Atlanta & American South - 14 Days

Welcome to Atlanta, Georgia. During the Civil War, the city was a key hub for the Confederacy, supplying vital war materials. In 1864, General Sherman marched into Atlanta and much of the city was destroyed by fire. Atlanta later rebuilt and is now one of the most dynamic cities in the South, known for its strong cultural and business scene.

On arrival, transfer independently to your hotel, where you will meet your Tour Director. Please note: This tour may have travellers joining or departing at various points along the route, meaning group composition can change during the tour. Please also be aware that depending on group composition, guiding may be in additional languages as well as English.

This morning, we enjoy a comprehensive tour of Atlanta. We visit the boyhood home of Martin Luther King Jr., gaining insight into his early life and lasting legacy. We also learn about another of the city’s most famous residents, Margaret Mitchell, author of Gone with the Wind, which later became one of the most celebrated films in American cinema.

Our tour continues with a visit to the Road to Tara Museum and Stately Oaks Plantation, the inspiration for the plantation depicted in the film. Here, we can view original memorabilia, including costumes worn by Clark Gable and Vivien Leigh.

In the evening, we come together for a welcome reception - a great opportunity to meet your fellow travellers.

Atlanta - Augusta - Charleston. We leave Atlanta today and travel west to Augusta, the second oldest city in Georgia and home to the prestigious Masters golf tournament.

Later this afternoon, we arrive in Charleston, South Carolina - one of the most historic and charming cities in the South, known for its preserved architecture and rich heritage.

This evening is at leisure. You may wish to speak with our Tour Director for recommendations on how to make the most of your time.

Charleston - Savannah. This morning, we enjoy a locally guided tour of Charleston. We walk through the city’s preserved historic district - one of the best protected in the United States. Despite damage from natural disasters, the Revolutionary War and the Civil War, Charleston remains a standout example of the South’s rich history and character.

This afternoon is free for you to explore further. You may wish to join an optional excursion to Boone Hall Plantation, known for its striking Avenue of Oaks. The property has featured in several American films, including North and South. Later in the day, we make our way to Savannah, Georgia.

Today, we experience the charm of Savannah, once the world’s largest cotton port. During the height of the cotton trade, the city played a central role in setting global cotton prices through its cotton exchange.

We explore the city’s distinctive layout on a trolley tour. The city was designed by founder James Oglethorpe, with its series of elegant public squares. While much of Georgia was damaged during the Civil War, Savannah was largely spared, leaving many historic buildings intact.

Around the tree-lined squares, we see architecture dating back hundreds of years, which also provided the setting for the novel Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil.

Savannah - Montgomery. We set course west across Georgia and into the heart of the Deep South, Alabama. On arrival in Montgomery - the state capital and a key centre of the American Civil Rights Movement - we visit the Rosa Parks Library and Museum.

Here, we learn about the Montgomery Bus Boycott, sparked by Rosa Parks, which became a defining moment in the fight for civil rights and helped shape modern American history.

You may also wish to visit the Dexter Avenue King Memorial Baptist Church, where Martin Luther King Jr. led the boycott and delivered many of his influential sermons.

Montgomery - Selma - New Orleans. We depart Montgomery this morning and travel to Selma, another key centre of the Civil Rights Movement. We visit the Edmund Pettus Bridge, where the historic Selma to Montgomery marches began, and where the events of Bloody Sunday brought national attention to the struggle for voting rights. We also see the Brown Chapel AME Church, an important gathering place during the movement.

We then continue south through Mississippi towards New Orleans, a city rich in Creole culture and history. Influences from Spanish, French, Caribbean, African and Anglo-Saxon traditions are reflected in its architecture, cuisine and music.

This evening is at leisure. You may wish to join an optional riverboat dinner cruise, where you can enjoy the sounds of live Dixieland jazz as you take in views along the Mississippi River.

Today is free for you to explore the charm and energy of one of America’s most distinctive cities, and to take in the French-influenced character of New Orleans.

You may wish to begin the day with an optional visit to a working plantation, offering insight into the region’s history. Later, explore the French Quarter, known for its wrought-iron balconies and narrow cobbled streets, where the city’s unique atmosphere comes to life.

New Orleans - Baton Rouge - Natchez. This morning, we travel to Baton Rouge, the capital of Louisiana, where we enjoy a brief city tour.

We then continue along the historic Natchez Trace Parkway, a 444-mile route known for its scenic landscapes and deep connections to Native American and early European history.

Our journey brings us to Natchez, the oldest European settlement on the Mississippi River. Before the Civil War, wealthy plantation owners from Louisiana built grand antebellum homes here, as the area was considered less prone to flooding.

This afternoon, we visit one of these historic homes, where we gain insight into the lives and wealth of 19th-century plantation owners.

Natchez - Memphis. We leave Natchez and travel to Memphis, Tennessee - home of Sun Records and a city deeply connected to America’s musical heritage. As a major river port, Memphis was once a vital centre of the cotton trade before the Civil War.

On arrival, we enjoy a brief city tour, including a visit to Beale Street - the heart of the city’s music scene, where blues and other live music fill the streets each evening. We also travel along historic Front Street, once known as Cotton Row, where traders and merchants conducted business during the height of the cotton era.

No visit to Memphis would be complete without the chance to see Graceland, the home of Elvis Presley. You may wish to join an optional visit to explore this iconic estate.

Memphis - Nashville. We continue to Nashville, widely regarded as the capital of country music. The city earned this title with the first broadcast of the WSM Barn Dance radio programme, the forerunner of the Grand Ole Opry.

On arrival, we see key landmarks that highlight Nashville’s musical heritage, including the Ryman Auditorium - the former home of the Grand Ole Opry - as well as the studios around Music Row and Opryland. Together, these sites reflect Nashville’s enduring influence on country music.

We begin the day with a morning tour of Nashville, a dynamic city and the capital of Tennessee, known for its rich musical heritage. As we explore the city’s landmarks, you may have the chance to discover the next country music hit in the making, with many recording studios located around the city.

This evening is at leisure. You may wish to join an optional dinner and show, offering a taste of Nashville’s renowned live music scene.

Nashville - Chattanooga - Atlanta. We leave Music City behind and travel to Chattanooga, home of the famous Choo Choo. In recent years, the city has gained national recognition for the revitalisation of its downtown and the redevelopment of its riverfront.

Later this afternoon, we return to Atlanta. On arrival, you may wish to explore some of the attractions you did not have time to visit at the start of the tour, such as the Georgia Aquarium, World of Coca-Cola or the CNN Center.

This morning is at leisure for you to relax or enjoy more time in Atlanta. Your Tour Director will be available to assist with arranging individual transfers to Atlanta International Airport, or to provide recommendations should you wish to explore more of the city before departure.