1-Day American D-Day Landings Tour with Ste Mere Eglise and Omaha

The journey

Trip highlights

• 01 Explore the key sites of the American D-Day landings, from Omaha Beach to Utah Beach
• 02 Visit Pointe du Hoc, where US Rangers climbed the cliffs to neutralize a German gun battery
• 03 See the US Cemetery at Colleville and aim to witness the flag-lowering ceremony
• 04 Discover Ste Mere Eglise and other paratrooper sites linked to the 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions

Cover the key sites of the American landings on D-Day, including Omaha Beach, the US Cemetery, Pointe du Hoc, Utah Beach, and Ste Mere Eglise. Travel comfortably in a nine-seater minivan or in your own vehicle as the tour explores both the overall history of D-Day and the individual stories of the soldiers who landed there. The experience can also be tailored to your specific interests, and with a little advance notice, it can include the story of a family member who was involved.

See the US Cemetery, with plans to arrive in time for the flag-lowering ceremony at the end of the day.

From the itinerary

At a glance

What this trip includes

Duration 1 Day

Tour type Private

Activity level Moderate

Accommodation Not included

Transport Included

Wheelchair access Yes

Cities Caen, Normandy, Cherbourg-Octeville

Languages English

Day by day

The itinerary

1

Day 01

American D-Day Landings from Ste Mere Eglise to Omaha Beach

• Pick up anywhere between Cherbourg and Caen.
• Travel to Ste Mere Eglise (45 minutes) to cover the paratrooper actions. There is also an option to visit the Airborne Museum in Ste Mere Eglise (ticket price not included).
• Lunch in Ste Mere Eglise, or we can pick up a sandwich and keep going.
• Visit Utah Beach, Pointe du Hoc, and Omaha Beach.
• See the US Cemetery, with plans to arrive in time for the flag-lowering ceremony at the end of the day. The time varies between 16:00 and 17:00 depending on winter or summer opening hours.
• The tour can be done in reverse order depending on the pickup and drop-off point.

The route

Where you'll travel

The fine print

Trip details

What's Included

• Guide
• Guide's vehicle Renault Trafic minivan - 8 seats, plus driver
• Pick up and drop off anywhere between Cherbourg and Caen

What's Not Included

• Food
• Museum fees
• Pick up beyond Cherbourg/Caen. This is possible at extra cost - for example, from Paris or cruise terminals at Honfleur or Le Havre.

What to bring

• Layers of clothing, including a waterproof top layer. Temperatures are generally mild, but it can rain and it can be windy.
• Shoes for walking on the beach, gravel paths, and similar terrain.
• Any special dietary food. Gluten-free food, for example, is difficult to find in France - it is available in supermarkets, but not generally in bakeries, cafes, or restaurants.

Know before you go

• If you want a quick guide before you come, watch The Longest Day movie, and if you want to understand a bit about the paratroopers, then watch episodes 2 and 3 of Band of Brothers (HBO).
• Books: The Longest Day by Cornelius Ryan, or D-Day by Antony Beevor.
• If you stay in France, or anywhere other than Paris, be aware that it is not a 24-hour culture. Shops generally close by 19:00 or 20:00, and many shops are closed between 12:00 and 14:00 and on Sundays, including supermarkets. Lots of places also close on Mondays.

Logistics

Meeting & route

Meeting point

Normandie, France

Tour start

Normandie, France

Tour ends at the same location as the start point.