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7-Day Civil Rights Trail Tour

Civil Rights Trail tour — group on the road
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Trip Highlights

Seven-day private journey along the U.S. Civil Rights Trail, Memphis to Atlanta
National Civil Rights Museum at the Lorraine Motel, Memphis
Edmund Pettus Bridge, Brown Chapel AME Church & Rosa Parks Museum
Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site & George Washington Carver Museum
MLK National Historical Park, Ebenezer Baptist Church & The King Center, Atlanta
All meals, 6 nights of accommodations & expert guides throughout

Description

Trace the path of courage that changed a nation. This seven-day, small-group journey follows the U.S. Civil Rights Trail from Memphis to Atlanta, visiting the landmarks, churches, and communities that shaped Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s life and the justice movement that transformed America. Created in partnership with Scene That Tours, this experience invites curious travelers to engage deeply with the South's complex story—its triumphs, tragedies, resilience, and grace. Guests will experience joy, sorrow, and inspiration while exploring the region's rich culture, music, and cuisine—reminders of the enduring power of faith, hope, and humanity. As our nation faces renewed challenges to democracy and equality, understanding this history has never been more vital. From the National Civil Rights Museum at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis to the King Center in Atlanta, every stop on this journey connects the past to the present, honoring those who sacrificed so much for a more just America.

Day-by-Day Itinerary

1

Welcome to Memphis, a city that gave birth to both soul music and some of America's most profound social movements. After airport pickup and hotel check-in, meet your guides for an orientation session and a warm welcome dinner. The evening is yours to unwind or stroll along world-famous Beale Street, where the rhythm of live blues spills from every corner and the air carries a sense of history and resilience.

  • Airport pickup & hotel check-in
  • Orientation session with your guides
  • Group welcome dinner
  • Optional Beale Street evening stroll

Lodging: Home2 Suites Downtown Memphis — within walking distance of Beale Street and the National Civil Rights Museum.

2

Begin your exploration at the National Civil Rights Museum at the Lorraine Motel, where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s legacy continues to inspire generations. Walk through interactive exhibits at the Withers Collection Museum & Gallery, capturing the faces of the movement through Ernest Withers' powerful photography. Then descend into the Slave Haven Underground Railroad Museum, a preserved safe house that reveals the bravery of those who sought freedom long before the modern Civil Rights era. Round out the day at the Stax Museum of American Soul Music, where the story of sound, struggle, and triumph comes to life.

  • National Civil Rights Museum at the Lorraine Motel
  • Withers Collection Museum & Gallery
  • Slave Haven Underground Railroad Museum
  • Stax Museum of American Soul Music
  • Beale Street history walk
3

Travel southeast to Birmingham, once known as the epicenter of America's Civil Rights struggle. Powerful reminders of faith and courage mark every corner — from the 16th Street Baptist Church, where a tragic bombing galvanized a nation, to Kelly Ingram Park, where sculptures tell stories of bravery amid brutality. Explore the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, a deeply moving museum chronicling the fight for equality across the South. The day concludes with a visit to the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame, a shared meal, and time for reflection on how far the nation has come — and how far it has yet to go.

  • 16th Street Baptist Church
  • Kelly Ingram Park
  • Birmingham Civil Rights Institute
  • Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame

Lodging: Home2 Suites Downtown Birmingham — close to key Birmingham civil rights sites.

4

Stand on the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, where peaceful marchers were met with violence on "Bloody Sunday," and feel the weight of history beneath your feet. Visit Brown Chapel AME Church, the organizing hub of the Selma-to-Montgomery marches, before continuing to Alabama's capital city.

In Montgomery, trace the movement's roots at the Rosa Parks Museum, Civil Rights Memorial Center, and Freedom Rides Museum, each illuminating the courage of ordinary citizens who risked everything for change. End the day reflecting at the Alabama State Capitol, where the march for voting rights culminated in 1965.

  • Edmund Pettus Bridge & Brown Chapel AME Church, Selma
  • Rosa Parks Museum, Montgomery
  • Civil Rights Memorial Center
  • Freedom Rides Museum
  • Alabama State Capitol

Lodging: Renaissance Montgomery Hotel & Spa — AAA Four-Diamond property near major civil-rights landmarks.

5

Today's journey honors the pioneers who uplifted generations through education, science, and leadership. In Tuskegee, explore the Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site, celebrating the bravery of the first African-American military aviators who flew with distinction in World War II. Discover the legacy of George Washington Carver at the museum bearing his name, and tour The Oaks, the home of Booker T. Washington, visionary founder of Tuskegee University. In the afternoon, continue to Atlanta — the cradle of Dr. King's dream and the final stop on this journey of remembrance and renewal.

  • Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site
  • George Washington Carver Museum
  • The Oaks — Booker T. Washington's home
  • Travel to Atlanta, GA

Lodging: Hyatt House Atlanta Downtown — steps from Centennial Olympic Park and the Georgia Aquarium.

6

Spend the day exploring the heart of the movement where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. preached, planned, and inspired the world. Visit the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park, which includes his birth home and the historic Ebenezer Baptist Church where he and his father ministered. Reflect at The King Center, where Dr. and Coretta Scott King rest side by side, and explore the National Center for Civil and Human Rights, connecting the past to present-day global struggles for justice. A celebratory farewell dinner concludes your journey in Atlanta, the Cradle of the Civil Rights Movement.

  • Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park & Birth Home
  • Ebenezer Baptist Church
  • The King Center
  • National Center for Civil and Human Rights
  • Celebratory farewell dinner

Lodging: Hyatt House Atlanta Downtown.

7

Take time to enjoy a pre-flight breakfast at the Atlanta Breakfast Club, known for standout dishes like crispy chicken & waffles and peach-cobbler French toast. This lively eatery brings bold Southern breakfast flavor, and its vibrant atmosphere reflects the profound experiences of the week — the people, the places, and the power of standing where history happened. Group transfers will be provided to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport for departing flights. Guests leave with unforgettable memories and a renewed appreciation for the resilience, hope, and humanity that define the American Civil Rights story.

  • Breakfast at Atlanta Breakfast Club
  • Transfer to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport

Tour info

Duration
7 days
Group Size
6 to 8 people
Price starts at
$3,995$4,295
Languages
English
Pickup Point
Memphis, TN — airport pickup on Day 1
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Dropoff location
Atlanta, GA — Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport on Day 7
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Why take this tour?

A seven-day, small-group journey along the U.S. Civil Rights Trail—from Memphis to Atlanta—visiting the churches, museums, and landmark sites that shaped one of history's most powerful movements. All meals, accommodations, and expert guides included.

Highlights / Stops Along the Trail

National Civil Rights Museum at the Lorraine Motel, Memphis

This journey visits some of the most significant landmarks of the American Civil Rights Movement: • National Civil Rights Museum at the Lorraine Motel, Memphis • Withers Collection Museum & Gallery, Memphis • Slave Haven Underground Railroad Museum, Memphis • Stax Museum of American Soul Music, Memphis • 16th Street Baptist Church, Birmingham • Kelly Ingram Park, Birmingham • Birmingham Civil Rights Institute • Edmund Pettus Bridge, Selma • Brown Chapel AME Church, Selma • Rosa Parks Museum, Montgomery • Civil Rights Memorial Center, Montgomery • Freedom Rides Museum, Montgomery • Alabama State Capitol, Montgomery • Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site • George Washington Carver Museum, Tuskegee • Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park, Atlanta • Ebenezer Baptist Church, Atlanta • The King Center, Atlanta • National Center for Civil and Human Rights, Atlanta

Included

  • Six nights of lodging in hand-selected 3–4 star hotels, double occupancy, including taxes and standard hotel fees
  • Daily breakfast, at the hotel or a nearby café
  • Brown-bag lunches on touring days
  • Catered group dinner on Day 1 (welcome) and Day 6 (farewell)
  • Airport transfers on official arrival and departure days (within specified time windows)
  • Transportation for the full tour in a climate-controlled 15-passenger Ford Transit van with a high roof, large windows, PA system, and secure luggage trailer
  • All admissions, entry fees, and required permits for sites listed in the confirmed itinerary
  • Professional guiding throughout, including an Obsidian Expeditions lead guide and local expert partners (including Scene That Tours)
  • Snacks and non-alcoholic beverages in the vehicle on travel days
  • An emergency contact card with key phone numbers and instructions

Excluded

  • Airfare or transportation to/from the starting and ending cities
  • Travel insurance (strongly recommended)
  • Dinners on Days 2–5 (guest expense)
  • Alcoholic beverages at any time during the tour
  • Gratuities for guides, drivers, hotel staff, and local partners
  • Pre- or post-tour hotel nights outside the official tour dates
  • Personal expenses such as laundry, room service, mini-bar, hotel incidentals, and shopping
  • Optional activities or admissions not listed in the confirmed itinerary

Frequently asked questions

The tour traces the Civil Rights Trail from Memphis to Atlanta, through Birmingham, Selma, Montgomery, and Tuskegee, Alabama. Highlights include the National Civil Rights Museum at the Lorraine Motel, the Edmund Pettus Bridge, 16th Street Baptist Church, the Legacy Museum and National Memorial for Peace and Justice, the Rosa Parks Museum, and the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park in Atlanta, among many other churches, museums, and memorials along the route.
7 days / 6 nights, beginning in Memphis and ending in Atlanta.
The tour is $3,995 per person, based on double occupancy, for small groups of up to 8 guests.
Spring and Fall 2026. Call for more information.
Airfare, travel insurance, dinners on Days 2–5, alcoholic beverages, gratuities, any pre- or post-tour hotel nights, and personal expenses.
Six nights of hotel lodging, daily breakfast, brown-bag lunches on touring days, two catered group dinners (Day 1 and Day 6), all in-tour transportation and airport transfers, all admissions and required permits, and professional guiding throughout.
This is a small-group experience, capped at 8 guests, traveling together in a single climate-controlled van with a dedicated lead guide.
The tour involves moderate walking and standing, sometimes on uneven sidewalks and steps, and guests should be comfortable walking several city blocks at a time. If you have mobility or health concerns, we encourage you to reach out before booking so we can talk through options.
There's no strict minimum age, but this tour is not recommended for young children. It engages directly with mature and emotionally intense subject matter — including racism, violence, bombings, and assassination — through museum exhibits and first-person accounts, and is best suited to guests ready to engage thoughtfully with that history.
This is a thought-provoking, emotionally honest experience. Many sites address difficult history directly, and museum exhibits may include graphic images and intense first-person accounts. Alongside that, the tour also highlights resilience, joy, music, food, and community — it isn't only heavy, but guests should come prepared for both.
We ask all guests to treat fellow travelers, guides, and community members with courtesy and respect. Harassment, hate speech, or discriminatory behavior of any kind isn't tolerated. Many stops use timed entries, so punctuality matters, and guides will give direction on photography and how to move through sensitive spaces like churches and memorials. Open, thoughtful conversation is welcome, and we ask that discussions stay civil, curious, and mindful of the range of lived experiences within the group.
A valid photo ID, comfortable walking shoes, a lightweight jacket or sweater, weather-appropriate layers (rain jacket or umbrella for spring travel), a refillable water bottle, a 7–10 day supply of personal medications, and sun protection. A notebook or journal, camera, small daypack, and any reading from our suggested list are welcome additions.
Not required, but strongly recommended given the tour's structure and the nature of travel through multiple cities.

Things to know

Pricing

Pricing is $3,995 per person. Maximum of 8 guests. This is an adults-only tour.

Availability

The Civil Rights Trail Tour operates during two specific windows: May 28 – June 4 and October 5 – October 12. Dates are limited — early booking is recommended.

Start & End Points

The tour begins with airport pickup in Memphis, TN (Day 1) and ends with a transfer to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (Day 7). Guests arrange their own flights into Memphis and out of Atlanta.

Accommodations

Six nights of accommodations are included at quality hotels: Home2 Suites Downtown Memphis (Days 1–2), Home2 Suites Downtown Birmingham (Day 3), Renaissance Montgomery Hotel & Spa (Day 4), and Hyatt House Atlanta Downtown (Days 5–6). Hotels may vary based on availability at time of booking.

Meals

All meals throughout the journey are included — breakfasts, lunches, and dinners. The itinerary includes dining at notable local restaurants that reflect the culture and spirit of each city visited.

Gratuity

Guide gratuity is not included. A 15-20% gratuity is customary and greatly appreciated.

What to Bring

Comfortable walking shoes (there is significant walking at museums and historic sites), layered clothing for varying weather, a journal or notebook, and a camera. The experience invites reflection — bring an open heart and a curious mind.

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$3,995

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