Charleston/Savannah and the South Carolina/Georgia Coast

7 night tour - starting in Jacksonville, Florida - ending in Charleston, South Carolina

A Tauck World Discovery Tour.

Celebrating 90 years in the travel touring business, Tauck offer the ultimate in luxury touring. Throughout the years, ingenuity and innovation, plus a focus on customer servce and authentic experiences, have grown Tauck into one of the world's leading travel touring companies. On your tour you can expect an itinerary carefully designed to create an unforgetable experience, ensuring the finest hotels, luxury motorcoaches and highly experienced tour directors.

Tauck's unforgettable trip through South Carolina and Georgia tours places reminiscent of long-ago days of gracious Southern living... a rarefied world of plantations, 19th-century mansions, magnolias and live oaks hung with Spanish moss. Explore National Historic Landmark Districts in Savannah, Jekyll Island, Charleston and Beaufort... visit Fort Pulaski and a maritime museum in Savannah... stay beachfront at Hilton Head Island... take a privately guided tour of Drayton Hall, and stroll through the gardens of Middleton Place... discover Savannah's beloved Madeira traditions on an exclusive private evening... spend some special time with Aunt Pearlie Sue, master storyteller of Gullah-flavored folktales... take a private cruise in Charleston Harbor... celebrate 300 years of history in Beaufort... and more. Tauck's South Carolina and Georgia tours are as refreshing as a cool glass of sweet tea!

2016 Guaranteed departure dates:
March 17th & 24th
April 13th & 20th
May 4th, 11th* & 12th
September 08th, 15th, 22nd & 29th*
October 06th & 13th
 
* Small Group Departures – Select small group departures averaging just 24 guests.
 
TO BOOK THIS TOUR: CALL US ON FREEPHONE 0800 0336 335 OR EMAIL US RESERVATIONS@PURELYTRAVELGROUP.CO.UK
View Itinerary Details

Day 1: Arrive Jacksonville and transfer to Jekyll Island

Tour begins: 6:00 PM, Jekyll Island Club Hotel. A transfer is included from Jacksonville International Airport to the Jekyll Island Club Hotel in the heart of the island's National Historic Landmark District. Enjoy a welcome cocktail reception at your elegant Victorian hotel, originally founded in the late 19th century as a hunting retreat for some of America's richest and most powerful families including the Rockefellers and the Vanderbilts, and dinner at leisure. A week of South Carolina and Georgia tours begins in gracious style!

Lodging: Jekyll Island Club Hotel

Dinner

Day 2: St. Simons Island and historic Savannah

Tour Jekyll Island's 240-acre historic district, including Faith Chapel and Rockefeller's Indian Mound, and travel to nearby St. Simons Island, hosting expansive marshlands, oaks draped with Spanish moss and glorious beaches. Travel to Savannah for a two-night stay at a hotel overlooking the waterfront, close to River Front Plaza. You'll admire the city's elegant architecture and geometric city design, with 24 park squares featuring live oaks draped with Spanish moss; it's one of the country's most graceful cities. Tonight, enjoy a Tauck Exclusive – discover Savannah’s Madeira traditions at the Davenport House Museum, and dine in the historic district at 45 Bistro in Savannah’s oldest hotel, The Marshall House. Experience the best of Georgia tours!

Lodging: Hilton Savannah DeSoto

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 3: Explore landmark sites in historic Savannah

Begin your day with a private tour of the Juliette Gordon Low Birthplace in Savannah, family home of the founder of the Girl Scouts of the USA, and visit the Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum, interpreting the great Atlantic sea trade of centuries past. A local expert provides an insider's view of Savannah's park squares and notable buildings, part of one of the first planned cities in America, on a guided tour; its National Historic Landmark District is the largest in the country, and features more than 1,000 architecturally significant buildings. The remainder of the day is yours to explore more of Savannah on your own, perhaps wandering the city's trendy waterfront district.

Lodging: Hilton Savannah DeSoto

Breakfast

Day 4: Fort Pulaski National Monument and on to Hilton Head Island

Bid Savannah farewell and head off to a key site of the Civil War, Fort Pulaski National Monument, an impressive brick fortress captured by Union forces in 1862. It was here that military history was forever changed during a Civil War battle that saw the introduction of "rifled cannons." Continue on to Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, boasting one of the most pristine marine estuaries on the east coast, where you'll find miles of barrier beaches outside of your oceanfront resort that are ideal for walking and beachcombing. Take a journey this afternoon through the roots of Gullah culture, from West Africa to the Carolina coast, with master storyteller Aunt Pearlie Sue; her warmth, humor and exuberance will be long remembered.

Lodging: Omni Hilton Head Oceanfront Resort

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 5: Step back in time in Beaufort en route to Charleston

Take time for an early morning walk on Hilton Head's pristine beaches if you wish before journeying north along the coast. Arrive in Beaufort, "Queen of the Carolina Sea Islands," where you'll view the timeless architecture of its National Historic Landmark District. Head to Charleston, the lovely and historic first capital of South Carolina. An exclusively chartered private boat cruise of Charleston Harbor this afternoon imparts a wealth of information about the city's centuries of maritime history. Your home for the next three nights is an elegant 150-year-old hotel, The Mills House Wyndham Grand Hotel, at the center of Charleston's historic district – and within walking distance of much of Charleston's historic district. Dinner tonight is at your choice of several fine Charleston restaurants.

Lodging: The Mills House Wyndham Grand Hotel

Breakfast, Dinner

Day 6: Charleston past and present – four centuries of architectural treasures

A local guide takes you on a tour of Charleston to see centuries-old cobblestone streets and well-preserved homes representing a range of architectural styles from the Revolutionary War period to Antebellum mansions – classic Georgia, Federal, Adamesque, Greek Revival, Italianate and Victorian. Many of these homes surround very pretty "secret" walled gardens; additional highlights of the city's 789-acre historic district include The Citadel and the Battery. The rest of the day is free to do as you please; Charleston is a great city to explore by foot, or you might decide to see it by horsedrawn carriage; other ideas are visiting the Gibbes Museum of Art, or Fort Sumter National Monument, where the first shot of the Civil War was fired in 1861. And of course there are many restaurants and cafés to enjoy the easy living this city is so well known for.

Lodging: The Mills House Wyndham Grand Hotel

Breakfast

Day 7: Grand plantations and gardens of centuries past in Charleston

Visit some of the finest plantations and gardens in America today. A morning trip takes you first to Drayton Hall, a Georgian Palladian mansion built in 1738 that is preserved in original condition, without electricity or plumbing. A privately guided tour takes in Charleston’s only surviving 18th-century plantation house that is open to the public. Then it's on to Middleton Place, a National Historic Landmark that is home to America's oldest landscaped gardens – a landscaping masterpiece. Tour its mansion built in 1755 and the stableyards – and of course the formal gardens. This evening, relive this most gracious of South Carolina and Georgia tours during the farewell cocktail reception and dinner at your historic Charleston hotel.

Lodging: The Mills House Wyndham Grand Hotel

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 8: Gracious days in Savannah and Charleston conclude, home time or extend your stay

Your one-week South Carolina and Georgia tours conclude in Charleston. Fly home anytime. A transfer is included from The Mills House Wyndham Grand Hotel to Charleston International Airport. Allow a minimum of two hours for flight check-in.

Breakfast

Your Tauck Tour Highlights


An exclusive private evening featuring a taste of Savannah’s beloved Madeira traditions at the Federal-style Davenport House Museum, followed by a charming dinner at 45 Bistro in Savannah’s oldest hotel, The Marshall House
Special presentation in Hilton Head by Aunt Pearlie Sue, master storyteller of Gullah-flavored folktales; she’ll take you on a journey from the roots of Gullah history in West Africa to coastal Carolina
A private cruise in Charleston Harbor, where Charleston’s rich maritime heritage comes alive, from the Revolutionary War to pirates to nature; visit places that bigger boats can’t reach
A guided tour with expert interpreters that delves into three centuries of history at Drayton Hall, Charleston’s only surviving 18th-century plantation house open to the public
A walk through America’s oldest landscaped gardens, lunch and a house tour during a guided visit to Middleton Place
Airport transfers upon arrival and departure as detailed
15 meals (7 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 5 dinners); service charges, gratuities to local guides, admission fees, taxes and porterage

Your Hotels....

Night 1 : Jekyll Island Club Hotel - Jekyll Island, Georgia - Tauck Guests enjoy complimentary Internet access in guest rooms!

Once the exclusive retreat of the Rockefellers, the Vanderbilts and their millionaire friends, this lovingly restored and meticulous maintained Victorian gem has been voted one of the world’s 500 best hotels by the readers of Travel + Leisure. Located in a protected area of Jekyll Island, the grandeur of the buildings and grounds of this historic landmark evoke memories of the Gilded Age. Guest rooms feature color cable TV / DVD, iron / ironing board, in-room safe, coffee maker and refreshments center. Leisure options include an outdoor swimming pool, croquet, a putting green and a lending library. Dining venues include the elegant Grand Dining Room, with its Ionic columns and commanding views of the Jekyll River and the alfresco dining experience at The Courtyard at Crane Cottage, which offers a casual yet sophisticated ambiance.

Nights 2 - 3 : Hilton Savannah DeSoto - Savannah, Georgia - Tauck Guests enjoy complimentary Internet access in guest rooms!

Situated in the heart of Savannah’s Historic District, The Hilton Savannah DeSoto is surrounded by the city’s charming Southern ambiance, close to many of its most notable attributes that make it a popular destination for visitors from around the world. Gracious guest rooms with views of the city’s historic skyline are designed with convenience and comfort in mind, offering welcome amenities such as iron and ironing boards, a coffee maker, a 32-inch flat-screen TV with premium cable channel and Hilton’s Serenity Bed collection. If you can’t bear the thought of missing your workout, there’s a well-equipped fitness center… or perhaps a dip in the rooftop pool, or just relaxing beside it, might sound like a better idea. Indulge in Southern cuisine with an inventive flair at the DeSoto Grill or pick up a cup of Starbucks and a snack to go with it at Beulah’s. End your evening on the hotel’s front patio with a cool drink from the Lion’s Den Bar.

Night 4 : Omni Hilton Head Oceanfront Resort - Hilton Head, South Carolina - Tauck Guests enjoy complimentary Internet access in guest rooms!

Set on the pristine beaches of famous Hilton Head Island in the midst of the 2,000-acre resort community of Palmetto Dunes, the Omni Hilton Head Oceanfront Resort embodies true southern hospitality in a tropical paradise unlike anything else found in South Carolina’s Low Country. Yes, the beach is beautiful… and that’s only the beginning. Exceptionally spacious guest rooms, with sophisticated décor and private balconies, provide a full mini-kitchen with microwave and refrigerator, TV with on-demand movies, iron and ironing board, hair dryer and an in-room safe. The hotel boasts a private sugar-sand beach, outdoor swimming pools, tennis courts, bike trails and three championship golf courses recognized by Golf Magazine, Golf Digest and Golf & Travel. Sample a wine or champagne flight or your favorite cocktail at the exciting XO Lounge or enjoy the views of the Atlantic Ocean along with your beverage of choice at the Buoy Bar. This is truly resort living at its best!

Nights 5 - 7 : The Mills House Wyndham Grand Hotel - Charleston, South Carolina - Tauck Guests enjoy complimentary Internet access in guest rooms!

The Mills House Wyndham Grand Hotel is one of Charleston's most historic hotels, having welcomed its first guests over 150 years ago. In 2013, the hotel has captured its original splendor with the completion of a multi-million dollar restoration. The Mills House Wyndham Grand Hotel is located right in the heart of Charleston, enjoying one of the best locations of any hotel in the city. The exquisite hotel's lush, Victorian atmosphere boasts an extensive collection of original artwork and antiques, extending gracious southern hospitality in the true tradition of the genteel way of life in Charleston. Dining in the Barbados Room features an outstanding selection of Lowcountry specialties. Both the Best Friend Bar (named for the nation’s first steam locomotive based in Charleston) and the First Shot Lounge (named for the first shot fired in the Civil War at nearby Fort Sumter) are ideal venues in which to sip your favorite drink. Elegantly appointed guest rooms are individually decorated, providing the feel of an antebellum home. And in warmer weather (which Charleston experiences most months), guests relax around the outdoor swimming pool.

Tour Only Cost: All prices quoted below are per adult person, per tour in British Pounds (GBP)

Departure Dates

Single Twin/Double Triple Quad
All Small Group departures £2755 £2216 £2114 Please call
All other departures in 2016 £2371 £1829 £1740 Please call
 
 
Special Solo Traveller Savings – save up to £130 off the single room price on select departure dates – Please call us for more details. 
 
Children - may qualify for a discount when sharing a room with 2 adults - Please call us for details. 
 
Not included in your tour cost:
Flights – we can package your tour with flights at very competitive airfares using our airline partners. Please call us to discuss the best airline for your itinerary.
Pre or post accommodation - If you want to extend your stay at the start or the end of your escorted tour or add another destination to your booking please call us and we will be happy to provide a quote.
Meals, other than those listed in the itinerary.
The customary gratuities for the Tour Director and local drivers are not included.
 
FAQs:
There are many questions and considerations you might have when planning an escorted tour with Tauck Tours. For more information please click here.
 

TO BOOK YOUR TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS:

Please call us on FREEPHONE 0800 0336 335 or EMAIL us reservations@purelytravelgroup.co.uk we are open 7 days a week.

We will be happy to answer any questions, check the availability of your tour, offer a quote for flights and any pre or post nights you would like to add.

When you are ready to go ahead with the booking, a non-refundable deposit of 10% will be due at time of booking or the full balance if you are due to travel within 8 weeks.