Southern Explorer Escorted Tour

12 Nights

New York, NY

Although this escorted US tour begins in New York, you will quickly escape the cosmopolitan metropolis for the weird, wild, and wonderful sights sweeping the States’ south-east corner. Take in some of the best locations the American south has to offer - from Williamsburg which emerges like a veritable open-air museum to Great Smoky Mountains National Park where you will discover how Appalachian farmers exist in the wilderness. With a playlist of country music, blues, and jazz, this region also provides America’s bassline, with Nashville, Memphis and New Orleans in its backyard. And no visit’s complete without an invite into Elvis’s Graceland or a stroll below the ostentatious balconies of Bourbon Street.

From £1342pp

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Highlights

Go history-hunting and museum-hopping, state-by-state, with visits to the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia, Smithsonian Institute in Washington, D.C., and the French Quarter in New Orleans.
From the Colonial Age to the Space Age, visit the home of American Space Travel, Kennedy Space Center in Orlando, where you’ll meet the legends of space travel and go behind the scenes of many earth-shattering events.
Get serious toe-tapping time, loud and live, with a sample of popular American music from Nashville’s honky tonk to Memphis’ blues to Mississippi’s Dixieland jazz (onboard an authentic Riverboat).
See where history’s most famous (and infamous) events happened like the Lorraine Hotel in Memphis where Martin Luther King was assassinated to the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia, the birthplace of our nation.
Take in the sights and sounds of Washington, D.C. with a stop at all its must-see sites like the Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial, Arlington National Cemetery, and the White House.
Take a picture-perfect shot at Tennessee’s awe-inspiring, famed Great Smoky Mountain National Park, America’s most visited national park thanks to its breathtaking beauty and unique mountain culture.
Taste New Orleans’s flavorful Creole and French culture when you explore its memorable French Quarter with its cobblestone streets filled with eating, drinking, and shopping unique to the city.

Day 1 - New York Arrival
Day 2 - New York - Philadelphia - Washington, D.C.
Day 3 - Washington, D.C.
Day 4 - Washington, D.C. - Williamsburg - Roanoke
Day 5 - Roanoke - Blue Ridge Parkway - Great Smoky Mountains - Gatlinburg
Day 6 - Gatlinburg - Nashville
Day 7 - Nashville - Memphis
Day 8 - Memphis - Jackson - New Orleans
Day 9 - New Orleans
Day 10 - New Orleans - Gulf of Mexico - Pensacola
Day 11 - Pensacola - Orlando
Day 12 - Orlando
Day 13 - Orlando - Kennedy Space Center - Departure
Additional Information

Arrive in New York City and transfer independently to your hotel where you will meet with your Tour Director in the evening

Accomodation

Dylan Hotel NYC

Property Location With a stay at Dylan Hotel NYC, you'll be centrally located in Manhattan, steps from Grand Central Terminal and minutes from Chrysler Building. This 4-star hotel is close to Empire State Building and Macy's.

Transfer from New York to Washington, D.C. via Philadelphia, the birthplace of the nation, where you will stop to see Independence Mall and Liberty Bell.

Accomodation

Washington Hilton

Enjoy a refreshing stay at the Washington Hilton hotel, located in the center of DC's most popular neighborhoods and excellent dining, entertainment and nightlife. Relax in a choice of modern guest rooms. Stay in touch with family or business with in-room internet access or complimentary WiFi in the hotel lobby.

Enjoy a city tour with such highlights as the U.S. Capitol Building, Supreme Court, Library of Congress, the F.B.I. Building, Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial, the White House and Arlington National Cemetery, site of the JFK Memorial. Spend the remainder of the day exploring some of the many museums comprising the Smithsonian Institute or stroll the banks of the Potomac River.

Accomodation

Washington Hilton

Depart this morning for Williamsburg, Virginia’s colonial capital. Walk along the Duke of Gloucester Street to visit some of the impressive public buildings, colonial houses and the College of William and Mary (admissions not included).

Accomodation

Holiday Inn Roanoke Tanglewood

Enjoy Your Stay in Roanoke, VA at Our HotelSituated in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains, the Holiday Inn® Tanglewood - Roanoke hotel has a picturesque location. We're right off of Routes 419 & 220 and close to I-581, which allows for easy travel to attractions and businesses in downtown Roanoke, VA.

Travel along portions of the Blue Ridge Parkway/Mountains before entering the breathtaking scenery of the Great Smoky Mountains and National Park, before arriving in Gatlinburg in the afternoon and explore some of the unique restaurants on main-street, during this evening leisure time.

Accomodation

Edgewater Hotel and Conference Center Gatlinburg

Greetings from the Edgewater!Whether you’re planning to play in the mountains, conduct business or relax with family and friends, The Edgewater Hotel & Conference Center is the natural choice.

Continue today through Knoxville, the state’s third largest city before you arrive in the early afternoon in Music City USA, Nashville.

Accomodation

The Inn at Opryland, A Gaylord Hotel

Feel inspired by the sights and sounds of Music Valley Drive during a stay at The Inn at Opryland, A Gaylord Hotel. Located near the historic Grand Ole Opry, our first-class hotel combines the excitement of Nashville with a comfortable, inviting place to recharge. Enjoy complimentary shuttle service to popular area attractions including the Grand Ole Opry, General Jackson Showboat and Opry Mills Mall--Tennessee's largest shopping destination. From the moment you step inside, experience warm hospitality and modern amenities in our vibrant, country music-inspired atmosphere. Perfect for vacations, social events and business meetings alike, our hotel features on-site restaurants, an indoor pool, modern fitness center and 15,000 square feet of stylish meeting space. After a fun-filled day exploring the city, return to comfortable guest rooms complete with stylish furnishings, free Wi-Fi and luxurious bedding. Experience everything our hotel has to offer on your next trip to Music City.

Travel across the countryside and arrive in Memphis, the city known for blues music, cotton and home of Sun Records. Take a city tour including Beale Street, the heart of the blues music scene. This afternoon, fans of “The King of Rock and Roll” have the opportunity to tour Graceland, former home of Elvis Presley (optional).

Accomodation

Crowne Plaza Memphis Downtown Hotel

With a stay at Crowne Plaza Memphis Downtown Hotel, you'll be centrally located in Memphis, steps from St. Mary's Catholic Church and minutes from Memphis Cook Convention Center. This hotel is within close proximity of Cannon Center for Performing Arts and Danny Thomas/ALSAC Pavillion.

Today’s tour takes you to Mississippi, the Magnolia State. Pass through Jackson, the state capital, and continue to Louisiana and New Orleans, the home of the infamous Mardi Gras celebrations. Tonight, immerse yourself in Creole culture on board an authentic Mississippi Riverboat dinner cruise and enjoy the rhythms of a Dixieland jazz band (optional).

Accomodation

Hilton New Orleans Riverside

Explore the best of New Orleans from the Hilton New Orleans Riverside hotel in the heart of downtown. Unwind in a comfortable guest room that offers WiFi, a 37-inch flat-screen TV, mini-refrigerator and work desk. Upgrade to a View room for amazing views of the Mississippi River or French Quarter. Choose an executive room to enjoy Executive Lounge access with complimentary breakfast, evening appetizers, complimentary in-room WiFi, and complimentary access to the Health Club by Hilton fitness facility.

A full day at leisure to take in the French flavor and grandeur of New Orleans. Explore the French Quarter with its trademark wrought iron balconies overlooking the narrow cobblestone streets. Stand atop one of the infamous New Orleans levees and gain the perspective of how these unique feats of architecture guard the city.

Accomodation

Hilton New Orleans Riverside

Travel along the Mississippi Gulf Coast through Mobile, AL to the city of Pensacola. Visit one of the top 10 rose gardens in America at the Bellingrath Home (admission included). While visiting Pensacola Beach, walk along side the swaying sea oats, dipping your toes in the warm waters of the emerald green Gulf of Mexico.

Accomodation

Hampton Inn & Suites Pensacola/Gulf Breeze

Property Location When you stay at Hampton Inn & Suites Pensacola/Gulf Breeze in Gulf Breeze, you'll be near the beach and convenient to Woodland Park and Shoreline Park. This hotel is within the vicinity of Plaza De Luna and Portofino Boardwalk.

Travel along the Florida panhandle to Ocala, known for thoroughbred horse ranches. Continue through central Florida, heart of America’s citrus industry, and on to Orlando for an evening arrival at your hotel.

Accomodation

Radisson Resort Orlando-Celebration

With a convenient setting near I-4 and free shuttle service to Disney's Epcot® and Universal Studios® Orlando, the Radisson Resort Orlando-Celebration offers easy access to the most popular Orlando attractions. When you’re not exploring the Magic Kingdom® or other crowd-pleasing attractions like SeaWorld® and Universal Studios® Orlando, take advantage of our hotel’s location just a short distance from Kissimmee’s sun-kissed shopping and entertainment. Our landscaped grounds, free-form pool, on-site restaurants and spacious rooms provide the perfect accommodations for you to rest and recharge before venturing back out for more fun.

Day at leisure. Revitalize by the pool or visit one of Orlando’s attractions: such as Disney World, Sea World, or Universal Studios (admissions not included).

Accomodation

Radisson Resort Orlando-Celebration

Visit Kennedy Space Center, home of America’s space program (admission included). Your tour ends here.

Tour Highlights Inclusions:

Explore the birthplace of America in Philadelphia by seeing where it all started at Independence Hall and capturing a glimpse of the iconic Liberty Bell
See the seats of power of the US Government with a grand city tour of Washington, D.C.
Stroll the National Mall witnessing its iconic Monuments Memorials
Drive along picturesque byways crossing the Great Smoky Mountains
Go Honky Tonkin’ and enjoy American music during a tour of Nashville
Take in more American music culture walking down Beale Street in Memphis, home of the Blues
Get a hands-on taste of Southern charm of the American South at the Bellingrath Estate and the Bayou Boardwalk
Dip your toes in the crystal clear and warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico in Pensacola
Witness first hand the ingenuity of the American space program at the Kennedy Space Center

Optional Experiences:

Capture the stunning lit up landmarks of Washington, D.C. with a night tour and dinner in fashionable Georgetown
How about a little bit more country at Nashville’s Country Hall of Fame and experience music production first hand at Studio B
Travel back in time by exploring Elvis Presley’s eccentric estate, Graceland
Immerse yourself in Southern history and hospitality at an Antebellum Estate and Plantatio