14 days tour

Best Of The South: Atlanta To New Orleans

Best Of The South: Atlanta To New Orleans

This tour includes:

Meals

11 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 2 dinners

Accommodation

The style of accommodation indicated in the day-to-day itinerary is a guideline only and may change. On some occasions, alternative arrangements may need to be made due to the lack of availability of rooms in our preferred accommodation. In these cases, we will use a similar standard of accommodation. Throughout the trip, we request that our properties prepare rooms in time for our arrival, especially if weโ€™re arriving prior to normal check-in time. However, this isnโ€™t always possible which means we wonโ€™t be able to check-in immediately on arrival at some hotels. Instead, we can store our luggage and explore our new destination or on some trips, have use of shared day rooms until all rooms are available. Hotel (11 nights)

Others

Atlanta - Martin Luther King Jr National Historic Site Atlanta - Atlanta History Centre โ€“ Curated private tour Savannah - Leader led historical walking tour Savannah โ€“ Walking Food tour Charleston โ€“ Black History walking tour with a local guide James Island - McLeod Plantation and Historic Site guided tour Nashville - BBQ and Whiskey dinner Nashville โ€“ Leader led walking tour Nashville - Country Music Hall of Fame + Studio B Tour Memphis - Sun Studio Visit Memphis - Graceland, The Home of Elvis Presley Memphis - National Civil Rights Museum New Orleans - Jazz Music Tour New Orleans - Cooking Class New Orleans โ€“ Plantation Tour

Transport

Private vehicle NORTH AMERICA VEHICLES: Our large fleet of vans are fully equipped with dual air-conditioning system, V8 engines and any camping or cooking equipment needed for your trip. Most have cloth-upholstered seats and carpeted interior with radio/tape or CD players. Your luggage is transported in a trailer which is towed behind the van. The vans are regularly serviced in our own maintenance facility and continuously checked and serviced by a well-established network of maintenance and service facilities throughout the continent. However, unforeseen maintenance problems can still occur while on the road and we appreciate the patience of our travellers as we make necessary repairs as quickly as possible. While your group will have a van for all included activities on the trip, the services of the van and the driver may not be available for your use during free time, or after you have arrived for the day. If you need a special trip into town you may need to arrange transport or a taxi.

Guide

All group trips are accompanied by one of our group leaders. The aim of the group leader is to take the hassle out of your travels and to help you have the best trip possible. Intrepid endeavours to provide the services of an experienced leader however, due to the seasonality of travel, rare situations may arise where your leader is new to a particular region or training other group leaders. Your leader will provide information on the places you are travelling through, offer suggestions for things to do and see, recommend great local eating venues and introduce you to our local friends. While not being guides in the traditional sense, you can expect them to have a broad general knowledge of the places visited on the trip, including historical, cultural, religious, and social aspects. At Intrepid we aim to support local guides who have specialised knowledge of the regions we visit. If you are interested in delving deeper into the local culture at a specific site or location then your leader can recommend a local guide service in most of the main destinations of your trip. NORTH AMERICAN LEADERS: Our leaders in the US and Canada are also responsible for driving the van and navigating across the country. The allowable driving times for drivers is strictly controlled in North America. This ensures our drivers are well rested and are not over-tired from too many hours on the roads. Itโ€™s strictly forbidden for non-qualified rangers to present any information about some National Parks in North America, therefore we adopt a system (as requested by the park rangers) where our leader will encourage travellers to visit the information centres in the National Parks for details about the site.

Not included:

Flights

Flights are not included.

Others

Other activities and services are not included.

Optional

Other activities and services are not included.

Insurance

Insurance is not included.

Start planning your experience

Itinerary of your trip Best Of The South: Atlanta To New Orleans

  • Day 1 Day 1: Atlanta
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 1: Atlanta

      Welcome to Atlanta! At 10am thereโ€™ll be a group meeting where youโ€™ll get to meet your leader and get an overview of the next couple of days. After the meeting, itโ€™s time to immerse yourself in 33 acres of historic houses, gardens and award-winning exhibitions with a specialist guide at the Atlanta History Center where youโ€™ll explore the past like never before. The center is part of a global network of historic sites and museums that connect past struggles to todayโ€™s movements for human rights. Next, head to the Martin Luther King Jr National Historic Site where youโ€™ll learn more about where Martin Luther King was born and where he lived and worked, as well as his legacy as a leader.

      Accommodation: Hotel

  • Day 2 Day 2: Savannah
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 2: Savannah

      Morninโ€™ sunshine! Hit the road bright and early and make the five-hour journey to Savannah. In 1946, Lady Astor referred to Savannah as โ€™a beautiful lady with a dirty faceโ€™, in reference to the crumbling, faded majesty of the cityโ€™s 18th- and 19th-century mansions. Due to plenty of restoration work, Savannahโ€™s face may no longer be dirty, but sheโ€™s still a city of contradictions with hidden delights to explore. On arrival, youโ€™ll join an expert guide for a tour of Bonaventure Cemetery, widely regarded as one of the worldโ€™s most beautiful cemeteries. Take in its Southern gothic glory as you learn more about this famous spot that has inspired everyone from poets to nature lovers and filmmakers. After the tour, you may like to check out Savannahโ€™s antebellum mansions, towering oak trees and colonial buildings on a stroll around town. In the evening, perhaps head out on a ghost tour of old Savannah or seek out spirits of a different kind at one of the cityโ€™s many lively bars.

      Accommodation: Hotel

  • Day 3 Day 3: Savannah
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 3: Savannah

      Take it easy this morning before meeting up at 11am for a three-hour walking tour which blends the cityโ€™s history with some of its best and most delicious eats. This fascinating food tour visits spots like a not-so-ordinary pub, an award-winning honey store, and a traditional British pie shop highlighting dishes consumed by some of Savannahโ€™s earliest settlers. This afternoon is all yours, so make the most of it! You could join a walking tour to learn more about the townโ€™s slave and cotton trade, immerse yourself in its underrepresented history or jump on a Hop-On Hop-Off trolley tour around town.

      Accommodation: Hotel

  • Day 4 Day 4: Charleston
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 4: Charleston

      Leave Savannah in the rear-view mirror and drive two hours to Charleston. On arrival, you might like to grab some lunch before joining a Black History walking tour with an expert guide who is an educator, historian and writer. Discover the โ€˜lost storiesโ€™ of Charlestonโ€™s rich history as you stroll around town and immerse yourself in its complex past. If time permits, you could continue your exploration with a ferry trip to Fort Sumter to see where the Civil War started or join a food tour and check out the local drinking and dining scene.

      Accommodation: Hotel

  • Day 5 Day 5: Asheville
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 5: Asheville

      Bid farewell to Charleston and sit back and relax on the five-hour drive through the Blue Ridge Mountains to the charming town of Asheville. Home to the countryโ€™s best breweries and some of North Carolinaโ€™s finest barbecue, Asheville also boasts an incredible folk music scene. Arriving in the mid-afternoon, youโ€™ll join your leader for a guided walking tour of the downtown area which is packed with galleries and artist studios. Tonight, you may like to check out one of the townโ€™s boutique brew houses or join your group for a good olโ€™ fashioned BBQ dinner at Buxton Hall, a popular local hangout.

      Accommodation: Hotel

  • Day 6 Day 6: Nashville
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 6: Nashville

      Make the scenic drive to Nashville, arriving in the country music capital in the late morning. On arrival, youโ€™ll be introduced to this famous toe tapping town during an orientation tour with your leader. Then take some free time for lunch and to explore on your own. Perhaps check out the Country Music Hall of Fame or search for the perfect pair of cowboy boots on Broadway. In the late afternoon come together again to taste world-famous Tennessee whiskeys and moonshine on a distillery tour, followed by a true-blue Nashville hot chicken dinner. This Tennessee twist on fried chicken originated right here in Nashville during the Great Depression and has been a local favorite ever since. Order it extra spicy for a real kick, but donโ€™t worry, you can turn down the heat if youโ€™re not feeling the burn.

  • Day 7 Day 7: Nashville
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 7: Nashville

      After breakfast join the meeting at 10am to meet any new travellers joining your tour. Then dive straight into the cityโ€™s history with a visit to the Country Music Hall of Fame. This fabulous piano-shaped building is a work of art in itself, and contains Elvisโ€™s gold Cadillac among other impressive memorabilia. Then cruise across town to Studio B where Dolly Parton, Willie Nelson, Roy Orbison and โ€œThe Kingโ€ Elvis Presley have all laid tracks, and today youโ€™ll be joining this prestigious list. Meet with a professional sound engineer for your own recording session and find out what it takes to create the Nashville sound. Enjoy a free afternoon to explore the city โ€“ you may like to check out the Nashville murals, visit the much-loved Goo Goo candy store, or swing by the Johnny Cash Museum. Get back together in the evening for an optional dinner (at your own expense) with your group and leader at a local restaurant.

      Accommodation: Hotel

  • Day 8 Day 8: Memphis
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 8: Memphis

      Hit the road this morning and make tracks for Memphis, Tennessee, a city overflowing with musical history and legends. Your first stop on arrival will be Sun Studio. This studio may be tiny, but its impact on the world of music is immeasurable. BB King, Johnny Cash, Howlinโ€™ Wolf and Elvis Presley have all recorded here, and the studio claims to be the โ€™Birthplace of Rock โ€™nโ€™ Rollโ€™ (and they may just be right!). The rest of the day is yours to discover the sights and sounds of Memphis. No visit to this city would be complete without checking out Beale Street, lined with traditional blues clubs โ€“ ask your leader where the locals hang out so you can avoid the tourist hotspots.

      Accommodation: Hotel

  • Day 9 Day 9: Memphis
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 9: Memphis

      After breakfast this morning, head to Memphisโ€™s most iconic site โ€“ Graceland! Elvisโ€™s former home and his final resting place, a visit to Graceland is like stepping back into the 1970s, with a glamourous and kitschy twist. Explore a fascinating world of green shag-carpet ceilings and yellow vinyl walls while getting a sneak peek into the glitzy side of the Deep South. Then itโ€™s time for a change of pace as you leave Graceland and visit the National Civil Rights Museum at the former Lorraine Motel โ€“ where Martin Luther King Jr was assassinated โ€“ for a dose of history that is both confronting and inspirational. The rest of the afternoon is free for your own discoveries โ€“ your leader will have some tips on how to get the most out of this lively city.

      Accommodation: Hotel

  • Day 10 Day 10: New Orleans
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 10: New Orleans

      Today youโ€™ll be road-tripping from Memphis to New Orleans, arriving in the afternoon. Jazz is not just a part of the cityโ€™s history โ€“ itโ€™s alive and kicking today. On arrival, join a local expert for a deep dive into the New Orleansโ€™ music scene, hitting up local haunts and hotspots. Start from the popular French Quarter, explore the thriving Marigny neighbourhood and visit the famous Frenchman Street, where youโ€™ll find the largest concentration of live music venues in the city. Your local guide will show you some of their favourite venues, with time to grab a beer along the way. The evening is yours to further explore this fascinating city โ€“ your leader will have some great recommendations on where to grab a bite to eat and listen to more live music.

      Accommodation: Hotel

  • Day 11 Day 11: New Orleans
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 11: New Orleans

      This morning, pay a visit to the Whitney Plantation where youโ€™ll learn about what life was like for those enslaved on a Louisiana sugarcane plantation. With a focus on the lives of slaves rather than the opulent house the slave owners lived in, exploring this plantation is a sobering and eye-opening experience. Then youโ€™re in for a real treat โ€“ not only famed for its music scene, the food in New Orleans is some of the best in the country. Today youโ€™ll learn about Creole and Cajun cuisine at a local cooking school and find out how to create one of the regionโ€™s most beloved dishes, then tuck into the finished product for dinner.

      Accommodation: Hotel

  • Day 12 Day 12: New Orleans
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 12: New Orleans

      Just like a good song, your adventure must come to an end, with things wrapping up this morning. If youโ€™d like to spend more time exploring New Orleans, just get in touch ahead of time and we can arrange additional accommodation (subject to availability).

  • Day 13 Day 13: New Orleans
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 13: New Orleans

      This morning, enjoy a leisurely breakfast and a free day to explore New Orleans at your own pace. Then tonight, youโ€™re in for a real treat โ€“ not only famed for its music scene, the food in New Orleans is some of the best in the country, and today youโ€™ll learn about Creole and Cajun cuisine at a local cooking school. Find out how to create one of the regionโ€™s most beloved dishes with a demonstration, then get hands-on and try it yourself. Tuck into the finished product for dinner with your group.

  • Day 14 Day 14: New Orleans
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 14: New Orleans

      This morning after breakfast, your trip comes to an end. If youโ€™d like, you can book an optional jazz brunch at The Court of Two Sisters โ€“ a gorgeous outdoor courtyard dining area where you can enjoy some delicious brunch specialities while live jazz plays โ€“a great way to end your music trail! If youโ€™d like to stay longer, just speak to your booking agent.

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Experience Style

Experience Style

Mixed

There will be challenging activities such as hiking, biking, canyoning and trekking, but youโ€™re also going to have other means of transportation and relaxed moments to just chill.

Accomodation level

Accomodation level

Medium

This accommodation includes essential services like a hot shower, electricity, and a nice and comfy bed.

Experience Type

Experience Type

Small Group

Youโ€™ll be accompanied by a small group of travelers just like you.

Physical Rating

Physical Rating

Basic

Almost everyone is fit for these activities. Every hike or physical exercise last less than 30 minutes, such as paragliding and horseback riding. Please ask about specific conditions.

Age range

Age range

Min: 15 / Max: 99

Age range allowed for this experience.

Select a country to define if the visa is required