Last year we arrived in the Stowe area on October 6. The color was beautiful for the next 2 days and then it rained and a lot of the leaves fell. The mountainside was still beautiful just different colors. Later in the week you could see the snow on the very top of the mountains.

Like the others have said, it all depends on the weather. I am sure that the tour has other things planned to do.

In my experience leaf peeping the area at the "level" of Rutland is great on Oct. 12.

I've been in Stowe the third weekend in September and not seen any color. This year we were in Camden ME area and color is starting esp in swampy area. Columbus Day weekend is late this year. I think color will be past peak by Oct 7-18 in northern areas. I was surprised how much color developed over the weekend in the concord NH area while we were away. It's not peak yet but we're going to have some cold nights and that's going to be an influence.

Usually peak foliage in northern VT is the end of September/first week of October. Color is starting here now and I think that timing will hold true this year.

Not sure what the OP decided to do about the tour but I thought it was worth reporting for others who might want to be in New England for foliage