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You want the best guides on the Normandy Beaches ?

… Take our shuttle in Bayeux for a sightseeing tour of the D-Day Beaches

TOUR #1 Omaha Beach – Half Day Tour

TOUR #2 Omaha Beach / Utah Beach – Full Day Tour

TOUR #2B The Battle of The Hedgerows Tour – Full Day Tour

TOUR #2FS Omaha / Utah – Full Day Tour

TOUR #3 Omaha / Band of Brothers – Full Day Tour

TOUR #4 British / Canadian Sectors Tour – Full Day Tour

TOUR #5 101st Airborne Tour – Full Day Tour

TOUR #6 Neptune Tour – Two Days Tour

TOUR #7 Bradley’s Tour – Two Days Tour

TOUR #7B Beyond The Beachead Tour

Private Tours #8 – Specialized Tours

Private Tours #9 from Cruise Ports in Van

Group Tours #9B from Cruise Ports

Private TOUR #10 Pick Up Paris – Two Days Tour

Tour #11 Mont-Saint-Michel Tour

Tour #12 – Normandy Jeep Experience – Specialized Tours

TOUR #13 Omaha-Utah / Mont-Saint-Michel – Two Days Tour

Canadian Tour #8B – Specialized Tours

Revisit History With Us

Enjoy a guided sightseeing tour in normandy with overlordtour and take advantage of our 30 years of experience guiding the d-day battlefields of normandy . our shuttles from bayeux offer you the best tours of the normandy d-day beaches ..

On June 6 1944, 135,000 men and 20,000 vehicles were brought onto the shores of Normandy during the night via five landing beaches . Come and re-live the Normandy invasion with a guided tour and discover: the D-Day landing beaches (Sword, Juno, Gold, Omaha and Utah), Point du Hoc, the Airborne sectors, the D-day battlefields and the D-day museums. Take a fascinating and informative battle site tour led by our expert guides. We are recommended by veterans!

Don’t delay! Depart for all your tour destinations with Overlordtour in our luxury air conditioned vehicles:

“Thanks to the most experienced and professional guides , you will take the best guided tours of Omaha and Utah and also of Sword, Juno and Gold beaches.”

“Discover the exciting history of the scattered paratrooper landings of “Easy Company” with Overlordtour. We will take you to the authentic Norman Battlefields where the 506th, Colonel Sink, and Lt Dick Winters fought – including, Drop Zones, Battlefields, D-Day beaches, Headquarters, and remote private locations.”

“The Longest Day” – Twentieth Century Fox, F. Zarruck Productions: All rights reserved. “Saving Private Ryan” – Paramount Pictures: All rights reserved. “Band of Brothers” – HBO (A Divsion of Time Warner Entertainment Company): All rights reserved.

Overlordtour’s Normandy Group Tours are waiting to explore Omaha and Utah with you!

Enjoy a tour with our 1944’s vehicles.

Jeeptours.fr

No better place to die.

Captain Dale Adam Dye Jr., USMC (Ret.) (born October 8, 1944) is an American actor, technical advisor, radio personality and writer. A decorated Marine veteran of the Vietnam War, Dye has also offered his expertise to television, such as the HBO mini-series Band of Brothers and The Pacific , and video games, including the Medal of Honor

His next film “No better place to die” tells of the fierce battle of La Fiere.

The battle at La Fiere was an epic engagement for the 82nd Airborne in Normandy. La Fiere takes its importance from being a crossing for the Merderet River near St. Mere Eglise. As the Merderet River was a significant obstacle in the invasion, securing the river crossings was a major objective of the 82nd Airborne on D-Day in order to anchor the right flank of the invasion.

Exclusive access granted to Overlordtour

Overlordtour has now an official contract with the owner of Brecourt, Mr Devalavielle, who grants us the exclusive access to the Brecourt field.

OVERLORDTOUR provide interactive maps for your convenience

After you have selected or created your own tour with us, Overlordtour will provide you with detailed interactive maps to assist you with orientation and a birds-eye view of the history and excitement that awaits your arrival!

Let Overlordtour take you on a Normandy WWII beaches tour

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WWI and WWII Battlefields

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11 Day Battlefield Tour of UK, Belgium and France

11 days, 3 countries and 11 cities

Accommodation

10 Breakfasts, 4 Dinners

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Travel to the front lines of Europe, where brave soldiers once fought for freedom. On this epic battlefield tour through the countryside of Britain, Belgium and France, you’ll explore the tragedy and triumph of two World Wars.

Looking to book in a group of 9 or more?

Deals, savings and exclusive private touring options available plus if you need a different date or itinerary change we can create a custom trip. Contact us for more details

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Day by day itinerary

11 days itinerary trip from London to Paris visiting 3 countries and 11 cities

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About this trip

Sightseeing highlights.

Explore London and Paris with a Local Specialist

Discover Normandy, Amiens, the Somme Region, Ypres, Brussels and Rouen

Visit the Imperial War Museum in London, the D-Day Landing Beaches, Saint-Sulpice church in Paris, Amiens Cathedral, military cemeteries throughout northern France and Belgium, the Australian National Memorial, the Caen Memorial, WWI & WWII Battlefields, the Dunkirk War Museum and evacuation beaches, and the Memorial Museum Passchendaele

View Buckingham Palace in London, the Eiffel Tower and the Arc de Triomphe in Paris and the Menin Gate

Travel highlights

Specific transfer information can be found here:

Airport Transfers

An expert Travel Director and professional Driver

Cherry-picked hotels, all tried and trusted

All porterage and restaurant gratuities

All hotel tips, charges and local taxes

Breakfast daily and up to half of your evening meals

Must-see sightseeing and surprise extras

Audio headsets for flexible sightseeing

Luxury air-conditioned coach with Wi-Fi in most countries or alternative transportation (such as rail journeys)

Optional Experiences and free time

Eurostar high-speed train from London to Brussels

On occasion, hotels of similar standard and location may be utilized.

MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experiences

Every one of our tours includes at least one conscious travel experience that supports one or more of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGS). Look out for yours within the day-by-day trip itinerary.

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Net-zero by 2050

Travel knowing our 4-point climate action plan will ensure net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

Support Local

Your tour directly supports local communities by visiting family-run businesses, UNESCO sites and places of cultural significance.

Sustainable Practices

Every part of our business, from trip design to how we run our offices, aligns to our 5-year sustainability strategy which ensures a positive impact on people, the planet and wildlife.

Philanthropic Efforts

Our not-for-profit, the TreadRight Foundation, invests in nature-based solutions to address climate change.

You’ll make a positive impact to people, planet and wildlife on this tour

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Band of Brothers Tours

Bringing history to life.

If you are looking for military historical tours in Europe, we are the best local experts you can find. In terms of World War II tours, no one comes even close to offering the quality you get from us. Our Tour Directors and local guides are professionals who have perfected their craft. All our hotels and restaurants are tried and true, and our local knowledge is evident and all of our staff speak fluent English. Our secure and guaranteed payment systems allow you to shop online with the utmost confidence. Once you book your trip, we will guide you through everything related to your tour, from what travel documents you need and what to pack to a recommended list of books to read and movies to watch before your departure. We are not an assembly line company focused on mass production – our goal is to give you a once in a lifetime experience.

BAND OF BROTHERS TOUR

This is an adventure designed for your bucket list and your pocket book. Feel the sands of the landing beaches between your toes, stand at the very foxholes where heroes fought for your freedom and breathe the Alpine air at Hitler’s Eagle’s Nest.

The ultimate trip through the American WWII effort: our Band of Brothers Tour is an epic journey from Normandy to Hitler's Eagle's Nest via the battlefields of the Battle of the Bulge in the footsteps of the famous Easy Company.

80th ANNIVERSARY BULGE TOUR

Remember the bloodiest battle for the American forces in World War II. On this tour you can see where the brave soldiers held their ground during the siege of Bastogne, and experience the citizens “throwing nuts” to commemorate their liberators.

THIRD REICH TOUR

Numerous historical sites tell the tales of the rise, the fall and the aftermath of Hitler’s Third Reich on this tour. Join us at the epicentre of WWII, where the Führer rallied followers, commanded armies, held events and eventually met his demise.

BRITAIN AT WAR TOUR

Hit all the essential sites on this streamlined 10-day tour combining the air war related sites with the iconic vehicles on display at the Bovington Tank Museum and finishing off with a cultural intake of the prehistoric monument of Stonehenge.

BEACHES OF NORMANDY TOUR

Our signature tour gives you an opportunity to thoroughly explore the beaches and the sites of Normandy connected to the D-Day landings. This tour is designed for people who want to enjoy military history and culture alike on their vacation in Normandy.

Our first-class historical tours take you on a journey through iconic World War II sites around Europe, as well as the most emblematic moments of American heroism of the time. From the Normandy beaches to Bastogne and the Bavarian Alps we guide you through the significant events and experiences of the war that changed the world. Band of Brothers Tour is a registered brand and protected trademark in the European Union by Beaches of Normandy Tours.

The first days of the tour dive into all five landing beaches, with a special focus on the American landing sectors. We then head east through the Ardennes to Belgium, where passengers can crouch in the foxholes of Bois Jacques and learn about the vehicles that defined the Allied war effort during the Battle of the Bulge and the Siege of Bastogne. Our journey ends in Germany, where we learn about the context of the Nazi regime, a sobering visit to the very first concentration camp of Dachau and we top off the tour with a day trip to the Bavarian Alps, where we visit the famous Eagle's Nest on top of the Kehlstein mountain.

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Memorials of World War II

About this tour.

An unforgettable journey of discovery and remembrance awaits you as you travel between London, Normandy and Paris on the 80th Anniversary of D-Day. Explore London’s connections to World War II during a city tour focused on The Blitz. Cross the English Channel, retracing the parallel journey nearly 160,000 courageous Allied troops took on June 6th, 1944, as they set out to liberate Europe from the Nazis. Immerse yourself in the history of Normandy’s D-Day Landing Beaches and visit the Normandy American Cemetery. Visit Saint-Mère-Église, the first French town liberated from the Nazis and learn about the brave paratroopers who parachuted into Normandy on the night of June 5–6, 1944. Conclude your journey in Paris, the City of Light with a festive dinner cruise along the Seine River.

Your Tour Includes

• 4 Handpicked Accommodations

Included Highlights

• London & Paris WWII-Focused City Tours
• The D-Day Story Museum
• English Channel Crossing

Your Tour at a Glance

8 Breakfasts

Travel Style

Customize your tour.

Optional Excursions

Starting at $180.00

Activity Level

• Level This Tour

For specific details about this tour's activity level and other info to know before you book your trip, click here.

Extension Style

Travel styles, highlights and inclusions.

Must-See Inclusions:

Experience the Peace Memorial Museum that vividly documents the causes and consequences of WWII.

Spend 3 nights in the Normandy region and take a journey back in history to the D-Day landing beaches.

Cultural Experiences:

Retrace the D-Day preparation efforts at The D-Day Story Museum, dedicated to Operation Overlord.

Navigate the path of the D-Day Landings as you cross the English Channel by ferry.

Set foot on the hallowed grounds of the Normandy landing beaches.

Culinary Inclusions:

Enjoy London’s culinary renaissance at a dinner featuring gastro-pub cuisine.

Sample traditional French cider during a visit to an apple orchard in Normandy.

Admire the “City of Light” as you float down the Seine River on a relaxing dinner cruise.

• Caen Peace Memorial Museum
• Arromanche-les-Baines
• Longues-sur-Mer
• Apple Cider Farm Visit
• Normandy American Cemetery
• Omaha Beach
• Pointe du Hoc
• Airborne Museum
• Giverny Gardens
• Seine River Dinner Cruise

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• No booking fee, *no change fees
• Top Rated Travel Protection

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Getting Prepared

Know before you go, travel tips, enhance your tour.

Pre and Post Night Stay

Unique Experience

Cultural Experiences

Enhance Your Trip

• Tour Extensions

Hotel-Radisson Blu Edwardian Grafton

Hotel-Le Meridien Etoile Hotel

Join us for a spectacular evening in one of Paris’s most beloved institutions, the famous Paradis Latin. Situated in a building associated with Napoleon and rebuilt by Gustav Eiffel himself, the Paradis has been running here since 1889. Enjoy a sumptuous dinner with wine, then bring on the champagne and let the show commence!

Accommodations

Arrive earlier.

Pre Night: Radisson Blu Edwardian Grafton From $150 per night

Radisson Blu Edwardian Grafton

Portsmouth marriott hotel, mercure caen city center-port de plaisance, renaissance la defense, stay longer.

Post Night: Le Meridien Etoile From $225 per night

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• London at War 2024
• World War One – The Western Front
• The Holocaust in Poland
• The Battle of the Bulge (+ Hürtgen Forest)
• Private & Customized Tours
• Other Services

World War II

World war ii tours, choose from three exciting world war ii tours.

Our WWII guided tours include Normandy, Berlin and Battle of the Bulge. Click on the name of a tour below to reveal more information about each tour.

On June 6, 1944, the picturesque coast of Normandy became the scene of the largest and most complex military operation in world history. On that day alone over 130,000 Allied soldiers, supported by over 6,000 ships and 12,000 aircraft, attacked beaches whose names have become legendary; while 24,000 more troops entered the battle by glider and parachute.

Over the next eleven weeks, fierce combat raged across a once-bucolic Normandy landscape. By the end of the battle in August, the Allies had won a key success that would put them on the road to eventual victory over Nazi Germany.

Come with us and visit the places where brave men fought for freedom, and where the history of the world was changed forever.

Click here for Normandy tour details to learn whats included, travel information, and to get a glimpse of some of the many places we will visit during our tour. 

We are pleased to announce that we are again offering a tour of ‘Battlefield Berlin.’ Our weeklong visit will primarily focus on three crucial aspects of the city’s recent past. You will walk the same streets as some of the most detestable villains of the modern age as we discuss Berlin’s role as capital of the Third Reich and witness the legacy of their crimes at places like Sachsenhausen concentration camp. As that regime collapsed, the city became a battlefield. There, in the last days of April 1945, teenage boys and old men fought the Red Army street by street while their Führer issued orders to long-destroyed units from his underground bunker just off Wilhelmstrasse and a terrified civilian populace merely tried to survive.

Click here for tour details to learn whats included, travel information, and to get a glimpse of some of the many places we will visit during our tour. 

The Battle of the Bulge was the largest engagement ever fought by the United States Army, and it resulted in the defeat of Germany’s last reserves. The war in Europe would end less than four months later.

Our most recent tour concluded on October 24th 2015. Visit our Battle of the Bulge page here for a recap and slideshow of our recent tour. Please  Contact us for upcoming tour dates.

Questions? Ready to book a tour? Contact us

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• Tours 8-day 80th ANNIVERSARY BULGE TOUR 9-day BAND OF BROTHERS TOUR 11-day BAND OF BROTHERS TOUR 12-day D-DAY ANNIVERSARY TOUR 12-day D-DAY LUXURY TOUR 6-day BEACHES OF NORMANDY TOUR 6-day AMERICAN NORMANDY TOUR 11-day WAR IN POLAND TOUR 11-day THIRD REICH TOUR 10-day BRITAIN AT WAR TOUR 11-day ITALIAN CAMPAIGN TOUR 12-day WORLD WAR I TOUR

9-day BAND OF BROTHERS TOUR

• Average 4-6 miles walk a day
• Some uneven terrain
• Medium to long travel times
• Moderate pace
• Omaha, Utah and Gold beaches

Normandy American Cemetery

Pointe du hoc.

• Luxembourg American Cemetery

Dachau concentration camp

• Eagle's Nest

Have you dreamed of taking a World War II tour that would satisfy your inner history buff, but the price tag always held you back? The 9-day economic package of our Band of Brothers Tour is an adventure designed for your bucket list and your pocketbook. Currently, it is the cheapest tour of its kind on the market. On top of that, since it is shorter than the all-inclusive tour, it is even easier to plan your holiday schedule. This tour is an unforgettable journey hitting all the highlights of the American WWII war effort in the footsteps of the famous 101st “Screaming Eagles” Airborne Division. Feel the sands of the landing beaches between your toes in Normandy, stand at the very foxholes where heroes fought for your freedom during the Battle of the Bulge and breathe the Alpine air at Hitler’s Eagle’s Nest. From France to Belgium, Luxembourg, and Germany, this tour covers all the sites to make an armchair historian’s dream a reality.

Detailed Highlights and Itinerary

Passengers are greeted at the Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris and transferred by coach to Normandy. In the evening there is an introduction to the tour and a chance for the Passengers to introduce themselves. After the airport pick-up and transfer to Normandy we spend the next few days exploring the iconic shores of the Landing Beaches. Two days of this leg will focus on the American landing beaches Utah and Omaha, where we will pay our respects to the heroism that contributed to the battle that changed history. We also visit Gold Beach, where our fellow Allied troops fought to secure a foothold in Europe.

Omaha Beach

Sherman on Utah Beach

B-26 Marauder

Sainte-Mère-Église

Gold Beach, Mulberry Harbor

Longues-sur-Mer

Battery Command Post

The second leg of our journey heads east to Belgium, where we visit the sites of the Battle of the Bulge, the foxholes of Bois Jacques, and the military vehicles at the Bastogne Barracks. You’ll have ample time to explore these quaint areas independently and appreciate the incredible history and awe-inspiring monuments of this vital region. We pay our respects to the fallen soldiers at Luxembourg American Cemetery where General Patton is also buried.

McAuliffe Square

Patton Monument

Foxholes of Bois Jacques

Mardasson Monument

Bastogne Barracks

Local bar in Bastogne

Bastogne War Museum

101St Airborne Museum

General Patton's Grave

Our journey culminates in Germany, where we will explore the genesis and defeat of Hitler’s Nazi Party. We begin by exploring the somber site of the first Nazi concentration camp, where we can pay our respects to the victims of Hitler’s genocide. We then head to Munich to learn about the Third Reich before we visit the Eagle’s Nest. The tour ends with a chance for reflection and community over a farewell drink. The next day, our Passengers are brought to Munich’s Franz Joseph Strauss Airport for their return flights.

Eagle’s Nest

Restaurant in the Eagle's Nest

Mussolini's gift to Hitler

Tunnel under the Eagle’s Nest

Hitler's Bunker

Hofbräuhaus Munich

Marienplatz

Dates and prices, 80th anniversary bulge tour.

• Day 8: Departure

80th ANNIVERSARY OVERLORD TOUR

• Day 11: Departure

BAND OF BROTHERS TOUR

• Day 9: Departure

D-DAY ANNIVERSARY TOUR

• Day 12: Departure

D-DAY LUXURY TOUR

Beaches of normandy tour.

• Day 6: Departure

AMERICAN NORMANDY TOUR

War in poland tour, third reich tour, britain at war tour.

• Day 10: Departure

ITALIAN CAMPAIGN TOUR

World war i tour, 80th anniversary d-day tour, 80th anniversary gold tour, 80th anniversary silver tour, hotels, motorcoach, guides and other services.

Relax after a long flight and ease your mind knowing that your Tour Director will meet you at the airport on the first day of the tour, avoiding extra navigating and expensive taxi fares. Our economic package feature carefully planned and curated itinerary to ensure you get the full historical experience. These tours are designed at a lower cost with the added benefit of more time on your own. These tours still include a 24/7 Tour Director and several local guides. Our dynamic, knowledgeable Tour Directors are with you from your arrival at the airport to departure on the final day. They proactively smooth the way for your entire tour experience. Our handpicked, trusted local guides are fluent in English and expert historians, who deliver their impressive wealth of knowledge, anecdotes, and local insights with skill that shows their years of research and experience. They always address topics onsite so that you get to experience history where it happened as they guide both popular destinations and obscure locations only the locals would know. Most entry fees are not included in the price, so you can choose which programs and sites you would like to visit.

3-star Hotel in Normandy

3-star Hotel room in Normandy

3-star Hotel breakfast room

3-star Hotel reception

3-star Hotel room in Germany

3-star hotel bar in Germany

Motorcoach 2

Motorcoach interior

Local guide in Normandy

Local Guide at the Bastogne barracks

You will sleep soundly each night at 3-star hotel accommodations. These rooms are a bit smaller than what you are used to in the US, but we do ensure that each hotel room has en-suite bathroom. Each morning begins with a basic breakfast buffet included at the hotel before heading out for the day’s program. Aside from breakfasts at the hotels, meals are not included in our economic package. Your Tour Director will always be available to make suggestions from the local options, ranging from street food to fine dining restaurants. The tours will break for meals in areas that offer multiple options for you to enjoy. On this tour you ride in style in our motorcoaches complete with climate control, video entertainment and extra leg room. Our skilled, professional drivers maximize your tour time by navigating the busiest highways and tightest country lanes, giving you more time at sites and less time subjected to the inflexible scheduling, delays and crowded areas that accompany public transport. For those who want to stay connected, Wi-fi is available at all our hotels and on all of our buses.

Beaches of Normandy Tours Band of Brothers Tours 48 Rue de Thouays, 50480 Sainte-Marie-du-Mont, Normandy, France

Phone: +1 855-473-1999 Monday - Friday, 10am - 6pm ET e-mail: [email protected]

A World War II historic guide to discover the D-Day Landing Beaches in Normandy

Travel normandy guide françois gauthron offers tours of the normandy landing beaches, world war ii battlefield. come and discover the most famous part of normandy where took place the landing and the battle of normandy in june 1944 to liberate france and europe. you will be escorted by a qualified bilingual guide who will show you round the major sites of the beaches. visit the highlights of world war ii sites in normandy with an expert license guide, first the most important sites of the landing beaches., cool d-day american tour from paris.

• 5 D-Day Beaches Highlights from Paris

American Landing Sectors Highlights 1 Day

• British and Canadian Highlights 1 Day
• 5 D-Day Beaches Highlights 2 Days

American Landing Sectors 2 Days

American airborne battleground in normandy 2 days.

• British Landing Sectors 2 Days
• Canadian Battleground 2 Days
• Customized Tours
• The Loire Valley
• A Taste of Brittany
• Canadian Battlefields in Europe

Normandy Travel

Travel in normandy with francois gauthron, d-day tours on landing beaches - world war ii battlefield tours in normandy.

• All the Tours
• The Books on line
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D-Day Tours: the American Sectors

D-day tours on utah beach, omaha beach and airborne battleground.

4 hours tour

9 hours tour

18 hours tour

Utah Beach, major sites of the american D-Day tours

The Church. The parachute and John Steele mannequin.

Sainte-Mère-Église

One of the most disastrous drops (in a night filled with disasters) occurred in Sainte-Mère-Église. Around midnight, a stray incendiary bomb had set fire to the house of Monsieur Harion, located to the east of the square.

Wakened by the mayor and the tolling of the church bell, the townspeople turned out in large numbers to form a bucket brigade supervised by members of the German garrison. (The hand pump used that night still sits on the east side of the square.) While the house continued to burn, the drone of planes could be heard over the tolling bell. The fire-fighters, looking skyward, saw ghostly silhouettes drifting down on them. Two sticks from the 1st and 2d battalions had gotten their green jump light directly over the village. Illuminated by light from the burning house and tracers from German AA guns, the paratroopers were easy targets for the Germans below. Few survived.

One who did was Private John Steele, whose parachute caught on the steeple of the church in front of you. The wounded paratrooper hung there limply for two hours, pretending to be dead, before the Germans took him prisoner.

The less fortunate hung from the trees all around the square where they had been shot. Once the fire in Monsieur Harion's house had burned itself out and the last of the paratroopers were killed or captured, the German garrison (a transportation company) quite inexplicably called it an evening and turned in.

A mile northeast of Sainte-Mère-Église, Lieutenant Colonel Edward Krause, commanding the 3d Battalion, assembled ninety men within an hour of landing and promptly ordered an advance on the village. Around dawn, the German garrison was again turned out, this time by the rattle of small-arms fire. Krause's men cleared the village in a rush, capturing thirty Germans and killing another eleven. With Sainte-Mère-Église in American hands, Krause ran a worn American flag to the top of the village flagpole, a flag that he had carried with him from Sicily.

Sainte-Mère-Église Stain glass signification dedicated to 82nd Airborne

This stain glass has been offered by the 505th Regiment to celebrate the 25th Anniversary.

American Airborne Museum

Inside of the glider displayed in the American Airborne Museum at Sainte-Mère-Église. I highly recommend the visit of this great Museum.

Merderet Bridge.

General Gavin's fox hole at La Fière.

La Fière Bridge and Merderet River

The 82nd airborne division astride the merderet.

One of the most confused fights took place west of the village at La Fière Bridge, over the Merderet River. Uncoordinated groups from the 505th, 507th, and 508th regiments hold the position and finally went over the bridge on the 7th. The Monument Iron Mike is overlooking the site, its twin statutes is at Fort Benning. Alongside the road is General Gavin's fox hole. The photo of flooded marshland, a common occurrence that Germans exploited, shows the conditions as they were in 1944.

A piece of cake

«general omar n. bradley called the assault landing on utah beach «a piece of cake», and it was, compared to that on omaha».

General Omar N. Bradley called the assault landing on Utah Beach «a piece of cake», and it was, compared to that on Omaha. The landing plan called for the 4th Infantry Division (Major General Raymond O. Barton) to land along 2,200 yards of sandy beach on a two-regiment front, two battalions abreast. Colonel James A. Van Fleet's 8th Infantry (including the 3d Battalion, 22d Infantry) was to land at 0630, followed by the 22d Infantry in eighty-five minutes and the 12th Infantry at 1030.

DD tanks were to lead the way in, preceded by an intense naval and air bombardment. Various engineer units were scheduled to land close behind the infantry to clear beach obstructions and to blow gaps in the low sea wall paralleling the beach.

The landing of the thirty-two DD tanks was delayed when one of the control ships was sunk by a mine. Four of the tanks were lost when the LCT carrying them sank before they could be launched. In contrast to the heavy losses off Omaha, twenty-eight DD's made it to the beach able to provide fire support for the infantry already ashore.

In proud memory of our dead

In addition to a D-Day museum, La Madeleine is the site of these monuments:

• an obelisk commemorating the D Day landing of the 4th U.S. Infantry Division,
• a stone commemorating the 90th U.S. Infantry Division.

The first (designated 00) of the 1182 cylindrical milestones marking the «Voie de la Liberté», the route that the U.S. Third Army followed from Normandy to Bastogne. All bear forty-eight stars and a symbolic torch of liberty patterned after that held aloft by «Liberty» in New York harbor. They are similar to the stones which line La Voie Sacrée (the Sacred Way), the road from Bar-le-Duc to Verdun along which hundreds of thousands of French soldiers moved in 1916. A monument to the 1st Engineer Special Brigade, raised in 1945 atop a blockhouse of the W5 strongpoint. This massive blockhouse, captured on D-Day and used as the Brigade HQ, contains a memorial crypt (protected by a locked iron grill) commemorating the members of the Brigade who died on Utah Beach. Another plaque commemorates Maj. General Eugene Mead Caffey and the achievements of the Brigade he commanded. Other plaques in French and English commemorate the assault on Utah Beach. An imposing stone plinth, unveiled by General J. Laughton Collins on 5 June 1984, commemorating «in humble tribute... its sons who lost their lives in the liberation of these beaches, June 6, 1944». A stone plaque marking the presence of the heads of state of the United States, France, Great Britain, Luxembourg, Belgium, Norway, and the Netherlands for the 40th anniversary of D-Day. A stone plaque commemorating General Dwight D. Eisenhower as Supreme Allied Commander. Some fifty-nine road signs named after members of the 1st Engineer Special Brigade who died in the fighting on Utah Beach.

Azeville, Casemates.

German Batteries

Crisbecq, german battery.

I highly recommend this visit. Take an hour or so to discover an amazing number of bunkers, which were buried for years after the war and finally exhumed by the landowner. This fortified complex contained casemates housing 210-mm guns which easily reached Utah Beach. Despite shelling from large-caliber guns and repeated infantry assaults, the battery held out until 12 June, all the while harassing landing operations. It was the one major battery in the lodgement area that actually became a factor in the post-D-Day battle.

Azeville, German Battery

The casemates, that housed four French 105-mm guns, flank the road just before you enter the village. The casemates are not open to visitors. After withstanding attacks from the 22d Infantry for two days, the battery surrendered after a flamethrower, triggered by Private Ralph G. Riley, set off ammunition inside one of the casemates. Riley was awarded the Silver Star for his single-handed attack.

Foucarville, Prisonners Camp No. 19

By the end of June a camp for 20,000 German prisoners was established, which finally was extended to 40,000 men including 18 Generals and 6 Admirals. The Camp was commanded by Lt. Col. Kennedy.

This CCE was almost a town, with hospital, prison, churches, theatre, pub, bakery etc... The total surface was 306 acres including 48 acres of garden, circumference 3.2 miles, roads and side walks 3.9 miles, barbe wired fences 180 miles, water pipe lines 24 miles, high voltage line 19 miles, communication lines 64 miles, phone installed 275, squad tents 1100, pyramidal tents 370, 50 kitchen...

Unfortunately nothing subsists today apart a barn made with field stones use as explosive storage and use as private living home today.

Les Dunes-de-Varreville, 2nd DB Memorial

Les Dunes-de-Varreville (WN 10), the original D-Day landing objective of the 4th Division.

In 1944, this area was strongly defended, and many of the original blockhouses still squat ominously amid the dunes.

Today, the site is marked by a monument, a Sherman tank with French insignia which commemorate the 1 August landing of the 2d French Armored Division, a half-track and an armored car M18.

The D-Day tours with Utah Beach

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Quentin Roosevelt grave.

American Cemetery

The garden of the missing.

Its semi-circular wall contains the name of 1.557 MIAs, they come from 49 of the 50 States. The tragic night of December 24th is engraved on that wall. German U-Boats were trying to prevent Allied reinforcements from reaching «The Battle of the Bulge». The 66th Infantry Division was not going to the Bulge, but Saint-Nazaire. At 6.00 pm on Christmas Eve, a torpedo exploded into the starboard aft hold of the transport ship «Leopoldville», packed with 2,235 G.I.'s from the Division. The ship remained afloat for 2-1/2 hours before sinking into the English Channel 5-1/2 miles north Cherbourg. Because of the holiday celebrations, rescue was slow in coming to the ship. When rescue ships arrived while the ship was taking on sea water, many different scenarios developed around victims and survivors. Approximately 516 G.I.'s were missing and presumably went down with the ship, and another 248 died from injuries, drowning, or hypothermia from the 48° sea water. The huge loss of lives proved embarrassing to the governments of France, England, Belgium, and the U.S.A. Wartime security kept the tragedy details buried for fifty years. Many families of the 764 victims and the 1,471 survivors still do not know details about the Christmas death of their sons.

The Memorial

The Memorial is centered by a 22 foot bronze statue, on both sides two enamel maps, representing the Battle of Normandy in South loggia till August 1st and the Battle of Europe in North loggia, notice the shingles on the ground, reminding the beach. The four scenes on the urns in the north loggia are the same in the south one. The Statues and the urns were made by De Lue.

Theodore J. Roosevelt and Quentin Roosevelt

Theodore J. Roosevelt, President Theodore son's and President Franklin D. Roosevelt nephew's. Born: 9/13/1887. Medal of Honor. Dead from heart attack at Méautis on July 12th during the night. Plot D, Row 28, grave 45.

Quentin Roosevelt, President Theodore son's and President Franklin D. Roosevelt nephew's. Theodore's youngest brother. Born 11/19/1897.Dead in a Nieuport 28 fighter, was shot down behind German lines by Sgt. Thom, a German ace with 24 victories on Jul 14th 1918 WWI. Plot D, Row 28, grave 46.

Pointe du Hoc

To reach the Pointe du Hoc Ranger Monument, now maintained by the American Battle Monuments Commission, follow the direction signs west along D 514 to the car park outside the monument (6 m).

The Pointe du Hoc today retains much of its battlefield character because of the destruction left by the rain of bombs and shells the Allies unleashed to neutralize this rocky point. The much feared battery was bombed three times before D-Day, then hit from the air again that morning. 600 tones of bombs were dropped. The battleships Texas and Arkansas battered the area with their 14- and 12-inch guns just after dawn. The destroyer Satterlee saturated the position with her 5-inch guns in direct support of the Rangers.

This concentration of fire left craters and ruined casemates which over sixty years have yet to erase. From the barbed-wire fence along the cliff top, you can look down the hundred-foot cliff to the east beach where three companies of the 2d Ranger Battalion, commanded by Lieutenant Colonel James E. Rudder, landed on D Day. Their mission was to scale the cliff, then silence the six 155-mm GPF thought to threaten the landing operations on both American beaches.

Omaha Sector First Wave

«every man who set foot on omaha beach that day was a hero», the american planning.

H-Hour was 6.30 am on June 6th 1944. The landing window had to consider the availabilities of landing craft, Navy and air support. Plus the combination of daylight, tide and moonlight. Low tide was at 05.30 am, sunrise was at 05.58 am. The D-Day planners decided to land at 06.30 for several reasons: LCA's could come closer to the bluff, minimizing the uncovered distance for the GIs, and all the obstacles would be exposed. The sunrise hour permitted the Navy and the Air Force to optimize their shelling and Bombardment.

In military times are discussed from the moment an operation begins thus: D-Day for the invasion of France in 1944 was June 6th. H-Hour is the beginning hour and minute of an operation. For the 29th, 1st and 4th Infantry Divisions H-Hour was 06.30 am, for the paratroopers 82nd and 101st H-Hour was 01.30 am on D-Day June 6th 1944.

«Two kinds of people are staying on this beach, the dead and those who are going to die now let's get the hell out of here» Col. George A. Taylor

Medal of honor in the cemetery and 1st id memorial, «we too born to freedom and believing in freedom are willing to fight to maintain freedom - we and all others who believe as deeply as we do would rather die on our feet than live on our knees» f.d. roosevelt 19 june 1941, ike head quarter on continent.

On April 27th 1944 was established the first Headquarter «SHARPENER» located at 0.8 mile from Southwick House, close by the huge SHAEF Camp «SHIPMATE». General Eisenhower stayed there from June 2nd to June 12th 1944.

Regarding the inland movement on the continent, it had been decided to establish an advance HQ in the village of Maison in-between Port-en-Bessin and Bayeux on D6 road. Maison was selected because of its immediate proximity with Longues Air Strip (B11) and Tour en Bessin Airstrip (A13) and also a midway position between Omaha and Gold Sectors. This CP will be operational from July 31st and will be referenced as CP12.

But it wasn't used by Eisenhower, only as a SHAEF transit camp in August 1944. It was decided to organize a new CP at Le Planitre near Molay Littry close by A9D, this camp will be use from August 5th but still not by Ike. Another one is activated on August 7th at Tournières, referenced as CP21 «SHELLBURST» where Ike welcomed Prime Minister Churchill, Gen. Montgommery, on August 20th Gen. De Gaulle with Gen. Koenig and many other celebrities. An airstrip was built in the next field. After the Saint-Lô breakthrough («Cobra» Operation) the SHAEF HQ was transferred near Grainville, on August 16th, Communication Service was established in the Hôtel Normandy, code-named «LIBERTY».

On September 15th the new Grand HQ was moved to Saint-Ouen at Jullouville. Almost 3000 people worked there, and on August 30th Ike stayed at Château Montgommery at Saint Jean le Thomas 4 miles away from Jullouville. On September 10th the Grand HQ was transferred to Versailles (Palace Trianon).

The D-Day tours with Omaha Beach

The parts of my books about omaha beach, battlefield guide book , chap. 4: tour a/c, omaha sector first wave, battlefield guide book , chap. 5: tour a, omaha sector, normandy travel: françois gauthron, wwii battlefields expert licensed guide.

François Gauthron is an official tour guide.

He has been guiding Battlefields for more than 15 years, Normandy is his region of birth.

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Band of Brothers® Tours

This tour is special. There is nothing else like it.

– Major Dick Winters, The Commander of Easy Company

This is the best Band of Brothers® Tour you can take. Our founder, Stephen E. Ambrose, wrote the book. We meticulously crafted the ORIGINAL Band of Brothers® Tour based on the recollections of the paratroopers themselves and the extensive research of Dr. Ambrose and the editors of Military History Quarterly and World War II magazines.

Anybody that has come along since then is just copying us.

For more information, read: Dick Winters and How the Band of Brothers® Tour Began >

About our Band of Brothers® Tour

Immortalized by the Stephen Ambrose bestseller, “Band of Brothers,” and brought to millions more in the epic Steven Spielberg/Tom Hanks HBO miniseries of the same name, the men of Easy Company were on an extraordinary journey during WWII. From D-Day to V-E Day, the paratroopers of E Company, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, participated in some of the war’s most critical battles and proved to truly be a company of heroes.

Our Band of Brothers® Tour follows the path of Easy Company from its training bases in Toccoa, Georgia, and England into combat in France, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg and on to final victory at Berchtesgaden, Germany, Adolf Hitler’s Alpine retreat. You’ll stand in the very foxholes and precise locations where the men of Easy Company fought in some of the most climatic battles of World War II.

This tour is the ultimate Band of Brothers® Tour, an experience unparalleled in its accuracy and insight.

There will be some free time to relax, shop and do your own exploration in some of Europe’s most charming villages and cities, while evenings will be spent over delicious dinners where you can recount the day’s events with your fellow travelers as you, too, become a Band of Brothers.

The optional pre-tour extension is only offered a few times per year. It starts in Atlanta and includes a visit to Camp Toccoa at Mt. Currahee. Here, you will see Easy Company’s training grounds before returning to Atlanta. There is no group flight; Toccoa Extension guests must book their own trans-Atlantic flights. SAHT will instruct Toccoa Extension guests on a specific flight to purchase (ATL to LHR).

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• Optional Toccoa Extension : Begin your once-in-a-lifetime experience where the men of Easy Company began—at the training camp in Toccoa, Georgia
• Aldbourne, England : Visit the site where the men of Easy Company did their pre-invasion training
• Beaches of Normandy : More than 75 years after the invasion, Utah and Omaha beaches remain hallowed ground
• Brecourt Manor in Normandy : See the actual site where the men of Easy Company silenced the Nazi artillery on a VIP tour
• Sainte-Mère-Église : Learn the true story of what happened at Sainte-Mère-Église in Normandy
• St. Catherine’s Church : Tour the church where Dick Winters went up into the steeple and spotted a German tank column
• Explore Operation Market Garden in the Netherlands : Site of the famous bridge over the Rhine, the Bridge of Nijmegen, that was the objective of Operation Market Garden
• Bastogne and the Battle of the Bulge in Belgium and Luxembourg : Site of the epic eight-day stand against the Germans in December 1944
• Hitler’s Alpine Retreat : Proceed to the war’s end and final victory at Berchtesgaden
• Zell Am See : See where the men of Easy Company celebrated the anniversary of their jump into Normandy by parachuting into the waters of Zeller See Lake

Day-By-Day Itinerary

The Toccoa Extension starts one day before Day 1 of the tour.

Extension Pre-Tour Guests

Arrival in Atlanta. The tour begins in Atlanta with an informal Welcome Reception where participants will have an opportunity to get acquainted with each other and meet the historians and tour staff. A brief overview of the legacy of Easy Company will set the stage for the days ahead.

DAY 1 Tour Group: Flight to London; Extension Group: Arrival in Atlanta

Tour-only Guests : Take overnight flight to London Heathrow. Assuming your departure is from the USA, you should board your overnight flight to London Heathrow, landing on Day 2.

Pre-tour Extension Guests : Toccoa: Birthplace of the 506th. Ask any of the original members of Easy Company what made the unit so special and they will answer: “Toccoa.” This training ground in the north Georgia woods was where the bonding process of the 506th began. As it did for so many of the men of Easy Company, our tour of Toccoa will begin at the train station where recruits for the 506th first arrived. The station also houses the Stephens County Historical Society, the 506th Museum, and the unique collection of artifacts and memorabilia from Camp Toccoa.

Following lunch, we travel to the site of the Camp and then proceed up Mount Currahee, the 1,000-foot mountain the men of the 506th ran daily for training. Here they drew their inspiration and motto “Currahee,” an Indian word meaning “We Stand Alone.”

We end the day with a 4:30 p.m. or earlier airport dropoff. Guests book their own overnight flights to London Heathrow (LHR).

DAY 2 Arrival in London

All Guests : Arrive at London Heathrow. You will arrive in London this morning. Hotel accommodations will be provided at a Heathrow airport hotel. Standard check-in time is 3 p.m. The first tour activity will be a short 5 p.m. meet-up in the tour hotel’s conference room. Dinner is own your own, giving guests the option to take the tube to the city for an exciting night on the town, or have a relaxing dinner at the hotel restaurant.

DAY 3 England, Prelude to Invasion

Our morning starts with a visit to Littlecote House, the historic English manor that was headquarters for the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment for the six months prior to the invasion. We will tour Aldbourne, the tiny Wiltshire village that was the home of Easy Company, and visit many of the buildings used by the men of Easy as they prepared for the greatest invasion in history. When in the village we will have an opportunity to enjoy a traditional lunch in the same pubs frequented by the men of the Easy Company.

DAY 4 Crossing the Channel

We begin our day in Portsmouth with a visit to the award-winning D-Day Museum and Southwick House, the elegant country house that became the location of the Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force. In the months leading up to D-Day, Southwick House became the headquarters of the main Allied commanders: Allied Supreme Commander, General Eisenhower; Naval Commander-in-Chief, Admiral Ramsay; and the Army Commander-in-Chief, General Montgomery. Large wall maps that were used in planning D-Day are still in place in the house, with markers showing the positions of the involved forces at the moments of the first landings. After our visit to Southwick House, we board the cross-channel ferry to France.

DAY 5 Fortress Europe

At the start of the invasion, several members of Easy Company landed in and around Ste-Mere- Eglise, including Richard Winters, Carwood Lipton, and Bill Guarnere. Here we begin our historical tracings of the 506th in France. This is where Dick Winters took command after the tragic death of Lt. Thomas Meehan. From Ste-Mere-Eglise we follow the route Lieutenant Winters and a handful of men took on the first night of the invasion to Brecourt Manor. In 1944, the manor was the site of a German battery that threatened the invasion beaches at Utah.

From the manor, we proceed to Utah Beach and the Utah Beach Museum. From Ste-Marie-du-Mont, we will travel past Dead Man's Corner, and into Carentan, the Norman town that was one of the Allies' earliest objectives. We will see the site of Easy Company's battle as they entered the town on June 12, and the square from which General Maxwell Taylor presented awards to his men for their gallant performance during the invasion.

DAY 6 Normandy Coast

Rising early the next morning, we will drive to Omaha Beach where the Americans took the German fortifications after a stupendous fight. The six-mile-wide invasion beach is surrounded by cliffs that made the landing and attack extremely difficult. Landings here were necessary in order to link with British landings to the east at Gold Beach with the American landing to the west at Utah Beach, thus providing a continuous foothold on the Normandy coast. Very little went as planned during the landing at Omaha Beach. Many landing crafts missed their targets throughout the day. German defenses were strong and inflicted heavy casualties on US troops. Losses were especially high in the first wave of landings; there were 2,400 casualties on Omaha Beach alone. We will study the battlefield and hear accounts of the action, cross the beach, analyze the maps and imagine the courage that saved our freedom that day.

Today the American Cemetery stretches along the bluff overlooking Omaha Beach. It covers 172 acres and contains the remains of American military dead, most of whom were killed during the invasion of Normandy and ensuing military operations in World War II. The names of the Americans who lost their lives in the conflict but could not be located and/or identified are inscribed on the walls of a semicircular garden at the east side of the memorial. We will spend some time at the cemetery to pay our respects. In the afternoon we will visit the bridge over the Caen Canal, today called Pegasus Bridge after the symbol of the British airborne forces. Pegasus Bridge, captured by a glider-borne company of the 6th Division British Airborne Troops, was the first engagement of D-Day, and the turning point of World War II.

DAY 7 Remember September

Today we will study Operation Market Garden, the largest airborne operation of the war. In broad daylight, the 101st Airborne Division parachuted into the Netherlands in a bold strike in order to seize bridges across rivers and adjacent canals from Belgium to Arnhem. From there we will head to Son, the location of the 506th’s drop zone and the bridge over Wilhelmina. Under the command of Colonel Sink, their mission was to capture the bridge over the Wilhelmina Canal and then advance south to Eindhoven. We will then follow the company's route into Eindhoven and visit Saint Catherine's church where many of the original liberators gathered in September 1944. Our last stop of the day will be the Veghel battle site, where all of the 101st Airborne Division fought to keep Hell's Highway clear of enemy troops.

DAY 8 Where They Stand

Our travels continue along Hells Highway, the route followed by the British XXX Corps as it attempted to reach its embattled 1st Airborne Division, in Arnhem. Our travels will also take us to the famous bridge over the Waal River that was a key objective of Operation Market Garden, the Bridge at Nijmegen. Following lunch at the De Westerbouwing restaurant, which in 1944 was a German observation position, we travel to the Island, a 5-kilometer strip of land between the Neder Rijm and the Waal and the northernmost point of Allied territory. While at the Island, we will visit the E Company positions during the month-long stalemate at the end of Operation Market Garden.

After a stop at Tor Schoonderlogt, a farm which was the 2nd Battalion Headquarters, we will visit Easy Company's jump-off point for Operation Pegasus, a mission to rescue trapped British paratroopers. We will walk the site of the fight at the Crossroads, where E Company attacked and destroyed a company of elite SS soldiers, preventing over 300 German soldiers from joining an attack on the 506th regimental headquarters. You will stand in the very spots where American and German forces stood, and will understand what Stephen Ambrose meant when he said that the best way to understand history is to study the places it was made.

DAY 9 Bastogne

Our next stop is Bastogne, Belgium, the site of the division's epic eight-day stand against the Germans in December 1944. Along the way, we stop at the American Battle Monuments Commissions Netherlands American Cemetery and Memorial at Margraten to pay our respects at the graves of Easy Company men killed in the Netherlands and Belgium. In Bastogne, we visit the Battle of the Bulge Museum and General Anthony McAuliffe's headquarters during the siege.

DAY 10 The Bois Jacques and Beyond

Saturday starts with a visit to the Bois Jacques, Halt Station, and Easy Company's foxholes overlooking the village of Foy. From Foy we will follow the company's route through Recogne, stopping to visit the German cemetery, Cobru, Noville, and Luzory. We conclude our day at the American Cemetery in Luxembourg, where General George S. Patton is buried with members of his 3rd Army.

DAY 11 The Last Patrol

From Bastogne, we head to Fort Simserhof, a beautifully preserved Maginot Line fortification, and a visit to the Muse de la Fortification du Simserhof. Our day concludes with a visit to Hagenau, the site of some of Easy Company's final battles and several daring patrols.

DAY 12 Why We Fight

On April 29, 1945, as they advanced into the Bavarian Alps, Easy Company liberated a satellite of the Dachau concentration camp at Landsberg. We will visit Dachau, the site of some of the most nefarious acts of and against humankind during the war, as we travel south through Bavaria. Constructed in a disused gunpowder factory, Dachau was the first concentration-style camp after which all subsequent concentration camps were modeled. In total, over 200,000 prisoners from more than 30 countries were housed in Dachau, with at least 30,000 registered prisoners are believed to have died in the camp and its subcamps: notably Jews, resistance fighters, clergymen, politicians, communists, writers, artists, and royalty. The second camp liberated by British or American forces, Dachau was one of the first places where the west was exposed to Nazi brutality.

DAY 13 The Eagle’s Nest

Our study of Easy Company battlefields ends at Adolf Hitler's Alpine retreat at Berchtesgaden, where we will visit the Eagles Nest and the remains of the vast Nazi Party complex liberated by Easy Company in May 1945. Eagles Nest was built as a 50th birthday present to Hitler from the Nazi party. Perched at 6017 feet, the Eagle's Nest and the road network leading to it were considered feats of engineering as they were completed in only 13 months' time in 1937-38.

DAY 14 Points

As it did for the men of Easy Company, our travels will end at Zell am See and Kaprun, Austria, where they celebrated the anniversary of their jump into Normandy with a parachute drop into the waters of the Zeller See Lake. In the evening we will have a final special banquet, where we can reflect on our trip and the Band of Brothers®' role in securing victory in Europe.

DAY 15 Going Home

Drop off at Munich Airport.

• May 3 - 17, 2024 Sold Out!
• May 3, 2024 Toccoa Extension Sold Out!
• May 4 - 18, 2024 Sold Out!
• May 10 - 24, 2024 Sold Out!
• June 14 - 28, 2024 (two seats left)
• June 21, 2024 Toccoa Extension
• June 21 - July 5, 2024 Sold Out!
• June 28, 2024 Toccoa Extension
• June 28 - July 12, 2024 - Waitlist Only!
• July 12 - 26, 2024 - Waitlist Only!
• July 19 - August 2, 2024 - Waitlist Only!
• September 11, 2024 Toccoa Extension
• September 11 - 25, 2024 - Waitlist Only!
• September 12 - 26, 2024 - Waitlist Only!
• September 20 - October 4, 2024 - Waitlist Only!
• September 27, 2024 Toccoa Extension
• September 27 - October 11, 2024 (two seats left)
• October 4 - 18, 2024 (two seats left)
• May 8, 2025 Toccoa Extension
• May 9 - 23, 2025 Sold Out!
• May 16 - 30, 2025
• June 13 - 27, 2025
• June 19, 2025 Toccoa Extension
• June 20 - July 4, 2025
• July 11 - 25, 2025
• July 18 - August 1, 2025
• September 10, 2025 Toccoa Extension
• September 11 - 25, 2025
• September 12 - 26, 2025

Recommended Reading

Band of Brothers by Stephen E. Ambrose

Tour Includes

• Full-time Tour Historian 24/7
• Full-time Tour Manager
• First class accommodations in 3- and 4-star hotels
• Rooms with private bath or shower, hotel taxes, porterage and service charges
• Touring by first class air-conditioned motorcoach
• Channel crossing to Normandy via ferry
• All breakfasts, some lunches, most dinners
• All entrance fees to museums and attractions
• Educational road book full of maps and historical information
• Guests are responsible for booking their own flights, although SAHT is happy to assist and advise.
• Toccoa Extension guests must book the specific flight as instructed by SAHT for the Atlanta to London leg on Day 2.

Activity Level

As with all of our tours, we prefer to spend our time on the battlefields. There will be some museum stops, but please be prepared to walk on sandy beaches and cobblestone streets. There is a fair amount of walking, especially in Normandy.

Photo Gallery

• Chris Anderson
• Matt Broggie
• Jonathan Carroll

TRIP COST $7,190

Prices are per person based on double occupancy. If rooming alone, there is a single occupancy supplement of $1,900.

TOCCOA EXTENSION: $800 per person based on double occupancy; $250 single occupancy supplement. Trip cost does NOT include trans-Atlantic flights. Please note the Toccoa extension is not offered on each departure.

Our Guests’ Reviews

There are 19 reviews for ' Band of Brothers® Tours '. Add your review

Ambrose tour with Chris Anderson and George Luz Jr.

I can’t imagine anyone anywhere who could provide a more enjoyable and informative event (it’s far more than a tour). This tour is non pareil for sure. Chris and George were delightful and incredibly knowledgeable as both had many interactions with “the men” of the 506th. Thanks for a memory of a lifetime!

Exceeded expectations!

Day 14 of my Band of Brothers tour – Points (Going Home).

What an amazing two weeks! I thought I knew the story of the Band of Brothers. I have seen the complete series countless times. I have read the book by Stephen Ambrose several times. I have read just about every book authored by historians and/or by the men from Easy Company. This tour gave me a perspective that none of those stories could.

On this tour, I was able to walk the ground and see where the history actually took place. I was at Camp Toccoa and went to the top of Mount Curahee. I was at Brecourt Manor and saw where the German guns were located. I saw the tree line that Winters and Compton used to attack each gun. We were explained the tactics used and why. I was able to look down on Foy from the Bois Jacques. I saw the remnants of Easy Company fox holes. We were taken into Foy and were told how the battle progressed. We saw battle damage on buildings that were a direct result of Easy Company fire. We stood on the bank of the river in Haguenau where Easy’s last patrol crossed. I sat in the main hall of Hitler’s Eagles Nest.

But our trip wasn’t just about Easy Company and all they accomplished. I saw the D-Day planning maps at Southwick House. I saw Pegasus Bridge where the first Allied soldiers landed on D-Day. I walked the ground of Pointe du Hoc and marveled at how the US Rangers could have scaled the cliff. I saw French fortifications on the Maginot line. I visited US cemeteries at Omaha Beach, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg. We even stopped at a German cemetery outside of Bastogne.

There are so many more examples that I could go on of how special this trip was. I met some great people, stayed at some amazing hotels, and ate wonderful food.

If you have an interest in Easy Company, this trip through Stephen Ambrose Historical Tours is the only way to go. Our historian Matt and tour coordinator Connie did an amazing job of making this trip a once in a lifetime experience. It exceeded all expectations. I would travel again with Stephen Ambrose Tours in a heartbeat. After each day, I didn’t think the next day could be better but unequivocally it was. If this trip would have ended after just the first few days, where we studied all aspects of the Overlord invasion, I would have felt that it was worth every penny.

We traveled 1,873 miles, through 8 different countries during the 14 day tour. I have memories of a lifetime. I will pass on my experiences to anyone who will listen because history has to be retold so it does not repeat itself.

There are a lot of other “Band of Brothers” type tours out there but, this is the ORIGINAL one. Developed by Dr. Ambrose who met and traveled with the men from Easy Company. Dr. Ambrose walked the actual ground with Dick Winters and the other members of Easy so every aspect of tour was correct. Don’t be fooled by imitations. Chose the first and the finest!

Band of Brothers tour: 7-21 July 2023

The best trip that I’ve ever taken : Bar none. Chris Anderson, George Luz and Klaus the bus driver where 3 of the best team members ever. I don’t know, but I think Chris knows everyone in Europe whom has anything to do with BOB’s. George Luz had first hand experience, because he is the son of George Luz an Easy Company member. Because Chris and George have had many experiences with the men of Easy Company, it made all the difference in this tour. I could go on for hours and hours talking about this tour, but if you are a history buff it is something that you need to make your best efforts to try and make it happen.

Best of the Best!

This was my third SAHT tour with Chris Anderson and it far exceeded my expectations. Just when I think it can’t get any better, Chris puts it over-the-top. With his firsthand accounts from the dozens of Easy Company survivors that he personally knew as well as his personal friendship with Major Dick Winters, he brings the events to life and you can’t help but feel that you’re actually there as an eyewitness. Chris has developed unique and personal relationships with the de Vallavielle family at Brecourt Manor (behind Utah Beach), the Overveld family at the drop zone in Son, Holland and other contacts on the tour that will leave you with memorable experiences that NO other guide can offer. He is a master historian and storyteller that is not afraid to show his true emotions as he shares the well documented accounts through seven countries and 3,000 miles of travel. Oh, and don’t miss the Toccoa extension; even if you have to make a separate trip, do it BEFORE you take the tour with Chris.

Band of Brothers - October 2022 - Unforgettable, Outstanding, and Fun!

This was our first Stephen Ambrose tour, and we wanted to go with Chris Anderson, because we enjoy his History Happy Hours each Sunday. Having a cursory knowlege of the subject area, we really didn’t know what to expect, but having said that, the context, knowledge base, details, locations, and Chris’s personal relationship with most of the Easy Company men all added to the fantastic experience. We were able to go to places along the route that were not seen by many tours based on the personal relationship that Chris has with many of the “locals.” Keith Smith, tour manager for this trip took constant care of all of us, and our driver, Klaus, maneuvered our tour bus into every nook and cranny on the way. Food was exceptional as were the majority of the accommodations. This is a tour that will touch everyone’s hearts and minds — the bravery of the 101, et. al. No one should hesitate to take this tour … get on the list! We have already booked tours for 2023!

Best Trip I Have Ever Taken

I took the trip in May 2016 as a birthday gift to celebrate my 5oth year of life. I took along a buddy of mine who knew very little about the Band of Brothers series or World War II. I was surprised how much he enjoyed the tour as well. It was no doubt the best trip I’ve been on. It was well worth every penny I spent, and actually exceeded expectations! Ron Drez was our guide and we couldn’t have asked for a better one. He was so knowledgeable with so many stories. He made the trip so special. Every day was a new adventure. I would suggest starting the trip in Toccoa, GA. It is longer and more money but worth it. It’s been almost 6 years later and I still have great memories of this tour! Simply the best!! I would go again, it was that good!

The Best Tour by far.

My dad and I travelled from Australia to do this tour back in 2005. We had Easy Co veterans Forrest Guth and Buck Taylor on the tour with us. Chris Anderson did an amazing job. The tour was an experience that I will never forget. I can not recommend it highly enough. Thanks Chris and team.

Band of Brothers

Best trip I have ever been on! You really can’t appreciate what our boys did for us until you go on this trip and actually see where they had to go and the hardships they had to endure

Band of Brothers Historical Tour

This tour was beyond our expectations. My husband’s Dad trained at Camp Toccoa and participated in the forced march from Toccoa to Atlanta. Even though he was transferred to the 502nd at Fort Benning, we were able to visit each place he jumped and fought. For my husband to be at the jump zone where his Dad landed 75 years earlier was an unforgettable experience. The celebration of liberation in Eindhoven was another experience we shall never forget. To actually visit the places I had taught about for so many years made this the trip of a lifetime. I only wish I had taken this trip earlier to share with my students and my father-in-law!

Over the years I have taken many tours but without question the origianal Band of Brother’s tour I took in 2013 was the best historical tour I’ve ever experienced. Ron Drez was our leader and he did a masterful job of weaving the experiences of Easy Company losing sight of the bigger picture. One can not walk away from the tour without a deep understanding and lasting admiration of leaders such as Richard Winters. What leadership! On more than one occasion I’ve been tempted to repeat the experience.

Band of Brothers Tour

I had been thinking about this tour for some time & Dave Meyer decided to join me. Chris Anderson & George Luz Jr. made it a truly unforgettable experience with the research & personal contact with the Easy Company guys. We were hoping for a good trip but had a great tour filled with some extras we did not expect that are much appreciated. We had a super group & met some new friends that made it even more special. A big thanks to Chris, George & our driver Henny for a memory of a life time tour. We will recommend SAHT to anyone thinking about this tour, could not be better.

Band of Brothers - September 2018 - Wonderful Tour

This was absolutely the trip of a lifetime. I have wanted to do this tour for years and I finally set aside the time to do it. Chris Anderson, George Luz, Jr. and Henny (our great driver) made the tour truly unforgettable. Every day was a new adventure for me and my wife – – made even more special by the personal experiences relayed to us by Chris and George because of their friendships with the men of Easy Company (and George’s stories of his dad). Thanks to Chris, George and Henny for a job that went “above and beyond the call of duty.” For my fellow tour guests (who are now my new good friends)… “What time is it?”….

Band of Brothers Tour Sept 2016

This was as amazing trip and opportunity to learn more about Easy Company. This was my third trip with Stephen Ambrose Tours and was the best of the trio. Our group was wonderful and resulted in a couple of friends we still remain in contact with. The historian was Ron Drez, his knowledge of the Band of Brothers and their story was second to none. At every stop on the tour Ron was able to relate the story in a way that painted a picture that even someone with only a casual knowledge of history, could follow along. All accommodations and meals were first class and impeccably arranged. I highly recommend SAHT to all that our looking to learn more about the Band of Brothers. Looking forward to my next trip with them, this time for the 75th anniversary of DDay.

The tour and our June 2018 guides

An experience of a lifetime. Not just information. An exercise of the heart as well, that lingers long in its memories. Great that teenagers were along with their parents as well as old geezers like me, and a group in the middle whose parents or grandparents had participated in WWII. Chris Anderson & George Luz were the perfect team of guides. Chris the historian who interviewed Stephen Ambrose and Easy Co’s survivors and George the son of an Easy Co soldier depicted in the book and HBO series

I’ve wanted to take this trip ever since Stephen Ambrose lead it. When Mike and I first started talking about it and researching options he mentioned another company, but to me there was only one choice: Stephen Ambrose wrote the book on the Band of Brothers. I regretted not being able to make the trip with Ambrose but still felt the group he started would provide the best tour. The trip was better than I ever hoped for – the personal stories and insights, and the passion for the men of Easy Company, that George and Chris shared with us could not have been duplicated by any other team. I am very grateful! I still believe taking the trip with Ambrose would have been wonderful, but recognize that Band of Brothers was a book project for him. Chris and George literally grew up with them. No other team can match that! My wife and I are planning to take the tour together in 2019, maybe 2020, provided that Chris and George are still leading it as a team. It has been my stories about the two of them that convinced her to go.

Fantastic, Excellent, Outstanding....

I was on the June 2016 tour…Fantastic, Excellent, Outstanding are just some of the terms that come to mind when I remember this tour.

We stayed in very nice hotels, the bus was first rate (especially our driver Henne…the man could drive a bus anywhere). The historian/guide Chris Anderson was informative, knowledgeable and most importantly cared deeply about the subject (he also had some great back stories to tell). Our logistics Guide Matt Brogge did a fantastic job (he had us running like a well oiled machine).

I’ve read comments from people who have not taken this tour and they seem to believe that this tour is a victory lap for Easy Company, 506th PIR, 101st Airborne. It is not that at all.

While the tour does concentrate on Easy Company it does not skimp or leave out other units who were involved in action in the areas where you will visit. For example, standing on Omaha Beach at the Vierville Draw and looking at the terrain and the defensive positions that had to be taken and overcome, will fill you with awe for the men of the 29th Infantry Division who assaulted the beach.

Following Easy Company will give you a good idea of what the average combat infantry man went through. This tour put into perspective the large scale of the war and also the personal human toll paid for in blood by common everyday Americans. (Not a very easy thing to do, in my opinion)

I would not mess around with any other tour company, if you want a fantastic experience, tour with this group. They hit the ball out of the park!

Thanks again, Chris, Matt and Henne! (I am already looking at my next tour)

A bucket list trip

We took this trip in 2015. It was an awesome trip and we are so thrilled we did it. I highly recommend this particular tour. I’m sure we went places and saw things other tours are not able to do. It was a bucket list trip and totally worthwhile. Loved it! The promotions are not hype. Accommodations, food, transportation all as advertised.

The best trip we have ever taken

We have both traveled a great deal, in this country and abroad, and this (Band of Brothers tour with Stephen Ambrose Historical Tours) was truly the best trip we have ever taken. Our historian was an incredible guide and wealth of information. We feel truly blessed that we had such a wonderful team and such a memorable experience.

Unforgettable experiences

Each day was filled with unforgettable experiences. The details about the places and events made the tour so memorable and I learned so much.

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DESTINATION: WWII

A World War II Travel Blog

The 10 Best Local D-Day Tours in Normandy for 2024: Beaches, Battlefields, & Beyond

Last Updated: January 29, 2024 //  by  Ashley Smith Leave a Comment

While many travelers can only squeeze in a day trip to Normandy from Paris , just as many others dedicate a couple of days here to take advantage of the many available Normandy D-Day tours. Booking a local day tour of the many worthwhile D-Day sites is the best way to get the most out of your visit.

Table of Contents

Why book one of the Normandy D-Day tours?

Day tours in Normandy are great for many reasons, for instance:

• Transportation – There’s not a lot of reliable public transportation here, so booking a tour will ensure you can get to all the sites you want to see without having to rent a car.
• Expertise – The Normandy tour guides are experts in their field and can provide loads of historical background on the sites you’ll visit.
• Planning – Or really, the lack thereof. Book yourself on a tour and you won’t have to deal with any of the logistical planning.
• Like-minded travelers – On tours like these you get to meet like-minded travelers excited to discuss the topics at hand and share these experiences. This is especially great if you’re traveling solo.

This post only covers D-Day tours originating in Normandy . You have to already be here to join them, or be able to easily get here before the start time. With the exception of two, all the rest start and end in the town of Bayeux . If you’re looking for Normandy day tours starting and ending in Paris, check out my post on Normandy day tours from Paris .

Choosing the best Normandy D-Day tours

But which of the many available tours out there are the best ones? Which ones go to the best places and cover the most ground? Luckily, you have a World War II travel expert at your disposal to scrutinize them all and help you choose!

I haven’t taken all the tours on this list, but I do have a keen sense of what the average Normandy visitor wants from a tour of the D-Day sites . To create this list, I’ve compared the many available tours against my stringent set of criteria. I’ve taken into account things like:

• Customer rating and reviews
• Length of the tour and start/end times
• Overall benefit (Is it worth your valuable time?)
• Topic/focus of the tour
• Ease of logistics

…and much more. All so you can be sure which of these Normandy D-Day tours are the most deserving of your precious time and money. All the tours in this post are English-language tours and all prices are listed in U.S. dollars.

So how do I go about choosing which tours are the “best?” Well, I’m extremely particular when it comes to booking travel. I’ll never recommend anything that’s rated lower than 4 out of 5 stars, anything with no reviews, or anything that’s offered by a company that looks less than reputable. As always, I only recommend the things I would personally book for myself. (And I’m a hard sell.)

And if you do find yourself in Paris, be sure to check out the many interesting WWII sites in Paris . There are some great museums and memorials here not to miss.

My favorite day tour companies

The two companies I always go to for day tours (anywhere I go) are Viator and Get Your Guide . I’ve booked many tours through them and have always been satisfied. They’re both well-known in the travel industry; Viator is owned by TripAdvisor. They’re both super easy to book with; most tours offer free cancelation; and they always have competitive prices.

I also like Tours By Locals for great private options. You can find some amazing guides here who are fully licensed, with history degrees, years of experience, and unique local perspectives.

So, let’s get to it! All things considered, these are my choices for the best D-Day tours in Normandy for 2024.

For more information on each of the sites and museums mentioned in this post, check out my articles on what to see at each of the five Allied landing beach sectors: Utah , Omaha , Gold , Juno , & Sword Beaches.

Best D-Day tours in Normandy: at a glance

In this post, I’ll dig into what makes these the best D-Day tours to take in Normandy. I’ll tell you why I picked them, what makes them stand out among the others, what they include (and what they don’t), and more. But first, here’s the quick list of my picks for the 10 best Normandy D-Day tours:

• Best overall : Normandy American D-Day Beaches Full Day Tour from Bayeux
• Best half-day tour : American D-Day Sites in Normandy Half-Day Tour
• Best private tour : American D-Day Private Tour with a Licensed Guide
• Best shore excursion : D-Day Landing Beaches Shore Excursion from Le Havre
• Best Band of Brothers tour : Omaha and Band of Brothers Full Day Tour from Bayeux
• Best tour for Canadian visitors : Full-Day Canadian Battlefields and Sites of Normandy Tour
• Most unique Normandy D-Day tour : Half-Day Sidecar Excursion to the Landing Beaches
• Best tour from Caen : Guided D-Day Sites Tour & Caen Memorial Museum
• Best D-Day tour for British visitors : British D-Day World War II Normandy Private Tour
• Best bonus D-Day sites tou r: Utah & Omaha Beaches D-Day Group Tour from Bayeux

That’s the simple list; now let’s dig deeper into which of these Normandy D-Day tours is going to be the best for you .

Also check out: 10 Things You Need to Know Before Visiting Normandy’s D-Day Sites

1. Best overall Normandy D-Day tour from Bayeux

My pick for best overall: Normandy American D-Day Beaches Full Day Tour from Bayeux

Without a doubt, my pick for the absolute best D-Day tour in Normandy is this one, for 3 main reasons: it’s a small group tour (maximum 8 people); it has a 5-star rating after almost 1,000 reviews; and it stops at all the right places.

What you’ll see on this tour

This tour includes stops at:

• Omaha Beach
• St-Mère-Église
• Pointe du Hoc
• Utah Beach and the Utah Beach Museum
• Normandy American Cemetery
• La Cambe German Cemetery*

*This stop isn’t listed in the tour description, but many recent reviews say they also stopped here. If you read my post on the best D-Day sites to visit , you’ll know why I recommend a stop at the German cemetery as well.

Why it’s the best

This tour includes all sites I absolutely recommend visiting and no unnecessary fluff. This tour is also ideal for American visitors since it focuses on the American landing zones of Utah and Omaha Beaches. If you have to choose just one day tour for Normandy, this is your best option!

I also love small-group tours because of the individual attention each visitor receives and it’s just a more enjoyable experience overall . (No being herded or not being able to ask questions, etc.) Plus, this tour has a 5-star rating and almost a thousand rave reviews ! Reviewers’ favorite aspects of this tour have been the knowledgeable tour guides and the choice of stops.

What to expect on this tour:

This is a full-day (9-hour) tour that starts and ends in Bayeux . It includes:

• Pick-up and drop-off in Bayeux
• Your own knowledgeable guide
• Air conditioned private transportation
• Free cancelation up to 24 hours before your tour’s start time

It does not include lunch, optional gratuities, or other personal expenses.

How much this tour costs

As of January 2024, this tour is offered 7 days a week and costs just $139 per person . All things considered, I feel this is a fantastic value for such a highly-rated tour that visits many of the best sites. I would absolutely book this tour myself.

A similar option

There’s another tour that’s similar to this one but that trades in the Utah Beach Museum and La Cambe Germany Cemetery for a visit to the small village of Angoville-au-Plain . If you’d like to visit a small local village where a lot of fighting took place (by the 101 st Airborne), check out: Utah & Omaha Beach D-Day Tour from Bayeux Station .

This tour also has a 5-star rating and tons of rave reviews and is also a small-group tour with a maximum of 8 people.

2. Best half-day Normandy D-Day tour

My pick for best half-day Normandy D-Day tour: American D-Day Sites in Normandy Half-Day Tour from Bayeux

If you find yourself on a time budget here in Normandy but still want to see some of the top D-Day sites, this is the tour for you. This 4-hour tour visits the key American locations, has a maximum of 8 passengers, and has a 5-star review rating.

This half-day Normandy tour includes stops at:

If you have limited time for a D-Day tour , these are three sites you shouldn’t miss . It caps the tour at 8 people for a more personalized experience, and it has a 5-star rating after hundreds of rave reviews . All the best reviews go to the tour guide Matt!

Another thing I love about this tour is that you can choose between morning or afternoon start times . Because it’s just a half-day tour, you can opt for either a 9:00 am start or a 2:00 pm start.

What to expect on this tour

This is a half-day tour (4 hours) that starts and ends in Bayeux . It includes:

• Pick-up and drop-off in Bayeux city center
• Private, air conditioned transportation
• Your own knowledgeable tour guide
• Free cancelation up to 24 hours before your tour

It does not include lunch, optional gratuities, or your own personal expenses.

As of January 2024, this tour is offered 7 days a week, two times per day, and costs $95 per person . For a small group tour that visits the three main American D-Day sites with a passionate and knowledgeable guide, this is a great deal.

3. Best private D-Day Normandy tour

My pick for best private D-Day tour in Normandy: American D-Day Private Tour with a Licensed Guide (Pierre)

There was some stiff competition here for best private tour, but ultimately I chose this one offered by Pierre, a local who lives in Bayeux.

The greatest thing about hiring a private tour guide for Normandy is you get to choose which sites you visit . Most guides have a list of sites they think are the best, but all are open to amending your tour to your preferences. For instance, for this tour, Pierre plans to take you to:

• Utah & Omaha Beach (the two American landing beaches)
• Pointe du Hoc (American battleground)
• Sainte-Mère-Église

But again, he’s happy to work with you to choose which sites to visit in order to create the D-Day tour you’ve always wanted.

I chose this particular tour for the best private option for a few reasons. First, the guide Pierre has been a licensed D-Day tour guide for over 8 years. Not only that, his background is in political science with a master’s degree in American history . And because he was born in France and lives in Bayeux, you’ll be able to get a unique perspective on D-Day. You can read his bio here .

Additionally, this tour is available for groups up to 7 people (whereas many of the others can only accommodate 4) and as such is a much better value than many others

This is a full-day (8.5-hour) private tour that starts and ends in Bayeux. It includes:

• Fully customizable itinerary of sites that you choose (or go with the pre-planned ones)
• Your own private expert local guide with political and historical background

It does not include lunch and other personal expenses, optional gratuities, or museum admission if you choose to visit an extra museum.

As of January 2024, this tour costs $1034 for a group up to 7 people , for everything mentioned above. This is a great option for larger groups or families, but just as awesome for couples looking for a personalized experience.

Honorable mentions

In case this one doesn’t work for you or Pierre isn’t available on your required date, the other private options I considered are:

• American D-Day Beaches Full Day Tour from Bayeux for up to 4 people, with Karine , licensed Normandy tour guide for over 30 years
• American D-Day Beaches Tour for 8-16 people with Sabrina , national tour guide and lecturer
• Landing Beaches, Normandy, D-Day Full Day Private tour from either Caen or Bayeux with Jonathan , licensed tour guide with a master’s degree in French history. This tour costs much less than the other ones, and the caveat is that you pick him up and visit these sites in your own car. You’re booking the guide only here, no driver.

4. Best shore excursion Normandy D-Day tour

My pick for best shore excursion to Normandy’s D-Day sites: D-Day Landing Beaches Shore Excursion from Le Havre

If you’re planning to arrive to the area via cruise ship and are looking to spend a day exploring Normandy’s historic sites, this is the best D-Day tour for you, tailor-made for cruise ship passengers.

This full-day Normandy D-Day tour includes visits to:

If you’re visiting Normandy via cruise ship, you’ll most likely dock at the port in Le Havre. But seeing as how most Normandy D-Day tours leave from Bayeux, your options are limited. This particular tour is tailor-made for cruise ship passengers like you.

You’ll get picked up and dropped off right there at the port near your ship by a guide who understands your particular needs as a cruise ship passenger on a shore excursion . The three sites it includes are my top 3 recommendations for anyone visiting Normandy for any amount of time. And most importantly, it has a 5-star rating and rave reviews .

This full-day (10-hour) shore excursion starts and ends at the cruise port in Le Havre. It includes:

• Expert guide to tell you all about the sites you’ll visit plus the relevant history of Le Havre as well
• Round trip transportation to and from your cruise port
• Free cancelation up to 24 hours before your scheduled tour

As of January 2024, this tour ranges in cost depending on which month of the year you book, but starting rates are $209 per person (in the summer). When rates are higher (like in the spring), the price goes down the more people you have in your group. Take a look at their availability calendar to see the different prices.

5. Best Band of Brothers tour

My pick for the best Band of Brothers -inspired tour: Omaha and Band of Brothers Full Day Tour from Bayeux

There’s a good chance that if you’re here looking at Normandy D-Day tours then you’ve either read the book by Stephen Ambrose or watched the Steven Spielberg/Tom Hanks miniseries Band of Brothers . (And if you haven’t, go do that… NOW.) If you’re as big a fan of the story as I am, you’ll love this tour.

This full-day tour of Normandy’s D-Day sites includes visits to:

• Airborne Museum
• Plane crash site at Beuzeville-au-Plain
• Marmion’s Farm
• Brecourt Manor
• Angoville-au-Plain
• Drop Zone D

This tour is specifically tailored to intrigue fans of the show Band of Brothers so you’ll visit many lesser-known sites and learn more about the history.

You can watch Band of Brothers here on Amazon and it’s also currently available on Netflix, Hulu, and HBO Max.

This tour is operated by Overlord Tour, a leading tour company in the area specifically dedicated to D-Day history. Its itinerary and guides have rave reviews and it’s a favorite among Band of Brothers fans and WWII buffs in general.

I like that it visits the top sites, but also many more obscure sites that the majority of visitors don’t get to see or learn about . You’re sure to make some good friends on this group tour. I also really like the price point—good value here for sure.

This full-day (9-hour) tour starts and ends in Bayeux. It includes:

• Round trip transportation
• Small-group limited to 16 people
• Free cancelation up to 24 hours before your start time

It does not include the cost of lunch, any optional gratuities, or other personal expenses.

As of January 2024, this tour is offered 7 days a week and costs $158 per person . Something I’d like to note about the cost: When you book this tour directly with Overlord Tours instead of through Viator, the cost is slightly lower (€130 which, as of Jan 2024, is about $141 US ).

While this may be tempting, consider this: when you book through Viator , you get the benefit of a full refund if you need to cancel anytime up to 24 hours before the start of your scheduled tour.

When you book directly with Overlord, if you should need to cancel or you simply change your mind, you’ll be subject to a 6% cancelation fee no matter what. If you need to cancel within 14 days of your tour, you now owe a 50% cancelation fee . And if you should want to cancel within a week of your tour, you lose 100% of your booking cost .

That’s just something to think about. Don’t always be so quick to choose the lowest price without digging a little deeper. (Personally, I’d be happy to pay the $17 more for the peace of mind because I know how unpredictable travel planning can be.) By booking with Viator, you still get the highly-rated Overlord tour, but you also get a little bit more freedom and forgiveness.

6. Best D-Day tour for Canadian visitors

My pick for the best D-Day tour for Canadian visitors: Full-Day Canadian Battlefields and Sites of Normandy Tour

You’ve probably noticed that most of these tours center around the American D-Day achievements, but Canada and Great Britain also participated in this monumental invasion. Canadian visitors, this tour focuses on the struggles and achievements of your fellow countrymen.

This full-day tour of Normandy D-Day sites includes stops at:

• Juno Beach and the Juno Beach Center
• Beny-sur-Mer Canadian War Cemetery
• The communes of Saint-Aubin-sur-Mer, Bernieres-sur-Mer, Authie, Abbey d’Ardenne, and Carpiquet to follow the Canadian advance

As far as Normandy D-Day tours go, there are very few that specifically focus on the battles and achievements of Canadian troops . This tour does not only that, but it also maxes out at 8 passengers , has a 5-star rating , and tons of rave reviews about the tour guides. Plus, the price tag makes this a fantastic value.

This full-day (8-hour) tour starts and ends in Bayeux. It includes:

• Your own expert tour guide
• Small-group tour of 8 passengers or less
• Pick-up and drop-off in Bayeux as well as transportation between the sites
• Juno Beach Center admission costs

It does not include lunch, gratuities, or other personal expenses. For a full refund, you must cancel within one week of your chosen tour’s start time.

As of January 2024, this tour is offered 7 days a week and costs $148 per person . This is a great deal, especially considering this is one of the only tours of its kind dedicated to Canadian-only D-Day sites.

7. Most unique Normandy D-Day tour

My pick for the most unique Normandy D-Day tour: Half-Day Sidecar Excursion to the Landing Beaches

For something quite different than all the other Normandy D-Day tours out there, check out this tour of the D-Day sites via fully restored vintage sidecars!

This half-day D-Day sites tour includes visits to:

• Arromanches-les-Bains (one of my favorite spots)
• Longues-sur-Mer
• The commune of Port-en-Bessin-Huppain

And all of your travel between the sites will take place aboard some awesome vintage sidecars. What a unique way to explore Normandy!

I love this tour because it’s something totally different from the rest. Rather than drive between the sites in a sedan or multi-passenger van (or worse, a giant tour bus), you get to see Normandy from a totally unique (and fun!) perspective .

Beyond that, this is one of the few Normandy day tours that visits Arromanches-les-Bains and the German battery at Longues-sur-Mer . The commune of Arromanches is located in the Gold Beach sector and is famous for being the location of the artificial harbors that helped the Allies win the war (which you can still see out in the ocean today).

The Longues-sur-Mer battery is another great site I recommend visiting. Here, you’ll find the most intact German battery that still exists and it really helps to put German defense of the “Atlantic Wall” into perspective.

This tour also has a 5-star rating and nothing but rave reviews . I also love how hard they work to make visiting these somber locations fun and interesting.

This half-day (4-hour) tour starts and ends in Bayeux. It includes:

• Private, round-trip transportation
• Use of vintage helmets, gloves, glasses, and jackets for some fun photo ops
• Fully licensed and insured professional tour guides
• Maximum of 8 people on this tour
• Full refund if canceled up to 24 hours before your tour’s starting time

It does not include the cost of lunch, gratuities, or other personal expenses.

As of January 2024, this tour is offered 7 days a week and costs $244 per person (through April) and then increases to $271 per person from May 1st onwards. For such a unique and fun tour, and one of your only chances to visit Arromanches and Longues-sur-Mer, this price point makes sense, even if it is just a half-day tour. This will definitely be an experience you’ll never forget.

8. Best Normandy D-Day tour from Caen

My pick for the best Normandy tour from Caen: Guided D-Day Sites Tour & Caen Memorial Museum

It’s true that most of the best Normandy D-Day tours start and end in Bayeux, but what if you’re staying in Caen? Rather than having to make your way to Bayeux to start your tour, check out this one that starts and ends in Caen.

This full-day tour includes visits to:

• Caen Memorial Museum

This is one of the only available Normandy D-Day tours that includes a self-guided visit to the Caen Memorial Museum, widely believed to be the best World War II museum in France . I personally consider this museum a must-visit, so I love that this tour includes it. I also like that the museum portion of the tour is self-guided since everyone visits museums in their own way.

This is another small-group tour (capped at 7 people) and it has tons of rave reviews, especially of the guides (5/5).

This full-day (7-hour) tour starts and ends in Caen. It includes:

• Admission to the Caen Memorial Museum
• Maximum of 7 people total
• Full refund if canceled within 2 days of your tour

As of January 2024, this tour is offered 7 days a week and costs $129 per person all year long. Since this includes museum admission (about $22 US), that makes this tour one great value to visit these top locations.

9. Best tour for British visitors

My pick for best D-Day tour for British visitors: British D-Day World War II Normandy Private Tour

Despite the fact that Great Britain was a massive participant in the D-Day landings, landing at two of the five beaches, there are shockingly few tours that focus on the British sectors. However, if you’re willing and able to opt for a private tour, this one is a great option.

• Pegasus Bridge and Memorial
• Main British airborne sites in Ranville
• Ranville War Cemetery
• Sword Beach landing sites and German headquarters
• Juno and Gold Beaches (pass by)

But since this is a private option, you have the ability to customize it to your preferences. Care to also visit Arromanches-les-Bains? Talk to your guide about it!

So few Normandy D-Day tours visit the British sectors and this one is great because you can customize it with the sites you most want to visit. You also have Eric as your guide, a fabulous Scottish tour guide who has lived and tour-guided in Normandy for the past 20 years.

Also, because you can fit up to 8 people on this tour, that makes this one of the best-priced private tours out there!

This full-day (8.5-hour) tour starts and ends in beautiful Bayeux. It includes:

• Pick-up, drop-off, and round-trip transportation between all sites
• Private transportation
• The ability to customize the tour the way you want

It does not include lunch or other personal expenses.

As of January 2024, this tour is offered 7 days a week and costs $899 per group up to 8 people . This is the best per-person rate of all the private Normandy tours I’ve seen.

10. Best bonus D-Day sites tour

My pick for best bonus D-Day sites tour: Utah & Omaha Beaches D-Day Group Tour from Bayeux

This tour visits many of the same sites as the others, but I’m calling this a “bonus” tour because it passes by a number of additional sites you might not otherwise see. Even though these are just “pass-by” stops, they still might interest you.

• Commune of Angoville-au-Plain, drop zone of the 101 st Airborne
• Site of the hedgerows battle (pass by)
• Major Richard Winters Memorial (pass by)
• Sainte-Marie-du-Mont (pass by)

On this tour, even in between stops you’ll get to see interesting things like the famous hedgerows (“bocage”) and the monument to Maj. Dick Winters whom you may know from Band of Brothers .

This tour also has a 5-star rating and is one of the most popular Normandy D-Day tours on Viator (with over 1,100 rave reviews).

This full-day (8.5-hour) tour starts and ends in Bayeux. It includes:

• Admission to the Airborne Museum
• Round-trip transportation
• Air conditioned minivan
• Professional tour guide

This isn’t necessarily a small-group tour since it has a maximum of 20 passengers (if it fills up). It does not include lunch, gratuities, or other personal expenses.

As of January 2024, this tour is offered 7 days a week and costs $159 per person . This price point is par for the course and you get to see so much.

Other Normandy D-Day tours

If you have questions about other Normandy D-Day tours that I didn’t cover in this post, let me know! I’ve examined nearly all of them. So if you find one you’re curious about, leave a comment below and  I’ll tell you why it didn’t make the list .

More info for your Normandy D-Day trip

• Hotels:  Read reviews and find great places to stay  here on Booking.com  (my personal favorite).  Hotels.com  and  Expedia  usually have good deals too though.
• Save lots of money and time  by getting some  Paris GoCity passes .
• Rental cars:  Check out the  best local rental car deals here.
• For more Normandy D-Day tours,  check out all the options from  Viator  and  Get Your Guide .
• Don’t forget a   France guidebook  and this must-have  France customs and culture guide !

Have a great time on your tour of Normandy! I hope I’ve made planning your trip a little easier.

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About Ashley Smith

Ashley is a World War II historian and travel expert who has visited 33 countries. She specializes in quick trips throughout Europe and the Americas with a focus on World War II museums, memorials, battlefields, and other sites of interest. Originally from Memphis, TN, she currently lives in Boston with her husband and two feline commanders.

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Paris WWII Sites Map

        NORMANDY  TIME  RIDERS

    wwii side-car    experience,     wwii side-car    experience.

Titre de la diapositive

NORMANDY TIME RIDERS

  wwii side-car  experience, following the tracks of those who made history, step back in time to explore normandy's historic wwii sites, including pointe du hoc and omaha beach, aboard our vintage sidecars.,  enjoy the picturesque countryside and charming villages as our knowledgeable guides share fascinating stories of the brave soldiers who fought here., complete your experience with a taste of normandy's famous apple cider amidst the stunning scenery..

STEVE_J April 2023

Manuel, our driver was fabulous. We had one of the finest days while visiting France. Four hours of history and fun.

Sherry_R July 2022

What an incredible trip! We didn't want it to end. We signed up for the D-Day Tour. I highly recommend this as a way to see these incredible sites. Our guides were beyond amazing. While travelling to/from each site, Thierry had my daughter smiling and laughing. 

Sean_K, April 2023

Not just another tour, but an Adventure!!

cris_a, Nov 2022

Manuel and Thierry are a lot of fun and full of local history and knowledge; and the bikes were great fun!

Heather_W, March 2023

Incredible! No better way to explore Normandie.

Un grand Merci à Manuel de nous avoir fait voyager à travers le temps nourrit de ses connaissances sur l’histoire du débarquement. Belle continuation et peut être @ bientôt dans nos montagnes 😉 Samira , Thierry et notre Loulou : Shallow

    Price is per sidecar

1 Sidecar = 1 or 2 Passengers

D-Day Tours

Red badge of courage

199€ for 1 Sidecar | 2h00 |

A Sidecar can take 1 or 2 passengers

6th June 1944

359€ for 1 Sidecar | 4h00 |

The Longest Day

559€ for 1 Sidecar | 6h00 | 

Legal Notice

Terms & conditions, privacy policy, tel : 06.74.81.52.65 / 06.77.14.05.14, [email protected].

Skip to Main Content of WWII

D-Day—The Invasion of Normandy & Liberation of France

Tour overview.

The National WWII Museum’s most popular tour provides an in-depth itinerary exploring America’s most famous WWII battle. Offering a full week of touring in Normandy at an incredible price, this unforgettable tour offers great value and features top guides, upscale accommodations in prime locations, comprehensive dining, and exclusive access to sites unseen on other programs.

Quick Links

Tour Pricing

• Featured Guests
• Accommodations

Testimonials

• Request Information

Additional Tour Dates

• September 7 – 13, 2023
• September 14 – 20, 2023  (SOLD OUT)
• May 2 – 8, 2024
• May 9 – 15, 2024
• September 5 – 11, 2024
• September 19 – 25, 2024

TOUR NORMANDY WITH AMERICA’S NATIONAL WWII MUSEUM

The National WWII Museum’s most popular tour provides an in-depth itinerary exploring America’s most famous WWII battle. Offering a full week of touring in Normandy at an incredible price, this unforgettable journey offers great value and features top guides, superior accommodations in prime locations, comprehensive dining, and exclusive access to sites unseen on other programs. With stops at the Musée Airborne, Mémorial de Caen, the American Cemetery at Colleville-sur-Mer, and more, this tour is for both the advanced and amateur historian in search of the most authentic experience of Normandy as it was. Quaint, upscale accommodations, regional cuisine, and affordability are matched with firsthand history lessons found nowhere else.

Book Your Trip With Us!

Pay a deposit to ensure your spot. Save $1,000 per couple when booking early!

Tour Inclusions

• Full-time logistical tour manager
• Expert local battlefield guides
• Roundtrip airport transfers (when arriving and departing on scheduled group tour dates)
• Four-star historic, fully-renovated accommodations in Normandy
• Four-star Charles de Gaulle Airport accommodations
• Private, first-class air conditioned motor coach transportation
• VIP access to sites not offered on other tours
• Entrance fees to all sites, museums, and historic attractions in itinerary
• Personal listening devices on all included touring
• Included gratuities to guides, drivers, porters, and servers
• Six breakfasts, three lunches, and three dinners
• Beer, wine, and soft drinks included with lunches and dinners
• Informative map book including useful battlefield maps and archival images to be used throughout the journey
• Personalized luggage tags and customized name badge

Additional Services

• Additional pre and/or post-hotel nights
• Travel insurance
• Flight assistance
• Private transfers

We’re pleased to assist you with additional services you may require, ensuring you a worry-free journey with The National WWII Museum.

Download The Brochure

Download the official D-Day—The Invasion of Normandy & Liberation of France brochure for a full listing of inclusions, accommodations, and other useful information.

Tour Itinerary

Destination Map

Full Tour Itinerary

Extension - Optional Two-night Pre-Tour Extension Program

The treasures of normandy.

April 30 - May 2, 2024

Download the Pamphlet

Journey into the Middle Ages on our custom-curated extension program that focuses on the medieval importance of the Normandy region! Enjoy a scenic transfer from Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) to Bayeux and settle into the Hotel d'Argouges, your home for the next seven nights. Spend the afternoon and evening exploring the medieval town center and enjoying dinner on your own at one of the many cafés and elegant restaurants serving traditional fare. On your first day of touring, journey to the town of Falaise, the birthplace of William the Conqueror.  Visit Chateau de Falaise, the seat of the Dukes of Normandy from the 13th century to the 17th century.  During World War II, the chateau suffered from heavy bombardment during the Battle of the Falaise Pocket, but was restored after the war.  Next, visit the Memorial de Civils before returning to Bayeux for a free evening to enjoy the village.

The next day, take a scenic drive to Mont Saint-Michel, a breathtaking tidal island just off the Normandy coast. The island’s signature abbey projects a dominating presence that has attracted pilgrims, armies, and tourists for more than a millennium. The visit includes lunch. Return to Bayeux this afternoon and enjoy a welcome dinner with main tour guests arriving today.

Pre-tour inclusions

• Two nights accommodations at the historic 4-star Hotel d'Argouges
• Transfer from Paris - Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) to Bayeux
• Two days of touring, including all admissions
• 2 Breakfasts, 1 Lunch
• Beer, wine and soft drinks with included lunch
• Expert local guide/tour manager
• Private, first class air-conditioned coach
• Gratuities to guides, drivers, porters and servers

May 2, 2024 - Day 1

Paris / normandy.

Upon arrival at Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris, guests are warmly welcomed and transported by private motor coach to Normandy. After enjoying some free time to relax or explore Bayeux, the group gathers this evening for a welcome dinner at a local French restaurant.

Hôtel D’Argouges (D)

May 3, 2024 - Day 2

Pegasus bridge / gold, juno, and sword beaches.

Today’s tour of Normandy begins where the first shots of the invasion were fired by British glider troops at the crucial Pegasus Bridge. Guests learn about Major John Howard and his men of the “Ox and Bucks” and how they were able to secure and hold the bridge. The drives along the British and Canadian sectors become the backdrop for the stories of landings that took place to the east of the American assaults. In Arromanches, an exploration of the remains of a “Mulberry harbor” offers insight into this great feat of engineering and ingenuity. Following free time for lunch and exploration in the village, a trip up the commanding bluff culminates with a viewing of Cinema Circulare 360 and a visit to the German gun battery at Longues-sur-Mer. Guests enjoy free time this evening to explore Bayeux and enjoy dinner at one of the many cafés and restaurants serving traditional fare.

Hôtel D’Argouges (B)

May 4, 2024 - Day 3

Us airborne & utah beach.

Travel along rural lanes, past hedgerows, and over causeways to La Fière, where the 82nd Airborne fought off four days of attacks from German troops trying to retake this strategic bridge. During today's drive both the battlefield guide and the Museum's exclusive oral history collection offer personal stories from the men who fought on the frontlines. On arrival in Sainte-Mère-Église, the famous crossroads town where American paratroopers landed during the predawn hours of D-Day, tour the Musée Airborne and visit the church made famous in the film The Longest Day . After an included lunch, continue this afternoon to Brécourt Manor, where Dick Winters and some of his men from "Easy Company" launched the assault on German guns portrayed in the book and miniseries Band of Brothers . The day's touring concludes with a visit to the Utah Beach Museum, which includes the story of the exemplary leadership of General Teddy Roosevelt, Jr., during the landings. Enjoy another free evening at leisure in Bayeux.

Hôtel D’Argouges (B, L)

May 5, 2024 - Day 4

Bayeux / caen.

This morning’s tour is devoted to the picturesque town of Bayeux, beginning with a viewing of the Bayeux Tapestry—a 230-foot-long embroidered chronicle of William the Conqueror's cross-channel invasion of England. Guests continue to the iconic skyline feature of Bayeux and center of the medieval center of the town, the Bayeux Cathedral, where a guided tour will bring to life the construction of the cathedral from the crypt to the spires. Following free time for an independent lunch, visitors journey to Caen to tour Memorial de Caen, a museum that places the battles of Normandy within the international context of World War II. This evening, the group enjoys dinner with a local citizen who shares stories of the German occupation and Allied liberation before returning to Bayeux.

Hôtel D’Argouges (B, D)

May 6, 2024 - Day 5

Omaha beach / pointe-du-hoc / american cemetery.

Tours along Omaha Beach begin after breakfast with visits to St. Laurent-sur-Mer and Vierville-sur-Mer, providing an up-close view of the intricate German defense system and giving a sense of the overwhelming odds the American soldiers faced on that first day. Stories of individual acts of heroism that helped the Americans win the day at “Bloody Omaha” bring to life the challenges faced and conquered by the Allies. The group enjoys a picnic lunch en route to Pointe-du-Hoc, where the story of the 2nd Ranger Battalion scaling the cliffs to neutralize this heavily fortified German position is told. The last full day in Normandy culminates with Colleville-sur-Mer and the Normandy American Cemetery, with an opportunity to pay respects to the 9,387 Americans buried in the ground they helped liberate. The day concludes with a special “Farewell to Normandy” dinner.

Hôtel D’Argouges (B, L, D)

May 7, 2024 - Day 6

Falaise gap / chambois.

After breakfast, the group departs Normandy and begins the trip back to Paris. Focusing on the concluding battles of the Normandy Campaign, the first stop is in Falaise, which lends its name to the Falaise Pocket, where the Allies began a move to encircle the Germans. Traveling south from the city, traverse the infamous Corridor of Death, where the awful scenes of the routed Germany army were on display for several months as dead bodies and wreckage covered the landscape. Memorial de Montormel on Hill 262, where the Poles held off a desperate German counterattack commemorates the closing of the pocket and offers an incredible view across the landscape, and the perfect vantage point for recounting these final battles. Upon arrival at the Sheraton Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport, the remainder of the evening is at your leisure.

Sheraton Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (B, L)

May 8, 2024 - Day 7

Paris charles de gaulle airport to the united states.

This morning, bid farewell to France and return to Charles de Gaulle Airport at leisure for individual journeys home.

Program Pricing

Price per person based on double occupancy

$5,295 $4,795

Book Your Trip

Price per person based on single occupancy

$7,495 $6,995

$199 per person taxes and fees will be included on final invoice

Pre-Tour Extension Options

The Treasures of Normandy  Price per person based on double occupancy

Optional three-day pre-tour extension program $1,328 per person

The Treasures of Normandy  Price per person based on single occupancy

Optional three-day pre-tour extension program $1,928 per person

$129 per person taxes and fees are included in the pre-tour pricing listed.

Tour Accommodations

Hotel d’argouges.

This centrally located, exquisite four-star boutique hotel offers a breathtaking view of the Cathédrale de Bayeux, while placing guests within a short stroll of the Musée de la Tapisserie de Bayeux and the Musée Mémorial de la Bataille de Normandie. The elegant rooms come equipped with free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs, and tea and coffee-making facilities. Buffet breakfast is served daily.

Sheraton Paris Airport Hotel & Conference Center

The Sheraton Paris Airport Hotel is a modern hotel situated inside terminal 2 of the Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport. Its bright, airy atrium welcomes guests into a reception area, two restaurants, and a comfortable lounge.

All rooms are soundproofed and feature Sheraton’s trademarked beds, spacious bathrooms, satellite TV, and internet access. The fitness center with sauna is open 24 hours a day, as is the business center. Dry cleaning service is also available at the hotel.

"I have been on dozens of military history tours—most with Ed Bearss, who is a national treasure—and Corrine and Stephane [the Museum guides] measured up with the best. They were well prepared and patient."

Potomac, Maryland

"We found the tour to be extremely well-organized in content. The combination of museums, outdoor sites, touring of towns was perfectly combined and orchestrated. The educational information presented was outstanding and extremely beneficial."

—Rebecca R. , Lexington, Massachusetts

"Breakfasts provided at hotels were excellent. Very good choice of restaurants during tour; enjoyed ambiance and food."

—Rachel M. , Boston

“Fantastic! Perfect blend of historical and personal reflections gave insight and depth. Both [guides] were knowledgeable to the nth degree and their presentations were concise and comprehensive, keeping us all enthralled.”

—Fredericka P. , New York

“i think the whole experience was first rate and i have recommended it to three friends since returning to the USA.” 

—Mark M. , Racine, Wisconsin

“The organizational aspects of the tour were excellent. Prior to the beginning of the tour we had a printed itinerary which was informative and useful. On a daily basis the guides kept us informed of the day's activities.”

—James H. , Farmington Hills, Michigan

“We all left Normandy changed people. The value on a trip that stimulates so much understanding and emotion is worth 10s of thousands of dollars but please keep the price affordable for the average family. The value far exceeded the price.” 

—Stephen H. , Phoenix

“[The battlefield guide and tour manager] were extremely knowledgeable and worked very hard to make it a wonderful and informative tour. My brother needed a wheelchair during the trip, both made an asserted effort to make his experience good.” 

—Mark G. , Belvidere, Illinois

“Great value for the money. I learned much more than I expected and returned with greater appreciation and understanding of both the small and big pictures.”

—John M. , Taylor, Texas

“My husband and I enjoyed every aspect of our tour. [The guide and tour manager] were superb, always friendly and extremely informative. We loved the hotel and fell in love with Bayeux. We thought the tour was beautifully paced; we rarely felt rushed. Participating in our private ceremony on June 6th with the beautiful bouquet was incredibly moving, something we’ll never forget.”

—Judy P. , St. Louis, MO

“[The guide and tour manager] made this tour fantastically enjoyable, educational, and comfortable. [The tour manager] went beyond the call of duty, handling every challenge with easy and professionalism. [The battlefield guide] is terrifically knowledgeable and a great communicator. Willing to respond to all questions and comments from the group. Two real professionals. Great representatives of the WW-II Museum.”

—Henry L. , Metairie, LA

“We had been to Normandy twice before and this was by far our best experience. The Museum took us to three new place we had not seen before and [the tour manager and guide] made them come to life. Great experience.”

—Doug H. , Marietta, GA

“The best thing about WWII Museum tours as compared to other tour companies is that all participants share the same interest and passion about our history. This strong focus keeps everyone pointed in the same direction. This is my fourth tour and it speaks volumes about where I want to spend my money. I can’t wait for my next trip wherever that may be.”

—Drew L. , Winston-Salem, NC

“This tour was fabulous and a really amazing experience. [Traveling with] the Museum was a great opportunity to save the worry of making sure we got places on time or didn't get lost, and we saw most of the highlights and must sees of the area, along with some important sights that we probably would have just driven by if we went without a guide. Overall this was an extremely special trip and I'd happily go on another tour with the Museum in the future.”

—Emily S. , Guilford, CT

Request More Information

• Into the Reich
• Weekender Trip

Tours of Normandy

D-day with our in-depth tour.

Discover the most iconic sites involved in D-Day with our in-depth tour. We take you across the channel and onto the iconic beaches of Normandy, exploring the local areas and the pivotal roles they played in WW2.

You will stand on the iconic beaches  Omaha, Utah, Gold, Juno and Sword. Visit and see where the British and US  airborn  operations took place.

The Tour in Detail

• We start our trip with a drive to Folkstone to take the Eurotunnel train 
• Under the channel to Calais (the train takes 35 minutes)
• We then drive through northern France across the great bridges over the river seine at le harve and down into Normandy
• We stop for comfort breaks, most of the route 3 hours is on the motorway
• Our first stop is Merville battery and the night assault story by the British 9th airborne on the night of the 6th of June. The museum and bunker complex are a story of British airborne spirit to capture an important strategic objective against terrible odds. Entry is approx 8 euros each
• Onto the Orne river bridge and the assault and capture and then the holding of this vital bridge until relieved
• Visit the museum here is 8 euros each, then a break at the café Grandide the first place liberated on D-Day
• We then visit the airborne cemetery at Ranville
• Hotel in Normandy - Dinner + Breakfast
• We go to and see the grand bunker just back from Sword beach and the landing on D-Day story
• Onto the D-Day beach coast road, past the Canadian Juno beach sector 
• Then down to the great gun battery at Longues Sur Mer and go into these great gun bunkers
• We then go on down into Arromanches, gold beach to see the Mulberry harbour and visit the 360 degrees day cinema with its unique d day British Memorial
• Lunch in Arromanches
• We move on then into the US zone, the great cemetery at Coleville onto Omaha beach and its memorials and bunkers
• We finish our day at the scene of one of the great assaults by the US rangers at Pointe du Hoc
• We then pass the bunker complex at grand camps Maisy and its incredible story
• Hotel in St. Mere-realise, where we have dinner and then at night we experience Church Square and the US airborne story of tragedy and victory. The paratrooper on the steeple is still there! 
• We start with the incredible story at the bridge over the Merderet River at la frere, where the legend of iron mike was born
• Onto the story of the medics and the church at Angloville, which is truly amazing. In the midst of a battle between the US paratroopers of the 101st and the german paratroopers, 2 amazing young medics make history
• The go through saint Marie du mont and pass the scene of easy company's battle at Brecourt Manor
• We move onto Utah beach and the great museum
• Grainger is a story to be told at this little church on a strategic hill where a group of the 82nd paratroopers held off a division of SS for 2 days. the price those civilians left behind paid
• (if time permits, we can stop at the D-Day experience museum at dead man's corner where the d day Dakota simulator gives a unique experience) 
• We arrive at the beautiful medieval city of Bayeux
• Hotel - Those that wish can venture into Bayeux to visit and see the Bayeux tapestry
• Dinner + Breakfast in Bayeux 
• Then a short drive to the commonwealth war cemetery at Bayeux 
• Then into the Bayeux D-Day museum
• Depart 11.30 
• Drive to Calais  
• Eurotunnel - UK - Home

Customer Briefing

Welcome to the briefing note on the four-day trip to Normandy and Battle of the Bulge with D Day story and experiences.

The objective is to give a bespoke experience. We meet and depart on day 1; we travel to the Eurotunnel at Folkstone.

Please be advised that, prior to the crossing, I will require your passport details for the compulsory checks made.

A Personal Note

I have been doing my tours now ever since 2005, everybody has found it a relaxing and interesting experience, above all be comfortable and enjoy our company as I take you to the Normandy experience.

In 4 days will we see it all, no, there is too much to show you. But I do promise you that you will see some places that the usual tourist groups never experience.

Advanced Passenger Information

• The dress code throughout is entirely casual
• Please feel free to bring any drinks, water or snacks you want
• We will stop on our journey for comfort breaks as requested
• Once we have crossed the channel, we go via the main motorway for approx
• 3 hours to get to the Normandy area. We will cross the great bridges at le harve - a great spectacle in itself
• There is no heavy walking at all, the whole trip is on the flat
• It is the custom for the group to dine at the local French restaurants in the evenings, a great way to unwind and enjoy glorious French food
• If you would like to dine another way then please feel free, this is a casual no-pressure experience
• Normandy, in my opinion, is very like Devon and is very affluent
• If you wish to sample the main local drink, its Calvados, an apple brandy. 
• The 3 nominated hotels are very comfortable, and you can breakfast at each if you wish, breakfast is approx 8 euros. 
• Entry to the museums is approx 8 euros each we stop at 4 in all
• All museums and restaurants accept debit/credit cards
• Bring euros if you wish (when we reach Bayeux, you may wish to visit and see the Bayeux tapestry, this may cost approx 10 euros)
• It is a courtesy to meet at the appointed times, not to be late as it upsets the schedule
• Take as many pictures as you like and enjoy my tour
• Using your mobile in France is the same as the UK

I created Normandy at War Tours in 2017, after several years of guiding on the Normandy battlefields to offer you a unique experience on your journey in Normandy. I offer tailor made private tours of the battle of Normandy sites for demanding guests. I seek to offer a once in a lifetime experience, and a deep insight into these formidable events.

My objective is to share years of accumulated knowledge, experiences and stories. I had the opportunity and the honour to meet with a number of WWII and D-Day veterans. In 2014 I started leading tours for the National WWII Museum (New Orleans, LA), and continue to do so to this day. I have worked in collaboration with a number of leading WWII historians and schcolars, Alexandra Ritchie, James Holland, Alex Kershaw, Craig Symonds, Michael Neiberg, Robert Citino and more.

Follow up on Harvey Pearson

Pierre-Samuel Natanson 2017-12-20T18:14:47+00:00 December 5th, 2017 |

In a previous post, I mentioned meeting Harvey Pearson, 15th Air Force veteran. Harvey was travelling with nine members of his family including his grandson, Hunter, who received support from his firm, RSM, to organize [...]

Meeting MOH recipient Hershel “Woodie” Williams

Pierre-Samuel Natanson 2018-01-06T10:23:40+00:00 November 26th, 2017 |

The high point of my recent trip to the US was meeting Medal of Honor recipient Hershel "Woodie" Williams USMC (ret) following his closing keynote of the International Conference on WWII at the National WWII [...]

International Conference on WWII 2017

Pierre-Samuel Natanson 2017-12-20T17:38:48+00:00 November 25th, 2017 |

I had the incredible opportunity to attend the 2017 International Conference on WWII at the National WWII Museum in New-Orleans from November 16th to November 19th. I have worked in collaboration with the National WWII [...]

American Tours

Over one or two days, learn about the american experience on D-Day. From the exploits of the 82nd and 101st airborne division around Saint-Mère-Église and Carentan to the daring assault of US Army Rangers at Pointe du Hoc, from the dunes of Utah beach to the bunkers of WN72 on Dog Green sector of Omaha, you’ll hear about the achievements of the “Greatest Generation”. You cannot understand the true meaning of bravery and sacrifice until you have stood in the middle of Omaha Beach at low tide!

British Tours

Over one or two days, learn about british forces’ return to the continent. Four years after Dunkirk, the 3rd and 50th British Infantry Divisions come back for their long awaited revenge! Discover Sword Beach, Gold Beach and the remains of the Mulberry harbour at Arromanches and the engineering feat that made the rest of the battle possible. And, because no tour of Normandy is complete without it, hear about the first action of D-Day, the audacious assault of the 6th British Airborne Division on Pegasus Bridge!

Canadian Tours

Over one day, learn about Canada’s most significant engagement of WWII. Often forgotten, Canada, proportionally to its population, made the most important contribution to the allies’ war effort. On D-Day, the 3rd Canadian Infantry division was tasked with storming the longest beach, Juno. It then fought against the infamous 12th SS Panzer Divison “Hitlerjugend” in what was some of the most brutal actions of the battle. From the violence of the assault to the drive towards Carpiquet airfield, learn about Canadian courage and fortitude!

The Battle of Normandy

D-Day is only the first day of a battle that lasted three months and involved millions of soldiers. The push to Caen, the assault on Cherbourg, the capture of St-Lô, Operation Cobra, the German counter-attack at Mortain, Patton’s drive into Britanny or the battle of the Falaise gap ; these are but a few of the major engagements that followed D-Day. Over one day or one week, the possibilities are endless!

Contact me for more information.

Tailored Tours

With Normandy at War Tours , there is no such thing as a standard tour. You may ask me to prepare your personal tour of the battlefields of Normandy. You might have a special interest in a specific topic, you might want to follow the footsteps of a relative who took part in the battle. I will do the relevant research and guide you into a unique experience and tour.

Every tour is unique!

Pierre Samuel-Natanson provided an outstanding tour of the sites related to the Allied invasion of Normandy in June 1944. He is very well-informed, friendly, and patient. We were most impressed by his knowledge of the larger historical context of individual landmarks including many that are not on a standard group tour. In addition, he knows some wonderful (and reasonably priced) restaurants. We would give him the highest rating!

Pierre-Samuel Natanson is a superb guide! A knowledgeable and diplomatic travel companion, he offers fascinating insights into World War II Normandy—in the context of European and world history and current events—and is equally skilled at responding to varied interests and energy levels. On short notice, he organized a perfect two-day visit, assisting with logistics and providing referrals for travel in other regions of France. As a museum professional accustomed to exploring historic and cultural sites with scholars, curators, and cultural officials, I recommend him highly.

I have written about the Normandy Campaign and visited the area at least a dozen times, often with professional guides. Pierre is the best I have encountered. He is an accomplished historian as well as a superb tour guide–charming, articulate, and acutely sensitive to the nuances of the campaign. He opens up new worlds for the visitor.

I travelled to Normandy in the summer of 2017 with the hopes of learning about my GI grandfather’s experience as a soldier during WWII. Pierre-Samuel Natanson was the consummate tour guide, historian, translator, and storyteller. Pierre set the timeline of WWII very clearly and skillfully wove my grandfather’s unit’s history within the larger picture. He brought each scene to vivid life. His training as a historian is evident and something that can be learned. What can’t be learned but what Pierre has in spades is his clear love for his subject matter and personable way of relating history to his audience. On top of it all, he’s a nice guy and a decent human being; I especially appreciated the way in which he was considerate of the older members of my family during our tour. It was a dream trip of a lifetime and Pierre Natanson was a large part in making that dream a memorable reality.

I want to thank Pierre for an incredible day. We found Pierre’s comments to be extraordinarily incisive and informative. The tour/lecture provided a great tactical and strategic overview of the Battle of Normandy. The above was coupled with a remarkable and detailed discussion of the human aspect of D-Day. As my son begins his training as an Army officer, Pierre has provided a great foundation. Pierre’s time and information was greatly appreciated.

Pierre knows his stuff cold and delivers it in a most interesting and engaging way. I cannot imagine touring Normandy or Other WWII (Europe) events without Pierre as guide. His sense of humor and warmth added to our enjoyment as well as to our appreciation of the historical aspects of the tour. He clearly loves his job and his infectious enthusiasm impressed all of us. This tour will be the subject of conversations and fond memories for years to come!

When I got off the train in Bayeux, I was astonished to see him standing outside my carriage door. He is a great host, and takes you to the historical sites in his car. When we got to the first beach, Pierre’s intricate knowledge of the beaches astonished me. When we stopped for lunch at a nice seafood place I looked at my place mat and saw a historical looking figure and said,” Is that Bernard Montgomery.” And with just a glance Pierre replied,” no that is General Philippe Leclerc, Head of the 2nd Free French Armored Division.” I was amazed that by just glancing he can tell you something about the person. He can also recognize different tanks and weapons, and when we went to Point Du Hoc he recognized which weapons caused the different craters. I’m 11 years old and I love history and Pierre has widened my love of history even more.( Like the gap between Juno and Sword.) He is a great guy and historian.

Our guide, Pierre-Samuel, collected us in our hotel lobby – at once we felt at ease and in very capable hands. As the day and the adventure unfolded, our first impressions were validated time and time again! The story that surrounds D-Day and this beautiful region was brought to life by Pierre, his passion and his remarkable mastery of this subject. The events of June 6th, 1944 were revealed to us in a way unexpected! The movies we’ve seen and the lectures we have attended are only a veneer – the back-stories, the coincidences, the correlations of unexpected events are what left with such an enriching experience. These nuances would not have been ours to cherish, and to ponder, without the depth that Pierre so eloquently shared. Regardless of the questions we posed to Pierre, we were rewarded with a panorama of insight that both adhered to the greater subject and unfolded specifics that left us wide-eyed! Without reservation I recommend a trip to Normandy, but I caution: do not stand upon this soil and overlook the soul!

My family of six (four college age children) booked a whole day with Pierre touring Normandy from the American perspective.  It was, without a doubt, the best day of our two week trip.  Pierre was enormously knowledgeable and educated, clear and informative with an ability to mesmerize us all with his enthusiasm and obvious interest in WWII.  His English was perfect (and I was an English major!).  He stayed on task outlining the complicated situation, the detailed strategies and the perils and triumphs of all the Allied Forces.  He knew absolutely everything.  We were all profoundly impacted by our day in Normandy with Pierre.  We were so lucky to have booked him!

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How much do I charge?

I charge 630€ a day with transport. This includes my services for 8 to 9 hours and transportation but does not include lunch or entrance fees to museums you wish to visit.

If you prefer to use your own transport, I can step in your car (rental etc). In that case I charge 450€ for the day.

These rates are for tours starting less than 30 min drive from Bayeux or Caen. For tours starting further (e.g. Le Havre or Cherbourg) please contact me for rates.

Do I charge extra for the research needed for tailored tours?

Yes and no. I do not charge a fee for my time conducting research, however I will pass along the costs associated with the research (purchase of books I won’t reuse, archival fees, documents order etc).

What are my deposit and cancellation policies?

I do not ask for deposits to confirm a reservation. Just a written confirmation via email.

I do not charge cancellation fees up to 7 days before the tour. However, if you cancel 7 days or less prior to the start of the tour, I will invoice you for the entire tour.

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Can you visit all five landing sectors in the morning and Bayeux and the Mont-Saint-Michel in the afternoon?

No, you can’t.

Normandy and the area where the allies landed is vast (55 miles/80 kilometers between the western end of Utah and the eastern end of Sword). I conduct guided historical tours, not sightseeing tours and you need to allow time to explore and understand the specificity of each sector. An easy rule is that you can visit two adjacent sectors in one day, e.g. Utah/Omaha, Omaha/Gold etc

Moreover I only conduct tours on sites linked to the landing and the battle of Normandy. If you want a guide to visit cultural sites such as the Bayeux Tapestry or Mont-Saint-Michel, contact me and I would be me more than happy to recommend colleagues/friends.

Where are the best places to stay in Normandy?

Normandy offers a wide variety of accommodations options from country B&Bs to modern city hotels and it really depends on your preferences.

For touring, the most central location is Bayeux. It is a lovely little town (one of the few to not be destroyed during the battle) and has many hotels and B&B.

My personal favorite are the Villa Lara (5*) and the  Hotel d’Argouges (3*). If you prefer a more bucolic scenery, the Château la Chenevière and the Château d’Audrieu are beautiful hotels and still close to most of the important sites.

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Meet the normandy american heroes team.

To ensure the safety of our guests, our team members are fully vaccinated for COVID-19.

RUDY PASSERA

Wwii american campaign specialist.

Specialist of the American Normandy campaign and beyond, I am the only Interpretive Guide who has worked both for the Normandy American Cemetery/La Pointe du Hoc & Utah beach museum.

Since 2015 I have had the honor three times to be the Master of Ceremony of the International Commemorations at Utah Beach and once for the renowned Tour de France!

My passion for history was sparked by my father's passion of history and culture as we traveled worldwide.

After a successful international career with Halliburton Energy Services, I decided to put my business experience to work toward something that truly inspires me.

I chose to create my own company, Normandy American Heroes that would pay homage to those who fought and suffered during the Second World War, to honor the sacrifices made and educate younger generations on the meaning of courage, competence and devotion to duty.

As you now understand, historical tours mean a lot more than business to me, I see them as a bridge between Europe, the US and its allies and a lesson we all must learn from. Moreover it represents an honorable passion.

People need to perceive how Europe was before, during and after World War II.

Make your European Tour a memorable event that you will cherish all you life!

RICHARD BASS

Military historian.

I have spent many years researching the links between American forces and the west of England during World War II following, by chance, a discovery of American wartime constructions hidden in coastal sand dunes. I uncovered the forgotten history of the U.S. Army Assault Training Center where troops trained for their spearhead role upon the beaches of Normandy. This information resulted in several books and DVDs chronicling the ATC history, lectures at Sandhurst Royal Military Academy and TV documentary appearances.

Several American units asked me to write their wartime histories, their battles for Normandy and throughout Europe, the detailed knowledge gained prompting me to work as a battlefield guide in Normandy and across Europe.

More recently I discovered vital new evidence concerning the infamous “Exercise Tiger” American wartime training disaster now detailed in book form and TV documentary.

I am delighted to be associated with Normandy American Heroes who offer the only tour ever to show the D-Day training grounds of thousands of American heroes.

PAUL RAYNER

Military historian, research, and tour guide specialist.

In 1962, Paul Rayner BEM enlisted in the British Army and served in the Corps of Royal Military Police from 1964 until 1984 as both a regular Professional Soldier which resulted in him serving in Australia, Far East, Middle East,  NW Europe, Northern Ireland and in both the USA and Canada. In 1985, he was awarded the British Empire Medal in the Queens New Year’s Honours awards. He then continued his Military service in the Military Reserve until 1999. 

He became interested in WW 2 aspects whilst serving in Berlin in the early 70s during the Cold War and viewing aspects of the Third Reich and Hitler’s bunker on tours of East Berlin.

His interest extended to the Atlantic Wall in 1976 whilst motoring through Northern France en route from Germany to the UK, and since then has conducted extensive research via hundreds of visitations to the fortifications stretching from Dunkirk along the French coast to St Malo. 

In 2009, he worked as a Battlefield tour guide covering such topics as D Day, landings, Atlantic Wall, Italian Campaign, Eagles Nest, Nuremberg, Dunkirk, Dieppe, Ardennes Offensive, Battle of Berlin, and Berlin during the Cold War. to name but a few, expending both his knowledge and personal military experiences to WW2 enthusiastic clients. 

He has continued to conduct research on WW2 topics as well as occasional private military tours of both Berlin and Normandy. Having known Rudy since 2013  when “Normandy Heroes” was initiated, Paul is privileged and honoured to be asked to be associated with the Normandy Heroes team as an adviser with his knowledge and experience of WW 2 historic aspects. 

Pierre Fallet

Normandy tour guide.

I was born in Château-Thierry in the vicinity of Belleau Woods where the famed 4th Marine Brigade fought in WWI. My passion for History started when I was a boy during my first Memorial Day at the Aisne-Marne American Cemetery in 2002 where my father took me.

Pierre worked at the WWI Meaux Museum , I chose to move to Normandy to live my passion for WW2 through my studies and my work. I'm proud to say that Normandy American Heroes is giving me the opportunity to fulfill my passion.

Over the years, through meetings with US Marines and WW2 Veterans in Europe my passion has continued to grow. This is the reason why I want to dedicate my life to honor and never forget those who sacrificed their lives for our freedom. My vocation is to be able to share and pass on their stories to the younger generation, lest we forget.

Myles Rieger

Account manager.

I was born and raised in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and grew up with a keen interest in World War II and history in general. My father, brother, and both of my grandfathers all share the same passion. So needless to say, there was always an opportunity to discuss the war, America’s role in it, and the sacrifice so many had to make to ensure our freedom in Europe and North America. For much of my 20s I found myself working in various travel related roles in Europe and of course traveling across the continent . As a tour guide in Prague, Czech Republic, between 2015 and 2020, I specialized in World War II history tours and was able to further exercise my passion for history. From 2018 to 2020, I was fortunate enough to use my knowledge of European Travel and World War II history to work for an ambitious startup company. I personally  specialized in planning custom, private tours for Americans that were interested in visiting the many sites and battlefields that the continent has to offer. Following the Covid 19 Pandemic, and with the travel industry “on pause,” I decided to return to the United States, settling in Colorado. After taking some time away from the industry, I joined Normandy American Heroes in early 2022. Since then, I’ve loved advising and planning tours for our clients through Normandy and all across Europe! 

Executive Assistant

I was born in Normandy and feel extremely grateful to have grown up in a region so rich in history and culture. Thus, I quickly developed an interest in World War II, particularly in how it was experienced by civilians as well as how we share this chapter of history. 

I spent three seasons at the Azeville Battery as a receptionist, where I also conducted guided tours. So I was able to document and learn about the subject. It was during this time that I met Rudy and discovered Normandy American Heroes, telling myself that it was exactly the kind of place I would see myself working later. It was also this particular experience that made me confirm my desire to share about culture and history with people. 

This was emphasized by my stay in Tenerife, where I studied abroad for a year and a half. I fell in love with the island, and as I returned to France, I was sure that making people live unforgettable experiences, where they could learn and document themselves, was my principal mission. This led me to pursue a Master's degree in Educational Tourism and Mobility. I am currently in my second year of the program and am fortunate to be completing my internship at Normandy American Heroes, finally making my wish come true.

So I’m more than happy to be part of the team!

Are you ready for the trip of a lifetime?

"Every five star review written on Trip Advisor is correct - Rudy’s tours really are that good. Time for a mea culpa - I’m really picky. I mean really picky. The amount of vacation time granted in the US is shameful and I want the tiny amount of time we do get to be perfect - there’s just not enough time for a do over. I can’t find one fault from our time with Rudy. It was simply the best. After reading the Trip Advisor reviews we sent Rudy an e-mail asking for an in depth tour of Normandy. We explained that we’re both WWII history buffs and really want to understand what the Allies went through. Rudy wrote back almost instantly and advised that we needed a minimum of two full days to hit the highlights. Rudy explained why two days (or even longer) is necessary - distance to cover, number of things to see, etc. Rudy picked us up at our Normandy B&B on the first day and headed to Brecourt Manor where we were able to speak one of the longtime owners whose Grandfather and Father operated Brecourt during the occupation. The pictures, stories, and walk down a hedge lined road to the gun battery placement started to bring into perspective just how horrible these hedge rows were for the Allies and the advantage they gave the Germans. Seeing it on countless documentaries, reading about it in several books, it’s hard to realize the magnitude without being there. Rudy takes you to places off the beaten path that I’m sure aren’t even on other tour companies radars. You’ll pull over to the side of the road, get out, walk a bit, and Rudy will take out his iPad, show a picture of a soldier or soldiers and engulf you in a story of what happened to those very soldiers in the spot that you’re standing in. It brings it all to a whole new reality. Rudy’s stories are wonderful, unbiased, and captivating. The time spent at Point du Hoc, Omaha, and Utah beaches was just amazing. Rudy never rushes you - he knows where to send you and stays back giving time to really reflect and attempt to put yourself in the shoes of the soldiers. It’s sobering, to say the least. Our time at the American Cemetery was so educational. I learned things that still have me in awe now one month later...and am not ashamed to say that the tears flowed when taps was played in the evening as the flag was lowered. Take a tour with Rudy - it is worth every penny. Rudy’s sense of humor, stories, outlook, and being an all around great guy make for a wonderful trip. If you are a true WWII history buff don’t waste anymore time looking. Book with Rudy. We will be back for another tour."

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Hofstra University senior's D-Day essay earns him Normandy trip to mark 80 years since invasion

Hofstra University senior Dominick Pursino's winning essay, intertwining the 1944 D-Day invasion’s military significance with his family history, earned him a trip in June to Normandy, France for the 80th anniversary of the allied assault. Credit: Howard Schnapp

A Hofstra University senior has won the Museum of American Armor’s D-Day essay contest. His prize is a professionally guided tour that will put him on the beaches of Normandy, France, on June 6, the 80th anniversary of the largest amphibious invasion in history.

Dominick Pursino, 22, of Commack, wrote an essay that intertwined the invasion’s military significance with his family history. Pursino's connection was indirect but powerful: His late grandmother had lived under Nazi occupation in Italy during World War II and heard about the Allied operation on the radio.

From her, Pursino wrote, he heard stories about the “synchronous stomping of the German troops in formation,” forced labor and severe punishments, and later, the chocolate handed out by American troops.

Had D-Day failed, he wrote, so might have the Allied war effort. His grandmother might never have immigrated to Brooklyn and suburban Long Island. Were it not for the soldiers on Normandy’s beaches, he wrote, “my existence on this planet would be extremely unlikely.”

Pursino, an education major who hopes to teach middle school social studies and special education, said in an interview that his grandmother, Christina D’Agostino — who died several years ago at 92 — was in her teens in 1941 when the Nazis appeared in her small hometown of Giovinazzo. They left in 1943. Pursino said D’Agostino was a professional artist who settled in Kings Park.

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U.S troops wade ashore at Normandy, France on D-Day, June 6, 1944. Credit: AP

He said he’d listened avidly to his grandmother’s stories about life under occupation: the strict rules, the curfews, the neighbors who sometimes disappeared. D-Day, when the Allies used 7,000 vessels to land 133,000 troops, of which more than 10,000 were either killed or wounded, is now considered a watershed moment in the war. But as it unfolded for Pursino’s grandmother, “it took a while for it to be deemed successful,” he recalled.

Leading up to his June Normandy trip, Pursino said he plans to read up on the history of World War II. His 10-day adventure will start in London “in the war rooms where they planned the whole campaign.” A ferry ride over the channel waters crossed by the troops will follow, then on to the beaches where the troops landed.

But it's the stories his grandmother told to him of her life and how the invasion changed it that Pursino hopes to one day tell his students.

“In history, you always learn about the big names, and there’s nothing wrong with that. But sometimes there are more interesting personal stories that can be taken from those who didn’t get representation in textbooks,” he said.

In an interview, Gary Lewi, a museum board member and one of the contest judges, said Pursino’s essay was chosen from roughly 100 entries. It “put together, in a very cogent way, the sacrifice of thousands of GIs on the beach and the liberation of a continent from a terror that is still unimaginable,” Lewi said. “It wasn’t just a recitation of statistics, how many ships, how many men, but the human dimension of what that sacrifice on June 6 meant to humanity.”

While Pursino is in Europe, the museum will commemorate D-Day with a ceremony at its Old Bethpage grounds, Lewi said. Scheduled to attend are British and French diplomats, military veterans, along with Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman and Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine.

The ceremony will honor two Long Islanders killed in the invasion, Charles T. Byrnes and Sidney Dudgeon , Lewi said.

Nicholas Spangler is a general assignment reporter and has worked at Newsday since 2010.

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Colorado news | human remains in france identified as denver man killed in action during world war ii, harold schafer, 28, was killed in dillingen, germany, according to defense agency historians.

Nearly 80 years after being killed in action in Germany during World War II, a Denver man’s body will finally return home.

Harold Schafer , 28, was hit by enemy machine gun fire and killed in action during a battle in Dillingen, Germany on Dec. 10, 1944, according to a Thursday news release from the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency .

Schafer was officially declared non-recoverable in November 1951 — now, three-quarters of a century later, he’s set to be returned to and buried in Wheat Ridge, officials announced Thursday.

Schafer’s body was not initially recovered due to intense fighting against heavily reinforced German forces, the release stated. When American troops were ordered to retreat from the Dillingen area on Dec. 21, 1944, he was one of many casualties left behind.

After the war ended, the American Graves Registration Command began investigating and recovering missing American soldiers in Europe, according to Thursday’s release. The organization conducted several investigations in the Dillingen area between 1946 and 1950 but was unable to recover or identify Schafer’s remains.

A defense agency historian studying the unaccounted-for American soldiers lost at Dillingen discovered in 2018 that Schafer could potentially be connected to human remains buried in the Normandy American Cemetery in Colleville-sur-Mer, France, officials said Thursday.

Federal scientists identified the body as Schafer using anthropological analysis, DNA testing, dental work and circumstantial evidence, the news release stated.

Schafer’s name is recorded on the Walls of the Missing at Lorraine American Cemetery, an American Battle Monuments Commission site in St. Avold, France, along with the others still missing from World War II. A rosette will be placed next to his name to indicate he has been accounted for.

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