America’s South and Cajun
$4,489.00
From $4,489* pp | 14 Days • 19 Meals *Rate is per person, land only, double occupancy.
Discover the unique culture and hospitality of the American South, spending time in Nashville, Memphis, Baton Rouge, Natchez, and New Orleans.
- Enjoy reserved seats at the Grand Ole Opry, the “home of American music.”
- Immerse yourself in the grace and elegance of the antebellum South while touring the Natchez mansions.
- Head on down to the bayou and relax on a narrated cruise through the Atchafalaya Basin swamp.
Nashville to the Big Easy, Bring your Banjo
Join us on a journey through the American South. Discover the region’s unique culture and welcoming hospitality. Travel to the famed musical cities of Nashville, Memphis, and New Orleans, revelling in the sounds of the blues, jazz, country, and good old rock ‘n’ roll. Explore the mysterious swamps and bayous of Cajun Country. Feast on flavourful Cajun cuisine. Step into the pre-Civil War South and uncover the elegant lifestyles of the wealthy while visiting colonial era mansions. Experience the magic of the exciting French Quarter in New Orleans. This experience through the music, cuisine, opulence, and friendly culture of America’s south is sure to captivate your senses.
Itinerary
Day 1. Atlanta, Georgia – Tour Begins
Your tour opens in lively Atlanta, a city that blends warm southern hospitality with cosmopolitan sophistication.
High 23 Low 11 
Hilton Atlanta
Journey to the “Music Capital of the World” – Nashville. En route, stop in the charming city of Chattanooga. Enjoy free time for lunch and exploration before continuing on to Nashville for a relaxing three night stay. Tonight, get to know your fellow travellers at your welcome dinner at the famous Wildhorse Saloon, home of a 3,300 square foot dance floor that is used every night of the week by dancers and revellers.
Breakfast & Dinner 
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Gaylord Opryland Resort
Day 3. Nashville
Today, get acquainted with America’s capital of country music. Begin by discovering the famous Old Ryman Auditorium*; then take in Broadway and 2nd Avenue, home to Nashville’s music bars. Head to Music Row and see the recording studios and publishing houses of the music industry. Continue on to the Parthenon, a replica of the original in Greece. Enjoy some free time before an evening visit to the world’s longest running radio show, the Grand Ole Opry. It has been delighting audiences for more than 85 years! This is a chance to watch the show being performed as it’s broadcast live on both radio and television. After the show, get a behind-the-scenes look at the music during a backstage tour of the Opry** – discover the history and learn about the operation of the show during a talk with the Grand Ole Opry staff.
Breakfast High 22 Low 9 Gaylord Opryland Resort
Day 4. Nashville
Take a fascinating journey through the history of country music. Experience the magic, the stories, and the music on a guided tour through the world-famous RCA Studio B in the heart of Music Row. Although Elvis lived in Memphis, many of his recordings were made here in Nashville at this studio. Have the chance to record your own hit! Next, experience music’s past and present at the state-of-the-art Country Music Hall of Fame, the largest museum of popular music in the world. Explore its interactive exhibits and tear-stained lyric sheets, an absolute must for all music fans. Learn about the Hatch Show Print, the original printer of the concert flyer for famous country musicians and have the opportunity to see how they are still printed today.
Breakfast High 22 Low 9 Gaylord Opryland Resort
Breakfast & Dinner High 22 Low 9 Sheraton Memphis Convention Centre
Day 6. Memphis
Pay homage to the “King of Rock ‘n’ Roll” with a pilgrimage to Graceland. Step inside Elvis’ former home for a personal look into the man behind the legend. The tour includes admission to all of Graceland’s extravagant attractions – including the mansion and the automobile museum. The remainder of the day is yours to relax or explore Memphis on your own.
Breakfast High 22 Low 9 Sheraton Memphis Convention Centre
Day 7. Memphis – Jackson, Mississippi – Natchez
We leave Memphis today for the state of Mississippi. Our first visit is Jackson, the state capital. Enjoy free time for lunch before heading to the traditional southern town of Natchez, which feels like it has stopped in time. This evening, get a taste of historic plantation life when you dine at a local, privately-owned antebellum plantation home.
Breakfast & Dinner High 26 Low 13 Natchez Grand Hotel
Day 8. Natchez
Natchez was largely spared from the destruction of the Civil War, so it’s a fantastic example of how life was in the pre-Civil War Deep South. We’ll see some of the town’s most beautiful historic buildings, including elegant southern mansions, churches and public buildings. The rest of the day is free for you to wander around this charming town.
Breakfast High 26 Low 13 Natchez Grand Hotel
Day 9. Natchez – Baton Rouge, Louisiana – Lafayette
This morning travel to Baton Rouge, the capital of Louisiana. Set out on a guided tour of the Louisiana State Capitol Building and learn about the state’s most influential political figure, Governor Huey Long. Hear the stories and legends from the time of his governorship and witness the location of his untimely assassination at the State House. Continue on to Lafayette, the heart of Cajun Country. Visit Martin Accordions, a family-owned accordion shop. Learn about this intricate craft and listen as the Martin-family band entertains you with music and stories.
Breakfast & Dinner High 26 Low 14 Hilton Lafayette
Day 10. Cajun Country
Today, immerse yourself in the vibrant Cajun culture. Begin at the Acadian Cultural Centre at Jean Lafitte National Park for an introduction to the history and culture of Cajun Country. Next, visit Vermilionville, a 23-acre living history museum and folk life park showcasing the Cajun and Creole heritages. Later, cruise along the eerie bayous and through the Atchafalaya Basin — no trip to Cajun Country would be complete without seeing the swamp!
Breakfast High 26 Low 14 Hilton Lafayette
Day 11. Lafayette – New Orleans
The day begins with a visit to peaceful Avery Island, the birthplace of the famous McIlhenny’s Tabasco Pepper Sauce. Continue on to the “Jazz Capital of the World” — New Orleans — your home for the next three nights.
Breakfast & Dinner High 27 Low 14 Royal Sonesta Hotel New Orleans
Day 12. French Quarter
Today, take a walking tour of the French Quarter. The steamy streets of New Orleans surround you with elegant villas with balconies of delicate iron lace. Stroll past the majestic St. Louis Cathedral, one of the city’s most recognisable landmarks. Continue on to the bustling French Marketplace and explore Pirates Alley, the Cabildo, the Presbytere and the Pontalba. Enjoy the remainder of the day at leisure to independently discover the “Big Easy.”
Breakfast High 27 Low 14 Royal Sonesta Hotel New Orleans
Day 13. New Orleans
This morning, enjoy a panoramic tour of New Orleans with a local guide. Begin along historic Esplanade Avenue. See St. Louis Cemetery #3, which opened in 1854 and holds some of the most elaborate crypts found in the city’s cemeteries. Then, relax during a drive along the shoreline of Lake Pontchartrain. This romantic road eventually leads to St. Charles Avenue, whisking you past gorgeous mansions as well as Tulane and Loyola, two world-famous universities. Return to the French Quarter this afternoon and have time at leisure. Tonight, enjoy an elegant dinner at the Court of Two Sisters, one of New Orleans’ most renowned restaurants.
Breakfast & Dinner High 27 Low 14 Royal Sonesta Hotel New Orleans
Day 14. New Orleans – Tour Ends
After breakfast your tour comes to a close and we say goodbye.
Breakfast
INCLUSIONS
Accommodation
Meals as per itinerary
Tour guide
Activities as stated
Please note: Accommodation is subject to change.
EXCLUSIONS
Flights
Meals not indicated on the itinerary
Drinks
Optional activities
Visas
Comprehensive travel insurance
Items of a personal nature – laundry, telephone, room service
Tips and gratuities
- Georgia is 15 hours and Tennessee, Mississippi, and Louisiana are 16 hours behind Australian Eastern Standard Time.
- The highest elevation on this tour is 600 feet (183 metres) above sea level (Nashville).
- The currency in the United States is the United States Dollar.
- For electricity, the United States uses 120 Volts.
- Why not consider a pre and post tour extension. Start and end your holiday rested.
This tour requires average physical activity. You should be in good health, able to climb stairs and walk reasonable distances, possibly over uneven ground and cobblestoned streets.
February 2017.
Feb 2 – Feb 15. $4,489
March 2017.
Mar 2 – Mar 15. $4,489
Mar 9 – Mar 22. $4,489
April 2017.
Apr 6 – Apr 19. $4,489