The American South
The American South
The American South
14 Days Starting and ending in Atlanta, GA, USA
Visiting: Atlanta, Augusta, Charleston, Savannah, Montgomery, New Orleans, Selma, Baton Rouge, Natchez, Memphis, Nashville, Chattanooga
Tour operator:
Tour code:
1261
Recommended For:
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
1 - 5
Age range:
13-99
Tour operated in:
EnglishInterests:
Tour Overview
Get ready for an unforgettable 14-day Southern United States tour, starting and ending in Atlanta. This journey will take you through charming cities, historic sites, and vibrant music scenes. Explore Charleston, a city known for its colonial architecture and Southern charm. Drive to Selma, a city deeply intertwined with the civil rights movement. Arrive in the vibrant city of New Orleans. Experience the lively French Quarter, enjoy Cajun cuisine, and immerse yourself in the music scene. Head to Memphis and discover its musical heritage and continue to Nashville, the heart of country music
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1 : Atlanta Arrival
Location: Atlanta
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: the Holiday Inn Express and Suites Atlanta Downtown, Atlanta, or similar
Welcome to Atlanta, Georgia. During the Civil War, Atlanta was one of the most important Southern Cities as it provided war materials to the South. In 1864, General Sherman marched into Atlanta and burned the entire city. The city recovered from its losses and today is one of the most dynamic in the South, boasting a successful cultural and business hub. Transfer independently to your hotel where you will meet your Tour Director.
Day 2 : Atlanta
Location: Atlanta
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: the Holiday Inn Express and Suites Atlanta Downtown, Atlanta, or similar
his morning, enjoy a comprehensive city tour of Atlanta, including a visit to the boyhood home of Martin Luther King. You will also learn about another of Atlanta's most famous residents, Margaret Mitchell, who wrote the historical novel that became a masterpiece of American cinema, "Gone with the Wind." Visit the Road to Tara Museum and Stately Oaks Plantation, which was the inspiration for the plantation in the film. You will have the opportunity to see memorabilia from the movie including costumes worn by the stars Clark Gable and Vivien Leigh. In the evening, enjoy a welcome reception which will give you the opportunity to meet your fellow travelers.
Day 3 : Atlanta > Augusta > Charleston
Location: Atlanta, Augusta, Charleston
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: the Cambria Hotel Charleston Riverview, Charleston, or similar
Leave Atlanta today and head west to Augusta. Augusta is the second oldest city in Georgia and is home to the prestigious Master's golf tournament. In the late afternoon, you will arrive in Charleston one of the most historic and charming cities in the South. For evening activities, you may wish to consult your Tour Director for the possibilities.
Day 4 : Charleston > Savannah
Location: Charleston, Savannah
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: the Fairfield Inn & Suites Savannah Downtown/Historic District, Savannah, or similar
In the morning, enjoy a locally guided tour of Charleston Walk the streets of Charleston's preserved historic district, the best protected in the nation. Natural disasters, the Revolutionary War, and the Civil War all took their toll on this beautiful city, yet it stands out as a historic gem of the South.
In the afternoon, you may wish to participate in an optional excursion to the historic Boone Hall Plantation with its famous Avenue of Oaks. The property has appeared in numerous American movies, among them "North and South". En route to Savannah, the route stops on Port Royal Island and see Beaufort, South Carolina's second oldest city. Its impressive Antebellum architecture has been the backdrop for many shows and films, including "Forrest Gump."
Day 5 : Savannah
Location: Savannah
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: the Fairfield Inn & Suites Savannah Downtown/Historic District, Savannah, or similar
Today, enjoy the charm of Savannah, once the world's largest cotton port. When cotton was king, Savannah controlled the prices of the world cotton market at her cotton exchange. Founder James Oglethorpe laid out the famed city squares. The Civil War destroyed a large portion of Georgia, but Savannah was spared. Numerous buildings around the tree-shaded squares are hundreds of years old; providing the setting for the popular novel "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil."
Day 6 : Savannah > Montgomery
Location: Savannah, Montgomery
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: the Courtyard Montgomery, Montgomery, or similar
Set course west across the state of Georgia and into the heart of the Deep South, Alabama. Upon arrival in Montgomery, Alabama's capital city and a central backdrop of the American Civil Rights Movement, visit the Rosa Parks Library and Museum. Learn about the Montgomery Bus Boycott inspired by Parks, which ignited the Civil Rights movement and changed American history. You may also wish to visit the Dexter Avenue King Memorial Baptist Church, where Martin Luther King Jr. led the Boycott with his powerful sermons.
Day 7 : Montgomery > Selma > New Orleans
Location: New Orleans, Montgomery, Selma
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: the Hilton New Orleans Riverside, New Orleans, or similar
Depart Montgomery this morning to discover Selma, Alabama, another centerpiece of the Civil Rights Movement. Visit the Edmund Pettis Bridge where the historic March from Selma to Montgomery began and where the brutal events of Bloody Sunday took place.
Experience another historic site of the Civil Rights Trail, the Brown Chapel AME Church before heading south through Mississippi to New Orleans, a city immersed in Creole culture. The city today is a unique blend of Spanish, French, Caribbean, African, and Anglo-Saxon influences. This is obvious in the food, architecture, and of course, the music. Experience this melting pot aboard a Riverboat Dinner Cruise (optional) and enjoy the rhythms of a Dixieland jazz band.
Day 8 : New Orleans
Location: New Orleans
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: the Hilton New Orleans Riverside, New Orleans, or similar
The day is yours to explore the charm and excitement of one of America's most unique cities and for you to take in the French flavor & grandeur of New Orleans. May we suggest starting the day with a visit to a working plantation (optional). Explore the French Quarter with its trademark wrought iron balconies overlooking the narrow cobblestone streets.
Day 9 : New Orleans > Baton Rouge > Natchez
Location: Baton Rouge, Natchez, New Orleans
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: the Hampton Inn & Suites Natchez, Natchez, or similar
This morning, we will travel to the capital of Louisiana, Baton Rouge, and conduct a brief city tour. From there, we will travel via the historic Natchez Trace Parkway to Natchez. The parkway is a 444-mile drive through exceptional scenery and years of Native American and European history. Natchez is the oldest European settlement on the Mississippi River. Before the Civil War, wealthy plantation owners from Louisiana built magnificent Antebellum homes here because the area was considered safer from flooding. This afternoon, we will visit one of the homes and learn about the wealth of these 19th-century millionaires.
Day 10 : Natchez > Mississippi River Valley > Memphis
Location: Memphis, Natchez
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: the Crowne Plaza Memphis Downtown, Memphis, or similar
Leave Natchez and drive on to Memphis, home of 'Sun Records. As a large river port, it was one of the most important links in the cotton trade before the Civil War. Memphis is also known as the "home of the blues." A brief city tour will take you to the city's liveliest street, Beale Street, where the blues and other types of music are played nightly in almost a dozen clubs.
Travel along historic Front Street, known as Cotton Row in the days when cotton traders and merchants conducted business here. Of course, no visit to Memphis would be complete without a visit to Graceland, the home of Elvis Presley (optional).
Day 11 : Memphis > Nashville
Location: Memphis, Nashville
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: the The Inn at Opryland, A Gaylord Hotel, Nashville, or similar
Continue on to Nashville, known as the capital of country music. The city earned its title with the very first airing of the WSM Barn Dance radio program, the forerunner of the Grand Ole Opry. The newly renovated Ryman Auditorium in downtown Nashville, once the home of the Grand Ole Opry, the studios near Music Row, and Opryland itself attest to Nashville's reputation as the most important city in country music.
Day 12 : Nashville
Location: Nashville
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: The Inn at Opryland, A Gaylord Hotel, Nashville, or similar
Begin your day in this dynamic and thriving cultural and state capital of Tennessee with a morning city tour. While exploring the city's landmarks, perhaps you'll discover a new country music classic before it even hit the charts while visiting one of the many recording studios around town. Perhaps enjoy dinner and a show in the evening as an optional excursion.
Day 13 : Nashville > Chattanooga > Atlanta
Location: Atlanta, Nashville, Chattanooga
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: the Doubletree by Hilton Atlanta Airport, Atlanta, or similar
Leaving Music City, we head to Chattanooga, home to the famous Choo Choo and which has received national recognition for the renaissance of its beautiful downtown and redevelopment of its riverfront. In the afternoon, our trails lead us back to Atlanta where you may want to check out one of the sites you were not able to experience at the start of the tour like the Georgia Aquarium, World of Coca-Cola, and CNN Center.
Day 14 : Atlanta Departure
Location: Atlanta
Morning at your leisure before departure. Your Tour Director will be available to assist you in arranging individual transfers to Atlanta International Airport or with sightseeing recommendations for the day should you want to enjoy this great city further. We hope you have had a memorable journey and look forward to you the opportunity to host your next visit to America.
What's Included
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• 13-nights hotel accommodations as specified or similar with a private bath and/or shower
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• Services of a professional multilingual Tour Manager throughout
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• Welcome reception and meeting of fellow travelers
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• Visit Stately Oaks Plantation and museum, the inspiration for “Tara” from Gone with the Wind
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• Sightseeing tour of Atlanta including MLK’s boyhood home and visitors’ center
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• Tour historic Charleston and see the iconic piazzas of the beautiful homes
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• Travel to Beaufort, the filming site of the movie Forest Gump
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• Trolley Tour of the historic downtown district of Savannah
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• Experience historic landmarks of the Civil Rights Trail in Montgomery and Selma, Alabama
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• See New Orleans, home to jazz and beignets
What's Not Included
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• Airfare unless specified in the tour itinerary
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• Meals are not included in order to allow for more flexibility
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• Laundry, telephone, optional excursions and other items of a personal nature
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• Travel Insurance
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• Gratuities
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• Pre and Post Accommodation
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• Airport Transfers
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• Everything that is not mentioned in included
Check out our Q&As
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What currencies are required for this tour?
USD
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Is there any free time to explore places during the tour?
Yes
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Is there a limit to luggage that can be brought on the tour?
Each passenger traveling on an escorted tour is allowed one piece of checked baggage per person due to space limitations. Additional luggage will be charged at $7.00 per person per day (price is subject to change)
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What happens if a group doesn’t make its minimum required number of passengers?
The tour is a guaranteed departure
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Are the local guides on the tour English speaking?
Yes
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Are flights included in this tour?
No
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Are airport transfers included in this tour?
No. Airport shuttle services are available
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Is the tour coach air conditioned?
Yes
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Can you assist with pre or post tour accommodation?
Yes
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Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
No, solo travellers are required to book a Single (Private) room.
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How long has the tour company been trading?
Since 2005
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What documents will I receive before I travel?
Electronic Vouchers. These will be provided and attached to your booking (within the Documents section) aprox. 2 weeks prior to travel.
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Can I join the tour once it has departed?
No, unfortunately that is not possible on our trips.
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Free Date Changes
Omega Tours allows you to make 2 free date changes, as long as the change is made at least 60 days before the start of the tour.
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Transfer as credit to Future Tours
Omega Tours allows you to transfer existing payments to a future tour to avoid cancellation fees if you can't travel and inform omega tours, 60 days before departure.
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Low Deposit
Omega Tours requires a minimum deposit of 500 CAD per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 45 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of omega tours charges.
Up to 45 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 30 days before tour starts: Forfeit 50% of booking price.
At 15 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.