Day 3
Day at leisure with optional New Orleans tour and Manchac Swamp alligator excursion - Explore New Orleans at your own pace today or enjoy two fascinating guided tours around its most impressive areas. This morning’s optional guided tour is the perfect introduction to the city’s best sights. Spot the iron balconies and covered sidewalks of the iconic French Quarter, the brightly painted wooden houses of Tremé and the three spires of St Louis Cathedral on Jackson Square.
This afternoon, you can opt to join a Louisiana Swampland excursion for a glimpse of the surrounding countryside, the chance to see native alligators and a taste of Creole life. Tonight, head back to the French Quarter to immerse yourself in the incomparable atmosphere of the place that gave the world jazz, a century ago, and where the sounds and spirits of Louis Armstrong and 'King' Oliver still live on in the many, many bars and clubs.
Day 4
Drive to Houston, Texas - Board your coach this morning for a journey west into Texas, the Lonestar state. Continue to Houston for an overnight stay and enjoy free time this evening to make the most of your hotel’s facilities or explore the city at your own pace.
Day 5
Included tour of the NASA Lyndon B. Johnson Space Centre - Make your way to NASA's world-famous Lyndon B Johnson Space Centre this morning ahead of a guided tour. This was the heart of the moon landings 50 years ago and remains a working base for the International Space Station. The site offers a captivating glimpse of modern history, with its restored Mission Control and the sight of the towering Saturn V rocket that fired the Apollo astronauts into orbit.
Later this afternoon, continue on to San Antonio for the first of a two-night stay.
Day 6
Day at leisure in San Antonio - San Antonio, the birthplace of Tex-Mex culture and one of the USA's most attractive cities, is yours to explore, today. Relive the siege of The Alamo - when Davy Crockett and Jim Bowie held out heroically for almost two weeks before finally succumbing to the overwhelming forces of Mexican general Santa Anna, and discover the famous River Walk that snakes its way across the city.
Day 7
Included Austin visit and drive to Fort Worth - Today, you'll make your way to the Texan State Capital, Austin. You’ll have a brief stop to explore this lively city and its honkytonks, storefronts and botanical gardens. Later this afternoon, continue on to the cattle town of Fort Worth, the starting point of the famous Chisholm Trail, and still home to authentic Western culture. The famous Stockyards are the focal point of the Historic Quarter, where wooden boardwalks and old-fashioned storefronts recreate the days of the Old "Wild" West.
Day 8
Included Fort Worth cattle drive experience and visits to Dallas and Southfork Ranch - Spend this morning at the Stockyards and get a taste of cowboy culture with the city’s impressive daily cattle drive. Embrace the traditions of the Old West and watch as Fort Worth’s famous herd of Texas longhorns is corralled by their expert handlers through the city centre.
Later this afternoon, you’ll visit glittering Dallas with ample time to explore the city’s expansive arts district, the largest of its kind in the US, and its bustling streets. After time at leisure in Dallas, you'll visit Southfork Ranch, the infamous backdrop for the ‘Dallas’ TV series. After a brief stop taking in the ranch’s iconic backdrops, make your way back to Fort Worth where you'll have the chance to further explore the historic Stockyards' area. You can also venture into downtown Fort Worth for a visit to the world’s largest honky-tonk, Billy Bob’s.
Day 9
Travel to Elvis' Memphis - Wake up early this morning for a journey to the great city of Memphis on the Mississippi. Elvis' hometown boasts a musical heritage to match any world city and a host of historic landmarks.
Day 10
Included visit to Sun Studio and Graceland - Today’s included Memphis Sounds excursion will see you explore the legendary Sun Studio where rock and roll was born in 1951. You’ll witness the booths where 'Rocket 88' was recorded, and the room which changed music history three years later with Elvis's live recording of Arthur Crudup's 'That's Alright, Mama'.
From Sun Studio, you'll make your way to Elvis Presley Boulevard to pay a visit to Graceland, the King’s home, last recording studio and final resting place. After a fascinating day, perhaps enjoy another evening in Memphis, perhaps sampling the pork ribs that have led to its unofficial position as The Barbecue Capital of America.
Day 11
Day at leisure and optional tour to the Stax Museum of American Soul Music and the National Civil Rights Museum - Join an optional excursion to the Stax Museum of American Soul Music.
Here, you’ll be immersed in the toe-tapping rhythms of one of the world’s most beloved musical genres. Witness its storied history come to life with interactive exhibits and discover the museum’s fascinating collection of musical memorabilia.
You can also pay a poignant optional visit to the National Civil Rights Museum. Built around the Lorraine Motel, the site of Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination in 1968, this sobering museum chronicles the American civil rights struggle from segregation to the modern day.
However you choose to spend your day, soak up the atmosphere of famous Beale Street before reconvening at the hotel for a final overnight stay in Memphis.
Day 12
Included Tupelo visit with Elvis Presley’s Birthplace and drive to Nashville - Cross the state border into Mississippi this morning for a visit to Tupelo. Upon arrival, make your way to the Elvis Presley birthplace where you’ll have ample time to explore its fascinating memorials and museums. Discover the former shotgun house which the Presley family once called home and take in the church that inspired Elvis’ love for the rhythms and beats of gospel music.
After a captivating tour, head for Nashville and check into your hotel ahead of an evening at leisure.
Day 13
Day at leisure and optional Nashville legends tour - An optional excursion will introduce the legendary Studio B - where countless country standards and a galaxy of Elvis's RCA hits were recorded - and the Country Music Hall of Fame, home to one of the world's most extensive musical collections.
This afternoon, you'll be free to make the most of your final night in Nashville. Why not revisit some of your favourite spots from the past two days, or explore a new corner for some authentic Southern comfort while sipping on a sweet tea?
This evening, find dinner in the city before returning to your hotel.
Day 14
Drive to Chattanooga and Atlanta - Take a scenic drive south to Chattanooga, a pivotal city throughout the American Civil War thanks to the sprawl of railroads that pass through it. This quintessential southern trading town, beautifully set on the Tennessee River, still retains a strong connection with its military history and is teeming with fascinating museums to explore. You’ll stop at the town’s Terminal Station, affectionately named the Chattanooga Choo Choo, which put the town on the map throughout the golden age of rail. Here, you can see the original building and tracks which has connected Chattanooga to the rest of the US for over a century. Afterwards, head to Atlanta airport for your overnight flight back to the UK.
Day 15
Arrive back in the UK - Arrive back in the UK, after a wonderful journey through America's fascinating Southern heartland.