Tour Charleston To Savannah: Exploring Gullah Geechee Culture

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 we’re arriving prior to normal check-in time. However, this isn’t always possible which means we won’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 (6 nights)

Others

Charleston -Gullah Geechee Heritage Tour on James & Johns Island Charleston - Sweetgrass Basket Workshop Charleston - Mother Emmanuel AME Church Tour Charleston - International African American History Museum Charleston - Black Heritage & Culture Tour with a local guide St. Helena Island - Penn Center St. Helena Island - Gullah Style Lunch St. Helena Island - Island Tour with a local guide Beaufort - Reconstruction Era National Park guided museum and walking tour Beaufort - Lowcountry cooking demonstration & Lunch Beaufort - Robert Smalls Burial Site & Tabernacle Baptist Church Beaufort - Gullah Geechee Live Cultural Performance & Seafood Boil Dinner Savannah - Skidaway Island State Park Walk Savannah - Pin Point Heritage Museum Savannah - Black Heritage & Culture Tour with a local guide Savannah - Sunday Worship Service at local Black Church

Meals

6 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 1 dinner

Transport

Private Van 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. On this trip your group leader is also your driver, taking you from start to finish in a comfortable vehicle. 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. It’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

Insurance

Start planning your experience

Day 1 Day 1: Charleston
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 1: Charleston

Welcome to Charleston, South Carolina! With one foot in the past and another planted in the present, remnants of the city’s history are evident wherever you look. Your adventure kicks off with a 6pm welcome meeting at your hotel where you’ll meet up with your local leader and fellow travellers.
Accommodation: Hotel
Day 2 Day 2: Charleston
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 2: Charleston

This morning we’ll take a guided tour of James Island and Johns Island to gain a deeper understanding of Gullah Geechee culture. The Gullah Geechee people are descendants of West and Central Africans enslaved on the rice, indigo and Sea Island cotton plantations of the lower Atlantic coast. This isolated enslavement led to the development of rich and unique culture, language and art, with many ties to their African roots. Enjoy a lowcountry lunch and then take part in a sweet grass workshop where you’ll learn about the origins of sweet grass basket weaving and craft a piece yourself.
Accommodation: Hotel
Day 3 Day 3: Charleston
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 3: Charleston

Today you will head out to discover Charleston’s Black heritage on a city tour with a local guide. Stop at the Old Slave Mart Museum to learn about the role Charleston played in the Atlantic slave trade. and visit the new International African American History Museum to hear of the triumphs of the Black people who stayed in Charleston in the post Reconstruction era – the museum hasn’t officially opened yet, but you’ll be invited in for a first look and private tour. This afternoon, tour the historic Mother Emanuel AME Church. Founded in 1817, this is the oldest African Methodist Episcopal church in the Southern United States. Learn about the role the church played in the civil rights movement, and pay respects to the victims of the 2015 massacre which claimed the lives of nine African American church members, including the pastor. The rest of the day is free for your own discoveries of the city. You may like to check out the Charleston City Market, or visit the Chuma Gallery, showcasing the art of the Gullah people of coastal South Carolina.
Accommodation: Hotel
Day 4 Day 4: St. Helena Island / Beaufort
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 4: St. Helena Island / Beaufort

Say goodbye to Charleston after breakfast this morning and travel to St Helena Island, known for its rich Gullah Geechee culture and history. On arrival, pay a visit to the Gullah Geechee Visitor Center, meet some of the Gullah Geechee locals who call the island home. Join local guides for a tour of the island and find out how the Gullah Geechee have retained their West African culture and traditions while eluding the effects of slavery, and learn about their beliefs and unique language. Enjoy a flavoursome lowcountry lunch before touring the Penn Center, the site of the former Penn School, one the first schools in the country for formerly enslaved individuals. From here, continue to the city of Beaufort, located on Port Royal Island. Beaufort is celebrated for its seafood and soul food, so be sure to ask your leader for tips on where to eat tonight.
Accommodation: Hotel
Day 5 Day 5: Beaufort
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 5: Beaufort

Head out this morning and get to know Beaufort, starting with a walking tour of the future home of a Harriett B. Tubman Museum and the Tabernacle Baptist Church, a registered national historic site. You’ll also visit the burial site and memorial of Gullah pioneer Robert Smalls and hear his remarkable tale of heroism during the civil war and his influence on the state of South Carolina. Learn about the Reconstruction Era National Park on a guided museum and walking tour. The afternoon is yours to explore the charming town of Beaufort. This evening, come together to watch an emotive performance by a local nonprofit theatre group that captures the experience of enslaved Africans brought to South Carolina, and the strength and determination that ensured their Gullah Geechee culture and traditions would live on. After enjoying an interactive performance of music, dance and theatrics, tuck into an outdoor seafood boil with residents of Beaufort and St Helena Island.
Accommodation: Hotel
Day 6 Day 6: Savannah
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 6: Savannah

Leave South Carolina behind and cross the state line as you travel to Savannah, Georgia. On arrival, meet with a local expert for an enlightening tour of Savannah’s Black cultural heritage. Explore the Pin Point Heritage Museum, dedicated to Gullah Geechee culture, then see a different side of Savannah when you visit Skidaway Island State Park. Take on some of the park’s most beautiful hiking trails and enjoy a peaceful break from the city. Return to Savannah in the afternoon and join a local guide for a tour that digs into the city’s history of slavery. This evening, you may like to join your group for a final dinner at a local restaurant and toast to the end of your adventure.
Accommodation: Hotel
Day 7 Day 7: Charleston
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 7: Charleston

After breakfast, travel back to Charleston where your adventure will come to an end around 1pm.

7 days tour

Charleston To Savannah: Exploring Gullah Geechee Culture

This tour includes:

Not included:

Start planning your experience

Itinerary of your trip Charleston To Savannah: Exploring Gullah Geechee Culture

Day 1: Charleston

Day 2: Charleston

Day 3: Charleston

Day 4: St. Helena Island / Beaufort

Day 5: Beaufort

Day 6: Savannah

Day 7: Charleston

Experience Style

Accomodation level

Experience Type

Physical Rating

Age range

Who talk about us:

Best cities to travel to

America

Europe

Asia

Africa

Oceania