Hotels

We spend nine nights in hotels. The accommodations on this itinerary were chosen for their friendly atmosphere and proximity to the highlights.

Single rooms can be booked for a single supplement at the time of booking (subject to availability).

There are nine breakfasts and one dinner included.

To help you budget for meals that are not included, average costs are:

Hotel breakfasts: US$15-US$25
Lunches: US$15-US$30
Dinners: US$20-US$40, not including alcoholic beverages

Drinks cost on average (higher than listed in New Orleans):

Wine: US$10-US$15 per glass
Beer: US$6-US$9 per bottle

A tip of approximately 17%-20% is added to group meals in North American restaurants. Applicable taxes will also be added to all listed menu prices.

Please make sure we are aware of any special dietary requirements before travelling. We do all we can to accommodate various dietary requirements but in parts of North America certain food types can be limited.

Dress tends to be informal. You should take a practical selection of clothes for both warm and cool climates as you may encounter a wide variety of temperatures due to unforeseen weather conditions.

Besides your essential clothing, you should take:

— Waterproof jacket
— Warm sweater/fleece
— Casual ‘evening out’ clothes
— Comfortable day shoes*
— Sandals or flip-flops
— Warm hat/gloves
— Swimwear
— Sun hat/sunglasses
— Camera/binoculars
— Small torch (flashlight)
— Sunscreen
— Insect repellent (20% DEET)
— Toiletries
— Personal medicine
— Travel power adaptor

Help reduce plastic waste

— Reusable water bottle (to reduce single-use plastic bottles we have water for refills in our vehicle)
— Reusable travel cutlery with case (to reduce single-use plastic cutlery at hotels and on the go)
— Reusable lunch box (to avoid the use of ziplock bags)

You will have the opportunity to wash your clothes on tour, and this can often be done at the hotel or in town. Ask your tour leader for local information.

Please note, the airlines have various rules on what can be carried in your luggage – if in doubt, check with your airline before travelling.

*We recommend comfortable walking shoes to make long days sightseeing more enjoyable. If you do not own a pair, then sports trainers (sneakers) will suffice.

Your tour leader will take care of all the planning and organisation, drive the van and make sure everything runs smoothly. They make sure you get the most out of your tour; organising activities, providing information, answering questions, and sorting queries or problems. If you have any particular interests or things you would like to do, please let your leader know at the beginning of the tour and they will do the best to help.

Please note, US law regulates the total number of hours your tour leader can work. Our trips are designed to make the most of your time in our featured destinations, but please understand there will be certain times each day that your tour leader will need to be off-duty. Particularly after longer driving days, your tour leader may not be able to join you for some of the activities or may need to tend to other duties.

— Spend three nights in New Orleans and the colourful music scene of Bourbon Street
— Uncover Cajun culture and cuisine on a Mississippi riverboat dinner cruise
— Explore Memphis including Elvis' Graceland and Sun Studio
— Discover Nashville, the country music capital

Key information
Start hotel: Wyndham New Orleans - French Quarter, New Orleans, LA 70130
Phone: 1-504-529-7211
Recommended arrival time: You can arrive at any time today. The welcome briefing usually takes place in the morning of Day 2
Getting to the start hotel
The start hotel is approximately 25 minutes' drive from the airport. Your options for this journey are:

Take a transfer

There’s one group transfer to the airport, which you can join at no extra cost. Please speak to your sales representative for the time of the transfer. If the group transfer does not suit your flight time, speak to your sales representative to arrange an alternative.

Make your own way

If you arrive at any other time, the easiest way to reach the hotel is by cab or a rideshare app, such as Uber or Lyft.

You are free to arrive any time on Day 1 - it is likely the welcome meeting will take place on the morning of Day 2. Details on the time and specific location of your meeting will be available by midday on Day 1. During the welcome meeting, you will meet your tour guide and fellow travellers and spend a few minutes filling out necessary paperwork, so please bring your insurance documents, passport and tour documentation to the meeting.

If you would like further information on joining this trip, please speak to your sales representative.

Arrival complications

Sometimes the unexpected can happen; your plane may be delayed or you may even miss it. If you have missed your tour departure, first call the hotel to see if your tour leader has left you a message. If not, call the relevant emergency number and speak to our staff who will be happy to help you catch up with the group. Please note that you are responsible for any extra travelling expenses incurred due to missing your tour’s departure.
Catching your return flight
There’s a group departure transfer to Nashville Airport for customers who Exodus have booked onto a chosen flight to London, UK. If you have booked your own flights, you may still join this transfer at no extra cost – please speak to your sales representative if you wish to join. If the group departure transfer does not suit your flight time, speak to your sales representative to arrange an alternative transfer.

— Travel insurance
— Single accommodation (available on request)
— Visas or vaccinations

Dress tends to be informal. You should take a practical selection of clothes for both warm and cool climates as you may encounter a wide variety of temperatures due to unforeseen weather conditions.

Besides your essential clothing, you should take:

— Waterproof jacket
— Warm sweater/fleece
— Casual ‘evening out’ clothes
— Comfortable day shoes*
— Sandals or flip-flops
— Warm hat/gloves
— Swimwear
— Sun hat/sunglasses
— Camera/binoculars
— Small torch (flashlight)
— Sunscreen
— Insect repellent (20% DEET)
— Toiletries
— Personal medicine
— Travel power adaptor

Help reduce plastic waste

— Reusable water bottle (to reduce single-use plastic bottles we have water for refills in our vehicle)
— Reusable travel cutlery with case (to reduce single-use plastic cutlery at hotels and on the go)
— Reusable lunch box (to avoid the use of ziplock bags)

You will have the opportunity to wash your clothes on tour, and this can often be done at the hotel or in town. Ask your tour leader for local information.

Please note, the airlines have various rules on what can be carried in your luggage – if in doubt, check with your airline before travelling.

*We recommend comfortable walking shoes to make long days sightseeing more enjoyable. If you do not own a pair, then sports trainers (sneakers) will suffice.

— Accommodation: 9 Classic nights (hotels)
— Travel by private minibus
— Group normally 4 to 13, plus leader. Minimum age: 16

We recommend you take at least US$50 per day for meals not included in the tour, drinks, snacks and other incidentals. You should also budget for expected tipping, as well as for the optional activities you plan to do.

Pricing for optional activities

New Orleans:

— Alligator swamp tour, New Orleans: US$30-US$50
— Haunted French Quarter ghost tour: US$35
— New Orleans Preservation Hall: US$25-US$45
— Mardi Gras World in New Orleans: US$22

Clarksdale


— Delta Blues Museum, Clarksdale: US$16

Memphis

— Stax Museum of American Soul Music, Memphis: U$15 (closed Mondays)

Nashville

— Grand Ole Opry: US$45-US$95
— Ryman Auditorium tour: US$35-US$55
— Country Music Hall of Fame: US$35
— Johnny Cash Museum: US$35

It is customary in North America to tip local guides, waiters, bar staff, taxi drivers and anyone who provides a service for you. Service workers are paid a low wage and depend on tips for their livelihood. It can be embarrassing if you’re confronted by someone expecting a tip and you are not aware of how much to offer. For this reason, we have listed guideline prices below.

A 15%-20% tip is standard in restaurants and you should also expect to tip US$1 per drink in bars, US$1-US$2 per bag for porters, US$2-US$3 for hotel housekeeping as well as 10% for taxi drivers. It’s also typical to tip around 10% for local guides who provide optional activities.

Your tour leader will work long and hard for you during your tour and we recommend a discretionary tip of US$12-US$15 per passenger per day if their performance meets or exceeds your expectations.

You’ll travel in a private 15-seater vehicle which is driven by your tour leader. All luggage, equipment, and other necessities are stored in a specially designed trailer or storage area to maximise space and comfort in the vehicle. The size of our vehicles allows us to reach more remote destinations not accessible to larger vehicles. All our vehicles are equipped with air conditioning, Bluetooth-compatible stereo and USB charging ports throughout the vehicle.

This trip has been rated Activity Level 1 (Easy). For more information on our trip gradings please visit the Activity Level Guidelines page. If you have any queries about the difficulty of the trip please do not hesitate to contact us.

This discovery tour is suitable for people of all fitness levels. It has a relaxed pace with an emphasis on sightseeing, discovering local culture, visiting main attractions and enjoying beautiful views.

There will be a variety of optional activities available so you can tailor the tour to your interests. Your tour leader will organise optional activities for you and you can pay for these locally in cash. You’ll find the main optional activities listed under each itinerary day description, along with guideline prices. It may not be possible to do all optional activities listed on each tour. If you plan to visit the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, book in advance and directly on their website. The shows change most nights but, if possible, it’s best to book for the second night in Nashville.

Although each tour follows an itinerary, there is a certain amount of flexibility and from time to time your tour leader may suggest changes. This may be due to road conditions, the weather or a visit to a special attraction or event that happens to be in progress. Flexibility is key and often a side diversion will be a tour highlight. Hikes and optional activities cannot be guaranteed and may vary depending on ability, group interest, weather conditions and time of year.

Spring and autumn are the best time to visit the Deep South as the temperature is milder, averaging around 20C (68F). Summer can be hot and humid reaching highs around 35C (95F), thunderstorms are common due to the sub-tropical climate.