Heart of the South
$2,329.00
From $2,329* pp | 8 Days • 11 Meals *Rate is per person, land only, double occupancy.
Travel on a cultural journey through America’s south. Delight in some famed southern hospitality on an experience to last a lifetime.
- Roll up your sleeves and prepare to discover how to cook New Orleans-style during a unique cooking demonstration at the New Orleans School of Cooking.
- 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.
America’s Southern Culture and Cuisine
Join us on a cultural journey and delight in famed southern hospitality. Cajun cuisine, antebellum mansions, the bayou and the magic of the French Quarter make this an experience to last a lifetime. At Martin Accordions learn about the craft and take in a private Cajun music performance. Settle in for a dinner party at Lansdowne House, a privately owned antebellum plantation. Cruise through Louisiana’s Atchafalaya Basin Swamp. Learn the art of Cajun cooking from the experts at the New Orleans School of Cooking. Discover the magic of the charming French Quarter during a walking tour. Electrify your taste buds at the Café du Monde. Each day brings you closer to one of America’s most captivating regions.
Itinerary
Day 1. New Orleans, Louisiana – Tour Begins
Welcome to America’s most inviting cultural region. Take some time to experience the city that has given us great music and incredible food: the “Jazz Capital of the World,” New Orleans.
High 27 Low 14 
Wyndham New Orleans French Quarter
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.
Breakfast & Dinner 
High 27 Low 14 
Wyndham New Orleans French Quarter
Day 3. French Quarter
Set out on a walking tour of the famous French Quarter. 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. Complete your tour with a stop to taste a true New Orleans favourite – beignets at Café Du Monde. Spend the remainder of the day at leisure to discover the “Big Easy” your way. This evening, join your fellow travellers for a spectacular dinner and a lesson in Cajun cuisine at the New Orleans School of Cooking. Sit back and enjoy the show as the chef teaches you the secrets behind some of the delicious regional dishes.
Breakfast & Dinner High 27 Low 14 Wyndham New Orleans French Quarter
Day 4. New Orleans – Baton Rouge – Natchez, Mississippi
This morning you travel to Baton Rouge, the capital of Louisiana. Enjoy 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. Later, continue to Natchez. This small city, resting on a bluff high above the Mississippi River, personifies the grace and elegance of the South with its preserved antebellum mansions. This evening you are invited to dinner at Lansdowne House, a privately-owned antebellum plantation home.
Breakfast & Dinner High 26 Low 13 Natchez Grand Hotel
Learn about the rich history of Natchez as a local guide takes you on a captivating tour of this pre-Civil War town. Tour Longwood, an impressive octagonal mansion that today remains unfinished. Construction began shortly before the Civil War and the interior was never completed. Marvel at the beautiful design and imagine another way of life. Experience a taste of the southern lifestyle as you spend the remainder of the day at leisure in Natchez.
Breakfast High 26 Low 13 Natchez Grand Hotel
Day 6. Natchez – Lafayette, Louisiana
Depart for Lafayette, the heart of Cajun Country. En route, 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 High 26 Low 14 Hilton Lafayette
Day 7. Cajun Country
Today, immerse yourself in the 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! This evening, enjoy delicious regional dishes as you say goodbye to your fellow travellers at your farewell dinner.
Breakfast & Dinner High 26 Low 14 Hilton Lafayette
Day 8. Lafayette – New Orleans – Tour Ends
Return to the New Orleans airport and head home with a new appreciation of the South.
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
- Louisiana and Mississippi are 16 hours behind Australian Eastern Standard Time.
- All sites on this tour are at or near sea level.
- The currency in Louisiana and Mississippi 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 includes moderate physical activity. The itinerary blends some longer days with shorter days and more leisure time. Walking tours, as well as walking slightly longer distances, upstairs or on uneven walking surfaces should be expected.
March 2017.
Mar 13 – Mar 24. $3,469
Mar 27 – Apr 7. $3,599
April 2017.
Apr 3 – Apr 14. $3,729
Apr 24 – May 5. $3,729