This trip is all about natural splendor, Southern Appalachian culture and some of the most glorious riding on the Eastern Seaboard! From outdoorsy Greenville to artsy Asheville. From George Vanderbilt's opulent estate to George Hincapie's cycle-centric hotel, experience one of our most pedal-perfect offerings yet.
Days 1-2 Ride the Swamp Rabbit Trail, one of Greenville's famed Rails-to-Trails pathways, along the Reedy River | Enjoy bluegrass music while watching the sun set behind the mountains | Set out on a peaceful ride through the Greenville Watershed Area and visit the historic Victorian village of Saluda | Relax at our Mediterranean-style hotel and fuel up with a wonderful dinner at Restaurant 17 | Embark upon Hincapie's Gran Fondo route or choose a leisurely spin past the North Saluda Reservoir.
Day 3 Bike north at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains in South Carolina | Tackle the ascent of Caesars Head—a picnic lunch and spectacular vistas await at the summit | If you enjoy rolling terrain, you'll love pedaling through the afternoon stretch of Southern Appalachia and classic Carolina farmland | Enjoy a drink on the hotel's patio at sunset.
Days 4-5 Explore George Vanderbilt's magnificent Loire Valley-inspired château and gardens, set on the 8,000-acre Biltmore Estate | Cycle rolling fields and challenging ridgelines | Pedal past scenic overlooks and lush forests | Learn about Southern Appalachian culture and shop for unique local crafts at the Blue Ridge Parkway Folk Arts Center | Enjoy a leisurely spin through the Biltmore Forest before a farewell lunch.
Spectacular route planning. The Biltmore Estate and the Hotel Domestique were wonderful bases, so different, but each magnificent, and absolutely stunning riding routes. We appreciated the alternative routes available, so we could ride as much as we felt like each day.- Pasadena, CA
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Accommodations may vary based on departure date. Any difference from what is listed below can be found by clicking on your desired date on the Dates & Prices tab.
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Set amid the rolling Blue Ridge Mountains, this stylish boutique hotel is the brainchild of 17-time Tour de France competitor George Hincapie and his brother Rich. (pool)
Savor turn-of-the-century elegance and breathtaking views of the Blue Ridge Mountains at this gracious inn, nestled on Biltmore's majestic estate. (pool, spa)
There's no better way to find out about Backroads than by hearing it from the people who have traveled with us. For more about the Backroads Experience, read our Guest Testimonials.
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REVIEW SNAPSHOT®
by PowerReviews(based on 6 reviews)
Ratings Distribution
100%
of respondents would recommend this to a friend.
Reviewed by 6 customers
Displaying reviews 1-6
Comments about North Carolina to South Carolina Bike Tour:
Spectacular route planning. The Biltmore Estate and the Hotel Domestique were wonderful bases, so different, but each magnificent, and absolutely stunning riding routes. We appreciated the alternative routes available, so we could ride as much as we felt like each day.
Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend
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Comments about North Carolina to South Carolina Bike Tour:
The Biltmore in Ashville is to die for the food was great the Backroads staff was as amazing as they always are. The hills were challenging for a flatlands Florida old man but the country is beautiful and as a huge George Hincape fan staying at his hotel in Greenville was so good we went back there for Valentines day and in spite of our guides warning us not to expect to see him, he came by and visited with us and signed the books we had purchased and he is every bit as nice as I had always heard I would do this trip again in a heartbeat
Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend
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Me standing next to George Hincape How cool is that
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Comments about North Carolina to South Carolina Bike Tour:
Great leaders, great company, great rides, great fun! And did I mention - awesome places to stay!
Comments about North Carolina to South Carolina Bike Tour:
I loved everything--the hotels were great, the leaders engaging and fun, the food was outstanding.
Comments about North Carolina to South Carolina Bike Tour:
Our overall experience with backroads was superb.The entire trip was very professionally done with everyone involved.We will definately be back on another trip soon and would like to continue getting information on other trips offered.
Comments about North Carolina to South Carolina Bike Tour:
The riding was outstanding, the guides were a ton of fun & I particularly enjoyed Hotel Domestique. Everything was planned and coordinated so my wife and I could do whatever we wanted to do each day. Thank you Backroads!
Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend
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Displaying reviews 1-6
The earlier you book, the more choice you'll have and the lower your price. And you can always change your mind—you won't be charged to transfer to a different trip before your final payment is due.
Please click on a date below for specific pricing and possible itinerary variations.
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AVAILABLE TO BOOKi GOING FASTi CONTACT USi PRIVATE TRIP - RESERVEDi
Interested in a Private Trip? Check out the Make It Private tab for private dates available, or call us at 800-462-2848.
Every Backroads trip is designed to appeal to a wide variety of interests and fitness levels. We know your pace may vary from one day to the next—and your traveling companion's may differ somewhat from yours. So we present a range of mileage options, and each day you decide exactly what and how much you want to do.
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| Daily Route Options | ||||||||||
| Day | EASYGOING | ACTIVE | AVID | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Level 4 | Level 5 | ||||||
| miles | feet gain | miles | feet gain | miles | feet gain | miles | feet gain | miles | feet gain | |
| 1 | 18* | 800 | 30 | 1400 | ||||||
| 2 | 17* | 1400 | 27* | 1700 | 53 | 4400 | ||||
| 23* | 1700 | |||||||||
| 3 | 26* | 1400 | 35* | 2700 | 43* | 2900 | 63 | 4000 | ||
| 4 | 20* | 1200 | 33 | 2600 | 38 | 3400 | 57 | 4700 | ||
| 5 | 13 | 1000 | 25 | 1700 | ||||||
Note:
* Includes shuttle.
Learn more about how we determine our activity levels and fully support a range of abilities and interests.
Please note that our distance and elevation figures come from Ride with GPS. Other sources (such as Map My Ride and Garmin devices) may give differing elevation figures due to different GPS and mapping technologies. Readings from a Garmin or a smart phone are influenced by other factors such as air pressure.
Normally bikes aren't allowed on the Biltmore Estate, the 7,000-acre park with a château-like mansion that's the largest private home in the U.S. But we've managed to gain access for Backroads guests. Riding up to this monument of the Gilded Age is just one of many highlights on a biking journey that uniquely combines rides through undulating countryside around the cultural center of Asheville with the scenic, bike-friendly roads outside historic Greenville, SC.
Choose a Backroads Custom Titanium or Custom Electric Assist bike—both are included in your trip price. Maybe a Specialized carbon-fiber pro model is more your speed or go for double fun on a tandem. Our fleet is the best in active travel, so you don't have to roll the dice on this vital trip component. Learn why our titanium bikes are ideal for most riders. See the bike options for this trip.
Your ride comes equipped with a Garmin Edge Explore 1000, the best bike-touring GPS device on the market. This is a Backroads exclusive, and it's included with your bike in North and South Carolina. If you prefer to bring your own device, we also have downloadable GPS files and of course, our good old paper directions are always available. Read more on why our navigation options are the best.
In North and South Carolina you head off each morning after choosing among several expertly designed routes—all with detailed directions, mileage and shuttle options. Unlike trips with one fixed daily route (or worse, one guide that everyone's obliged to follow), you're free to enjoy the best of the region at your pace, stopping wherever you want to explore further.
Backroads is the only active travel company providing two support vans in North and South Carolina—because we know it's essential to ensure a truly great travel experience. It doubles our ability to be there when you need us to offer hydration, lighten your load or give you a lift if it's time to take a break. Read more on why two vans make all the difference.
We design and support our North and South Carolina trips to suit mixed abilities and varied interests—so you can set your own pace, then change things up as the day unfolds. And all guests are free to do the same, traveling together or apart, with no one cramping anyone else's style. Which sounds easy in theory, but it's hard to pull off. Here's more on how we do it.
Backroads has the best-qualified people to lead your trip in North and South Carolina, and our guests back that up, rating our Trip Leaders an average of 9.75 out of 10 for all-around quality of performance. Get the facts (and no fluff) on how we recruit and develop the very best people for your trip.
On this trip featuring Premiere Hotels, you can count on the best lodgings North and South Carolina has to offer. In fact, the hotels we've chosen in this region have higher retail room rates than those offered by any other active travel company—even when their trips cost more.
Our Trip Leaders in North and South Carolina live in the area and are deeply engaged in their communities, giving them unique inside knowledge they're happy to share in making your experience that much richer. They'll introduce you to people, customs and parts of town you'd likely never encounter on your own—and teach you a few local phrases to help break the ice.
Under our Book with Confidence policy, your Backroads trip will run even for one or two people (or a family of three or four), subject to a nominal extra fee. Or transfer to another trip, and we'll give you a credit. It's all part of our trademark commitment to treating guests with integrity, transparency and total accountability. Read all the details.
Since 1979, Backroads Founder and President Tom Hale has shown that staying #1 means constantly evaluating our performance using the best possible source of information: our guests. As we systematically analyze your feedback on our trip consultants, leaders, hotels, meals and on-trip activities, we never stop working to make a great company even better.
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Gather your favorite people to share a Backroads adventure on a ready-to-book Private Trip - featuring all the legendary Backroads hallmarks from expert leaders to unforgettable activities. You can pick from the selection of dates below for your group; some dates are only available for 16 or more guests while other dates are available for 8 or more guests. If your party has fewer than 8 guests, or your preferred date is not available, we'll create a departure just for you. Call or email us to reserve your date.
Click on a date below for specific pricing and possible itinerary variations.
8 AVAILABLE TO BOOK FOR 8 OR MORE GUESTS 16 AVAILABLE TO BOOK FOR 16 OR MORE GUESTS RESERVED
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Invite your family and friends on an adventure that's entirely your own - for your group of 8 or more. Find out more
I simply can't imagine a better way to immerse yourself in the life of a region, to explore hidden corners and appreciate nuances while enjoying the benefits and enormous satisfaction of traveling under your own power. These are experiences you cannot have behind the wheel of a car, or on a train or a tour bus. Active travel is, at its heart, a way of connecting more authentically with the world. Sure, Backroads provides amazing leaders, superb accommodations and meals, and opportunities you could never arrange on your own. But all of our comprehensive planning and support is aimed at something far simpler: bringing you the immediate, highly personal satisfaction of discovering a new world on your own terms.
— Tom Hale, Founder & President
