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Experience real Southern hospitality from New Orleans to Charleston.

Take a journey into the soul of the USA on this 12-day tour of the country’s Deep South. The air from Atlanta to Memphis is heavy with humidity and history, filled with the sound of country twang and trap music, and rich with the smoke from the local barbecue joints that seem to lie around every corner. From the creaking boards of the honky-tonk music joints in Nashville, to the elegant Victorian homes that line Rainbow Row in Savannah and the vibrant melting pot that is New Orleans, this tour will show you the best of the bold, brash, and boisterous Southern USA.

Start
Atlanta, United States
Finish
New Orleans, United States
Destination
United States
Style
Comfort
Theme
Explorer
Code
SSKE
Physical rating
Ages
Min 15
Group size
Min 1, Max 13

Why you'll love this trip

  • Embark on a road trip across the most soulful and hospitable part of the USA, from the historic settlements to the musical centres.

  • Take a sobering look at the history of slavery and segregation in the South and celebrate the bravery and humanity of heroes like Rosa Parks.

  • From biscuits to barbecue, savour Southern cuisine in all its glory. Make sure you’ve got a bib handy, as it tends to get messy.

  • Tap your toes and shake the floorboards during a line dancing lesson, then get your honky-tonk on with locals in Nashville's Wildhorse Saloon.

  • Lively New Orleans is a fitting place to end your trip. Discover French, Creole, Spanish and North American influences in the architecture, food and music of the 'Big Easy'.

Is this trip right for you?

  • The South gets mighty steamy in the summertime. Pack appropriately, drink plenty of water and you might even grow to love it. September through to November is hurricane season, so if you’re travelling over this period you should pack a rain jacket and waterproof shoes.

  • You'll be travelling in a van with a group, so conditions may feel a little cramped. We think this is all part of the adventure of road travel in the USA, and friendships form fast in tight quarters.

  • You're in the Deep South of the USA, so expect a lot of (delicious) fried food and barbecue. Vegetarians may have fewer options, as a lot of southern cuisine is meat-based.

  • The USA is a massive place, so it’s a good thing you’ve got one of our local leaders to give you the low-down. In some of the cities we visit, certain neighbourhoods are deemed safer than others. Your leader will fill you in on where to go and where to avoid.

Map of Southern Comfort USA including United States Of America
USA, New Orleans, Saxophone Busker Musician
USA, New Orleans, French quarter balcony
USA, Nashville, Legends Corner
USA, Nashville, CMHOF Circle
USA_Nashville_country_music_venue
usa_charleston_south-carolina_town-skyline
USA_Memphis_Beale_street
USA_Nashville_pax_shopping_boots
USA_New_Orleans_Bourbon_street
USA_New_Orleans_Bourbon_street
USA_North-Carolina_Ashville_twilight-Aerial-view

Itinerary
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Hey y’all! Welcome to Atlanta, Georgia! An important supply route during the Civil War, the spiritual centre of the civil rights movement in the 1960s and the hometown of some of hip-hop’s biggest stars, Atlanta is the perfect introduction to the fascinating Southern USA. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6 pm today. Following the formalities, maybe get the crew together and head out in search of some hot wings or fried chicken for a taste of Atlanta flavours. If you arrive with a few hours (or days) to spare before the meeting, why not check out the Martin Luther King Jr National Historic Site. Take some time and explore the house where the civil rights leader was born, the church where he honed his oratory prowess, and the memorial site where he is buried. Atlanta is also very proud of its connection to Coca-Cola – locals have a tendency to call every kind of soft drink 'coke'. Maybe tour the World of Coca-Cola for a lesson on the world's most popular fizzy drink.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Optional Activities
  • Atlanta - CNN Center - USD15
  • Atlanta - Martin Luther King Jr National Historic Site - Free
  • Atlanta - World of Coca Cola - USD16
Meals Included
There are no meals included on this day.
Special Information
It’s very important that you attend the welcome meeting as we will be collecting insurance details and next of kin information at this time. If you are going to be late please let your travel agent or hotel reception know. Ask reception or look for a note in the lobby for more information on where the meeting will take place.

Mornin' sunshine! Hit the road bright and early and make the 5-hour journey to Savannah. In 1946, Lady Astor referred to Savannah as 'a beautiful lady with a dirty face', in reference to the crumbling, faded majesty of the city's 18th- and 19th-century mansions. Due to plenty of restoration work, Savannah's face may no longer be dirty, but she's still a city of contradictions. Take a leader-led historical walking tour to soak up the stories behind the antebellum mansions, towering oak trees and colonial buildings. Enjoy free time for the rest of the day. In the evening, perhaps head out on a ghost tour of old Savannah, then maybe seek out spirits of a different kind at one of the many local haunts.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Savannah - Leader led historical walking tour
Optional Activities
  • Savannah - Ghost Tour - USD25
Meals Included
  • Breakfast

Leave Savannah in the rear-view mirror and drive two hours to Charleston. On arrival take a brief orientation walk to get your bearings, then perhaps set out and explore the cobblestone streets that hold a complicated and often violent history. These streets were made for strolling – be sure to stop and smell the honeysuckle bushes. Perhaps let your nose lead you to a diner for lunch, where you should consider ordering a plate of soft, buttery biscuits. In the afternoon, take a tour of one of the plantation homes around Charleston. Wander around the well-maintained gardens and learn about the dark history behind the opulent facade.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Meals Included
  • Breakfast

Today is as clear as a Georgia sky in the summer time, so set out whenever you like and explore at your own pace. There are plenty of optional activities on offer, so take your pick and dive on in. When exploring Charleston, the history of the city cannot be ignored. In 1860, over 50 percent of the population of South Carolina were enslaved Africans, and a fantastic place to honour the reality of this dark history is the Old Slave Mart Museum. Perhaps continue to the seaside stronghold of Fort Sumter, where the first shots of the Civil War were fired. In the evening, maybe take a stroll along the Pitt Street Bridge and watch the sun set over downtown Charleston.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Charleston - Boone Hall Plantation
Optional Activities
  • Charleston - Charleston Museum - USD12
  • Charleston - Various historic homes - USD12
  • Charleston - Old Slave Mart Museum - USD10
  • Charleston - Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum - USD20
  • Charleston - Fort Sumter National Monument - USD20
Meals Included
  • Breakfast

Head into the Blue Ridge Mountains today with a 5-hour drive to charming Asheville. Home to the country’s best breweries and some of North Carolina’s finest barbecue, Asheville also boasts an incredible folk music scene. On arrival you’ll be given an orientation tour by your leader to help you get your bearings. In the late afternoon, take a stroll through the River Arts district, a truly amazing section of the town filled with art galleries and gorgeous street art on warehouses that line the river. As night falls, consider catching an optional show at the Altamont Theatre, a historic and intimate venue with incredible acoustics and eclectic programming.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Optional Activities
  • Asheville - Biltmore House - USD65
  • Asheville - Show at the Altamont Theatre - USD25
Meals Included
  • Breakfast

Make the scenic drive to Nashville, arriving in the country music capital after 4–5 hours. On arrival you’ll be introduced to this famous country music town with an orientation tour. Get your bearings and then enjoy a free day to explore. When the sun goes down, head to the Wildhorse Saloon to experience a real Nashville night. Every day and every evening, the Wildhorse puts on line dancing lessons and live music so newcomers and locals alike can thump the floorboards. There's also classic country fare cookin' in the kitchen – think fried pickles, wedge salads and brisket. Your cover charge is covered by us, so get shaking.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Nashville - Wildhorse Saloon cover charge & line dancing
Meals Included
  • Breakfast

Howdy! Start your day with a visit the Country Music Hall of Fame, which contains the golden Cadillac that once belonged to Elvis. The rest of the day is all yours. Maybe check out Music Row, an area ablaze with neon signs, where more than 50 record studios and around 200 music publishing houses line the streets. Fans of classic country and blues may want to hit the Johnny Cash Museum, where the largest collection of artefacts and memorabilia related to the 'Man in Black' are on display.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Optional Activities
  • Nashville - Country Music Hall of Fame - USD26
  • Nashville - Tennessee State Museum - Free
  • Nashville - Grand Ole Opry Tour - USD40
  • Nashville - Ryman Auditorium Tour - USD14
  • Nashville - Johnny Cash Museum - USD17
Meals Included
  • Breakfast

Hit the road again for the 4-hour drive to Memphis, Tennessee. Time depending, the first stop on arrival will be Sun Studio, the self-identified 'Birthplace of Rock 'n' Roll'. It's a bold claim, but when artists like BB King, Johnny Cash, Howlin' Wolf, Elvis Presley and more have laid tracks in your studio it doesn't seem that far-fetched. Spend the rest of the day how you wish, soaking up the sights and sounds of Memphis. In the evening, consider heading down to check out bustling Beale Street, where traditional blues clubs and ritzier tourist traps rub shoulders. Ask your leader which bars are worth a look.

Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Memphis - Sun Studio
Meals Included
  • Breakfast

Visit the National Civil Rights Museum at the former Lorraine Motel – where Martin Luther King Jr was assassinated – for a dose of history that is both confronting and inspirational. Following that sobering look at the recent past, you can choose whether to visit Graceland. Exploding with kitschy glamour and over-the-top Southern charm, Graceland is a more than the former home of Elvis Presley and site of his tomb – it's an ode to the glitzier elements of the Deep South. Spend the rest of your day at your leisure.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Memphis - National Civil Rights Museum
Optional Activities
  • Memphis - Peabody Hotel Duck March - Free
  • Memphis - Rock 'n' Soul Museum - USD11
  • Memphis - Graceland Museum - USD35
Meals Included
  • Breakfast

Travel along the famous Highway 61 to Vicksburg, Mississippi (around 4–5 hours). Stop at Clarksdale en route, where you have the option of seeing Blues Alley, Robert Johnson's Crossroads and the Delta Blues Museum. Other possible stops, depending on group's interests, are Cleveland (for the Grammy Museum), and Dockery Farms. Arrive in Vicksburg and spend the afternoon how you wish. Famous for the siege that occurred there during the Civil War, the city is full of historical attractions. Visiting the National Military Park is one option, as are the antebellum mansions, the Mississippi River Museum, the Riverfront Murals or the Biedenharn Coca-Cola Museum, where the drink was first bottled.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Optional Activities
  • Clarksdale - Delta Blues Museum - USD7
  • Vicksburg - Biedenharn Coca-Cola Museum - USD4
  • Vicksburg - Lower Mississippi River Museum - Free
  • Vicksburg - Riverfront Murals - Free
  • Vicksburg - National Military Park - USD5
  • Cleveland - GRAMMY Museum - USD12
  • Cleveland - Dockery Farms - Free
Meals Included
  • Breakfast

Make tracks for the 'Big Easy', a 4- or 5-hour drive that might be broken up with a swamp or plantation tour along the way, time depending. After checking in to your hotel in New Orleans' French Quarter, use your free time getting to know the eclectic city. With a mix of European, Creole and Cajun culture reflected in the city's architecture, cuisine and music, New Orleans is the perfect place to end your Southern Comfort adventure. Maybe take a walk down rowdy Bourbon Street or wander through the former plantation area of the Garden District. In the evening, join the rest of the group for an included Crawfish Boil dinner.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • New Orleans - Crawfish Boil
Optional Activities
  • New Orleans - Bourbon Street - Free
  • New Orleans - Cemetery Tour - USD25
  • New Orleans - French Market - Free
  • New Orleans - Mississippi River Steamboat Jazz Dinner Cruise - USD85
  • New Orleans - Presbytere - USD7
  • New Orleans - Preservation Hall Jazz - USD40
  • New Orleans - Ursuline Convent Tours - USD8
  • New Orleans - Voodoo Museum - USD7
  • New Orleans - New Orleans School of Cooking - USD35
  • Honey Island Swamp Tour - USD25
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Dinner

Grab one last biscuit with gravy, because your Southern Comfort adventure comes to an end today after breakfast. You're free to depart at any time following check out, but why not spend a few days exploring this riotous city? We can help you with booking more accommodation, and our mates at Urban Adventures can hook you up with more authentic local experiences. Find out more at urbanadventures.com/destination/New-Orleans-tours.
Meals Included
  • Breakfast

Meals

11 breakfasts, 1 dinner

Transport

Private vehicle

Accommodation

Hotel (11 nights)

Included activities

  • Savannah - Leader led historical walking tour
  • Charleston - Boone Hall Plantation
  • Nashville - Wildhorse Saloon cover charge & line dancing
  • Memphis - Sun Studio
  • Memphis - National Civil Rights Museum
  • New Orleans - Crawfish Boil

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Travel lightly with Intrepid. We’ve offset the main sources of carbon emissions from this trip on your behalf, including transport, accommodation & waste. Read more

Important notes

1. A single supplement is available on this trip.
2. See trip code SSKES for our special JazzFest departure

Essential trip information

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