A Place of Memories: A Normandy Tour of Landing Beaches & Battlefields

This Normandy tour retraces the battles of WWII during the landing day on June 6th, 1944. You will visit Omaha beach and its American military cemetery, a highlight of this France tour, the Pointe du Hoc, Arromanches and its artificial harbour, Bayeux and its tapestry, Caen and Calvados.

Suggested Itinerary:

DAY 1: OMAHA BEACH & POINTE DU HOC
Depart from Paris and drive to Normandy to begin a visit of the American Cemetery at Omaha Beach, the largest World War II-era American cemetery in France.

You will also visit Strong Point 42, the German position that controlled Omaha Beach from the east. Then move on to the German positions on the west end of Omaha Beach, the backdrop for D-Day scenes in Saving Private Ryan.

Drive along the D-Day Overlord Route to Pointe-du-Hoc and walk on this unforgettable, bomb-scarred, cratered terrain. Take lunch at leisure in Grandcamp-Maisy then a late afternoon check in at your hotel.

Overnight in Port-en-Bessin.

DAY 2: ARROMANCHES & BAYEUX (B)
Morning departure to Arromanches where the British, under Churchill, opted for the mammoth task of building two artificial harbours, one for the American 1st Army at Omaha, the other for the British 2nd Army at Gold.

This Normandy battlefields tour next takes you to Bayeux, the first French town liberated by the Allies where there is time to stroll around the streets full of half-timbered houses and charming little shops. You can’t properly visit Bayeux without walking the length of the 70m, 11th-century Queen Matilda tapestry. This incredible work of art depicts the events leading up to the Battle of Hastings in 1066.

In the evening, we suggest dinner at the Michelin starred restaurant that specialises in seafood.

Overnight in Port-en-Bessin.

DAY 3: CAEN & CALVADOS (B)
This morning, you arrive in Caen to visit Le Mémorial de Caen (the Museum for Peace). View the rivetting multimedia projection of film clips from both the Allied and German perspectives.

In the Calvados countryside follow the Cider Trail and a taste of the local brews: cider, Pommeau, and aged Calvados; taste the local cheeses — Camembert, Livarot, and Pont L’Evèque; learn about “le trou Normand”, served between courses to “kick start” your appetite; visit the 16th-century village of Beuvron-en-Auge with its lovely old half-timbered houses and a colourful marketplace.

In the evening, enjoy dinner at the Chateau de Sully where the excellent cuisine is prepared from the products from the local Norman countryside. The chef’s cuisine is stellar in the firmament of French tours.

Overnight at your hotel in Port-en-Bessin.

DAY 4: DEPARTURE FOR PARIS (B)
Breakfast at your hotel then a private transfer to Paris Airport or to the city perhaps to continue with another France tour.

OPTIONAL ADD-ONS: Make the trip in a jeep!

Typical Inclusions:
• Services of a professional, English-speaking driver/guide
• Private transfers from Paris to Normandy
• Use of a deluxe sedan vehicle during 4 days of touring and transfers.
• 3 nights’ accommodation in a four star hotels in Normandy
• breakfast daily
• 24 hour on-call assistance.

Prices and departures may vary please contact your Concierge Traveller Advisor for more information.