Normandy Battlefields Day Trip: Omaha, Sword and the British Airborne Sector

Excellent guide and tour sites for a whole day experience from Pointe du Hoc to Pegasus Bridge. Well conducted and highly recommended.

Six people in our extended family were happy to find that one Volkswagen van would accommodate just us, and the driver/tour guide, Sophia, was not only an excellent driver but also fluent in English and French. Her ability to convey place and time in historical context was excellent. What surprised us was the sheer length of the Normandy landing - some 90 kilometers I believe. That would factor in to just how much could be covered in nine hours. The tour started in the west at Pont du Hoc, breathtaking view and history, then to Omaha Beach at low tide: utterly empty at ten in the morning. Then to the American and British cemeteries, the former austere and starkly beautiful, the latter more personalized. Lunch back in Bayeaux, the capital of Free France, our guide was proud to inform. Then on to the British sector Sword, with stop at Pegasus Bridge and the legacy of the British commandos and use of gliders in the invasion. From there to the Merville battery, amazing museum with actual Nazi bunkers. Tour ended at Sword beach, by now jammed with Sunday beach goers like the Jersey Shore. We had gone to St Mere Igles the day before: not to be missed, great Airborne museum.

We loved the tour, all very informative and well led. Would have liked a little longer in some places but on the other hand perhaps that would have meant not seeing so much? So on balance, excellent, would recommend to anyone.

It was a good day. The tour guide seemed to have the facts accurate as we are history buffs. Would have enjoyed more time at Point du Hoc and American Cemetery. It was too bad the others were not able to see Omaha Beach at Low tide. It has such more of an impact. Luckily we stayed at Omaha and were able to walk the beaches at low tide. I would suggest arranging the day differently. Other low points: The bus has 12 large adults and it was uncomfortable as it felt over-crowded. Pegasus Bridge was reproduction and the original was 1 block away at a museum which we just walked past. With as many places as there are to eat including Hotel du Casino Omaha Beach and many others, were taken to Bayeux and directed to a few streets to pick our own, but it worked. The following day, we had a rented car and did enjoy this much more at our own pace, but the roads can be a bit confusing so the tour does work well for that. We will go back to Normandy as there are is so much to see. If were to do it again, we should have chosen the American Sectors for us.

Very good tour, small group, very knowledgeable guide Maz and we visited a lot of sites in one day. Good value for money.