Home > New Orleans, the Old South & Florida - Halloween Special Departure

New Orleans, the Old South & Florida - Halloween Special Departure

Join our special departure and revel in the very best of the Halloween celebrations across the Old South!

Itinerary
Optional Excursions
Gallery
Prices & Dates

Your Itinerary

DAY 1: UK - New Orleans.

Fly to New Orleans where you will be met by our representative and transferred to your hotel for three nights.

DAY 2: New Orleans. Included sightseeing.

The birthplace of jazz and home of the Mardi Gras is a lively colourful city with a distinctly French feel. On our included morning city tour you will see the French Quarter, including St Louis Cathedral and Jackson Square. We then drive by the Garden District to see its stately mansions and stop at a typical New Orleans above ground cemetery. After dark, we explore the ghostly past of the Old French Quarter on a guided tour of the area’s most haunted sites. The storytelling of the city’s most informed raconteurs will provide chilling and historically accurate narratives of the city’s most legendary hauntings.

DAY 3: New Orleans.

This morning there is free time for you to explore the French Market District, America's oldest city market. Experience the sights of the Market at harvest time and shop for arts and crafts, Cajun spices and Creole pralines and candies. Stop for a break at the famous Café du Monde, a tenant of the French Market since 1862, for a cup of café au lait accompanied by beignets, the Creole version of a doughnut. You may also wish to explore the Garden District with its ornate historic mansions and oak lined trees, and home to the eerie Lafayette Cemetery No.1, a favourite setting for many of Anne Rice's novels. Halloween in New Orleans, a time when costumed fun and make-believe fully take over a city where fantasy is never too far from reach. Festivities kick off with a delicious Halloween themed dinner with entertainment at the Court of Two Sisters. Afterwards time on your own to explore the ghoulish streets of the French Quarter the center of the action. Here the streets explode with costumed characters and clubs throb 'til the wee hours. In particular, Bourbon Street becomes a promenade of costumes, a fashion catwalk for the creative threads of the witching season. (D)

DAY 4: New Orleans - Baton Rouge - Natchez. Included sightseeing.

We drive north through the heart of Cajun country to Baton Rouge for an orientation tour, featuring the Governor's Mansion and the State Capitol. Then it's on to elegant Natchez, once a thriving port in the golden years of the cotton trade. During your included guided tour you'll visit a gracious pre-Civil War home featuring fine collections of period furniture and paintings. In the evening, relax at your hotel or play the slots in the nearby casino.

DAY 5: Natchez - Memphis.

We drive to Jackson, then north through rural Mississippi to Memphis, Tennessee. The 'home of the blues', Memphis is world renowned for its influence on musical history and culture. Tonight, why not visit one of the famous music clubs on Beale Street?

DAY 6: Memphis - Graceland - Nashville. Included city tour.

No visit to Memphis would be complete without a trip to the palatial home of the 'King', Elvis Presley. Our included guided Platinum tour focuses on the splendid garden and the opulent 15,000-square-foot mansion. We then head through the fertile farmlands of Tennessee to the 'Capital of Country Music', Nashville.

DAY 7: Nashville.

Its association with country music has made the name Nashville Tennessee world famous, but it's not just music fans who will find this charming southern city a delight. We start the day with an included sightseeing tour of the famous landmarks, including the Parthenon, the State Capitol, Bicentennial State Park, and the recording studio of Music Row. We then visit the Country Music Hall of Fame with its glittering costumes, rare instruments and Elvis Presley's solid gold Cadillac. Tonight you may choose to join our optional evening of songs that have made Nashville famous worldwide at Nashville Nightlife, Music City's premiere entertainment theatre.

DAY 8: Nashville - Chattanooga - Atlanta. Included sightseeing.

First stop today is Chattanooga, home of the Chattanooga Choo Choo. We then enter the 'Peach State' of Georgia and continue through the Chattahoochee National Forest to the fast-growing metropolis of Atlanta, former home and burial place of assassinated civil rights leader, Martin Luther King Jr. After an included sightseeing tour of the city, the rest of the day is yours to explore further or relax. Your tour director will have suggestions for a taste of southern dining this evening.

DAY 9: Atlanta - Savannah. Included sightseeing.

We head south through rich rolling farmland to the historic seaport of Savannah. Nearly 300 years of history are showcased in the Gothic revival architecture, spirited cemeteries and haunted mansions set amongst the slanted sidewalks and oak trees of 'America's most haunted city'. Explore more of Savannah's traditional Southern charm on our included tram tour which highlights such attractions as the City Market, Forsyth Park, the Mercer House, Madison Square - where General Sherman concluded his 'March to the Sea', Colonial Park Cemetery and River Street.

DAY 10: Savannah.

A day at leisure to explore this southern town. Shop on cobblestoned River Street or stroll among the many squares surrounded by elegant homes and majestic gardens. Don't miss Forsyth Park, with its lovely fountain and flowers, or the impressive Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum, where you can learn about Savannah's important role in maritime history and view models of famous ships.

DAY 11: Savannah - St Augustine - Orlando.

We travel into the famous 'Sunshine State' of Florida, stopping first at St Augustine, the oldest European city in the United States. On your orientation tour you will see the city's historic district and the Spanish fortress, Castillo de San Marcos. We then drive south-west to the city of Orlando, the USA's fun capital.

DAY 12: Orlando.

The day is yours to take advantage of the many attractions in the Orlando area, such as visits to Islands of Adventure, SeaWorld, and of course the world-famous home of Mickey Mouse and friends, Walt Disney World Resort. You may also wish to take advantage of Orlando’s eight shopping malls – featuring everything from themed boutiques to outlet stores, the area is a true shopping heaven.

DAY 13: Orlando - UK.

Transfer to the airport for your flight to the UK.

DAY 14: Home landing in the UK.

Accommodation on Tour

New Orleans: Sheraton New Orleans; Natchez: Isle of Capri; Memphis: Crowne Plaza; Nashville: Millennium Maxwell House; Atlanta: Country Inn & Suites Buckhead; Savannah: Inn at Ellis Square; Orlando: Wyndham Orlando Resort.

Halloween
Halloween revellers
In the Halloween spirit
Jackson Square, New Orleans
Bourbon Street, New Orleans
New Orleans
Natchez
Beale Street, Memphis
Elvis Presley
Graceland, Memphis
The Trophy Room in Graceland
Nashville Skyline
Savannah, Georgia
Victorian Savannah
A Savannah tram
St Augustine, Florida

Optional Excursions

To help you plan and make the most of your holiday, below is a list of optional excursions available to you.

Oak Alley Plantation Tour

Experience a bygone era in one of the South's most beautiful settings-Oak Alley Plantation, built in 1839. Marvel at the unbelievable quarter-mile long alley of 28 magnificent Oak trees, each over 250 years old. Perhaps the most photographed plantation ever, Oak Alley has been the setting for such motion pictures as "Interview with a Vampire," "Primary Colors," and the wedding of Bo and Hope from the daytime soap opera, "Days of Our Lives." Your guided tour will reveal the fascinating stories of the home and its history.

$58 (US Dollar)

French Quarter Ghosts

With its colorful history and unique traditions, it is no wonder so many New Orleans homes and taverns have been investigated by paranormal investigators. You'll visit several haunted sites and hear about the stories featured on The History Channel and The Discovery Channel. When it rains in the French Quarter, the locals swear a beautiful voice floats out of the mist. After you hear the story of Pere' Dagobert vs. "Bloody" O'Reilly and the "singing rain," you might hear it too. Will you see any of the ghosts that inhabit the famous Bourbon Orleans Hotel-formerly a theater, ballroom, orphanage, and convent? The staff and guests report regular sightings of uninvited guests! We don't promise you will see a ghost, but we will show you where you're most likely to meet one!

$25 (US Dollar)

Garden District Walking Tour

Enjoy a walk through New Orleans' elegant Garden District, once part of the plantation owned by Bienville, the founder of New Orleans. This historic district is known for its marvelous examples of Greek Revival and Italianate architecture. The homes of former Kings and Queens of Mardi Gras are located here, as well as the home of the premier family of football-the Mannings-where Archie lives, and Peyton and Eli grew up. View the former residence of celebrated author Anne Rice, the house where Jefferson Davis died in 1889, and Toby's Corner, the oldest house in the area (built in 1838). Visit Lafayette Cemetery, one of our Cities of the Dead, and learn about our unusual above-ground burial system. (Cemetery is closed on Sundays and some holidays.). A short stop for refreshments is included on our stroll through this beautiful section of New Orleans.

$26 (US Dollar)

French Quarter Walking Tour

Follow in the footsteps of historic figures as you stroll along the Mighty Mississippi, through the French Market and Jackson Square, and down the banquettes (sidewalks) of quaint streets named for saints and sinners from our European past. Learn about the Creoles on this tour through the original city, founded in 1718 by French explorer Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne, Sieur de Bienville. See the old Quarter come to life as your guide explains its secrets and helps you understand all it has to offer-architecture, courtyards, gardens, food, music, and art. Tour the oldest building in the Mississippi Valley, the Old Ursuline Convent, constructed by French Colonial Engineers under the auspices of the crown and completed in 1753. Included in this tour is St. Mary's Church, completed in 1845, which has served as a center of worship for the French, Spanish, African Americans, German, Irish, and Italian communities.

$25 (US Dollar)

Jean Lafitte Airboat Swamp Tour with Transportation (Anytime Excursion)

Get ready for an exciting adventure! Take a thrilling ride through the swamps and bayous of Louisiana, accessible only by airboat. The captain, a native of the area, offers a colorful history of the Cajun way of life. You'll come face to face with alligators, snakes, and other native creatures while touring their neighborhood. Bring your camera to capture the thrills and chills of this unforgettable swampland journey!

$74 (US Dollar)

Dinner & Jazz Cruise On 'Natchez' Paddlewheeler With Round Trip Transfer

Experience traditional New Orleans ragtime aboard an authentic riverboat while she cruises the mighty Mississippi. You'll enjoy a Creole buffet followed by the opportunity to go outside an view the sparkling skyline of one of America's busiest ports. Round trip transportation to and from the hotel to dock are included.

$80 (US Dollar)

Hurricane Katrina Tour

An eyewitness account of the events surrounding the most devastating natural disaster on American soil. After this tour, you'll have a better understanding of events pre and post Katrina and the "Rebirth of New Orleans." $3.00 will be donated to a non-profit organization (one of five that you choose) directly affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Tour operates daily 1:00pm and duration is approximately 3 hours.

$48 (US Dollar)

New Orleans Original Cocktail Walking Tour

Take this tour on your first day in town to find out the places you must visit! From the Sazerac and Pimm's Cup to the Hurricane and Hand Grenade, you'll enjoy a different view of New Orleans through its history of fine dining and drinking. We'll entertain you with classic stories of the unique concoctions made famous here and the characters that brought them to life. Go behind the scenes at the oldest restaurant in the city to visit the wine cellar and the private dining rooms. You'll be shaken (not stirred) by the recipes of the city's most infamous cocktails along the way.

$29 (US Dollar)

Cemetery & Voodoo

With your knowledgeable Local Guide, you'll walk through St. Louis Cemetery #1, the site of the classic movie "Easy Rider," as your professional licensed guide recounts the background of the famous and infamous people who are buried there. Make a wish or cast a spell at the tomb of Marie Laveau, the Voodoo Queen of New Orleans, and discover how she was able to be in two places at once. Listen to the evolution of Voodoo-which is still practiced today-and learn how it became such a factor in the Crescent City. Learn about our unique above ground burial customs and the tombs of various "societies." Find out what "Gris-Gris" means and discover the mysterious ingredients in your souvenir "Gris-Gris" bag.

$26 (US Dollar)

Jean Lafitte Swamp Tour with R/T Transportation

Head down to the swamp on a real life adventure - view fascinating plant life, live alligators and many other wild creatures as you glide down haunting bayous lined with moss-draped cypress trees. Tours at 10:00am, 12:00 noon, 2:00pm, and 4:00pm and last approximately one hour and 45 minutes. Includes return transportation from New Orleans.

$49 (US Dollar)

Carriage Tour of Natchez

Enjoy an early evening carriage ride through historic Natchez.

$28 (US Dollar)

Carriage Tour & Mint Julep

Enjoy an early evening carriage ride through historic Natchez, ending with a visit to the Castle Restaurant & Pub, at the Dunleith Plantation where you'll toast with a traditional southern Mint Julep or Castle Champagne Martini. (Beer or Wine is available also)

$37 (US Dollar)

Sun Studio, Beale Street & Dinner

Step back in time when you enter the famous Sun Studio, where Sam Phillips first recorded future stars such as Jerry Lee Lewis, Roy Orbison, Johnny Cash, and 18-year-old Elvis Presley! Afterward, enjoy dinner at the King's Palace Cafe, which offers authentic Southern delicacies and Memphis BBQ. Evening includes dinner, a drink and admission to Rum Boogie Cafe. ( restaurant may change due to availability)

$53 (US Dollar)

Nashville Nightlife Dinner Show

Nashville Nightlife is Music City's premier entertainment theater. After a wonderful buffet dinner, you'll hear all the songs that have made Nashville famous worldwide. Enjoy the music of everyone from Hank Williams Sr. and Patsy Cline to the superstars of today like Sara Evans and Toby Keith! The show celebrates today's country and honors tradition. Show and dinner last approximately 2.5 hours.

$42 (US Dollar)

Savannah Theatre Shows

The two-hour musicals at the Savannah Theatre will have you smiling, laughing, singing along and tapping your toes. The Theatre will present "The Beat Goes On", "Southern Nights", "Jukebox Journey" , and "Savannh Live" over the course of the season. (Exception is December performance will be "A Christmas Tradition")

$38 (US Dollar)

City Tour of Orlando

The first point of interest on the City Tour is a journey around Lake Eola. See the heart of downtown Orlando. Then its on to Winter Park where you will join the narrated scenic boat cruise from which you can view the abundant homes of the city and its college from the waterway. Back on dry land, you will be given free time to wander the boutiques and stores of Park Avenue, Orlandos famous shopping and dining district. To finalize the afternoon we head south through the attraction region to the City of Celebration, Disneys vision of the perfect community. Available on Sundays only.

$79 (US Dollar)

Gospel Brunch & Orlando CityTour

Begin your morning with a Gospel Brunch at The The House of Blues. Then begin your City Tour with a journey around Lake Eola. See the heart of downtown Orlando. Then its on to Winter Park where you will join the narrated scenic boat cruise from which you can view the abundant homes of the city and its college from the waterway. Back on dry land, you will be given free time to wander the boutiques and stores of Park Avenue, Orlandos famous shopping and dining district. To finalize the afternoon we head south through the attraction region to the City of Celebration, Disneys vision of the perfect community.

$109 (US Dollar)

Seaworld; Client Code SWF - Ad 316 Ch 315

Explore the sea with SeaWorld Orlando's world-class shows and unforgettable animal encounters. Touch and feed dolphins, come face-to-face with polar bears and immerse yourself in the underwater world of manatees. Check with your local representative about the availability and cost of transportation. Round-trip transportation is an additional fee.

$95 (US Dollar)

Seaworld with Transportation; Client Code SWF - Ad 316 Ch 315

$110 (US Dollar)

Florida Adventure Tour - Swim Where The Manatees Live

Journey to the coast, where you will then enjoy a leisurely boat ride on the Crystal River, and have an opportunity to swim and snorkel with manatees (mask, snorkel, and fins are included). Some time in Homosassa State Park (famous for its endangered species) completes the day. Breakfast bag and lunch also included. Available on Saturdays.

$119 (US Dollar)

Clearwater Beach And Lunch

A day of fun in the sun on the Gulf Coast of Mexico at Clearwater Beach. A packed picnic style lunch will be provided so you will have plenty of time to enjoy the beach. (Vegetarian lunch available on request) Operates Tuesday and Friday.

$85 (US Dollar)

Kennedy Space Center

Your chance to explore space travel and experience history in the making! Includes round-trip transportation, guided tour through the Kennedy Space Center complex, and a visit to the Astronaut Hall of Fame.

$109 (US Dollar)

Gatorland

Come along for a day of fun and adventure as you learn more about the number one resident of Florida - the 'Alligator'. Gatorland is home to over 4,000 alligators, as well as snakes and other exotic animals. Price includes round-trip transportation and admission. Available on Tuesday and Friday afternoons.

$63 (US Dollar)

RT Transfer to SeaWorld

Round Trip transportation to SeaWorld Orlando.

$15 (US Dollar)

RT Transportation to Universal Orlando

Round Trip transportation to Universal Orlando.

$16 (US Dollar)

Space Center & Airboat Safari

Your chance to explore space travel and experience history in the making! Includes round-trip transportation, guided tour through the Kennedy Space Center complex, a MAXIMUM ACCESS BADGE and a visit to the Astronaut Hall of Fame. All this plus a forty minute airboat safari ride.Tour offered on Mondays and Thursdays.

$135 (US Dollar)

Gators, Gators, Gators!

Airboat Ride and Gatorland park Combo. Includes a 35 minute airboat ride on the St. Johns River and visit Gatorland Park. Available on Tuesday and Friday only.

$99 (US Dollar)

Please note that optional excursions and prices are subject to change.

Halloween

Holiday Availability

Unfortunately we do not currently have any available departure dates for this holiday. For more information about possible future departures or suitable alternative holidays please contact us using the number at the top of the page or view one of the Other Holiday Choices