Walk the Trading Paths of the Occaneechi People ---
Walk the Trading Paths of the Occaneechi People ---
Thoughtfully crafted to elevate what matters most.
Public Tour Schedule with dates
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June 2026 – June 2027
First Wednesday of the month starting: June 3, 2026, July 1, 2026, August 5, 2026, September 2, 2026, October 7, 2026, November 4, 2026, December 2, 2026, January 6, 2027, February 3, 2027, March 3, 2027, April 7, 2027, May 5, 2027, June 2, 2027
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June 10, 2026, July 8, 2026, August 12, 2026, September 9, 2026, October 14, 2026, November 11, 2026, December 9, 2026, January 13, 2027, February 10, 2027, March 10, 2027, April 14, 2027, May 12, 2027, June 9, 2027
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June 17, 2026, July 15, 2026, August 19, 2026, September 16, 2026, October 21, 2026, November 18, 2026, December 16, 2026, January 20, 2027, February 17, 2027, March 17, 2027, April 21, 2027, May 19, 2027, June 16, 2027
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June 24, 2026, July 22, 2026, August 26, 2026, September 23, 2026, October 28, 2026, November 25, 2026, December 23, 2026, January 27, 2027, February 24, 2027, March 24, 2027, April 28, 2027, May 26, 2027, June 23, 2027
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June 4, 2026, June 11, 2026,
June 18, 2026, June 25, 2026,
July 2, 2026, July 9, 2026,
July 16, 2026, July 23, 2026
Upcoming Public Tours
Fourth Wednesday of Each Month
Tours are - 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM
Discover the ancestral homeland of the Occaneechi people through an immersive full-day journey across North Carolina and Virginia.
This signature Indigenous-led experience follows the rivers, mountains, villages, and trading routes that once connected Native Nations throughout the Southeast. Participants will explore the landscapes that shaped the history of the Occaneechi people while learning about Indigenous trade networks, cultural traditions, diplomacy, environmental stewardship, and the living legacy of the Occaneechi Band of the Saponi Nation.
More than a history tour, this experience connects participants to both ancient and contemporary Indigenous communities, highlighting the enduring relationship between people, place, and culture.
Tour Stops Include
• Occoneechee Mountain State Natural Area (Hillsborough, NC)
• Eno River State Park (Historic Occaneechi Village Area)
• Pleasant Grove & Little Texas Community (Current Homeland of the Occaneechi Band of the Saponi Nation)
• Saxapahaw and the Haw River Cultural Landscape
• Roanoke River Homeland (Clarksville, VA)
Topics Include
• History of the Occaneechi People
• Indigenous Trade Networks and the Great Trading Path
• Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK)
• River Stewardship and Indigenous Foodways
• Archaeology and Cultural Landscapes
• Indigenous Diplomacy and Commerce
• Community Resilience and Cultural Revitalization
• Contemporary Occaneechi Identity and Leadership
Tour Details
Duration: Approximately 8 Hours
Included:
✔ Indigenous-led interpretation
✔ Educational materials
✔ Historical and archaeological context
✔ Cultural landscape exploration
✔ Scenic overlooks and walking opportunities
✔ Opportunities for discussion and questions
Tour Minimum Policy
This tour requires a minimum of 4 registered participants to operate. If the minimum is not met, guests will be offered an alternative date, the option to upgrade to a private tour, or a full refund.
This experience is ideal for heritage travelers, universities, environmental organizations, educators, historians, cultural tourism groups, and anyone seeking a deeper understanding of Indigenous history and contemporary Native communities.
Please arrive 15 minutes prior to departure. Meeting location and final tour logistics will be provided after registration.
First Wednesday of Each Month
Tour starts at 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Follow one of the Southeast's most important Indigenous trade routes and explore the landscapes that connected Native Nations long before colonial settlement.
This Indigenous-led experience takes participants along portions of the historic Great Trading Path through the ancestral homeland of the Occaneechi people. Learn about Indigenous commerce, diplomacy, travel, archaeology, and cultural landscapes while visiting significant historic sites throughout Orange County, North Carolina.
Tour Stops Include:
• Occoneechee Mountain State Natural Area
• Historic Eno/Occaneechi Village Area
• Ayr Mount
• Occoneechee Speedway Trail
• Kings Highway Park
Duration: 3 Hours
Included:
Indigenous-led interpretation
Educational materials
Cultural and historical storytelling
Opportunities for questions and discussion
Perfect for heritage travelers, history enthusiasts, families, educators, and community groups.
Please arrive 15 minutes prior to departure. Exact meeting location and tour details will be provided after registration.
Tour Minimum Policy
This tour requires a minimum of 4 registered participants to operate. If the minimum is not met, guests will be offered an alternative date, the option to upgrade to a private tour, or a full refund.
An Indigenous-Led Wildlife & Conservation Experience
Exclusive small group (6 participants max)
Museum admission included
Refuge tour included
Transportation included
Indigenous perspectives on conservation
Rights of Nature and Rights of the Red Wolf discussion
Snacks and water included
The rights of the Red Wolf Expedition require a minimum of 6 participants. This is a small-group specialty experience limited to 6 participants. Due to transportation, admission, and operational costs, a minimum of 6 registered participants is required for this tour to operate. If minimum enrollment is not reached, guests will be offered an alternative tour date, a full refund, or the opportunity to convert the experience into a private group tour.
If the minimum number of participants is not reached, registered guests will be notified at least 72 hours prior to the tour date and may choose one of the following options:
• Transfer their registration to another scheduled tour date
• Receive a full refund
• Upgrade to a private tour experience (subject to availability)
We encourage participants to invite friends, family members, coworkers, or fellow travelers to help ensure the tour reaches minimum enrollment.
Thank you for supporting Indigenous-led education, cultural preservation, and heritage tourism.
Third Wednesday of Each Month
Tour starts at - 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Journey through the ancestral homeland of the Saura (Cheraw) people and discover the rivers, villages, mountains, and landscapes that shaped one of the most influential Indigenous Nations of the North Carolina Piedmont.
This Indigenous-led heritage experience explores the historic Saura homeland along the Dan River corridor, connecting participants to archaeological sites, cultural landscapes, traditional lifeways, and the enduring legacy of the Saura people.
Participants will visit significant locations associated with Saura history while learning about Indigenous trade networks, village life, diplomacy, ecology, and the continuing importance of these landscapes today.
Tour Stops Include
• Lower Saura Town (Eden, NC)
• Dan River Cultural Landscape
• Upper Saura Town (Stokes County)
• Sauratown Mountains Scenic Overlook
• Hanging Rock State Park
• Pilot Mountain (Jomeokee)
Topics Include
• Saura (Cheraw) History and Culture
• Indigenous Trade Networks
• Archaeological Discoveries
• Dan River Lifeways
• Traditional Ecological Knowledge
• Indigenous Place Names
• The Cultural Significance of Pilot Mountain
• Indigenous Stewardship of the Piedmont
Tour Details
Duration: Approximately 6 Hours
Included:
✔ Indigenous-led interpretation
✔ Educational materials
✔ Historical and archaeological context
✔ Scenic overlooks and cultural landscape exploration
✔ Opportunities for discussion and questions
Tour Minimum Policy
This tour requires a minimum of 4 registered participants to operate. If the minimum is not met, guests will be offered an alternative date, the option to upgrade to a private tour, or a full refund.
Perfect for heritage travelers, history enthusiasts, universities, environmental organizations, cultural tourism groups, and anyone interested in Indigenous history and archaeology.
Please arrive 15 minutes before departure. Meeting location and tour details will be provided upon registration.
Featured Products
Volume 1: An Occaneechi Field Guide to Traditional Plant Knowledge
Discover the plants that have nourished, healed, and sustained Indigenous communities for generations.
Medicine Plants of the Pleasant Grove & Little Texas Community is an Indigenous-led field guide documenting traditional plant knowledge from the ancestral and contemporary homeland of the Occaneechi people in North Carolina. Developed through community medicine walks and place-based learning, this guide introduces readers to the medicinal, edible, and culturally significant plants found throughout the Pleasant Grove and Little Texas landscape.
Inside this volume, you'll learn to identify and understand plants such as:
• Trumpet Honeysuckle
• Cleavers
• Chickweed
• Bee Balm and more!
Each entry includes plant photographs, common and scientific names, traditional uses, historical notes, and practical information about harvesting, preparation, and stewardship.
More than a plant guide, this booklet serves as an introduction to Indigenous relationships with the land, highlighting the importance of traditional ecological knowledge, food sovereignty, cultural revitalization, and environmental stewardship.
Whether you are a beginning forager, herbal enthusiast, educator, student, environmental professional, or cultural heritage traveler, this guide offers a unique opportunity to learn from the landscape through Indigenous perspectives.
Written and compiled by Dr. Crystal Cavalier
Published by Occaneechi Tours & Excursions
Volume 2: Sacred Plants, Traditional Medicines & Indigenous Plant Teachings
Continue your journey into the living plant knowledge of the Occaneechi homeland.
Volume 2 of Medicine Plants of the Pleasant Grove & Little Texas Community builds upon the foundation established in Volume 1 by exploring a broader range of medicinal, edible, ceremonial, and culturally significant plants found throughout the Pleasant Grove and Little Texas Community.
Developed through Indigenous-led medicine walks, community knowledge sharing, and place-based learning, this volume highlights plants that have long played important roles in traditional foodways, medicine, ceremony, fiber production, and ecological stewardship.
Inside this volume, readers will discover:
• Wild Onion & Crow Garlic
• White Clover & Red Clover
• Horseweed
• Rabbit Tobacco
• Pennsylvania Cudweed and more!
Beyond plant identification, Volume 2 explores Indigenous teachings about reciprocity, gratitude, ethical harvesting, and the spiritual relationships between people and the plant world. Readers are invited to consider plants not simply as resources, but as relatives and teachers.
This volume also includes reflections and traditional teachings emphasizing respect for the land, the importance of listening to place, and the understanding that healing begins with relationship.
A Living Tradition
This field guide reflects an ongoing effort to document, preserve, and share Indigenous plant knowledge while honoring the communities, landscapes, and teachings from which it emerges.
Written and compiled by Dr. Crystal Cavalier
Published by Occaneechi Tours & Excursions