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Great Rail Journeys · Escorted tour

Tracks of the Deep South

14-day Deep South rail journey from Charlotte to New Orleans via music cities

Illustration of 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.

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

  1. Day 1overnight: Charlotte

    To Charlotte, North Carolina's largest city

    Holiday begins at London Heathrow, meeting the Tour Manager before boarding a direct flight to Charlotte, North Carolina. Transfer to hotel in the late afternoon.

  2. Day 2railovernight: Pigeon Forge

    To Biltmore House & Pigeon Forge

    Travel by coach to Gatlinburg, Tennessee, stopping in Asheville to visit Biltmore House – the largest stately home in the United States, a 250-room mansion once owned by railroad magnate George Vanderbilt. Lunch at the Stable Café before a self-guided tour. Continue to Pigeon Forge and check in to Dollywood's DreamMore Resort.

    Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

  3. Day 3railovernight: Pigeon Forge

    Great Smoky Mountains Railroad

    Board a coach to Bryson City for free time, then board the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad on a four-and-a-half-hour round-trip through the Nantahala Gorge, crossing a historic bridge over Fontana Lake. One-hour stop by the river. Return to hotel in Pigeon Forge. (Note: for the Mardi Gras departure on 30th January, the railroad will not operate; instead a scenic drive through the National Park.)

    Meals: Breakfast

  4. Day 4railovernight: Chattanooga

    To Chattanooga and the Lookout Mountain Incline Railway

    Travel to Chattanooga. Free time for independent lunch. Board the Lookout Mountain Incline Railway, one of the world's steepest passenger railways (operating since 1887), enjoying vistas of Chattanooga and the Tennessee River. Visit the Civil War battle site atop Lookout Mountain. Check in to downtown hotel; free evening to explore.

    Meals: Breakfast

  5. Day 5overnight: Nashville

    Jack Daniel's Distillery & arrival in Nashville

    Leave Chattanooga by coach to Nashville, stopping in Moore County for a guided tour and tasting at the Jack Daniel's Distillery. Continue to Nashville and check in to downtown hotel. Afternoon and evening free to explore the city.

    Meals: Breakfast

  6. Day 6overnight: Nashville

    Nashville's musical history and an evening at the Grand Ole Opry

    Guided tour of Nashville's major musical sights including Music Row. Afternoon free at leisure. Evening visit to the Grand Ole Opry for a live music broadcast featuring eight or more artists. (Note: for the Mardi Gras departure on 30th January 2026, the Grand Ole Opry visit is on Day 7 instead.)

  7. Day 7overnight: Nashville

    Studio B & the Country Music Hall of Fame

    Tour the legendary RCA Studio B, where Elvis, the Everly Brothers and Dolly Parton recorded. Visit the Country Music Hall of Fame, the world's largest music museum. Remainder of the day free to explore Nashville independently.

    Meals: Breakfast

  8. Day 8overnight: Memphis

    To Jackson and into the heart of Memphis

    Leave Nashville by coach. Stop in Jackson, birthplace of rockabilly music, for independent lunch. Visit the West Tennessee Delta Heritage Center in Brownsville, including a dedicated Tina Turner museum. Continue to Memphis and check in to The Guest House at Graceland. Memphis-style barbecue dinner at the hotel.

    Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

  9. Day 9overnight: Memphis

    Paying tribute to the two 'Kings' at Graceland and Sun Studio

    Visit Graceland, Elvis Presley's home, viewing preserved living quarters, memorabilia and car collections. Afternoon tour of Sun Studio, birthplace of rock'n'roll. Rest of the day free; option to visit Beale Street.

    Meals: Breakfast

  10. Day 10railovernight: New Orleans

    The City of New Orleans train & Oak Alley Plantation

    Board Amtrak's City of New Orleans train from Tennessee through Mississippi to Louisiana. Arrive in Hammond; coach to Oak Alley Plantation for a guided tour. Continue to New Orleans and check in to hotel near Bourbon Street.

    Meals: Breakfast

  11. Day 11overnight: New Orleans

    The French Quarter and a Mississippi cruise

    Guided tour of the French Quarter, stopping at Café du Monde for beignets and café au lait. Free time in the city. Board the Creole Queen paddle steamer for a sightseeing cruise along the Mississippi River, passing the site of the Battle of New Orleans. Evening free. (Note: for the Mardi Gras departure on 30th January 2026, today is parade day with tickets; French Quarter tour and cruise move to Day 12.)

  12. Day 12overnight: New Orleans

    Free as a bird in New Orleans

    Full free day to explore New Orleans at leisure. Options include St Louis Cathedral, a streetcar ride on St Charles' Avenue, city parks, and the French Quarter's many eateries.

  13. Day 13

    Homeward bound

    Final morning in New Orleans to revisit favourite spots or relax. Transfer to New Orleans airport for a direct overnight flight to London Heathrow.

  14. Day 14

    Arrival in London Heathrow

    Touch down at London Heathrow, 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

  • Expertise of a UK Tour Manager from start to finish
  • 12 nights' 3 & 4-Star hotel accommodation
  • All rail, cruise and coach travel throughout the tour
  • Direct flights from London Heathrow to Charlotte, and New Orleans to London Heathrow
  • 9 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 1 dinner
  • All guided tours and excursions

Not included

  • Cancellation & Travel Insurance

Questions travellers ask

Is train travel included in the price?
Yes. Great Rail Journeys includes all rail travel: the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad, Lookout Mountain Incline Railway, and Amtrak's City of New Orleans train from Memphis to Hammond, Louisiana. Direct flights from London Heathrow to Charlotte and New Orleans to London are also included.
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.
What is included in the price?
The price includes 12 nights in 3 and 4-star hotels, all rail, coach and cruise travel, direct flights from London Heathrow, a UK Tour Manager, nine breakfasts, one lunch, one dinner, and all guided tours and excursions.
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.
How much free time is available?
Several days include substantial free time. Day 5 afternoon and evening are free in Nashville. Day 12 is a full free day in New Orleans. Most other days have a mix of guided activities and free time for lunch and independent exploration.
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.

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