Normandy D-Day Small-Group Day Trip with Omaha Beach, Cemetery & Cider Tasting
Description
Visit the most important D-Day sites in Normandy on this small-group day trip from Paris. You'll walk on Omaha Beach, go inside of German bunkers, visit the Overlord Museum, peer over the 110ft tall seaside cliffs at the Pointe du Hoc, and pay your respects to those who sacrificed it all at the American Cemetery. In order to bring a little sweetness to your visit you also enjoy a local Normandy Hard Cider tasting.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Omaha Beach was known to be the most difficult military objective when the invasion of Normandy was being planned. In order to be sure that the Allied forces took it the youngest and most foolhardy soldiers were assigned to it, most of them were American. You'll walk on the same sands as them and learn about their acts of heroism and sacrifice.
Operation Overlord was the code name given to the Allied Invasion of northwest Europe. This museum has an unequaled collection of military equipment that was used to either defend or attack the coast of Normandy. Such as a full-sized authentic Higgins boat, with its front flap down, and impressive Sherman and Panzer tanks.
This German Battery has a fully intact Command Bunker and 3 other bunkers that are still armed today. You'll climb inside the bunkers with your guide and find out what happened on the morning of D-day from the Axis perspective. Learning about Rommel's defenses known as the "Atlantic Wall".
For lunch, you will stop at a mom-and-pop style restaurant such as the l'Hostéière. On the coast, there are no fancy restaurants. There are only little places with fresh local foods such as salads, omelets, barbecued meats, and crepes. We do not include your lunch in our tour price. You can pick whatever you want from the menu. Plan on spending 10-20€.
Pointe-du-Hoc was a strategic German defensive point and on D-day, it was a top priority to capture. Here you will walk around huge bomb craters to the edge of a 110ft tall, seaside cliff. Learn how Rudders Rangers climbed it with rocket-powered grappling hooks and their bayonets.
Here 9,388 white marble tombs stand in perfectly straight lines. You'll walk among the Crosses and Stars of David with your guide and pay your respects to those who sacrificed everything. You'll visit Medal of Honor winners and also the Niland brothers whose real-life story inspired the movie "Saving Private Ryan".
Before there was a war there were apple trees to tend in Normandy. The apple orchards in Normandy grow dozens of different varieties of apples and turn them into amazing apple juices, hard ciders, and strong liquor called Calvados. We'll stop at one of the local orchards and you'll get to taste some of Normandy’s famous Cider. We’ll pay for your tasting.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Small-Group Tour of 8 persons max
- Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately
- Minimum age to participate in tour is 7 years old.
- We cannot accommodate children younger than 7 years old.
- In case of exceptional closure, the Overlord Museum may be replaced by the American Cemetery Visitor Center.
Reviews(2,982)
Fillip was a great guide, he made the trip interesting, kept it well organized, and when weather did not cooperate supplied everyone with umbrellas. We enjoyed the trip and the commentary. Easy pick up and drop off location.
Wonderful tour. Small group tour is the way to go. We had a WWII history buff in our group…our guide was not only able to keep up with the conversation, but led it much of the time, Very knowledgeable and pleasant. Highly recommended this tour.
Michael was a wonderul tour guide, very nice and very knowledgeable. We visited various points of interest along Omaha beach, Pointe du Hoc, the cemetary. All along the way, Michael explained the D-Day operation with maps and pictures. Normandy itself is beautiful countryside with orchards and of course lovely beaches. The cool ocean breezes were a welcome change from the Paris heat. It was nice to see somewhere else in France besides Paris. When we come back to France, I would consider staying in that area. We stopped at a castle/restaurant (soon to be a boutique hotel too) called Restaurant L'Ephémère, that once served as war operation headquarters for both sides. We also stopped at the beach for a sweet snack. We met at 7 AM and began driving shortly after. Note at that hour, there is nothing around the meeting spot food-wise but you can get a cup of coffee. You may wish to bring a granola bar. There is a rest stop for toilets and something to eat. We returned about 7:30 PM I would recommend this tour for history and to see another part of France.
Thank you so much for your detailed review! We’re delighted to hear that you enjoyed exploring Normandy and that Michael made the history of D-Day engaging and informative. We’re glad you also had the chance to discover a beautiful part of France beyond Paris. We hope to welcome you back again soon! - Alice
Nicolas our guide went above and beyond...a walking history book who made sure we saw everything we needed to PLUS more! HIGHLY RECOMMEND blue fox travel for paris tours.....professional , informative and enjoyable. A great family learning experince.
Thank you so much for your fantastic review! We’re thrilled to hear that Nicolas made your Normandy experience so informative and memorable. We’re especially happy that it was an enjoyable learning experience for the whole family. Thank you for highly recommending Blue Fox Travel! - Alice
Very well organized tour of Normandy. The meeting point was easy to find and the team was there to meet us. The cafe even opened early to provide us with coffee and croissants. Matthieu was friendly, well prepared and shared detailed information about Normandy, D-day, and the monuments. Good clean vehicle was comfortable for eight on the tour group plus Matthieu. We highly recommend this tour.
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We’re delighted to hear that you enjoyed the well-organized tour and that Matthieu made the experience informative and enjoyable. We’re also glad you appreciated the comfortable vehicle and the early coffee and croissants. <3 Thank you for recommending us! - Alice
Matthieu was exceptional! He was very knowledgeable and prepared. His time management was spot on and adjusted the touring sites to meet the expectations of the group. Having a small group of 8 was wonderful as well. The restaurant he chose for lunch was delicious. I highly recommend this Normandy tour from Paris.
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We’re delighted to hear that you enjoyed your Normandy tour with Matthieu and appreciated his knowledge and flexibility. We’re also glad you enjoyed the small-group experience and the lunch recommendation. Thank you for recommending us! - Alice
Chris our guide was so passionate about the history of war. Had loads of information. He was also so polite and happy
Philip was great leader of the excursion. Excellent trip
Chrstopher was exceptional. Everything about our Normandy tour was perfect. We highly recommend it, and if you’re lucky he will be your guide.
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We’re delighted to hear that Christopher made your Normandy tour so special. We truly appreciate your recommendation and hope to welcome you again! - Alice
Very knowledgeable & thoughtful guide. The small group (8 total) was well worth the money. The guide worked very hard to avoid the large group crowds & made sure that we got into all the sites & even added an extra stop.
Excellent day exploring northern France! Our guide was knowledgeable, thoughtful, and worked hard to avoid the crowds. The small group of just 8 made the experience feel personal and was well worth it. We visited all the key sites, plus an unexpected extra stop. Highly recommended! Regards, - Alice
