Join a group of like-minded solo travellers for an escorted group holiday to the USA’s Deep South. Our ‘Sounds of the South’ tour is perfect for music lovers, history buffs, and anyone looking to experience the vibrant culture of the American South. We’ll dive into the rich musical heritage of Tennessee & Mississippi, visit the iconic Graceland mansion in Memphis and enjoy a dinner cruise aboard the Steamboat Natchez in New Orleans. A epic adventure for those with an appetite for American culture, music & history!
Extras
Welcome to Nashville – home of country music! On arrival, we transfer to our hotel for the next three nights.
Today, we explore Nashville. During our guided tour, we visit the Ryman Auditorium, Centennial Park, and Vanderbilt University. We’ll also tour the Country Music Hall of Fame and the historic RCA Studio B, where legends like Elvis Presley and Chet Atkins recorded. This evening, we’ll head to the famous honky-tonk row to enjoy some live local music.
Today is at our leisure.
No visit to Nashville is complete without experiencing the Grand Ole Opry – the show that made country music famous and tonight we’ll enjoy a concert on ‘country’s most famous stage’.
Optional day trip to Lynchburg, TN or a guided tour of the Jack Daniels Distillery.
After breakfast, we depart Nashville for Memphis, stopping en route in Tupelo to visit the Elvis Birthplace Home & Museum. We arrive in Memphis in the late afternoon, and after checking into our hotel, we can spend the evening enjoying the sounds of Beale Street—a melting pot of delta blues, jazz, rock ‘n’ roll, R&B, and gospel.
This morning, we visit Graceland on a tour that gives us a glimpse into Elvis’s personal life. We walk through the elegant living room, marvel at the famous Jungle Room, admire the remarkable career and personal memorabilia of the Trophy Room and find peace at the serene Meditation Garden where Elvis and his family are laid to rest.
Optional afternoon visit of the Stax Museum of American Soul Music.
We leave Tennessee for Mississippi today. En route, we stop in Indianola to visit the B.B. King Museum, which chronicles the life and legacy of B.B. King, one of the most influential blues musicians of all time. After our visit, we enjoy lunch at Club Ebony with live blues music. This afternoon, we continue our journey to New Orleans.
Today, we set out for our tour of New Orleans, exploring the French Quarter, Canal Street, and the famous Bourbon Street. We visit the Saint Louis Cathedral and the Cabildo, and stop by Sazerac House to learn the history and enjoy one of New Orleans’ signature cocktails. In the afternoon, take the tram to the Garden District to admire the historic southern mansions. We then return to the French Quarter, where the rest of the day is at leisure.
Today is ours to spend at leisure. This evening, we enjoy a farewell dinner aboard the iconic Steamboat Natchez as the sun sets over the Mississippi.
Optional morning tour of Thibodaux – a landscape of prairies and sugar cane fields. Tour includes a Bayou boat ride to spot alligators and a visit to Oak Alley Plantation for lunch.
Our tour comes to an end today, as we depart New Orleans for our overnight flight to the UK.
We stay in comfortable four-star hotels throughout as detailed below (or similar)
Frequently Asked Questions
The transfer time from Nashville International Airport to Fairfield, The Gulch is approx. 15 minutes
The transfer time from Wyndham French Quarter to New Orleans International Airport is approx. 25 minutes
With warm weather in the day, but chillier nights in April, we’d recommend comfortable light layers for Tennessee & Mississippi. There’s a few walking days too, so remember some comfortable shoes. And if you’re feeling it – throw your cowboy boots in too yee-haw!
There is often confusion on the question of gratuities, since it frequently depends on the type of holiday, location and, of course, your attitude towards tipping, as to what is normally expected. To give you a rough idea, we have given appropriate guidance below.
The Tour Leader will be on hand to offer advice or suggestions if required but gratuities are offered entirely at the sole discretion of the individual. We suggest a group collection at the beginning of your holiday to cover drivers, guides, porters and hotel staff of approximately US$60. Your Tour Leader will collect this on your behalf and distribute it accordingly, thus relieving you of the burden of who, when and how much to tip.
To enter the US, your passport must be valid for the length of your planned stay.
To enter or transit through the US, you must have either an Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA) visa waiver or a visa.
You can Apply for an ESTA visa waiver through US Customs and Border Protection.
You cannot apply for an ESTA visa waiver if you have:
You cannot normally apply for an ESTA visa waiver if you were in the following countries on or after March 2011: Iran, Iraq, Libya, North Korea, Somalia, Sudan, Syria or Yemen.
You cannot apply for an ESTA visa waiver if you travelled to or were in Cuba on or after 12 January 2021.
If you are not eligible for an ESTA, you must instead apply for a US visa.
More information can be found here
US Dollars $
“I’m sure you will enjoy it, I have been on three solos holidays to date and the people I’ve met have been great.”
“I’ve been travelling with Solos for nearly 20 years, on and off. The reason is for exactly what you want – you meet like minded people… and have loads of fun!”
“I’ve been on loads of trips with Solos over the years and can honestly say you will not regret booking your 1st one!”
“The feeling you have once you go away on your own is worth all the nerves before! I was so very anxious the first time but now having done it 4 times, I love it!”
