Texas & Southern States

Flight from Zurich via Frankfurt to Dallas. Welcome by the local tour guide, followed by transfer to the hotel.

A local tour guide will introduce you to the highlights of the largest city in Texas. In the afternoon, you can explore further highlights of Dallas, such as the John F. Kennedy Museum, at your own pace.

Drive south through the state of Texas to Houston. You will get to know the city, which bears the nickname “Space City USA”, on a sightseeing drive. Houston is a recognised cultural centre with a world-famous theatre district and excellent museums. The programme includes a visit to the Space Center, where some of NASA’s most important decisions are made. Shopping can be found at “The Galleria”, “Highland Village” and “Rice Village”.

Drive through the state of Texas into Louisiana, first to Lake Charles, the vibrant heart of Cajun Country. The city’s highlights include a flourishing artists’ colony, the historic Charpentier District with its winding architecture, casino boats and an inland beach with white sand. The journey continues to Lafayette. You can spend the afternoon in one of the museums, where you will learn how the “Cajuns” lived. You will hear their music and taste their traditional dishes.

Experience the magnificent beauty of the Mississippi Delta. The route takes you via Baton Rouge to Oak Alley Plantation. On a tour of the estate, you will learn about life on a plantation in the 19th century. Then continue along the Mississippi, where you will see some impressive plantation houses with their characteristic avenues of trees. In the late afternoon, you reach New Orleans, known as the “Big Easy”. This vibrant city is legendary for its charming paddle steamers, live music in the small bars of the French Quarter, spicy and flavourful Creole cuisine, Mardi Gras, excellent shopping, fascinating museums and a seemingly endless succession of festivals. In the evening, you can take a stroll along Bourbon Street.

City tour in the morning, presenting the highlights of New Orleans. This includes the French Quarter and the local cemetery culture. Because of the high water table, the cemeteries are laid out above ground with crypts. The best known is certainly Lafayette Cemetery. The rest of the day is at your leisure. In the afternoon, you can optionally take a trip on one of the typical paddle steamers on the Mississippi.

You leave the city of blues and jazz and head north. Today your companion is the Mississippi. Passing the city captured by the British in 1763, Baton Rouge, you reach Natchez. On a walk, you will gain an overview of its former wealth and history.

Drive to Memphis, the city where blues and rock ’n’ roll are at home. First you visit Graceland, where Elvis composed many of his songs. A tour of the house of the “King of Rock ’n’ Roll” gives you an insight into his eventful life and shows you how Elvis Presley lived, lived and ultimately died. Not to be forgotten is the Lorraine Motel, where Martin Luther King was shot on the balcony on 4 April 1968 at 6.01pm. Afterwards, you can stroll along Beale Street, the most famous shopping street in Memphis.

In the morning, a sightseeing drive introduces you to Memphis, the home of the blues and the birthplace of rock ’n’ roll. In the afternoon, continue to Nashville, the place where country music and whisky are held in high regard and where a touch of the Wild West can be felt. Famous singers such as Dolly Parton, Johnny Cash and Barbara Mandrell are just some of the names who made country music a success in this city.

Sightseeing drive through Nashville, including the Capitol Mall State Park, a memorial to veterans of the Second World War. The journey then continues to Chattanooga, where the Tennessee River awaits you. The state owes its name to this river. A visit to Chattanooga railway station, where you can see the Chattanooga Choo Choo train, is part of the programme. In the evening, you reach Atlanta. The capital of the state of Georgia is best known for hosting the 1996 Summer Olympics.

On a city tour, you will see the birthplace of Martin Luther King. Nuremberg is one of its twin cities, and Coca-Cola has its headquarters here in Atlanta. You have the option of visiting the famous Coca-Cola Museum (optional).

The morning is at your leisure. Return flight in the afternoon.

Arrival in Zurich and individual journey home.

Swiss nationals require an electronic travel authorisation (ESTA) to enter the USA, which must be applied for online independently before departure.