normandy
D-Day’s 80th anniversary
7 nights/8 days: June 24-July 1, 2024
Detour with Stephen
I am a long-time college lecturer on World War II history and served 26 years in the Air Force. Almost everyone knows the basic events that happened during the D-Day landings and the events that followed. But far fewer people know and understand the why: why the Allies did not invade sooner, why Normandy was chosen as the assault location, why the Germans responded as poorly as they did, why a pair of women’s shoes was so important to the outcome…our detour will explore the why. In addition to visiting the venues of the D-Day landings, we will carefully examine the pros and cons of the major alternatives, the factors in play, and why the final decisions were what they turned out to be. Detour with me and experience the same wind, taste the same salt, view the same bluffs as did the 156,000 troops who went ashore on the longest day 80 years ago.
highlights include
Unpack for 6 nights in the charming Domaine de Bayeux where you’ll enjoy nightly “mission prep” over wine and cheese
Dive into the British contributions at Pegasus Bridge and the Sword, Juno, and Gold beaches
Visit superb D-Day museums in Caen and Arromanches
Take in the vistas of Omaha Beach, Utah Beach, Pont du Hoc, and the Normandy American Cemetery
Visit the “Church of the Snagged Paratrooper” at Ste. Mere Eglise
itinerary
“The past is a source of knowledge, and the future is a source of hope. Love of the past implies faith in the future.”
This year marks the 80th anniversary of one of the most pivotal moments in World War II: D-Day. On the 6th of June, 1944, Allied forces launched a massive invasion on the beaches of Normandy, France. This monumental military operation, with thousands of troops storming ashore under heavy fire, signaled the beginning of the end for Nazi occupation in Western Europe. The successful amphibious assault established a crucial foothold, leading to the liberation of France and ultimately changing the course of the war. We invite you to join us on a memorial journey retracing the steps of the liberation of France and the restoration of freedom and peace in Europe.
day 1: Bienvenue en France!
Monday, June 24, 2024
We’ll meet at the Charles de Gaulle Airport, where we will rendevous with our private coach, and proceed west to the delightful town of Bayeux. We’ll unpack for the week at the charming Domaine de Bayeux, where a welcome reception will warm our travel-weary spirits with France’s beloved fruit of the vine and a feast of regional specialties.
Hotel: Domaine de Bayeux | Meals: D | Activity Level: Moderate
day 2: british airborne @ Pegasus Bridge
Tuesday, June 25, 2024
Today we visit one of D-Day’s critical targets: the Pegasus Bridge. Spanning the Orne River Canal, The British Airborne's daring capture of Pegasus Bridge in the early hours of D-Day stands as a testament to courage and precision. Tasked with securing vital bridges behind enemy lines, these elite troops executed a flawless glider-borne assault, swiftly overwhelming German defenders in a surprise attack. After lunch, we’ll visit the Caen Memorial Museum that showcases a comprehensive exhibit of the complexities and impact of 20th-century conflicts, especially World War II. Our return to Baueux takes us past the British Sword and Gold beaches, and the Canadian Juno beach before our wine & cheese reflection and dinner together.
Hotel: Domaine de Bayeux | Meals: B, HH (Happy Hour) | Activity Level: Moderate
day 3: german cemetery & omaha beach
Wednesday, June 26, 2024
This morning we visit the German Military Cemetery at La Cambe, the final resting place for over 21,000 German soldiers. The serene grounds evoke a sense of reflection and remembrance, offering a poignant contrast to the turbulent history it represents. We then travel to Pont du Hoc, where U.S. Rangers scaled its steep cliffs under intense enemy fire to seize and secure vital German artillery positions. We end our day walking Omaha Beach, discussing one of the most intense battles the American troops would face to secure a critical foothold in the Allied invasion of Normandy.
Hotel: Domaine de Bayeux | Meals: B | Activity Level: Moderate
day 4: Bayeux & arromanches
Thursday, June 27, 2024
Today we enjoy a blend of old and new. We’ll pay a visit to the world-famous Bayeux Tapestry that chronicles William the Conqueror’s 1066 invasion of England—the first cross-channel invasion, but from a different direction. We’ll enjoy a guided walking tour of Bayeux village and its stunning Cathedral. After free time for lunch, we will take a short trip in the afternoon to see (at low tide) what is arguably the greatest engineering artifice of the European war: the portable harbor at Arromanches. Two artificial harbors were fabricated in England and were floated to Normandy shortly after D-Day.
Hotel: Domaine de Bayeux | Meals: B, L. HH | Activity Level: Moderate
day 5: normandy American cemetery
Friday, June 28, 2024
This morning we visit the most meaningful of locales, the Normandy American Cemetery in the village of Colleville-sur-Mer. This solemn site is the final resting place for over 9,000 American soldiers. Each grave marker represents a story of bravery and selflessness, honoring those who made the ultimate sacrifice for freedom. The afternoon is free to explore Bayeux, the town we have come to call home by now. Roam its meandering streets, savor its rich coffee, indulge in its delectable croissants, and take more photos than our smart phones can manage. La vie est belle!
Hotel: Domaine de Bayeux | Meals: B, HH, Activity Level: Moderate
day 6: us airborne & utah beach
Saturday, June 29, 2024
This morning we visit the superb open-air museum-park at Ste. Mere Eglise, dedicated to bravery of the U.S. troops invasion of Utah Beach. Paratroopers from the 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions were dropped behind enemy lines to secure key objectives and disrupt German defenses. Despite scattered landings and challenges navigating unfamiliar terrain, these courageous soldiers rallied swiftly, seizing crucial causeways and bridges, paving the way for the successful inland advance of Allied forces. Their daring actions and resilience played a vital role in the liberation of Normandy and marked a pivotal chapter in the success of the broader D-Day campaign.
Hotel: Domaine de Bayeux | Meals: B, HH | Activity Level: Your Choice
day 7: au revoir, bayeux
Sunday, June 30, 2024
We say au revoir to the Hotel Domain du Bayeux and head for Paris’ airport. We will stop at the delightful town of Poses for a leisurely luncheon on the Seine at L’Auberge du Halage. Savoring our final time together as a group, we’ll conduct our last debrief and answer any lingering questions about our detour through the D-Day invasion. We will continue to Charles de Gaulle airport for a final over-night.
Hotel: Ibis Charles de Gaulle | Meals: B, L | Activity Level: Moderate
day 8: au revoir, la france
Monday, July 1, 2024
Our detour ends after breakfast this morning. Make your way to the terminal, or to your next destination, but wherever you venture, tell the wonderful story of D-Day to others...they need to know this significant part of US and military history.
$4,895 (double occupancy)
$5,695 (single occupancy)
$4,695 (triple occupancy)
10% deposit
FAQs
-
Each detour includes the price of all admissions to sights seen as a group; tours by local guides, meals as listed in the trip itinerary; accommodations each night of the detour including breakfasts; all transportation required for group activities from the first hotel to the last hotel of the detour (transportation for optional group activities and independent travel during the detour is not included), travel consultations and advice from our staff, guides, and vendors including suggestions, tips, and directions, and all trip leader, local guide, driver, and hotel tips. Prices do not include airfare to and from the detour, nor ground transportation to/from airports.
-
Detour prices do not include international airfare or ground transportation to/from the airport.
-
Each detour includes all breakfasts and about half of your lunches and dinners as indicated in the meal guide included in each itinerary: B=breakfast, L=lunch, D=dinner.
-
Our groups range from 10-20 participants with 1-2 trip leaders and local guides to connect us to local culture and experiences.
-
Yes! Our detours are the perfect way for children (and adults) to learn in action. We welcome and celebrate multi-generational travel. History class was never so fun!
-
Our Normandy detour begins the morning of Day 1 at the Charles de Gaulle airport, where we will rendevous together to meet our coach and head to our home for the week in Bayeux.
-
Please plan to arrive at the Charles de Gaulle airport the morning of June 24. We will meet our bus and depart together from the airport for Bayeux.
-
Each detour web page has a link to our online registration and payment provider. There you can pay the 10% per person deposit and complete the registration form.
-
Deposits are refundable for 30 days from receipt. After 30 days they are nonrefundable.
-
Final payment is due 90 days prior to detour commencement but you may pay in full any time prior to this.
-
Cancellations are allowed without penalty (excepting deposit) until the final payment deadline. After the final payment deadline 100% of funds paid are nonrefundable.
-
The $500 deposit is due upon registration, after which time you will receive a payment link where you can choose to pay the remaining amount, or you can contact us to set up a payment plan.
-
Yes, all published prices are per person, based on double occupancy, or when available, single occupancy. Please contact us for triple occupancy pricing.
-
During the registration process you will have the opportunity to request single occupancy, if it is offered. Due to the boutique nature of our hotels, we are not always able to offer single accommodations, but are happy to pair you with another single traveler.
-
Yes. You must be able to carry your own luggage up at least three flights of stairs and on uneven ground for up to a quarter mile.