Southern Soul: New Orleans to Nashville

Trace the roots of American music along the Mississippi

Discover the cultural landscape that gave birth to the blues, country and rock ‘n’ roll on this tour along the mighty Mississippi. Days move a little slower in the South, as you pass time with a sweet tea or a Jack and Coke, taking in the sights and sounds of Music Row in Nashville, Beale Street in Memphis and along Bourbon Street in New Orleans. You also savour authentic cuisine and enjoy Southern hospitality as you float down the Mississippi on a riverboat cruise.

Join us to celebrate Exodus' 50th anniversary! Select departures of this trip feature extra inclusions to mark the occasion: entry to the Ground Zero Blues Club in Clarksdale, a local birthday celebration and a special edition Exodus kitbag. For departure dates, see the Dates & Prices tab or to see other trips with Special 50th Anniversary Departures click here.

People, Places & Planet

We work hard to create trips that have a positive impact on the people and places we visit and look after the planet we explore. Learn more about our sustainable travel ethos and practice here and find out about the work of the Exodus Travels Foundation here.

Some sustainable travel highlights of this trip include:

People

How this trip helps improve life for local communities.

• Local guides keep you well informed about local traditions and cultural-social sensitivities.
• This trip brings income and opportunity to the destination community through the inclusion of locally owned hotels, restaurants, and other enterprises, and by championing locally produced food wherever possible.
• Read more about our other initiatives here.

Places

How this trip helps protect and conserve local landscapes and nature.

• By travelling in a small group, we ‘tread lightly’ to minimise our impact on local resources and the environment.
• We work with our partners on the ground to proactively reduce waste; this includes eliminating all single-use plastic water bottles by providing refills for reusable bottles.
• We rewild 1,075sqft (100sqm) per passenger to compensate for all trip and flight emissions.
• Read about our commitment to nature protection and restoration here, including our rewilding commitment for every customer who travels with us.

Planet

How we seek to keep the carbon footprint of this trip low.

• Accommodation and restaurants in the itinerary use locally sourced food which has not been transported long distances.
• Our local partner is a member of the San Francisco Green Business Program, which recognises businesses, non-profit organisations and institutions in the City and County of San Francisco that meet high environmental standards.
• Read about our climate action here, including our carbon reduction and compensation commitments.

Tips for sustainable travel on this trip

• Leave no trace: We do all we can to ensure we leave no rubbish in the wild and beautiful places we visit; we ask that you do the same. If there are no recycling facilities in-country, consider bringing recyclable materials home with you.
• Plastic waste reduction: Please bring a reusable water bottle on this trip, also consider avoiding single-use hotel toiletries, which generate a large amount of plastic waste.

Visa

USA

Travellers from the UK and most EU countries can enter the US under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) provided they have registered for an Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) – which costs US$21 – and are in possession of an onward air ticket and machine-readable passport when entering the US. Visas are required for some nationalities and requirements often change; it is your responsibility to obtain any required visas and fulfil any requirements for this trip. We recommend that you check with the nearest embassy or consulate of your chosen destination(s), including any countries you may be transiting or transferring through.

Some local governments provide guidance on what visas their citizens need. To help, we’ve gathered a selection of useful links below.

• Australia: www.smartraveller.gov.au/destinations/americas/united-states-america
• Canada: www.travel.gc.ca/destinations/united-states
• United Kingdom: www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/usa/entry-requirements

Please note, regulations stipulate that any person who has travelled to Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria or Yemen since March 2011 (or has dual nationality of Iran, Iraq, Sudan or Syria) may no longer qualify for the VWP. In addition, if you have travelled to Cuba since 12 January 2021, you will not be eligible for the VWP and should instead apply for a visa to travel to, or transit via, the USA.

Vaccination

USA

There are no required vaccinations. However, you may want to consider vaccinations for polio, tetanus and rabies. Please confirm with your doctor or travel clinic.

Eating and Drinking

There are nine breakfasts and one dinner included.

To help you budget for these meals, average costs are:

• Hotel breakfasts: US$12-US$17
• Lunches: US$15-US$20
• Dinners: US$20-US$35, not including alcoholic beverages

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

• Wine: US$7-10 per glass
• Beer: US$5-8 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.

Weather

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.

Is this trip for you?

This trip has been rated Activity Level 1 (Leisurely).

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.

Following a review of all our trips we have categorised this trip as not suitable for full wheelchair users, but it may be suitable for other persons of reduced mobility. Please contact customer services to discuss the trip and your personal condition.