Southern USA Tours & Trips
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Table of contents
- The best Southern USA tour packages
- What people love about Southern USA Tours
- Travel Southern USA your way
- Best tour companies for Southern USA tours
- Popular Southern USA Cruise Ships
- Southern USA tours for every type of group
- Top Southern USA travel itineraries to fit your plans
- Demographics
- Best time to visit Southern USA
- Contact our Southern USA travel experts
- What our customers ask about Southern USA Tours & Trips
The best Southern USA tour packages
Compiled by
MelissaSouthern USA travel expert at TourRadar
Georgia History Trail to Nashville
3 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“This is a good tour if you want to learn about different parts of southern American history. It's a good trip.”
David, traveled in September
The heart of Southern USA unfolds with stops at Savannah's Bonaventure Cemetery and Charleston's historic district. Luxurious hotels provide comfort while guests savor Southern cuisine like Nashville hot chicken. The 8-day tour, costing approx. $440 per day, features expert-led Black History walks and visits to Biltmore House, America's largest mansion in Asheville.
Duration 8 days Destinations Atlanta, Savannah, Charleston, Asheville, Nashville Age Range 15 to 99 year olds Operator Intrepid Travel From $5,830
25% Off- NZ$4,372You save $1,458
Duration 7 days Destinations Nashville, Memphis, New Orleans Age Range 15 to 99 year olds Operator Intrepid Travel From $5,530
15% Off- NZ$4,700You save $830
Tastes and Sounds of the South
7 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“Well run and a lovely group of people.”
A, traveled in June
Southern charm radiates from Nashville's Country Music Hall of Fame to New Orleans' French Quarter. Beale Street in Memphis, Natchez's antebellum homes, and authentic Southern cooking demonstrations with local chefs create unforgettable memories.
Duration 10 days Destinations Nashville, Memphis, Natchez, New Orleans Age Range up to 99 year olds Operator Trafalgar From
15% Off- NZ$7,095
Duration 10 days Destinations New Orleans, Natchez, Clarksdale, Memphis, Nashville Age Range 16 to 80 year olds Operator Exodus Adventure Travels From $10,007
7% Off- NZ$9,350You save $657
Rhythms of the South
6 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“The optional tours were well worth visiting. Got a very good insight into the music scene.”
Michaela, traveled in October
Rich Southern heritage flows from Nashville's Grand Ole Opry to New Orleans' French Quarter. Memphis' Civil Rights history, Natchez's antebellum mansions, and NOLA's Creole cooking paint a vivid cultural portrait.
Duration 11 days Destinations Nashville, Memphis, Natchez, New Orleans Age Range 5 to 80 year olds Operator Costsaver From $4,250
10% Off- NZ$3,825You save $425
What people love about Southern USA Tours
- Rhythms of the South
Accommodation was great.The optional tours were well worth visiting. Lots of music. Loved the coach driver D-Henry, he was just great and very protective of his passengers. Guide Scott was good as well. Got a very good insight into the music scene. Learnt a lot.
Definitely lots of music and food! Loved the Opry, Graceland, the plantation tours and dinners. Our tour director was so organized and we loved finding treats, information or trip aids in our seat. The optional swamp tour was fun and we saw so many gators!
Tastes and Sounds of the South
- Rhythms of the Road (including Hammond)
tour took us exactly where we wanted to go with someone else doing the organising!
Travel Southern USA your way
For those seeking to explore the Appalachians on foot, our hiking tours through the Great Smoky Mountains offer some excellent options. The most popular routes take you through the Shining Rock Wilderness, where you'll camp near the distinctive white quartzite outcroppings at 6,000 feet elevation. Many trails follow the scenic Art Loeb Trail, crossing multiple peaks like Black Balsam Knob and Tennent Mountain. Our travelers particularly enjoy the summit views from Cold Mountain, made famous by the historical novel. These trips typically run 3-4 days with moderate hiking distances of 4-6 miles daily and elevation gains around 1,000-2,500 feet. The guides receive high marks from our customers for their expert knowledge and cooking skills, with one noting "John's perfect balance of safety knowledge and fantastic trail meals."
Explore a wide diversity of coach / bus tours through Southern USA. We have 23 adventures that vary from 5 days to 14 days. With the greatest number of departures in October, this is also the most popular time of the year.
See all Coach / Bus toursThe first paragraph already follows the requested natural, professional style well. It flows naturally, mixes data points conversationally, avoids rigid formatting, and maintains expertise while being approachable. I'll pass it through unchanged.
Select from our extensive range of 85 fully guided tours to enjoy a worry-free experience through Southern USA with our expert guides leading the way.
More travel styles:
Best tour companies for Southern USA tours
Based on those reviews from our travelers, both Trafalgar and Cosmos really deliver on the essentials - they plan solid itineraries, arrange comfortable transport and staff their tours with guides who know their stuff. What stands out is how their guides go beyond just sharing facts. Austin from Trafalgar did a fantastic job looking after everyone, and made special arrangements to help a traveler who had trouble hearing and speaking. Meanwhile over at Cosmos, Kris brought such energy to her tours that she turned regular sightseeing into something special - she had this way of getting everyone excited about what they were learning. You can tell both companies train their guides well, but it's those personal touches that make the difference. The fact that our customers keep mentioning guides by name shows how much impact the right tour director can have on the whole experience. These aren't just polite mentions either - travelers specifically point out how Austin and Kris handled real situations, adapted to different needs and created the right atmosphere for their groups. That's exactly what you want in a tour guide - someone who's both capable and caring.
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Popular Southern USA Cruise Ships
Southern USA tours for every type of group
Who are you traveling with?
Group
103 tours in Southern USAExplore a wide diversity of group tours through Southern USA. We have 103 adventures that vary from 3 days to 14 days. With the greatest number of departures in October, this is also the most popular time of the year.
Small Group
15 tours in Southern USAOur small-group Southern tours create meaningful connections to regional history and music in ways that larger groups just can't match. A popular route begins in Savannah, where intimate groups explore historic squares and cemeteries, before continuing to Charleston's Black History sites, and finally discovering Asheville's arts community. Another path takes you from Atlanta through Nashville's recording studios, Memphis' musical landmarks, and also New Orleans' French Quarter, where hands-on Creole cooking classes await. The guides earn high marks from our travelers, particularly for accommodating specific needs like helping guests with hearing difficulties at music venues. These tours strike an ideal balance between structured activities and independent exploring - you'll join scheduled plantation visits and studio tours, then have time to discover places like Beale Street or Bourbon Street at your own pace. Our travelers often note how the small group format opens up chances to visit hidden local spots that big bus tours typically bypass.
Top Southern USA travel itineraries to fit your plans
For quick Southern experiences, there are some excellent 3-day tours focused on the Great Smoky Mountains region. You can choose between hiking adventures that take you along parts of the Appalachian Trail or paddle-and-hike combinations that get you out on Fontana Lake. Our travelers particularly enjoy the mix of comfortable lodge stays and active days outdoors. One traveler mentioned how their guide made fantastic meals and knew exactly where to spot wildlife. The hiking tours cover between 7-8 miles daily with elevation gains around 1,200-1,600 feet - challenging enough to feel accomplished but not overwhelming. If you prefer water activities, you can paddle across clear mountain lakes and camp on quiet shores before hiking to spots like the historic Shuckstack fire tower along the Appalachian Trail.
Week-long music-focused tours really capture the soul of the South. Starting in Nashville, these tours take you through the recording studios where countless hits were made - our travelers love making their own recordings at RCA Studio B where Elvis and Dolly Parton once stood. You'll spend time at the Country Music Hall of Fame and catch a live show at the Grand Ole Opry before heading to Memphis. There you'll explore Sun Studio, Graceland and also the National Civil Rights Museum. The tours wrap up in New Orleans with its unique above-ground cemeteries and French Quarter landmarks. Our customers particularly value how these tours blend music history with deeper cultural insights, and they often mention how knowledgeable guides make complex historical connections come alive.
The 10-day journeys dig deeper into Southern culture, starting in Nashville or Atlanta and working their way through the musical capitals. These tours spend quality time in each major stop - Nashville's Music Row, Memphis' Beale Street and also New Orleans' French Quarter. What makes these longer tours special is the addition of places like Natchez, where you'll visit antebellum mansions, and stops at important civil rights locations. Our travelers appreciate having enough time to really experience each city's unique character. They often mention how the pace feels right, with enough free time to explore local food scenes and catch evening performances at various music venues.
Demographics
Solo travelers find the Georgia to Nashville routes especially welcoming, with plenty of chances to connect with other travelers while exploring the South's musical heritage. Our customers traveling alone often mention how much they enjoy the walking food tours in Savannah, Black History tours in Charleston and also guided visits to Asheville's thriving arts scene. These tours work particularly well for independent explorers since they include both guided elements and free time to wander through places like Nashville's Broadway or New Orleans' French Quarter. The shorter 7-8 day options prove popular with solo travelers who want to focus on specific regions while meeting like-minded music and culture enthusiasts.
Couples consistently rate our music-themed Southern tours among their favorites, especially those combining Nashville's country scene, Memphis' blues heritage and also New Orleans' jazz traditions. Our travelers particularly love the intimate experiences - private cooking demonstrations in New Orleans, sunset visits to historic plantations in Natchez and evening shows at the Grand Ole Opry. What makes these tours perfect for couples is the balance of structured activities and romantic free time, whether it's exploring Savannah's oak-lined streets or enjoying dinner in Memphis' lively Beale Street district. The feedback we get often mentions how the tours let couples share special moments while learning about the South's rich cultural heritage.
The younger crowd really goes for our more active Southern routes - they're packed with music experiences plus local culture and great nightlife. They love starting in Atlanta or Nashville, getting into recording sessions at the historic studios and going behind the scenes at famous venues. During the day, they're diving into Charleston's Black History or checking out civil rights sites, then hitting the town in the evening to catch live shows. Our guides know all the good spots - where to find the best local bands, which food spots are worth your time and those hidden places tourists usually miss. It's exactly the mix of culture and fun that keeps our younger travelers coming back.
Senior travelers tend to favor our more leisurely-paced Southern tours that focus on historic sites, cultural heritage and also comfortable accommodations. These tours include plenty of time to explore antebellum mansions in Natchez, take guided walks through Charleston's historic district and enjoy traditional Southern meals in historic settings. What our older travelers particularly appreciate is how these itineraries balance cultural experiences - like visits to Civil War sites and plantation tours - with comfortable travel arrangements and well-timed rest periods. The positive feedback often mentions the expert guides who know how to pace activities while sharing deep knowledge about Southern history, architecture and music traditions.
Families exploring the South really appreciate tours that blend history with hands-on experiences. Our travelers with kids particularly enjoy the Savannah to Nashville routes that include ghost tours in Savannah's historic district and recording sessions at Nashville's famous Studio B. Parents tell us their children love the interactive elements - from learning about Civil War history at Fort Sumter to taking cooking classes in New Orleans where they can help make traditional Creole dishes. The tours that include stops at the Country Music Hall of Fame and also Graceland tend to be favorites since they offer something for every age group. What makes these family tours work so well is the mix of structured activities and free time, letting families explore at their own pace while having the security of expert guides who know how to keep everyone engaged.
Solo Travelers57 tours All tours for Solo Travelers- Couples46 tours
- Seniors (50+)44 tours All tours for Seniors
Best time to visit Southern USA
- Summer 2025
Summer brings out the South's musical energy, and our tours make the most of it. Nashville's CMA Festival draws music lovers from around the world, with our tours securing premium seating at Nissan Stadium's headline concerts. You'll get to experience fan parties, meet-and-greet events and also countless live performances across the city. The dedicated music-focused tours connect Nashville's Grand Ole Opry performances with Memphis' Graceland and Sun Studio experiences. While it gets warm, our travelers appreciate how the tours balance indoor activities like studio tours and museums with outdoor festivals and evening concerts. The hotel locations near major venues make it easy to catch both scheduled events and also impromptu performances.
- popular 15 tours
- Fall / Autumn 2025
Fall colors add an extra dimension to Southern tours, particularly those running through the Blue Ridge Mountains to Asheville. You can explore the Biltmore Estate's expansive grounds while the leaves change and sample wines from their vineyard. Our travelers often mention how pleasant it is walking through Savannah's historic district and Bonaventure Cemetery during these cooler months. The food-focused tours really come alive in autumn, with private cooking demonstrations in New Orleans and traditional Southern meals in historic homes along the Mississippi. Whether you're exploring Charleston's historic mansions, recording a song in Nashville's Studio B or learning about Civil Rights history in Memphis, the mild weather and smaller crowds make fall an ideal time for these cultural experiences.
- 35 tours
- popular 37 tours
- 16 tours
- Spring 2026
Spring tours really shine in the South's historic cities. Our most popular routes start in Atlanta and wind through Savannah's azalea-filled squares and historic cemeteries. Food tours become a highlight this time of year - you'll sample local honey, traditional pies and classic pub fare in Savannah before heading to Charleston's rich culinary scene. The weather's perfect for walking tours through Charleston's historic district and Black history sites. Some routes continue north to Asheville's arts scene and craft breweries, while others head west toward Nashville's recording studios and Memphis' musical landmarks. Our travelers consistently mention how comfortable the spring temperatures are for exploring these outdoor-heavy itineraries.
- 21 tours
- popular 22 tours
Contact our Southern USA travel experts
Kate
Expert in Southern USA at TourRadar
Kate is one of our seasoned Southern USA Travel Experts. Reach out to us to get all your questions about Southern USA tours answered!
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+64 4888 0182What our customers ask about Southern USA Tours & Trips
What Makes Southern USA Special for Travelers?
You'll find this incredible mix of history music and culture that you really can't get anywhere else. Walk through Civil War battlefields and beautiful antebellum mansions then hop over to Nashville or New Orleans where the music just fills the streets. The food here is something else too - from smoky barbecue to soul-warming comfort foods and spicy Cajun dishes. And that famous Southern hospitality? It's absolutely real and makes every visit feel special.
What Local Cultural Experiences Can You Join In?
If you're interested in authentic cultural experiences you've got to check out the Gullah Geechee traditions around Charleston and Savannah. These amazing artisans share their heritage through sweetgrass basket weaving and you can pick up their beautiful crafts at local markets. Over in Natchez Mississippi locals actually welcome you into their homes for real Southern meals and conversations which is pretty special - you'll find this on the 10-day Tastes and Sounds of the South tour it's a really unique way to connect with local families.
Where Can You Find Natural Beauty Away from the Cities?
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is just incredible with over 800 miles of hiking trails and the views will take your breath away. You can drive the Blue Ridge Parkway to get there or join a guided hike like the 3-day Shining Rock Wilderness tour if you want someone who really knows the trails. Down in Louisiana the Atchafalaya Basin is this massive swamp where you can take boat tours to spot alligators and egrets - the 11-day Rhythms of the South tour includes this and it's pretty amazing.
What Are Some Hidden Gems for Getting Around?
Have you heard of the Natchez Trace Parkway? It's this beautiful 444-mile route that winds through Mississippi Alabama and Tennessee. Travelers love it because there's no commercial development and you get to discover these charming small towns along the way. It's way more relaxing than the interstate and the Tastes and Sounds of the South 10-day tour includes this drive it's really worth experiencing.
What Local Foods Should You Definitely Try?
You absolutely need to try Memphis-style barbecue ribs - they're dry-rubbed and slow-smoked till they're perfect. Rendezvous is famous for these and you can try them on the 7-day Music Cities Nashville & Memphis tour. Nashville's hot chicken is another must-try it's this incredibly spicy fried chicken that each place makes with their own special blend. And when you're in New Orleans don't miss the beignets at Café du Monde - these sugary fried pastries are just heavenly. You'll find amazing regional dishes like these all over the South each place has its own special take.