Sounds of the South New Orleans to Atlanta - 8 Days

Welcome to New Orleans, Louisiana’s most important port city. People from around the world have been arriving here since Sieur de Bienville laid out the city’s streets in 1718. Today, New Orleans is a distinctive blend of Spanish, French, Caribbean, African and Anglo-Saxon influences - reflected in its food, architecture and, of course, its music. Your Tour Director will be available this evening to help you make the most of your stay in this lively and characterful city. 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.

Today is free for you to enjoy one of America’s most distinctive cities at your own pace. Take in the French character and grandeur of New Orleans, or perhaps begin the day with the optional excursion, including a visit to a working plantation. You may also wish to explore the French Quarter, known for its wrought-iron balconies and narrow cobbled streets.

New Orleans - Baton Rouge - Natchez. This morning, we travel to Baton Rouge, the capital of Louisiana, for a brief city tour. We then continue via the historic Natchez Trace Parkway to Natchez. This 444-mile route passes through beautiful scenery and landscapes shaped by centuries of Native American and European history. Natchez is 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 vulnerable to flooding. This afternoon, we visit one of these houses and learn more about the wealth and lifestyle of its 19th-century owners.

Natchez - Memphis. Leaving Natchez, we continue to Memphis, home of Sun Records. As a major river port, Memphis was once a vital centre in the cotton trade before the Civil War, and it is also widely known as the home of the blues. Our brief city tour includes Beale Street, where live music fills the clubs each night, and historic Front Street - once known as Cotton Row, where traders and merchants conducted business. No visit to Memphis would be complete without the chance to visit Graceland, Elvis Presley’s home, on an optional excursion.

Memphis - Nashville. We continue to Nashville, the capital of country music. The city earned this reputation with the first broadcast of the WSM Barn Dance radio programme, which later became the Grand Ole Opry. The beautifully restored Ryman Auditorium in downtown Nashville, once home to the Grand Ole Opry, together with the studios around Music Row and Opryland, all reflect Nashville’s importance in the world of country music.

This morning, we enjoy a city tour of Tennessee’s dynamic capital. As we explore Nashville’s landmarks, you may feel the city’s musical heritage at every turn. You may also wish to visit one of the many recording studios around town. In the evening, there is the opportunity to join an optional dinner and show.

Nashville - Atlanta. Leaving Music City behind, we head to Chattanooga, home of the famous Choo Choo. The city has received national recognition for the revival of its attractive downtown and the redevelopment of its riverfront. Later, we return to Atlanta. In the afternoon, you may wish to visit some of the sights you did not have time to see at the start of the tour, such as the Georgia Aquarium, World of Coca-Cola or the CNN Center.

This morning is at leisure before departure. Your Tour Director will be available to assist with arranging individual transfers to Atlanta International Airport or to offer sightseeing suggestions should you wish to spend more time enjoying the city. We hope you have had a memorable journey and look forward to welcoming you again on another visit to America.