Best of the South: Atlanta to New Orleans

Welcome to Georgia! Your adventure begins in Atlanta with a 6 pm welcome meeting at your hotel, where you’ll meet your local leader and get an overview of the next couple of days. If you arrive early, maybe explore Atlanta on foot – this city is known for its thriving hip-hop scene and prominent role in Civil Rights history, so there’s lots to explore.

After breakfast this morning, it’s time to immerse yourself in 33 acres of historic houses, gardens and award-winning exhibitions with a specialist guide at the Atlanta History Center. Here, you’ll explore the past like never before. The center is part of a global network of historic sites and museums that connect past struggles to today’s movements for human rights. Then, you’ll head to the Martin Luther King Jr National Historic Site, where you’ll learn more about where Martin Luther King was born, where he lived and worked, and his legacy as a leader. Tonight, hit up your leader for some good local restaurants for dinner. (B)

Mornin' sunshine! Hit the road bright and early to make the journey to Savannah this morning. 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 with hidden delights. When you arrive, you’ll join an expert guide for a tour of Bonaventure Cemetery, widely regarded as one of the world's most beautiful cemeteries. Take in its Southern gothic glory as you learn more about this famous spot that has inspired everyone from poets to nature lovers and filmmakers. After, you might like to check out Savannah’s antebellum mansions, towering oak trees and colonial buildings on a stroll around town. In the evening, maybe head out on a ghost tour of old Savannah or seek out spirits of a different kind at one of the city’s many lively bars. (B)

Take it easy this morning before meeting up at 11 am for a three-hour walking tour that blends the city’s history with some of its best and most delicious eats. This fascinating food tour visits spots like a not-so-ordinary pub, an award-winning honey store and a traditional British pie shop highlighting dishes consumed by some of Savannah’s earliest settlers. This afternoon is all yours, so make the most of it! (B/L)

Leave Savannah in the rear-view mirror and drive to Charleston. When you arrive, you might like to grab some lunch before joining a Black History walking tour with an expert guide who’s an educator, historian and writer. Discover the ‘lost stories’ of Charleston's rich history as you stroll around town and immerse yourself in its complex past. The afternoon is yours to explore Charleston at your own pace. Perhaps book a food tour to discover more flavors of the South. (B)

Bid farewell to Charleston after breakfast this morning and 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. Arriving in the mid-afternoon, you’ll join your leader for a guided walking tour of the downtown area, packed with galleries and artist studios. After, you may wish to visit the Biltmore House and Gardens, an opulent Gilded Age mansion famous for being America's largest home. Tonight, maybe check out one of the town's boutique brew houses or join your group for an optional dinner. (B)

This morning you’ll take a scenic drive to Nashville – the country music capital. When you arrive, you’ll be introduced to this famous toe-tapping town during an orientation walk with your leader. In the late afternoon, come together again with your group to taste world-famous Tennessee whiskeys and moonshine on a distillery tour, followed by a true-blue Nashville hot chicken dinner. This Tennessee twist on fried chicken originated right here in Nashville during the Great Depression and has been a local favourite ever since. Order it extra spicy for a real kick – don't worry, you can turn down the heat if you're not feeling the burn. (B/D)

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, there's a meeting at 6 pm to welcome any new travellers joining the next stage of your itinerary. After, head out on a leader-led walking tour of the city and then join your group for an optional welcome dinner. (B)

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 Elvis’ gold Cadillac (among other impressive memorabilia). 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. (B)

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 – you can ask your leader where the locals hang out tonight so you can avoid the tourist hotspots. (B)

After breakfast this morning, you’ll head to 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. Then you'll visit Memphis’s most iconic site – 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. (B)

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 a local expert for a Black Heritage & Jazz tour to explore sites like Congo Sqaure, known as the birthplace of jazz, Louis Armstrong Park, and the Treme neighbourhood with time for shopping on Bayou Street. 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. (B)

This morning, enjoy a leisurely breakfast and a free day to explore New Orleans at your own pace. Then later this afternoon, 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 for dinner with your group. This evening, why not check out a jazz club on Frenchman Street or join the party on Bourbon Street? (B/D)

This morning after breakfast, your trip comes to an end. If you’d like, you can book 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 end your music trail! If you’d like to stay longer, just speak to your booking agent. (B)