The events of 6 June 1944 may be a distant memory, but the legacy of that day live on along France’s Normandy coastline. Here are five excellent tours of the area from Paris.
(Photo: Getyourguide.com)
To this day the largest ever seaborne invasion, D-Day will forever be one of the most significant dates in the history books. Many poignant reminders of the losses inflicted on both sides, including rows of austere white crosses and the leftover apparatus of war, tell an important story. Paris is over three hours from the Normandy coastline and many of these day trip adventures schedule a number of stops at various museums, memorials and monuments to provide a valuable – and often emotional – insight into the region.
Normandy D-Day Landing Beaches Small-group trip
This first top tour of Normandy from Paris is designed to walk guests through the D-Day landings, discovering the salient details of the US Army’s Allied campaign along the way. You’ll visit the Utah Beach Museum, which is housed in one of the main Nazi bunkers, learn how US Rangers captured Pointe de Hoc, and doff your cap to the fallen at the Colleville-sur-Mer cemetery. There is also time for a cider tasting on the way (except on Sundays). Please note that this tour runs on a reduced schedule of three or four days a week during the autumn and winter months. From €334 per person.
(Photo: Getyourguide.com)
D-Day Beaches Day-Trip from Paris
This full-day tour from Paris to the D-Day landing beaches of Normandy starts by offering context at the Caen Memorial Museum, which depicts the events of the Battle of Normandy as they played out. After lunch (not included in the price) the tour moves on to Pointe du Hoc, the cliffs from which Omaha and Utah beaches can be seen, with some free time allowed at the former. There’s a stop at the Juno Beach Memorial, which marks the resting place of primarily Canadian troops, and a handful of other stops. Tours run on Mon, Thu and Sat. From €185 per person.
Normandy D-Day Landing Beaches Full-day Tour
No tour manages to balance the various WWII landmarks around the Normandy Beaches with some of the natural gifts of the Normandy region quite as well as this 12-hour tour. You’ll see the rusting guns of the Longues-sur-Mer Battery, the graves of fallen soldiers at the Normandy American Cemetery, see one of the key landing sites at Omaha Beach and even fit in a brief wine tasting. Look out upon the beautiful Normandy countryside during the journey. From €210 per person.
(Photo: Getyourguide.com)
Normandy D-Day Beaches Caen Memorial Private Tour
For a more intimate and exclusive experience, this full-day private tour invites you and a select group of family or friends to discover historic D-Day beaches in Normandy and the memorial in Caen. Along the way, you’ll benefit from the full attention of your private guide who will regale you with fascinating facts and stories about the key historical events that took place here and the heroism of the soldiers whose noble efforts are commemorated. The tour price includes all transportation from and to Paris, bottled water, and onboard WiFi. From €574 per person.
All-Day Normandy D-Day Tour by Minibus
Another private tour option is this all-day excursion by minibus to some of Normandy’s most notable places of interest. Key sites visited along the way include Pointe du Hoc; a German fortification and the American Cemetery at Colleville-sur-Mer. See the only remaining intact German artillery battery at Longues-sur-Mer, which gives an idea of what invading forces would have faced on that day. Or even add your own stops to the itinerary, given that it’s your private tour to command. The larger your group the better the savings. From €1,416 per group.