Description

Normandy American Tour
Utah Beach & Omaha Beach Sectors

If you want a tour that visits all the main sites in the American sector of the DDay Normandy landing beaches and, want to book individual seats, then this is the tour for you!

Starting at a convenient hour, this tour is designed to allow you to have breakfast in your hotel before meeting your guide at the tour departure point in the centre of Bayeux. Once onboard, you will be transported in a modern air conditioned van to visit the key sites in the US Utah & Omaha sectors. You will have lasting memories of your visit including, walking the grounds of the beautiful Normandy American Cemetery.

Main sites we visit

Utah Beach, Sainte Mere Eglise, Pointe Du Hoc, Omaha Beach and the American Cemetery.

Highlights

Cancellation
Policy

Full Refund

If you need to cancel your tour, provided you give us at least 24 hours notice, we will offer a full refund. In certain circumstances, we are forced to pay a PayPal chargeback fee of 4€. If this is the case, we will remove this from the amount you are refunded.

Book With Confidence

As we saw in 2020, nothing in life is certain. The outbreak of the coronavirus damaged the world economies. We want to assure you that yor money is safe with us. Our policy has and, will always be, to hold the money of future bookings in escrow. This means that we do not touch your money until we have delivered your service. This policy has allowed us to whether the storm of 2020 and remain operational during this difficult time. All clients that booked with us in 2020 that had to cancel through no fault of their own were fully refunded. Please be assured that by booking with us, your money is in safe hands.

Schedule

Tour Map

Tour Details

•  08:55

  Meeting pointOn Board By: 08:55

  We kindly ask that you be at the tour departure point at the Bayeux coach park for the boarding time shown above.

  
•  

  Meeting pointDeparture

  We like to run on schedule and if you are not at the departure point by the advertised boarding time, we will depart. There will be others on board that have arrived as requested and we do not want to impact their experience. If you do arrive late, you will need to take a cab at your own expense to catch up with the tour. We strongly advise you to arrive early for the tour as no refunds will be considered if you miss the service.

• Inside the vehicle 
  

  101st AirborneSte Marie Du Mont

  We will take time to explain the significance of this beautiful small village. This was an objective for the 101st Airborne to help the forces landing on Utah Beach.

  
• On Board the vehicle 

  American ForcesLeadership Monument

  We will stop briefly to show you one of our favourite monuments in Normandy. Richard Winters was chosen to represent leadership due to his world wide fame from the TV mini-series, Band of Brothers.

  

  
• 

  US 4th InfantryUtah Beach
  Guided tour

  Utah Beach was the code name given to the western most landing beach on D-Day. The American 4th Division under the command of Theodore Roosevelt Jr were tasked with assaulting this section of the Normandy coastline.

  

  The landings did not go to plan and the American 4th Division landed around 2 kilometers from their designated spot. By mistake, American forces landed behind German resistance postion WN5. At this site, we will explain the defences, why US forces landed in the wrong location and, ultimately how the beach was secured.

  

  Once we have given you a detailed account, you will be given the opportunity to look at the many monuments that have been erected in honour of the different US Divisions that started their journey to Germany from this point.

  

  
• Inside the vehicle 

  4th InfantryWN8

  We will stop and show you some German bunkers known in German as weiderstandsnest 8 (WN8). This is the location where men from the 4th Division should have landed on the morning of D-Day.

  
• Inside the vehicle 

  4th InfantryHedgerow Battles

  As we drive, we will show you some of the typical hedgerow terrain that the allies had to battle through. We will explain how the Germans utilised the countryside to their defensive advantage and how the allies overcame them.

  
• 

  82nd AirborneSte Mere Eglise
  1 HOUR AND 30 MINUTE VISIT

  This small town was situated on the main N13 road that linked Cherbourg to Bayeux and Caen. This was the main route that both Germans and Americans would have to utlise to mobilise much needed equipment during the battle of Normandy. Ste Mere Eglise was an objective for 82nd Airborne Paratroopers and has been made famous by the movie, The Longest Day. American Paratrooper John Steele was unfortunate to get caught on the church steeple during the drop.

  
• 

  Not provided by Bayeux ShuttleLunch Break

  During our visit, there is ample opportunity to eat in one of the many restaurants or cafes located here. Please bear in mind though that lunch is not provided with the tour and is at your own expense.

  

• 

  Not incorporated in the cost of the tourAirborne Museum

  During our stay, should you wish, you can visit the impressive Airborne Museum. Should you want to do this visit, your guide will give you advice on how best to utilise your time. We recommend grabbing a quick snack from one of the many snack bars and then spending at least 45 minutes of your free time inside the museum.

  The admission prices to visit this museum are 9,90€ for adults and 6€ for children. Please be aware that this is not provided with our tour.

  

  

  

• US Army RangersPointe Du Hoc
  Guided tour

  During World War Two, the Nazis were in the process of building the Atlantik Wall; a series of fortifications from Norway to the border of France and Spain. Stretching for over 2000 miles, this formidable construction of fortifications was designed to try and prevent an Allied landing in the west. One such site was located at the Pointe Du Hoc in Normandy. Consisting of 6 long range gun positions and many other concrete bunkers, it posed a real threat to Allied shipping on D-Day. As this battery was right between the two American landing beaches, Allied planners had no choice but to knock out this position. Here you will hear the incredible stories of bravery shown by US Army Rangers who had to scale nearly 100 feet of cliffs to destroy the guns.

  

  

  

  
• 

  29th and 1st InfantryOmaha Beach
  Guided tour

  The US 1st Infantry and 29th Infantry Divisions, as well as elements of the US Army Rangers were tasked with opening up 5 exit points to start the movement inland. Supported with incredible air and sea pre-bombardment, Allied planners expected to be moving off the beach area within 2 hours. Sadly, this was not the case and this is why many documentaries and movies have been made about this location. When you hear the stories from your guide, you will understand why this beach is known as, "Bloody Omaha".

  

  Depending on the tide, you will have the opportunity to walk on the sand and see the beach from the soldiers perspective. From this point of view, the high bluffs that once had machine guns firing down, are very intimidating.

  

  

  
• 

  Time to reflectAmerican Cemetery
  Guided tour and free time

  The Normandy American Cemetery covers 172 acres and is the final resting place for many thousands of service men and women. You will have sufficient time to explore the visitor center before taking the time to reflect in the cemetery .

  Four women and three Medal of Honor recipients, including Theodore Roosevelt Jr, are some of the most notable people buried here.

  

  

  

  

•  16:30

  End of the tourLet's head back

  We kindly ask that all clients are back at the van at 16:30 to return to Bayeux. As there may be clients on the tour who will be taking a train back to Paris, it is imperative that we depart at the correct moment.

  During the drive back, you will have the opportunity to ask the guide questions. Perhaps you would like to know more about something you have seen at the Cemetery; well, this is the stage to ask! We want to share as much information with you as possible so it will be our pleasure to help.

•   17:00

  End of the tourBayeux

  We will finish this Normandy American tour at the same location as we started. Please note that we do not drop off at hotels.