New York to Orlando - 17 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 City - Boston. We depart New York City and travel north into historic New England, following the scenic shoreline of Long Island Sound en route to Boston, Massachusetts.

On arrival, we explore the city on foot, walking sections of the Freedom Trail - a route that traces key sites from the American Revolution. We continue into Beacon Hill, known for its cobbled streets, red-brick townhouses and gas-lit lamps, and widely regarded as one of Boston’s most picturesque and historic neighbourhoods.

Boston - Quebec (Canada). This morning, we travel through the rural landscapes of New England, passing through the states of New Hampshire and Vermont as we make our way towards Canada. Along the route, we pass small, picturesque villages and the White Mountains - particularly striking during the autumn foliage season.

We cross the international border into the French-speaking province of Québec. You may wish to visit a traditional maple farm to learn about one of the region’s most iconic products. This evening, you have the option to sample celebrated French-Canadian cuisine.

Quebec City - Montreal. We begin the day with a tour of Québec City, the provincial capital and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Highlights include the Québec Provincial Parliament Building and the Citadelle, an active military installation overlooking the city.

We then explore on foot within the historic walled city, where we see the Château Frontenac and enjoy sweeping views over the St Lawrence River. During free time, you may wish to sample a local pastry, baguette or sweet treat, or, if time allows, visit Rue du Trésor, known for its open-air art displays.

We continue to Montréal, where on arrival we take a tour of Old Montréal, including the Vieux Port, Place Jacques-Cartier and the impressive Notre-Dame Basilica.

Montreal - Ottawa - Toronto. We depart Montréal and travel to Canada’s capital, Ottawa - a city known for its green spaces, seasonal blooms and grand architecture. On arrival, we take in views of Parliament Hill, home to one of the most impressive parliamentary buildings in the world.

In the afternoon, we continue along the scenic Thousand Islands Parkway towards Toronto, the largest English-speaking city in Canada, set on the shores of Lake Ontario. En route, you may choose to join an optional cruise on the St Lawrence River, offering a relaxing way to take in the region’s striking island scenery.

Toronto - Niagara Falls. We begin the day with a drive through Toronto, taking in its striking skyline of modern skyscrapers, including the CN Tower - one of the tallest freestanding structures in the world at 553 metres. You may choose to step onto the glass floor, suspended more than 300 metres above the city (optional).

We then follow the shores of Lake Ontario, crossing the Welland Canal en route to Niagara Falls. On arrival, we experience this natural wonder up close, with time to stroll along Table Rock, see the Floral Clock and take in views of the powerful Horseshoe Falls.

Later, you may wish to join an optional Hornblower Cruise, which brings us to the base of the Falls for a closer perspective of the cascading water.

Niagara Falls - Harrisburg (USA). Returning to the United States, we travel through the rolling farmland of upstate New York, passing through the Finger Lakes region - an area shaped by glacial activity and known for its vineyards and scenic landscapes - before crossing into Pennsylvania, the Keystone State.

This afternoon, we visit the historic Gettysburg National Military Park, site of the largest battle ever fought on American soil during the Civil War. It was here in 1863 that President Abraham Lincoln delivered his famous Gettysburg Address.

We then continue along the Susquehanna River into Amish Country, where traditional ways of life have been preserved for generations.

Harrisburg - Washington. We travel through the rural countryside into Pennsylvania Dutch Country, where we visit an Amish museum to learn about a way of life that has remained largely unchanged for over 300 years - admission is included. The Amish community is known for its simple living, traditionally avoiding electricity and modern machinery. In the afternoon, we continue to the nation’s capital, Washington, D.C.

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.

The tour concludes on arrival in Orlando at approximately 18:00.