USA: Rhythms of the Deep South

Monday 12^th October

Journey to Nashville and transfer to our hotel next to the Cumberland River in the shadow of the Grand Ole Opry.

Overnight in Nashville.

Tuesday 13^th October

Located in the state of Tennessee, Nashville has a musical heritage which is intertwined into the fabric of music heard across the world.  Today we’ll get taxis to downtown Nashville and visit the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, an institution dedicated to the preservation and interpretation of American vernacular music.

Following this, you can enjoy time at leisure in downtown Nashville to enjoy the multitude of entertainment and music options on offer alongside some tantalising American soul food.

Breakfast included. Overnight in Nashville.

Wednesday 14^th October

We’ll head to downtown Nashville this morning where we’ll meet with our local guide who will take us on a walking tour around the area’s most notable places. We’ll hear the stories of this musical city, see some of its most enchanting sights, and discover what makes Nashville so magical.  This afternoon, we’ll meet at the hotel and walk to the world-famous Grand Ole Opry for the show that made country music famous. Here we’ll experience a private tour of the Opry, where we’ll explore behind the scenes, see the inner most workings of the Opry and even get a chance to go on the stage! Following our tour we’ll settle in to watch a performance to remember, with superstars and legends of country music who will perform new songs alongside old favourites.

Breakfast included. Overnight in Nashville.

Thursday 15^th October

Enjoy today at leisure in Nashville. You may wish to venture back to downtown and explore Centennial Park where there is a full-size replica of the Parthenon in Athens, a plethora of honky tonk music venues and a museum dedicated to the music icon Johnny Cash that uncovers the enigma behind The Man in Black.

Alternatively, you can head out of town to Davidson County and visit the Andrew Jackson Hermitage. Andrew Jackson served as the seventh president of the United States from 1829 to 1837, following a career as an American soldier and statesman. The Hermitage is a historical mansion surrounded by tranquil beauty that exhibits the story of this American legend. Additionally, the Museum is a shining example of an Antebellum Southern mansion that has been restored to its appearance in 1837 and showcases the history of plantation and slavery that were prevalent in this region in the 19^th century.

Breakfast included. Overnight in Nashville.

Friday 16^th October

This morning we’ll depart Nashville and head west to the other side of Tennessee to our next base of Memphis. We’ll travel straight to Graceland and tour the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll, Elvis Presley’s home. Bought for $100,000 by the already-famous 22-year old Elvis Presley, the Colonial-style mansion was extensively renovated to Elvis’ personal tastes and are now a living memorial to the musical legend and glorious 70’s décor at its finest. On our tour of the house we’ll discover why even decades after the singer’s death, Elvis Presley is still regarded by many around the world as ‘The King’ and has had an unprecedented and enduring legacy on music.

Following our tour, we’ll drive to Memphis downtown and check into our central hotel.

Breakfast included. Overnight in Memphis.

Saturday 17^th October

The city of Memphis, located close to the mighty Mississippi River, has a long and colourful past which stretches across a broad spectrum of social and cultural nuances. Legendary forefathers of American music such as Louis Armstrong, Muddy Waters and Memphis Minnie all brought their jazz and blues to this town and helped to put the clubs and bards of the legendary Beale Street on the musical map of 20^th century America.

Today we’ll discover Memphis on foot with a guide, beginning with the famous March of the Peabody Ducks before we stroll down Beale Street, focusing on the famous blues and honky tonks where Elvis first made a name for himself and locals relax with a cold beer to the sound of hot music and the smell of marinated meat sizzling on a barbecue.

Our tour will conclude at the Rock and Soul Museum, itself located on Beale Street, where you can explore the critical story of the musical pioneers who overcame racial and socio-economic obstacles to create the music that changed the cultural complexion of the world.

Breakfast included. Overnight in Memphis.

Sunday 18^th October

Enjoy today at leisure to pursue your own interests in Memphis. You may wish to visit the National Civil Rights Museum which traces the Civil Rights Movement in the United States from the 17^th century to the present day. The complex is built around the historic Lorraine Motel, where Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr was assassinated on the 4^th of April 1968.

You may alternatively wish to visit Sun Studios, the birthplace of rock and roll but also the recording studio of choice for country, blues and R&B artists. Famous singers such as Johnny Cash, Elvis Presley, Roy Orbison and Jerry Lee Lewis all passed through these doors.

Breakfast included. Overnight in Memphis.

Monday 19^th October

This morning we’ll depart Memphis and journey south into the state of Mississippi on our way to New Orleans on the southern coast of the USA in the state of Louisiana.  We’ll break up our journey with a brief stop for lunch in a town along the way before arriving in New Orleans in our central hotel late this afternoon.

We’ll spend the next 3 nights in the diverse, unique and inspiring city of New Orleans, otherwise known as ‘the Big Easy.’ An eclectic mix of European, Creole and Cajun culture manifests itself in every aspect of this city, as evidenced by the architecture, the cuisine and the thriving musical scene. We celebrate nightfall amid the sparkling blend of fine sounds, delicious cooking aromas and the fabulous textures of this seaport where the American mainland meets the Gulf of Mexico. In this most perfect of settings, we enjoy a selection of the multitude of live performances which pulse this vibrant city nightly.

Breakfast included. Overnight in New Orleans.

Tuesday 20^th October

Start today with a walking tour of this magical city, marvelling at the sights and sounds of the legendary Bourbon Street, relaxing in the Garden District, and absorbing the quaintly poetic ambience of the French Quarter.

Following this we’ll board the Steamboat Natchez for a two-hour cruise with traditional live jazz by some of the most talented musicians of the genre, The Steamboat Stompers. What better way to enhance this unique experience on the waters of the Mississippi River than by tucking into a typical New Orleans lunch, fully equipped with biscuits, grits, gravy, patties, gumbo and beignets. Our cruise will finish in the late afternoon, leaving us with the rest of the evening to explore some of the city’s music venues and bars.

Breakfast and lunch included. Overnight in New Orleans.

Wednesday 21^st October

Today will be free for you to further explore at leisure. You may wish to take our optional excursion to the Honey Island Swamp for a Kayak tour. You’ll be picked up and dropped off from the French Quarter and take a 40-minute transfer to the Honey Island Swamp in search of gorgeous, natural and picturesque swamp land. You’ll board a kayak and paddle through dense cypress forest and expansive wetlands surrounded by an array of wildlife.

This evening you may wish to queue up outside Preservation Hall, a musical venue in the French Quarter that serves to protect, preserve and perpetuate traditional New Orleans Jazz. Their daily shows are performed by passionate jazz players and the packed venue is seated on a first come, first serve basis on wooden benches, only adding to the sense of old fashioned magic.

Breakfast included. Overnight in New Orleans.

Thursday 22^nd October

This morning will be free for a final exploration of New Orleans before we transfer to the airport for our journey home.

Breakfast included.

Friday 23^rd October

Arrive home.

Single supplement – £780

Visa information:

At the time of publication British passport holders will need to get a visa or an Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA) visa waiver to enter or transit the USA as a visitor.

The ESTA allows approved applicants to travel to the USA for up to 90 days for the purpose of tourism, certain types of business visits, and transit to another country.

Please make sure you check your own individual entry requirements before booking this trip.