selected dates 2024, 2025
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.
Elvis Presley, Memphis, New Orleans and Nashville
Elvis Presley's Memphis, New Orleans And Nashville Tour Highlights
Visiting Montgomery, the resting place of country legend Hank Williams
Journeying through the sleepy countryside of Alabama
Spending two nights in New Orleans, the birthplace of jazz
The atmosphere of New Orleans' famous French Quarter
Visiting Elvis's tiny birthplace in Tupelo, Mississippi
Exploring cotton capital Memphis, Tennessee, once home to The King
Memphis' "home of the blues" and famous Beale Street
Discovering Nashville, the world capital of country music
Visiting Chattanooga of "choo-choo" fame
What does the price include?
Seven nights' room-only accommodation at a series of good-quality hotels in Montgomery (1 night), New Orleans (2), Memphis (2) and Nashville (2), plus one night on the plane
Return flights from your chosen UK airport to Atlanta
Comfortable, air-conditioned coach travel and transfers
The services of a friendly, experienced Tour Manager
Tour Itinerary
Day One: Fly to the USA
Fly into Atlanta, then transfer to the Alabama state capital, Montgomery. Spend the night in the city where country legend Hank Williams was laid to rest, and where a special museum celebrates his short, spectacular career.
Day Two: From Montgomery, Alabama to New Orleans
The gentle landscape of Harper Lee's Alabama gives way to the vast verdant wetlands of Louisiana as we follow the Gulf Coast to New Orleans. Once there, head out to absorb the exuberant energy of this lively city, or board a steamboat for our optional dinner jazz cruise on board Natchez, a traditional southern steamboat.
Day Three: Optional New Orleans tour and Manchac Swamp excursion
Explore the Big Easy on today's optional guided tour. See the iron-balconies and covered sidewalks of the French Quarter, the brightly painted wooden houses of Treme and the three spires of St Louis Cathedral on Jackson Square. Later, head into the surrounding countryside in search of the soul of Creole on our optional Louisiana swampland excursion, then return to the 'Quarter' for a night exploring the bars and clubs where the sounds and spirits of Louis Armstrong and 'King' Oliver still linger.
Day Four: From New Orleans to Tupelo and Memphis
Our focus shifts from jazz to rock 'n' roll today, as we leave New Orleans and head to Elvis Presley's birthplace - Tupelo, Mississippi. You'll have time to visit the tiny house where The King was born (entrance payable locally), before continuing on to Memphis. Settle in to the wonderful Inn at Graceland, then head to Beale Street for an evening of great music and great food.
Day Five: Optional Sun Studio and Graceland excursion
Today's full-day excursion includes a visit to legendary Sun Studio, where music legends from Elvis Presley and Roy Orbison to Johnny Cash and BB King recorded, and to Elvis's beloved home and the world's most famous rock 'n' roll residence - Graceland.
Day Six: From Memphis, Tennessee to Nashville
Relax as our air-conditioned coach carries you through the rolling woods and farmland of Tennessee to Nashville - the city that remains the heart and soul of country music.
Day Seven: Optional Country Music Hall of Fame and Studio B excursion
Our final excursion is one you really don't want to miss, as we delve into the history behind the sound at the Country Music Hall of Fame, and discover the legendary recording studio that spawned more hit songs than any other in America: Studio B.
Day Eight: From Nashville to Chattanooga and Atlanta
Our final day takes us south, via Chattanooga - beautifully set on the Tennessee River - as we return to Atlanta Airport to check in for your flight back to the UK.
Day Nine: Arrive back in the UK
Arrive home, after an overnight flight.
Departures from Manchester and Heathrow
Heathrow 2024
16 January £2052pp
6 February £2052pp
5 March £2061pp
12 March £2133pp
9 April £2061pp
16 April £2061pp
23 April £2061pp
30 April £2268pp
7 May £2268pp
14 May £2061pp
21 May £2061pp
11 June £2304pp
3 September £2061pp
10 September £2061pp
17 September £2061pp
24 September £2061pp
1 October £2061pp
8 October £2061pp
17 November £2061pp
19 November £2061pp
26 November £2061pp
3 December £20161pp
Heathrow 2025
25 February 2025 - £2,133pp
11 March 2025 - £2,150pp
18 March 2025 - £2,150pp
25 March 2025 - £2,150pp
01 April 2025 - £2215pp
29 April 2025 - £2,249pp
06 May 2025 - £2,249pp
13 May 2025 - £2,252pp
20 May 2025 - £2,252pp
27 May 2025 - £2,252pp
03 June 2025 -£2,252pp
10 June 2025 - £2,252pp
02 September 2025 - £2,252pp
09 September 2025 - £2,252pp
16 September 2025 - £2,252pp
23 September 2025 - £2,252pp
30 September 2025 - £2,252pp
07 October 2025 - £2,252pp
14 October 2025 - £2,252pp
21 October 2025 - £2,252pp
18 November 2025 - £2,252pp
02 December 2025 - £2,252pp
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Texas, Presley's Memphis and New Orleans
Tour Highlights And Inclusions
Take in the atmosphere of New Orleans's famous 'French Quarter' on an included city tour
Visit Muscle Shoals - home to Rick Halls' Fame Studio and the Muscle Shoals Sound Studios as well as the Alabama Music Hall of Fame
Discover Nashville, world country music capital
See cotton capital Memphis, Tennessee, home to Elvis Presley
Catch a cattle drive at the Stockyards
Relive the heroics of Davy Crockett at The Alamo
12 nights' room-only accommodation in a series of good-quality hotels in Houston (1 night), New Orleans (2), Muscle Shoals (1), Nashville (1), Memphis (2), Little Rock (1), Fort Worth (2) and San Antonio (2)
Entrance to Sun Studios and Elvis' beloved Graceland in Memphis
Visit to the NASA Space Center in Houston
Return scheduled flights
Coach touring as described in the itinerary
Fully escorted by a friendly, experienced Tour Manager
Itinerary
Day One
Fly to Houston
meet your Tour Manager and transfer to your hotel in the Galleria area for your first overnight stay in the USA.
Day Two
Head east towards Louisiana and 'Creole Country' to the great city of New Orleans, the unmistakable Big Easy. Enjoy your first evening in this intoxicating place, perhaps joining our optional Steamboat Dinner Jazz Cruise.
Day Three
This morning's guided city tour introduces the Big Easy, and will include the famous French Quarter of time-warped, iron-balconied buildings centred on Jackson Square. This afternoon, join our optional Louisiana Swampland excursion to explore the surrounding countryside, and later head back to the 'Quarter' to enjoy the night time atmosphere of the place that gave the world jazz.
Day Four
Head north today through sleepy Alabama to our next stop, Muscle Shoals. This town is home to Rick Halls' Fame Studios, which put the likes of Otis Redding and Aretha Franklin on the map, as well as the Muscle Shoals Sound Studio, where Bob Dylan, Paul Simon and the Rolling Stones all record.
Day Five
This morning we will visit the Rick Halls' Fame Studios, the Muscle Shoals Sound Studio and the entertaining Alabama Music Hall of Fame, before travelling on to Nashville, the undisputed world capital of country music.
Day SiX
An optional excursion will introduce the legendary Studio B - where countless country standards and a galaxy of Elvis's RCA hits were recorded - and to the Country Music Hall of Fame. This afternoon, head to the great city of Memphis on the bank of the Mississippi. Our base is the new and impressive Guest House at Graceland, located right next to the Mansion. This evening, perhaps soak up the party atmosphere of Beale Street.
Day Seven
Today's full-day Memphis Sounds excursion will include a visit to legendary Sun Studio and to Elvis's beloved Graceland, home and final resting place of The King. This evening, why not try some delicious pork ribs? After all, Memphis is America's barbecue capital!
Day Eight
Enjoy a free morning exploring the heritage of Elvis's hometown, perhaps visiting the Stax Records Museum or the more sombre Museum of Civil Rights. Later, travel west into Arkansas and to Little Rock, home to the William J Clinton Presidential Library and Museum, which honours the work of the state's most famous son. Later, why not visit the restaurants and bars of the colourful River Market District?
Day Nine
Journey to the cattle-trading town of Fort Worth, the starting point of the famous Chisholm Trail, and still home to authentic Western culture. The famous Stockyards are the focal point of the Historic Quarter, where wooden boardwalks and old-fashioned store fronts recreate the days of the Old West.
Day 10
Spend this morning at the Stockyards, perhaps witnessing a Texan cattle-drive, before you continue to glittering Dallas, forever associated with the tragic events of November 1963. Today the Sixth Floor Museum (entrance payable locally) of the Texas Schoolbook Depository overlooking Dealey Plaza - unchanged since the Kennedy assassination - recreates the hideout from which the fatal shots were fired. This evening, back in Fort Worth, perhaps visit Billy Bob's Texas, the world's most rip-roarin', all-singin', all-line-dancin' Western Saloon.
Day 11
Today you'll make your way to the Texan State Capital of Austin where the city's thriving music scene is home to countless clubs and bars, including the famous Broken Spoke. Listings magazine might reveal some famous names when they're in town. Later, we'll continue to San Antonio, our base for the next two nights.
Day 12
San Antonio, capital of Tex-Mex culture and one of the USA's most attractive cities, greets you today. Discover the famous River Walk that snakes its way across the city, and relive the siege of The Alamo - when Davy Crockett and Jim Bowie held out heroically for almost two weeks before finally succumbing to the overwhelming forces of Mexican general Santa Anna.
Day 13
Depart this morning for Houston to visit NASA's world-famous Lyndon B Johnson Space Centre. This was the heart of the moon-landings nearly 50 years ago, and remains a working base for the International Space Station. The site offers an incomparable taste of modern history, with its restored 'Mission Control' and the sight of the towering 'Saturn V' rocket that fired the astronauts into orbit. During the afternoon you'll continue to the airport to catch your overnight flight home.
Day 14
Arrive back in the UK, after a wonderful journey through America's fascinating Southern Heartland.
from Heathrow or Manchester
2024
London Heathrow
5 May £3378pp
15 September £3378pp
6 October £3378pp
10 November £3378pp
2025 dates now on sale call for details
Visa and Health Information
Visa/ESTA for USA: Under the USA Visa Waiver Programme, most British passport holders do not require a visa to travel to the United States if travelling as a tourist for up to 90 days.
Those qualifying for the Visa Waiver Programme must apply online for authorisation to enter the USA, for which there is an administration fee of $14 per person. This is called an ESTA.
This may only be obtained online by visiting the official website: https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov and registering at least 72 hours prior to travel.
Those who do not qualify for the VWP will be required to apply for a visa. Please contact the relevant embassy for any additional information. Without authorisation prior to travel, admission may be denied at a US port of entry.
Whilst care has been taken to ensure that the information provided relating to visa requirements is true and correct at time of publication, changes in requirements after the time of publication may impact on the accuracy of this information. Therefore, whilst we strive to provide the most up-to-date information, we strongly suggest that you re-confirm requirements with the relevant embassy prior to application.
This tour is operated by Newmarket Holidays.
For this tour Westoe Travel act as agents for Newmarket Holidays
ATOL number V7812
Newmarket Holidays Terms and Conditions apply
All passengers must have a valid passport for this tour. Depending on the country issuing your passport, a visa may also be required. More information can be found at the Identity & Passport Service
Identity and Passport service
Customers should ensure that they are fit enough to travel, please check with your General Practictioner and www.fco.gov.uk/travel and www.nathnac.org
The latest advice from the Foreign & Commonwealth Office about travelling abroad
Foreign and commonwealth office
TRAVEL INSURANCE
We advise customers take travel insurance for all bookings
Call Just Travel Cover 0800 2942972 quoting reference L4746 for best prices or
Click here for Holiday Insurance or
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Mobility
We want to ensure you make the correct choice before you book your holiday with us. If you have any concerns regarding the suitability of the holiday due to reduced mobility we would encourage you to call us to discuss these concerns
We advise customers take travel insurance for all bookings
We strongly advise that you check the latest advice from the Foreign and commonwealth office about travelling abroad both before booking and before travelling
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