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SELF-DRIVE ITINERARY

USA

America's Deep South

15 NIGHTS FROM £9,860 per person

Explore the American South in style on this remarkable tailor-made self-drive itinerary, taking in six states on a journey from lively Nashville in Tennessee to the sophisticated city of Charleston in South Carolina. Music fans and historians will find plenty to excite them, with stops in Memphis and New Orleans bringing the culture of the past and present to life, whilst nights in heavenly seaside retreats introduce the region’s breathtaking coastal beauty to your trip. Revel in immersive tours and experiences as you travel and enjoy accommodations that hit just the right note, seamlessly blending elegance, indulgence and historical charm.

ITINERARY HIGHLIGHTS expand_more

Enjoy a private cocktail class with a top mixologist in a historic New Orleans bar

Discover New Orleans’ vibrant music scene with an expert musicologist, followed by a meet-and-greet with a famous musician

Immerse yourself in Elvis Presley’s legacy on a VIP tour of his iconic home

Be wowed by Charleston’s distinctive architecture on a private tour inside some of America’s most beautiful residences

Authentic Experience

Tour the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, the ‘home of American country music’, enjoying a unique snapshot of life backstage. Listen as your guide regales you with stories about stars including Johnny Cash and Garth Brooks who once graced the stage. See the dressing rooms and get a closer look at rare vintage photos and priceless memorabilia, before hopping on stage for a once-in-a-lifetime photo opportunity.

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America's Deep South

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ITINERARY DETAILS

    DAY 1-3 DETAILS ACCOMMODATION

    Arrive in Nashville and pick up your hire car. The first few days of your American adventure are spent discovering some of the highlights in the home of country music - enjoy a private backstage tour of the historic Ryman auditorium, where Johnny Cash met June Carter. The following day, visit the Country Music Hall of Fame and enjoy a group tour of the famous Studio B, where iconic recordings of Elvis and Johnny Cash were created. Then, enjoy a tour of the Grand Ole Opry, your official initiation into the country music phenomenon.

    The Hermitage Hotelkeyboard_arrow_right
    • Type: Luxury Hotel
    • Summary: Nashville's true heritage hotel
    • Feature: Central location
    • Rooms: 122 rooms
    • Location: Nashville, Tennessee, United States of America
    • Star rating: AAA Five Diamond
    MEAL BASIS

    Breakfast included

    DAY 4-5 DETAILS ACCOMMODATION

    Welcome to the home of Elvis and soul music. Go behind the scenes at Sun Studio and stand in the same room where Elvis and Johnny Cash once recorded. Next, visit the Civil Rights Museum, the infamous site of the death of Martin Luther King Jr. and the Stax Museum of American Soul Music, before visiting the home of the King, Graceland. Start with lunch at Vernon’s Smokehouse, where you will enjoy Elvis’ favorite home cooking, before taking a VIP tour of the mansion itself. 

    The Peabodykeyboard_arrow_right
    • Type: Luxury Hotel
    • Summary: Historic hotel celebrating Memphis' past and present
    • Feature: The Peabody Ducks have been hotel icons since the 1930s
    • Rooms: 464 rooms and suites
    • Location: Memphis, Tennessee, United States of America
    • Star rating: AAA Four Diamond
    MEAL BASIS

    Breakfast included

    DAY 6 DETAILS ACCOMMODATION

    Spend the night in Mississippi, embracing the 26-acres of manicured gardens that surround the Monmouth Historic Inn, a National Historic Landmark built in 1818.

    Monmouth Historic Innkeyboard_arrow_right
    • Type: Boutique Hotel
    • Summary: A grand antebellum home
    • Feature: 26 acres of manicured gardens
    • Rooms: 30 rooms
    • Location: Natchez, Mississippi, United States of America
    • Star rating: AAA Four Diamond
    MEAL BASIS

    Breakfast included

    DAY 7-8 DETAILS ACCOMMODATION

    Drive onward to ‘the Big Easy’, stopping at the historic Whitney Plantation for a private tour to learn about the history of slave life in America and the civil war. Then, celebrate New Orleans’ great cocktail tradition with a private cocktail class with a top mixologist in a historic bar. You'll also embark on a food and drink tour through the French Quarter, before an expert musicologist takes you on a jazz walking tour, with a private meet-and-greet with a famous musician.

    Windsor Court Hotelkeyboard_arrow_right
    • Type: Luxury Hotel
    • Summary: Elegant English-inspired property
    • Feature: Exquisite afternoon tea is a hotel tradition
    • Rooms: 316 rooms and suites
    • Location: New Orleans, Louisiana, United States of America
    • Star rating: AAA Four Diamond
    MEAL BASIS

    Breakfast included

    DAY 9 DETAILS ACCOMMODATION

    Break up your journey with a night in a luxurious seaside hotel in Florida, staying right on the white sands of Santa Rosa Beach.

    The Henderson - A Salamander Beach & Spa Resort
    • Summary:

      A luxurious seaside retreat.

    DAY 10-11 DETAILS ACCOMMODATION

    Continue your self-drive tour through the Florida Panhandle, arriving at The Cloister at Sea Island, a secluded island resort amid the beauty of the barrier islands. At dusk, embark on a nature tour to explore sea turtle nests. Embrace nature and the outdoors during your time at this idyllic coastal retreat in Georgia.

    The Cloister at Sea Islandkeyboard_arrow_right
    • Type: Luxury Hotel
    • Summary: A long-standing Southern seaside retreat
    • Feature: Explore endless activities and adventures across the resort
    • Rooms: 175 rooms and suites
    • Location: Sea Island, Georgia , United States of America
    MEAL BASIS

    Breakfast included

    DAY 12-13 DETAILS ACCOMMODATION

    Continue to Savannah and take a historical walking tour of the city, before an ecological tour of the bluffs and marshes. Later, an interactive cooking class will introduce the hearty flavours of America’s southern states to you.

    Montage Palmetto Bluffkeyboard_arrow_right
    • Type: Boutique Hotel
    • Summary: Serene sanctuary in the southern heart of America
    • Feature: Beautifully appointed rooms, stunning spa, and interesting a
    • Rooms: 170 guestrooms, suites, village homes, and cottages
    • Location: Bluffton, South Carolina , United States of America
    • Star rating: 5 Star
    MEAL BASIS

    Breakfast included

    DAY 14-16 DETAILS ACCOMMODATION

    Your self-drive journey ends in one of South Carolina’s most beautiful cities. Discover its stunning architecture, charming cobblestone streets and manicured gardens. After dropping your hire car at the airport on day 16, it’s time to board your flight home to the UK.

    The Charleston Placekeyboard_arrow_right
    • Type: Luxury Hotel
    • Summary: Luxurious Southern charm
    • Feature: Central location, delectable dining
    • Rooms: 400 rooms
    • Location: Charleston, South Carolina , United States of America
    • Star rating: AAA Four Diamond
    MEAL BASIS

    Breakfast included

DAY 1-3ACCOMMODATION
Nashville, Tennessee

Arrive in Nashville and pick up your hire car. The first few days of your American adventure are spent discovering some of the highlights in the home of country music - enjoy a private backstage tour of the historic Ryman auditorium, where Johnny Cash met June Carter. The following day, visit the Country Music Hall of Fame and enjoy a group tour of the famous Studio B, where iconic recordings of Elvis and Johnny Cash were created. Then, enjoy a tour of the Grand Ole Opry, your official initiation into the country music phenomenon.

The Hermitage Hotelkeyboard_arrow_right
  • Type: Luxury Hotel
  • Summary: Nashville's true heritage hotel
  • Feature: Central location
  • Rooms: 122 rooms
  • Location: Nashville, Tennessee, United States of America
  • Star rating: AAA Five Diamond
MEAL BASIS

Breakfast included

DAY 4-5ACCOMMODATION
Memphis, Tennessee

Welcome to the home of Elvis and soul music. Go behind the scenes at Sun Studio and stand in the same room where Elvis and Johnny Cash once recorded. Next, visit the Civil Rights Museum, the infamous site of the death of Martin Luther King Jr. and the Stax Museum of American Soul Music, before visiting the home of the King, Graceland. Start with lunch at Vernon’s Smokehouse, where you will enjoy Elvis’ favorite home cooking, before taking a VIP tour of the mansion itself. 

The Peabodykeyboard_arrow_right
  • Type: Luxury Hotel
  • Summary: Historic hotel celebrating Memphis' past and present
  • Feature: The Peabody Ducks have been hotel icons since the 1930s
  • Rooms: 464 rooms and suites
  • Location: Memphis, Tennessee, United States of America
  • Star rating: AAA Four Diamond
MEAL BASIS

Breakfast included

DAY 6ACCOMMODATION
Natchez, Mississippi

Spend the night in Mississippi, embracing the 26-acres of manicured gardens that surround the Monmouth Historic Inn, a National Historic Landmark built in 1818.

Monmouth Historic Innkeyboard_arrow_right
  • Type: Boutique Hotel
  • Summary: A grand antebellum home
  • Feature: 26 acres of manicured gardens
  • Rooms: 30 rooms
  • Location: Natchez, Mississippi, United States of America
  • Star rating: AAA Four Diamond
MEAL BASIS

Breakfast included

DAY 7-8ACCOMMODATION
New Orleans, Louisiana

Drive onward to ‘the Big Easy’, stopping at the historic Whitney Plantation for a private tour to learn about the history of slave life in America and the civil war. Then, celebrate New Orleans’ great cocktail tradition with a private cocktail class with a top mixologist in a historic bar. You'll also embark on a food and drink tour through the French Quarter, before an expert musicologist takes you on a jazz walking tour, with a private meet-and-greet with a famous musician.

Windsor Court Hotelkeyboard_arrow_right
  • Type: Luxury Hotel
  • Summary: Elegant English-inspired property
  • Feature: Exquisite afternoon tea is a hotel tradition
  • Rooms: 316 rooms and suites
  • Location: New Orleans, Louisiana, United States of America
  • Star rating: AAA Four Diamond
MEAL BASIS

Breakfast included

DAY 9ACCOMMODATION
Santa Rosa, Florida

Break up your journey with a night in a luxurious seaside hotel in Florida, staying right on the white sands of Santa Rosa Beach.

The Henderson - A Salamander Beach & Spa Resort
  • Summary:

    A luxurious seaside retreat.

DAY 10-11ACCOMMODATION
Sea Island, Georgia

Continue your self-drive tour through the Florida Panhandle, arriving at The Cloister at Sea Island, a secluded island resort amid the beauty of the barrier islands. At dusk, embark on a nature tour to explore sea turtle nests. Embrace nature and the outdoors during your time at this idyllic coastal retreat in Georgia.

The Cloister at Sea Islandkeyboard_arrow_right
  • Type: Luxury Hotel
  • Summary: A long-standing Southern seaside retreat
  • Feature: Explore endless activities and adventures across the resort
  • Rooms: 175 rooms and suites
  • Location: Sea Island, Georgia , United States of America
MEAL BASIS

Breakfast included

DAY 12-13ACCOMMODATION
Palmetto Bluff, South Carolina

Continue to Savannah and take a historical walking tour of the city, before an ecological tour of the bluffs and marshes. Later, an interactive cooking class will introduce the hearty flavours of America’s southern states to you.

Montage Palmetto Bluffkeyboard_arrow_right
  • Type: Boutique Hotel
  • Summary: Serene sanctuary in the southern heart of America
  • Feature: Beautifully appointed rooms, stunning spa, and interesting a
  • Rooms: 170 guestrooms, suites, village homes, and cottages
  • Location: Bluffton, South Carolina , United States of America
  • Star rating: 5 Star
MEAL BASIS

Breakfast included

DAY 14-16ACCOMMODATION
Charleston, South Carolina

Your self-drive journey ends in one of South Carolina’s most beautiful cities. Discover its stunning architecture, charming cobblestone streets and manicured gardens. After dropping your hire car at the airport on day 16, it’s time to board your flight home to the UK.

The Charleston Placekeyboard_arrow_right
  • Type: Luxury Hotel
  • Summary: Luxurious Southern charm
  • Feature: Central location, delectable dining
  • Rooms: 400 rooms
  • Location: Charleston, South Carolina , United States of America
  • Star rating: AAA Four Diamond
MEAL BASIS

Breakfast included

ITINERARY EXCURSIONS

Behind The Scenes at Ryman Auditorium
Full Day Tour

With your insider tour guide, relish a private backstage tour through Ryman Auditorium. Your guide will point out photos and tell candid stories about the stars like Johnny Cash, Garth Brooks to modern acts like Beck, who graced the stage and left their mark on this famous venue. Take a peek into dressing rooms and get a closer look at rare vintage photos and priceless memorabilia, then hop on stage for a photo opportunity during this fascinating tour.

Country Music Hall of Fame and Studio B
Self-guided visit, followed by guided tour

Visit the Country Music Hall of Fame and discover the photographs, artifacts and original recordings of country music's colourful history at your own leisure. You'll then enjoy a guided tour of the famous Studio B, where iconic recordings of Elvis and Johnny Cash were created.

VIP Tour of Grand Ole Opry
Small Group Tour

What began as a simple radio broadcast in 1925 is today a live entertainment phenomenon! Head to the famous Grand Ole Opry, where you'll stand backstage in a VIP experience and see the nation’s longest running radio show for yourself.

Behind The Scenes at Sun Studios
Group Tour

Go behind the scenes at the iconic Sun Studio, considered the birthplace of Rock n' Roll. Follow in the footsteps of a king as you enjoy a guided tour, with the opportunity to stand in the same room where Elvis and Johnny Cash once recorded!

National Civil Rights Museum and Stax Museum of Soul in Memphis
Self-guided visit

Located at the historic Lorraine Motel where civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated, head to the insightful National Civil Rights Museum for a thought-provoking visit, before enjoying the interactive exhibits and fascinating stories that await at the Stax Museum of American Soul Music.

VIP Tour of Graceland
Small Group Tour

Once the home of 'The King' himself, take a VIP visit to Elvis Presley's Graceland, where you'll have plenty of time to explore the estate during your small group tour - from the iconic mansion's 23 lavish rooms, to the shops and attractions of what is now known as the 'Graceland Plaza'.

Whitney Plantation in Louisiana
Guided Tour

The only plantation museum in Louisiana with an exclusive focus on the lives of enslaved people, your visit to Whitney Plantation will guide you through slave cabins, a freedmen’s church, detached kitchen and outbuildings, a 1790s owner’s house and memorials built to honour the enslaved.

Mixology Experience in New Orleans
Cocktail-making class

Celebrate the region's cocktail culture in New Orleans’ famous French Quarter, as you join an expert mixologist to shake up new flavours in a master cocktail-making class in one of the area's historic bars. Learn about cocktail folklore and hear treasured stories about the ‘The Big Easy’ as you sip away on your creative concoctions.

Musicology Walking Tour in New Orleans' French Quarter
Guided Walking Tour

Led by a private guide, venture out on a food and drink tour through the French Quarter, sampling some of the tasty dishes that make New Orleans iconic. Then, an expert musicologist will take you on a walking tour through the birthplace of jazz, where you'll also have the opportunity for a private meet-and-greet with a famous jazz musician!

Historical Walking Tour in Savannah
Guided Walking Tour

The only city spared by General Shermanduring the Civil War, there is so much to see in Savannah. Explore on-foot as you pass by landmark sights such as Johnson Square, Forsyth Park Fountain, The Davenport House, The St John’s The Baptist Cathedral and Savannah Theatre.

Nature Walk in Palmetto Bluff
Guided Tour

Known to a privileged few as one of the wildest and most beautiful places in the South Carolina Lowcountry, spendthe day exploring the bluffs and marshes on a guided ecological tour. Following your insight into the region's natural beauty, you'll enjoy a hand-on demonstration of classic Southern cooking techniques.

Architecture and Private Home Exploration in Charleston
Guided Tour

Charleston showcases some of America’s most exquisite homes and gardens! Spend the day touring the distinctive architecture and decorative art of the buildings which line the region's streets, while you'll also have the opportunity to enter a number of the private homes to explore in more detail.

Sea Island by Hobie Cat
Guided Sailing Tour

Join an expert naturalist and hob aboard a hobie cat sailing boat for a tour of the area's wildlife - possibly including dolphins, turtles and migrating wales. The route can be customised according to your preferences and may include history, shelling and nature walks, all while teaching you more about coastal Georgia’s glorious geography and ecology.

BEST TIME TO TRAVEL

Due to its size and geographical diversity, the USA is a true year-round destination, but America's Deep South is typically at its best between March and June.

  • JAN
  • FEB
  • MAR
  • APR
  • MAY
  • JUN
  • JUL
  • AUG
  • SEP
  • OCT
  • NOV
  • DEC
Best

15 NIGHTS FROM £9,860 per person

Pricing based upon economy flights from London. Transfers, UK airport lounge passes and meals and excursions As specified.

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