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.
Continuing across Tennessee’s rolling green hills we soon arrive at ‘Music City USA’, Nashville.
Day 3
Nashville
Nashville – In downtown Nashville we 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.’
Signature experience (2026 only) –
Get up close to where musical legends make history and walk in the footsteps of country music superstars on this truly memorable visit to the Grand Ole Opry. In the company of a knowledgeable Opry insider take an exclusive look behind the scenes, visiting backstage areas and the dressing rooms of the stars. Hear entertaining tales of country music greats, past and present and discover some of the Opry’s most memorable musical moments. We may even have the chance to step into the famed wooden circle on the Grand Ole Opry stage – an unforgettable experience.
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 2: £109pp (2026) & £115pp (2027)
Tier 3: £99pp (2026) & £105pp (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) & £115 (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 further afield.
Alternatively, you may choose to personalise your holiday with a visit to the fascinating Oak Alley Plantation – the most famous historic plantation of New Orleans’ antebellum south.
Signature experience (2026 only) –
Today we’ll discover Oak Alley Plantation which is a National Historic Landmark, learn about the complex history of the inhabitants that used to live and work here during it’s time as a sugar plantation, including the enslaved men, women and children that built and kept the plantation.
Personalise your holiday –
Oak Alley Plantation – Classic itineraries only
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 note, this is included on the Signature Tour option
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.
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.
We then 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 visit 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.
Signature experience (2026 only) –
We’ll step into the soul of San Antonio on a vibrant, eco-friendly electric river boat and delve into the history and culture of San Antonio learning about the city’s architecture and fun points of interest.
Day 11
Free day in San Antonio
Free day in San Antonio – Enjoy a day at leisure to exploring the city of San Antonio.
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
Day 14
DAY 14
Arrive home
What’s included
What’s not included
Additional information
French Quarter Walking Tour, New Orleans
Join a guided walking tour of the French Quarter, where wrought-iron balconies and pastel facades frame lively streets. Browse Royal Street’s galleries, admire St. Louis Cathedral and Jackson Square, and take in the color and sound of Bourbon Street.
Hear stories of Creole culture, Spanish colonial rebuilding, and the jazz tradition that drifts from courtyards and cafés. This is New Orleans distilled—architecture, music, and character at every turn.
Grand Ole Opry Live Show (Evening)
Experience the Grand Ole Opry live show, where country music’s past and present share the legendary radio stage. A rotating lineup brings together rising talents and established stars for an authentic Nashville night of song and storytelling.
This is an optional experience at additional cost, typically with return transfers included from the hotel. Please pre-book on tour or in advance to secure the best seating tiers.
Oak Alley Plantation Tour
Visit Oak Alley Plantation, famed for its cathedral-like canopy of live oaks leading to the Greek Revival mansion. Step inside on a guided Big House tour for a portrait of antebellum architecture and domestic life.
Interpretive exhibits share stories of the enslaved who lived and labored here, offering vital context alongside the beauty. This is an optional experience at additional cost on Classic itineraries; it is included on select 2026 Signature departures.
Ryman Auditorium Self-Guided Visit
Visit the Ryman Auditorium, the “Mother Church of Country Music,” and experience the immersive “Soul of Nashville” presentation. Walk the original pews beneath stained-glass windows and feel the hall’s celebrated acoustics where legends shaped the American songbook.
A National Historic Landmark, the Ryman hosted the Grand Ole Opry from 1943 to 1974. Exhibits and memorabilia bring decades of performances to life, from early gospel revivals to the era that put Nashville on the world stage.
Graceland Mansion Tour
Explore Graceland, Elvis Presley’s Memphis home and an icon of American pop culture. Tour the mansion’s most personal spaces, from the shag-carpeted Jungle Room to the Trophy Building brimming with gold records and stagewear, then pause in the peaceful Meditation Garden, Elvis’s final resting place.
Beyond the house, see Elvis Presley’s car collection and private aircraft for a vivid portrait of mid-century celebrity, style, and the making of the King’s myth.
National Civil Rights Museum at the Lorraine Motel
Visit the National Civil Rights Museum at the Lorraine Motel, where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated. Thought-provoking galleries trace the movement from Montgomery to Memphis, placing you steps from the solemn Room 306 balcony.
Powerful exhibits, oral histories, and artifacts illuminate the struggle for justice and the courage of those who risked everything. This reflective experience lends vital context to America’s ongoing pursuit of equality.
NASA Johnson Space Center: Mission Control & Saturn V
Explore the NASA Johnson Space Center, home to human spaceflight. On a tram experience, visit the restored Mission Control room from the Apollo era and glimpse consoles where milestones in exploration were directed.
Stand beneath the majestic Saturn V rocket and see astronaut training facilities and mockups related to the International Space Station. Science, ingenuity, and American ambition come vibrantly to life here.
The Alamo & Living History Encampment
Visit The Alamo, San Antonio’s revered mission and fortress. Step inside the church and Long Barrack, then meet interpreters at the living history encampment demonstrating frontier skills, tools, and daily life on the 19th-century Texan frontier.
Hear the story of the Texas Revolution of 1836 and the stand of heroes like Davy Crockett and Jim Bowie. The site’s quiet courtyards belie its defining place in Texan identity.
Dealey Plaza & The Sixth Floor Museum, Dallas
Explore Dealey Plaza before entering The Sixth Floor Museum in the former Texas School Book Depository. Engaging exhibits, photos, and archival film trace the presidency and assassination of John F. Kennedy.
See the recreated corner window and examine the events of 22 November 1963 within their wider historical context. Outside, the grassy knoll invites quiet reflection on a moment that profoundly shaped modern America.
Fort Worth Stockyards National Historic District
Wander the Fort Worth Stockyards National Historic District, where brick walkways and wooden corrals evoke the boom years of cattle drives. Western shops, old-time saloons, and stock pens preserve the atmosphere of Texas trail-town days.
Learn how the Chisholm Trail funneled herds north and keep an eye out for scheduled showcases of Texas longhorn heritage. It’s an evocative window into the grit and romance of the Old West.
Steamboat City of New Orleans Dinner & Jazz Cruise
Cruise the Mississippi River aboard the Steamboat City of New Orleans as the paddlewheel turns and the skyline glows at dusk. Enjoy relaxed buffet dining and time on deck as the river slips by.
A live band delivers live jazz that captures Crescent City swing while you savor dinner on board. This is an optional evening at additional cost, bookable with your Tour Manager in New Orleans.
San Antonio River Walk Boat Tour
Glide along the San Antonio River Walk aboard an electric river boat, drifting past tree-shaded paths, cafés, and historic facades. Views of historic stone bridges and riverside patios reveal a different angle on the city’s lively core.
A knowledgeable guide points out architectural landmarks and shares local lore. This optional cruise is at additional cost and bookable on tour; it is included on select Signature departures.
Sun Studio Independent Visit (Shuttle Provided)
Step into Sun Studio, often called the birthplace of rock ’n’ roll. See vintage gear and stand on the marked spot where Elvis Presley’s first recordings changed music history, alongside tales of Jerry Lee Lewis and Johnny Cash.
This guided studio tour is an optional, self-paid visit supported by a shuttle service from the Memphis hotel. Book locally for tour times that fit your plans.
Country Music Hall of Fame & RCA Studio B
Explore Nashville’s musical legacy at the Country Music Hall of Fame, where glittering stage costumes, gold records, and vintage instruments chart the rise of America’s most storied genre. Continue to RCA Studio B on Music Row, stepping into the studio that shaped the “Nashville Sound.”
Stand where Elvis Presley and so many greats recorded, hear how producers sculpted hits, and feel the intimacy of a room where microphones, tape, and talent once changed popular music.
Jack Daniel Distillery Tour, Lynchburg
Discover Tennessee craftsmanship on a guided visit to the Jack Daniel Distillery in Lynchburg. See the art of charcoal mellowing, wander past aromatic barrelhouses, and learn how pristine cave spring water shapes the character of Old No. 7. The setting, ringed by forested hills, captures the easy cadence of small-town southern life.
Hear stories of Mr. Jack and the brand’s early days, and learn why Moore County remains a dry county even as it produces one of the world’s best-known whiskies. This is a behind-the-scenes look at American whiskey heritage in its birthplace.
