Normandy is a fascinating corner of Northwest France, known for its rugged coastline and its pivotal role in the D-Day landings in June of 1944. This remarkable endeavour was a joint effort between 12 different countries involving over 150.000 troops, with the US, the UK and Canada leading the charge on the beaches. D-Day marked a clear turning point in WWII and was fundamental to the eventual defeat of the Nazis and the victory of the Allied forces. Our full-day private driving excursion from Paris delves into the stories of the brave men involved in the D-Day landings, with moving visits to Omaha Beach, the American Cemetery at Colleville-Sur-Mer, the town of Arromanches and the breathtaking Pointe du Hoc, where one of the most dramatic battles took place.
On your full-day private driving tour, you will:
- Journey from Paris to Normandy to see the key sights related to the D-Day landings;
- Set off directly from your hotel in Paris with convenient pick up and drop off;
- Cruise through the French countryside in a comfortable private vehicle;
- Enjoy the undivided attention of your knowledgeable driver-guide, a local expert well-versed in WWII history;
- Relive the key moments of D-Day on Omaha Beach;
- Visit the American Cemetery, where all the American troops who lost their lives are remembered;
- Make your way to the coastal town of Arromanches-les-Bains and hear the incredible story behind the Mulberry Harbour, erected in record time by the Allied forces;
- Take in the view at Point du Hoc, the highest point between the American sector landings at Utah & Omaha Beaches and about the gargantuan efforts of the U.S. Army’s 2nd Ranger Battalion, who fought there.
Get the lowdown on one of the most decisive moments of the 20th century on a private full-day excursion from Paris to Normandy, designed for travellers seeking a meaningful and immersive understanding of the D-Day landings. Departing directly from your hotel in Paris, you will travel through the French countryside with an experienced private driver-guide whose deep knowledge of World War II history brings the events of June 6, 1944, vividly to life. As you leave the city behind and make your way to Normandy, your guide will begin to set the scene, explaining how the Allied invasion was planned, executed, and why it proved to be a turning point in the war.
Your first major stop is Omaha Beach, where American forces faced some of the fiercest resistance of the entire invasion. Standing on the shoreline, you’ll gain a powerful sense of the scale and difficulty of the landings as your guide recounts the strategy, the chaos, and the courage that defined the morning hours of D-Day. Nearby, a visit to the American Cemetery at Colleville-sur-Mer offers a deeply moving moment of reflection. Overlooking the sea, the immaculately maintained rows of white headstones honour the thousands of American servicemen who lost their lives, each representing a personal story of sacrifice and resolve.
Continuing along the coast, you’ll arrive in Arromanches-les-Bains, where the remains of the extraordinary Mulberry Harbour can still be seen offshore. Here, your guide will explain how this temporary port, constructed in record time, allowed the Allies to land troops, vehicles, and supplies on an unprecedented scale, making the success of the invasion possible. There will be time to enjoy a relaxed lunch in a local restaurant (lunch not included), offering a pause to absorb the morning’s experiences.
In the afternoon, the tour proceeds to Pointe du Hoc, one of the most dramatic sites in Normandy. From the cliff tops, you’ll look down over the scarred landscape where the U.S. Army’s 2nd Ranger Battalion carried out a daring assault, scaling near-vertical cliffs under heavy fire to neutralise German artillery positions. The preserved craters and bunkers provide a stark reminder of the intensity of the fighting and the extraordinary determination of the men who fought here.
As the day draws to a close, you’ll return to Paris with a deeper understanding of how the D-Day landings unfolded, why they altered the course of World War II, and laid the groundwork for the eventual Allied victory, as well as the touching stories of bravery and cooperation that made success possible.
