How much does it cost?

From £4,499 per person, the operator's advertised from-price, read on its own page on 12 Sept 2026. About $6,077 at ECB reference rates. Departures, room types and dates can price differently; the operator's page is the final word.

Is this an escorted tour?

Yes. A UK Tour Manager accompanies the group from start to finish. The tour operates with a maximum group size of 30 people.

Which hotels are used?

Hotels vary by city: Hyatt Place Charlotte Airport in Charlotte, Dollywood's DreamMore Resort in Pigeon Forge, Chattanooga Marriott Downtown or Courtyard by Marriott in Chattanooga, Hyatt Place Downtown in Nashville, The Guest House at Graceland in Memphis, and Le Méridien New Orleans or AC Hotel French Quarter in New Orleans.

When does the tour operate?

Great Rail Journeys has seven departures: January, April, May, June, September, and October 2027, with one departure in October 2026.

Great Rail Journeys · Escorted tour

Tracks of the Deep South

Great Rail Journeys' 14-day Tracks of the Deep South is an escorted tour tracing American music history from the mountains of North Carolina to New Orleans. The journey begins in Charlotte with a flight to North Carolina, where guests visit the Biltmore House before heading to the Great Smoky Mountains. Along the route, travellers board three memorable trains: the heritage Great Smoky Mountains Railroad through the Nantahala Gorge, the historic Lookout Mountain Incline Railway climbing into Tennessee views, and Amtrak's City of New Orleans running through Mississippi to Louisiana. Stops in Nashville include the Grand Ole Opry live broadcast, RCA Studio B, and the Country Music Hall of Fame. Memphis brings visits to Graceland and Sun Studio, followed by New Orleans with its French Quarter and Mississippi River cruise aboard the Creole Queen paddle steamer. The tour includes 12 nights in 3 and 4-star hotels, a UK Tour Manager throughout, and guided tours at every major destination. This itinerary suits history lovers and music enthusiasts, particularly those new to rail travel or seeking the comfort of an organized escorted experience.

Price history

Across 5 checks, this price has fallen £300 since 4 Jul, to £4,499.

Each point is a day we checked this operator's own page, not a weekly average, and the line holds flat between checks rather than guessing at movement we did not see. 3 of 5 points are a live read of the operator's page. Hollow points are values shown when the trip was first listed here and never confirmed with the operator.

What to know before you look closer

The single supplement is £2,000 above half the double price, a significant premium for solo travellers.
For the Mardi Gras departure on 30 January 2026, the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad does not operate; a scenic drive through the National Park replaces it, and the Grand Ole Opry visit shifts to Day 7.
Maximum group size is 30 people; the tour is escorted but operates in larger numbers.

Day by day

Day 1overnight: Charlotte
To Charlotte, North Carolina's largest city
We meet the Tour Manager at London Heathrow and board a direct flight to Charlotte, transferring to our hotel in the late afternoon.
Day 2overnight: Pigeon Forge
To Biltmore House & Pigeon Forge
We travel by coach to Asheville to visit Biltmore House, the largest stately home in the USA, then continue to Pigeon Forge to check in to the Dollywood DreamMore Resort.
Day 3railovernight: Pigeon Forge
Great Smoky Mountains Railroad
A coach to Bryson City, then a heritage railway journey through the Nantahala Gorge aboard the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad, before returning to our hotel in Pigeon Forge.
Day 4railovernight: Chattanooga
To Chattanooga and the Lookout Mountain Incline Railway
We travel to Chattanooga and ride the Lookout Mountain Incline Railway, one of the world's steepest passenger railways, before checking in to our downtown hotel.
Day 5overnight: Nashville
Jack Daniel's Distillery & arrival in Nashville
We leave Chattanooga for Nashville, stopping in Moore County for a guided tour and tasting at the Jack Daniel's Distillery, before checking in to our downtown Nashville hotel.
Day 6overnight: Nashville
Nashville's musical history and an evening at the Grand Ole Opry
A guided tour of Nashville's musical landmarks, followed by an evening performance at the legendary Grand Ole Opry.
Day 7overnight: Nashville
Studio B & the Country Music Hall of Fame
A guided tour of the legendary RCA Studio B, ending at the Country Music Hall of Fame, with the rest of the day free to explore Nashville.
Day 8overnight: Memphis
To Jackson and into the heart of Memphis
We travel through Tennessee, stopping in Jackson and at the West Tennessee Delta Heritage Center in Brownsville, before arriving in Memphis to check in at The Guest House at Graceland.
Day 9overnight: Memphis
Paying tribute to the two 'Kings' at Graceland and Sun Studio
A visit to Graceland, Elvis Presley's mansion, followed by a tour of the iconic Sun Studio, with free time afterwards to explore Beale Street.
Day 10railovernight: New Orleans
The City of New Orleans train & Oak Alley Plantation
We travel aboard Amtrak's City of New Orleans train through Mississippi to Louisiana, visiting the Oak Alley Plantation before checking in to our hotel in New Orleans.
Day 11overnight: New Orleans
The French Quarter and a Mississippi cruise
A guided tour of the French Quarter including Café du Monde, followed by a sightseeing cruise on the Mississippi River aboard the paddle steamer Creole Queen.
Day 12overnight: New Orleans
Free as a bird in New Orleans
A free day to explore New Orleans independently, from the French Quarter's architecture to the St Charles Avenue streetcar.
Day 13overnight: In flight
Homeward bound
A final morning in New Orleans before we transfer to the airport for our direct overnight flight to London Heathrow.
Day 14
Arrival in London Heathrow
We touch down at London Heathrow this morning, returning home with memories of the Deep South.

The moments this trip is built around

Day 3Day 3: Board the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad for a four-and-a-half-hour round trip through the Nantahala Gorge, crossing a historic bridge over Fontana Lake with a one-hour stop by the river.
Day 4Day 4: Ride the Lookout Mountain Incline Railway, one of the world's steepest passenger railways operating since 1887, viewing Chattanooga and the Tennessee River.
Day 6Day 6: Attend a live music broadcast at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville featuring eight or more artists.
Day 9Day 9: Visit Graceland, Elvis Presley's home, viewing preserved living quarters, memorabilia and car collections; tour Sun Studio, birthplace of rock and roll.
Day 10Day 10: Board Amtrak's City of New Orleans train, travelling from Tennessee through Mississippi to Louisiana, then tour Oak Alley Plantation.

Included

Tour Manager: expertise of a UK Tour Manager from start to finish
Accommodation: 12 nights' 3 & 4-Star hotel accommodation
Transportation: all rail, cruise and coach travel throughout your tour
Flights: direct flights from London Heathrow to Charlotte, New Orleans to London Heathrow
Food & Drink: 9 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 1 dinner
Excursions & Entertainment: all guided tours and excursions

Not included

Cancellation & Travel Insurance

Questions travellers ask

How much does it cost?: From £4,499 per person, the operator's advertised from-price, read on its own page on 12 Sept 2026. About $6,077 at ECB reference rates. Departures, room types and dates can price differently; the operator's page is the final word.
Is this an escorted tour?: Yes. A UK Tour Manager accompanies the group from start to finish. The tour operates with a maximum group size of 30 people.
Which hotels are used?: Hotels vary by city: Hyatt Place Charlotte Airport in Charlotte, Dollywood's DreamMore Resort in Pigeon Forge, Chattanooga Marriott Downtown or Courtyard by Marriott in Chattanooga, Hyatt Place Downtown in Nashville, The Guest House at Graceland in Memphis, and Le Méridien New Orleans or AC Hotel French Quarter in New Orleans.
When does the tour operate?: Great Rail Journeys has seven departures: January, April, May, June, September, and October 2027, with one departure in October 2026.