Smoky Mountain Rail Adventure

A journey rich with southern heritage, scenic views and unforgettable experiences lies ahead as your vacation begins today in Nashville, Tennessee. On arrival, transfer independently to your hotel in the heart of downtown.

After checking in and meeting the Tour Manager, the rest of the day is free for you to soak up the city's unique atmosphere and history. Within walking distance of our hotel lies Nashville's most famous street, Broadway. Affectionately known as 'Honky Tonk Row', this street is brimming with live music venues and incredible places to eat. Nearby, attractions like the Johnny Cash Museum, the National Museum of African American Music and Walk of Fame Park offer plenty of options.

This evening, choose from a wide range of dining options, from elevated restaurants to beloved neighborhood diners, serving southern comfort classics and international cuisine. Overnight Nashville, TN.

A guided tour of the city awaits after breakfast this morning. With a guide leading the way and offering local insight, we explore Riverfront Park, where broad walkways line the water's edge, before heading to the Downtown District. Widely regarded as the city's beating heart, this area encompasses the legendary 'Honky Tonk Row'. Here, neon-lit venues and establishments lines the streets, alive with sounds that have shaped the city's rich musical heritage.

There's free time after the tour to find lunch and continue sightseeing at your own pace. Along with its reputation as a music city, Nashville is also known for its characterfull neighborhoods filled with independent coffee shops, breweries and boutiques.

Reconvening this evening, we visit one of Nashville's most iconic destinations, the Grand Ole Opry. Here, we enjoy a backstage tour of this world-renowned music venue followed by dinner and a live performance, played right on the stage where greats such as Loretta Lynn and Hank Williams once performed. Overnight Nashville, TN.

• Breakfast, Dinner

Follow in the footsteps of some of the world's greatest recording artists this morning during a tour of RCA Studio B, Nashville's oldest remaining recording studio. Immerse yourself in the sounds of history as you hear the stories of some of the greatest entertainers of the 20th century. Elvis, Dolly Parton, Roy Orbison and Waylon Jennings are just a few of the many artists who recorded some of their top hit songs here, and we see the studios where this amazing history was recorded.

Our day continues with a visit to the Country Music Hall of Fame. This iconic museum is filled with exhibits highlighting artists and musicians, both new and old, that helped to put Nashville on the map. View historic costumes, rare instruments and priceless artefacts, all of which tell the story of the city's enduring influence on country music and beyond.

Following some free time to explore and find lunch at leisure, we join our motorcoach in traveling south into the lush surroundings of Chattanooga, our base for the next two nights. Upon checking into our hotel, you can get to know our new surroundings and have dinner on your own. Overnight Chattanooga, TN.

• Breakfast

After a leisurely breakfast at our hotel, we get our first look at the colorful mountainous landscapes of the region as we join the Incline Railway on Lookout Mountain. This century-old funicular railway offers a leisurely one-mile ride to the summit and provides breathtaking views over the Chattanooga Valley and Appalachian Mountains.

Returning to Chattanooga, there's free time for lunch before we enjoy even more of southern Tennessee's scenery aboard the Tennessee Valley Railroad. This railway was constructed in 1898 to ease the journey between Georgia and Tennessee, and the resulting line is a marvel of engineering. Settle in for a journey through the famous Hiwassee Loop - one of only six of its kind in North America and the only one east of the Mississippi. Marvel at the forested mountains, brimming with hidden blossoms and verdant trees in spring and summer and engulfed in warmly hued foliage in the autumn.

We return to Chattanooga by coach and have a free evening to walk along the riverfront, pop in some of the Bluff View Art District galleries or savor more Southern cuisine. Overnight Chattanooga, TN.

• Breakfast

There's a free morning to uncover Chattanooga after breakfast and there are plenty of attractions near our hotel. You could view marine life at the Tennessee Aquarium or take a stroll along the Tennessee riverside. The Bluff View Art District brims with galleries and museums, including the expansive Hunter Museum of American Art and the River Gallery, located in a turn-of-the-century house.

Continuing our journey later, we stop for lunch as we travel east by coach to Pigeon Forge, a year-round destination amid the Great Smoky Mountains.

On arrival, we check in to our four-star resort hotel near the Dollywood theme park and have a free evening to explore at leisure. Perhaps take a stroll through the charming Old Mill Square, where historic buildings house craft shops, restaurants and a working gristmill, or simply relax while soaking up the scenery. Overnight Pigeon Forge, TN.

• Breakfast, Lunch

The immensity of this region's stunning mountains and deep forests is revealed after breakfast this morning as we head into Great Smoky Mountains National Park. A coach transfer takes us from our hotel to Sugarlands Visitor Center, where our half-day tour begins.

With a knowledgeable guide leading the way, we set out along a scenic mountain road that reveals the Chimney Tops and many other beautiful peaks. Photo opportunities are bountiful as the tour winds through the park, and we enjoy stops at places like Newfoundland Gap, which marks the line between Tennessee and North Carolina, as well as the Rockefeller Memorial. Enjoy a glimpse at the famous Appalachian Trail, and keep your eyes peeled for local wildlife, including black bears, as we explore.

We return to the hotel following the tour, with the remainder of the day free to enjoy the amenities and views this part of Tennessee has to offer. Overnight Pigeon Forge, TN.

• Breakfast

Leaving Tennessee behind this morning, we step aboard our coach for a journey into the mountains of North Carolina. The journey is lined with breathtaking scenes and concludes in the quaint mountain town of Bryson City, where the Blue Ridge Mountains meet the Smokies.

On arrival, there is some free time to wander its quaint main street and find lunch on your own, and then, railway adventures beckon as we board the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad for a 4 1/2-hour round-trip journey. Enjoy views of seasonal splendors from the comfort of fully restored rail cars as the train ventures toward the Nantahala Gorge. Each moment of the 44-mile route is steeped in beauty and reveals charming mountain towns and the historic Fontana Trestle Bridge.

There is an hour-long layover at the Gorge to wander along the river or sightsee at leisure, then settle back into your seat for a second viewing of North Carolina's incredible vistas. As the train arrives back in Bryson City, we continue to the eclectic mountain town of Asheville, where the evening is free. Overnight Asheville, NC.

• Breakfast

One of the South's most impressive buildings and America's largest home, the grand Biltmore Estate is our destination this morning. The family home of George and Edith Vanderbilt, this estate covers more than 8,000 acres in beautiful Asheville.

As we tour the property, wander through the meticulously designed home, which is complete with 16th-century decor, a library with over 10,000 books and original art by Renoir. We also have a chance to explore the gardens, winery and equestrian center - all located on the grounds. We pause as we reach the Stable Café and enjoy a lunch buffet of Appalachian comfort food.

Following the tour, the remainder of the day is spent at leisure soaking up the artistic atmosphere and offerings of Asheville. World-class restaurants meet quirky art galleries, stunning architecture meets the simple beauty of nature, and your opportunities are endless. Overnight Asheville, NC.

• Breakfast, Lunch

When considering locations for show-stopping scenery, Tennessee and North Carolina are not often the first to come to mind; however, this vacation has showcased again and again why they should be.

We dove into Nashville's history and musical heritage before getting our first look at the mountains in Chattanooga. After riding two railways and admiring the views from the valley and high above, we continued to Great Smoky Mountains National Park from Pigeon Forge and admired the Nantahala Gorge aboard the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad. Ending with the classical beauty of the Biltmore Estate, a home whose grounds are a spectacle of nature themselves, each stop has been another glimpse at the South's natural beauty.

Our journey comes to a close after breakfast with a transfer to Asheville's Airport for your return flight home. The included group transfer accommodates flights departing after 10:30 am.

• Breakfast