos has done something remarkable:...

Sustainability Initiatives

Reduce Carbon Emissions

Animal Welfare

Supporting Destinations

Sustainability Programs

Other

Your Peace of Mind Options

Cancellation Policy

A transparent overview of applicable fees.

Travel Insurance

Be covered for any unforseen circumstances.

Traveler Reviews

5.0

Overall rating based on 41 Reviews

Tour Operator
4.9

A
Andrew
October 8th, 2023
5.0
Good value,nice sized group, friendly staff
Traveled in September 2023
Review collected by Cosmos
A
Kaye
October 6th, 2023
5.0
A very full itinerary but lots of fun, with a good mix of American history & scenery. A well-organised tour with an...
Show more
Traveled in September 2023
Review collected by Cosmos
A
Anita
October 4th, 2023
5.0
I had an excellent time on my trip
Traveled in September 2023
Review collected by Cosmos
A
Noela
October 3rd, 2023
5.0
Very happy with tour, thought hotel rooms were excellent. Disappointed with one of the optional tours, it was not...
Show more
Traveled in September 2023
Review collected by Cosmos
A
Anonymous
October 2nd, 2023
5.0
The tour was well organized and interesting. The tour guide was wonderful- always prepared, positive and...
Show more
Traveled in September 2023
Review collected by Cosmos
A
Linda
September 29th, 2023
5.0
Great itinerary, really interesting and enjoyable trip
Traveled in September 2023
Review collected by Cosmos
A
Anonymous
September 28th, 2023
5.0
An excellent well run tour
Traveled in September 2023
Review collected by Cosmos
A
Anonymous
September 28th, 2023
5.0
Everything ran smoothly from start to finish. Our tour manager, Brenda, gave us good guidance and historical...
Show more
Traveled in September 2023
Review collected by Cosmos
A
Patrick
September 28th, 2023
5.0
Professional. Good service. Brenda handles problems well.
Traveled in September 2023
Review collected by Cosmos
A
Jo
October 2nd, 2023
5.0
Good value. Tour guide helpful, kind, knowledgeable, and enthusiastic.
Traveled in September 2023
Review collected by Cosmos

What our customers ask about this tour

The content in our FAQ section is subject to change.

All questions

We couldn't find results

Try a different search term or ask a question to this adventure's experts

L
Leah
Asked on October 28th, 2025
Me and my wife took this tour Historic Trails & Blue Ridge Mountains in May 2011. We both thoroughly enjoyed it very much. We recommended it to friends but it looks like it is sadly no longer available, Why is that. I am pretty sure it would be heavily booked if it was available again. I would even consider it myself again if it was available. It is such a great tour especially if your like history, nice hotel rooms, great scenery, good company, good bus driver, nice knowledgable tour guide, about the right amount of days. Such a disappointment.
Tour Details
- CosmosOperator•Written October 2025
  Unfortunately, this tour has been retired. We do offer our America's Historic East with Extended Stay in Washington, DC. This is an 11 day tour instead of 14 days.
M
Monique
Asked on May 24th, 2025
Could you please tell me when this tour is available for booking in August 2026
Price / Availability
Tour Details
- CosmosOperator•Written May 2025
  Unfortunately we no longer offer this tour. I have found a couple of similar tours: Coastal New England - August 3 2026 with Cosmos and America's Historic East with Extended Stay in Washington DC with Globus. I only have 1 departure for the Cosmos tour available in August 2026. I don't have any August Departures for the Globus tour, but I have a departure on September 4 if that will work.
C
Carlos
Asked on June 16th, 2024
how do I book excursions on this tour
Tour Details
Travel Support
- CosmosOperator•Written June 2024
  Excursion are not able to be booked until 60 days prior to departure. Once you are booked on a tour, you will be advised when the optional excursions are available for purchase.
I
Ian
Asked on May 4th, 2023
Is it for beginners- how many miles a day and how hard of a hike
Tour Details
- CosmosOperator•Written May 2023
  This tour is operated by motor coach. The only time you'll be on foot is during the included sightseeing. I would not consider this itinerary to require a lot of physical exertion.
A
Andrea
Asked on July 22nd, 2022
Is the hotel in Alexandria VA at the first nite included
Accommodation
- CosmosOperator•Written July 2022
  The hotel on the first night of the tour is included, the night before you start guided sightseeing. Example hotel is Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriot Alexandria West/Mark Center

No departure dates available

No dates, no problem! Subscribe to our newsletter to receive:

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Plan your adventure:

Good to Know

Tour ID: 52256

Currency
$
US Dollar
USA
Plugs & Adapters
Visa
- Unfortunately we cannot offer you a visa application service. Whether you need a visa or not depends on your nationality and where you wish to travel. Assuming your home country does not have a visa agreement with the country you're planning to visit, you will need to apply for a visa in advance of your scheduled departure.
- Here is an indication for which countries you might need a visa. Please contact the local embassy for help applying for visas to these places.
Payment information
- For any tour departing before June 23rd, 2026 a full payment is necessary. For tours departing after June 23rd, 2026, a minimum payment of $250 is required to confirm your booking with Cosmos. The final payment will be automatically charged to your credit card on the designated due date. The final payment of the remaining balance is required at least 65 days prior to the departure date of your tour. TourRadar never charges you a booking fee and will charge you in the stated currency.
- Some departure dates and prices may vary and Cosmos will contact you with any discrepancies before your booking is confirmed.
- The following cards are accepted for "Cosmos" tours: Visa, Maestro, Mastercard, American Express or PayPal. TourRadar does NOT charge you an extra fee for using any of these payment methods.
Cancellation Policy
- Your money is safe with TourRadar, as we only pay the tour operator after your tour has departed.
- TourRadar is an authorized Agent of Cosmos. Please familiarize yourself with the Cosmos payment, cancellation and refund conditions.
Accessibility
Some tours are not suitable for mobility-restricted traveler, however, some operators may be able to accommodate special requests. For any enquiries, you can contact our customer support team, who are ready and waiting to help you.
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Video

Historic Trails & Blue Ridge Mountains

No departure dates available

Itinerary

Included Activities

Optional Activities

Included Activities

Included Activities

Included Activities

Included Activities

Included Activities

Optional Activities

Included Activities

Included Activities

Included Activities

Included Activities

Included Activities

Optional Activities

Optional Activities

Want to read it later?

What's Included

What's Not Included

Sustainability Initiatives

Your Peace of Mind Options

Cancellation Policy

Travel Insurance

Traveler Reviews

What our customers ask about this tour

No departure dates available

Good to Know

Video

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