Your itinerary
Day 1
DAY 1
Arrival in Atlanta
Day 2
Travel to Nashville
Travel to Nashville – Driving into Tennessee to Lynchburg, this quintessential little town is a true slice of unspoilt 50s America, with its red-brick courthouse, general store and one traffic light.
It’s a great place to just browse the shops and get a bite to eat before we visit Lynchburg’s claim to fame: the Jack Daniel Distillery. Obviously, it’s where Jack Daniel’s whisky is made, since 1884 and a tour is a great experience. Interestingly, the county is ‘dry’ and locals are not allowed to consume the product they are most famous for.
Day 3
Nashville
Nashville – Continuing across Tennessee’s rolling green hills we soon arrive at ‘Music City USA’, Nashville, where we will visit the Country Music Hall of Fame. A huge museum of all things ‘Country and Western’, it has floors of fascinating exhibits from the earliest days of country music to the megastars of today. There are films and videos of music’s greatest, with their life-stories and costumes.
The famed Music Row is close by, lined with studios and record company offices, where we visit the legendary RCA Studio B, where Elvis recorded many of his greatest hits, followed by a ‘who’s who’ of recording superstars such as Roy Orbison, the Everly Brothers, Dolly Parton and Willie Nelson.
Lower Broadway is Nashville’s nightlife centre, with stupendous live music in famous honky-tonk bars like Robert’s Western World and The Stage on Broadway and many more. There’s a fantastic atmosphere along the entire street and an evening here is a real ‘must’! Experience a country music show at the Grand Ole Opry. ‘Pre-book only.’
Personalise your holiday –
The Grand Ole Opry show
Nashville’s top attraction and a must for country music lovers, the legendary Grand Ole Opry is dedicated to honouring the genre’s rich history and dynamic present. Catch one of the weekly live shows featuring country music’s greatest talents, who in the past have included stars such as Garth Brooks, Johnny Cash and Dolly Parton. A return transfer is included from the hotel directly to the venue.
Tier 3 seats – £99pp (2026) & £105pp (2027)
Tier 2 seats – £109pp (2026) & £115pp (2027)
Please contact us for more information and to add the above experience to your booking.
Day 4
Memphis
Memphis – We will begin the day with a visit to the iconic Ryman Auditorium in Nashville. This historic venue was the original home of the Grand Ole Opry from 1943 to 1974, before moving to the larger, modern location we know today. Recognised as a National Historic Landmark in 2001 for its profound impact on country music, the Ryman is a must-see for any music lover. During our visit, you’ll have the opportunity to take a self-guided tour, exploring hundreds of star-studded artefacts and experiencing the immersive “Soul of Nashville” theatre.
We then say goodbye to Nashville and head to the far west of Tennessee and the city of Memphis, the Mississippi. From its earliest beginnings as a small French garrison, Memphis grew into a magnet for freed slaves after the Civil War and as a cotton trading centre.
In Memphis, we’ll also provide a shuttle service for those who wish to visit Sun Studio independently. Whether you’re eager to explore on your own or join in the group activities, we aim to make your experience as memorable and flexible as possible.
Day 5
Graceland and National Civil Rights Museum
Graceland and National Civil Rights Museum – Today we visit one of America’s biggest tourist attractions, Elvis’ Graceland. The ‘King’ bought the Graceland mansion for $100,000 in 1957 when he was just 22 and it was his main home until his death. From the time it opened to the public in 1982, Graceland has expanded to include Elvis’ private airplanes and his extensive car collection. One of the most iconic houses in America, Graceland’s Garden is also Elvis’ final resting place.
This afternoon we step back into America’s historical milestones visiting the National Civil Rights Museum at The Lorraine Motel. It was here Martin Luther King was shot on 4th April 1968. Five years previous on 28th August 1963 he delivered his famous ‘I Have a Dream’ speech around the Lincoln Memorial in Washington DC to a crowd of 250,000 people. The following year in 1964, King won the Nobel Peace Prize for combating racial inequality through non-violent resistance. In that same year, President Johnson got a law passed prohibiting all racial discrimination.
This evening is at leisure to sample the music scene at Memphis’ famous Beale Street.
Day 6
Journey to New Orleans
Journey to New Orleans – After an early start, this morning, we board a trusty coach to the legendary city of New Orleans. We’ll journey through sprawling forests, passing charming farms and catching glimpses of the quaint ‘southern’ towns that dot the east bank of the mighty Mississippi River, like pearls on a necklace – each with its own story to tell. So sit back, relax, and soak in the scenery as we make our way to the heart and soul of the Big Easy!
New Orleans has a unique and distinctive charm. Its heady combination of rich culture, history and a vibrant atmosphere makes the city a must-see destination for any Americanophiles.
In the evening, why not step out and try New Orleans’ famed Cajun cuisine – there are plenty of fantastic restaurants.
Day 7
New Orleans
New Orleans – This morning we have a walking tour of New Orleans’ famous French Quarter with an expert local guide. We see the charming art galleries and antique shops along Royal Street, the white stucco St Louis Cathedral and Jackson Square, full of artists, musicians and fortune tellers, and walk up the iconic Bourbon Street, centre of the city’s nightlife.
The afternoon is free for you to explore this charming city at your leisure.
This evening, you have the opportunity to enjoy an evening jazz cruise with dinner on board the Steamboat City of New Orleans.
Personalise your holiday –
Steamboat New Orleans Dinner and Jazz Cruise
The graceful steamboats of the south have long been a colourful part of America’s history, so what better way is there to experience New Orleans by taking an evening jazz cruise with dinner on board the Riverboat of New Orleans. Admire stunning views of the city while rollin’ down the river enjoying the casual buffet-style dining. Stroll the decks as well as enjoying the live sounds of New Orleans swing style music.
Prices: £109pp (2026) & £115pp (2027)
Please contact us for more information and to add the above experience to your booking.
Day 8
Free day in New Orleans
Free day in New Orleans – A free day to relax in the ‘Big Easy’ and explore at your leisure.
Alternatively, you may choose to personalise your holiday with visit some of the most impressive Antebellum Plantations outside New Orleans combined with a fascinating boat tour of the nearby Louisiana swamps, known for their alligators and snapping turtles, and where you can admire the fauna, such as the moss-draped cypresses native to the bayous of Louisiana.
Personalise your holiday –
Oak Alley Plantation
Journey back in time to the most famous historic plantation of New Orleans’ antebellum south, iconic for its photogenic walkway of magnificent, centuries-old oak trees. Tour the stunning ‘Big House’ with a guide and hear the stories of its compelling history.
Prices: £49pp (2026) & £75pp (2027)
Please contact us for more information and to add the above experience to your booking.
Day 9
Houston and NASA
Houston and NASA – We leave New Orleans this morning heading ever westwards along Louisiana’s Cajun country towards Texas. As we enter the outskirts of Houston, our first stop is at the world-famous NASA Johnson Space Centre, still a working NASA base from where the international space station is controlled. We visit ‘Mission Control’, now restored to its 1965 look with all the original equipment and furniture – a unique experience.
We also see a full-size Saturn V rocket which famously has no on-board computer, they were just too big at the time, plus the huge indoor training facility for the astronauts of the International Space Station.
Day 10
San Antonio
San Antonio – We continue further into the south Texas plains arriving in San Antonio this afternoon and checking into our hotel for a two-night stay.
We’ll visit the Alamo, originally settled by the Spanish who built a mission station here, its name was destined to be one of the most evocative words in American history. It was here in 1836 that a seriously outnumbered group of settlers, including Davy Crockett and Jim Bowie, were besieged by the Mexican army for nearly two weeks before they were overrun.
Today, behind the church is the Alamo’s living history encampment. We’ll follow a guide around the encampment where there are hands on demonstrations about daily life at the time of the Texas Revolution – what they wore, medical practises and all the skills you’d need to survive.
Tonight, we stay just around the corner from the Alamo and within easy walking distance to the charming Riverwalk area with its many bars and restaurants, ideal for trying out the region’s famed Tex-Mex cuisine.
Day 11
Free Day in San Antonio
Free Day in San Antonio – Enjoy a day at leisure to exploring the city of San Antonio.
Once a frontier settlement in the Wild West, San Antonio has become a city full of modern amenities. There’s plenty of shopping to be done with upscale boutiques multiple shopping malls and the largest Mexican market in the USA. Just around the corner from our hotel is the city’s famous River Walk stretching for more than 24km, The River Walk has shaded pathways that connect you to hundreds of shops, restaurants and hotels as well as historic landmarks, museums and attractions. In the North, you’ll find museums filled with everything from Picasso to eastern memorabilia. To the South you’ll find four UNESCO-protected Spanish missions that once provided shelter for the frontier settlers – and still provide some of the best birdwatching spots around.
Day 12
Dallas & Fort Worth
Dallas & Fort Worth – This morning we say goodbye to friendly San Antonio and travel North to Dallas. On arrival in Dallas, we’ll visit the infamous Dealey Plaza, where President John F Kennedy was assassinated by Lee Harvey Oswald. The floor in the Texas Book Depository from where the fatal shots were fired has been converted into the excellent 6th Floor Museum dedicated to explaining the background and the events of that fateful day on the 22nd of November in 1963.
This afternoon we visit the historical Stockyard District. We challenge you to name anything that embodies Western heritage better than the Fort Worth Stockyards National Historic District. With the original brick walkways and the wooden corrals, every inch of the Stockyards tells the history of Texas’s famous livestock industry.
Day 13
DAY 13
Return home
What’s included
What’s not included
Additional information
National Civil Rights Museum at the Lorraine Motel
Reflect at the National Civil Rights Museum, built around Memphis’s Lorraine Motel, where Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated. Exhibitions trace the movement from Reconstruction through landmark legislation, using powerful multimedia and first-person accounts.
Stand before Room 306 and examine artifacts that illuminate the strategies, sacrifices, and courage behind the push for equality. The museum’s thoughtful narrative places Memphis at the crossroads of American history and conscience.
NASA Johnson Space Center: Mission Control & Saturn V
Go behind the scenes at the NASA Johnson Space Center, a working hub for astronaut training and the ISS program. On a tram tour, view the restored Historic Mission Control that guided Apollo flights and marvel at the colossal Saturn V rocket that powered the Moon landings.
See mockups used by crews to rehearse spacewalks and daily ISS tasks. The blend of engineering prowess and human grit captures the spirit of exploration that defined the Space Age.
The Alamo & Living History Encampment
Visit The Alamo, the 18th-century mission turned fortress that became a symbol of the Texas Revolution. Explore the church, grounds, and museum before meeting interpreters in the living history encampment for demonstrations of frontier skills and kit.
Hear the stories of Davy Crockett and Jim Bowie and the 1836 siege that entered American lore. The site intertwines Spanish colonial heritage with the dramatic fight for Texan independence.
Dealey Plaza & The Sixth Floor Museum, Dallas
Visit Dealey Plaza, the National Historic Landmark tied to the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. Enter the Sixth Floor Museum at the former Texas School Book Depository to explore exhibits that reconstruct the events of 22 November 1963.
Photographs, news footage, and forensic displays examine the investigation and its cultural impact. Panoramic windows frame the plaza below, connecting the museum’s narrative to the cityscape beyond.
Fort Worth Stockyards Historic District
Experience the Fort Worth Stockyards, where preserved brick walkways and wooden corrals evoke the golden age of cattle drives. Explore shops and heritage venues that celebrate the lore of the American West.
Learn how the Chisholm Trail and railroads fueled the Texas cattle trade, transforming Fort Worth into “Cowtown.” The district’s period architecture and frontier ambiance offer ample opportunities to pause for photos and reflection.
Nashville Country Music Hall of Fame & RCA Studio B
Discover America’s music heritage with entry to the Country Music Hall of Fame, home to stage costumes, instruments, and recordings from legends to modern stars. Continue to RCA Studio B on Music Row, the hit-making studio where Elvis and country greats shaped the Nashville sound.
Unpack how producers, session players, and new recording techniques transformed simple ballads into chart-topping classics. Stand where timeless tracks were cut and feel the studio’s intimate acoustics that nurtured a uniquely American art form.
Ryman Auditorium Self-Guided Visit
Step inside the Ryman Auditorium, the revered “Mother Church of Country Music” and original home of the Grand Ole Opry. Wander the pews, study star-studded exhibits, and experience the venue’s acclaimed multimedia show that brings its stage to life.
Designated a National Historic Landmark, the Ryman’s unmatched acoustics and revival-style architecture tell a story of touring troupes, gospel choirs, and country pioneers whose performances defined Nashville’s rise.
Lynchburg Jack Daniel Distillery Tour
Taste Tennessee craftsmanship on a guided tour of the Jack Daniel Distillery in Lynchburg. Learn how spring water from Cave Spring Hollow and the signature charcoal mellowing of the Lincoln County Process shape the whiskey’s smooth character as you explore still houses and aging warehouses.
Hear stories of Jasper “Jack” Daniel and the quirks of making a world-famous spirit in a dry county. The blend of heritage techniques and small-town atmosphere makes this a uniquely Southern experience.
Graceland: Elvis Presley’s Home & Exhibits
Visit Graceland, the personal domain of Elvis Presley. Step through the iconic columns to see the music room, Jungle Room, and trophy-laden halls, then browse exhibits of stage costumes, cars, and private jets that chart the King’s meteoric rise.
Pause at the serene Meditation Garden, Elvis’s final resting place, and appreciate how his boundary-pushing style reshaped American popular culture—from Sun Studio beginnings to global superstardom.
Grand Ole Opry Live Show (Evening Performance)
Experience the Grand Ole Opry, Nashville’s legendary live radio showcase where country greats and rising stars share the same stage. Settle into the auditorium as the curtain lifts on a fast-paced program of classic picks and new hits.
From ballads to bluegrass, the Opry captures Music City’s living heritage in one seamless evening. This is an Optional experience at additional cost and bookable on tour; early pre-booking is strongly recommended due to high demand.
Steamboat Dinner & Jazz Cruise on the Mississippi
Cruise the Mississippi River aboard a classic paddlewheeler as a live band sets the tone for an evening of dinner and jazz. Glide past the waterfront while the skyline glows and the paddle churns a rhythmic wake.
New Orleans swing, Southern flavors, and river views combine for an atmospheric night on the water. This is an Optional experience at additional cost and bookable on tour; availability may vary by season and day.
Oak Alley Plantation Guided Tour
Walk the famed avenue of live oaks at Oak Alley Plantation, a canopied corridor leading to the Greek Revival “Big House”. Tour the period-furnished rooms and learn about sugarcane wealth, enslaved labor, and Creole culture along the lower Mississippi.
Interpretive exhibits and costumed guides add nuance to the romance of the grounds, revealing the layered history of the antebellum South. This is an Optional experience at additional cost and bookable on tour.
Louisiana Swamp & Bayou Boat Tour
Drift through cypress-draped bayous on a guided flatboat to spot alligators and wading birds among moss-hung trees. Hear how tides, storms, and river currents shape the wetlands that define south Louisiana.
Local captains share Cajun folklore, ecology, and the resilience of communities that call the marsh home. This is an Optional experience at additional cost and bookable on tour; routes may vary with water levels and wildlife activity.
Sun Studio Visit, Memphis (Shuttle Provided)
Visit Sun Studio, the tiny room with a giant echo where Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, and Jerry Lee Lewis cut early tracks. Step into the control room, see vintage microphones, and hear stories of late-night sessions that sparked rock ’n’ roll.
A shuttle helps you reach the studio with ease during your time in Memphis. This is an Optional experience at additional cost and bookable on tour; admission is payable locally.
New Orleans French Quarter Walking Tour
Explore the storied French Quarter with a local expert, strolling past elegant galleries on Royal Street, the white stucco spires of St. Louis Cathedral, and artist-filled Jackson Square. Trace the city’s Creole roots and lively traditions as the iron-laced balconies and gas lamps set the scene.
Hear how New Orleans blended French, Spanish, African, and Caribbean influences into its food, music, and architecture. Finish along colorful Bourbon Street, where brass riffs drift from doorways and the city’s nightlife culture has shaped American music.
