Traveler Information
for Civil Rights
A Civil Rights pilgrimage is a journey from sin to repentance and finally to reconciliation. Our pilgrimages visit a number of southern cities including Atlanta, Birmingham, Montgomery, and Selma. Each of these cities has a different culture and different role in the history of the Civil Rights struggle and we hope that this guide helps you understand and enjoy each stop along the way.
Weather
No matter the city, the US South is warm during the summer. Expect highs in the 80s and lows in the 60s, while heat waves might push temps beyond 100 in the heat of summer. Winter highs are in the 50s to 60s, with lows in the 30s to 40s. Rain is more likely from December to March. We rarely amend our itineraries for rain unless there is a torrential downpour or thunderstorm.
Packing
One pilgrimage practice is simplicity, so we recommend packing light. You should also be able to manage your own luggage between the airport, bus, and hotels. You can wear clothes multiple times, do a little laundry in the sink, or send a few items out for laundry through the hotel. We recommend packing clothing that can be layered for warm days and cool nights.
o Wide brimmed hat for summer
o Cooling towel for summer
o Small umbrella
o Raincoat in winter and spring
Free Time
Our pilgrimages tend to be structured with few large blocks of free time for independent exploration. If your itinerary indicates a free morning or afternoon, you can expect to have at least 3-4 hours of time. We’ll do our best to clarify when that free time begins as the details of your itinerary become firm. You may wish to use this time to shop and explore independently, or for some rest and reflection time. If you want to do even more, here are some links to sites that we don't usually include on our itineraries. Some might require prebooking tickets:
Atlanta
Birmingham
We’ll visit most of the important Civil Rights sites, but Birmingham has an amazing food scene, so please make a reservation at a local restaurant!
Money and Tipping
Staying Connected
Your pilgrimage includes gratuities for your drivers, guides, hotels staff, and servers at meals taken together. You're welcome to offer an additional gratuity if you feel you received exceptional service, or if someone provided personal service.
Your pilgrimage includes all gratuities for guides, drivers, hotel staff, and meals taken together. Hotel gratuities are split among all staff, so if you want to tip a particular staff member, give them the tip directly. Housekeeping tips can be left in the room upon checkout.
All of our pilgrimages use WhatsApp to communicate with group members during your travels together. Be sure to download and install WhatsApp on your smartphone at least a week before departure so we can add you to the group for your pilgrimage.
Educational Resources
Travelers who do a little bit of preparation often have a richer experience on their pilgrimage. We send all our travelers a series of short articles about two months before your departure to help orient your journey in its historical and spiritual context. About a month in advance of the trip, we'll also send a print journal you can use during your pilgrimage. In addition to these resources, you might enjoy one or two selections from our extended reading list.