About this experience
This is a private tour (your group) to an exceptional tour to visit Monticello, a World Heritage Site, home to our 3rd President, Thomas Jefferson, primary author of our Declaration of Independence and founder of the University of Virginia. Monticello provides in-depth tours of the historic house, gardens, views of the plantation, and, sometimes, an opportunity to engage in a lively presentation by Bill Barker, who portrays Thomas Jefferson. Jefferson enslaved over six hundred people throughout his life, and there are hourly slave tours to learn about the enslaved men, women, and children who labored on the plantation, including the Hemmings family and many others, like the Fosset family. The Monticello tour concludes with an opportunity to visit Thomas Jefferson's gravesite which is still owned by the family today. After leaving Monticello, guests may choose to have lunch at a nearby restaurant before returning to Williamsburg. Approx: 4 hours travel, 3.5 hours touring, 1 hour lunch.
At a glance
- Duration: 8 hr 30 min
- Private experience
Plan your experience
Set aside 8 hr 30 min for the experience itself, with additional time to reach your meeting or pickup point.
Before you go
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
What is included
- Basic Entrance Fee for Tour of Monticello First Floor and Grounds
- Private transportation
- Bottled water, bottled sparkling water and light snacks for the drive
- Air-conditioned vehicle
- New 2024 vehicle with ample seating and headroom
Not included
- Lunch is not included, only light snacks for the roundtrip drive
- Behind the Scenes Added Fee for Second Floor and Dome at Monticello
Itinerary and highlights
Our experienced guide will pick travelers up from their hotel and drive to Monticello, one of Virginia's World Heritage Sites. During the drive, our guide will provide important background information to prepare for Monticello's grounds (30 minutes), tour of the house (approx 45 to 90 minutes), slavery tour (approx 60 minutes), presentations (approx 30 minutes), events (if any are available), gravesite (10 minutes) & discuss Thomas Jefferson and other Founding Fathers. After thoroughly touring Monticello and its grounds, our guide can make lunch recommendations and then proceed back to Williamsburg. If guests choose to take the "Behind the Scenes" Tour, it is recommended to purchase tickets as soon as possible because they sell out quickly. If guests choose the "Highlights" tour, it is required to purchase tickets ahead of time. For more information on the different tours at Monticello, it is recommended to visit their website. Our tour does not include Monticello tickets.
Meeting and pickup information
- Travelers should specify their address for pickup within a five (5) mile radius of Colonial Williamsburg. If a guest is staying at the Kingsmill Resort, they must call the guard gate with instructions to allow the guide into the resort. Most important, we can start slightly later than 7:30am, keep in mind that Monticello closes at 5:30pm.
Languages and tickets
- English — Guide
- Mobile Only
Tour operator
- Best Williamsburg Tours
Meeting points and locations
Accessibility and practical details
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Tickets to Monticello's tours are not included and should be purchased prior to departing Williamsburg
Cancellation policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
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