Top Tennessee Nature and Wildlife Tours

Go far off the beaten track on this small-group tour that takes you along one of the world's most isolated roads. Travel into the Alaskan wilderness along the Dalton Highway from Fairbanks to the edge of the Arctic Circle. On the way back, keep your eyes peeled for the Northern Lights.

With as many as 100,000 endangered grey bats coming to roost around the caves of Nickajack Lake, this kayaking tour near Chattanooga offers an exceptional opportunity to watch them on their nightly hunts. You’ll visit the Nickajack Bat Cave and Wildlife Refuge in the Tennessee River and paddle out to the bat cave. While these animals take to the sky during sunset, you’ll learn about the local efforts made to protect and preserve the species.

The Great Smoky Mountains boast scenic views and this hiking tour takes you on a journey to find them. Join a small group and traverse through the lush landscapes to discover several streams, cascades, and creeks. Each season of the year puts on a different show for hikers so there's always something to enjoy. This is a moderately adventurous hike that gains elevation and climbs over downed trees.

Check out one of the most scenic drives in America on this approximately three hour jeep tour along the Foothills Parkway in the Smoky Mountains. This is a small group tour, so you’ll keep costs down by sharing your vehicle. But you’ll still have excellent views, several stops for photos, and a fun family-friendly all terrain ride.

Go ziplining through an old-growth forest on this active tour from Nashville. The ziplines in the course vary from up to 700 feet (213 meters) long and about 85 feet (26 meters) high. Your guide shares commentary about the native plant life and wildlife of the region as you experience the region up close. Choose from several departure times each day to suit your schedule.

This is a fun and luxurious way to get a whistle-stop tour of Nashville’s top sights. Instead of being stuck in traffic, ascend into the sky in a helicopter and see the best of Music City from above. Along the way, listen to commentary about the sights you pass and fly over lots of key city landmarks in a short space of time—such as the Ryman Auditorium, Tennessee State Capital, and the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum.

Explore Nashville from a local's perspective on this city tour with a local guide. Aboard an open-air, low-speed vehicle, cruise through Nashville to see more than 35 landmarks and other sightseeing locations. Notable sights along this tour include Country Music Hall of Fame, Ryman Auditorium, Johnny Cash Museum, Germantown, The Gulch, Tootsies, and Music Row. Select a morning, afternoon, or evening tour when booking.

Explore the best of country music’s past and present with this Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum ticket. Situated in the heart of downtown Nashville, this beautifully modern facility is known as the “Smithsonian of country music,” offering 350,000 square feet of dynamic, state-of-the-art galleries, archival storage, educational classrooms, retail stores, restaurants, and special event space—all with a stunning view of the rest of Music City. It’s a must-see venue for all fans of country music.

Explore the historic Jack Daniel's Distillery on this guided tour from Nashville. Embark on a tasting tour of the distillery and sample several tastings of premium Tennessee whiskey. You also have free time to walk through the nearby town, famous for their Tennessee Walking Horse, and downtown Lynchburg.

Get the party started with this one-of-a-kind party tractor tour that will have you dancing through the streets of downtown Nashville. Get down on the light-up dance floor with a live DJ and on-board bar (drinks extra) as your professional tractor driver pulls your party trailer, or watch the fun from themed horse-saddle seats. Enjoy 90 minutes of a club on wheels, leaving you plenty of time to experience Nashville’s nightlife afterwards on your own.

See more of Nashville than just the music sights on this street art tour by private golf cart. With a guide, cruise along city streets, stopping at murals for photo ops. Select a morning, afternoon, or evening departure time when booking.

No need to travel far to take this thrilling Pigeon River white-water rafting tour, which departs from a central location right by Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg—one of the closest put-ins in the area. As the lengthiest rafting trip on the Pigeon River, this excursion is perfect for thrill seekers, while a guide on every raft makes it appropriate for rafters of all experience levels.

Get oriented with Nashville on this quick "New Nashville" tour, which was designed to show off the best of the city for those short on time or who only want an introduction before exploring more on their own. Traveling by open-top double-decker bus, you'll pass by more than 100 landmarks and attractions, such as Ryman Auditorium and Vanderbilt University.

Take to the water for an adrenaline-fuelled white water rafting adventure along the Pigeon River. Enjoy spectacular views of the Smoky Mountains as you paddle through the gorge, tackle thrilling Class III and IV rapids such as ‘Snapdragon’ and ‘Powerhouse’, and perhaps jump in to cool off with a swim.

Roar through Nashville on a jacked-up 4x4 truck named Cowboy. This unique tour gives you a ride on a real monster truck accompanied by commentary from your guide about Nashville and the surrounds.

Discover a bygone era on a 3-hour tour of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Hear stories about the Cherokee people and settlers that lived and worked in the mountains, and learn how they survived off the land. See a small family cemetery, 19th-century barn and an old fashioned spring house, then get a glimpse of settlers’ daily lives in a small restored cabin. Enjoy a relaxed nature walk with a guide that brings the Smoky Mountains’ distinctive wildlife, plants and geology to life at every turn.

Sightseeing in the “high elevations” of the Great Smoky Mountains can be an experience that won’t soon be forgotten. We travel past the Appalachian Trail and traverse the Crest of the Smokies as we take in the sights above 5000 ft. You will gain facts of the area from your guide that will make these mountains come alive with Native American stories and geographical facts. We travel into the North Carolina side of the National Park to take in the vistas and learn about the impact logging had to the area. You will be amazed how the forest has reclaimed itself over the years. Our goal for this trip is to arrive at the Clingmans Dome parking area and gift shop. This is the highest point in the National Park at 6,643′. If the weather permits, we'll take an optional short walk through the spruce-fir forest and learn about this unique environment.

You don’t have to retreat to the country to live your cowboy or cowgirl adventure: this 4,500-acre urban oasis is right in the middle of Memphis. Saddle up and explore the trails inside this sprawling city park, which is home to a variety of wildlife including deer, ducks, cranes, and more. Horses are well-trained and accustomed to riders of all experience levels.

Take a deep dive into the legends and lore of Music City with this exclusive tour led by Grammy-nominated music journalist and acclaimed songwriter Bill DeMain. Learn about Nashville’s extraordinary history as a music capital from an insider who has interviewed stars from Dolly Parton to Willie Nelson. Admire important historic and cultural landmarks as your guide narrates almost a century of music history along the way.

Rather than exploring an unfamiliar environemnt on your own, explore Great Smoky Mountains National Park on a small-group hike that takes you deep into the forest and along a pristine mountain river. You'll also see two waterfalls and learn all about the flora and fauna from your naturalist guide.

Maximize time in Chattanooga with a sightseeing tour by scooter. Meet your guide for a small-group city tour by electric scooter. Get comfortable with your equipment and then head out to see city landmarks including the Chattanooga Riverwalk, Tennessee Aquarium, and the Walnut Street Bridge. Get your bearings in Chattanooga with this guided tour. Safety gear is included.

Experience the beauty of a Pigeon River rafting trip without the big thrills on this peaceful float down the river’s lower section. Not only is this kid-friendly tour a great option for families with kids aged three and older, but it’s also the perfect chance to relax and admire beautiful Blue Mountain scenery.

The Smoky Mountains are known for their beautiful nature, but the history and culture of the area also run deep. Learn about the founders of Gatlinburg, the old mill at Pigeon Forge, and head up the mountain to Rockefeller Memorial. Then, enjoy having your 1-hour lunch break in Wears Valley at Elvira's Cafe, and more on this fully narrated day-long tour from Pigeon Forge.