-
Day 1
ARRIVE NASHVILLE (2 NIGHTS)
Welcome to Music City! Get settled at your hotel and enjoy some time on your own this afternoon to explore. At 6 p.m., gather at the hotel with your Travel Director and fellow travelling companions for a Welcome Reception.
M: Moderate, D: Deluxe, SF: Superior First Class, F: First Class. For further details please see the notes section below.
Help
Day 2
NASHVILLE - GRAND OLE OPRY
No visit to Nashville is complete without a visit to the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. See memorabilia from stars such as Hank Williams, Loretta Lynn and Garth Brooks as you explore this shrine to country music. Wrap up your exploration of musical history with a tour of RCA's Studio B, one of the world's most successful recording studios where such musicians as Elvis Presley recorded their sounds. Explore the world’s country music capital, starting with Music Row, the heart of Nashville’s entertainment industry, and home to the record labels, radio stations and recording studios where such greats as Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Roger Miller and Dolly Parton recorded the hits that defined the Nashville sound. Attend a live taping at the Grand Ole Opry, home to America's longest-running live radio program. Before the show, enjoy a tapas and wine dinner.
-
Day 3
NASHVILLE - LYNCHBURG - MEMPHIS (2 NIGHTS)
Head out to Lynchburg for a taste of life in the country and an introduction to a Southern Local Speciality and America's most famous whiskey—Jack Daniel's. Embark on a guided tour to see how clear spring water and corn, rye and barley become smooth-sippin' Tennessee whiskey. Then travel from Lynchburg to the birthplace of blues and rock 'n' roll. In Memphis, take a stroll down Beale Street past Sun Studios, see the hotel where Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated and savour the late-afternoon light on the Big Muddy. Enjoy the evening at leisure to sample some Southern cookin’ and check out some live music.
M: Moderate, D: Deluxe, SF: Superior First Class, F: First Class. For further details please see the notes section below.
Help
Day 4
MEMPHIS - GRACELAND EXCURSION
Graceland is as much an object of pilgrimage as a museum dedicated to the late, great Elvis Presley. From the flowers and painted signs outside the gates, to the tear-streaked cheeks of fans inside, see the effect that Elvis and his music had on popular American culture. On a guided tour, marvel at the Jungle Room, the private jets, custom cars and walls full of gold and platinum records. Stroll the grounds and you just might find yourself humming "Blue Suede Shoes"; if so, don’t worry, there's free time this afternoon to pick up a pair before joining your travelling companions for a Memphis Your Choice Dining experience where you will select your eatery from one of four Memphis favourites.
-
Day 5
MEMPHIS - NATCHEZ (2 NIGHTS)
This morning, enjoy an exclusive tour of the Rock 'n' Soul Museum before it opens to the rest of the public. Take in the exhibits that document the musical history of Memphis. Then depart for Natchez. Founded by the French in 1716, Natchez was home to a flowering antebellum culture. Tonight, step back in time with a private tour of a Renaissance Revival mansion with a local Natchez storyteller. Your authentic Be My Guest experience will begin as your host welcomes you with a cocktail reception, takes you on a guided tour of the elegant Southern home, then escorts you to an authentic and specially prepared ballroom dinner. As you finish your meal, you'll be charmed by the entrance of costumed tableaux dancers who famously portray life in antebellum Mississippi through song and dance.
M: Moderate, D: Deluxe, SF: Superior First Class, F: First Class. For further details please see the notes section below.
Help
Day 6
NATCHEZ SIGHTSEEING & AT LEISURE
Along the river lie the great cotton fields of the South. Stop at Frogmore Plantation and Gins to learn about the White Gold of the Mississippi Delta. With your costumed hosts, tour a reconstructed 19th-century cotton plantation and compare it to the modern-day operation that produces more than 900 bales of the Local Speciality each day. Spend a day taking in more of the nation’s Southern history in Natchez. See the gracious homes overlooking the river and enjoy a tour of palatial Stanton Hall, built by a Natchez plantation owner. Enjoy this evening at leisure.
-
Day 7
NATCHEZ - OAK ALLEY - NEW ORLEANS (3 NIGHTS)
From Natchez, travel to the countryside to marvel at Oak Alley Plantation. This classic antebellum home sits on the Mississippi River and amazes visitors with its quarter mile canopy of 300-year-old live oak trees. In this grand dame of Southern mansions, learn about the lives of the plantation owners. Later this afternoon, arrive in historic New Orleans, with time to relax before visiting the New Orleans School of Cooking located in the heart of the French Quarter. Discover the flair of Creole cuisine during a fun and interactive cooking class. Later, enjoy your culinary creations at a Highlight Dinner.
M: Moderate, D: Deluxe, SF: Superior First Class, F: First Class. For further details please see the notes section below.
Help
Day 8
NEW ORLEANS SIGHTSEEING & AT LEISURE
Delight in a hearty New Orleans breakfast and coffee before today's exploration of the Crescent City. Join a Small Group Sightseeing tour with a Local Guide and see the atmospheric French Quarter and Jackson Square, originally called Place d'Armes when it was the centre of the old city, and tour one of the city's above ground cemeteries. Then it's out to the lovely Garden District, home to some of the best-preserved Southern mansions in the United States. This afternoon, enjoy some time on your own: grab a po' boy or some fresh beignets, stroll down Bourbon Street or hit the lively waterfront area.
-
Day 9
NEW ORLEANS AT LEISURE
Enjoy a leisurely morning and afternoon free to explore on your own. If you're feeling adventurous, head out to the bayou for a guided tour deep into the swamps. Look out for alligators! Or stay downtown and stroll Magazine Street, visit Marie Laveau’s Historic Voodoo Museum or catch a little jazz piano while cooling off and watching the world go by. This evening, join your Travel Director and travelling companions for a Farewell Dinner at the famed Court of the Two Sisters.
Day 10
DEPART NEW ORLEANS
Say au revoir to the Big Easy this morning. A complimentary transfer is provided to New Orleans International Airport.