Search

No longer offered

Vacations By Rail has withdrawn this trip from sale. We keep the page for reference and comparison. Live alternatives are under Similar journeys below.

Vacations By Rail · Escorted tour

Charms of the South: Charleston & Savannah

Seven-day escorted tour of Charleston, Savannah, and Jekyll Island by coach and cruise

Illustration of Charms of the South: Charleston & Savannah

Vacations By Rail operates this 7-day escorted tour through Charleston, Savannah, and Jekyll Island, three destinations steeped in American Southern history and architecture. The tour runs from Charleston to Jekyll Island with stops in Savannah and nearby islands, traveling entirely by motorcoach and cruise rather than by train. You stay three nights at the Live Oak in Charleston and three nights at the Hilton Garden Inn Savannah Historic District, with a Tour Manager accompanying the entire group. Days balance guided excursions with free exploration: visit Boone Hall Plantation, one of America's oldest working plantations dating to 1681, where you enjoy a Gullah luncheon with traditional storytelling; cruise Charleston's harbor aboard the Carolina Belle past Fort Sumter and 75 other points of interest; tour Savannah's historic squares by narrated trolley; and travel to Jekyll Island for lunch and a trolley tour of its 240-acre historic district. The operator rates this tour Mobility Rating 3, meaning substantial walking and activity demands. It suits history-lovers, couples, and travelers who prefer escorted structure with expert guidance.

What to know before you look closer

  • This tour is escorted by coach and cruise, not by rail; it includes no train travel despite being listed on a rail tour guide.
  • Mobility Rating 3 indicates moderate to substantial physical demands; confirm you are comfortable with extended walking, trolley boarding, and plantation grounds exploration before booking.

Day by day

  1. Day 1overnight: Charleston

    Arriving in the "Holy City"

    Arrive in Charleston and check in to the hotel for the first of three nights; meet the Tour Manager. Free time to explore Rainbow Row or King Street.

  2. Day 2overnight: Charleston

    Beauty and history at Boone Hall Plantation

    Coach to Boone Hall Plantation (dating to 1681) in South Carolina's Lowcountry for a self-guided garden tour, followed by a Gullah luncheon with a storytelling and song performance overlooking Boone Hall Creek.

  3. Day 3overnight: Charleston

    Exploring Charleston and its harbor

    Step-on guided coach tour of Charleston (City Market, Rainbow Row, historic homes), followed by a cruise of Charleston's harbor aboard the Carolina Belle past more than 75 points of interest, including Fort Sumter.

  4. Day 4overnight: Savannah

    To Charleston's rival sister city, Savannah

    Depart Charleston for Savannah, stopping at the Charleston Tea Garden on Wadmalaw Island for a narrated trolley tour and factory visit, then free time for lunch in historic Beaufort before arriving in Savannah.

  5. Day 5overnight: Savannah

    Getting to know Savannah

    Free morning to explore Savannah's squares, Forsyth Park or East River Street, followed by an afternoon narrated trolley tour of the city's squares (Chippewa, Lafayette, Calhoun), monuments and historic mansions.

  6. Day 6overnight: Savannah

    A peaceful retreat to Jekyll Island

    Travel south to Jekyll Island (about 95 miles from Savannah) for lunch in the Grand Dining Room of the Jekyll Island Club Resort, then a guided trolley tour of the 240-acre historic district, including admission to one of Jekyll's notable cottages.

  7. Day 7

    Tour conclusion

    Vacation concludes with breakfast; check out of the hotel at your leisure and begin your travels home.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 2Coach to Boone Hall Plantation, one of America's oldest working plantations (dating to 1681), for a self-guided garden tour followed by a Gullah luncheon with storytelling and song overlooking Boone Hall Creek.
  • Day 3Guided coach tour of Charleston's historic district, then a cruise aboard the Carolina Belle past more than 75 points of interest in the harbor, including Fort Sumter.
  • Day 4Narrated trolley tour of the Charleston Tea Garden on Wadmalaw Island, including a factory visit, plus free time in historic Beaufort before arriving in Savannah.
  • Day 6Travel to Jekyll Island for lunch in the Grand Dining Room of the Jekyll Island Club Resort and a guided trolley tour of the 240-acre historic district with admission to one of the island's notable cottages.

Included

  • Expertise of a Tour Manager from start to finish
  • 6 nights' 3-Star hotel accommodation
  • All coach and cruise travel throughout your tour
  • Breakfast each day, 2 lunches
  • All guided tours and excursions

Questions travellers ask

Is train travel included in this tour?
No. This is an escorted coach and cruise tour. Transport is by motorcoach and harbor cruise; there is no rail component.
Is the tour guided or independent?
It is fully escorted. A Tour Manager travels with the group throughout, and all excursions (plantation tours, harbor cruise, trolley tours) are guided.
What hotels are included?
The Live Oak in Charleston for 3 nights and the Hilton Garden Inn Savannah Historic District for 3 nights.
What meals are included?
Breakfast is included each day. Two lunches are included: a Gullah luncheon at Boone Hall Plantation and lunch at the Jekyll Island Club Resort. Other meals are on your own.
How much walking is involved?
The operator rates this tour Mobility Rating 3, indicating moderate to substantial physical demands including self-guided plantation gardens, extended city walking tours, trolley boarding, and historic district exploration.
What is the activity level?
The itinerary includes step-on guided tours, self-guided plantation exploration, trolley tours, a harbor cruise, and walking through historic neighborhoods and parks. Most days combine guided group time with some free time for independent exploration.

Similar journeys