Soul of the Deep South

Welcome to Nashville, the capital of Tennessee and the USA’s glittering center stage. From the Everly Brothers' “Bye Bye Love," to Roy Orbison’s “Oh, Pretty Woman," the streets are paved with talent. Tonight, head to the famous Grand Ole Opry, the world-renowned country music stage and longest-running radio broadcast in U.S. history for even more Country fun.

Start your day with an orientation tour of music city. You'll visit the picturesque Riverfront Park, Tennessee State Capitol and the 132-acre Centennial State Park, where you'll encounter an exact replica of the Parthenon. Pass by the city's lively honky-tonks and street performers on Broadway. Make your way to historic RCA Studio B, Nashville’s oldest remaining recording studio for a guided tour. We then continue to another home of Nashville royalty, The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum for a self-guided tour. The museum helps to preserve, celebrate, and share the important cultural asset that is country music. Along with changing exhibitions, you'll discover the enlightening "Sing Me Back Home: Folk Roots to the Present." which tells the story of country music from its pre-commercial roots in the 19th century through its life today. See original artifacts, photographs and recordings. Tonight meet your Travel Director and fellow guests for a welcome dinner.

Today we make a stop at the Nashville Farmers' Market to explore its artisanal crafts and produce. You decide how to discover Nashville this afternoon with Insight Choice. Choose to visit Nelson’s Green Brier, a local Tennessee distillery and home of the Original Tennessee Whiskey for a guided tour of the distillery and tasting of the product. Or visit The National Museum of African American Music, the only museum dedicated to preserving and celebrating the many music genres created, influenced and inspired by African Americans. This is for music lovers of all generations, inspiring, educating and transforming your appreciation of American music - all while celebrating the central role African Americans play in creating the American soundtrack.

This morning, you’ll travel to Memphis, a city that pulses with rhythm and history. Whether it’s your first visit or your hundredth, the soulful sounds of Beale Street are sure to draw you in. Later, join civil rights activist Elaine Lee Turner for a walking tour through pivotal sites of the 1960s movement, including Mason Temple and the Lee Sisters Marker. As Elaine shares personal stories of protest and resilience, you’ll gain rare insight into Memphis’ role in the fight for justice. This evening, enjoy private access to the Stax Museum of American Soul Music, housed in the original Stax Records studio. Explore more than 2,000 artefacts and exhibits celebrating the artists who defined Southern soul, including Otis Redding, Isaac Hayes and Carla Thomas. The Soulsville Foundation behind the museum empowers young people through music and education, keeping the legacy alive.

This morning it's off to Graceland, where you will get to explore the mansion, the private retreat of the King of Rock 'n Roll, where he went for reprise when not on the stage or in the movies. The tour of Graceland Mansion includes the living room and the famous Jungle Room. Then visit the Entertainer Career Museum with hundreds of artifacts and photos from significant events in Elvis’ life as well as the Presley Motors Automobile Museum. Then we continue onto Sun Studios for an authentic guided tour led by a local musician. Learn all about the recording studio where Elvis got his start along with so many of the greatest and therefore known as "The Birthplace of Rock'n'roll." Dinner this evening will be served at The Beauty Shop, a former hair parlour turned whimsical New American eatery where Elvis’ ex-wife, Priscilla, was said to get her hair done.

Follow the legendary Mississippi Blues Trail, where markers tell the stories of the artists who shaped America’s most influential music. In Indianola, a Local Expert leads you through the B.B. King Museum, where you’ll see his guitars, explore interactive exhibits, and visit the restored cotton gin where he once worked. Pay your respects at his final resting place before heading to the iconic Club Ebony, a historic stop on the Chitlin’ Circuit, a network of venues that provided Black musicians with safe performance spaces during segregation. Here, a local musician will share the club’s storied past and guide you in writing your own blues song before a private concert over lunch brings the music to life.

Step into the rich history of Louisiana with a guided tour of Destrehan Plantation, exploring the lives of both the free and enslaved who lived here. In the original mule barn, Local Expert Spuddy shares the traditions of Cajun cuisine through a live cooking demonstration, followed by lunch showcasing the bold, smoky flavours of the region. Continue to New Orleans, founded by the French in 1718 and later shaped by Spanish rule before becoming part of the United States in the Louisiana Purchase in 1803. Later, go behind the scenes at Mardi Gras World, where artists craft elaborate floats that bring the city’s biggest celebration to life. A Mardi Gras World artist will guide you in designing your own vibrant mask to take home as a unique keepsake.

Discover New Orleans with a Local Expert, from the grand mansions of the Garden District to the lively French Quarter. In the afternoon, choose to explore the National WWII Museum, home to immersive exhibits and personal stories from the war, or take a swamp tour, gliding through bayous teeming with wildlife while learning about Louisiana’s disappearing wetlands. Celebrate your final evening with a VIP jazz experience at Fritzel’s Jazz Club, followed by a Creole dinner at Tujague’s, a New Orleans institution since 1856.

It’s time to say goodbye to your fellow travellers as your adventure comes to an end. Departure to the airport will be at leisure.