We’ll Send You the Brochure

Today is the arrival day and we welcome you to France! You will make your own way to downtown Paris to the hotel listed on your tour and you will have a room for the night included in your tour package. There are no tour activities today as we are allowing everyone to come in and get settled in France. The hotel will have your name so you can check-in on your own and then you are free to enjoy Paris for the day. The hotel is located right downtown so it is easy to get to by public transportation, taxi, or Uber, and you can make the most of your time here. The following morning we will meet as a group and start the tour with breakfast and then head off to Normandy!

Arrival, Check in to hotel in Paris, Free day

The tour officially starts as we meet the group over breakfast before checking out and boarding the bus for Normandy. Our first stop is Rouen, the historic capital, for lunch overlooking the magnificent Cathedral. We enjoy a walking tour to see the Gros Horloge, the Place du Vieux Marche (site of Joan of Arc’s execution), and the famous Cathedral, resting place of three Dukes of Normandy. Afterward, we travel to Bayeux, our charming medieval base for the next five nights. After checking in and settling at the hotel, we enjoy our first group dinner.

Departure, Lunch and walking tour in Rouen, Check in to hotel in Bayeux, Group Dinner

We begin our deep dive into WWII history at Sainte-Mère-Église, a key objective from the night of June 5th. We visit the excellent Airborne Museum and see the church made famous by the story of paratrooper John Steele. You will have time for lunch on your own in town before continuing to Utah Beach, one of the two American landing sites. We explore the beach and learn about its crucial, relatively easy capture during Operation Overlord. Our final stop is Pointe du Hoc, the site of the heroic Ranger assault led by Colonel James Rudder. We explore the German battery and see the monument amidst the remaining bombing craters.

Sainte Mere Eglise, Airborne Museum, Utah Beach, Pointe du Hoc, Group Dinner

We begin the day at Arromanches-les-Bains to view the remnants of the Mulberry Harbor, the essential temporary port built by the British. Next, we visit Longues-sur-Mer, the only German coastal artillery battery that retains its original guns intact in the bunkers, providing a close look at the formidable defenses. Following lunch at a local spot, we head to Omaha Beach, the site of the war’s bloodiest American landing. Above the beach, we visit the profoundly moving American Cemetery, dedicated to the thousands of US troops who perished here. The evening is free upon return to the hotel.

Arromanches-les-Bains, Longues-sur-Mer, Bayeux, Omaha Beach, American Cemetery, Free evening

We start the day discovering our medieval base, Bayeux, with a walking tour of the town followed by a visit to the historic Bayeux Cathedral, consecrated by William the Conqueror.

Next, we visit a local apple farm for a magnificent French lunch buffet. After lunch, we learn about cider production and enjoy a tasting of Calvados, the famous Normandy liquor.

The afternoon offers a choice:

– Option 1 (Museum): Travel to Caen with the guide to visit the Caen Memorial WW2 museum (return to Bayeux by 5:00 pm).

– Option 2 (Free Time): Return to Bayeux at 2:30 pm for more free time to explore the town and enjoy a free evening.

Bayeux Tapestry, Bayeux Cathedral, Farm visit with Buffet lunch and Calvados tasting, Free evening

We will leave early morning to visit one of the world’s most stunning attractions, Mont St Michel. This city on a rock dramatically soars into the sky just off the coast of Normandy in a shallow bay. We will start by making our way to the top of the hill to tour the Abbey. At the top we are rewarded for our climb with spectacular views and Gothic architecture dating back to the 11th-century, definitely the highlight of the trip. On our way down we will stop at a wonderful restaurant for lunch serving regional food. You will have a bit of free time to explore the village and pick up some souvenirs. Then we will head back to Bayeux where you will have a free evening to relax and enjoy the town.

Mont St Michel, Free evening

After checking out of the Bayeux hotel, we begin our return journey toward Paris. Our first stop is Honfleur, the “City of the Artists.” You will have free time to explore the historic port, browse the local market, and visit the oldest standing wooden church, St. Catherine’s. Following lunch, we head to Giverny to tour the iconic House and Gardens of Claude Monet, the father of Impressionism. We then check into our airport area hotel for our final Farewell Dinner, concluding our tour adventures. (Departure is via hotel shuttle on Day 8.)

Honfleur, Market, Giverny, Fondation Claude Monet,  Farewell dinner

The tour ends with you checking out of the hotel after breakfast It is time to return home with new friends, great memories, and plenty of stories! We hope we will have succeeded our mission of sharing our culture and region for a trip full of good times and smiles and that you will join us again on one of our other tours! We will coordinate your hotel shuttle to drop you off at CDG airport before 12:00 pm.

Check out of hotel, Breakfast, Shuttle back to CDG airport