Normandy, D-Day & Mont St Michel small group tour, exclusively in English
4days/3nights, Bayeaux/Bayeaux (Option to transfer from Paris)
2020 Depart daily: year round
Cost from3* : $1560 per person in twin share
Cost from 4*: $1715 per person in twin share
Normandy is one of those unique destinations of France. Historically, the area has known a rich and brutal past. Major historical events such as the Norman invasion of England in 1066 & the D-Day landings in 1944 are certainly the most well-known! The region is also home to some of the most dramatic landscape with its 350 miles of coastline made up of long sandy beaches or fascinating cliffs like the one’s found near Etretat. Inland, the countryside is a paradise for nature lovers and walking enthusiasts. The Pays d’Auge is without a doubt one of the most picturesque areas offering a picture perfect image of villages that are classified as “most beautiful of France” and landscape with its large number of orchards where local apples are grown to be later transformed in marvelous Calvados brandy.
Pick up at Bayeux train station and transfer to your hotel for check in. Option available: private transfer from Paris to Bayeux.
Discover Bayeux at your leisure
Depending on your time of arrival and after your hotel check-in, discover the historic town of Bayeux on your own. Take some time to wander through the city and admire the Gothic Cathedral and medieval town. Bayeux is also home to the world famous UNESCO listed tapestry and time permitting a visit to the museum that houses the precious item will certainly be a highlight of your stay.
day 2 Normandy Battlefields & Major D-Day Sites
Breakfast at your hotel.
8.30am Pick up at a centrally located meeting point in Bayeux. A full day visit to the Key Beaches, Sites & Museums linked to D-Day
Today depart for a full day tour dedicated to the most important sites linked to D-Day. After a pick-up in centrally located meeting point in Bayeux, we will drive you to the landing beaches area.
Utah Beach
Utah Beach, was the code name for one of the five sectors of the Allied invasion of German-occupied France in the Normandy landings on June 6, 1944 (D-Day) and the westernmost of the five code-named landing beaches in Normandy, On D-Day, infantry and tanks landed in four waves beginning at 06:30 and quickly secured the immediate area with minimal casualties. Meanwhile, engineers set to work clearing the area of obstacles and mines, and additional waves of reinforcements continued to arrive. At the close of D-Day, allied forces had only captured about half of the planned area and contingents of German defenders remained, but the beachhead was secure.
Sainte-Mère-Eglise
Paratroopers rained down on this Norman village as D-Day operations began in June 1944 to liberate Europe from German occupation. Famously, American soldier John Steele was left dangling a time from the medieval church as his parachute got caught on its tower.
Pointe du Hoc
Located between Utah Beach and Omaha Beach, Pointe du Hoc is one of the key heritage sites along the D-Day Landing beaches in Normandy. Pointe du Hoc, a strategic element of the Atlantic Wall, was stormed by Colonel Rudder’s Rangers on the morning of 6 June 1944 – D-Day. This proved to be one of the toughest battles to be fought during the Normandy Landings: of the 225 Rangers that began the assault, only 90 were still fit to continue their fight for France’s Liberation.
Omaha Beach
Notoriously, the American troops who landed at Omaha Beach suffered the worst on D-Day. The bombardments before the Landings proved ineffective in wiping out the many German positions. On top of that, the Allied amphibious tanks were launched too far out from the shore and failed. The infantry coming ashore were decimated by German fire across the long beaches. Despite heavy losses, small groups of Americans made it up the slopes and took German positions from behind, so some gains were made, if at heavy human cost. At the end of the day, the forces that landed here suffered 3,000 casualties, of whom c.1,000 died.
Normandy American Cemetery
The Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial is located in Colleville-sur-Mer, on the site of the temporary American St Laurent Cemetery, established by the U.S. First Army on June 8, 1944. The cemetery site covers 172.5 acres and contains the graves of 9,385 military dead, most of whom lost their lives in the D-Day landings and ensuing operations.
Sword Beach & British Airborne Sectors
Sword Beach was the easternmost of the five landing beaches and the closest to the city of Caen. The assault on Sword Beach was assigned to the British 3rd Infantry Division placed under Major General Tom Rennie and to French and British Commandos placed under the command of Lord Lovat and supported by armoury regiments. The 3rd Division’s objective was to take control of the beach and Ouistreham and move inland in order to capture Caen and Carpiquet airfield.
After a complete day of visiting the most important sites linked with D-Day, return to your hotel in Bayeux. Evening return to Bayeux.
day 3 Mont Saint Michel
Breakfast at your hotel.
8.30am Pick up at a centrally located point in Bayeux.
A trip to one of France’s most iconic monuments.
A magical island topped by a gravity-defying medieval monastery, the Mont-Saint-Michel counts among France’s most stunning sights. For centuries one of Europe’s major pilgrimage destinations, this holy mount is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, as is its breathtaking bay. After a coastal drive to reach the UNESCO-listed site, follow your guide and start exploring this fascinating rocky islet and famous sanctuary. At its base are medieval walls and towers above which rise the clustered buildings of the village with the ancient abbey crowning the mount. As you reach the Grand Entrance, enter the Abbey and follow a guided visit of the monument. Enjoy some free time for personal visit and lunch during the day. Late afternoon return to Bayeux.
day 4 Bayeau Departure
Breakfast at your hotel and return transfer from your hotel in Bayeux to Bayeux train station.
Option available: private transfer to Paris hotel, train station or airport.
Inclusions: accommodation at 3* or 4* Hotel sharing a double/twin room in Bayeux, arrival/departure transfer from Bayeaux, breakfast daily, expert English speaking driver/wine guide throughout the tour, full day shared tour of Normandy D-Day Highlights, full day of shared tour to Mont Saint Michel, travel in recent, comfortable & fully equipped Mercedes Minivan, complimentary bottles of water in the minivan, minimum 2 - maximum 8 participants.
Exclusions: Meals, drinks unless mentioned in programme, personal insurance and expenses, entrance fees to monuments, museums, attractions other than mentioned in the programme, eventual gratuities, not suitable for children under 18 years of age.
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