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France
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Normandy
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Calvados
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Bayeux
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Tours & Activities
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Normandy Beaches Half-Day Trip from Bayeux
5 h
Popular
Half Day
About this activity
After pickup from Bayeux, your guide will take you to the three important World War II sites in Normandy. Your first stop is Pointe du Hoc, the German battery that was attacked by US Rangers on D-Day.
Hear how the Rangers, commanded by Lt Col James Rudder, scaled the cliffs to get to the German gun position — a scene that was famously depicted in the war film Saving Private Ryan. With its huge fortifications blown to pieces, the site remains as it did when the US Rangers left it: like an eerie lunar landscape.
Then drive along the coast to Omaha Beach, where soldiers of the Vierville 29th and Colleville 1st Divisions landed. By far the most difficult place to land on D-Day, Omaha Beach was the bloodiest of the five beaches and the operation almost failed, but the bravery of those young men turned this operation into a victory. You’ll make two stops along the 4-mile (6-km) beach, one on each end, to give you an appreciation of the sheer scale of the events that took place here.
Overlooking the eastern end of Omaha Beach is the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial, which you’ll visit next. This cemetery — the largest American cemetery in Europe — holds the bodies of 9,387 soldiers who fought to liberate Western Europe from the Germans. Pay tribute to the 307 unknown soldiers or visit the resting place of more famous figures such as General Theodore Roosevelt Jr.
End with a tour of the Normandy American Cemetery Visitor Center, where you’ll learn more about the scenes that took place on Omaha Beach in 1944. Through personal stories, narrative texts, photos, films, interactive displays and artifacts, you’ll grasp the bravery and sacrifice of the American soldiers who fought at the D-Day landings, culminating in the victory of the Allied forces.
After this insightful and moving experience, your guide will drive you back to Bayeux to conclude your tour.
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Hear how the Rangers, commanded by Lt Col James Rudder, scaled the cliffs to get to the German gun position — a scene that was famously depicted in the war film Saving Private Ryan. With its huge fortifications blown to pieces, the site remains as it did when the US Rangers left it: like an eerie lunar landscape.
Then drive along the coast to Omaha Beach, where soldiers of the Vierville 29th and Colleville 1st Divisions landed. By far the most difficult place to land on D-Day, Omaha Beach was the bloodiest of the five beaches and the operation almost failed, but the bravery of those young men turned this operation into a victory. You’ll make two stops along the 4-mile (6-km) beach, one on each end, to give you an appreciation of the sheer scale of the events that took place here.
Overlooking the eastern end of Omaha Beach is the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial, which you’ll visit next. This cemetery — the largest American cemetery in Europe — holds the bodies of 9,387 soldiers who fought to liberate Western Europe from the Germans. Pay tribute to the 307 unknown soldiers or visit the resting place of more famous figures such as General Theodore Roosevelt Jr.
End with a tour of the Normandy American Cemetery Visitor Center, where you’ll learn more about the scenes that took place on Omaha Beach in 1944. Through personal stories, narrative texts, photos, films, interactive displays and artifacts, you’ll grasp the bravery and sacrifice of the American soldiers who fought at the D-Day landings, culminating in the victory of the Allied forces.
After this insightful and moving experience, your guide will drive you back to Bayeux to conclude your tour.
Included
- Driver/guide
- Transport by air-conditioned minivan
- Hotel pickup and drop-off (selected hotels only) from Bayeux
Not included
- Gratuities
- Food and drinks, unless specified
Additional
- Confirmation will be received within 48 hours of booking, subject to availability
- Please note that the tour departs from Bayeux - Normandy. There is no hotel pickup from Paris.
- This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund
Features
Tourism
95%
Cultural
70%
Reviews
Great experience. Small group of 7 people to take in Pont du Hoc, Omaha Beach, and the American cemetery at Omaha Beach. Half afternoon was enough time also.
We normally enjoy self guided touring, but this was a perfect overview taking only a half day. We stayed the next day on our own Phillip, our guide, did a terrific job telling us interesting trivial details in addition to the big picture facts.
Our tour guide Francois was awesome. He was loud and clear and very energetic in his discriptions. He made it fun and had so much information to tell us that drew a huge picture that we learned from. Very happy we booked this tour.
This was a wonderful tour or the Omaha Beach area and the American Cemetery. Adrien, our guide, was superb and taught us so many new things. Well worth going.
Excellent tour. We took the train from Paris and our guide met us at the train station. Very informative and interesting tour. I would recommend it.
This was a perfect day! We started in Paris and took the train to Bayeux. We were picked up directly from the train station in a comfortable/clean van and take to Point Du Hoc, Omaha Beach and the American Cemetery. We never felt rushed at any of the stops and our guide was terrific! I'd highly recommend this for anyone looking to see the WWII history in Normandy without having to spend a night there.
Adrian our guide was awesome. His in depth knowledge about the place, its history and his conclusion will fascinate people who are passionate about the turn of events in the 20th.century.
Adrian was a knowledgeable and personable guide. The 1/2 Day tour was very informative, emotional, and very moving. The tour ended in Bayeux and we found a nice place for dinner before our train ride back to Paris.
Adrian is very informed and thorough, approachable and considerate. His analysis and empathy for what happened in World War II in Normandy is amazing. Go on this tour. And remember that the beaches are very windy.
Tour was great! Tour guide Michael was outstanding. Very personable, engaging and knowledgeable. My friends, family and I enjoyed spending the afternoon with him and seeing the sites. Learned a lot and was able to see a lot. To think what happened where we were standing was very thought provoking. Enjoyed the afternoon and tour. Thanks!
A four hor tour ended up being a 3.5 hour tor so we could hear taps. I liked hearing taps at the American cemetery but would liked to have moved one visit before taps to after taps so each would not be rushed. Driver was good but in a hurry. L