Quick Details
Offered only 5 nights in spring 2024, we are providing a convenient camping experience and overnight firefly retreat!
Includes:
- 1 night of accommodations in an oversized pre-set tent, comfortable camping cots and bedding; tent sleeps up to 2 guests
- Guided night hike to our “secret” firefly viewing location with a smaller, more intimate group than our regular firefly tours
- a menu-based dinner, and farm-to-table breakfast the following morning with vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free options
- Pre-tour seminar on the intriguing biology of fireflies provided by Jenny Gruhn, PhD, Forest Ecologist
What’s not included:
- Transportation to the retreat location or airport transfer
Please note that 50% of the proceeds from our Firefly Experiences goes back to Pisgah National Forest, to cover our yearly permitting costs. Your ecotourism dollars help the management of our National Forests.
Starting Price for the Retreat with a Campsite
$ 245
Take advantage of an exclusive way to enjoy the Blue Ghost Fireflies.
Nights when Overnight Experiences are offered: May 30, May 31, June 1, June 2, June 3, 2024
Accommodations: Location provided once booking. The gorgeous riverside camping area is located approximately 1 hour outside of Asheville, NC.
Pricing: Pricing reflects single occupancy (1 person); please start the booking process to see the pricing for double occupancy.
Check in: Check in from 4 pm to 6 pm. A retreat guide will meet you, settle you into your campsite and get you acquainted with the B&B where you will have your meals and view the pre-tour Fireflies seminar.
Check out: Check out by 10 am the following morning.
Itinerary: Dinner at 6:30 pm with seminar to follow, and Firefly Tour commences at 8:45 pm. We return to our lodging generally by 11:30 pm.
Adding nights to your stay: Unfortunately we do not have the capacity to add additional nights past the single night, but we can recommend several places to stay in the area after your firefly retreat.
Restrooms: Restrooms with pit toilets, but not showers, are available at the campground.
Meals: Attendees are served dinner the night of the Firefly Tour and fresh, farm ingredient breakfast the following day of departure. Vegan, vegetarian and gluten free diets are accommodated. Guests receive a dinner menu before the retreat and notify us of their preferences. Meals are served at the B&B, 2.4 miles or a 3-minute drive away.
Retreat guides: Your friendly and knowledgeable guides are Jenny Gruhn, PhD, Forest Ecologist and Owner of Asheville Hiking Tours as well as Eli Adams, AS, General Manager and Full Time Guide for Asheville Hiking Tours.
Best nights to see fireflies on Firefly Tour: Firefly viewings are similar each night.
Age requirement for Firefly Tour: 14+ years old age requirement. We are not permitted to take younger kids on this tour due to safety and conservation issues.
Difficulty of Firefly Tour: “Easy” night hike in dark woods, 1 mile long with numerous stumps, roots and stairs we carefully navigate with red flashlights. We cannot accommodate guests with vertigo issues, injuries, or other health issues for this remote, nighttime tour. A moderate level of fitness is required. For those with vertigo: Dramamine may be recommended, but please consult your physician.
Should I bring a chair for the Firefly Tour? No, please do not bring a chair.
What to wear for the Firefly Tour: Please do not wear sandals, permeable shoes or white shoes. The trail often has mud and mud puddles difficult to see at night. Dress for a true hike deep into the forest. Pants and close-toed shoes required for safety! Jacket and raincoat recommended.
What’s provided for the Firefly Tour: Red flashlights.
Camera policy for the Firefly Tour: Photography and videography is not allowed on these tours. Any small light or flash disturbs the fireflies.
Cancellation policy: Full refund offered 1 month before date, 50% refund offered 2 weeks to 1 month before date, no refunds offered within 2 weeks of the date, unless your spots can be filled. Firefly tours may be cancelled by the operator in case of heavy rain or cold weather. A a firefly tour is cancelled due to inclement weather, then guests will be refunded for everything except lodging and food, and still have the chance to join the guides for an educational forest adventure and waterfall hikes, rain or shine.
Checkboxes about firefly tours and conservation when booking: We inform guests of the importance of firefly conservation, when they are booking this experience. We require all names and e-mail addresses of the other guests in your party, to send them the same questions and information before attending this experience.
Discover the uniqueness of Appalachia’s fireflies! What are guests saying about our Blue Ghost Firefly Tour?
“A truly magical tour with an outstanding guide! We saw an incredible number of fireflies in a dazzling display of nature. Our guide, Jenny, was a naturalist rock star – she taught us to appreciate our surroundings and to strive to preserve the fragile natural world. The hike was thoughtfully conducted for access in the dark. My husband said the tour made him feel like a kid again. I recommend this tour company to all ages and all skill levels. We will definitely use them again.” – TripAdvisor Review from Previous Firefly Tour Guest
“This tour is a must if you’re here during the two weeks the magic happens, and Asheville Hiking [Tours] is the one to make it happen. Their knowledge is so deep you have the highest chance of seeing the Blue Ghosts and learning the most, too.” – TripAdvisor Review from Previous Firefly Tour Guest
“This amazing ecotour to see the elusive Blue Ghost Fireflies far surpassed my expectations. [Our guides] truly care so much about protecting these precious creatures…they gave us special red flashlights that don’t interfere with the delicate fireflies mating rituals. We were introduced to the special world these fantastic beetles inhabit. We heard several species of frogs, Chuck will’s widow, and of course the fireflies. As an added bonus we also saw the synchronous variety of fireflies. I cannot recommend this tour enough.” – TripAdvisor Review from Previous Firefly Tour Guest