Hiking the Best of Vermont

Welcome to Vermont! Your adventure begins in Burlington – if you arrive early, why not check out the arts and crafts of Church Street Marketplace or the idyllic Shelburne Farms? This morning, you'll be picked up from your hotel for a drive to Elmore State Park. Your first hike of the trip starts on a winding path through beech and maple forest before gaining elevation on the way to a historic fire tower – built in 1939 but taken out of service in the 1970s, it now provides sweeping views above the tree line and back over the mountain valley and Lake Elmore. If it's a clear day, you can swim in the lake. After, return to Stowe, stopping at a local brewery along the way. Enjoy a tasting of some of the local favourites before heading back into town for a group dinner. (B/L/D)

Today, you’ll reach new heights as you summit Mount Mansfield – Vermont’s highest peak at 4395 ft. It resembles a face when viewed from the east, and many of the ridgeline features you hike along are suitably named – Adam’s Apple, Nose, Forehead and Chin. From the Chin, the mountain’s highest point, you’ll even have sightlines over state lines! See if you can spot the White Mountains in New Hampshire or the Adirondacks in New York (on a clear day). The elevation makes for the perfect setting for lunch. After, make your descent and head back to Stowe for a group dinner at a local restaurant. (B/L/D)

Start the day with a delicious group breakfast at a local eatery, followed by a scenic drive into the high mountains of Vermont. Today's hike will be short but is one of the most gorgeous hikes in the Green Mountains – in Vermont's regal Northeast Kingdom. Make your way toward the glacially formed Lake Willoughby, home to some of the deepest water in the state. The trail will then take you along the forest floor and rocky outcrops, where you can look out over the fjord-like views of Mount Pisgah and Mount Hor. After some lunch with a view, you'll head back to Stowe, where your free afternoon is the perfect chance to explore the historic downtown, either on your own or with your local guide. Maybe head to a local cidery before dinner and get to know your group a little better before settling in at another special local restaurant for dinner. (B/L/D)

After fuelling up on breakfast, take a short drive to Smugglers' Notch – the host for your last hike of the trip! Used by Vermonters as a trading route with Canada during the Napoleonic Wars and Prohibition, it now showcases some of the state's best sights. Pass through birch forests as you ascend the two mountains that form the notch, stopping for a picnic lunch along the way. After making your way back down, take a shuttle back to Burlington, where your adventure comes to an end at approximately 5 pm. (B/L)