America's Deep South

America's Deep South

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America's Deep South

Tour operator:

Mercury Holidays

Guide Type:

Fully Guided

Interests:

Music

Tour Overview

America's Civil Rights Movement, music heritage and space exploration all came to a head in the explosive and exuberant atmosphere of the nineteen sixties.

Highlights

  • Enjoy Nashville, Music City USA
  • Audio tour of Graceland, the home of Elvis Presley
  • Dinner at BB King's on Beale Street, Memphis
  • Visit the National Civil Rights Museum
  • Visit a local whisky distillery in New Orleans
  • See NASA's Houston Space Centre

Itinerary

Day 1 - UK to Atlanta
Your journey starts with a flight from London's Heathrow on the scheduled services of British Airways directly to Atlanta where our coach and tour director will be waiting to transfer you to your city hotel. Join your fellow travellers in the evening for a welcome dinner.

Day 2 - Atlanta to Nashville
This morning, after breakfast, begin your day with a brief city tour of Atlanta and then head off to Nashville. Stop along the way at the historic Lookout Mountain with its fabulous views across terrain fought over during the America Civil War then later on visit the Jack Daniels Distillery in Lynchburg where the eponymous whiskey has been made since 1884. Interestingly Lynchburg, with its red brick courthouse and quaint general store has just one traffic light and is a dry county! After a break for lunch continue on through Tennessee to 'Music City USA' Nashville, a town set amidst rolling farmland known worldwide as the home of country music.

Day 3 - Nashville
For music listeners, your tour begins here with a visit to the Country Music Hall of Fame, a huge museum of all things Country and Western with films, videos, costumes and home to Elvis Presley's solid gold Cadillac. Next continue to the Johnny Cash Museum to admire never-beforeseen historical documents, awards and costumes. Your group will also have the chance to visit one of Nashville's famous honky-tonks playing live country music as well as the Ryman Auditorium and the impressive Parthenon - the only full scale replica of the Greek Parthenon giving reason for its nickname 'Athens of the South'.
Optional excursion (payable locally): Evening music concert at the Grand Ole Opry

Day 4 - Nashville to Memphis
Following breakfast begin the day with a visit to Studio B, Nashville's oldest surviving recording studio regularly used by stars such as Elvis Presley, Roy Orbison, Dolly Parton, Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings and The Everley Brothers to name just a few. The tour will then head for Memphis, yet another highlight of this Southern Musical Medley tour. On arrival in Memphis you will take a trip to the National Civil Rights Museum built on the spot where Martin Luther King was assassinated in 1968. Telling the story of the black fight for freedom from slavery through to the Civil Rights Movement of the early fifties and sixties, prepare yourself for an emotional and unforgettable experience. This evening, after checking into your hotel we've arranged dinner at BB Kings Blues Bar for a great night of Southern food, musical sounds and hospitality amongst the lively atmosphere of Beale Street.

Day 5 - Memphis
Today features another first for the music lover - a visit to Graceland the home of Elvis, one of the most iconic houses in America and final resting place of The King. Enjoy an audio tour through the decadent and quirky rooms including the 'jungle den' where he used to watch football games and Kung-fu movies. Next watch the famous Peabody Ducks march to and from the Grand Lobby at the Peabody Memphis Hotel, a unique tradition dating back to 1933! Then we move onto Sun Studio where Elvis recorded his first hit and where you can still see Jerry Lee Lewis' piano. Admire architectural landmarks such as Court Square Fountain, the Lincoln American Tower and Calvary Episcopal Church whilst your guide entertains you with entertaining tales about this rowdy riverside town and its inhabitants. Tonight is at leisure for you to explore and experience the many bars, restaurants and music scene of Memphis.

Day 6 - Memphis to New Orleans
Today the tour leaves Memphis and follows the path of the mighty Mississippi River and travels deep into the heart of the Mississippi Delta via Jackson before crossing the border into Louisiana. Driving across Lake Pontchartrain on the longest causeway in the world you will arrive in New Orleans, a melange of European style and Caribbean flavours and a city full of flamboyance, festivities and a whole lot of soul. We've arranged to take you to the New Orleans School of cooking this evening for an entertaining demonstration from one of their Creole/Cajun experts with dinner included and the chance to try a New Orleans speciality such as Gumbo, Jambalaya and Pralines.

Day 7 - New Orleans
In the morning, after breakfast visit some of New Orleans highlights including the famous French Quarter taking in Bourbon Street, the art galleries and antique shops of Royal Street and Jackson Square with its many artists, museums and fortune tellers. The rest of the day and evening are for you to enjoy at your leisure, but make sure you live the New Orleans' motto 'Laissez les bons temps rouler' - let the good times roll!

Day 8 - New Orleans
Today is a free day for you to enjoy and relax in New Orleans in your own time. Stroll around the market in the French Quarter, stop for some lunch at one of the many oyster bars and restaurants, shop for antiques and trinkets or book yourself a tour through the Louisiana bayou aboard an airboat. This evening you can take your pick of the many excellent bars, eateries and music venues for where this laid back city, The Big Easy, is world renowned.
Optional excursion (bookable locally): Gray Line Cajun Pride Swamp Tour

Day 9 - New Orleans to Houston
This morning it's time to leave New Orleans and travel to Houston to catch your return flight back to the UK the next day. There will be a stop along the way in Lake Charles for an hour or so for you to stretch your legs and have some lunch. Arriving in Houston in the early hours of the evening there will be a short orientation tour before returning to the hotel.

Day 10 - Houston to the UK
The final day includes a visit to Houston's Space Centre, home to N.A.S.A and the world's largest collection of moon rocks and lunar samples on public view. You'll also see Mission Control that guided the first moon landings as well as original Saturn, Mercury and Apollo rockets that have been at the forefront of space exploration since the early sixties. (We suggest you visit www.spacecentre.org for a full flavour of this fascinating experience). Sadly, your southern tour of music, culture and history is at an end and it is time to depart for the airport to catch your return direct flight back to Heathrow with British Airways.

What's Included

  • Fully Escorted Tour with local English Speaking Guides throughout
  • Scheduled Flights from the UK
  • All internal travel including air-conditioned/heated transportation
  • Accommodation, meals as specified and entry fees to all sights
  • All airport taxes and security charges

Check out our Q&As

  • Can I book airport assistance?

    If you need assistance at the airport and haven't made these arrangements at the time of booking, you'll need to let us know before you travel. Please message to arrange this.

  • I have particular special requirements - can these be arranged?

    We are happy to welcome travellers with disabilities on many of our holidays but regret that in some cases we are unable to do so, due to the travel arrangements and/or the hotels which are featured. The suitability of any holiday will depend on the nature of a disability and in some cases whether the person with the disability is accompanied by an able-bodied companion. In order to ensure the comfort, safety and enjoyment of your holiday if you or any member of your party has any medical problem or disability which may affect your holiday, please tell us before you confirm your booking so that we can advise as to the suitability of the chosen arrangements & where necessary, instruct our representatives accordingly.

  • Travel Insurance

    We strongly recommend that you and all members of your party are suitably insured as soon as you book your holiday. It is a condition of booking that you must have suitable travel insurance. It is important that you purchase travel insurance that suitably covers your participation in whatever activities you may undertake at the time that you make your booking. Please ensure you provide us with the name of your insurer, policy number and their 24 hour emergency contact number once you have confirmed your trip. Mercury Holidays will not be liable for any costs incurred by you due to your failure to take out suitable travel insurance from the date of booking.

Reviews of this operator

B Garrett. (Google Reviewer)  

Mercury Holidays are easy to...

03-Sep-2024

Mercury Holidays are easy to book, they are a great company and arrange everything for you. We have been to Electra Palace Hotel,Rhodes in Greece 3 times now and are booked again for next year. This is an excellent Hotel and the staff are very good and helpful. Each time we have been there has been some alterations. The swimming pool is enormous, and although we did go in August with family this year the pool was not crowded despite it being in the school holidays.This Hotel has everything you could need.It is out of the way but, there is a shuttle bus costing €9 return to OldTown but you do need to book it. There is a €10 per night per room to pay when you arrive at the Hotel. There is a Greek Restaurant that you can access and also an Italian you can go to both once during your stay but you need to book these as they are very popular. The Hotel leads onto a private beach which is rather stoney but has sun loungers on it and there are Cabanas around the beach and pool areas. There is also a well stocked gift shop. We would recommend this Hotel for a great holiday.

Ann Websdale (Google Reviewer)  

Have travelled with Mercury Holidays...

07-May-2024

Have travelled with Mercury Holidays now around 6/7 times. Very easy to book online and staff are very helpful if you need to phone, also when you are away on your vacation they are easy to contact and our Rep has always been more than helpful on our Welcome Meetings. We would definitely recommend Mercury Holidays. We have always travelled to Malta through them. We give 10/10

Lindsey Baker (Google Reviewer)  

Another great holiday booked with...

12-Feb-2025

Another great holiday booked with Mercury in Sri Lanka at Club Palm Bay. A unique hotel comprising of spacious bungalows around a lagoon.Beautiful gardens and wild life to be seen . Staff are exceptional they have such a lovely attitude.

Linda Macro (Google Reviewer)  

Mercury Grand Tour of Japan If...

19-Sep-2024

Mercury Grand Tour of Japan If you are looking for an adventure which is fast moving and challenging then consider this amazing tour of China travelling north to south. You will see iconic temples, shrines exquisite architecture and visit the Peace Dome and museum created from WW2. There are internationally recognised sculptors in the Open Air sculpture Park and endless Picasso art indoors. Visit the snow monies beyond woodlands or wild deer in the national parks. The whole adventure is an artists or photographers dream. I highly recommend it but be prepared for walking in amazing settings. It’s a totally safe but fast moving country but tranquility is easily found.

James Hunsdale (Google Reviewer)  

Great time in Malta. January...

12-Feb-2025

Great time in Malta. January is fine too enjoy yourselves. Avg 16..20 % The dB San Antonio Hotel is perfect, great entertainment, fantastic atmosphere and food of the highest quality with 3 different restaurants to choose from. We are both mid 70s bus depot 2 minutes walk. €2 gets you over the whole island. We would highly recommend Malta to anyone and with the offers Mercury holidays have on though out the whole year you just can't get a better deal. Love it 😀 😍

RACHAEL HAIGH (Google Reviewer)  

A* travel agent and a...

01-Sep-2023

A* travel agent and a credit to the industry. Living in the North of England, we had never heard of Mercury Holidays until conversing with a family on a previous holiday to Dubai. We were recommended that should we want to book any long-haul holidays in the future then we should book them with Mercury Holidays as they are not only efficient at being very quick to hand and overtly helpful should I have any queries but they also offer the cheapest and upmost, amazing deals online. Mercury Holidays definitely lived up to their name!!!! My husband and I have just returned from a lovely and relaxing 2 weeks stay in beautiful Mauritius. Our holiday was nothing but perfect as we were presented with everything that we want when travelling long-haul; perfectly timed Emirates flights, a beautiful and peaceful hotel situated on the most idyllic beach as well as on-the-dot private taxi, transfers following 2 lengthy flights, of which were all greatly appreciated. Since our holiday, from its initial booking to landing back in the UK only yesterday was an absolute blast and the utmost perfect trip of a lifetime with no complaints whatsoever, we will definitely use Mercury Holidays when travelling abroad in the future. Thank you again and kindest regards, Rachael and Mark - Leeds, West Yorkshire 😊

Philip Jones (Google Reviewer)  

An excellent hotel, spotlessly clean,...

14-Jan-2025

An excellent hotel, spotlessly clean, good sized rooms, comfortable lounge area, excellent bar area with very good evening entertainment. All the staff are very pleasant and go that extra bit to look after you, nothing is too much trouble for them. Must say they know how to feed their guests, some of the best food we have had in Cyprus. Can highly recommend this hotel and look forward to returning.

john greene (Google Reviewer)  

Great hotel situated right on...

03-May-2024

Great hotel situated right on the beach. The hotel has recently gone to adults only as well as all inclusive. The staff really go out of their way to ensure you have a brilliant holiday. The meals are buffet style, but you can also book into one of the Al a carte restaurants for two meals for each week of your stay. Another brilliant idea is that you are allocated sun loungers for the duration of your stay ,so nobody else can use them. All in all a great hotel and a fantastic holiday.

Edward Forty (Google Reviewer)  

We had such a great...

22-Apr-2024

We had such a great experience and saw such a lot. It is certainly all well organized and the guides look after you really well. We did the Essence of India tour and had the Highlights of Kerala extension and it was just amazing. The people are so friendly, the hotels are superb and Mercury is just great value for money. Many thanks to everyone and it was a brilliant holiday.

Diane White (Google Reviewer)  

A wonderful experience on the...

28-Mar-2025

A wonderful experience on the Grand Tour of India. Everything on the trip ran smoothly and efficiently. The hotels were all comfortable and food was good. The booking process with Mercury was straight forward and I found them very helpful when I rang them with changes to my booking. We were looked after brilliantly from the moment we arrived In New Delhi. From then on all the excursions were very well arranged and our guide, Giri, was extremely knowledgeable, informative and he certainly made the whole experience one to be remembered. The four day add-on to Goa was a definite bonus, giving time to relax after a hectic 16 day tour! A Mercury rep met us at Goa Airport and our transfer to the hotel was straight forward. He kept in touch with us during our short stay and was there to us escort us back to Goa airport for our return at 2.30 a.m!!! I would certainly book with Mercury again.

Book with Confidence

  • Low Deposit

    Mercury Holidays requires a minimum deposit of 295 GBP per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 84 days before departure.

  • Cancellation Policy

    We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of mercury holidays charges.

    Up to 84 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.

    At 70 days before tour starts: Forfeit 50% of booking price.

    At 43 days before tour starts: Forfeit 70% of booking price.

    At 29 days before tour starts: Forfeit 80% of booking price.

    At 15 days before tour starts: Forfeit 90% of booking price.

    At 0 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.

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