Elvis Presley's Memphis, New Orleans & Nashville
Journey through America’s musical heartland, from the birthplace of jazz and the cradle of rock ‘n’ roll to the undisputed capital of country music. This wonderful holiday is crammed full of highlights, and infused with the magic and mystique, sights and sounds of the South. Beginning in Georgia you'll travel through the world of WC Handy, Robert Johnson, Fats Domino, Hank Williams, Patsy Cline, Dolly Parton and – of course – Elvis Presley. Stay in New Orleans, the laid-back Big Easy. See Tupelo, the King's birthplace, and Memphis, where he made his home. And, finally, head to the guitar-pickin', banjo-playing songwriters' city, Nashville, Tennessee.
Top Highlights
Itinerary
Please note: Occasionally, the order of the excursions on your holiday may have to be changed for operational reasons. The final day-by-day itinerary will be confirmed on your Final Travel Documents, which you will receive approximately three weeks prior to your departure.
Day 1 - Fly to the USA
Meet your tour manager at the airport and transfer to your first overnight hotel stop in either Montgomery or Birmingham, Alabama. Rest and relax after your journey and enjoy your first evening in the Deep South.
Day 2 - Travel to New Orleans
Today you’ll head south across Alabama, into Louisiana and along the Gulf Coast to the great city of New Orleans. You spend two nights in the Big Easy, but you should waste no time in soaking up the atmosphere of one of the most exuberant places on the face of the planet.
Optional Steamboat Dinner Jazz Cruise Excursion (Evening) - £106pp: Savour the beauty and romance of the South on board a traditional Southern steamboat. Enjoy views of the New Orleans skyline, and a locally flavoured buffet dinner, as this authentic paddle steamer cruises the Mississippi to the soundtrack of jazz music.
Day 3 - Optional New Orleans tour and Manchac Swamp excursion
This morning’s optional guided tour is the perfect introduction to New Orleans. See 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, take the optional Louisiana Swampland excursion for a glimpse of the surrounding countryside 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.
Optional New Orleans City Tour Excursion (Half Day) - £28pp: Discover the sights, magic and resilience of the unparalleled ‘Big Easy’. From the time-warped, iron-balconied buildings of the French Quarter, centred on Jackson Square, to the famous above-ground cemeteries and the elegant tree-shrouded mansions of the Garden District, the Crescent City is a place of history, complexity, energy and charm that you cannot help but love.
Day 4 - Travel to Tupelo and Memphis
Bidding farewell to New Orleans, you’ll travel north into Mississippi, cradle of the Delta blues and home to the likes of Robert Johnson and Sonny Boy Williamson. You'll visit Tupelo, home of the tiny house in which Elvis Aaron Presley was born, in January 1935, (entry payable locally). You’ll then continue to Elvis's beloved hometown, Memphis, the bustling city on the bank of the Big Muddy. As well as being forever linked with The King, Memphis boasts a musical heritage to match any city in the world. This evening, why not soak up the atmosphere of colourful Beale Street and its near endless choice of restaurants and bars, many of which offer live music?
Day 5 - Optional Sun Studio and Graceland excursion
Don’t miss today's optional, full-day Memphis Sounds excursion, which will include legendary Sun Studio where rock and roll was born, in 1951, with the recording of 'Rocket 88', and where music history changed forever 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, enjoy another evening in Memphis, perhaps sampling the pork ribs that have led to its unofficial position as The Barbecue Capital of America.
Optional Memphis: Graceland & Sounds of the South Excursion (Full Day) - £136pp: On this excursion you’ll visit legendary Sun Studio, the recording birthplace of musical icons including Elvis Presley and BB King. After time for lunch (payable locally), we’ll head through Memphis to perhaps the most famous southern ‘mansion’ of all, ’Graceland’. Tour the mansion, with its Hawaiian-themed Jungle Room and magnificent Trophy Room (which contains the King’s gold, silver and platinum discs, as well as stage and screen costumes, and his extensive gun collection), pay your respects at Elvis’s grave, and see his cars, motorbikes and Harley Davidson golf cart!
Day 6 - Travel to Nashville
There's a change of musical genres, today, as you journey east to Nashville – the country music capital of the world and your base for the next two nights. Home of the legendary Ryman Auditorium and the Grand Ole Opry, and to scores of hugely accomplished guitarists and songwriters, Nashville is every inch one of America’s foremost music cities. Why not head out, tonight, to catch some more live music?
Day 7 - Optional excursion to the Country Music Hall of Fame and Studio B
Our final optional excursion will take you to legendary Studio B – home to countless country hits and a galaxy of Elvis's RCA recordings – and to the Country Music Hall of Fame.
You'll have the afternoon free to experience still more of Nashville's musical delights.
Optional Studio B & The Country Music Hall of Fame Excursion (Half Day) - £65pp: First stop on this musical tour is the world-famous Country Music Hall of Fame, where you can discover the roots of country music on a self-guided tour that takes you through exhibits commemorating country music’s greatest stars. Afterwards, you’ll visit the historic RCA Studio B, Nashville’s oldest surviving recording studio. The studio was the starting point for more popular hits than any other recording studio in the USA, including those of the Everly Brothers, Dolly Parton, Willie Nelson, Roy Orbison and - of course - Elvis Presley, who recorded over 200 songs here.
Day 8 - Travel to Chattanooga and Atlanta
Take a scenic drive south to Chattanooga (of "choo-choo" fame), a quintessential southern trading town beautifully set on the Tennessee River, before heading to Atlanta airport to check in for your flight back to the UK.
Day 9 - Land in the UK
Arrive home, this morning, after an overnight flight and at the end of a wonderful journey through America's musical heritage.
Further Highlights
What the price includes
Return flights to Atlanta
Comfortable, air-conditioned coach travel and transfers throughout
Fully escorted by a friendly, experienced tour manager
Seven nights' room-only accommodation at a series of good-quality hotels in Montgomery or Birmingham (1 night), New Orleans (2), Memphis (2) and Nashville (2), plus one night on the aircraft
Accommodation Details
Wyndham New Orleans - French Quarter
A charming hotel set in the famous French Quarter and within walking distance of New Orleans’ famous tourist attractions. There’s a heated indoor swimming pool and a fitness overlooking the city. Classic guestrooms include a TV, free Wi-Fi, tea/coffee-making facilities, and a hairdryer. The guestrooms here start on the ninth floor – access is by lift only.
On selected dates, you'll stay at the Hampton Inn & Suites New Orleans Convention Center, which is a short walk from the French Quarter.
The Guest House at Graceland, Memphis
Inspired by Elvis's warm hospitality, this new hotel offers guests the chance to stay just a few steps from the gates of Graceland. Every aspect of the hotel is designed to reflect the King's personal style from the Southern Colonial exterior to the restaurants, bar, theatre and gift shop - and even the seasonal pool and pool bar (closed mid October to early May). Each guestroom is comfortably furnished and has a fridge, TV and tea/coffee-making facilities. The hotel also runs a reasonably priced shuttle service to Beale Street.
Holiday Inn Nashville Vanderbilt, Nashville
Located by the Vanderbilt Stadium, this contemporary hotel is also within walking distance from the honky-tonks on Music Row. On site, there’s a music venue, The Commodore Grille, which hosts nightly performances and serves breakfast and dinner. Guests also have access to a bar, an outdoor swimming pool and a fitness centre. Comfortable guestrooms have TVs, mini-fridges, microwaves, tea/coffee-making facilities, balconies with park or stadium views, and Wi-Fi.
Should circumstances require, we reserve the right to accommodate you in conveniently located, alternative hotels of a similar standard.
OFFER TERMS & CONDITIONS
This holiday is supplied and serviced by our travel trade partners at Newmarket Holidays. Booking through me provides you with additional expert knowledge, personalised customer service perks and one-to-one direct customer support for a complete, stress-free experience.
Black Friday save up to 15% offer discount applies to long and short haul tours. 15% applies to all departure dates of specific tours only. This Black Friday offer applies to new bookings only booked between the 12th November and 9th December 2024, and cannot be applied retrospectively to bookings already confirmed. All other tours (including Andre Rieu tours) not in the 15% discount are 10% off.
This offer does not apply to holidays with late availability pricing, and excludes other location tours, and Festive tours. This offer does not apply to child prices/child pricing. This offer cannot be combined or used in conjunction with any other discount, promotion or concession. When booking a holiday as described above, prices shown will automatically have the discount applied. The discount applies to your final holiday price (excluding holiday insurance) at the time of booking.
This offer is subject to availability and may be withdrawn at any time. Newmarket Holidays reserves the right to cancel, change or amend any tour. Holidays booked with Newmarket Holidays, are financially protected in accordance with ABTA, ATOL & ABTOT regulations. Newmarket Holidays Limited is a company registered in England and Wales. Registered number: 02238316.
Passports and Visas
When travelling to the USA, British citizens require passports with an integrated chip (shown on the front by a small rectangular symbol beneath the word PASSPORT), valid beyond the return date from the USA. Visas are not normally required for entry, but visitors must apply for an ESTA online with US Immigration at least 72 hours before departure at www.cbp.gov/esta. The current charge is $21 for British Citizens. British subjects and anyone who has a criminal record or has ever been arrested should consult the US Embassy as a visa may be required. Note too that if you have visited North Korea, Iran, Iraq, Sudan, Syria, Libya, Somalia or Yemen since March 2011, or Cuba since 12 January 2021, or have dual nationality with any of these countries, you do require a US visa and cannot travel on the Visa Waiver Program.
Tipping
Gratuities are a way of life in North America, and it is generally accepted that they form part of a person's earnings. The customary gratuity for a coach driver is about $5 per person per day, and for a Tour Manager is about $7 per person per day.
It is normal to tip 15-20 per cent of the bill for a taxi or in a restaurant, and to leave a dollar or so per drink in a bar.