Best of the South: Atlanta to New Orleans
Best of the South: Atlanta to New Orleans
Best of the South: Atlanta to New Orleans
14 Days Starting in Atlanta and ending in New Orleans
Visiting: Atlanta, Savannah, Charleston, Charleston to Asheville, Asheville, Nashville , Nashville, Memphis, New Orleans
Tour operator:
Tour code:
SSKYC
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
1 - 12
Age range:
15-99 years
Tour operated in:
EnglishInterests:
Tour Overview
This fourteen-day Atlanta to New Orleans tour takes you deep into the heart of America’s south. Immerse yourself in the history and culture of famous cities as you take in the atmosphere of Charleston and Savannah on walking tours, visit Biltmore House and Garden in Asheville and join a local guide at Bonaventure Cemetery. There’s also the iconic food and music scenes to explore as you learn how to cook a Cajun feast, set down some recordings in the Country Music Hall of Fame and finish your adventure with a jazz brunch in New Orleans. If you want to do more than just see the sights, this immersive historic tour is calling your name.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1: Atlanta
Location: Atlanta
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: dinner
Welcome to Georgia! Your adventure begins in Atlanta with a welcome meeting at 6 pm tonight. As this trip only spends limited time in Atlanta, we recommend arriving a day or two early to truly experience the city. You might like to check out the 33 acres of historic houses, gardens and award-winning exhibitions at the Atlanta History Center, or visit the Martin Luther King Jr National Historic Site. After your meeting, your leader will be able to recommend some good local restaurants for dinner.
Day 2: Savannah
Location: Savannah
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: breaksfast
Hit the road bright and early to make the journey to Savannah this morning. In 1946, Lady Astor referred to Savannah as 'a beautiful lady with a dirty face' in reference to the crumbling, faded majesty of the city's 18th and 19th-century mansions. Due to plenty of restoration work, Savannah's face may no longer be dirty, but she's still a city of contradictions with hidden delights. When you arrive, you’ll join an expert guide for a tour of Bonaventure Cemetery, widely regarded as one of the world'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, you might like to check out Savannah’s antebellum mansions, towering oak trees and colonial buildings on a stroll around town. In the evening, maybe head out on a ghost tour of old Savannah or seek out spirits of a different kind at one of the city’s many lively bars.
Included Activities:
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Day 3: Savannah
Location: Savannah
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: breaksfast, lunch
Take it easy this morning before meeting up at 11 am for a three-hour walking tour that blends the city’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 Savannah’s earliest settlers. This afternoon is all yours, so make the most of it!
Included Activities:
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Day 4: Charleston
Location: Charleston
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: breaksfast
Leave Savannah in the rear-view mirror and drive to Charleston. When you arrive, you might like to grab some lunch before joining a Black History tour with an expert guide. You’ll drive around in comfort, hearing stories of the city’s complex past and stopping for walks at historic landmarks. The afternoon is yours to explore Charleston at your own pace. Perhaps book a food tour to discover more flavours of the South.
Included Activities:
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Optional Activities:
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Day 5: Charleston To Asheville
Location: Charleston to Asheville
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: breaksfast
This morning is free for you to continue exploring Charleston. You might like to take an early stroll through the city’s historic district, or pay a visit to the Fort Sumter National Monument. Then, make the drive through the Blue Ridge Mountains to the charming town of Asheville. Home to the country’s best breweries and some of North Carolina’s finest barbecue, Asheville also boasts an incredible folk music scene. After arriving you’ll join your leader for a guided walking tour of the downtown area, packed with galleries and artist studios. For dinner, your leader will be able to suggest some of the town's boutique brew houses.
Included Activities:
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Optional Activities:
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Day 6: Asheville
Location: Asheville
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: breaksfast
Enjoy an easy start to the morning, and then join your group for a visit to Biltmore House and Garden. Tour the opulent Gilded Age mansion famous for being America’s largest home, and perhaps stop in for lunch and a glass of wine at the on-site winery. With the afternoon free, you can then choose to keep exploring the extensive property or head back into town. Tonight, there’s also the chance to join your group for an optional dinner.
Included Activities:
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Day 7: NashvilleÂ
Location: Nashville
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: breaksfast, lunch
Depart Asheville this morning, hitting the road headed for Nashville. Along the way, stop in at a local whiskey distillery. Tour the distillery and sample some of the award-winning Tennessee whiskey, named in honour of the first known African American master distiller. After, join your group for lunch at a nearby restaurant, then continue to Nashville – the country music capital of the world. When you arrive, you’ll be introduced to this famous toe-tapping town during an orientation walk with your leader. The evening’s then free – why not track down a true-blue Nashville hot chicken dinner?
Included Activities:
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Day 8: Nashville
Location: Nashville
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: breaksfast
Today you're free as a bird to explore Nashville. You may like to check out the Nashville murals, visit the much-loved Goo Goo candy store, or swing by the Johnny Cash Museum. Tonight, there's a meeting at 6 pm to welcome any new travellers joining the next stage of your itinerary. After, head out on a leader-led walking tour of the city and then join your group for an optional welcome dinner.
Included Activities:
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Day 9: Nashville
Location: Nashville
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: breaksfast
This morning after breakfast, dive straight into the city’s history with a visit to the Country Music Hall of Fame. This fabulous piano-shaped building is a work of art and contains a whole range of impressive memorabilia, including Elvis’ gold Cadillac. Then, cruise across town to Studio B, where Dolly Parton, Willie Nelson, Roy Orbison and ‘The King’ Elvis Presley have all laid tracks – today, you’ll even 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 – you may like to check out the Nashville murals, visit the much-loved Goo Goo candy store, or swing by the Johnny Cash Museum.
Included Activities:
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Day 10: Memphis
Location: Memphis
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: breaksfast, dinner
Hit the road this morning and make tracks for Memphis – a city overflowing with musical history and legends. Your first stop is the Stax Museum of American Soul Music. Here at the original location of Stax Records in downtown Memphis, you'll learn the story of the Memphis sound where stars like Otis Redding and Isaac Hayes got their starts. You'll even have a chance to cut a rug on their dance floor as you listen to Stax tracks. 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. Join back up with your group for a dinner at a local restaurant, then head out to enjoy some of that live, local music.
Included Activities:
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Day 11: Memphis
Location: Memphis
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: breaksfast
After breakfast this morning, head out on an orientation walk in downtown Memphis including a stop at the National Civil Rights Museum at the Lorraine Motel. Your leader will talk about the museum, you’ll have the chance to take photos and can choose to take an optional tour. Then, head to another of Memphis’ iconic sites – Graceland. Elvis’s former home and 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.
Included Activities:
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Optional Activities:
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Day 12: New Orleans
Location: New Orleans
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: breaksfast
Today you’ll be road-tripping from Memphis to New Orleans, arriving in the afternoon. Jazz is not just a part of the city’s history – it’s alive and kicking! When you arrive, join your leader for an orientation walk around The Big Easy, and maybe try to sample one of the city’s famous beignets. The evening is yours to explore further – your leader will have some great recommendations on where to grab a bite to eat and listen to more live music.
Included Activities:
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Day 13: New Orleans
Location: New Orleans
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: breaksfast, lunch
Enjoy a leisurely breakfast and a free morning to explore New Orleans at your own pace. Then for lunch, you’re in for a real treat – not only famed for its music scene, the food in New Orleans is some of the best in the country, and today you’ll learn about Creole and Cajun cuisine at a local cooking school. Find out how to create one of the region’s most beloved dishes with a demonstration, then get hands-on and try it yourself. Tuck into the finished product with your group, then the rest of the day is free for you to continue exploring. Why not check out a jazz club on Frenchman Street, join the party on Bourbon Street or – for the brave of heart – take a tour of the iconic St. Louis Cemetery?
Included Activities:
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Optional Activities:
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Day 14: New Orleans
Location: New Orleans
Meals Included: breaksfast
This morning, head out for a jazz brunch at The Court of Two Sisters – a gorgeous outdoor courtyard dining area where you can enjoy some delicious brunch specialities while live jazz plays – a great way to complete your music trail! With nothing planned for the rest of the day, your trip will come to an end after brunch. If you’d like to stay longer, just speak to your booking agent.
Included Activities:
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What's Included
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Accommodation
Hotel (6 nights) -
Atlanta - Martin Luther King Jr National Historic Site
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Atlanta - Atlanta History Centre – Curated private tour
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Savannah - Bonaventure Cemetery tour
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Savannah – Walking Food tour
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Charleston – Black History walking tour with a local guide
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Asheville - Leader-led walking tour
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Nashville – Leader led walking tour
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Nashville - Distillery Tours & Tennessee Hot Chicken Dinner
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Nashville- Leader-led orientation tour
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Nashville - Country Music Hall of Fame
What's Not Included
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Tipping and Gratuities
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International Travel
Transport
- AIRPORT TRANSFERS IN THE USA & CANADA
- We recommend taxis and rideshare services like Lyft and Uber when traveling to and from hotels in the USA and Canada. These services are widely available across North America, offering convenient and accessible transportation options. Private transfers in North America incur high costs and present an increased risk of missed connections due to their fixed schedules. In contrast, taxis and rideshares offer both cost-effectiveness and flexibility, ensuring a smoother journey. With transparent pricing, GPS tracking, and on-demand availability, we believe that taxis and rideshare apps not only offer a reliable alternative to private transfers but also provide a secure, trustworthy, and budget-friendly transportation option for our customers.
- NORTH AMERICA VEHICLES
- Our large fleet of 15-passenger vans are fully equipped with 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 or CD players. Your luggage is typically transported in a trailer which is towed behind the van.
- The vans are regularly 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 leader 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.
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.
Important Information
- 1. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6pm on Day 1. Please make your own way to the Joining Point Hotel listed in the Essential Trip Information for this itinerary.
- 2. On the last day the included Jazz brunch is expected to finish around 12pm. Please do not book flights that depart before 3pm if you wish to participate in the brunch.
- 3. A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. The single supplement applies to all nights on your trip and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.
Mode of Transport
- NORTH AMERICA VEHICLES
- Our large fleet of 15-passenger vans are fully equipped with 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 or CD players. Your luggage is typically transported in a trailer which is towed behind the van.
- The vans are regularly 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 leader 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.
Check out our Q&As
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Is this trip right for you
The South gets mighty steamy in the summertime. Pack appropriately, drink plenty of water and you might even grow to love it. September through to November is rainy season, so if you’re travelling over this period you should pack a rain jacket and waterproof shoes.
You're in the Deep South of the USA, so expect a lot of (delicious) fried food and barbecue. Vegetarians may have fewer options, as a lot of southern cuisine is meat-based.
With plenty on included city tours, this trip can involve a lot of walking. Please ensure you bring sturdy walking shoes and comfortable clothes.
You'll be travelling in a private vehicle with your group. Extra space can be tight, and conditions may feel a little cramped. It’s all part of the adventure and a great way to get to know your fellow travellers. Please read the itinerary carefully for travel time estimates. -
What policies are in place for Covid-19?
Please contact us for latest COVID-19 policies
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How long has the tour company been trading?
Intrepid Travel has been taking travellers around the world for over 30 years
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Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?
Yes
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What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?
Since 2002, The Intrepid Foundation has supported over 130 organisations across the world. We’re creating positive impact through the joy of travel, community and connection.
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Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
Over 50% of traveller travel solo with Intrepid. You can choose to share a room with another solo travelle of the same sex for no additional charge, or choose to pay a single supplement if you’d like your own room. Please request this when booking, and we will secure you a single supplement wherever possible. Please note, if you are booking a last-minute trip, it may be harder for us to secure a single room
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Free Date Changes
Intrepid Travel allows you to make 10 free date changes, as long as the change is made at least 56 days before the start of the tour.
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Transfer as credit to Future Tours
Intrepid Travel allows you to transfer existing payments to a future tour to avoid cancellation fees if you can't travel and inform intrepid travel, 56 days before departure.
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Low Deposit
Intrepid Travel requires a minimum deposit of 400 USD per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 56 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of intrepid travel charges.
Up to 56 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 55 days before tour starts: Forfeit 30% of booking price.
At 30 days before tour starts: Forfeit 60% of booking price.
At 14 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.
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Terms and Conditions