3 Days in Normandy ! Your Licensed English Speaking Guide will pick you up from your hotel in Paris at 7.00 am in a deluxe private vehicle and you will depart immediately to the wonderful region of Normandy. Upon your arrival, you will be given an introduction by your private guide to the battle of Normandy. The itinerary on this private tour is flexible, however all entrance fees are at your own expense. Hotel and meals are not included.
Day 1 :
Morning : Pointe du Hoc and Omaha Beach
You will begin your day in Pointe du Hoc, a strategic position for the Germans overlooking the English Channel just between Utah Beach and Omaha Beach. Your guide will explain to you how the US Second Ranger Battalion, under the command of Colonel James Rudder, successfully assaulted Pointe du Hoc after scaling the cliffs. This site has been very well preserved to this day as a Memorial of the war. You will then enjoy the scenery whilst driving along Omaha Beach before reaching one of the highlights of the day : the American Cemetery in Colleville-sur-Mer where 9387 American soldiers are buried. During your private visit, your guide will show you famous headstones such as, Theodore Roosevelt Jr who received the medal of honour, and The Niland Brothers who inspired Steven Spielberg’s film, Saving Private Ryan, with the appropriate explanations. After this emotional walk through the cemetery, you will have the opportunity to view remarkable films and documentaries about the Normandy operations in the Visitor Centre.
Afternoon : Longues-Sur-Mer and Arromanches
Following this, you will have a lunch in a traditional restaurant in Port-en-Bessin, a small fishing-port village, situated between Omaha Beach and Gold Beach. Enjoy some of the best specialities of Normandy region: fresh sea‐food, Camembert cheese with some great local cider. BON APPETIT ! After this delicious lunch, you will discover another impressive site of the Second World War : the German Battery of Longues-sur-Mer, part of Germany’s Atlantic Wall coastal fortifications with the four 155mm guns still intact. At the conclusion of your tour, you will visit the beautiful town of Arromanches where the massive artificial harbour built by the Allies still remains, before reaching your hotel in Bayeux
Overnight : the Historical Town of Bayeux
At the conclusion of this 1st enjoyable day, you will have the opportunity to explore the historical town of Bayeux with its medieval streets, flanked with centuries-old half-timbered houses. If time permits, discover the cathedral built in the 11th century and the world famous Bayeux Tapestry which relates the conquest of England by William the Conqueror, from 1064 to the outcome of the Battle of Hastings. In accordance with your wishes, we will give you good advices and we will help you to book the best hotel in the right place to make your trip unforgettable. Finding the right hotel, in the right place in Normandy is not always easy and can be a real challenge and that’s why we are here to help you to choose one of them that suits your needs and your budget. We know all the best places from the luxury Château in the norman countryside to the small charming hotel in Bayeux, so just let us know…
Day 2 :
Morning : Sainte-Mère-Eglise
After a pickup from your Bayeux hotel in the morning, you will start your full-day in Sainte-Mère-Eglise. Discover one of the most memorable places depicted in the famous movie : the Longest Day. It was officially the first town in France liberated at 4.30 am on the day of the Invasion by the 82nd Airborne Division. You will see the famous church tower upon which the American paratrooper John Steele landed and became entangled as he parachuted into Normandy on June 6th.
Afternoon : Utah Beach and the D-Day Museum
After a delicious lunch, it is now time to enjoy a walk in the sand at Utah Beach where the first American troops landed on June 6, 1944 under orders of General Barton and General T.Roosevelt, Jr. s in the first attack wave. Utah Beach was the furthest west of the five beaches designated for the D-Day landings in June 1944. Located at the base of the Cotentin Peninsula, it was added by General D.Eisenhower to the original D-Day plan to ensure the early capture of the vital port of Cherbourg, at the north of the peninsula. Then, you will enjoy a private visit of the Utah Beach Museum. It recounts the story of D-Day in 10 sequences, from the preparation of the landing, to the final outcome and success. This comprehensive chronological journey immerses visitors in the history of the landing through a rich collection of objects, vehicles, materials, and oral histories. Time to reach the Mont Saint-Michel.
Overnight : the Mont Saint-Michel
Enjoy the scenery whilst driving to the Mont Saint-Michel located in Normandy, just at the gates of the Brittany region where you will spend your second night. Before reaching the famous bay, you will be given an introduction by your private guide about the history of the Mont Saint Michel. Due to its uniqueness, the Mont can be recognised from every side.One of France’s most recognisable landmarks, Mont Saint-Michel and its bay are part of the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites.
Day 3 :
Morning : The Mont Saint-Michel
You will begin your day with a walk through the narrow cobblestone streets of the Mont and along the ramparts far from the tourist crowds. Your guide will purchase the tickets for you before your visit, so that you can save some and enter directly to the Abbey. You will then enjoy a private visit of the Abbey with the discovery of its Church, its unique cloister, the refectory and so much more… After being used as a prison during both the Revolution and the second Empire, the Abbey was turned over to the Historic Monuments Department in 1874. Since then, it has been open to the public all year round. From 1969, a monastic community has provided a permanent spiritual presence as well.
Afternoon : Lunch in the Mont and Return to Paris
Following this, you will have a typical lunch in a traditional restaurant. The Mont Saint-Michel is famous for its restaurants which serve traditional omelette, leg of lamb and local specialities of fish and seafood from the Bay. At the conclusion of your tour, you will have some time to stroll on your own through the streets of the Mont and to enjoy its various boutiques before heading back to Paris in the late afternoon where you will be dropped off at your hotel at around 7.00pm.
Optional :
The city of Caen (with its famous World War II memorial), Rouen, Honfleur and Deauville are also worth a “detour” and can be integrated during your trip. Depending on your interests, your guide will arrange the best itinerary for you. Normandy is very rich in history and you will be delighted to discover all these places of historical significance.
Build your own trip !!! Flexible Itineraries
Design your own customized tour by building on an existing tour itinerary or creating your own. We’ll help you design your own tour, whether that means coordinating your visit around a special event or adding excursions exclusively. To create your own itinerary email us at steeve@theamericansinparis.com.
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Category : All our destinations, Full-day tour, Normandy, Tours
Tags: D-DAY, Mont Saint Michel, Normandy, Omaha Beach, Utah Beach