Private guided Canadian D-Day Tour from Bayeux

We are a group of 4 friends who booked this tour for early September with Mike van den Dobbelsteen of Allied Victory Tours . The communication and organization before, during and after the tour were spot-on. The details for meeting, drop-off, lunch recommendations, etc, all of these were perfect for our needs. Our day unfolded at a relaxed pace with Mike providing detailed explanations of the sites, their significance and the logistics involved in trying to achieve a victory. Mike was very patient and knowledgeable and he answered all of our questions. He provided a clear picture of the events surrounding the activities here in June of 1944. We are Canadians and Mike also arranged a visit to Canada House for us. The entire day was very moving when reflecting on the battles here. Our visit to Canada House was an extra special and memorable time. It gives us hope, that if we don't let ourselves forget the realities of war, that we are less likely to commit to war in the future. All of us would highly recommend Mike and this tour.

+5

Hi, our family of six — teens, twenty‑somethings, and older adults — spent a full day touring the D-Day sites with Mike, and it’s a day we’ll remember for a long time. He picked us up right from our hotel in Bayeux in a spotless, AC and comfortable van, and from the moment we met him it was clear how much care he puts into his work. We asked for a Canadian‑focused tour, and Mike delivered that perfectly — but he also gave us much more. He customized the day to what we wanted, added stops we never would have known existed, and shared stories and details that made the history feel real. He helped us understand not just what happened, but why it mattered, and how the reality differs from what you see in movies, which was fascinating. That perspective really stayed with us. What impressed me most was how he connected with everyone in our group, regardless of age. The teens were engaged, the twenty‑somethings asked a ton of questions, and the adults appreciated the depth and context he brought. The pacing was thoughtful from start to finish — where we began, how the day unfolded, and how he chose to end it all felt intentional and thoughtful. We felt fortunate to find Mike, someone who can teach, guide, and connect with people all at once, but he did exactly that. We’re grateful for the time he spent with us and for the care he put into the tour. We highly recommend Allied and Mike. D

We had an excellent tour and would highly recommend. Mike was so knowledgeable and we had a great time. We was very flexible and showed us everything we wanted to see. It was our favourite day of our entire trip.

We had an awesome time with Mike! My dad an I did a trip to Europe and really wanted to go visit Normandy. Even though it was off season and a bit colder Mike grabbed us from our hotel right on time and curated the tour specifically to what we wanted to see. Mikes knowledge its obvious and plentiful, and he was very articulate in relaying all the information. He made sure to make time for museum stops for places of interest for us as well as taking us to all the different parts of the beaches that he knew we wanted to see. Very safe driver and would highly recommend anyone looking for a tour to book with Mike!

We thoroughly enjoyed our day with Mike and his private Canadian D-Day Tour. He picked us up from the Bayeux train station and kept us engaged for the entire day. He tailored the tour to keep our teens interested in all the history. We stopped for a lovely lunch and learned more than we expected about Canada's role in the D-Day arrival. I would not hesitate to recommend Allied Victory Tours for your customized tour around the area. Mike was entertaining and his love and vast knowledge of tanks were an added bonus we didn't know we needed!

+4

Mike was BEYOND AMAZING! Incredible knowledge, he did research specific to my Grandfathers unit and took us down roads and beach where he physically walked, we had an amazing day. I could not recommend him any higher!

We visited Normandy as a group of five sisters this past fall and booked the half day CanadianD-Day tour with Allied Victory Tours. Mike was just excellent- he picked us up at our accommodations in Bayeux and we had a wonderful afternoon touring. He was extremely knowledgeable and was able to bring the history to life. It was a very powerful experience, especially visiting one of the cemeteries for the fallen Canadian soldiers. I would highly recommend this tour.

I booked the half-day guided Canadian D-Day Tour with Mike for me and my family and it was everything I had hoped it would be. Mike picked us up from our BnB, and he is such an affable guy that we were immediately at ease around him. And once the tour started in earnest, his knowledge and enthusiasm for D-Day history was incredible. He has so many anecdotes and local details that you simply could never hear if you were doing a self-guided tour of the D-Day beaches. If you're travelling to Normandy and have an interest in D-Day history, I cannot recommend Mike and Allied Victory Tours highly enough.

We had the most incredible day with Mike visiting a range of WW2 sites across the Normandy region. He tailored the tour to exactly what we wanted and was able to adjust the level of detail to keep our teenagers engaged the whole day. Mike is incredibly knowledgeable and friendly and left us with a true sense of pride about what Canada and its allies accomplished in a critical moment in history. Would absolutely recommend to anyone visiting in the region.

A Juno Beach visit is imperative for Canadian visitors to Normandy. Mike was well-versed in Canadian military history and created vivid visual impressions of the early morning landing on Juno Beach D-Day. it was a moving tribute to our Canadian soldiers. The Canadian Cemetery at Beny- sur- Mer, under a canopy of maple leaves, was a moving tribute to our young men. Our many experiences that day were heightened by Mike's engaging storytelling. Mike is an incredible guide.