Several friends and I would like to visit the Normandy sites next spring, We are travelling from the US and was wondering if anyone can recommend a tour company for our visit> preferably we would like a company that sets up not only the tours but accommodations as well as none of us have any experience visiting France and don't speak the language very well. Any direction is much appreciated.
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There is a well known company from the UK who do tours over to Normandy if that's any good to youOriginally posted by 29THPZG View Post -
if you could, please PM me the name or link......Comment
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The best tourguide and guy for Normandy tours in my opion is Paul Woodadge. Try this and you wont be disappointed:
http://www.ddayhistorian.com/
JuergStrength and Honour
http://standwheretheyfought.jimdo.com/Comment
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il second jurgs comments!!! hes a GREAT guide!!!highly recommended!!Originally posted by Jürg View Post
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Thank You for the input, it is much appreciated. Doe s anybody have any experience or opinion on Pegasus Battlefield tours in the UK?Comment
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In 2010 I did numerous Legers Battlefield tours, all departing and returning to London. They were reasonably priced and coverage was excellent, especially Normandy over 5 days. I'd do it again.
Day 1- Local departure by coach then to Normandy for a three or four-night stay.
Day 2 - Britain’s D-Day: Pegasus Bridge and British Beaches - We start at Pegasus Bridge, the scene of the first actions of D-Day where Airborne troops stormed the position from gliders and held on until the link-up with ground forces from Sword Beach was made. We see where the gliders landed, the Gondrée Café – arguably the first house liberated on D-Day – and visit the Memorial Pegasus Museum where the original bridge is located. In Ranville we see the Airborne graves in the cemetery and churchyard and after lunch, proceed into the British landing beaches, starting at Sword Beach. Here we see the new memorial to D-Day hero Piper Bill Millin, who piped Lord Lovat’s commandos ashore, and look at the area where men from the 3rd Division landed. At Juno Beach we visit the superb Juno Beach Centre which explains the story of the Canadian role in the Battle of Normandy and at Gold Beach, see where some of the heaviest casualties were suffered by British troops storming the tough defences at Asnelles. We end the day at Arromanches where the Mulberry Harbour was constructed, much of which is still visible out to sea.
Day 3 - America’a D-Day: Bloody Omaha and American Airborne - The story of ‘Bloody Omaha’ and the terrible American sacrifice here on D-Day has been immortalised in Saving Private Ryan. Uncover the real story with a visit to the American Normandy Cemetery and Omaha Beach where the landings took place, seeing the memorial to the 29th Division. We also take time to visit the newest Normandy war museum the superb Overlord Museum-Omaha Beach before taking lunch in St Mere Eglise, and then looking at the story of the US Airborne forces at the new Richard Winters Leadership Memorial; Dick Winters commanded Easy Company of 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, otherwise known as ‘The Band of Brothers’. At Utah Beach we follow the story of the successful landings and visit the expanded Utah Beach Museum and see the memorials to those who came ashore here. We end the day at the German Cemetery at La Cambe, where German Tank Ace Michael Wittmann is buried among thousands of others who fell in Normandy.
Day 4 - Battle of the Bocage: Falaise Gap - We start our look at the fighting beyond D-Day in the bocage countryside south of Bayeux. We examine the bloody battles for Tilly-sur-Seulles and the tough fighting at Fontenay le Pesnel. Driving through the so-called ‘Scottish Corridor’ over the river Odon, we visit Hill 112 with its Churchill tank memorial; Hill 112 is often called the ‘Verdun of Normandy’ because of the tough nature of the fighting and the huge amount of artillery used. Lunch in Falaise, followed by a visit to the Falaise Pocket and a short walk along the ‘Corridor of Death’, used by the Germans to make their retreat in August 1944. On Mont Ormel we visit the Polish Memorial and Museum to their ferocious battle and end the day by seeing a very rare original Tiger I tank at Vimoutiers.
Day 5 return LondonLast edited by robs; 09-05-2014, 04:06 AM.Comment
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Not sure about a tour company but you might want to look at this:-
http://www.maisybattery.com/
I haven't been but would like to one day!Comment
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haven't been but would like to one day!Comment
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Last year my wife and I visited Normandy for the first time. We traveled by rail from Paris to Bayeux and then took a 'd-day' tour from there. We used Viator.com to set up the tour, as we've found their activities to be the most consistent during our 9 trips overseas. The tour we used was "Normandy Battlefields Tour - American Sites"
http://www.viator.com/tours/Bayeux/N.../d909-3193NSAS
The tour was 8 hours long and was well worth the money, especially since we did not have a car. Having a history degree, and being a reenactor, I really enjoyed the trip as did the guide because he was happy to have someone along who actually knew the history of the places we visited.
We also booked our own hotel and found little problem with the language, as many people in that region of France spoke English well enough to help us along. Everyone was friendly, and as long as you take a little time to learn, "please, thank you, I would like, etc" you'll be fine.
This year, I went back to Normandy again, just over 3 weeks ago. This time, we rented a car out of Brussels and drove. We were fortunate to find a place to stay through AirBNB, and it was far better than a hotel. We were able to stay in a house about 1 mile from Mont St. Michelle. While away from the Normandy beach area, it did afford us a place to stay that was still accessible to everything we wanted to see. We used websites like traces of war (http://en.tracesofwar.com/default.asp) to help us plan our trip as well as google maps (http://www.maps.google.com). We were able to see so much more by having a car than any tour would ever allow us to. We saw:
Pegasus Bridge
Lounges-Sur-Mer-Battery
Hillman German Regimental Command Post/Bunker
Hermansville-sur-Mer British War Cemetery
Saint-Marie-du-Mont 506th Drop Zone
Brecourt Mannor
Utah Beach (and a few miles of bunkers)
Batterie de Crisbecq
Beuzeville-au-Plain (C47/101st/506th memorial)
Sainte-Mere-Eglise
Orglandes German War Cemetery
Azeville Battery
Saint-Come-du-Mont (Dead man's corner museum)
Carentan
Grand Camp Maisy Battery
Coleville American War Cemetery
Overloard Musuem
We were able to see all of these things in three jam-packed days of roaring around the Normandy countryside. I highly suggest getting a car, renting your own lodging (cheaper and easier) as well as coming up with what's important for you to see while you're there!
DaneComment
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Thank you for the import. We have booked 4 days in a B&B near Omaha Beach and a guide with car for 3 days of touring. This is going to be along three days - I want to see it all! We are renting a car on day 4 to visit the Tank Museum in Saumur, France and then back to Normandy for a day on our own. We are so excited to go, myself and three friends. We have all spent a life time reading about these places and its about time we see them for ourselves! All tips and advice are greatly appreciated....thanks to all.Comment
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