Day 1

Depart UK on your flight to Charlotte. On arrival pick up your rental car and drive to Asheville (131 miles) in the Great Smokey Mountains and the Crowne Plaza Hotel for 4 nights. The Great Smokey Mountains welcome you today to experience the scenery and handicrafts indigenous to the Appalachians. In Chimney Rock Park, reach the top of legendary Chimney Rock for a spectacular view (reach the summit via a 26 storey elevator inside the mountain!). Explore the park’s nature trails, 404 waterfall, cave and rare plant life. Don’t miss the Biltmore Estate with its gardens, winery and magnificent furnishings.

Days 2 – 4

At leisure in the Great Smokey Mountains.

Day 5

Drive to Raleigh (260 miles) for overnight. Raleigh is the cultural and educational centre of North Carolina. Visit the home of Bull Durham and the Duke Farm or Duke Gardens in nearby Durham.

Overnight La Quinta Inn.

Day 6

Drive to Cape Fear (120 miles) for three nights. From Raleigh continue southwards, exploring the beautiful towns of the Low Country. Arrive in Wilmington and enjoy the coast, explore the historic Cotton Exchange or relax on the beach. This area was named for the many shipwrecks which happened along the barrier islands. 3* Best Western Coastline Inn.

Days 7 – 8

At leisure to explore Cape Fear.

Day 9

Drive to Charleston (170 miles) for three nights at the Orient Express Charleston Place Hotel, one of the finest hotels in Charleston. As one of the South’s best preserved cities, Charleston’s old world charm is accentuated by its low profile skyline and block after block of restored historic structures. Stroll through the gorgeous flora at Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, explore the 30 acre Audubon Swamp Gardens or take a cruise to Fort Sumter, where the Civil War began. Visit one of the magnificent plantations nearby, walk or bicycle through over 500 acres of wildlife trails and end your day in one of the city’s excellent restaurants serving Southern cuisine.

Days 10 – 11

At leisure to explore Charleston.

Day 12

Drive to Savannah (106 miles) for two nights at the Mulberry Inn.

Founded by General James Oglethorpe in 1733 as England’s 13th and last colony, Savannah is perched on a bluff overlooking the Savannah River. Explore the restored waterfront, where the historic cotton warehouses now house speciality shops and restaurants. Oglethorpe designed the city around a series of wards in which commercial and residential buildings centred on a public square.

Today, most of the 24 original squares still survive, bordered by handsome town houses and beautifully landscaped. Many of the homes are open for touring, and the Savannah History Museum presents a multimedia exposition on the city’s heritage.

Day 13

At leisure to explore Savannah.

Day 14

Drive to Columbia (156 miles), South Carolina’s capital. The Columbia Museum of Art displays the Kress Collection of Renaissance, Medieval and Baroque paintings and changing exhibitions of American art. The Riverbanks Zoo and Botanical Gardens is a sanctuary for more than 2000 animals, including some endangered species. Historical sites include the Robert Mills Historic House, the South Carolina Confederate Relic Room and Museum, and the South Carolina State Museum. You may just want to explore the lovely neighbourhoods and historic antebellum homes. Overnight 3* Courtyard by Marriott

Day 15

Drive to Charlotte (93 miles).Return your rental car at the airport and check in for your return flight to the UK.