7 day Paris Must-Do Normandy History Culture D Day Small Group15

What's Included

Meeting and pickup

Itinerary

Day 1
Sunday: Paris — Giverny Claude Monet— Etretat Chalk Cliffs — Honfleur harbour city— Bayeux
5 stops
1
Paris
07:00 - 07:30 Boarding and Departure to Giverny MEETING POINT N 1: 07:00am to 07:10am boarding at our Mercedes minibus at the OPERA GARNIER STEPS, it is a main facade of Opera building in front of Metro OPERA MEETING POINT N 2: 07:20am to 07:30am boarding at our Mercedes minibus at the Arch de Triumph Etoile, first 10 meters of the avenue FRIEDLAND 07:30 Departure destination Giverny, the country home of Claude Monet. Our Guide will welcome You and give on the way general Information about the French history and Impressionism. It takes about 1,5 hour (70 km). Important Notice: All entrance tickets and visits are included. Regarding Hotel accommodation you can reserve it Yourself or purchase our Hotel Package of a 3* or 4* star hotel in Bayeux for 2 overnights.
Admission ticket free
2
Claude Monet's House and Gardens - Giverny
09:00 - 11:00 Arrival in Giverny and visit to Claude Monet's historic house to admire the nature that inspired one of the most famous French painters and founder of Impressionism. Step into Claude Monet’s studio, where the magic of his artistic genius came to life, wander through the enchanting Norman flower gardens, marvel at the iconic water lilies in the picturesque Pond. 11:00 Departure to Etretat. It take about 2,5 hours (155 km)
2 hours • Admission ticket included
3
Etretat
13:30 - 16:00 Arrival at Etretat. Walking to the beach & famous Chalk Cliffs. Free time for Lunch. You will enjoy breath taking views and relax. Étretat is famous for its chalk cliffs, including three natural arches and the Needle, which rises 70 meters (230 ft) above the sea. Etretat was a popular spot in the past for impressionist artists including Claude Monet. Today it is a classical seaside resort nestled between two sets of Chalk cliffs. You can walk on the beach and climb for excellent views to both Chalk cliffs sets. 16:00 Departure to Honfleur. It take about 1 hour (45 km)
2 hours 30 minutes • Admission ticket free
4
Honfleur
17:00 - 18:30 Walking tour in Honfleur with its famous port. Honfleur - the main defensive port of Normandy of the XV century, transformed into a charming resort town with a picturesque Bay, much-loved by the artists of the XIX century. Honfleur was first mentioned in 1027, when it belonged to the Norman Duke Richard III. The owners of the city changed several times during The Hundred Years War. In the XV century, there were French pirates - corsairs who ravaged the English coast. Later, in the XVII—XVIII centuries, the city became significantly rich in trade with the American colonies. After the port was closed, the city's economy declined and Honfleur became a suburb of Le Havre. Today it is one of the most known tourist cities in Normandy with 5,2 Million visitors a year.The walking city tour takes about 1 hour. 18:30 Departure to Bayeux. It take 1,5 hour (95 km).
1 hour 30 minutes • Admission ticket free
5
Bayeux
20:00 Hotel accommodation in Bayeux according to the chosen option.
Admission ticket free
Day 2
Monday: Bayeux — Utah Beach Landing Museum — Airborne Museum — Normandy American Cemetery — Overlord — Omaha Beach
11 stops
6
07:30 Departure from Bayeux to Utah Beach. It takes one hour (60 km).
3 hours • Admission ticket free
7
Utah Beach Monument
08:30 - 09:00 Arrival at Utah Beach. Free time for learning on Utah Beach. Utah Beach is the next to Omaha Beach and the westernmost of the Five Normandy D-Day Beaches containing nowadays many museums, memorials and monuments. Utah Beach was the first beach to be stormed by 23,000 American soldiers on 6 June 1944 in order to capture the town of Cherbourg and its deep water port. Utah Beach casualties were relatively light with 197 (including 60 missing). The units that landed on Utah Beach include: 82nd Airborne Division, 101st Airborne Division, VII Corps, 4th Infantry Division, 90th Infantry Division, 4th Cavalry Regiment and 70th Tank Battalion. Near the UTAH BEACH Landing Museum You can discover many important monuments. Normandy’s Utah Beach is wide and clear and make it easy to imagine the events of 1944. You can spend here some time strolling the beach, thinking about the events of WW2. In the same general area at the Landing Museum you’ll find a collection of monuments:
30 minutes • Admission ticket free
8
Utah Beach Landing Museum
09:00 - 10:20 Utah Beach Landing Museum visit, created atop a former German bunker and having a big collection of historical artifacts, military vehicles and the original B26 bomber — one of only six left in existence. 10:20 Departure to Sainte-Mère-Église town and Airborne Museum. It takes just 25 minutes (13 km).
1 hour 20 minutes • Admission ticket included
9
Airborne Museum
10:40 - 12:30 Arrival at Airborne museum. This visitors of Normandy favourite museum is dedicated to the U.S. paratroopers of the 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions. The Airborne Museum comprises five separate buildings, two of which resemble open parachutes. Inside you’ll find an incredible collection of World War II aircraft and thanks to the touch pad You will experience the highlights of the Normandy landings. The first WACO building of the Museum is dedicated to the gliders and presents the only copy of a WACO glider in France. You will join a dozen soldiers in the glider few moments before the take off. More than 500 gliders were deployed to carriy on About 4 400 soldiers, vehicles, ammunitions and other equipments. The C-47 building with the original legendary C-47 aircraft sits proudly at the centre of a spectacular scenography made of deployed parachutes, suspended mannequins and realistic statues that question the visitor!
1 hour 50 minutes • Admission ticket included
10
Sainte-Mere-Eglise
12:30 - 13:15 Lunch break in Sainte-Mère-Église in front of the Airborne Museum. 13:15 Departure to Pointe Du Hoc. It take 45minutes (40 lm)
30 minutes • Admission ticket free
11
Pointe du Hoc
14:00 - 14:45 Arrival at Pointe du Hoc, a prominent cliff between Utah and Omaha Beach. This point was important because it was the highest land between Omaha and Utah beaches and could thus fire upon both of them. The site was a gun battery, fortified with concrete casemates and gun pits, forming part of Hitler’s Atlantic Wall defences. Visiting the Pointe du Hoc You will learn about the 2nd Ranger battalion sacrifice to take this crucial gun battery on the cliffs of Omaha Beach on June 6th 1944. Many of the original fortifications and bunkers remain on the site and are open to the public, including the fire control casemate, on top of which there is a monument to the 2nd Ranger Battalion. 14:45 Departure to Normandy American Cemetery. It takes about 25 minutes (14 km).
45 minutes • Admission ticket free
12
Normandy American Cemetery
15:10 - 16:10 Arrival and Visit of the Normandy American Cemetery & Visitor Center, located in Colleville-sur-Mer and overlooking Omaha Beach. It contains 9,387 U.S. soldiers, most of whom were killed during the Normandy Landings and the Wall of the Missed in Action with the names of 1,557 soldiers. At Normandy American Cemetery you’ll see as well the semicircular memorial colonnade with the sculpture “Spirit of American Youth Rising from the Waves” and large maps of military operations; and the most beautiful, idyllic spot on Planet Earth. At the Visitors Center You will find a very nice small Museum with a lot of informations about Battle of Normandy. 16:10 Departure to the close located Overlord Museum.
1 hour • Admission ticket free
13
Overlord Museum - Omaha Beach
16:15 - 17:00 Overlord Museum visit. Located just few hundred meters away from the Normandy American Cemetery this museum contains many WW2 artefacts and installations like tanks, weapons, guns, many military vehicles, V-1 missile, personal belongings and more. It gives You a personal feeling about D-Day. 16:45 Departure to Omaha Beach. It takes just 10 minutes (5 km).
45 minutes • Admission ticket included
14
Omaha Beach
17:00 - 17:30 Arrival at Omaha Beach Signal Monument. Learn about the huge sacrifice made by the 34 000 men who landed here on D-Day. Omaha Beach is the most popular travellers destination of the D-Day Beaches. 17:30 Departure to German Gun Battery. I takes 30 minutes (17 km).
30 minutes • Admission ticket free
15
Longues-sur-Mer
18:00 - 18:30 German Gun Battery. 18:30 Departure to Bayeux. It takes 20 minutes (10 rm). 19:00 Arrival in Bayeux 19:00 Arrival in Bayeux. Hotel accommodation in Bayeux according to the chosen option.
30 minutes • Admission ticket free
16
Bayeux
19:00 Arrival in Bayeux. Hotel accommodation in Bayeux according to the chosen option.
Admission ticket free
Day 3
Tuesday: Bayeux — Mont Saint-Michel — Cancale Oysters Capital — Pointe du Grouin — Paris
5 stops
17
Bayeux
07:30 Departure from Bayeux to Mont Saint-Michel. There are 130 km to drive on a highway from Paris to Mont Saint-Michel. It takes 2 hours (120 km).
4 minutes • Admission ticket free
18
Abbaye du Mont-Saint-Michel
09:30 - 12:30 Arrival at Mont Saint-Michel. As a rule we manage to join the Guided visit organised by the Abbey itself. When ii is not possible we provide audio-guides for the Abbey's visit. Our guide-driver bring you up the narrow streets of the medieval village toward the top to the Abbey. On the top of the Island, you can admire panoramic views of the Atlantic Ocean and bay. First settled by man in the year 709 it contains Medieval village & beautiful Abbey fortress dedicated to Saint Michael the Archangel. The construction of the Benedictine Abbey started in the 700’s and continued through the 1200s. It remains practically the same since the Middle Ages as it was the goal of pilgrims from all over the world. Mont Saint Michel remains the most visited site in France. After the Abbey visit You'll have free time to enjoy Mont Saint-Michel city and time for Lunch. 12:30 Departure to Cancale. It takes 1 hour (45 km)
3 hours • Admission ticket included
19
Cancale
13:30 - 15:00 Lunch break in in Cancale, Oysters Capital of France. You will visit the Oysters Market of Cancale where You can buy and eat Frech catch oysters size N 1, 2, 3 etc. Several restaurants along the embankment offer see food dishes for Lunch. 15:00 Departure to Pointe du Grouin. It takes 15 minutes (5 km).
1 hour 30 minutes • Admission ticket free
20
Pointe Du Grouin
15:15 - 16:00 Arrival at Pointe du Grouin which is located in Brittany. Pointe du Grouin is dominated by a Lighthouse offering a breathtaking view of the Normandy coast, the bay of Mont-Saint-Michel and the coastline of the Emerald Coast. 16:00 Departure to Paris. It takes 5,5 hours (430 km). One stop at a rest area will be made.
45 minutes • Admission ticket free
21
Paris
21:30 Coming back to Paris. Drop off at Arc de Triumph Etoile.
Admission ticket free
Day 4
Wednesday: Paris — Quartier Latin — Arc Etoile — Eiffel Tower — Louvre
5 stops
22
Paris
07:30 - 10:00 Live Guided Paris Sightseeing city tour starts. The Guide will give You general Information about the French history and a lot of interesting things about France, its culture, architecture and history. You will see all the most important sights of Paris: Luxembourg Gardens, Place de la Concorde, Les Invalides and Alexander III bridge, Place Vendome, Sainte-Chapelle, Place des Vosges, Trocadéro square with its magnificent Viewpoint at the Eiffel Tower. Duration 2,5 to 3 hours.
3 hours • Admission ticket free
23
Arc de Triomphe
10:15 - 11:30 The Arc de Triomphe de l'Étoile is one of the most famous monuments in Paris, standing at the western end of the Champs-Élysées. You will take 250 steps to go to the top of the 50 meters high Arch to admire the panoramic views. 12 streets form the shape of a star and give the site its more common Parisian name, l'Étoile (the star). The Arc de Triomphe honours those who fought and died for France in the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars. The names of all French victories and generals You can see on its inner and outer surfaces. The construction was started by Napoleon Bonaparte 1806, halted during Bourbon Restoration and completed 1836 by the last French King Louis-Philippe. On 15 December 1840 Napoleon's remains brought from Saint Helena island passed under Arc de Triomphe on their way to Hotel des Invalides, where Napoleon Bonaparte was buried.
1 hour 15 minutes • Admission ticket included
24
11:45- 12:45 Walking tour Latin Quarter incl. Notre Dame de Paris. Duration about 1 hour. The Latin Quarter of Paris or Quartier latin situated on the left bank of the Seine river close to Notre-Dame de Paris is known for its University, high schools, student life, lively atmosphere, and numerous bistros. Its name is related to the Latin language which was widely spoken during the Middle Ages in and around the University.
1 hour • Admission ticket free
25
Eiffel Tower
14:15 - 15:30 After arrival at the Eiffel tower You get the Skip the line access to the 2-nd floor by lift, the most popular among tourists.
1 hour 15 minutes • Admission ticket not included
26
Louvre Museum
16:00 - 18:00 Louvre Museum visit with audio-guide. Our guide will make a walking tour around Louvre explaining its long history, architecture and most important facts. Afterwards You will be brought to theMuseum itself to start Your audio-guided Louvre Museum visit.
2 hours • Admission ticket not included
Day 5
Thursday: Loire Valley Da Vinci Castles trip Chenonceau — Amboise — Clos Luce
6 stops
27
Place De L'Opera
MEETING POINT N 1: 07:00am to 07:10am boarding on our Mercedes minibus at 10 Place de l"Opera 75009 Paris, OPERA GARNIER STEPS (main facade) in front of Metro Opera MEETING POINT N 2: 07:20am to 07:30am boarding on our Mercedes minibus at 40 Avenue FRIEDLAND, Paris 75008, 100 meters from Arch de Triumph Etoile Departure to Loire Valley. It takes about 3 to 3,5 hours (245 km). Departure to Loire Valley. It takes about 3 to 3,5 hours (245 km). One stop at a rest area will be made.
Admission ticket free
28
Chateau de Chenonceau
11:00 - 12:30 Chateau Chenonceau and its Gardens Guided visit. The Guide will tell You the history of the Castle and its construction. You will get as well the brochure with explanations of each room. Chenonceau nicknamed the "ladies’ castle" is remarkable for its feminine history of famous women of France such as Catherine de Medici as well as for its stunning architecture as well as unique aches over the River Cher. The Renaissance-style gardens Gardens of Chenonceau with their more than 130,000 flowerings plants will impress You as well. 12:30 Departure to Amboise city. It takes 20 minutes.
1 hour 30 minutes • Admission ticket not included
29
Amboise
12:50 -14:00 Lunch break in Amboise city where You'll find many restaurants and cafes. We can as well recommend You or make a table reservation at a good restaurant.
1 hour 10 minutes • Admission ticket free
30
Chateau Royal d'Amboise
14:00 - 15:15 Chateau Royal d’Amboise with Histopad explaining to You the history of this Castle and of each room. Amboise is the grand 15th-century residence of King Charles VIII and an example of the transition of Gothic to Renaissance architecture. Learn the history of the castle Amboise which is known as birth place of princes, the reign of Kings, and the death of the greatest Renaissance master, Leonardo Da Vinci! You can see his grave in the chapel. 15:15 Departure to the Chateau Clos Luce which is located just 5 minutes drive.
1 hour 15 minutes • Admission ticket not included
31
Le Chateau du Clos Luce - Parc Leonardo da Vinci
15:30 - 17:00 Leonardo da Vinci Chateau Clos Luce. The Château du Clos Lucé is a castle located just 400 meters away from Château Royal d'Amboise to which it is connected by an underground passageway. Built by Hugues d'Amboise in 1471, the palace belonged once to the French king Charles VIII and afterwards to Leonardo da Vinci who lived there at the invitation of Francis I from 1516 until his death on 2 May 1519. Today it is a museum about Leonardo da Vinci's life, work and memory. 17:00 Departure to Paris. It takes 3 to 3,5 hours depending on traffic situation (250 km).
1 hour 30 minutes • Admission ticket not included
32
Paris
20:00 - 20:30 Coming back to Paris. Drop off at Arch Etoile.
Admission ticket free
Day 6
Fontainebleau — Versailles
8 stops
33
Paris
07:30 - 08:90 Boarding MEETING POINT N 1: 07:00am to 07:10am boarding on our Mercedes minibus at 10 Place de l"Opera 75009 Paris, OPERA GARNIER STEPS (main facade) in front of Metro Opera MEETING POINT N 2: 07:20am to 07:30am boarding on our Mercedes minibus at 40 Avenue FRIEDLAND, Paris 75008, 100 meters from Arch de Triumph Etoile Departure to Giverny. It takes about 1,5 hour. During Your trip the Guide will make explanations about the rich history of Versailles and its inhabitants telling You a lot of interesting facts. Departure to Fontainebleau. The Guide will welcome You and give on the way You general Information about the French history. There are approx. 70 km to drive from Paris to Fontainebleau. It takes about 1,5 hour.
Admission ticket free
34
Chateau de Fontainebleau
09:30 - 11:00 Arrival in Fontainebleau. Palace visit with video-guide. 11:00 - 12:00 Free time for walking in the Gardens of Fontainebleau.
2 hours 30 minutes • Admission ticket not included
35
Fontainebleau
12:00 - 13:00 Lunch break in Fontainebleau. We recommend You a good local restaurant or You can have free time. 13:00 Departure to Versailles. It is 70 km drive which takes about 1 hour. During Your trip from Fontainebleau the Guide will make explanations about the rich history of Versailles and its inhabitants telling You a lot of interesting facts.
1 hour • Admission ticket free
36
Palace of Versailles
14:00 - 15:30 Versailles Palace visit with audio-guide. Versailles Palace is a timeless symbol of French grandeur. Enhance your Versailles Palace experience with audio-guide after having got enough back ground informations from Your Live Guide. Pause at any spot you desire for as long as you wish, allowing you to form your own personal impressions. You will visit as well the legendary Hall of Mirrors and the magnificent Royal Apartments. All in all this will be your personalised and informative adventure.
1 hour 30 minutes • Admission ticket not included
37
The Grand Trianon
15:45 - 16:30 Guided visit to the Big Trianon, a historical masterpiece, once the private retreat of French royalty. Enjoy neoclassical architecture and captivating tales of the past visiting lavish rooms and picturesque grounds of the Big Trianon, a symbol of elegance and prestige.
45 minutes • Admission ticket not included
38
16:30 - 17:30 Small Trianon Guided visit and walking around Hamlet de la Reine. Guided visit to the exquisite Small Trianon with its elegant architecture, favored by Marie Antoinette. Walk around the charming idyllic Hamlet de la Reine, a quaint village created for the queen's pleasure. Enjoy pastoral beauty of this unique retreat, featuring rustic cottages, a picturesque lake, and gardens.
1 hour • Admission ticket not included
39
Jardins du Chateau de Versailles
17:30 - 18:30 You 'll have free time for walking around the Versailles Gardens taking pictures. Walking around the iconic Versailles Gardens, a masterpiece of landscape design and historical significance, You will learn the beauty of meticulously manicured lawns, ornate fountains, enchanting groves, hidden corners and statues. 18:30: Departure to Paris. It takes between 40 minutes to 1 hour depending of traffic.
1 hour • Admission ticket not included
40
Paris
19:30: Arrival in Paris. Drop off at Arc Etoile.
Admission ticket free
Day 7
Saturday: Paris Day Off for Optional Sightseeings
1 stop
41
Paris
We can offer You Day trips to Bruges Champagne Chablis Wine Tastings or visiting of different Museums in Paris
Admission ticket free

Additional info

• Suitable for all physical fitness levels
• Public transportation options are available nearby

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