Southern Grace – 9 days land only

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- Return airport/hotel transfers
- 2 nights accommodation at Gaylord Opryland Resort in Nashville
- 2 night accommodation at The Westin Memphis Beale Street in Memphis
- 1 night accommodation at The Monmouth Plantation Hotel in Natchez
- 3 nights accommodation at The Roosevelt New Orleans (a Waldorf Astoria hotel)
- Breakfast daily & selected dinners 
- Touring by luxury coach
- Services of a Tour Director & local guides
- Highlights: Natchez, Baton Rouge & New Orleans

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 Welcome to Nashville

Upon arrival at Nashville International Airport, you will be transfered to your luxury hotel. Relax & settle in or start your exploration of the world's country music capital. At 6.00pm, join your Tour Director for a Welcome Reception with drinks & a light meal.

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 Enjoy Nashville’s Musical History

Enjoy a leisurely morning before your fascinating visit to the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, full of memorabilia from stars such as Hank Williams, Loretta Lynn & Garth Brooks. After touring historic Studio B, your private group will work with a professional sound engineer in a 30-minute, choir-style recording session. Each group member will receive their own copy of the recording as a one-of-a-kind souvenir. How many people can claim they've recorded a song in the same studio where Elvis created so many of his hits? No visit to Nashville would be complete without a visit to the Grand Ole Opry. Attend a live taping of America's longest-running live radio program.

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 Memphis & the Birthplace of the Blues

Travel from the home of Country to the birthplace of Blues and Rock ‘n' Roll. Enjoy a guided tour of Rock 'n' Soul Museum & explore the birth of rock & soul music exhibitions, created by the Smithsonian Institution. Learn the story of musical pioneers who, for the love of music, created the sound that shook the entire world. In the evening, join your fellow guests on legendary Beale Street for a Highlight Dinner at Itta Bena, a 1920s speakeasy-style restaurant above BB King's Blues Club.

Graceland

The morning is devoted to Graceland, as much an object of pilgrimage as a museum dedicated to the late, great Elvis Presley. From the flowers & painted signs outside the gates, to the tear-streaked cheeks of fans inside, see the effect that Elvis & his music had on popular American culture. On an audio tour, marvel at the Jungle Room & walls full of gold & platinum records. Enjoy the evening at leisure.

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 The Siege of Vicksburg and Mississippi Mystique in Natchez

Today, depart for Vicksburg National Military Park where the famous Civil War battle is remembered & commemorated. The park features, among many things, 1,325 historic monuments & markers, 20 miles of trenches, 2 antebellum houses, & 144 emplaced cannons. Continue to Natchez, founded by the French in 1716 when it became home to a flowering colonial culture. Check into your charming, luxury country mansion hotel. Whet your palate before dinner during a mixology class to learn the ‘science' of making a signature drink of the South, the mint julep. Then enjoy a delectable five-course Highlight Dinner in the stunning Main House.

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 Natchez & New Orleans

Stop at Frogmore Plantation today & journey back to a time when cotton was king. With your costumed hosts, tour a reconstructed 19th century plantation & compare it to the modern day operation that produces more than 900 bales of cotton each day. Get a glimpse into the sweet side of the South with a visit to Houmas House Plantation. Once the largest producer of sugar in the country, the mansion was often referred to as “The Sugar Palace” during its antebellum heyday. The plantation spans over 38 lush acres & is sprinkled with ponds, a majestic live oak alley & a light breeze from the Mississippi River. Get settled in at your historic hotel before a visit to the New Orleans School of Cooking &  a demonstration of a popular Creole Highlight Dinner.

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 Exploring New Orleans, the Big Easy

After a hearty breakfast, depart for New Orleans before joining a Local Expert in the atmospheric French Quarter & visit Jackson Square, originally called Place d'Armes when it was the center of the old city. Wind your way through the twisted paths of one of the ‘Cities of the Dead', the above-ground final resting place of pirates, politicians & voodoo queens. The afternoon & evening are at leisure. Visit The Sazerac Bar, named after what many consider to be the world's first mixed drink, & carries as much history as its potable namesake. Just gazing at the famous Paul Ninas murals flanking the African walnut bar takes you back to the grandeur of old New Orleans – learn how to make the famed Sazerac & enjoy one of your own.

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 New Orleans sightseeing

In the morning, get up-close and personal with the rural side of the Crescent City as you embark on a boat tour to meet the resident alligators & other flora & fauna. Enjoy some free time to explore before gathering with your new friends & toast lifelong memories during a Celebration Dinner at a famous New Orleans restaurant.

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 Depart New Orleans

Bid ‘Au Revoir' to the Big Easy this morning. A complimentary transfer is provided to New Orleans International Airport.