Southern Charm

DAY 1: WELCOME TO THE SOUTH!

Travel to Northwest Georgia for dinner and an overnight stay. D

DAY 2: SAVANNAH, GA

In Savannah, join our local guide for a walking tour of the hauntingly beautiful Bonaventure Cemetery, featured in the movie Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. Check in for a 2-night stay at the Hampton Inn Savannah Historic District. B, D

DAY 3: HISTORIC SAVANNAH

Board an open-air trolley for a narrated sightseeing tour through Savannah’s charming cobblestone streets, located in the nation’s largest National Urban Historic Landmark District. Following the tour, enjoy a delicious lunch at a local restaurant. Afterwards, the rest of the day is yours to leisurely explore Savannah’s Historic District. Take time to stroll the revitalized River Street, lined with unique shops, boutiques, and galleries. B, L

DAY 4: CHARLESTON, SC

Visit a Lowcountry Treasure at Angel Oak, one of Charleston’s most iconic landmarks. Then, head to the Charleston Tea Garden on scenic Wadmalaw Island, where a guided trolley tour takes you through the tea fields and factory, and enjoy tastings amid the peaceful surroundings. In the afternoon, continue exploring Charleston’s colonial and Civil War heritage on a guided city tour led by a local expert, visiting notable landmarks and gaining insight into the city’s storied past. B, D

DAY 5: HISTORIC CHARLESTON

Start your day with a scenic boat cruise to Fort Sumter, the site where the first shots of the Civil War rang out, guided by a National Park Service ranger who brings the fort’s dramatic history to life. After a delicious lunch, spend the afternoon exploring Historic Charleston at your own pace—stroll charming cobblestone streets, discover hidden alleyways, admire stunning historic architecture, browse unique boutiques and galleries, or relax at a cozy café and soak in the city’s irresistible southern charm. B, L

DAY 6: COLUMBIA, SC

This morning, bid farewell to Charleston and visit the South Carolina State Capitol, where soaring columns, elegant chambers, and fascinating stories of the state’s leaders bring South Carolina’s rich history to life. From there, travel through the scenic foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, arriving in Asheville, North Carolina, for a relaxing one-night stay in this vibrant town, known for its artsy streets, welcoming atmosphere, and breathtaking mountain vistas. B, D

DAY 7: ASHEVILLE, NC

Step into the grandeur of the Biltmore Estate, America’s largest historic home, built by George Vanderbilt in 1895. Enjoy lunch at the estate’s charming Stable Café, then spend the day discovering the opulent mansion and wandering through its breathtaking, expansive gardens, alive with seasonal beauty at every turn. B, L

DAY 8: RETURN HOME

Say farewell as you make your way home, reflecting on the wonderful experiences and sights enjoyed throughout the trip. B

ACCOMMODATIONS:
Night 1: Hampton Inn, Cartersville, GA (or similar)
Nights 2-3 : Hampton Inn, Savannah Historic District, GA
Nights 4-5: Hampton Inn, Charleston Historic District, SC
Night 6: Doubletree, Asheville, NC
Night 7: Hampton Inn, Cookeville, TN (or similar)

Departure Cities:

• St. Louis

Depart: April 4, 2027
Return: April 11, 2027

Price per person:

• DB $2,599
• TP/QD $2,299
• SG $3,459

Mobility Note
Guests should be comfortable with extended walking and standing in historic districts, museums, gardens and the Biltmore Estate. Savannah and Charleston may include cobblestones, brick sidewalks, uneven pavement, curbs and steps. Fort Sumter is reached by ferry and includes ramps, gangways and uneven historic surfaces.

Average Temps
Savannah and Charleston: Daytime 74–79°F; Overnight 53–59°F
Asheville: Daytime 66–71°F; Overnight 41–46°F

Packing Tips
Pack comfortable walking shoes, removable layers, a light jacket and a compact raincoat or umbrella. A warmer layer is recommended for Asheville and for the breezy ferry ride across Charleston Harbor. Sunscreen and sunglasses are useful for outdoor sightseeing, gardens and the Charleston Tea Garden.

Photography Tips
A wide-angle setting is helpful for Savannah’s streets, Charleston’s architecture and the rooms and gardens of the Biltmore Estate. Bring a zoom feature for coastal scenery and possible wildlife sightings during the Fort Sumter ferry ride. Photography restrictions may apply inside historic homes and museum exhibits.

Hotel Note
The Hampton Inn Savannah Historic District is adjacent to River Street and within walking distance of City Market, restaurants, shops and museums, making it easy to continue exploring during free time.

The Hampton Inn Charleston Historic District is located in the heart of downtown beside the Charleston Visitor Center and near King Street, the Charleston Museum and other historic-district attractions.

Notes on Highlights
Savannah’s distinctive city plan was built around public squares, with 22 of its original squares still contributing gardens, monuments and gathering spaces to the Historic District. The squares make free-time exploration feel more like a series of small parks than a typical downtown walk.

Charleston Tea Garden is the only large-scale tea garden in the United States. The Lowcountry’s subtropical climate allows tea plants to grow outdoors, giving guests a rare opportunity to see how tea is cultivated and processed without traveling overseas.

The Fort Sumter ferry ride doubles as a sightseeing cruise through Charleston Harbor. Guests may see the city skyline, historic forts, the Ravenel Bridge, pelicans and dolphins before arriving at the island where the Civil War began. Wildlife sightings are naturally unpredictable.

Bonaventure Cemetery is known not only for its connection to Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, but also for its elaborate monuments, live oaks and garden-like layout overlooking the Wilmington River.

At Biltmore, guests see more than the mansion. The estate’s grounds were designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, the landscape architect behind New York City’s Central Park, and a spring visit may coincide with colorful seasonal displays throughout the gardens.

Other General Information
Tour Communications: You will receive three key communications leading up to your tour:

• Get Ready: Your email confirmation and initial tour information, sent after you register.
• Get Set: An email with additional tour details, sent approximately two months before departure.
• Go: Your final trip documents, mailed via USPS approximately three to four weeks before departure. This packet will include your daily itinerary, luggage tags, and final departure information.

Travel Protection: Travel Protection is optional but highly recommended and may be purchased until the day before departure. Sunrise Tours offers plans through battleface. Additional information will be included with your Get Ready email and can also be found HERE.

Inclusions: Unless otherwise noted, your Sunrise Tour includes:

• A professional Sunrise Tour Director
• Meals as indicated in the itinerary
• Local step-on guides, including gratuities
• International tour guide gratuities when specified for the individual tour
• Deluxe motorcoach transportation with an onboard restroom
• Admission to activities and events as indicated
• Airfare from designated airports
• Transportation to and from designated airports from our convenient local pickup points*
• Luggage handling at hotels when available

Gratuities: We believe tipping is a personal and discretionary interaction between our guests and staff. A typical gratuity for your Sunrise Tour Director and motorcoach driver is $6 to $10 per person, per day of the tour. Sunrise Shuttle drivers also appreciate gratuities for excellent service, with a suggested amount of $5 per person. Our staff will not solicit gratuities or distribute gratuity envelopes.

Refreshments: We are happy to provide refreshments on most motorcoach travel days. We also recommend bringing a refillable water bottle to help you stay hydrated throughout your tour.

Pickup Points: If fewer than four travelers request a particular pickup point, we may ask those guests to select another available pickup location. Travelers are also welcome to join a tour from a city that is not listed as a departure point. Please contact our friendly reservations team to discuss available arrangements. For departure cities not listed, airfare is typically $100 more than the published fare for domestic tours and $200 more for international tours.

TSA PreCheck and Airline Rewards Numbers: TSA PreCheck, Known Traveler Numbers, and airline rewards numbers must be provided to our reservations team at least 60 days before departure. Numbers received after this deadline may not be applied to your reservation.

Airline Seating: Preferred seating may not be available with group airfare. In some cases, seats are not assigned until travelers arrive at the airport. Your tour fare includes an economy-class seat but does not include advance seat selection. Seat upgrades may be available for an additional cost.

Motorcoach Capacity and Seating: To provide one of the most comfortable motorcoach experiences in the industry, Sunrise Tours generally limits motorcoaches to 80% capacity. This allows for a maximum of 44 passengers on a motorcoach designed to accommodate 55. Sunrise Tours reserves the right to amend this practice. Your Tour Director will rotate motorcoach seating each day of the tour. Payment of a single-occupancy fare does not guarantee two motorcoach seats, and you may be seated beside another friendly Sunrise Tours guest.

Terms and Conditions
Please refer to our policies HERE for more information on our terms and conditions.