normandy wwii tours

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Fully customized world war ii tours of europe, what does your once-in-a-lifetime trip look like.

Explore the rich history of WWII on a tour that has been designed just for you. Our international team of experts will plan a private experience for your group based on your bucket list, your unique interests in culture, history, art, music and gastronomy, and your travel experience and preferences.

On our custom tours, there are no restrictions on your time spent abroad. We can travel from the United Kingdom to Morocco, France to Germany, Italy to Finland, Luxembourg to Austria, Belgium to Czechoslovakia, and beyond—all in first-class accommodations.

You can of course choose one of our all-inclusive European or Normandy tour packages acclaimed by our guests unanimously.

Make your next holiday an unforgettable adventure where luxury meets history, as you walk the hallowed paths of heroes.

Submit the form to get our full brochure, and someone from our team will be in touch ASAP.

"Rudy created a 1-week custom tour for my dad, uncle, brother and I to follow the path of my Grandpas division (2nd Infantry Division) in WWII. We have been researching and talking about going on this trip for over 5 years and Rudy made our dream trip come true and exceeded all expectations. Rudy has great knowledge of WWII and has detailed stories of what took place at each of the battle sites that we visited. Rudy was able to customize a tour for us to travel all over France to visit every battle my Grandpa's division fought and took us to other historic sites and museums. He created a tour that was a true honor to my Grandpa and all the heroes from WWII. Rudy will take care of all of your logistics once you arrive in France. He is the best tour guide I have experienced!"

"Our recent private Normandy tour helped us appreciate through first-hand experience why Rudy has so many 5 Star ratings from his clients. Rudy has absolutely earned all the accolades posted here; they are spot on. What still brings tears to my eyes is the profound concern Rudy has in making his tours personal. War is about great battles, but it is carried out by individuals. At every stop along our route, Rudy spoke of the soldiers as well as the civilians caught up in the war. We learned about tactics, armor, artillery, tanks, bombings in a way that gave us an inkling of what being in battle really means. Cemeteries became more than just rows of stone markers as we stopped and paid homage to particular soldiers as well as a randomly picked gravesite. In each cemetery, Rudy explained the concept behind the design layout of the cemetery as well as provided the time we needed to process our emotions."

"This tour was very personal as we were retracing the steps of my uncle who ultimately died in the Battle of the Bulge. Rudy was glad I mentioned Steve was wounded near Vire and he said we would go there. Long story short, it was dark as we drove through the village to find the monument that Rudy knew was there. He parked so the car lights lit up the Memorial. The stars were brilliant and the connection I felt to my Uncle in that place will be with me always."

We will be forever grateful to Rudy.

-Mike & Karen (Alaska)

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Normandy, france, all tours include:.

Full-Time Escort & Historian

Our founder Rudy Passera provides unparalleled knowledge, qualifications, & experience

Deluxe SUV for Road Travel

Sit back in first-class comfort, as you enjoy air conditioning and Wi-Fi in between tour stops

Airport Pickup & Drop-off

Relax from the moment you arrive. Transportation provided on the first and last day of tours.

First-Class Accommodations

Decompress from the day in private rooms at refined, stylish hotels in every town (free Wi-Fi included)

World Heritage Sights

Explore breathtaking places, from the Roman city of Bath to the Spanish Riding School of Vienna

Mix of Activity & Relaxation

Choose your activity level, from full days of walking tours to a more balanced blend of walking and rest

Premium Local Food & Drink

Enjoy delicious breakfast, lunch, and dinner each day of your tour, for a full sensory experience

Museum Entrance Fees

Enrich your tour with curated, emotionally moving museum experiences at no additional cost

Golf is a game whose aim is to hit a very small ball into an even smaller hole, with weapons singularly ill-designed for the purpose!

Next of Kin

Every veteran has a unique story. Let us customize your bucket list tour to follow the footstep of your Next of Kin

We are committed in providing our guests the highest standard of service

Why Tour With Rudy?

Rudy Passera is the founder of Normandy American Heroes, and serves as the guide for private group tours. To Rudy, historical tours are his business—but they mean much more than that. He intends for Normandy American Heroes tours to be a bridge between Europe, the U.S. and its allies, providing lessons that we all must learn from.

Rudy is the the only Interpretive Guide who has worked both for the Normandy American Cemetery/La Pointe du Hoc and the Utah Beach Museum. He has also served three times as the Master of Ceremonies for the International Commemoration at Utah Beach.

There is no one better than Rudy to have by your side as you experience the true meaning of courage, competence and devotion to duty as demonstrated by the heroes of WWII.

Ready to take a trip back in time?

France Office (Headquarters)

102 Rue Saint-Jean 14400 Bayeux, France

France Office (Carentan)

13 Rue Du Chateau 50500 Carentan, France

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• Full day tours
• Half day tour
• Mont Saint Michel
• Personalized Tours
• Tour from Paris
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• Two days tours

You want the best guides on the Normandy Beaches ?

… Take our shuttle in Bayeux for a sightseeing tour of the D-Day Beaches

TOUR #1 Omaha Beach – Half Day Tour

TOUR #2 Omaha Beach / Utah Beach – Full Day Tour

TOUR #2B The Battle of The Hedgerows Tour – Full Day Tour

TOUR #2FS Omaha / Utah – Full Day Tour

TOUR #3 Omaha / Band of Brothers – Full Day Tour

TOUR #4 British / Canadian Sectors Tour – Full Day Tour

TOUR #5 101st Airborne Tour – Full Day Tour

TOUR #6 Neptune Tour – Two Days Tour

TOUR #7 Bradley’s Tour – Two Days Tour

TOUR #7B Beyond The Beachead Tour

Private Tours #8 – Specialized Tours

Private Tours #9 from Cruise Ports in Van

Group Tours #9B from Cruise Ports

Private TOUR #10 Pick Up Paris – Two Days Tour

Tour #11 Mont-Saint-Michel Tour

Tour #12 – Normandy Jeep Experience – Specialized Tours

TOUR #13 Omaha-Utah / Mont-Saint-Michel – Two Days Tour

Canadian Tour #8B – Specialized Tours

Revisit History With Us

Enjoy a guided sightseeing tour in normandy with overlordtour and take advantage of our 30 years of experience guiding the d-day battlefields of normandy . our shuttles from bayeux offer you the best tours of the normandy d-day beaches ..

On June 6 1944, 135,000 men and 20,000 vehicles were brought onto the shores of Normandy during the night via five landing beaches . Come and re-live the Normandy invasion with a guided tour and discover: the D-Day landing beaches (Sword, Juno, Gold, Omaha and Utah), Point du Hoc, the Airborne sectors, the D-day battlefields and the D-day museums. Take a fascinating and informative battle site tour led by our expert guides. We are recommended by veterans!

Don’t delay! Depart for all your tour destinations with Overlordtour in our luxury air conditioned vehicles:

“Thanks to the most experienced and professional guides , you will take the best guided tours of Omaha and Utah and also of Sword, Juno and Gold beaches.”

“Discover the exciting history of the scattered paratrooper landings of “Easy Company” with Overlordtour. We will take you to the authentic Norman Battlefields where the 506th, Colonel Sink, and Lt Dick Winters fought – including, Drop Zones, Battlefields, D-Day beaches, Headquarters, and remote private locations.”

“The Longest Day” – Twentieth Century Fox, F. Zarruck Productions: All rights reserved. “Saving Private Ryan” – Paramount Pictures: All rights reserved. “Band of Brothers” – HBO (A Divsion of Time Warner Entertainment Company): All rights reserved.

Overlordtour’s Normandy Group Tours are waiting to explore Omaha and Utah with you!

Enjoy a tour with our 1944’s vehicles.

Jeeptours.fr

No better place to die.

Captain Dale Adam Dye Jr., USMC (Ret.) (born October 8, 1944) is an American actor, technical advisor, radio personality and writer. A decorated Marine veteran of the Vietnam War, Dye has also offered his expertise to television, such as the HBO mini-series Band of Brothers and The Pacific , and video games, including the Medal of Honor

His next film “No better place to die” tells of the fierce battle of La Fiere.

The battle at La Fiere was an epic engagement for the 82nd Airborne in Normandy. La Fiere takes its importance from being a crossing for the Merderet River near St. Mere Eglise. As the Merderet River was a significant obstacle in the invasion, securing the river crossings was a major objective of the 82nd Airborne on D-Day in order to anchor the right flank of the invasion.

Exclusive access granted to Overlordtour

Overlordtour has now an official contract with the owner of Brecourt, Mr Devalavielle, who grants us the exclusive access to the Brecourt field.

OVERLORDTOUR provide interactive maps for your convenience

After you have selected or created your own tour with us, Overlordtour will provide you with detailed interactive maps to assist you with orientation and a birds-eye view of the history and excitement that awaits your arrival!

Let Overlordtour take you on a Normandy WWII beaches tour

• Tours 8-day 80th ANNIVERSARY BULGE TOUR 9-day BAND OF BROTHERS TOUR 11-day BAND OF BROTHERS TOUR 12-day D-DAY ANNIVERSARY TOUR 12-day D-DAY LUXURY TOUR 6-day BEACHES OF NORMANDY TOUR 6-day AMERICAN NORMANDY TOUR 11-day WAR IN POLAND TOUR 11-day THIRD REICH TOUR 10-day BRITAIN AT WAR TOUR 11-day ITALIAN CAMPAIGN TOUR 12-day WORLD WAR I TOUR

9-day BAND OF BROTHERS TOUR

Tour overview.

• Average 4-6 miles walk a day
• Some uneven terrain
• Medium to long travel times
• Moderate pace
• Omaha, Utah and Gold beaches
• Normandy American Cemetery
• Pointe du Hoc
• Luxembourg American Cemetery
• Dachau concentration camp
• Eagle's Nest (The visit is strongly dependent on weather conditions)

Have you dreamed of taking a World War II tour that would satisfy your inner history buff, but the price tag always held you back? The 9-day economic package of our Band of Brothers Tour is an adventure designed for your bucket list and your pocketbook. Currently, it is the cheapest tour of its kind on the market. On top of that, since it is shorter than the all-inclusive tour, it is even easier to plan your holiday schedule. This tour is an unforgettable journey hitting all the highlights of the American WWII war effort in the footsteps of the famous 101st “Screaming Eagles” Airborne Division. Feel the sands of the landing beaches between your toes in Normandy, stand at the very foxholes where heroes fought for your freedom during the Battle of the Bulge and breathe the Alpine air at Hitler’s Eagle’s Nest*. From France to Belgium, Luxembourg, and Germany, this tour covers all the sites to make an armchair historian’s dream a reality. *The visit is strongly dependent on weather conditions, which can change even last minute.

BAND OF BROTHERS TOUR: Detailed Highlights and Itinerary

Passengers are greeted at the Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris and transferred by coach to Normandy. In the evening there is an introduction to the tour and a chance for the Passengers to introduce themselves. After the airport pick-up and transfer to Normandy we spend the next few days exploring the iconic shores of the Landing Beaches. Two days of this leg will focus on the American landing beaches Utah and Omaha, where we will pay our respects to the heroism that contributed to the battle that changed history. We also visit Gold Beach, where our fellow Allied troops fought to secure a foothold in Europe.

Locations You Can Expect to See

The second leg of our journey heads east to Belgium, where we visit the sites of the Battle of the Bulge, the foxholes of Bois Jacques, and the military vehicles at the Bastogne Barracks. You’ll have ample time to explore these quaint areas independently and appreciate the incredible history and awe-inspiring monuments of this vital region. We pay our respects to the fallen soldiers at Luxembourg American Cemetery where General Patton is also buried.

Our journey culminates in Germany, where we will explore the genesis and defeat of Hitler’s Nazi Party. We begin by exploring the somber site of the first Nazi concentration camp, where we can pay our respects to the victims of Hitler’s genocide. We then head to Munich to learn about the Third Reich before we visit the Eagle’s Nest*. The tour ends with a chance for reflection and community over a farewell drink. The next day, our Passengers are brought to Munich’s Franz Joseph Strauss Airport for their return flights. *The visit is strongly dependent on weather conditions, which can change even last minute.

Dates and prices

80th anniversary bulge tour.

• Day 8: Departure

80th ANNIVERSARY OVERLORD TOUR

• Day 11: Departure

BAND OF BROTHERS TOUR

• Day 9: Departure

D-DAY ANNIVERSARY TOUR

• Day 12: Departure

D-DAY LUXURY TOUR

Beaches of normandy tour.

• Day 6: Departure

AMERICAN NORMANDY TOUR

War in poland tour, third reich tour, britain at war tour.

• Day 10: Departure

ITALIAN CAMPAIGN TOUR

World war i tour, 80th anniversary d-day tour, 80th anniversary gold tour, 80th anniversary silver tour, premium tour services: from lodging to local insights.

Relax after a long flight and ease your mind knowing that your Tour Director will meet you at the airport on the first day of the tour, avoiding extra navigating and expensive taxi fares. Our economic package feature carefully planned and curated itinerary to ensure you get the full historical experience. These tours are designed at a lower cost with the added benefit of more time on your own. These tours still include a 24/7 Tour Director and several local guides. Our dynamic, knowledgeable Tour Directors are with you from your arrival at the airport to departure on the final day. They proactively smooth the way for your entire tour experience. Our handpicked, trusted local guides are fluent in English and expert historians, who deliver their impressive wealth of knowledge, anecdotes, and local insights with skill that shows their years of research and experience. They always address topics onsite so that you get to experience history where it happened as they guide both popular destinations and obscure locations only the locals would know. Most entry fees are not included in the price, so you can choose which programs and sites you would like to visit.

You will sleep soundly each night at 3-star hotel accommodations. These rooms are a bit smaller than what you are used to in the US, but we do ensure that each hotel room has en-suite bathroom. Each morning begins with a basic breakfast buffet included at the hotel before heading out for the day’s program. Aside from breakfasts at the hotels, meals are not included in our economic package. Your Tour Director will always be available to make suggestions from the local options, ranging from street food to fine dining restaurants. The tours will break for meals in areas that offer multiple options for you to enjoy. On this tour you ride in style in our motorcoaches complete with climate control, video entertainment and extra leg room. Our skilled, professional drivers maximize your tour time by navigating the busiest highways and tightest country lanes, giving you more time at sites and less time subjected to the inflexible scheduling, delays and crowded areas that accompany public transport. For those who want to stay connected, Wi-fi is available at all our hotels and on all of our buses.

Beaches of Normandy Tours Band of Brothers Tours 48 Rue de Thouays, 50480 Sainte-Marie-du-Mont, Normandy, France

Phone: +1 855-473-1999 Monday - Friday, 10am - 6pm ET e-mail: [email protected]

• Private full day tour
• Shared Group Tour
• 2-Day D-Day tour

KEEPING HISTORY ALIVE SINCE 1985

Ellwood von Siebold, René Van Oirschot and Monica Baan of D-Day Battle Tours will provide you with one of the most memorable D-Day tours . D-Day Battle Tours offers you a quality choice of World War Two D-Day tours in Normandy made to match your time scedule and level of interest.

D-Day Battle Tours is an established tour compant located in the centre of Sainte Mère Église, Normandy. We aim to provide a battlefield tour experience which is informative, flexible and memorable for you and your group. Our D-Day tours cover activities within the American, British and Candian Sectors. We offer a choice of private and standard tours. The private tour can be tailored to suit requested destinations.

D-Day Shared Tour

The objective of this tour is to provide you with a visit to the most significant area of the American military activity that took place on the 6th June These tours can be made up by single parties, individuals or groups.

2 Day D-Day Tour

The objective of this tour is to incorporate all of the most significant events of the D-Day tour into a schedule .

Private Tour

Private tours bring a special focus to your tour with D Day Battletours and provide the ultimate in experience and satisfaction Experience has shown that the majority of clients have chosen Private Tours.

Our guides possess a wealth of historical knowledge and detail which will bring your D-Day experience to life..

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Normandy Battle Tours

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Professionally guided battlefield tours for small groups

2004-2024 : 20 YEARS OF PROVIDING THE HIGHEST QUALITY BATTLEFIELD TOURS OF NORMANDY

As we now enter our third decade, award winning normandy battle tours is well and truly established amongst the most respected companies offering professionally guided tours of the d-day battlefields. we rank alongside the very highest rated tour operators listed on tripadvisor and we are the longest continously listed company to be recommended by the rick steves travel guide., having lived and worked in normandy since 2004, your guide, an academically trained historian and best selling author, has experienced the priviledge and honour of having met and toured the battlefields of normandy with hundreds of veterans of the campaign which raged in this region in 1944. with the intimate knowledge of the ground which only a resident of the region could possess, our aim is to share with you the stories of those veterans which have been personally inherited by your guide through such cherished encounters., whether you are following in the footsteps of a family member who fought in normandy in 1944, or just curious to learn more about one of the most incredible military feats mankind has ever set themselves to, normandy battle tours is here to gaurantee you achieve the ultimate experience from your visit to our remarkable region. .

If you're ever going to take a private tour, this is the place in France to do so. No matter how good my description is in my guidebook, there's no way I can do justice to it like a guide like Stuart Robertson does. Steve Smith (author of the Rick Steves France guidebook)

The Normandy Campaign: 100 Days Battle

Home > All Tours > The Normandy Campaign: 100 Days Battle

The Normandy Campaign: 100 Days Battle Tour explores the Normandy breakout, code name Operation Cobra, the Allied plan to take Brittany and trap the remaining German army in Normandy. By the evening of D-Day, more than 150,000 Allied troops had landed on the coast of France and had breached Adolf Hitler’s once impregnable “Atlantic Wall.” The war, however, was a long way from over. For the next 80-days the world fixated its eyes on the battles raging in Normandy. After almost five years of war, the Allies were poised to decide the fate of Adolf Hitler’s vaunted “1,000 Year Reich.”

On The Normandy Campaign Tour you will travel from the D-Day beaches to the inland campaigns in the heart of Normandy. You will retrace the path of the American, British and Canadian armies as they fought for Caen and Cherbourg, stand where the GIs of the 30th Infantry Division stopped the last great German offensive in Normandy in its tracks, and see where Free Polish forces closed the German’s last avenue of escape at Falaise. You will finish the tour in Paris, which the Allies liberated from the Nazie in August 1944.

Operation Cobra

Learn about the Allied plan to take Brittany and trap the remaining German army in Normandy

La Roche-Guyon

Visit Field Marshal Erwin Rommel’s HQ

Follow the U.S. First Army’s drive into northwestern France

Cotentin Peninsula

Trace the footsteps of General George S. Patton and the Third Army, some of the most intense fighting in the campaign

Juno Beach, Caen

Explore where the Canadian forces fought their way inland after landing at Juno Beach to take the city of Caen and strategic airport at Carpiquet

Grandcamp-Maisy

See where Virginian Frank Peregory earned the Medal of Honor in his single-handed attack on a Germany position

Experience the actions of Operations Goodwood and Epsom in the intense fighting around Caen and the first confrontations with the formidable German King Tiger tank

Pontaubault Bridge

Visit where the VIII Corps of the Third Army crossed into Brittany and paved the way to Paris for the Allies, also the site where Patton declared his was the only army in history to fight in all four directions at once

Falaise Pocket

Study where the Polish and Canadian troops encircled the German army to join up with the Americans at Chambois—then visit the sites of the epic armored and infantry battles between the Poles and the Germans around the “Mace”

Day 1 • Flight to Paris

Guests fly independently to Paris Charles de Gaulle airport (CDG), arriving on Day 2.

Day 2 • Paris, Lair of the Fox, Bayeux

After the morning arrival of guests at Paris Charles de Gaulle airport, we will begin our journey to Normandy, stopping en route to see German General Erwin Rommel’s forward headquarters at La Roche-Guyon. At this site, you will have an opportunity to discuss the situation the Desert Fox faced as he sought to defend the coast of France from Allied invasion. After leaving Rommel’s headquarters, we proceed to Bayeux.

Overnight in Bayeux.

Day 3 • Ranville to Biéville

Today you will see the places where the Sixth British Airborne Division—known as the “Red Devils”—and other British troops fought to hold the left shoulder of the invasion against some of the most determined German counterattacks in Normandy. Sites in this area will include the outstanding Pegasus Memorial Museum at Ranville and the Merville Gun Battery, where, against impossible odds, British paratroopers took out a German battery position that threatened to wreak havoc on Allied forces landing on Sword Beach.

You will then visit Bréville and the Chateau St. Come where the weary paratroopers repulsed repeated German armored attacks for almost a month. From the left flank of the landings, you will travel to the magnificently preserved Hillman Redoubt, the critical German fortification that blocked the way to the D-Day objective of Caen. The final stop of the day will be Biéville and Perriers to discuss the attack by the 21st Panzer Division on the evening of June 6 that almost threw the Allies back into the sea.

Day 4 • Juno Beach

Travelers to the D-Day beaches rushing to get to Omaha Beach, Sainte-Mère-Église, or Pegasus Bridge often overlook the Canadian landings at Juno Beach. It should be remembered, however, that Juno beach was the second costliest of D-Day and that no other Allied contingent advanced further inland than the Canadians on June 6.

You will start your day at the world-class Juno Beach Centre, Canada’s Second World War museum at Courseulles-sur-Mer. In addition to the artifacts and displays, you will have an opportunity for a guided tour into some of the best preserved German beach defenses in Normandy. From Courseulles-sur-Mer, you follow the exact route the Canadian forces took as they battled toward Montgomery’s D-Day objective at Caen. Along the way, you will stop at Authie and the Ardenne Abbaye, where the SS executed 20 Canadian POWs, and Carpiquet Airport, the key to the city of Caen. This was the scene of some of the most intense fighting of the Normandy Campaign.

After finishing up with the Canadian battlefields, you will make a few stops along Gold Beach to discuss the struggles in the drive to Bayeux and the linking up of the U.S. and British forces. Sites will include the location of Stan Hollis’ VC actions; the battlefield of Crépon, the remains of the temporary British harbor at Arromanches-les-Bains, the massive German gun battery at Longues-sur-Mer, and the oft-forgotten British Commando fight for the village of Port-en-Bessin-Huppain.

Day 5 • Caen

Today you will explore some of the desperate armored battles fought between Allied and German tank crews as the Allies attempted to get into Caen. You will then see how the Germans fought for their lives in Normandy in their attempt to prevent the Allied breakout into the heart of France. You will study the armored battles associated with the fighting around Caen, including Operation Goodwood and the first appearance of the dreaded King Tiger tank. Next, is Operation Epsom and the battle for Hill 112—one of the bloodiest fights of the entire Normandy campaign.

You will also visit Villers-Bocage, where, on June 13, 1944, Panzer ace Michael Wittmann single-handedly destroyed a British armored battalion with just one tank. Credited with 138 tank kills, Wittmann survived the day and stopped one of Montgomery’s best chances of getting into Caen.

Day 6 • Omaha Beach to St. Lo

Even though they suffered the worst casualties of any Allied unit on June 6, 1944, the fighting was not over for the men of the 29th Infantry Division. Your day will begin at the Overlord Museum just behind the Normandy American Cemetery at Omaha Beach. Here, you will have an opportunity to see one of France’s most outstanding collections of rare tanks and vehicles, including rare examples of the German Mark IV and Mark V Panther tanks that were staples of German forces in Normandy.

After visiting the museum, you will begin an extensive tour of Omaha Beach. You will see all five draws off the beach and fighting areas immediately inland from the coast.

You will then stop at the site of Frank Peregory’s epic single-handed attack on German positions outside Grandcamp-Maisy, for which the young Virginian earned the Medal of Honor. Next, you will stop at the bridge at Isigny-sur-Mer, where the 29th was finally able to secure a link-up between the forces landing at Utah and Omaha Beaches. The group will follow the route taken by elements of the division as they relieved the Rangers on Pointe du Hoc.

As the 29ers did, you will then push on toward St. Lo, stopping to visit the 29th’s battlefields along the Elle River and atop Purple Heart Hill. Our day will finish at the Major Thomas D. Howie Memorial on the edge of St. Lo.

Day 7 • Sainte-Mère-Église

Today we will focus on some of the epic battles fought by U.S. Airborne forces as they sought to protect the landings of U.S. forces at Utah Beach and prepare the way for the eventual breakout from the beachhead. Your day will begin at Sainte-Mère-Église, where you will visit the world-renowned airborne museum. From the museum, you will travel to La Fière and then Saint-Sauveur-le-Vicomte to study the paratroopers of the 82nd Airborne as they fought to secure the Douve River crossings that had to be in Allied hands before the advance toward Cherbourg could proceed.

After exploring the All-American battlefields in and around Sainte-Mère-Église, you will turn your attention to the 101st to visit some of their significant but often overlooked battlefields. Stops will include the XYZ Complex, where Sergeant Harrison Summers knocked out a German position containing 150 German defenders, and Ravenoville’s famous Marmion Farm.

Day 8 • Cotentin Peninsula, Avranches

Today, you will learn about the advances of the American paratroopers and infantrymen as they battled their way across the Cotentin Peninsula to cut off and then capture the vital port of Cherbourg.

You will then shift your focus to, perhaps, America’s most famous general, George S. Patton, and his Third Army. Beginning at the Chateau of Nehou, where Patton established his first headquarters in France, you will proceed to the scene of some of the most intense fighting in the struggle to cut off the peninsula, including the well-preserved and unique Luftwaffe Bunker at Hill 145 and Barneville. From there, you will follow “Old Blood and Guts” and his men to Avranches and then the bridge at Pontaubault that opened the door to the interior of France for the Americans.

Day 9 • Mortain

Battered by the relentless Allied attacks since the landings on June 6, 1944, Adolf Hitler was desperate to restore the strategic situation in Normandy. On August 8, the Germans launched Operation Luttich, intending to drive into the flank of American troops as they advanced across the Cotentin Peninsula. They aimed to stop the Allied advance across France in its tracks. On that day, all that blocked the Germans was the U.S. 30th Infantry Division in and around the town of Mortain.

Your first visit will include several vital stops where you can discuss the epic stand made by the 30th Infantry and other units as they halted Adolf Hitler’s last desperate attempt to regain the initiative in Normandy. Among the battlefields are Grimesnil Road and Le Lande des Morts (the land of the dead), St. Barthelemy, where three companies of the 117th Infantry faced the might of the German Panzer attack, the bridge at the Abbaye Blanche, and Point 317 with visiting the site of the 120th Infantry Regiment’s epic five-day stand. Their stubborn heroics saved the Allied advance and set the stage for the final battles in and around Chambois. After lunch, we will push on to the Brittany American Cemetery, where you can pay our respects to the 4,410 Americans buried there.

Day 10 • Falaise Pocket

The final battles of the Normandy Campaign highlight this day. You will follow the route of Patton’s 3rd Army and the Canadians from the 21st Army Group as they fought to close the German’s last escape route from Normandy. Stops will include the Canadian battlefield at May-sur-Orne, Panzer Ace Michael Wittmann’s final battlefield, Saint-Lambert-sur-Dive, and the site where Major Currie earned the Victoria Cross.

Then it is on to Moissey Ford and the “Corridor of Death.” You will follow the 2nd Polish Armored Division into its positions along the “Mace.” The Poles were preparing to seal off the final escape route out of the Normandy cauldron for the remnants of German armored and infantry formations that had been fighting since June 6. You will make several stops around the Mace to study the epic armored battles between the Poles and the Germans.

Your examination of the Normandy Campaign will end at Chambois. You will visit the American sector of the campaign’s final battle before moving into Chambois itself to see where the Allied armies finally linked up and ended the Normandy Campaign once and for all. On our way back to Paris, we will make one final stop: a small stretch of road outside Vimoutiers, where Field Marshal Erwin Rommel was wounded by Allied fighter planes.

Overnight at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport hotel.

Day 11 • Flight Home

There will be one morning transfer to Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) to catch your flight home.

Tour Includes

• Professional historian traveling with you throughout the tour, lecturing and answering questions
• Tour manager to handle guest needs and on-the-ground logistics
• Educational road book of maps and historical information
• 3 or 4-star hotel accommodations
• Rooms with private bath or shower
• Hotel taxes and service charges
• Touring by private first class, air-conditioned motor coach with logistical escort
• Daily breakfasts, some lunches and most dinners
• All entrance fees to museums and attractions

Flights are not included in the cost of the tour.

Activity Level

As with all of our tours, we prefer to spend our time on the battlefields. There will be some museum stops, but please be prepared to walk on sandy beaches and cobblestone streets. There is a fair amount of walking.

If you use a wheelchair, please read our Wheelchair Policy .

Recommended Reading

Citizen Soldiers: The U.S. Army from the Normandy Beaches to the Bulge to the Surrender of Germany, June 7, 1944 – May 7, 1945 by Stephen E. Ambrose

Customize this Tour

If you would like to customize this itinerary for your alumni travel association, educational organization, high school, family or other private group, please see our custom tour page .

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The Operation Overlord Tour covers the planning and launch of the D-Day Invasion based intensive research and interviews by Stephen E. Ambrose and our chief historian, Ron Drez. This is a D-Day tour that is unmatched in its authenticity. Highlights are: London, Portsmouth and Normandy, Ste-Mere-Eglise, Normandy Beaches, and Omaha Beach. Read More >

D-Day to the Rhine

Our D-Day Tour was designed by Stephen E. Ambrose, who first led this WWII tour in the late 1970s. It was further developed by our Chief Historian, Capt. Ronald Drez, who assisted Dr. Ambrose with his research while at the Eisenhower Center. Highlights of this tour are: Churchill War Rooms, Southwick House, Normandy Beaches, Ste-Mere-Eglise, Pointe-du-Hoc, and Bastogne. Read More >

Battle of Britain and Dunkirk

Our Battle of Britain and Dunkirk Tour: Their Finest Hour commemorates the Battle of Britain Day. The focus of this tour is on the critical months of the summer of 1940 when Britain stood alone against the might of Nazi Germany and dealt Adolf Hitler his first great defeat. You will begin this incredible story... Read More >

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WWI and WWII Battlefields

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11 Day Battlefield Tour of UK, Belgium and France

11 days, 3 countries and 11 cities

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10 Breakfasts, 4 Dinners

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Travel to the front lines of Europe, where brave soldiers once fought for freedom. On this epic battlefield tour through the countryside of Britain, Belgium and France, you’ll explore the tragedy and triumph of two World Wars.

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11 days itinerary trip from London to Paris visiting 3 countries and 11 cities

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About this trip

Sightseeing highlights.

Explore London and Paris

Discover Brussels, Ypres, Amiens, Rouen, Normandy and the Somme Region

Visit the Imperial War Museum in London, the D-Day Landing Beaches, Amiens Cathedral, military cemeteries throughout northern France and Belgium, the Australian National Memorial, the Caen Memorial, WWI & WWII Battlefields, the Dunkirk War Museum and evacuation beaches, and the Memorial Museum Passchendaele

View Buckingham Palace in London, the Eiffel Tower, Saint-Sulpice church and the Arc de Triomphe in Paris and the Menin Gate in Ypres

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Breakfast daily and up to half of your evening meals

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Audio headsets for flexible sightseeing

Luxury air-conditioned coach with Wi-Fi in most countries or alternative transportation (such as rail journeys)

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Eurostar high-speed train from London to Brussels

On occasion, hotels of similar standard and location may be utilized.

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• Into the Reich
• Weekender Trip

Tours of Normandy

D-day with our in-depth tour.

Discover the most iconic sites involved in D-Day with our in-depth tour. We take you across the channel and onto the iconic beaches of Normandy, exploring the local areas and the pivotal roles they played in WW2.

You will stand on the iconic beaches  Omaha, Utah, Gold, Juno and Sword. Visit and see where the British and US  airborn  operations took place.

The Tour in Detail

• We start our trip with a drive to Folkstone to take the Eurotunnel train 
• Under the channel to Calais (the train takes 35 minutes)
• We then drive through northern France across the great bridges over the river seine at le harve and down into Normandy
• We stop for comfort breaks, most of the route 3 hours is on the motorway
• Our first stop is Merville battery and the night assault story by the British 9th airborne on the night of the 6th of June. The museum and bunker complex are a story of British airborne spirit to capture an important strategic objective against terrible odds. Entry is approx 8 euros each
• Onto the Orne river bridge and the assault and capture and then the holding of this vital bridge until relieved
• Visit the museum here is 8 euros each, then a break at the café Grandide the first place liberated on D-Day
• We then visit the airborne cemetery at Ranville
• Hotel in Normandy - Dinner + Breakfast
• We go to and see the grand bunker just back from Sword beach and the landing on D-Day story
• Onto the D-Day beach coast road, past the Canadian Juno beach sector 
• Then down to the great gun battery at Longues Sur Mer and go into these great gun bunkers
• We then go on down into Arromanches, gold beach to see the Mulberry harbour and visit the 360 degrees day cinema with its unique d day British Memorial
• Lunch in Arromanches
• We move on then into the US zone, the great cemetery at Coleville onto Omaha beach and its memorials and bunkers
• We finish our day at the scene of one of the great assaults by the US rangers at Pointe du Hoc
• We then pass the bunker complex at grand camps Maisy and its incredible story
• Hotel in St. Mere-realise, where we have dinner and then at night we experience Church Square and the US airborne story of tragedy and victory. The paratrooper on the steeple is still there! 
• We start with the incredible story at the bridge over the Merderet River at la frere, where the legend of iron mike was born
• Onto the story of the medics and the church at Angloville, which is truly amazing. In the midst of a battle between the US paratroopers of the 101st and the german paratroopers, 2 amazing young medics make history
• The go through saint Marie du mont and pass the scene of easy company's battle at Brecourt Manor
• We move onto Utah beach and the great museum
• Grainger is a story to be told at this little church on a strategic hill where a group of the 82nd paratroopers held off a division of SS for 2 days. the price those civilians left behind paid
• (if time permits, we can stop at the D-Day experience museum at dead man's corner where the d day Dakota simulator gives a unique experience) 
• We arrive at the beautiful medieval city of Bayeux
• Hotel - Those that wish can venture into Bayeux to visit and see the Bayeux tapestry
• Dinner + Breakfast in Bayeux 
• Then a short drive to the commonwealth war cemetery at Bayeux 
• Then into the Bayeux D-Day museum
• Depart 11.30 
• Drive to Calais  
• Eurotunnel - UK - Home

Customer Briefing

Welcome to the briefing note on the four-day trip to Normandy and Battle of the Bulge with D Day story and experiences.

The objective is to give a bespoke experience. We meet and depart on day 1; we travel to the Eurotunnel at Folkstone.

Please be advised that, prior to the crossing, I will require your passport details for the compulsory checks made.

A Personal Note

I have been doing my tours now ever since 2005, everybody has found it a relaxing and interesting experience, above all be comfortable and enjoy our company as I take you to the Normandy experience.

In 4 days will we see it all, no, there is too much to show you. But I do promise you that you will see some places that the usual tourist groups never experience.

Advanced Passenger Information

• The dress code throughout is entirely casual
• Please feel free to bring any drinks, water or snacks you want
• We will stop on our journey for comfort breaks as requested
• Once we have crossed the channel, we go via the main motorway for approx
• 3 hours to get to the Normandy area. We will cross the great bridges at le harve - a great spectacle in itself
• There is no heavy walking at all, the whole trip is on the flat
• It is the custom for the group to dine at the local French restaurants in the evenings, a great way to unwind and enjoy glorious French food
• If you would like to dine another way then please feel free, this is a casual no-pressure experience
• Normandy, in my opinion, is very like Devon and is very affluent
• If you wish to sample the main local drink, its Calvados, an apple brandy. 
• The 3 nominated hotels are very comfortable, and you can breakfast at each if you wish, breakfast is approx 8 euros. 
• Entry to the museums is approx 8 euros each we stop at 4 in all
• All museums and restaurants accept debit/credit cards
• Bring euros if you wish (when we reach Bayeux, you may wish to visit and see the Bayeux tapestry, this may cost approx 10 euros)
• It is a courtesy to meet at the appointed times, not to be late as it upsets the schedule
• Take as many pictures as you like and enjoy my tour
• Using your mobile in France is the same as the UK

A World War II historic guide to discover the D-Day Landing Beaches in Normandy

Travel normandy guide françois gauthron offers tours of the normandy landing beaches, world war ii battlefield. come and discover the most famous part of normandy where took place the landing and the battle of normandy in june 1944 to liberate france and europe. you will be escorted by a qualified bilingual guide who will show you round the major sites of the beaches. visit the highlights of world war ii sites in normandy with an expert license guide, first the most important sites of the landing beaches., cool d-day american tour from paris.

• 5 D-Day Beaches Highlights from Paris

American Landing Sectors Highlights 1 Day

• British and Canadian Highlights 1 Day
• 5 D-Day Beaches Highlights 2 Days

American Landing Sectors 2 Days

American airborne battleground in normandy 2 days.

• British Landing Sectors 2 Days
• Canadian Battleground 2 Days
• Customized Tours
• The Loire Valley
• A Taste of Brittany
• Canadian Battlefields in Europe

Normandy Travel

Travel in normandy with francois gauthron, d-day tours on landing beaches - world war ii battlefield tours in normandy.

• All the Tours
• The Books on line
• Practical details

D-Day Tours: the American Sectors

D-day tours on utah beach, omaha beach and airborne battleground.

4 hours tour

9 hours tour

18 hours tour

Utah Beach, major sites of the american D-Day tours

The Church. The parachute and John Steele mannequin.

Sainte-Mère-Église

One of the most disastrous drops (in a night filled with disasters) occurred in Sainte-Mère-Église. Around midnight, a stray incendiary bomb had set fire to the house of Monsieur Harion, located to the east of the square.

Wakened by the mayor and the tolling of the church bell, the townspeople turned out in large numbers to form a bucket brigade supervised by members of the German garrison. (The hand pump used that night still sits on the east side of the square.) While the house continued to burn, the drone of planes could be heard over the tolling bell. The fire-fighters, looking skyward, saw ghostly silhouettes drifting down on them. Two sticks from the 1st and 2d battalions had gotten their green jump light directly over the village. Illuminated by light from the burning house and tracers from German AA guns, the paratroopers were easy targets for the Germans below. Few survived.

One who did was Private John Steele, whose parachute caught on the steeple of the church in front of you. The wounded paratrooper hung there limply for two hours, pretending to be dead, before the Germans took him prisoner.

The less fortunate hung from the trees all around the square where they had been shot. Once the fire in Monsieur Harion's house had burned itself out and the last of the paratroopers were killed or captured, the German garrison (a transportation company) quite inexplicably called it an evening and turned in.

A mile northeast of Sainte-Mère-Église, Lieutenant Colonel Edward Krause, commanding the 3d Battalion, assembled ninety men within an hour of landing and promptly ordered an advance on the village. Around dawn, the German garrison was again turned out, this time by the rattle of small-arms fire. Krause's men cleared the village in a rush, capturing thirty Germans and killing another eleven. With Sainte-Mère-Église in American hands, Krause ran a worn American flag to the top of the village flagpole, a flag that he had carried with him from Sicily.

Sainte-Mère-Église Stain glass signification dedicated to 82nd Airborne

This stain glass has been offered by the 505th Regiment to celebrate the 25th Anniversary.

American Airborne Museum

Inside of the glider displayed in the American Airborne Museum at Sainte-Mère-Église. I highly recommend the visit of this great Museum.

Merderet Bridge.

General Gavin's fox hole at La Fière.

La Fière Bridge and Merderet River

The 82nd airborne division astride the merderet.

One of the most confused fights took place west of the village at La Fière Bridge, over the Merderet River. Uncoordinated groups from the 505th, 507th, and 508th regiments hold the position and finally went over the bridge on the 7th. The Monument Iron Mike is overlooking the site, its twin statutes is at Fort Benning. Alongside the road is General Gavin's fox hole. The photo of flooded marshland, a common occurrence that Germans exploited, shows the conditions as they were in 1944.

A piece of cake

«general omar n. bradley called the assault landing on utah beach «a piece of cake», and it was, compared to that on omaha».

General Omar N. Bradley called the assault landing on Utah Beach «a piece of cake», and it was, compared to that on Omaha. The landing plan called for the 4th Infantry Division (Major General Raymond O. Barton) to land along 2,200 yards of sandy beach on a two-regiment front, two battalions abreast. Colonel James A. Van Fleet's 8th Infantry (including the 3d Battalion, 22d Infantry) was to land at 0630, followed by the 22d Infantry in eighty-five minutes and the 12th Infantry at 1030.

DD tanks were to lead the way in, preceded by an intense naval and air bombardment. Various engineer units were scheduled to land close behind the infantry to clear beach obstructions and to blow gaps in the low sea wall paralleling the beach.

The landing of the thirty-two DD tanks was delayed when one of the control ships was sunk by a mine. Four of the tanks were lost when the LCT carrying them sank before they could be launched. In contrast to the heavy losses off Omaha, twenty-eight DD's made it to the beach able to provide fire support for the infantry already ashore.

In proud memory of our dead

In addition to a D-Day museum, La Madeleine is the site of these monuments:

• an obelisk commemorating the D Day landing of the 4th U.S. Infantry Division,
• a stone commemorating the 90th U.S. Infantry Division.

The first (designated 00) of the 1182 cylindrical milestones marking the «Voie de la Liberté», the route that the U.S. Third Army followed from Normandy to Bastogne. All bear forty-eight stars and a symbolic torch of liberty patterned after that held aloft by «Liberty» in New York harbor. They are similar to the stones which line La Voie Sacrée (the Sacred Way), the road from Bar-le-Duc to Verdun along which hundreds of thousands of French soldiers moved in 1916. A monument to the 1st Engineer Special Brigade, raised in 1945 atop a blockhouse of the W5 strongpoint. This massive blockhouse, captured on D-Day and used as the Brigade HQ, contains a memorial crypt (protected by a locked iron grill) commemorating the members of the Brigade who died on Utah Beach. Another plaque commemorates Maj. General Eugene Mead Caffey and the achievements of the Brigade he commanded. Other plaques in French and English commemorate the assault on Utah Beach. An imposing stone plinth, unveiled by General J. Laughton Collins on 5 June 1984, commemorating «in humble tribute... its sons who lost their lives in the liberation of these beaches, June 6, 1944». A stone plaque marking the presence of the heads of state of the United States, France, Great Britain, Luxembourg, Belgium, Norway, and the Netherlands for the 40th anniversary of D-Day. A stone plaque commemorating General Dwight D. Eisenhower as Supreme Allied Commander. Some fifty-nine road signs named after members of the 1st Engineer Special Brigade who died in the fighting on Utah Beach.

Azeville, Casemates.

German Batteries

Crisbecq, german battery.

I highly recommend this visit. Take an hour or so to discover an amazing number of bunkers, which were buried for years after the war and finally exhumed by the landowner. This fortified complex contained casemates housing 210-mm guns which easily reached Utah Beach. Despite shelling from large-caliber guns and repeated infantry assaults, the battery held out until 12 June, all the while harassing landing operations. It was the one major battery in the lodgement area that actually became a factor in the post-D-Day battle.

Azeville, German Battery

The casemates, that housed four French 105-mm guns, flank the road just before you enter the village. The casemates are not open to visitors. After withstanding attacks from the 22d Infantry for two days, the battery surrendered after a flamethrower, triggered by Private Ralph G. Riley, set off ammunition inside one of the casemates. Riley was awarded the Silver Star for his single-handed attack.

Foucarville, Prisonners Camp No. 19

By the end of June a camp for 20,000 German prisoners was established, which finally was extended to 40,000 men including 18 Generals and 6 Admirals. The Camp was commanded by Lt. Col. Kennedy.

This CCE was almost a town, with hospital, prison, churches, theatre, pub, bakery etc... The total surface was 306 acres including 48 acres of garden, circumference 3.2 miles, roads and side walks 3.9 miles, barbe wired fences 180 miles, water pipe lines 24 miles, high voltage line 19 miles, communication lines 64 miles, phone installed 275, squad tents 1100, pyramidal tents 370, 50 kitchen...

Unfortunately nothing subsists today apart a barn made with field stones use as explosive storage and use as private living home today.

Les Dunes-de-Varreville, 2nd DB Memorial

Les Dunes-de-Varreville (WN 10), the original D-Day landing objective of the 4th Division.

In 1944, this area was strongly defended, and many of the original blockhouses still squat ominously amid the dunes.

Today, the site is marked by a monument, a Sherman tank with French insignia which commemorate the 1 August landing of the 2d French Armored Division, a half-track and an armored car M18.

The D-Day tours with Utah Beach

Cool-d-day-american-tour-from-paris, american-landing-sectors-highlights-1-day, american-landing-sectors-2-days, american-airborne-battleground-in-normandy-2-days, 5-d-day-beaches-highlights-from-paris, 5-d-day-beaches-highlights-2-days, the parts of my books about utah beach, battlefield guide book , chap. 1: tour a, utah sector, battlefield guide book , chap. 2: tour a/a, utah sector special, battlefield guide book , chap. 3: tour a/b, utah sector special historical 101st airborne & band of brothers tour, omaha beach, major sites of the american d-day tours.

Quentin Roosevelt grave.

American Cemetery

The garden of the missing.

Its semi-circular wall contains the name of 1.557 MIAs, they come from 49 of the 50 States. The tragic night of December 24th is engraved on that wall. German U-Boats were trying to prevent Allied reinforcements from reaching «The Battle of the Bulge». The 66th Infantry Division was not going to the Bulge, but Saint-Nazaire. At 6.00 pm on Christmas Eve, a torpedo exploded into the starboard aft hold of the transport ship «Leopoldville», packed with 2,235 G.I.'s from the Division. The ship remained afloat for 2-1/2 hours before sinking into the English Channel 5-1/2 miles north Cherbourg. Because of the holiday celebrations, rescue was slow in coming to the ship. When rescue ships arrived while the ship was taking on sea water, many different scenarios developed around victims and survivors. Approximately 516 G.I.'s were missing and presumably went down with the ship, and another 248 died from injuries, drowning, or hypothermia from the 48° sea water. The huge loss of lives proved embarrassing to the governments of France, England, Belgium, and the U.S.A. Wartime security kept the tragedy details buried for fifty years. Many families of the 764 victims and the 1,471 survivors still do not know details about the Christmas death of their sons.

The Memorial

The Memorial is centered by a 22 foot bronze statue, on both sides two enamel maps, representing the Battle of Normandy in South loggia till August 1st and the Battle of Europe in North loggia, notice the shingles on the ground, reminding the beach. The four scenes on the urns in the north loggia are the same in the south one. The Statues and the urns were made by De Lue.

Theodore J. Roosevelt and Quentin Roosevelt

Theodore J. Roosevelt, President Theodore son's and President Franklin D. Roosevelt nephew's. Born: 9/13/1887. Medal of Honor. Dead from heart attack at Méautis on July 12th during the night. Plot D, Row 28, grave 45.

Quentin Roosevelt, President Theodore son's and President Franklin D. Roosevelt nephew's. Theodore's youngest brother. Born 11/19/1897.Dead in a Nieuport 28 fighter, was shot down behind German lines by Sgt. Thom, a German ace with 24 victories on Jul 14th 1918 WWI. Plot D, Row 28, grave 46.

Pointe du Hoc

To reach the Pointe du Hoc Ranger Monument, now maintained by the American Battle Monuments Commission, follow the direction signs west along D 514 to the car park outside the monument (6 m).

The Pointe du Hoc today retains much of its battlefield character because of the destruction left by the rain of bombs and shells the Allies unleashed to neutralize this rocky point. The much feared battery was bombed three times before D-Day, then hit from the air again that morning. 600 tones of bombs were dropped. The battleships Texas and Arkansas battered the area with their 14- and 12-inch guns just after dawn. The destroyer Satterlee saturated the position with her 5-inch guns in direct support of the Rangers.

This concentration of fire left craters and ruined casemates which over sixty years have yet to erase. From the barbed-wire fence along the cliff top, you can look down the hundred-foot cliff to the east beach where three companies of the 2d Ranger Battalion, commanded by Lieutenant Colonel James E. Rudder, landed on D Day. Their mission was to scale the cliff, then silence the six 155-mm GPF thought to threaten the landing operations on both American beaches.

Omaha Sector First Wave

«every man who set foot on omaha beach that day was a hero», the american planning.

H-Hour was 6.30 am on June 6th 1944. The landing window had to consider the availabilities of landing craft, Navy and air support. Plus the combination of daylight, tide and moonlight. Low tide was at 05.30 am, sunrise was at 05.58 am. The D-Day planners decided to land at 06.30 for several reasons: LCA's could come closer to the bluff, minimizing the uncovered distance for the GIs, and all the obstacles would be exposed. The sunrise hour permitted the Navy and the Air Force to optimize their shelling and Bombardment.

In military times are discussed from the moment an operation begins thus: D-Day for the invasion of France in 1944 was June 6th. H-Hour is the beginning hour and minute of an operation. For the 29th, 1st and 4th Infantry Divisions H-Hour was 06.30 am, for the paratroopers 82nd and 101st H-Hour was 01.30 am on D-Day June 6th 1944.

«Two kinds of people are staying on this beach, the dead and those who are going to die now let's get the hell out of here» Col. George A. Taylor

Medal of honor in the cemetery and 1st id memorial, «we too born to freedom and believing in freedom are willing to fight to maintain freedom - we and all others who believe as deeply as we do would rather die on our feet than live on our knees» f.d. roosevelt 19 june 1941, ike head quarter on continent.

On April 27th 1944 was established the first Headquarter «SHARPENER» located at 0.8 mile from Southwick House, close by the huge SHAEF Camp «SHIPMATE». General Eisenhower stayed there from June 2nd to June 12th 1944.

Regarding the inland movement on the continent, it had been decided to establish an advance HQ in the village of Maison in-between Port-en-Bessin and Bayeux on D6 road. Maison was selected because of its immediate proximity with Longues Air Strip (B11) and Tour en Bessin Airstrip (A13) and also a midway position between Omaha and Gold Sectors. This CP will be operational from July 31st and will be referenced as CP12.

But it wasn't used by Eisenhower, only as a SHAEF transit camp in August 1944. It was decided to organize a new CP at Le Planitre near Molay Littry close by A9D, this camp will be use from August 5th but still not by Ike. Another one is activated on August 7th at Tournières, referenced as CP21 «SHELLBURST» where Ike welcomed Prime Minister Churchill, Gen. Montgommery, on August 20th Gen. De Gaulle with Gen. Koenig and many other celebrities. An airstrip was built in the next field. After the Saint-Lô breakthrough («Cobra» Operation) the SHAEF HQ was transferred near Grainville, on August 16th, Communication Service was established in the Hôtel Normandy, code-named «LIBERTY».

On September 15th the new Grand HQ was moved to Saint-Ouen at Jullouville. Almost 3000 people worked there, and on August 30th Ike stayed at Château Montgommery at Saint Jean le Thomas 4 miles away from Jullouville. On September 10th the Grand HQ was transferred to Versailles (Palace Trianon).

The D-Day tours with Omaha Beach

The parts of my books about omaha beach, battlefield guide book , chap. 4: tour a/c, omaha sector first wave, battlefield guide book , chap. 5: tour a, omaha sector, normandy travel: françois gauthron, wwii battlefields expert licensed guide.

François Gauthron is an official tour guide.

He has been guiding Battlefields for more than 15 years, Normandy is his region of birth.

More about François Gauthron

Read my books on line.

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Normandy guided D-Day tours, visit the D-Day landing beaches with us!

Bayeux Sightseeing Tours: Normandy D-Day tours from Bayeux for the best D-Day experience.

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Get the real d-day experience: normandy landing beaches.  tours from bayeux..

Want to know exactly what happened on D-Day? Learn everything about D-Day by visiting the famous invasion beaches, historic sites and war monuments. Book your private Normandy tours from Bayeux  or join a shared small group tour and let our passionate licensed Normandy tour guides take you back in time, to June 6th, 1944. See where everything took place, learn the facts and details and hear amazing stories told by our English speaking Normandy tour guides. Get up close and personal and relive this revolutionary day in history. Bayeux Sightseeing Tours offers the best Normandy D-Day tours from Bayeux  in the region for a great price! Check our itinerary  page to find out which sites you will visit on your D-Day tour.

Start your Normandy tours from Paris, Sainte Mere Eglise, Bayeux or other locations. We offer: half day, one-day and two-day Normandy invasion beaches tours.

Are you visiting from Paris , by cruise ship or are you traveling by car or train? At Bayeux Sightseeing Tours, we offer a variety of possible locations from where you can start your tours to normandy. Visit our information page if you want to know our pick-up locations or if you need advice on where to park or which hotel to book if you book tours to normandy from paris or elsewhere. Have you missed your train and will you be delayed? No need to worry, just call us and we will arrange a taxi or simply postpone your pick-up time. We will do whatever we can to make sure you enjoy your D-Day tour. Our   Normandy day tour from Paris or elsewhere can also be a half day or two day tour, depending on your needs and wishes. Our Normandy tours are available in January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November and December. We also offer private Normandy tours / excursions during the holidays. Normandy tour packages including accommodation can be arranged as well. With our Normandy guided tours you will visit the D-Day landing beaches ( Omaha beach , Utah beach , Gold beach ) and the Normandy D-Day drop zones in our comfortable 9- seater minivan / minibus. We have conducted Normandy tours from Bayeux , Paris and  Sainte Mere Eglise for every one: American, Canadian, British, Australian and all other enthusiasts.

Only the best is good enough for your Normandy landing beaches and D-Day experience.

All our D-Day Normandy tours have English speaking Normandy tour guides who are licensed, experienced and very passionate about WWII. Their interest in war history and their passion for D-Day, make our tours so interesting and enjoyable. Our 9- seater vans are comfortable and all have excellent audio systems, making sure that all commentary by our guides can be heard clearly by everyone. We will answer all your questions and tell you about this beatiful region of Normandy while traveling from one site to the other. For those who need to stay connected, our vehicles even include free onboard Wi-Fi! Bayeux Sightseeing Tours are 5-star rated by Tripadvisor and offer the best Normandy D-Day tours in the area. We offer a wide variety of Normandy D-Day tours , so you can always get the D-Day experience you want. Book your Normandy landing beaches tour with us to be shure to get the most out of your visit!

Our Normandy D-Day tours

Special winter offer - private tour 495 euro, private d-day tour from bayeux, paris or sainte mère église, shared group d-day tour from bayeux, paris or sainte mère église, two - day guided private d-day tour, three - day normandy landing beaches tour. us, british and canadian sector, june 6th 2024 exclusive normandy d-day tour: 80th d-day anniversary., half day private d-day tour, famous movie sites normandy d-day tour: the longest day, saving private ryan & band of brothers., private d-day tour starting from your cruise ship terminal.

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DESTINATION: WWII

A World War II Travel Blog

The 8 Best Normandy Tours from Paris in 2024: D-Day in a Day

Last Updated: July 6, 2024 //  by  Ashley Smith 8 Comments

There’s so much WWII history to see in Normandy, but when you’re short on time these Normandy tours from Paris can help you make the most of your visit to Normandy’s D-Day sites.

Table of Contents

Why take Normandy tours from Paris?

While it would be great if we could all spend weeks driving around Normandy exploring the fascinating museums and historic landing beaches , that’s mostly just a dream. Instead, these tours are great options for when you really want to visit Normandy’s D-Day sites but don’t have a lot of time, money, or know-how.  

With these tours, you can still visit some of the top D-Day sites , get expert commentary on the D-Day invasion and other events that took place there, and have someone else take care of all the logistics and planning for you. You won’t have to book a hotel, rent a car, worry about schedules, or keep wondering what the heck it is you’re looking at.  

This post is only for Normandy tours originating from Paris that have you arriving back in Paris at the end. If you’ll already be in Normandy and thus looking for tours that start in Bayeux, Caen, or Le Havre, check out my post on the best local Normandy D-Day tours here.

Choosing the best Normandy tours from Paris

But which tours are the best? Which ones go to the right places and cover the most ground? Luckily, you have a World War II and travel expert at your disposal (hey there!) who’s also quite adept at traveling on a time budget. Let’s just say, day trips are my bread and butter. (I’m also a professional tour guide btw!)

I haven’t taken all the tours on this list, but I do have a keen sense of what the average Normandy visitor wants from a D-Day day tour. To create this list, I’ve compared all the available tours (there are a lot) against my stringent set of criteria. I’ve taken into account things like:

• Customer rating and popularity
• Length of tour and start/end times
• Overall benefit
• Topic/focus of the tour
• Ease of logistics

…and more. All so you can be sure which of the Normandy tours from Paris is the most worth your time and money. I’ve only chosen English-language tours and all prices in this post are in U.S. dollars.

So how do I choose the best D-Day tours in Normandy? Well, I’m very particular when it comes to booking travel—be it hotel rooms , flights, or guided tours. I’ll never recommend anything that’s rated lower than 4 out of 5 stars, anything with no reviews, or run by a company that doesn’t even look reputable. As always, I only recommend the things I would personally book for myself.

And for your time in Paris, don’t miss all the fascinating WWII sites in Paris ; there are many museums, memorials, and more to check out here.

My favorite tour companies for day trips

My go-to tour companies are Viator and Get Your Guide . I’ve booked many tours through these companies and have always been satisfied. They’re both well-known in the travel community (Viator is owned by TripAdvisor actually); booking through them is quick and easy; most tours offer free cancelation and/or “reserve now, pay later;” and their rates are more than reasonable. A day trip to Normandy from Paris the no-nonsense way, basically.

I’ve also taken into account the more boutique tour offerings from top-rated independent and local tour operators. My highly critical requirements still apply here. So, let’s get to it! All things considered, these are the best Normandy tours from Paris in 2024 to learn about the events of 1944.

If you want to know more about each of the sites and museums in this post, check out my articles on what to see at each of the five Allied landing beaches: Utah Beach , Omaha Beach , Gold Beach , Juno Beach , Sword Beach .

Best Normandy tours from Paris: at a glance

In this post I’ll dig into all the best Normandy tours from Paris. I’ll tell you why I picked them, what makes them one of the ‘best,’ what they include (and what they don’t), and more. But first, here’s a brief look at the top D-Day tours in Normandy:

• Best overall : Normandy D-Day Small-Group Day Trip from Paris w/ Cider Tasting
• Most popular : Normandy D-Day Beaches and American Cemetery Day Trip from Paris
• Best private tour : Normandy D-Day Private Full-Day Tour from Paris

Best private tour on a budget : D-Day Beaches Private Tour from Paris w/ Igor Rosen

• Best luxury tour : Normandy Battlefields D-Day Private Trip with VIP Services
• Best value tour : Normandy D-Day Landing Beaches Tour by Gray Line
• Best overnight tour : Normandy 2-Day Discovery Trip from Paris
• NEW! Most popular among my readers: Normandy D-Day Small-Group Day Trip w/ Cider Tasting

That’s the simple list; now let’s dig deeper into which of these Normandy tours from Paris is going to be the best for you .

1. Best overall Normandy Day Tour from Paris

My pick for best overall : Normandy D-Day Small-Group Day Trip from Paris (w/ Cider Tasting)

Okay, while it may seem weird that my top pick includes a cider tasting of all things, here me out. I picked this one as the best overall Normandy tour from Paris because it has the 3 things I look for most in tours: small group tour (maximum 8 people), a 5-star rating and tons of reviews, and the best combination of stops out of all the tour options.

What you’ll see on this tour

This tour includes stops at:

• Omaha Beach
• The Overlord Museum
• The German battery at Longues-sur-Mer
• The cliffs and German bunkers at Pointe du Hoc
• The Normandy American Cemetery at Colleville-sur-Mer

Of all the Normandy tours from Paris, this one includes 3 stops I feel everyone visiting Normandy for the first time must visit . (Please visit the American Cemetery, walk in the sands of Omaha Beach, and see the cliffs at Pointe du Hoc if you can.) Sadly, not all tours cover these sites.

This tour and these stops are perfect for first-time visitors who want to get a sampling of the best sites related to Operation Overlord and an overall impression of what the Normandy region is like today. This tour is great for those visitors who want to visit historic Normandy but don’t need a week-long battlefield engagement to get the picture.

To get more information on these and other sites you can visit on these tours, check out my post on the best D-Day sites .

I love small-group tours because of the individual attention each visitor receives and it’s just a more enjoyable experience for everyone. This tour also has a 5-star rating after almost 1,700+ reviews which says a lot! Reviewers’ favorite aspects of the tour are the excellent tour guides and the stress-free-ness of the whole experience. (How travel should be!)

What this tour includes

This 13-hour full-day trip includes:

• Roundtrip transportation from Paris
• An expert guide and driver
• Entrance fees to the Overlord Museum and skip-the-line guarantee
• The option to reserve now and pay later
• Free cancelation up to 24 hours before the tour
• And yes, a cider tasting at a local orchard for what it’s worth!

It  does not include  gratuities for the guide and driver, lunch (there will be a stop for lunch but your meal is at your own cost), or hotel pick-up and drop-off. Instead, you’ll meet the guide at a meeting point in central Paris, as is common with these kinds of group tours. (In this case, it’s near the Arc de Triomphe.)

How much this tour costs

As of July 2024, this tour is offered 7 days a week and costs $270.65 per person . All things considered, I feel this is a great value for everything this tour includes, especially based on all the positive reviews. I would absolutely book this tour for myself.

Honorable mention

There is a similar tour to the one above that also includes a cider and calvados tasting + a 2-course lunch. However, I felt the one I chose above stops at better sites. If you’d like to compare the two yourself or are particularly interested in trying Normandy’s famous apple brandy, check out this tour .

2. Most popular Normandy day trip from Paris

The most popular D-Day tour from Paris : Normandy D-Day Beaches and American Cemetery Day Trip from Paris

I have to admit I almost chose this one as best overall, but it was missing something I felt was super important: a stop at Pointe du Hoc. Otherwise, this is an excellent tour I would readily book for myself.

This tour has a 4.5-star rating and over 2,300 reviews ! It’s the most popular of all the Normandy tours from Paris by a long shot. Most of the reviews praise the tour’s knowledgeable and enthusiastic tour guide as well as the great driver.  

What you’ll see on this tour

This  full-day trip from Paris  stops at many of the key points in Normandy including:

• The Normandy American Cemetery
• Arromanches les Bains
• The Arromanches 360° Museum

A stop at Arromanches les Bains to see the remains of the Mulberry Harbors is the one thing that’s missing from the No. 1 tour on this list. Arromanches is a worthwhile and unforgettable location I highly recommend you check out.

This most popular tour includes:

• A professional driver and licensed guide/expert on the events of June 6, 1944
• Admission to the Arromanches 360° museum
• And free cancelation up to 24 hours before the tour

It does not include gratuities, lunch (though you will have free time in Arromanches to get lunch on your own), or hotel pick-up and drop-off. (This tour’s meeting spot is near the Eiffel Tower.)

As of July 2024, this tour costs between $179.78 and  $212 per person (depending on your chosen date). That means this Paris tour to Normandy is one of the most budget-friendly options as well. (It’s not  super  cheap of course, but it definitely costs less than most other tours and still hits many of the must-see locations.) All-in-all,  a great value in my opinion .

What to know about this tour

There is one thing you should know about this tour before you book it. This isn’t necessarily a deal breaker, but there’s a reason this tour is cheaper than the others and why I didn’t pick it as Best Overall.

This is not a small-group tour. They will take a maximum of 45 people on this tour. Again, this isn’t a deal breaker, but it just means you’ll likely receive less individualized attention and have to walk through these locations as a herd. Not ideal, but not bad for the price either.

3. Best private Normandy tour from Paris

My pick for best private tour : Normandy D-Day Private Full-Day Tour from Paris

If you’d prefer a private tour over spending your Normandy tours from Paris with a busload of people, there are options for that too! This tour has nothing but rave 5-star reviews , accommodates a maximum of 7 people , and lasts the standard 13 hours. Everyone loves the super knowledgeable, friendly, and accommodating guides.

This full-day tour visits many of the best D-Day sites in Normandy as-is, but remember you can customize it too. Out of the box, this tour stops at :

• Pointe du Hoc
• Normandy American Cemetery
• Pegasus Bridge

Most of these stops are actually all on my shortlist of must-see D-Day sites in Normandy, so that’s a huge plus. You’ll definitely leave this tour feeling like you saw everything you came to see!

This awesome private D-Day invasion tour includes:

• Roundtrip transportation from Paris in your own deluxe private vehicle with pickup and dropoff at your hotel or other location of your choosing
• A scenic lunch stop in a beautiful fishing village
• An expert, local, independent guide
• Documents, photos, and maps to help you understand the destination’s history
• A highly personalized experience

It does not include the cost of lunch.

As of July 2024, this tour costs $2,430 for a group of up to 7 people . (So, for 7 people that would be $347 pp; for 6 people $405 pp; for 5 people $486 pp; for 4 people $608 pp; for 3 people $810 pp; for 2 people $1215 pp; and if you’re coming by yourself, I think you can do the math there.)

While this is considerably more than the first two Normandy tours from Paris, it’s important to remember this tour is 100% private and personalized . Your small group has its own car and expert guide; you’ll be able to get so much more out of each destination by being able to ask questions, going where you want, and not having to wait for the entire group to gather.

People are always asking me for the best private and personalized Normandy tours and I’m totally going to recommend this one from now on. (This tour is offered every day of the week.)

4. Best private Normandy tour from Paris on a budget

UPDATE : In 2023, this tour was a fantastic budget private tour option. But for 2024 he has nearly tripled the price of this tour so I’m no longer recommending it as a budget option, obviously.

That being said, he has changed the tour a little bit to add stops at Omaha Beach and (maybe) the battery at Longues-sur-Mer. So, I’m going to leave it here as an option for you to check out, and I’ll continue to monitor it to see if the price goes back down to a more reasonable number (because WOW).

• The Pegasus Bridge
• and possibly the German battery at Longues-sur-Mer (It’s listed in the summary but not in the more detailed description.)

A stop at the Pegasus Bridge is new on this list and I appreciate that this tour deviates from the norm while still hitting some must-see spots. This would also be a great tour option for Canadian visitors.

This full-day Normandy tour from Paris includes:

• Roundtrip transportation from Paris in your own private vehicle
• Hotel pick-up and drop-off
• Digital resources to use during the trip
• All entrance fees (even though everything on this list is free, but I guess in case anything pops up)
• Water and snacks during your drive to the coast of Normandy
• An English audio guide as well

Like the rest, this tour does not include lunch, though a lunch stop will be made.

As of July 2024, this tour costs $2,384.69 for a group of up to 6 people . And because this tour is offered through Get Your Guide, it also includes the option to reserve now and pay later, as well as free cancelation up to 24 hours before the tour.

Important note : This tour has limited availability and books up fast . Last year many of the dates were already limited by April.

5. Best luxury tour to Normandy from Paris

My pick for best luxury tour : Normandy Battlefields D-Day Private Trip with VIP Services

If too much travel has got you down, why not indulge a little with this private luxury tour of the Normandy D-Day sites from Paris? Another tour with a 5-star rating , reviewers can’t stop raving about the passionate and knowledgeable guides and all the little ways they went above and beyond.

This tour is offered every day of the week and has a maximum of 8 people. The transportation is even wheelchair accessible. (A rarity among Normandy tours from Paris!)

With a focus on American troops , you’ll visit four of the most unforgettable D-Day sites:

This is the standard itinerary for this 13-hour tour but because this is a private tour it can be customized as you wish. (Maybe ask if you can swing by the German battery at Longues-sur-Mer while you’re in the area!)

This private luxury Normandy tour from Paris includes:

• Private transportation for your group
• Hotel pick-up and drop-off in Paris
• All fees and taxes
• Wi-Fi for the drive to Normandy and back
• Expert guide

Like the others, it does not include the cost of lunch or any gratuities.

As of July 2024, this tour costs between $1687 and $1890 per group, depending on the size of your group (maximum 8 people). If you go it alone, you’ll pay the full $1687. For 2 people, you’ll pay $843 each. Three people will pay $572 each; etc. (Adjust the number of people in the availability box to see the price change.)

Because this is a Viator tour, you have the option to reserve now and pay later, as well as the benefit of free cancelation up to 24 hours before the tour.

6. Best value tour of Normandy from Paris

My pick for best value tour : Normandy D-Day Landing Beaches Tour by Gray Line

If you want to get the most for your money on a Normandy tour from Paris, check out this option from Gray Line. It has excellent reviews —the guides and drivers receive the highest marks—and stops at only the most famous Normandy spots . It also includes things none of the other tours do!

On your Gray Line Normandy tour from Paris you’ll stop at the following places :

• Caen Memorial Museum

One thing I want to point out is the fact that this is the only tour I’ve found that visits the Caen Memorial Museum . The Caen Memorial is said to be one of the best World War II museums in Europe and I don’t disagree. Visiting this museum was a huge highlight of my own time in Normandy so I’m glad to see at least one tour stop here.

This best deal of a tour includes the following:

• Roundtrip transportation from Paris on a comfortable and air-conditioned bus
• Entrance tickets to the Caen Memorial
• And a 3-course lunch with drinks

It includes lunch! This is a first as far as Normandy day tours from Paris go. It does not include gratuities or hotel pick-up and drop-off though.

As of July 2024, this tour costs $200 per person (that’s actually less than last year!) and includes free cancelation up to 24 hours before the tour.

Gray Line tours

I’ve taken a number of Gray Line tours (mostly in Iceland ) and have found them all perfectly enjoyable. Basic, but always worthwhile.

This tour does not clarify how many people will be on the tour, but Gray Line tours typically serve large groups on large coaches, so it’s not exactly intimate. But for the deal you’re getting here, it’s all about compromise.

7. Best overnight Normandy tour from Paris

My pick for best overnight tour : Normandy 2-Day Discovery Trip from Paris

If you do have the time to spare and want to get a little more out of your Normandy tour from Paris, check out this option which includes a visit to everyone’s favorite Normandy and Brittany attractions. It has all 4 and 5-star reviews and is a pretty good deal for two days’ worth of touring.

On the first day of this 2-day tour of Normandy you’ll visit:

• The towns of Rouen and Honfleur and their most notable spots
• The newly renovated Musée du Debarquement in Arromanches

On the second day you’ll visit:

• The beautiful town of Saint-Malo
• And you’ll spend most of your 2nd day exploring the iconic village and historic abbey of Mont Saint-Michel.

You’ll love Saint-Malo if you’re a fan of the Pulitzer Prize winning novel All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doer. (And/or the new Netflix series based on the book .) This is one of my favorite books of all time and this beautiful World War II novel is set right here in Saint Malo. Visiting Saint Malo was a huge treat for me! Plus, it’s a very cool historic town regardless.

Likewise, so is Mont Saint-Michel, one of the most famous and iconic “attractions” in all of France . Visiting this place was unforgettable and I know it will be for you too.

This 2-day tour of Normandy from Paris includes:

• Professional guide and driver
• Entrance tickets to the attractions visited
• An overnight stay in a 4-star hotel in Caen
• Dinner the first night and breakfast the next morning

It does not include lunch on either day, hotel pick-up and drop-off, or gratuities.

As of July 2024, this 2-day tour of Normandy from Paris costs $628 per person which, considering everything you get on this tour, is probably the best deal out there.

Because of the nature of this tour (needing to reserve hotel rooms and whatnot), it includes free cancelation only up to 7 days before the tour. This tour is also offered in Spanish and only available for booking on Thursdays and Saturdays.  

8. Most popular among my readers (New category!)

My readers’ pick for best Normandy tour from Paris: Normandy D-Day Small-Group Day Trip w/ Cider Tasting

This is a new category I’ve added for 2024. Since this post is about a year old, I’ve had the pleasure of learning about which of the many Normandy tours from Paris my readers have booked and enjoyed the most. This is the one that was most-booked by Destination: WWII readers in 2023.

The same tour that I recommend as the Best Overall is also the one that my readers loved the most. (By a mile actually!) So head back up to #1 on this list for the full tour description or just book it now: Normandy D-Day Small-Group Day Trip w/ Cider Tasting .

The runners up

If you’re curious, there are two other Normandy tours from Paris that stand out among the rest as favorites of my readers. The two others that people booked the most last year are:

2 nd Place: Normandy D-Day Beaches and American Cemetery Day Trip from Paris

As one of the most budget-friendly Normandy tours from Paris, I’m not at all surprised that this one is also quite popular. (In fact, it’s also #2 on this list for ‘most popular.’)

3 rd Place: Normandy D-Day Landing Beaches Day Trip with Cider Tasting & Lunch from Paris

This is the one I listed as an ‘Honorable Mention’ under #1 on this list—it’s definitely a great alternative to the one I dubbed Best Overall.

6 things to remember when looking at Normandy tours from Paris

When shopping around for Normandy tours from Paris, here are a few key things you’ll want to keep in mind.

1. Tour accessibility

Keep in mind that not all transportation offered is going to accessible for persons with disabilities. Some are; most aren’t. If it doesn’t say so in the listing though, reach out to them for more information. They may be able to accommodate you after all or at least give you more of an idea of what to expect so you can decide if the tour is right for you.

2. Drive time

Know that the trip between Paris and the D-Day sites in Normandy is going to be around 3-4 hours each way through the French countryside. This is a long time to be en route, so prepare for it.

Most tours will provide commentary on the sights you’re going to see, the area’s history, etc. Some may even play movies if they have the ability to do so. Regardless, plan to bring a book to read or download some movies ahead of time.

3. Where to buy souvenirs

Almost all museums in the Normandy area have at least small gift shops. Some, like the Caen Memorial, have massive ones. Otherwise, the town center in Arromanches les Bains has lots of gift shops where you can buy souvenirs.

4. Always arrive early

Unless you’re taking one of the private tours, always be sure to arrive to the meeting point at least 15 minutes early. And even allow extra time for getting there since the meeting points in Paris city center tend to be near popular monuments. Don’t underestimate how long it takes just to get across town.

5. Make sure it leaves from Paris

If you seek out other Normandy tours from Paris that aren’t mentioned here, be careful to note if it does in fact leave from Paris .

Many Normandy tours say “from Paris” in the description, but aren’t actually Paris tours at all. For instance, many of the tours that originate in Bayeux (which is already in Normandy) will say “from Paris” because they expect you to take the train from Paris to Bayeux where you’ll start your tour at 8:00am. Then after your tour in the late afternoon you’ll have to get yourself back to Paris.

I find this entirely manipulative and I can’t stand it, but I digress. Before you book a tour, be 100% sure it includes roundtrip transportation from and back to Paris.

6. Take lots of photos but…

As always, you can (and should) take lots of photos on your trip from Paris to Normandy. However, please refrain from selfies or inappropriate pictures at Normandy’s D-Day sites.

Yes, I’ve seen a father and son take ridiculous jumping photos at Normandy American Cemetery. (They also played a game of tag while running in and out of the headstones.) Yes, I’ve also seen women posing for sexy photos at war memorials. Get. A. Clue. Pay your respects, above all else.

Maybe now would be a good time to tell you to read this post on visiting WWII sites with kids .

What to pack for your Paris to Normandy day tour

When packing for your trip to France, be sure to keep these items in your travel checklist:

Comfortable shoes – There’s going to be a lot of walking on your Normandy tour; be sure to pack some comfortable walking shoes.

Unique WWII travel gear from the DWWII shop – There are lots of great D-Day items in the shop like t-shirts ( this is the best-seller! ), passport wallets, and more. (I donate a portion of all sales to a designated WWII charity each year.)

Refillable water bottle – It’s also going to be a very long day so make sure you stay hydrated.

European plug adapter – Whether or not you’ll be staying overnight, there’s a good chance you’ll need to charge your phone at some point. And you won’t be able to do it without a plug adapter.

Sunglasses and sunscreen – Especially if your tour from Paris to Normandy will be during the summer.

Anti-theft purse – Petty theft is common in Europe and especially in Paris. Keep yourself and your valuables safe with an anti-theft purse. These are the only kinds of purses I use when I travel. I have bags from both Travelon and PacSafe .

France customs and culture guide – I get one of these pocket-sized Culture Smart books for every new country I visit.

Movies and/or books for the road – Might I suggest:

• Saving Private Ryan
• The Longest Day
• Band of Brothers

Or these books:

• All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr
• Band of Brothers by Stephen Ambrose
• Six Armies in Normandy by John Keegan

Other Normandy tours from Paris

If you have questions about other Normandy tours from Paris that I didn’t cover in this post, let me know! I’ve examined all of them . So if you find one you’re curious about, leave a comment below and I’ll tell you why it didn’t make the list .

More info for your Normandy D-Day trip

• Hotels:  Read reviews and find great places to stay here on Booking.com (my personal favorite). Hotels.com and Expedia usually have good deals too though.
• Save lots of money and time  by getting some  Paris GoCity passes .
• Rental cars:  Check out the  best deals in Paris here.
• For more tours in Paris,  check out the great options from  Viator  and  Get Your Guide .
• Don’t forget a   Paris guidebook  and this must-have  France customs and culture guide !

Have a great time on your tour of Normandy! I hope I’ve made planning it a little easier for you.

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About Ashley Smith

Ashley is a World War II historian and travel expert who has visited 39 countries. She specializes in quick trips throughout Europe and the Americas with a focus on World War II museums, memorials, battlefields, and other sites of interest. Originally from Memphis, TN, she currently lives in Boston with her husband and two feline commanders.

Reader Interactions

June 5, 2023 at 1:35 pm

A friend had suggested we visit Normandy during our European vacation. We moved our days around to have 2 nights in Paris so we could do an all day tour of Normandy. I enjoyed your blog and found it very helpful. However, I wanted to provide you information on one of the tours because it was not as they advertised – the Gray Line. And I know you said you had not been on the tour so I wanted to tell you from experience and so you can update your information.

The items and details of the Gray Line that were advertised were not correct and false advertising. We did not visit the memorial of Caen, nor did we stop at Point du Hoc, lunch was not included, and we did not visit Juno Beach.

I was surprised to find out upon arrival, this was not a Gray Line tour but was the same tour sold on the various travel websites at a price less than my paid price and with the others providing a correct description of the tour. I was misled with the highlights and itinerary that Gray Line post on their booking website. The tour guide was in a uncomfortable situation when he realized that I was sold items that were not planned for this tour and I was question him. The tour that GrayLine is selling is the same one listed cheaper as on Viator and Get Your Guide. The tour guide said those are the best place to book because their description is up to date. The tour Gray Line is selling is no longer offered but they keep selling it and then sending the customers on the other tours. People on the bus with me had booked on Viator and Getyourguide at a cheaper rate and with correct expectations.

June 5, 2023 at 3:30 pm

Hi Amy! Thank you so, so much for your feedback! I will definitely look into that and make the necessary changes in this post. Can I ask… where did you go then, if not those sites? I hope you were able to at least get some enjoyment out of the experience.

June 5, 2023 at 4:17 pm

We had 15 minutes at Ohama, 40 minutes at the American cementary, 1 hour and 15 minutes to eat lunch at Gold Beach and look around, 40 minutes at Arromanches les Bain where they had us watch a 20 minute movie (recommend skipping it to walk around – other documentaries provide much more insight) and then our tour guide added on Longues sur Mer for 15 minutes. Several of us had shown him what we were sold (others bought from different company with lots of stops listed that were not going to be visited as well). It was nice to quickly see some places but now we feel as though we need to come back to really experience it and stay for several days.

June 6, 2023 at 8:14 am

That’s unfortunate you missed Caen and Pointe du Hoc but at least you got to go to some of the best sites! But yes – that was definitely just a sample and now you know Normandy may be worth more of your time someday!

November 22, 2023 at 12:48 pm

Ashley, We are looking at the private trip from Paris to Normandy. It is thru Tripadvisor. the name of the trip is NormandyD-Day Private tour with Omah Beach from Paris. the cost of the trip is $1127.75 per person. It sounds like a good trip shows all the stops and how long you are there.

Thank you – Tammy

November 29, 2023 at 10:38 am

Hi Tammy, thanks for letting me know! I’ll give that one a look. 🙂

January 15, 2024 at 12:20 pm

Thanks so much for all of this information, it is so helpful. We are planning a trip in April and I’m deciding between one of your top two and the one linked below. It picks up and drops off at the train station in Bayeaux. It looks like it hits a lot of different spots and would love your thoughts before booking.

https://www.overlordtour.com/product/tour-2fs-omaha-utah-full-day-tour-week-days-only/

January 17, 2024 at 10:08 am

Hi Michael! About the Overlord tour: Before I’ve even read the details I’m already turned off. They call it a “full day round trip from Paris” tour which we both know it is not, and as a consumer I really don’t appreciate the manipulative description.

Then, they use the first couple paragraphs to only vaguely tell you how to get there, and to absolve themselves of any snafus. (When a tour description starts with the company absolving themselves of any responsibility instead of actually describing the tour, my alarm bells go off!) And it seems like there’s a high chance of snafus as well. You only have one train option—the earliest train—and there’s a quick train change in Caen. If you’ve traveled a lot by train in Europe, you may be totally comfortable doing this. But still, if there’s any sort of delay and you miss either the first train or the connection, you’re out of a tour and out your money. It just seems like there’s too much room for error here. This is why, for those looking to take a tour from Paris and back, I prefer the tours that take you to Normandy all the way from Paris on their own transportation. This eliminates (almost) all undue stress and the possibility of missing the tour but still having to pay for it. BUT… if the benefit of what the tour offers greatly outweighs the stress of getting yourself there from Paris, it may be worth the extra trouble. So let’s see…

It does visit some of the major spots like Omaha and Utah Beaches, the American cemetery, Pointe du Hoc, and Saint-Mère-Église, so that’s good. The rest of the tour visits a lot of more obscure sites and sites where there really isn’t much to “see.” Whether or not these will be of interest to you will have a lot to do with how interested you are in the topics and how good of a listener you are. 🙂 I imagine at these spots, it’ll be a lot of story-telling and having to use your imagination. Something else worth noting is that some of them (like the La Colombière Hospital and General Taylor’s Headquarters in Hiesville) are privately owned and therefore you’ll likely only pass by them to view from the road. (Which is probably how they manage to squeeze in so many sights into just one day.)

If you want to visit some of the more obscure battle sites and hear these particular stories, and you’re well-versed at train travel in Europe, then this would probably be an enjoyable tour for you! If you don’t feel super comfortable using the train system, have doubts about actually being able to make it there on time, or would rather see some of the more well-known and recognizable historical sites, you’d probably be happier with one of the other two that you were looking at.

For me personally, I would pass on the Overlord Tour, but this is just what I would personally do. I’m extremely experienced in European train travel and feel totally comfortable doing this, but if I’m going to pay for a round-trip tour from Paris, I want to be taken there from Paris and not have to deal with the stress of train travel. Eliminating the stress and unpredictability of transportation is a large part of the reason I, and most other people, opt for joining a tour in the first place. If this company has the means to drive your group all around Normandy to these different locations, they also then have the means to pick you up in Paris, they just choose not to (but charge you the same amount).

However, that being said, this company is well-known and has loads of rave reviews, so it appears they have (almost) nothing but satisfied customers. (Don’t forget to read the negative reviews too to see what particular issues they had problems with.) Another thing they have going for them over the other tours is that they probably have better/more knowledgeable tour guides that specialize in WWII topics. Some of the other tour companies are just “tour companies” who hire guides. This company is specifically centered around World War II and D-Day tours and (I hope) hires guides especially proficient in these topics.

So again, it really depends on how in depth of a D-Day tour you want. Do you want all the detailed historical information? (And are you already well-versed on the events?) Or do you simply want an overview of the events and to visit some of the locations you’ve heard about your whole life? Also note that the Overlord tour only takes place during the week, so if you’re planning to visit on a weekend, your choice may have just been made for you. 🙂

I hope that helps! Whichever tour you choose, I hope you have an incredible time in Normandy, Michael! And thank you for the kind words, it means a lot to me!

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Our first-class historical tours take you on a journey through iconic World War II sites around Europe, as well as the most emblematic moments of American heroism of the time. From the Normandy beaches to Bastogne and the Bavarian Alps we guide you through the significant events and experiences of the war that changed the world. Band of Brothers Tour is a registered brand and protected trademark in the European Union by Beaches of Normandy Tours.

The first days of the tour dive into all five landing beaches, with a special focus on the American landing sectors. We then head east through the Ardennes to Belgium, where passengers can crouch in the foxholes of Bois Jacques and learn about the vehicles that defined the Allied war effort during the Battle of the Bulge and the Siege of Bastogne. Our journey ends in Germany, where we learn about the context of the Nazi regime, a sobering visit to the very first concentration camp of Dachau and we top off the tour with a day trip to the Bavarian Alps, where we visit the famous Eagle's Nest on top of the Kehlstein mountain.

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Trip to Normandy gives Olympic wrestler new perspective on what great-grandfather endured

C OLLEVILLE-SUR-MER, France — He paused to take a picture by the reflecting pool lined with well-groomed trees and walked past a flagpole flying an American flag high in the air.

At one of the first headstones he came to, a white marble cross about waist-high in the 11th row of Plot B at Normandy American Cemetery, Mason Parris stopped to study the name inscribed on its back.

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Parris perused the names on other headstones as he strolled somberly across the grass.

He snapped a photo of the gold lettering on the headstone of Theodore Roosevelt Jr., the Brigadier General and son of former president Teddy Roosevelt, who died fighting in World War II, then walked to the chapel, said a quiet prayer “and just thanked all those guys for the sacrifices.”

“It’s so beautiful out here right now,” Parris said later as he sat atop a wall high above Omaha Beach overlooking the English Channel. “But I can only imagine the terrors and everything that happened on that day.”

Eighty years ago, on June 6, 1944, Parris’ great-grandfather, Vemont Marqua, experienced those terrors firsthand.

Marqua was part of the D-Day invasion of Normandy, when more than 150,000 Allied troops landed at five beachheads in northern France to start the end of World War II.

Last Tuesday, 10 days before he was set to wrestle in the biggest event of his life, Parris, an Olympic medal hopeful at 125 kg, joined four of his freestyle teammates and about two dozen other members of USA Wrestling on a day trip to Normandy from the team’s acclimation camp an hour east at Centre Sportif de Normandie in the picturesque town of Houlgate.

Two days after the Greco-Roman team took a similar tour, Parris and his teammates bused to Point du Hoc, the bluff that was home to a German command center on D-Day, then visited Omaha Beach on their way to the cemetery.

Parris, dressed in a white “United States of America” T-shirt and black Nike shorts, carried a black-and-white photograph of his great-grandfather in his backpack. His mother gave him the picture, which was displayed for years in his Lawrenceburg, Indiana, home, before he left and she asked him to take a photo with it on the beach.

Parris posed for pictures with the old photograph for USA TODAY, then put the print in the sand.

“Definitely symbolically letting him touch that sand, be there again,” Parris said.

“I mean for me it was honoring him and just representing the things that he’s done and the sacrifices that he’s made for being my family,” Parris said. “I’m really glad that he was able to make it back alive. I don’t know if things would have been differently, if I would be here or not if he didn’t make it back. It’s great just being able to honor him and things that he and his brothers did for me.”

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A hero’s tale

Parris never met his great-grandfather, who died of cancer 20 years before he was born. And his mother, Shay Parris, said her grandpa never talked much about his time in the Army.

But Marqua’s name and history live on in newspaper clippings and World War II artifacts he brought home.

The family has a spiked German war helmet, iron cross and silk from a parachute it labeled in a scrap book as being shot down at Gela Beach, Italy, in 1943. They kept a letter he sent his brother from Sicily dated Aug. 21 of the same year, and a poem Marqua wrote from the battlefield titled, “Little Letter to God.” To this day, Parris’ grandmother still keeps a framed letter on the wall that Marqua wrote her when she was a little girl.

In the letter, Marqua, who was deployed overseas around the time she was born and didn’t return until she was 4, used sketches to convey some words and wrote he would catch a boat to see her “when the Germans stop the (bombing). That will B when all of them R (dead).” He drew a picture of a body covered with dirt to illustrate the last word.

The letter was dated March 25, 1945, less than two months before Germany surrendered.

“My mom said he never really talked about it and she never asked any questions, really,” Shay Parris said. “But she was born in ’41, so he didn’t see her until I think she was 4 or 5. Crazy.

“She just remembers when he came back and that she was calling her grandfather at the time her dad, so it took a while for him to get used to her and she said he always said it broke his heart that he wasn’t there for the first four years.”

Mason said he thinks his great-grandfather served in the 1st Infantry Division of the Army that was part of the group that stormed Omaha Beach on D-Day. A newspaper clipping from the Cincinnati Enquirer has helped fill in the blanks.

The article says Marqua fought in the African, Sicilian and Tunisian campaigns, “will be in Germany with the First Army” in 1945, and “was sent to England and landed in Normandy on D-Day.” He received the Presidential Citation for volunteering for extra duty on D-Day and was commissioned a second lieutenant in July 1944, according to the clipping.

Parris said he called his mother and grandmother to learn more about his great-grandfather before last week's trip and found out Marqua was a devout Catholic and excellent artist who was nicknamed “Frenchie” — his parents were born in France — and could “whittle a bar of soap (into) anything that you could ask for.”

“It’s amazing to be at the same beach that my great-grandfather was and just all the history that's here, and it just makes me really proud of him and his brothers that came over here and fought for my freedom that allow me to go out and compete in the Olympics 80 years later,” Parris said. “It's just super, super amazing and super exciting for me that the things that they did for me to be able to freely be over here now.”

'An amazing and awesome destiny'

Wrestling at the Olympics begins Monday with qualification matches for both Greco-Roman and women’s freestyle, and Parris will head to Paris this week to try and bring the U.S. its second straight gold at 125 kg.

Parris is the No. 3 seed in his weight class behind Iran’s Amir Hossein Zare and Georgia’s Geno Petriashvili. Gable Steveson, the gold medal winner in Tokyo at 125 kg, did not attend U.S. Olympic trials this spring and is currently in training camp with the Buffalo Bills .

Parris, the 2023 Hodge Trophy winner as the best collegiate wrestler after an undefeated senior season at Michigan, said he feels “the best I’ve ever felt in my life” heading into competition. His personal coach Josh Churella, a Michigan assistant, said trips like the one to Normandy help keep him in the right frame of mind.

“It brings it in perspective that they get to do what they love to do on a daily basis and if it wasn’t for the men that sacrificed their lives like the ones that did here, none of this would be possible,” Churella said. “I think at the end you know it’s just a sport, it’s not life or death, it’s a little different. Obviously when you’re in it, it’s your whole world, but I think this is a great time where we can see what that perspective is, and I think if anything it just gives you extra motivation the next couple weeks.”

That goes for Parris and other members of the U.S. team that made the trip to Normandy: Zain Retherford (65 kg), Kyle Dake (74 kg), Aaron Brooks (86 kg) and Kyle Snyder (97 kg).

At Omaha Beach, Dake picked up a rock and wrote “K Dake” in the sand.

“You come here and it just feels different,” Dake said. “It doesn't feel like a normal beach. And really, I think the biggest thing was I just wanted to touch the sand. Just feel it. What did it - it feels normal, but you kind of put a different emotion behind it. I could draw my name in on a million beaches and it would never be like this.”

Parris’ parents have found inspiration in the serendipity of his journey: His last name sounds like the name of the city he’s about to compete in. He’s 24 and it’s the year 2024. And, of course, that his first Olympics are in the same country his great-grandfather helped preserve 80 years ago.

Parris called it “an amazing and awesome destiny that 80 years later I’m here in the same area that he was to kind of feel and honor him and his brothers, the service that they put in.”

“I think everything’s just kind of aligned perfectly for me,” he said. “It’s kind of all converged at once. I’m here, over here in Paris and I also have history with my great-grandfather, and I think everything happens for a reason and I think this just gave me another great reason just to be over here and be able to honor him – him and his brothers. So it’s been an amazing experience.”

Contact Dave Birkett at  [email protected] . Follow him on X and Instagram at  @davebirkett.

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trip to Normandy gives Olympic wrestler new perspective on what great-grandfather endured