Deep South USA

Depart for New Orleans today where we will be met on arrival by our expert guide, who will accompany us on the transfer to our hotel.

Join us as we begin the morning with a walking tour of New Orleans. Stroll through the Vieux Carré part of town where we’ll see the French Market, Saint Louis Cathedral and the Cabildo, a remarkable Spanish building dating from the 18th century. 

Enjoy free time in the afternoon to explore the city of New Orleans further at your leisure. The city straddles the Mississippi River in the state of Louisiana and is famous for its abundance of unique architectural styles, most notably the Creole townhouses of the French Quarter with large courtyards and intricate iron balconies. St Charles Avenue is famed for its large antebellum mansions in various styles such as Greek Revival, Colonial and Victorian.

After a leisurely breakfast we will travel to Mobile, in the neighbouring state of Alabama for a visit to the Mobile Botanical Gardens The Mobile Botanical Gardens boast over one hundred acres of paved garden areas and woodland gardens, and features one of the most comprehensive collections of Azaleas along the Gulf Coast. Free time for lunch at your leisure before continuing on to your hotel in Pensacola, Florida. Enjoy an evening at leisure in the 'Sunshine State.'

Approximate distance from New Orleans to Pensacola: 325km

We depart this morning for a visit to the National Navy Aviation Museum, the largest such museum in the world and the most visited museum in the state of Florida. The museum features more than 150 beautifully restored aircraft representing Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard Aviation.

Following this visit, we will begin our journey to Jacksonville. En route, enjoy lunch at your leisure before reaching your hotel in the evening.

Approximate distance from Pensacola - Jacksonville: 600kms

Following breakfast we depart Jacksonville and travel onwards to Savannah. In Savannah, we will visit the historic district, where we will experience the city's undeniable southern charm. On the waterfront, discover the beautiful cobbled streets of Factor's Walk and River Street where old cotton warehouses have been converted into shops, taverns and restaurants.

Approximate distance from Jacksonville to Savannah: 200kms

Enjoy the rest of the evening at leisure in Savannah.

On this full free day, take the opportunity to relax at the hotel and catch up on some local sightseeing and souvenir shopping. Our expert guide will be happy to tell us of places of interest to see and visit.

Optional full day guided excursion to include Bonaventure Cemetery and tour of Wormsloe State Historic Site. Today’s optional excursion begins with a visit to Bonaventure Cemetery for a walking tour to learn about the lives of some of Savannah’s most notable inhabitants. After some free time for lunch at your leisure the excursion continues to Wormsloe Historic Site. Our visit includes a drive through the famous oak tree lined avenue, a walk to see the Plantation Tabby Ruins and a visit to the museum of Georgia State Park Historic Site. Our day ends with a visit to Savannah’s Byrd Cookie Company for some tastings before returning to our hotel. This excursion is subject to minimum numbers.

This morning we say farewell to Savannah as we travel to the historic town of Charleston in South Carolina.

On arrival in Charleston we will enjoy a city tour to include the Battery, Old City Market and The Citadel with some free time for dinner at your leisure before checking in to our hotel.

Approximate distance from Savannah to Charleston: 160kms

This morning we visit to America's oldest working, living plantation, Boone Hall. Dating back to 1681 it is the most popular plantation in Charleston and has been used as the backdrop for many a film such as The Notebook, North and South, and Days of Our Lives. During this visit we will enjoy a guided tour of the mansion, walk through the beautiful gardens and experience the Slave Street & History presentation before returning to Charleston

This evening will be at leisure to explore more of charming Charleston.

Following breakfast we depart Charleston for our journey to Atlanta, often referred to as 'Empire City of the South'.

Upon arrival in Atlanta, we will enjoy a guided tour to include the trendy Buckhead district, Midtown and Downtown. We will also visit Martin Luther King’s birth home in the Sweet Auburn neighborhood and visit Martin Luther King Jr National Historical Park.

Approximate distance from Charleston to Atlanta: 480kms

We begin the morning with a drive to Chattanooga, known for its Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum, the largest operating historic railroad in the South. Embark on a one-hour train ride, which begins at the Grand Junction Station, travelling along one of the original railroad lines in Chattanooga. We will cross four bridges and pass through the pre-Civil War Missionary Ridge Tunnel, which was completed in 1858.

In the afternoon, depart for Nashville. Nashville is often referred to as “Music City USA” and is the capital of country music in the South. Atlanta to Nashville –

Approximate distance travelled: 400km

Enjoy some live music at one of the many honky-tonks that make up Music Row in Downtown Nashville.

Our day starts with a guided tour of Nashville, during which we will see the Riverfront Train Station, Ryman Auditorium, The Arcade / Avenue of the Arts, Bicentennial, The Parthenon at Centennial Park, and Vanderbilt University.

Enjoy a visit to the Country Music Hall of Fame, which is one of the world’s largest museums and research centres dedicated to the preservation and interpretation of American vernacular music.

We depart Nashville and head west towards Memphis. Memphis is often considered the home of the blues and rock ’n’ roll. The Delta Blues originated in the Mississippi Delta and artists such as B.B. King and Elvis Presley made their first recordings in Memphis.

Experience a guided visit to the National Civil Rights Museum, a complex of museums and historic buildings. Its exhibits trace the history of the Civil Rights Movement in the United States from the 17th century to the present. The museum is built around the former Lorraine Motel, where Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated on April 4, 1968.

Approximate distance from Nashville to Memphis: 340kms

Enjoy a morning visit of Graceland, the last home of the 'King', which was turned into a museum after his death.

Witness the famous Sun Studio in Memphis, where several blues and rock “n” roll artists first recorded during the 1950s, followed by a visit of the Stax Museum of American Soul Music, located at the original site of Stax Records. This museum pays tribute to all of the artists who recorded there with a rare and amazing collection of more than 2,000 interactive exhibits, films, artefacts, items of memorabilia, and galleries. 

Today we say farewell to our guide as we set of on our journey home.  Transfer to Memphis airport for our overnight flight.

Arrive home following your memorable trip to America's Deep South.