Travel through the American Southeast to immerse yourself in its history, art, food and wildlife. You’ll unlock the past at Fort Sumter National Monument and Jekyll Island’s Wanderer Memory Trail and Mosaic Museum. Taste the flavours of Charleston at its City Market and dine with a celebrity food writer and TV host in Savannah. From a behind-the-scenes experience at Georgia Sea Turtle Center and learning about Gullah Geechee culture on Jekyll Island to the beauty of Georgia’s lighthouses and coastlines, this is the Southeast at its most charming.
Locations Visited
Charleston, Beaufort, Savannah, Tybee Island, St. Simons Island, Jekyll Island
Countries Visited
United States
Travel Style
Regional Explorer
Accommodations
6
nights included
Age Requirements
Minimum age 5
Itinerary
COLLAPSE ALLEXPAND ALL
Day 1
Welcome to Charleston
Get ready for charming neighbourhoods, historical sites and delicious food in Charleston, South Carolina. Upon arrival, settle into your hotel or get out and explore. Perhaps make your way to Rainbow Row and you’ll soon see why the 13 candy-colored Georgian homes are a photographer's dream. Discover a bit of history at these structures dating back to 1730 when they were shops on the wharf. Tonight, dinner with your travel companions awaits.
Accommodation
Hyatt Place Charleston Historic District
Meals
Dinner
Day 2
Charleston Sightseeing
Unlock Charleston’s people, places, culture and traditions with a Local Specialist. You’ll love this chance to discover the secrets – from architecture to art – from locals. You've surely worked up an appetite and Charleston City Market is just the place to fuel up. This vibrant, open-air market dating back to 1804 is one of the nation's oldest. Browse among more than 300 vendors selling goodies like biscuits, shrimp and grits, lobster hushpuppies and pimento cheese sandwiches. You’ll even find locally made products marked with a 'Certified Authentic Handmade in Charleston' seal. Cap off your day in the Southeast USA with a visit to McLeod Plantation. Unlock the past at this living tribute to the descendants of people who fought for freedom, equality and justice. You’ll tour the homes comparing the McLeod family home with those built for enslaved families.
Accommodation
Hyatt Place Charleston Historic District
Meals
Breakfast
Highlights
Visit McLeod Plantation
Discover America’s Lowcountry history at McLeod Plantation. Established in 1851, McLeod Plantation Historic Site is a 37-acre Gullah/Geechee heritage site preserved in recognition of its cultural and historical significance. You’ll learn about the cultivation of sea island cotton and follow the emergence of Gullah Culture in the Low Country. Get a feel for the past strolling the grounds including a riverside outdoor pavilion, a sweeping oak allée and the McLeod Oak which is thought to be more than 600 years old. Treasure this opportunity to learn about the people who shaped Charleston’s complex past and the nation’s future.
Charleston City Tour
Charleston brings new sights, sounds and experiences around every turn. Join an experienced Local Specialist for a coach tour through historic Charleston. You’ll have the chance to smell fragrant jasmine, peer through wrought iron gates and see names from the past etched in stone as you stroll past historic sites. Unlock the best of the city from those who know it best. Your host invests back into the properties you tour, ensuring that Charleston’s most historically significant landmarks, structures, sites and stories endure for generations to come.
Day 3
Charleston to Savannah via Beaufort
Kick off your day at Fort Sumter National Monument aboard a scenic cruise through Charleston Harbour. Then it’s off to Beaufort for lunch and free time to spend as you choose. Get out and explore the historic district antebellum mansions and 19th-century architecture. Your next stop is Hilton Head Island, rich with white sand beaches and towering oaks, before arriving in Savannah. This evening is yours to explore Savannah at your leisure.
Accommodation
Hotel Indigo Savannah Historic District
Meals
Breakfast
Highlights
Hotel Indigo
Known to locals as the "Grand Lady on the Bay", the building was once 19th-century mega-merchant Simon Guckenheimer's dry goods storage house, which was filled with everything the South made best, from tobacco to canned peaches. The 1940's and '50s brought a grocery store with the city's first true coffeehouse. Now, the Grand Lady stands as a charming boutique hotel with modern style in the vibrant Ellis Square that reflects the essence of Savannah's renowned Historic District.
Fort Sumter National Monument
Explore local and national history at the grounds and visitor centre of Fort Sumter National Monument. Take in the scenery cruising to the Fort on an island off the coast. Arriving at Fort Sumter National Historical Park, you will stand where America’s deadliest war began at the mouth of Charleston Harbor. You’ll learn about the events leading to the Civil War from knowledgeable National Park Rangers and explore well-preserved fort ruins.
Day 4
Savannah Sightseeing
Unlock the icons of Savannah on a city tour. Steeped in history and Southern charm, Savannah’s cobblestone streets, oak trees draped in Spanish moss and antebellum architecture bring you new sights with each step. Enjoy its historic district, boasting well-preserved squares, museums and exquisite examples of 18th and 19th-century architecture. You’ll explore iconic and lush Forsyth Park, finishing your tour along River Steet to admire the cobblestone streets, historic buildings and views of the Savannah River. Celebrate this vibrant city with a Be My Guest experience with local food celebrity and TV host, Jesse Blanco. Finish the afternoon at Tybee Island Light House. Climb to the top to capture a photo of the island and visit the on-site museum.
Accommodation
Hotel Indigo Savannah Historic District
Meals
Breakfast
Lunch
Highlights
Savannah City Tour
Embark on an orientation tour with your Tour Director beginning at Forsyth Park, one of Savannah's most picturesque spots. You’ll admire the famous Forsyth Fountain and the greenery before driving down Jones Street, often referred to as one of the most beautiful streets in America, with historic homes, tree-lined sidewalks and a charming atmosphere. Explore the Savannah Historic District, passing landmarks such as the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, the Mercer-Williams House and the Owens-Thomas House. Finish along River Street, Savannah's bustling waterfront area.
Culinary Experience in Savannah
Meet your host, a local food celebrity in the culinary hotspot of Savannah, Georgia. This Be My Guest experience at a restaurant will find you sampling some of the city’s finest flavours while the host shares their stories with you.
Visit Tybee Island Lighthouse
Visit the must-see Tybee Island Lighthouse, the oldest and tallest lighthouse in Georgia. Unlock its history dating back to 1732, and you’ll learn how it’s one of the most intact, historic lighthouses remaining in America. The lighthouse has been rebuilt several times. It was first constructed with stone and wood, and in 1773, with bricks and wooden stairs. View the 1916 historic marker and climb 178 stairs to snap a photo overlooking Tybee Island.
Day 5
Georgia Coast Sightseeing
Get ready for more must-see sights of the American Southeast, your next stop is St. Simons Island where moss-draped oaks line the streets filled with shops and museums. After free time for lunch, make your way to Jekyll Island. Settled in 1733 as the Georgia Colony, Jekyll Island retains its historic character. You’ll visit Driftwood Beach to explore the sun-bleached trees worn down by erosion. On the Wanderer Memory Trail, unlock the past and learn the stories of enslaved people brought to the shores of Jekyll Island 160 years ago. This trail has received a UNESCO Slave Route Project “Site of Memory” designation and will leave you reflective of the island’s past.
Accommodation
Holiday Inn Resort Jekyll Island
Meals
Breakfast
Highlights
St. Simons Island
Discover the local secrets of St. Simons Island, the largest barrier island in Georgia’s Golden Isles. Stroll along the historic St. Simons Pier and watch the local fishermen and fisherwomen. Another must-see awaits at charming Pier Village where you can browse boutique shops, art galleries, and explore the local seafood restaurants.
Jekyll Island Wanderer Memory Trail and Driftwood Beach
Unlock the history of Jekyll Island on the interpretive Wanderer Memory Trail. You’ll learn the history of the Wanderer, a slave ship that arrived on the Jekyll River 160 years ago. Through individual exhibits, you’ll hear the stories of the 500 enslaved Africans including Umwalla, a young African boy brought to America on the ship. You’ll also explore Driftwood Beach, a former maritime forest that has been eroded to sculpture-like piles of sun-bleached driftwood.
Day 6
Jekyll Island Sightseeing
Discover the hidden treasures of Jekyll Island on a Landmarks Tram Tour of the island’s 240-acre historic district. You’ll dive into the world of Jekyll Island Club members who created an exclusive retreat for their family and friends including a stop at Indian Mound Cottage, former home of the Rockefellers. Your next stop is at Mosaic Museum where you will Dive into Culture through “Hearing History: African American Music on Jekyll Island.” You'll learn about Gullah ring shouts, a call and response dance passed down through the descendants of the enslaved people of the low country. Cap off your exploration of the island with a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience at Georgia Sea Turtle Center. Your final full day concludes with a dinner with your travel companions.
Accommodation
Holiday Inn Resort Jekyll Island
Meals
Breakfast
Dinner
Highlights
Landmarks Tram Tour including Indian Mount Cottage
Get ready for a one-of-a-kind experience on your Landmarks Tram Tour of Jekyll Island. You’ll learn how the Island was the exclusive site of the renowned Jekyll Island Club - the winter retreat for some of America's wealthiest families including the Rockefellers, Vanderbilts and Morgans. Unlock the elegance and opulence of the early 20th century at Indian Mount Cottage, the Rockefeller’s winter home, where you’ll step inside to see how the family, nannies and servants lived.
Hearing History: African American Music on Jekyll Island at Mosaic Museum
Visit the Mosaic Museum for an in-depth look into Black history on Jekyll Island through the lens of music. You’ll learn about Gullah ring shouts, a call and response dance passed down through the descendants of the enslaved people of the low country. Enjoy cake walk performances by the Black employees of the Jekyll Island Club. Lastly, explore ragtime and the Club era, and Maurice Ruddick and the Dolphin Club - where legendary performers such as BB King, Percy Sledge and Otis Redding entertained guests like you.
Visit Georgia Sea Turtle Center, a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience
Support local wildlife on your private behind-the-scenes tour of the rehabilitation centre of the Georgia Sea Turtle Center, Georgia's first sea turtle rehabilitation, research and education facility. You’ll see where injured and sick sea turtles are treated and learn how the Center’s research helps sea turtles in Georgia and around the world. You’ll love exploring the lives of sea turtles and other native animals knowing that your visit supports their rehabilitation. Your visit also directly supports United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 14 and 15: Life Below Water and Life on Land.
Day 7
Depart Jekyll Island
Enjoy one last leisurely morning on Jekyll Island before concluding your American Southeast tour. Then say farewell to your fellow travellers as you depart for Jacksonville, Florida International Airport arriving at approximately 10:00 AM. Please be aware when booking your flights. You may also choose to extend your stay in Jacksonville, FL.
Explore Charleston and Jekyll Island including Indian Mount Cottage with a Local Specialist
Discover Beaufort, Hilton Head Island and Savannah
Visit McLeod Plantation and Fort Sumter Visitor Education Center in Charleston, Georgia's Tybee Island Lighthouse and Sea Turtle Center, St. Simons Island, Jekyll Island's Mosaic Museum
Scenic Charleston Harbor cruise to Fort Sumter National Monument
Dive into Culture
Visit the Mosaic Museum for an in-depth look into Black history on Jekyll Island
MAKE TRAVEL MATTER®
Visit Georgia Sea Turtle Center
What's Included
Travel Director
An expert Travel Director and professional Driver
Hotels
Cherry-picked hotels, all tried and trusted
All porterage and restaurant gratuities
All hotel tips, charges and local taxes
On occasion, hotels of similar standard and location may be utilised.
Meals
Breakfast daily and up to half of your evening meals
Sightseeing
Must-see sightseeing and surprise extras
Audio
Audio headsets for flexible sightseeing
Transport
All transport and transfers shown
Luxury air-conditioned coach with Wi-Fi in most countries or alternative transportation (such as rail journeys)
Optionals
Optional Experiences and free time
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Trip Notes
A deposit must be paid at the time of booking.
Flights are not included but can be quoted by our Reservations team, who can also explain inclusions within the trip.
Full holiday amount to be paid no later than 60 days prior to departure for land only guided holidays or 90 days for guided holidays including train or cruise.
Subject to availability at time of booking and may be withdrawn at any time.
Terms & Conditions
Prices listed are land only & do not include airfare to and from the start/end of the tour.
Prices listed are per person, based on twin or multi-share. If you’re travelling solo, we can pair you with a same-sex roommate at no extra cost or you can upgrade to a single for an additional cost, based on availability. For departure points and stay longer accommodation options contact our travel experts for more details.
'Exclusive Costco Member Price' is available upon member login.
For 'Costco Vacations of a Lifetime' itineraries the price shown is the final base price, exclusive to Costco members and already reflective of any special member savings. Additional, limited-time discounts are not applicable, other conditions apply. Please refer to Terms & Conditions
'Price with Current Deals' reflects current applicable 'Last Minute Deals.' Last Minute Deals are available on select departures only and only available to travellers departing from the UK; not combinable with any other promotional offers; full payment due at time of booking.
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