Treasured for its elegant historical architecture, charming small-town culture and its enormous impact on modern music, the USA's Deep South is a truly timeless destination.
You'll travel through America's musical heartland, from the cradle of rock 'n' roll to the birthplace of jazz, on this nine-day adventure in the southern states.
Starting in Georgia, you'll journey through the world of Hank Williams, Fats Domino, WC Handy, Robert Johnson, Patsy Cline, Dolly Parton and - of course - Elvis Presley, visiting locations marked with the footprints of these musical icons.
First stop is New Orleans, aka The Big Easy, where you'll spend two nights getting to know its iconic French Quarter, with its sidewalks flanked with colourful houses and where the sound of live jazz fills the air.
See the tiny house in Tupelo, Mississippi, where Elvis Aaron Presley was born in January 1935, and travel onwards to Memphis, the city where The King made his home, which boasts a musical heritage to rival any city in the world.
You'll spend two nights staying in The Guest House at Graceland, just a few steps from The King's famous home, last recording studio and final resting place, which you'll have a chance to visit.
Your final stop will be the undisputed capital of country music, the guitar-pickin', banjo-playing songwriters' city of Nashville, Tennessee. You'll have the chance to visit the Country Music Hall of Fame to see fascinating exhibitions related to the genre, and Studio B, home to countless country hits and a galaxy of Elvis's RCA recordings.
* From price is per person, based on two people sharing a standard room, subject to availability and based on 15 October 2024 departure date and LHR flight. Various departure dates are available, please call for details. Price and itinerary correct at time of print but may be subject to change. Single supplement on request. Deposit £300pp. Supplements apply for optional excursions. Local charges such as tourist tax may apply. Offers are not valid in conjunction with any other offers or promotions. Travel insurance is not included and should be taken out at time of booking. Images used may not reflect your actual tour experience. This holiday may be sold through other selected brands. Tour is operated by and subject to the booking conditions of TS Travel Ltd and Newmarket Holidays ABTA V7812. ATOL protected 2325. ABTOT 5509.
Today you'll land in Atlanta, Georgia where you'll meet your tour manager at the airport, and transfer to your first hotel, the Drury Inn and Suites in Montgomery, Alabama.
After a long journey, you'll have some free time to enjoy your first evening in the South, in the city where country legend Hank Williams was laid to rest, and where a special museum celebrates his short, but spectacular career.
This morning you'll set off south across Alabama, into Louisiana and along the Gulf Coast to the great musical city of New Orleans.
You'll stay for two nights in the city known as the Big Easy, but you should waste no time in soaking up the atmosphere of one of the most exuberant places on the face of the planet.
This morning you'll have the chance to join an insightful guided tour as the perfect introduction to New Orleans.
See the wrought-iron balconies and covered sidewalks of the iconic French Quarter, the brightly painted wooden houses of Tremé and the three spires of St Louis Cathedral on Jackson Square.
This afternoon, there's a chance to go on a Louisiana Swampland excursion to get a glimpse of the surrounding countryside and a taste of real Creole life.
Later this evening, you'll head back to the French Quarter to immerse yourself in the incomparable nightlife of the place that brought jazz to the world over one hundred years ago, and where the sounds and spirits of Louis Armstrong and 'King' Oliver still live on in the vast number of lively bars and clubs.
Say farewell to New Orleans this morning, as you check out of your hotel and travel north into Mississippi, the cradle of the Delta blues and once home to the likes of Robert Johnson and Sonny Boy Williamson.
You'll visit Tupelo, and see the tiny house in which Elvis Aaron Presley was born, in January 1935, before continuing to Elvis's beloved hometown, Memphis, the buzzing city on the banks of the the Big Muddy.
As well as being forever associated with The King, Memphis boasts a musical heritage to rival any city in the world. This evening, why not soak up the atmosphere of colourful Beale Street and its near-endless choice of restaurants and bars, many of which offer live music?
Today there's the chance to join a full-day Memphis Sounds excursion, which will include the legendary Sun Studio where rock and roll was born in 1951 with the recording of 'Rocket 88'. Sun Studio is also where the course of music history was changed with Elvis's live recording of Arthur Crudup's 'That's Alright, Mama'.
From Sun Studio, you'll make your way to Elvis Presley Boulevard and visit to Graceland, the King's home, recording studio and final resting place.
At the end of a long but unforgettable day, enjoy another evening in Memphis, perhaps sampling some of the mouthwatering food that's led to its unofficial position as The Barbecue Capital of America.
Today you'll switch musical genres and travel east to Nashville - the country music capital of the world and your base for the next two nights.
Home of the legendary Ryman Auditorium and the Grand Ole Opry, and to scores of hugely accomplished guitarists and songwriters, Nashville is one of America's foremost music cities. Why not head out, tonight, to catch some more live music before turning in?
There's a chance to take a final excursion today in Nashville to visit the legendary Studio B - home to countless country hits and a galaxy of Elvis's RCA recordings. This historic Studio became known as the birthplace of the "Nashville Sound," a style characterized by strings and background vocals that helped establish Nashville as an international recording centre.
You can also pay a visit to the Country Music Hall of Fame while here. One of the most-visited history museums in the U.S., this museum is packed to the brim with exhibitions relating to country music.
This afternoon you'll have some free time to experience more of Nashville's musical delights at your own pace.
You'll leave Nashville today for a scenic drive south to Chattanooga (of "choo-choo" fame), a quintessential southern trading town beautifully set on the Tennessee River, before travelling onwards to Atlanta airport to check in for your overnight flight back to the UK.
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