Deep South Explorer to Orlando - 13 Days

Arrive in New York City and transfer independently to your hotel where you will meet with your Tour Director in the evening. 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.

New York - Philadelphia - Washington. Today we depart Manhattan and travel to Washington, D.C., journeying via Philadelphia - the birthplace of the nation. Here, we stop to see Independence Mall and the Liberty Bell before continuing on to the capital.

We enjoy a guided tour of Washington, D.C., taking in many of the capital’s most significant landmarks. Highlights include the U.S. Capitol Building, Supreme Court, Library of Congress, FBI Building, Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial and the White House. We also visit Arlington National Cemetery, the site of the John F. Kennedy Memorial.

The remainder of the day is free for you to explore at your own pace. You may wish to visit one of the many museums within the Smithsonian Institution or take a stroll along the banks of the Potomac River.

Washington - Williamsburg - Roanoke. We depart this morning for Williamsburg, Virginia’s colonial capital. On arrival, we walk along Duke of Gloucester Street, where we see a collection of well-preserved public buildings, colonial homes and the College of William and Mary - one of the oldest universities in the United States. Admission to individual sites is not included.

Roanoke - Gatlinburg. We travel along sections of the Blue Ridge Parkway, passing through the Appalachian Mountains before entering the scenic landscapes of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

We arrive in Gatlinburg in the afternoon. This evening is at leisure, giving you time to explore the town’s main street and choose from its range of distinctive local restaurants.

Gatlinburg - Knoxville - Nashville. We continue today through Knoxville, Tennessee’s third-largest city, before arriving in the early afternoon in Nashville - widely known as ‘Music City USA’ and the heart of the country music scene.

Nashville - Memphis. We travel across the countryside to Memphis, a city shaped by its musical heritage and history in the cotton trade, and home to the legendary Sun Studio.

On arrival, we take a city tour, including Beale Street - the heart of the blues music scene. This afternoon, fans of the ‘King of Rock and Roll’ may choose to visit Graceland, the former home of Elvis Presley (optional).

Memphis - Jackson - New Orleans. Today we travel south into Mississippi, known as the Magnolia State, passing through the capital, Jackson, as we continue towards Louisiana.

We arrive in New Orleans, a city famed for its vibrant culture and Mardi Gras celebrations. This evening, you may choose to immerse yourself in Creole culture on an optional Mississippi River dinner cruise, complete with live Dixieland jazz.

Today is free for you to explore New Orleans at your own pace and take in its distinctive character. You may wish to wander through the French Quarter, known for its wrought-iron balconies and narrow cobbled streets, reflecting the city’s French and Spanish heritage.

You could also stand atop one of the city’s famous levees to gain a clearer perspective on how these engineered defences protect New Orleans from the surrounding waters.

New Orleans - Penascola. We travel along the Mississippi Gulf Coast, passing through Mobile, Alabama, before continuing to Pensacola.

Along the way, we visit the Bellingrath Home and Gardens, home to one of the top rose gardens in the United States - admission is included. We then continue to Pensacola Beach, where you may wish to stroll among the swaying sea oats and dip your toes into the warm, emerald waters of the Gulf of Mexico.

Penascola - Orlando. We travel along the Florida Panhandle to Ocala, an area renowned for its thoroughbred horse farms. We then continue through central Florida, the heart of the country’s citrus industry, before arriving in Orlando - widely known as one of America’s leading leisure destinations.

Enjoy a day at leisure to relax and recharge. You might choose to unwind by the pool, or explore some of Orlando’s world-famous attractions such as Walt Disney World, SeaWorld or Universal Studios - admission fees are not included.

Your tour comes to an end after checkout. Make your own way to the airport or your next destination.