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Charleston to Savannah: Exploring Gullah Geechee Culture
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Charleston to Savannah: Exploring Gullah Geechee Culture
7 Days Starting and ending in Charleston
Visiting: Charleston , Charleston, St. Helena Island / Beaufort, Beaufort, Savannah
Tour operator:
Tour code:
SHKG
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
1 - 12
Age range:
15-99
Interests:
Tour Overview
On a seven-day journey from Charleston to Savannah, take part in enlightening tours and encounters to discover the culture, history and impact of the Gullah Geechee people, descendants of enslaved West and Central Africans. Travelling with a local leader and meeting expert guides along the way, you’ll uncover Charleston’s Black heritage on an eye-opening bus tour, dive into Gullah Geechee culture during explorations of James Island, Johns Island and St Helena Island, watch an emotive performance in the storied city of Beaufort, and find out about Georgia’s Gullah Geechee heritage on a guided tour of Savannah. Full of good food, music and storytelling, this adventure is not just educational – it’s a whole lot of fun.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1: Charleston
Location: Charleston
Accommodation: Hotel
Welcome to Charleston, South Carolina! With one foot in the past and another planted in the present, remnants of the city’s history are evident wherever you look. Your adventure kicks off with a 6pm welcome meeting at your hotel where you’ll meet up with your local leader and fellow travellers.
Day 2: Charleston
Location: Charleston
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
This morning we'll take a guided tour of James Island and Johns Island to gain a deeper understanding of Gullah Geechee culture. The Gullah Geechee people are descendants of West and Central Africans enslaved on the rice, indigo and Sea Island cotton plantations of the lower Atlantic coast. This isolated enslavement led to the development of rich and unique culture, language and art, with many ties to their African roots. Enjoy a lowcountry lunch and then take part in a sweet grass workshop where you’ll learn about the origins of sweet grass basket weaving and craft a piece yourself.
Included Activities:
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Day 3: Charleston
Location: Charleston
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast
Today you will head out to discover Charleston’s Black heritage on a city tour with a local guide. Stop at the Old Slave Mart Museum to learn about the role Charleston played in the Atlantic slave trade. and visit the new International African American History Museum to hear of the triumphs of the Black people who stayed in Charleston in the post Reconstruction era – the museum hasn’t officially opened yet, but you’ll be invited in for a first look and private tour. This afternoon, tour the historic Mother Emanuel AME Church. Founded in 1817, this is the oldest African Methodist Episcopal church in the Southern United States. Learn about the role the church played in the civil rights movement, and pay respects to the victims of the 2015 massacre which claimed the lives of nine African American church members, including the pastor. The rest of the day is free for your own discoveries of the city. You may like to check out the Charleston City Market, or visit the Chuma Gallery, showcasing the art of the Gullah people of coastal South Carolina.
Included Activities:
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Day 4: St. Helena Island / Beaufort
Location: St. Helena Island / Beaufort
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Say goodbye to Charleston after breakfast this morning and travel to St Helena Island, known for its rich Gullah Geechee culture and history. On arrival, pay a visit to the Gullah Geechee Visitor Center, meet some of the Gullah Geechee locals who call the island home. Join local guides for a tour of the island and find out how the Gullah Geechee have retained their West African culture and traditions while eluding the effects of slavery, and learn about their beliefs and unique language. Enjoy a flavoursome lowcountry lunch before touring the Penn Center, the site of the former Penn School, one the first schools in the country for formerly enslaved individuals. From here, continue to the city of Beaufort, located on Port Royal Island. Beaufort is celebrated for its seafood and soul food, so be sure to ask your leader for tips on where to eat tonight.
Included Activities:
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Day 5: Beaufort
Location: Beaufort
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Head out this morning and get to know Beaufort, starting with a walking tour of the future home of a Harriett B. Tubman Museum and the Tabernacle Baptist Church, a registered national historic site. You’ll also visit the burial site and memorial of Gullah pioneer Robert Smalls and hear his remarkable tale of heroism during the civil war and his influence on the state of South Carolina. Learn about the Reconstruction Era National Park on a guided museum and walking tour. The afternoon is yours to explore the charming town of Beaufort. This evening, come together to watch an emotive performance by a local nonprofit theatre group that captures the experience of enslaved Africans brought to South Carolina, and the strength and determination that ensured their Gullah Geechee culture and traditions would live on. After enjoying an interactive performance of music, dance and theatrics, tuck into an outdoor seafood boil with residents of Beaufort and St Helena Island.
Included Activities:
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Day 6: Savannah
Location: Savannah
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast
Leave South Carolina behind and cross the state line as you travel to Savannah, Georgia. On arrival, meet with a local expert for an enlightening tour of Savannah’s Black cultural heritage. Explore the Pin Point Heritage Museum, dedicated to Gullah Geechee culture, then see a different side of Savannah when you visit Skidaway Island State Park. Take on some of the park’s most beautiful hiking trails and enjoy a peaceful break from the city. Return to Savannah in the afternoon and join a local guide for a tour that digs into the city’s history of slavery. This evening, you may like to join your group for a final dinner at a local restaurant and toast to the end of your adventure.
Included Activities:
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Day 7: Charleston
Location: Charleston
Meals Included: Breakfast
After breakfast, travel back to Charleston where your adventure will come to an end around 1pm.
What's Included
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Charleston -Gullah Geechee Heritage Tour on James & Johns Island
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Charleston - Sweetgrass Basket Workshop
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Charleston - International African American History Museum
What's Not Included
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Tipping and Gratuities
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International Travel
Transport
- Private Van
Accommodation
- Hotel (5 nights)
Mode of Transport
- NORTH AMERICA VEHICLES
- Our large fleet of 15-passenger vans are fully equipped with air-conditioning system, V8 engines and any camping or cooking equipment needed for your trip. Most have cloth-upholstered seats and carpeted interior with radio or CD players. Your luggage is typically transported in a trailer which is towed behind the van.
- The vans are regularly serviced by a well-established network of maintenance and service facilities throughout the continent. However, unforeseen maintenance problems can still occur while on the road and we appreciate the patience of our travellers as we make necessary repairs as quickly as possible.
- While your group will have a van for all included activities on the trip, the services of the van and leader may not be available for your use during free time, or after you have arrived for the day. If you need a special trip into town you may need to arrange transport or a taxi.
Accommodation
- The style of accommodation indicated in the day-to-day itinerary is a guideline only and may change. On some occasions, alternative arrangements may need to be made due to the lack of availability of rooms in our preferred accommodation. In these cases, we will use a similar standard of accommodation.
- Throughout the trip, we request that our properties prepare rooms in time for our arrival, especially if we're arriving prior to normal check-in time. However, this isn't always possible which means we won't be able to check-in immediately on arrival at some hotels. Instead, we can store our luggage and explore our new destination or on some trips, have use of shared day rooms until all rooms are available.
Important Information
- 1. A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. The single supplement applies to all nights of your trip and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.
- 2.Please provide your full name exactly as per passport at the time of booking (including any middle names listed on your passport).
- 3.This trip starts in Charleston on Day 1 at 6pm. This trip finishes around 1pm on Day 7. Please do not book any flights until after 3:30pm this day.
Check out our Q&As
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Is this trip right for you
This trip is designed for everyone who wants to learn about this unique part of the US and its history.
This trip is run by Black Cultural Heritage Tours in partnership with Intrepid to ensure that Black entrepreneurs and communities get a fair and equal share of revenue, exposure and opportunity.
The South gets mighty steamy in the summertime. Pack appropriately, drink plenty of water and you might even grow to love it. September through to November is hurricane season, so if you’re travelling over this period you should pack a rain jacket and waterproof shoes.
You're in the Deep South of the USA, so expect a lot of (delicious) fried food and barbecue. Vegetarians may have fewer options, as a lot of southern cuisine is meat-based. -
What policies are in place for Covid-19?
Please contact us for latest COVID-19 policies
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How long has the tour company been trading?
Intrepid Travel has been taking travellers around the world for over 30 years
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Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?
Yes
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What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?
Since 2002, The Intrepid Foundation has supported over 130 organisations across the world. We’re creating positive impact through the joy of travel, community and connection.
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Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
Over 50% of traveller travel solo with Intrepid. You can choose to share a room with another solo travelle of the same sex for no additional charge, or choose to pay a single supplement if you’d like your own room. Please request this when booking, and we will secure you a single supplement wherever possible. Please note, if you are booking a last-minute trip, it may be harder for us to secure a single room
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Transfer as credit for future tours
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Intrepid Travel requires a minimum deposit of 200 GBP per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 56 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of intrepid travel charges.
Up to 56 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 55 days before tour starts: Forfeit 30% of booking price.
At 30 days before tour starts: Forfeit 60% of booking price.
At 14 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.
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