Normandy Battle Tours

Although we recommend spending a number of days exploring the history of D-Day and the subsequent Battle for Normandy, we do appreciate that many people may well find themselves within, or close to Normandy, will hold the desire to see at least some of the D-Day sites, but not have the time to see all five beaches. In this scenario we offer a choice of itineraries of each of the three main sectors of operations (the emphasis being either the American Sector [Airborne, Utah and Omaha Beaches], the British Sector [Airborne, Sword and Gold Beaches] or the Canadian Sector [Juno Beach]). If you wish to visit all five of the D-Day beaches, it is possible to do so by running consecutive days of tours.

Here is what we cover on our set itinerary tours, if you wish to visit all five landing beaches and both airborne operations, it is possible to run these tours back to back which can provide a comprehensive visit to all five sectors over a duration of five days...

 

The ‘US Sector’ Tour

This, our most popular tour, includes visits to world-famous locations known to millions largely because of the portrayal within iconic movie productions such as ‘The Longest Day’, ‘Saving Private Ryan’ and ‘Band of Brothers’. The tour begins at Sainte Mere Eglise, a crucial objective of the 82nd Airborne Division whose role it was to be the first line of defence against the German’s inevitable attempts to counter-attack against the Utah Beach landings. After focusing on the Airborne forces, we continue on to Utah Beach, the westernmost of the five D-Day beaches, the most successful of all, and the one beach where fortune undoubtedly shone on the allies that morning. We then move on to Omaha Beach - Dog Green sector to be more precise. The landings here, the costliest of all sectors of all five landing beaches were made legendary by the Steven Spielberg movie ‘Saving Private Ryan’. Whilst undoubtedly a masterpiece in cinematography, like so many Hollywood films, the movie does take a few liberties with the history, such inaccuracies will be set straight by your guide providing a greater appreciation of what was endured by the men of the US Army's 29th Infantry Division during that horrific morning. The day concludes at the Colleville sur Mer American Cemetery overlooking Omaha beach where almost ten thousand American servicemen and women are buried, with a further 1,557 listed on the wall of the missing. Here, after a brief introduction from your guide you shall be given time alone to walk through the burials and reflect on the incredible locations you have witnessed during a day which we are certain your whole group shall remember for the rest of their lives.

A two day US Sector tour is also available which, in addition to the above listed sites, also visits the 'Bocage' Hedgerows, Drop Zone 'D' (for elements of the 501st and 506th Parachute Infantry Regiments), Angoville au Plain, the German Cemetery at La Cambe, Pointe du Hoc and a second stop at Omaha Beach. A two day tour also allows the potential of visiting one of the sector's excellent museums.   

 

The ‘British Sector’ Tour

Covering two beaches and one airborne operation, any attempt to cover the whole British involvement on D-Day in a single day will inevitably lead to an overview of events. None the less, starting at Pegasus Bridge, the very first and possibly most audacious operation of D-Day, before venturing on to Sword Beach (contrary to popular belief, this being the most strongly defended of all five of the landing beaches), then following the advance from Sword through the secondary defences behind that coastline, we continue to the Gold Beach Sector (visiting the location at which an action took place which led to the award of the one and only Victoria Cross to be awarded on D-Day). We then cocnclude at the British Memorial at Ver sur Mer, this is a fast paced and action packed day which covers many actions which deserve far greater examination than what many popular histories have ever attempted to provide.

A two day British Sector tour is also available which, in addition to the above listed sites, also visits the Pegasus Bridge museum, the Grand Bunker at Ouistreham, the Hillman Strongpoint, Point 64 (observing the valley which witnessed the counter attack of the 21st Panzer Division and also provides an overview of the subsequent Battle of Caen), Arromanches (home of the Mulberry Harbour), the Longues sur Mer Artilley Battery and the British Cemetery at Bayeux. 

 

The ‘Canadian Sector’ Tour

Undoubtedly the most neglected, but in many ways the most fascinating contribution to the D-Day assault was made at Juno Beach by the men of General Keller’s Canadian 3rd Infantry Division. This tour will focus on the landings of the North Shore (New Brunswick) Regiment at St Aubin sur Mer, the Queen’s Own Rifles at Bernieres sur Mer, the Regina Rifles and the Royal Winnipeg Rifles at Coursuelles sur Mer. Per-capita, no other nation provided the Allies with a greater proportion of strength during the D-Day assault and no other nation would suffer, in proportion to population, a higher loss of life. Canada’s D-Day assault adds a different dimension to the popular narrative of D-Day as so dominated by the American and British perspective, this tour sets the records straight, and in addition to making at least three stops on Juno Beach, we also visit the Canadian Cemetery at Beny sur Mer and the Juno Beach Centre museum (optional visit at your own expense).

 

Museum visits are not included in the tour fee and are therefore at your own expense (although we are able to arrange a discounted rate of entry for most museums in the region)...