Holiday Overview
Travel through 900 miles of American music heritage on the train they call the City of New Orleans, immortalised by Arlo Guthrie's Americana classic. From Chicago with its world-class Chicago Symphony Orchestra and still vibrant electric blues scene, to Beale Street in Memphis. Then, travel the history-laden musical crossroads of Mississippi to New Orleans, the birthplace of jazz. You'll be riding in the shadows of giants of American music like Louis Armstrong, Robert Johnson, Muddy Waters and Elvis Presley.
10 days / 9 Nights Start : Chicago Finish : New Orleans (can be done in reverse)
States Visited : Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi, Louisiana
Highlights of the holiday are:- Chicago with its impressive skyline
- Memphis, a home of the blues and Elvis Presley
- New Orleans, with its vibrant jazz scene and Cajun inspired cuisine
City of New Orleans Rail Tour includes:
- Return flights from the UK
- 3 nights accommodation in Chicago
- 1 night accommodation in an Amtrak Superliner Roomette
- 2 nights accommodation in Memphis
- 3 nights accommodation in New Orleans
- Please note sample accommodation can be changed to suit requirements
Day 1 - Arrive in Chicago
Arrive in Chicago and make your own way to your hotel, spending the rest of the day at lesiure
Featured accommodation
Whitehall Hotel - BW Premier Collection
Enhance your experience
Palmer House a Hilton Hotel
Sofitel Chicago Magnificent Mile
Day 2 - Explore Chicago
Why not join a River Cruise Tour whilst exploring Chicago. Give us a call on 0800 270 0069 to book.
Featured accommodation
Whitehall Hotel - BW Premier Collection
Enhance your experience
Palmer House a Hilton Hotel
Sofitel Chicago Magnificent Mile
Unmissable Experiences
Chicago Experiences
Day 3 - Explore Chicago
Why not visit the 360 Degree Chicago for some superb views of the city and beachfront. give us a call on 0800 270 0069 to book.
Featured accommodation
Whitehall Hotel - BW Premier Collection
Enhance your experience
Palmer House a Hilton Hotel
Sofitel Chicago Magnificent Mile
Unmissable Experiences
Chicago Experiences
Day 4 - Train to Memphis
Stay in a superliner bedroom
Day 5 - Explore Memphis
Why not join the Graceland Elvis Presley Experience whilst in Memphis. Give us a call on 0800 270 0069 to book.
Featured accommodation
Sheraton Memphis Downtown Hotel
Enhance your experience
Guest House at Graceland
Peabody
Unmissable Experiences
Graceland
Day 6 - Explore Memphis
Why not visit Sun Studios, known as the birthplace of Rock n Roll whilst in Memphis. Give us a call on 0800 270 0069 to book.
Featured accommodation
Sheraton Memphis Downtown Hotel
Enhance your experience
Guest House at Graceland
Peabody
Day 7 - Train to New Orleans
Featured accommodation
Holiday Inn French Quarter-Chateau LeMoyne
Enhance your experience
Royal Sonesta New Orleans
Day 8 - Explore New Orleans
Why not join the Natchez Jazz Cruise, a fantastic way to see New Orleans whilst listening to good music.
OR
Join the Ghost Walking Tour. Give us a call on 0800 270 0069 to book.
Featured accommodation
Holiday Inn French Quarter-Chateau LeMoyne
Enhance your experience
Royal Sonesta New Orleans
Day 9 - Explore New Orleans
Join the fantastic Swamp and Bayou trip along the Jean Lafitte National Historical Park.
OR
Take part in the Cemetery and Voodoo Walking Tour and discover the secrets of New Orlean's past. Give us a call on 0800 270 00692 to book.
Featured accommodation
Holiday Inn French Quarter-Chateau LeMoyne
Enhance your experience
Royal Sonesta New Orleans
Day 10 - Depart New Orleans
Today check out your hotel and make your own way to the airport.
Whitehall Hotel - BW Premier Collection
Nestled just steps from Chicago’s famed Magnificent Mile, the Whitehall Hotel – BW Premier Collection effortlessly combines European-inspired charm with modern comforts. Its enviable location places you within easy reach of iconic attractions such as Water Tower Place, the Museum of Contemporary Art, and the John Hancock Center. Upon arrival, you’ll be greeted by an inviting lobby showcasing refined decor, hinting at the hotel’s classic elegance and storied past.
Palmer House a Hilton Hotel, Chicago
Palmer House® A Hilton Hotel has 140 years of experience, winning over downtown Chicago travelers with award-winning service. Set in the theatre and financial district, this landmark hotel is close to well-known attractions. You’ll find famous frescoes, stylish suites, massive meeting space and artful dining at Lockwood and Potter's Chicago Burger Bar. Relax at The Spa at Palmer House or work out in the sizeable fitness center.
Sofitel Chicago Magnificent Mile Holidays
French luxury and local cuisine in one of the world's most exciting cities.
The recently renovated Sofitel Chicago Magnificent Mile provides downtown Chicago hotel accommodations minutes from Lake Michigan, Navy Pier, the Museum of Contemporary Art, Millenium Park, the John Hancock Center, the Chicago Water Tower, and upscale boutiques. Designed by French architect Jean-Paul Viguier, the downtown Chicago hotel is a 32-floor prism of glass, boasting 415 rooms, including 33 luxurious suites. Modern design and refined European approach to hospitality take center stage.
Sheraton Memphis Downtown Hotel
Sheraton Memphis Downtown Hotel invites you to experience the best of the city with them. The hotel welcomes you with a terrific location, within walking distance of legendary Beale Street and close to Graceland; also directly connected to Memphis Cook Convention Center via skywalk. Large, intuitively designed rooms and suites boast complimentary Wi-Fi and the Sheraton Signature Sleep Experience. Many also offer views of the Mississippi River.
Guest House at Graceland
Introducing an extraordinary hotel experience in the heart of Elvis Presley’s Graceland®! Located just steps away from the iconic Graceland Mansion, The Guest House at Graceland welcomes music fans, Graceland guests, Memphis visitors and groups from around the world with Southern hospitality, royal treatment and luxurious amenities that would make the king proud
Peabody Hotel
Peabody history dates back to 1869 when the original Peabody Hotel opened on the corner of Main & Monroe and immediately became the social and business hub of Memphis. In 1925 a newer, grander Peabody was built at its present location at Union and 2nd Street continuing the legacy of the "South's Grand Hotel."
Holiday Inn French Quarter-Chateau LeMoyne
The Holiday Inn French Quarter-Chateau LeMoyne, offering the best location near Jackson Square and Bourbon Street, makes us the ideal hotel for exploring New Orleans by walking or street car.
Royal Sonesta New Orleans
The AAA Four Diamond-rated Royal Sonesta New Orleans effortlessly combines timeless elegance and southern refinement, setting itself apart from other French Quarter hotels. Traditional gabled windows, rich colours and linens accented with fresh flowers, wrought-iron balconies, and a lush courtyard create an experience unlike any other.
Image Gallery
Chicago waterfront
New Orleans, Live Music
Graceland Memphis
Chicago river-walk
Beale Street, Memphis
Brass Band Festival, New Orleans
Chicago Beach
Chicago boat cruise
National Civil Rights Museum, Memphis
Stax Museum of American Soul Music, Memphis
New Orleans side street
USA Holiday Stopovers
Why not add in the 'Land of Fire and Ice' - Iceland -on your way to your holiday in the USA. We have put together a great stopover in Iceland for 2 or 3 nights which includes accommodation and the Golden Circle Trip which includes visits to the Gullfoss Waterfall, the geo thermal area of Geysir and Thingvellir National Park.
If you are travelling to the west coast of America, why not add a couple of nights stay in New York which includes accommodation and tickets for the 'Top of the Rock' observation platform for an iconic view of the city skyline. This can be done either on your way out or on the way back.
Alternative Holidays That May Interest You
Below you will find a small selection of 2026, 2027 holidays that may interest you. Remember, we tailor-make each holiday to your exact needs, so please call us on 0800 270 0069 and let one of our Holiday experts design the perfect trip for you
Australia Rail Holidays
North, South, East & West featuring the Ghan Train
- 12 Nights
- Sydney
- Adelaide
- Alice Springs
- Darwin
- Perth
Australia Rail Holidays
Coast to Coast on the Indian Pacific
- 14 Nights
- Perth
- Adelaide
- Sydney
- Melbourne
South Africa Holidays
Rovos Rail with Kruger Safari & Cape Town
- 10 Nights
- Johannesburg
- Kruger National Park
- Pretoria
- Rovos Rail
- Cape Town
South Africa Holidays
The Blue Train, Cape Town & Safari
- 10 Nights
- Johannesburg
- Pilanesberg National Park
- Pretoria
- The Blue Train
- Cape Town
USA Train Holidays
Coast to Coast Rail Holiday
- 11 Nights
- New York City
- Chicago
- San Francisco
New Zealand Multi Centre Holidays
New Zealand By Train
- 13 Nights
- Auckland
- Wellington
- Marlborough Sounds
- Blenheim
- Kaikoura
- Christchurch
India Holidays
Maharajas’ Express Indian Splendour
- 10 Nights
- Delhi
- Agra
- Jaipur
- Bikaner
- Jodhpur
- Udaipur
- Mumbai
Spectacular Rail Journeys
Across Canada by Rail
- 26 Nights
- Vancouver
- Victoria
- Edmonton
- Jasper
- Banff
- Calgary
- Toronto
- Montreal
- Halifax