The
Mississippi Delta
8 days / 7 nights—Memphis, Natchez Trace, Lafayette, Cajun Country, New Orleans
“The Delta begins in the lobby of the Peabody Hotel in Memphis,” wrote journalist David Cohn. Travel the backroads of the south through this vast agricultural plain created by “Old Man River.” Options & Rates
Home of the Blues
Day 1—MEMPHIS
Arrive Memphis where you will be met by our representative and transferred to your hotel. Located on a bluff overlooking the Mississippi River, Memphis is a Mecca for Elvis fans and the birthplace for many of the important musical styles of the 20th century.
The Peabody
Day 2—MEMPHIS, NATCHEZ
Drive south this morning via Clarksdale to Rena Lard, where in May of 1541, Hernando DeSoto discovered the Mississippi River. Continue through the delta via Greenville, which Union troops burned to the ground during the Civil War, and on to Natchez.
Monmouth Plantation
Day 3—NATCHEZ
Full day to explore the Natchez Trace. This historic parkway commemorates Indian paths that were later used by European settlers to extend their commerce and trade.
Monmouth Plantation
On the Mississippi
Day 4—NATCHEZ, LAFAYETTE
Leave Natchez today driving into Louisiana via Baton Rouge and then west to Lafayette, a major center of Cajun life and lore.
Bois des Chenes
Day 5—LAFAYETTE
Full day exploring the sights and sounds of life on the bayou. The Acadian Village, nestled in 10 wooded acres, is a recreation of an early 19th-century bayou settlement. At Vermilionville, on the banks of the bayou, is a 22-acre living history museum, presenting early Cajun, Creole, and Chitimacha Indian life in the region.
Bois des Chenes
Preservation Hall, New Orleans
Day 6—LAFAYETTE, NEW ORLEANS
Depart Lafayette this morning, following the scenic route that meanders alongside the Bayou Teche, a stream that twists and turns through the semi-tropical land of southern Louisiana. Here you can get a glimpse of giant oaks with 150-foot reach, trailing moss sometimes three feet below the branches. On to the "Big Easy."
Royal Sonesta Hotel
Day 7—NEW ORLEANS
Full day to explore this unique city. New Orleans is often called the “Crescent City” because it was founded on the bend of the Mississippi River. The city has more than 35,000 buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places, more than any other U.S. city. Many of these architectural treasures are located in the 120 blocks of the French Quarter (Vieux Carré), known for its restaurants, antique shops and jazz haunts.
Royal Sonesta Hotel