Charleston to Savannah: Exploring Gullah Geechee Culture

7 Days | Embark on a journey to discover South Carolina and Georgia’s Gullah Geechee heritage

5 out of 5 based on 1 reviews submitted.
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USD $3,945
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On a seven-day journey from Charleston to Savannah, take part in enlightening tours and encounters to discover the culture, history and impact of the Gullah Geechee people, descendants of enslaved West and Central Africans. Travelling with a local leader and meeting expert guides along the way, you’ll uncover Charleston’s Black heritage on an eye-opening bus tour, dive into Gullah Geechee culture during explorations of James Island, Johns Island and St Helena Island, watch an emotive performance in the storied city of Beaufort, and find out about Georgia’s Gullah Geechee heritage on a guided tour of Savannah. Full of good food, music and storytelling, this adventure is not just educational – it’s a whole lot of fun.

Trip overview

Map of Charleston To Savannah: Exploring Gullah Geechee Culture including United States Of America
Start
Charleston, United States
Finish
Charleston, United States
Theme
Explorer
Destinations
United States
Physical rating
Indicates how physically exerting a trip is, and how fit you will need to be to enjoy it. More info on physical ratings
Style
Comfort
Ages
Min 15
Group size
Min 1 - Max 12
Trip code
SHKG
We’re in the process of figuring out how much CO2-e this trip generates. In the meantime, find out more about our climate commitments and carbon reduction target.

Why you'll love this trip
  • Dig into Charleston’s Black heritage on an eye-opening city tour, and tour the historic Mother Emanuel AME Church, an important figure in the civil rights movement.
  • Gain a deeper understanding of the Gullah Geechee people when you explore James Island and Johns Island, enjoy a traditional lowcountry lunch and take part in a sweet grass weaving workshop.
  • Meet the Gullah Geechee people of St Helena Island, explore with a local guide and learn about their unique language and strong beliefs before tucking into a tasty lowcountry lunch.
  • Take part in a soul-stirring performance in Beaufort, where music and dance are used to share the experience of enslaved Africans brought to South Carolina, then share a seafood boil with the locals.
  • Travel to Savannah, Georgia, and learn about the state’s Black and Gullah heritage during in-depth tours with local experts.
  • By travelling on this trip, you’ll learn about our Intrepid Foundation partner, the Cultural Heritage Economic Alliance. Donations help them create inclusive and equitable opportunities for Black, Indigenous and People of Colour (BIPOC) tourism businesses. Intrepid will double the impact by dollar-matching all post-trip donations made to The Intrepid Foundation.

Is this trip right for you?
  • This trip is designed for everyone who wants to learn about this unique part of the US and its history.
  • This trip is run by Black Cultural Heritage Tours in partnership with Intrepid to ensure that Black entrepreneurs and communities get a fair and equal share of revenue, exposure and opportunity.
  • 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'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.

Itinerary

Map of Charleston To Savannah: Exploring Gullah Geechee Culture including United States Of America

Inclusions

Meals

6 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 1 dinner

Transport

Private vehicle

Accommodation

Hotel (6 nights)

Activities
  • Charleston -Gullah Geechee Heritage Tour on James & Johns Island
  • Charleston - Sweetgrass Basket Workshop
  • Charleston - International African American History Museum
  • Charleston - Black Heritage & Culture Tour with a local guide
  • Charleston - Mother Emmanuel AME Church Tour
  • St. Helena Island - Penn Center
  • St. Helena Island - Gullah Style Lunch
  • St. Helena Island - Island Tour with a local guide
  • Beaufort - Reconstruction Era National Park guided museum and walking tour
  • Beaufort - Robert Smalls Burial Site & Tabernacle Baptist Church
  • Beaufort - Gullah Geechee Live Cultural Performance & Seafood Boil Dinner
  • Savannah - Skidaway Island State Park Walk
  • Savannah - Pin Point Heritage Museum
  • Savannah - Black Heritage & Culture Tour with a local guide

Dates and availability

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Important notes

1. A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. The single supplement applies to all nights of your trip and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.
2.Please provide your full name exactly as per passport at the time of booking (including any middle names listed on your passport).
3.This trip starts in Charleston on Day 1 at 6pm. This trip finishes around 1pm on Day 7. Please do not book any flights until after 3:30pm this day.

Essential Trip Information

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Reviews

5 out of 5 based on 1 reviews submitted.
Reviews are from travellers who have completed their trip and want to share their experience. We show all reviews, but may remove any that include profanity or inappropriate content, are unrelated to the trip or reveal personal details.

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Jeanne · Traveled March 2023
I highly recommend the Gullah History tour. I had so many amazing experiences and met so many wonderful people that I would not have been able to visit or meet on my own. Highlights included the church service in Savannah, the visit to Mother Emanuel in Charleston, the workshop with the sweetgrass basket maker, visiting the Praise House, learning about Penn Center and St. Helena's amazing history, the bus tours in Charleston. In short, it was an amazing tour!!
Review submitted 07 Apr 2023
Charleston to Savannah: Exploring Gullah Geechee Culture
From
USD $3,945