Day by Day Itinerary

Day 1 – Arrival in Atlanta → Montgomery: The Movement Begins

Fly from New York to Atlanta, Georgia — the birthplace of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Your journey begins at the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park, where you’ll step inside Dr. King’s childhood home, visit Ebenezer Baptist Church, and stand at his memorial beside the eternal flame. At The King Center, you’ll explore exhibits that bring to life Dr. King’s vision of nonviolence and equality. In the afternoon, travel south to Montgomery, Alabama, often called the cradle of the Civil Rights Movement. Settle into your hotel and gather for a welcome dinner and orientation meeting for the days ahead. Overnight in Montgomery.

Day 2 – Montgomery: The Struggle for Justice

Today, we dive into Montgomery’s central role in the fight for justice. Begin at The Legacy Museum, a powerful space that traces the history of racial injustice from enslavement to mass incarceration. Just a short walk away, the National Memorial for Peace and Justice — often called the Lynching Memorial — offers a solemn and deeply moving place for reflection. In the afternoon, visit the Rosa Parks Museum to learn how one woman’s quiet defiance helped ignite a nationwide movement. End the day at Dexter Avenue Baptist Church, where Dr. King helped lead the Montgomery Bus Boycott. Overnight in Montgomery.

Day 3 – Selma & Birmingham: Marching Toward Equality

This morning, travel to Selma, where you’ll walk across the Edmund Pettus Bridge, retracing the path of the 1965 Voting Rights March and standing where history was made on “Bloody Sunday.” Feel the weight of the moment as you imagine the bravery it took to march toward equality in the face of violence and fear. Continue on to Birmingham, visiting the 16th Street Baptist Church, site of the tragic 1963 bombing that became a turning point in the movement. In Kelly Ingram Park, powerful sculptures commemorate the courage of young protestors. The day concludes at the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, where exhibits vividly capture the struggle and triumph of those who fought for freedom. Overnight in Birmingham.

Day 4 – Sumner → Memphis: The Delta Legacy

Leave Alabama behind and head north into Mississippi to Sumner, where you’ll visit the Emmett Till Interpretive Center and the courthouse where the trial that shocked the world took place. Here, meet with local activists and educators continuing Till’s legacy through community work in restorative justice and racial healing across the Delta. In the afternoon, continue to Memphis, Tennessee, and end the day with dinner and live music on iconic Beale Street, where the rhythms of the blues tell their own story of resilience and expression. Overnight in Memphis.

Day 5 – Memphis: Carrying the Legacy Forward

Your journey concludes at the Lorraine Motel, now the National Civil Rights Museum, where Dr. King’s life was tragically cut short — and his message immortalized. Walk through powerful exhibits that trace the movement’s history and its ongoing impact today. Before you depart, enjoy a guided tour of Sun Studio, where the sounds of Elvis Presley, B.B. King, and Johnny Cash helped shape American music. Together, we’ll reflect on all we’ve seen and learned — and the responsibility we share to carry this legacy forward. Then it’s time to head to Memphis International Airport for your return flight to NYC, closing a journey that will stay with you long after you’re home.