Full-Day D-Day Tour
The History of World War II Through the D-Day Invasion
DURATION: UP TO 8-HOURS
Step back in time to explore World War Two's D-Day. A knowledgeable English-speaking driver will take you through major sites of that significant day.
You will start in Arromanches with a clifftop view of the beaches. Then you will head to Colleville sur Mer to visit the American Cemetery, where 9,387 soldiers rest. The cemetery spans 172 acres with soldiers of all ranks being honored with Italian marble headstones. Some of these soldiers are well known, including General Theodore Roosevelt Jr. or the Niland brothers who inspired the film "Saving Private Ryan," but you will also see the 300 unidentified graves as well as the haunting "Wall of Missing".
From the cemetery, you will have an impressive panoramic view of Omaha Beach, which you will be able to visit along with Utah Beach and Pointe du Hoc. Omaha, infamous for having the highest number of casualties, provides a look into the difficulties of the storming troops. With the terrain against them and failed pre-invasion bombing, the Americans took 3,800 casualties in the process of pushing back the Germans. The remnants of the harbour built by the Americans after securing the beach are a truly amazing sight.
If time and interest takes you to the German Cemetery La Cambe, you will note the differences from the American cemetery. Black stones and crosses stretched across 15 acres, along with the 20-foot mound grave in the centre, identify the 21,000 German soldiers who lost their lives on the fateful day, making this the largest German burial site in Normandy.
After viewing the coastal efforts of WWII ally troops, you will venture into the town of Sainte Mere Eglise, the first town to be liberated in France. As you may have seen famously depicted in "The Longest Day," paratrooper John Steele missed most of the fighting after his chute trapped him on the roof of the church. The church now boasts a stained glass window of the Virgin Mary surrounded by paratroopers.
Time and interest permitting, you may wish to stop into the Airborne Museum. The site of the museum was a house that caught fire the night of liberation.
This 8-hour tour includes:
- Colleville sur Mer
- Omaha and Utah Beaches
- Pointe du Hoc
- German Cemetery, La Cambe
- Sainte Mere Eglise
Pick-Up/Drop-Off: Your driver-guide will pick you up from your Bayeux or Caen area hotel. At the conclusion of your tour, you will be dropped off at your hotel or, if you prefer, another location within the area.
Includes: Private English-speaking driver-guide for up to 8-hours.
Excludes: Guide Gratuity, Extra Hours, Extra Kilometres, Entrance fees not specificially indicated as being included.
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