Best of the South: Charleston to New Orleans

Welcome to Charleston. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6 pm tonight. If you arrive early, maybe go for a walk in the Historic District, where cobblestone streets wind through ornate homes, walled gardens and the pastel facades of Rainbow Row. Learn about Charleston’s complex Civil War history and the role of nearby Fort Sumter, then browse the local market for Gullah Geechee crafts, including the iconic handwoven sweetgrass baskets. Tonight, maybe sit down with your fellow travellers at a local restaurant for she-crab soup or shrimp and grits.

After breakfast this morning, join your group for a Black history tour with an expert guide. This insightful experience explores Charleston’s Black history, going beyond landmarks and reframing the city through the people who shaped it, including Black builders, artisans, enslaved people and free Black residents. The afternoon is yours to explore Charleston at your own pace. Perhaps book a food tour to discover more flavours of the South. Or, if you didn’t have time yesterday, maybe visit Fort Sumter, duck over to the Charleston City Market or walk through the Historic District with a new point of view after your morning tour.

Depart Charleston in the morning and make a stop at the Angel Oak – one of the oldest living trees in the eastern United States. The enormous tree, with its branches draping all the way to the ground, has long been admired as a symbol of endurance. Then, continue to St Helena Island in the Carolina Sea Islands. Gullah Geechee traditions, language and culture are well preserved here, and you’ll learn about the historical transition from enslavement to land ownership and community building. Join a local guide at the Penn Center – one of the first schools in the South for formerly enslaved people, which later became a key site in the Civil Rights Movement. Dr Martin Luther King Jr drafted his ‘I Have a Dream’ speech here, which he delivered during the 1963 March on Washington. After, have lunch and some free time in nearby Beaufort. Maybe walk in the historic district, visit the waterfront park or browse the shops, galleries and cafes. Later, head to Savannah, where the evening is yours to stroll, have dinner and explore.

Take it easy this morning before meeting up with your group for a walking tour that blends the city’s history with some of its best and most delicious eats. You’ll visit a not-so-ordinary pub, an award-winning honey store and a traditional British pie shop highlighting dishes that were eaten by some of Savannah’s earliest settlers. This afternoon is all yours, so make the most of it! Maybe visit the famous Bonaventure Cemetery, widely regarded as one of the world’s most beautiful. Take in its Southern Gothic charm as you learn more about this famous spot that has inspired everyone from poets to nature lovers and filmmakers.

Today, make the drive through the Blue Ridge Mountains to the charming town of Asheville. Home to the country’s best breweries and some of North Carolina’s finest barbecue, Asheville also boasts an incredible folk music scene. When you arrive, you’ll join your leader for a guided walking tour of the downtown area, packed with galleries and artist studios. For dinner, your leader will be able to suggest some of the town's boutique brew houses.

Enjoy an easy start to the morning, then join your group for a visit to Biltmore House and Garden. Tour the opulent Gilded Age mansion, famous for being America’s largest home, and perhaps stop in for lunch and a glass of wine at the on-site winery. With the afternoon free, you can then choose to keep exploring the extensive property or head back into town. Tonight, there’s also the chance to join your group for an optional dinner.

Depart Asheville this morning, hitting the road headed for Nashville – the country music capital of the world. Check into your accommodation, then join your leader for an orientation walk around the famous ‘Music City.’ After, you’ll visit Nelson’s Green Brier Distillery for a whiskey tasting. Sample some of the award-winning Tennessee whiskey that’s brewed using a family recipe passed down from the late 1800s, with notes of brown sugar and vanilla. Tonight, join your group for a farewell dinner at a restaurant on Broadway – this street is the beating heart of live music in Nashville. Listen to some live tunes over dinner, then you’ll be perfectly located if you’d like to spend the rest of the night exploring the honky tonk bars that line this jam-packed music strip (and it’s highly recommended you do!).

Today you're free as a bird to explore Nashville. You may like to check out the Nashville murals, visit the much-loved Goo Goo candy store or swing by the Johnny Cash Museum. Tonight, you’ll have a second meeting at 6 pm to welcome any new travellers joining the next stage of your trip. After, head out on a leader-led walking tour of the city and then get to know your new group over an optional welcome dinner. 

This morning after breakfast, dive straight into the city’s history with a visit to the Country Music Hall of Fame. This fabulous piano-shaped building is a work of art and contains a whole range of impressive memorabilia, including Elvis’ gold Cadillac. Then, cruise across town to Studio B, where Dolly Parton, Willie Nelson, Roy Orbison and ‘The King’ Elvis Presley have all laid tracks – today, you’ll even be joining this prestigious list! Meet with a professional sound engineer for your own recording session and find out what it takes to create the Nashville sound. Enjoy a free afternoon to explore the city – you may like to check out the Nashville murals, visit the much-loved Goo Goo candy store or swing by the Johnny Cash Museum.

Hit the road this morning and make tracks for Memphis – a city overflowing with musical history and legends. Your first stop is the Stax Museum of American Soul Music. Here at the original location of Stax Records in downtown Memphis, you'll learn the story of the Memphis sound where stars like Otis Redding and Isaac Hayes got their starts. You'll even have a chance to cut a rug on their dance floor as you listen to Stax tracks. The rest of the day is yours to discover the sights and sounds of Memphis. No visit to this city would be complete without checking out Beale Street, lined with traditional blues clubs. Join back up with your group for a dinner at a local restaurant, then head out to enjoy some of that live, local music.

After breakfast this morning, head out on an orientation walk in downtown Memphis including a stop at the National Civil Rights Museum at the Lorraine Motel. Your leader will talk about the museum, you’ll have the chance to take photos and can choose to take an optional tour. Then, head to another of Memphis’ iconic sites – Graceland. Elvis’s former home and final resting place, a visit to Graceland is like stepping back into the 1970s, with a glamourous and kitschy twist. Explore a fascinating world of green shag-carpet ceilings and yellow vinyl walls while getting a sneak peek into the glitzy side of the Deep South.

Today you’ll be road-tripping from Memphis to New Orleans, arriving in the afternoon. Jazz is not just a part of the city’s history – it’s alive and kicking! When you arrive, join your leader for an orientation walk around The Big Easy, and maybe sample one of the city’s famous beignets. The evening is yours to explore further – your leader will have some great recommendations on where to grab a bite to eat and listen to more live music.

Head out bright and early to get under the skin of New Orleans on a guided walking tour. You’ll explore the city’s most iconic neighbourhood – the French Quarter. You’ll notice a unique blend of French, Spanish, African and American influences as you explore. Pass by Jackson Square, the bustling French Market, St Louis Cathedral, the Cabildo, Louis Armstrong Park, Congo Square and more. Then for lunch, you’re in for a real treat – not only famed for its music scene, the food in New Orleans is some of the best in the country, and today you’ll learn about Creole and Cajun cuisine at a local cooking school. Find out how to create one of the region’s most beloved dishes with a demonstration, then get hands-on and try it yourself. Tuck into the finished product with your group, then the rest of the day is free for you to continue exploring. Why not check out a jazz club on Frenchman Street, join the party on Bourbon Street or take a tour of the iconic St Louis Cemetery?

This morning, you might like to head out for an optional jazz brunch at The Court of Two Sisters – a gorgeous outdoor courtyard dining area where you can enjoy some delicious brunch specialities while live jazz plays – a great way to complete your music trail! With nothing planned for the rest of the day, your trip will come to an end after brunch. If you’d like to stay longer, just speak to your booking agent.