2021 & 2022 Globus Guided Tours - Globus® Vacation Packages

Bourbon, Bridles & Bluegrass (AT)

8 days from Louisville to Nashville

2025 Tour Details

When teaching visitors the correct pronunciation of their city, Louisville locals advise to say it like you’ve had a shot of bourbon, Loo-a-vul. In this easygoing part of the country where the drawl is part of the draw, a bottle of Kentucky’s finest is easy to come by, as is mighty fine scenery, music, customs, and cuisine. Intoxicating views await in bucolic horse country and the Great Smoky Mountains while elating experiences are just around the corner in the local distilleries, music houses, and grand southern estates. Whereas the sprawling Biltmore will give you a taste of the old South, the current “it” cities of Asheville, Nashville, and Chattanooga will welcome you to the energy of the new South. Through the timeless scenery and happening scenes of Kentucky, North Carolina, and Tennessee, this Southern U.S. tour takes the reins in the land of mares, misty mountains, mandolins, and MoonPies.

Small-Group Discovery Dates Available

Select Globus 2021 North America tours are limited to an average of just 24 guests per tour. There’s always room to roam with extra space between you and other travelers—while still getting up close and personal to the experiences you’ve been dreaming of. Small-Group Discoveries include all the features of a traditional Globus North America tour, complete with expert Tour Director, Driver, and Local Guides who ensure that your health and safety is our top priority. A Small-Group Discovery Europe vacation is the perfectly sized tour—without the crowds.

We’ve packed everything you need for the perfect vacation—from hand-selected hotels and dining to the friendly expertise of Globus Tour Directors and Local Guides, to seamless transportation between destinations and VIP access to the world’s most iconic sites! Touring by private, first-class, air-conditioned motorcoach with free Wi-Fi.

Dates & Prices Book Online
800.268.3636
Bourbon, Bridles & Bluegrass map

 Photo Highlights

 Meals

 Meals & Itinerary

Breakfast daily, 1 Lunch, 2 Dinner


Notes:

For more time in music country, combine this tour with Music Cities: Nashville & Memphis (tour NF).

 Itinerary

Day 1 ARRIVE IN LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY

Welcome to Louisville At 6 pm, meet your Tour Director and travel companions for a welcome drink.

Day 2 LOUISVILLE–BARDSTOWN-FRANKFORT–LEXINGTON

Heavenly Sips & Hot Browns Start your day in Kentucky Bluegrass country with a sightseeing tour of Louisville followed by a Globus Local FavoriteGlobus Local Favorite lunch featuring a local culinary specialty. Then travel south to Bardstown for a bourbon experience and tasting at Heaven Hill Distillery, established in 1935. Continue to Lexington for a free evening.

LOCAL FAVORITE
LOCAL TASTES In the 1920's, The Brown Hotel drew over 1,200 guests each evening for its dinner dance. By the wee hours of the morning, guests would grow weary of dancing and make their way to the restaurant for a bite to eat. Sensing their desire for something more glamorous than traditional ham and eggs, Chef Fred Schmidt set out to create something new to tempt his guests' palates. His unique dish? An open-faced turkey sandwich with bacon and a delicate Mornay sauce. The Hot Brown was born!

Breakfast Breakfast

Day 3 LEXINGTON. EXCURSION TO HORSE COUNTRY

Run for the Roses This morning, visit the Kentucky Horse Park and the International Museum of the Horse, the largest and most comprehensive museum in the world dedicated to horses and their impact on civilization. Continue deeper into horse country to visit a local thoroughbred horse farm and learn about the majestic horses that make Lexington the “Horse Capital of the World.” Journey behind the fences to a thoroughbred farm and hear about the breeding process, rearing, horseracing, and even meet some of these beautiful champions up close. Later, visit Globus Local FavoriteGlobus Local Favorite Old Friends Thoroughbred Retirement Farm. Return to Lexington for dinner with entertainment by local bluegrass musicians.

LOCAL FAVORITE
HISTORY & HERITAGE In Kentucky’s Horse Country, you’ll find a paradise for rescued and retired horses on a 236-acre farm at Old Friend Thoroughbred Retirement Farm. Here, former Breeders’ Cup, Belmont, Santa Anita, Preakness, and Kentucky Derby winners enjoy the well-deserved days of peaceful life in the blue grass pastures of blue grass.

Breakfast Breakfast
DinnerDinner

Day 4 LEXINGTON–ASHEVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA

Sip & See Travel today through Kentucky and Tennessee to Asheville; famous for its Blue Ridge Mountains, thriving art, expansive green spaces, and craft beers.

FREE TIME TIPS
EXPLORE MORE Stroll through the vibrant city of Asheville and browse the open-air Grove Market. Maybe pop into one of the fabled independent bookstores or imbibe at a local craft brewery in this Blue Ridge Mountain city. Your GlobusGO mobile app has maps and more ideas to make your evening in Asheville special. Ask your Tour Director for the best things to see and sip in this craft beer capital.

Breakfast Breakfast

Day 5 ASHEVILLE

American Dreams This morning, head to the Biltmore Estate for a guided tour. Next, enjoy a Globus Local FavoriteGlobus Local Favorite farm-to-table lunch at Antler Hill Village. Free time this evening, perhaps visit a local craft brewery or one of the many restaurants in downtown.

TOUR HIGHLIGHT
HISTORIC SITES George Vanderbilt’s 8,000- acre Biltmore Estate is the largest privately owned home and most visited in America. Tour the French Renaissance-style, 250-room chateau to view the priceless paintings and antiques, including Napoleon’s chess table. Be sure to spend time exploring the spectacular gardens. Follow your Biltmore experience with a farm-to-table lunch on the picturesque North Carolina estate.

Breakfast Breakfast
LunchLunch

Day 6 ASHEVILLE–GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK–CHEROKEE–CHATTANOOGA, TENNESSEE

Smoky Mountain Reign Travel through the Great Smoky Mountain National Park, America’s most visited national park. Stop in Cherokee for a visit to the Globus Local FavoriteGlobus Local Favorite Museum of the Cherokee Indian with a Local Cherokee Guide. Continue to Chattanooga for an orientation drive followed by a tasting of a local treat, dating back to the area for more than 100 years. The evening is free to explore Chattanooga on your own.

LOCAL FAVORITE
CULTURAL GEM Take an inspiring and enlightening tour of the Museum of the Cherokee Indian with a Local Guide. On this moving tour, experience the 12,000-year-old Cherokee story of resilience, survival, and ingenuity.

Breakfast Breakfast

Day 7 CHATTANOOGA–NASHVILLE

Music City Crooners Today, continue to Nashville for an orientation tour followed by a visit to the Country Music Hall of Fame to see its rich collection of costumes, memorabilia, instruments, photographs, and, of course, Elvis Presley’s “solid gold” Cadillac. After some free time to explore Nashville on your own, join your Tour Director and fellow travelers for a farewell dinner at a local restaurant.

TOUR HIGHLIGHT
ARTISTS & MUSIC The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum seeks to collect, preserve, and interpret the evolving history and traditions of country music. Through exhibits, publications, and educational programs, the museum teaches its diverse audiences about the enduring beauty and cultural importance of country music. Induction to the Country Music Hall of Fame has been country music's highest honor since Hank Williams—was first inducted in 1961, followed by such legendary artists as Johnny Cash, Loretta Lynn, and Dolly Parton – to name a few.

Breakfast Breakfast
DinnerDinner

Day 8 NASHVILLE

Safe travels until we meet again! Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning.

Breakfast Breakfast

 Tour Director

With GLOBUS, there’s no better way to get to know your destination than through the eyes of a Tour Director. We’d like you to meet one of our Tour Directors, who average over a decade of experience and are representative of the type of expert that will be with you on your vacation.

SUSANNAH JONES

Escorting tours for more than 20 years

“Travel, food, music, and laughter bring people together. There is nothing like seeing faces with bright smiles when they taste a local delicacy, hear live regional music, and make lifelong friends while traveling together. I was raised in the South, lived in Germany, and taught Middle School¿all before beginning my second career as a Tour Director. I love the joy of making unforgettable experiences for guests from East to West. There are the majestic sights of national parks in Yosemite, the surreal landscape of Yellowstone, the haunting beauty of our Wetlands, and the bluish-green hues of the Shenandoah Valley. Tasting Peanut soup, beignets, and Fry Bread lets you taste local culture. Traveling will change you for the better!”

Tour Director - SUSANNAH JONES

 Accommodations

 Optional Excursions

No matter what you’re into: food, wine, history, art, music or anything else, we give you the freedom to personalize your vacation with optional excursions that speak to your interests.

When you book your excursions with us, you can be assured that every optional excursion that we offer coordinates with the free time that you'll have in your destination, so you'll never have conflicts between included and optional activities. Our team of travel experts carefully selects each optional excursion that we offer to ensure that you receive the highest quality at a great value. Our tried-and-true partners have a finger on the pulse of the city in which they operate so they deliver the very best experiences. We offer experiences you cannot create on your own and because you’re booking with us, we coordinate all your transportation and timing needs.

The following optional excursions are examples only for this vacation. These may or may not be offered, and availability is subject to days of operation and seasonality. Please select a departure date to view optional excursions and pricing for a specific date (due to currency fluctuation, pricing shown is subject to change until purchased). Optional excursions are available for purchase on our MyGlobus site 90 days prior to the tour start date.

Price Ranges

$ ($50 CAD and under)
$$ ($51 - $100 CAD)
$$$ ($101 - $150 CAD)
$$$$ (Over $150)

No Excursions are available at this time.



The “Starting at” or listed price is based on the lowest price available to book. Price is per person based on twin occupancy and any applicable port charges, non-commissionable taxes and fees and intra-vacation flight are included in the price shown. Any included overnight stay in Canada, applicable GST/HST is also included in the price shown. International airfare, however, is not included. If price is crossed out, the new price shown includes a limited time promotional offer(s). Please review current promotions or deals for additional information.