Your Holiday Itinerary - 2009

4-Day Break

• Day 1 – Local departure then to Normandy for a three night stay..
• Day 2 – The British Sector (included). We begin in the British Sector, studying some of the initial landings by the brave 6th Airborne Divison, visiting Pegasus Bridge, heroically taken by Major John Howard and his men – see Café Gondré and the Pegasus Memorial Museum. We then pay our respects at Ranville Commonwealth Cemetery and at Bréville Ridge, an important sector of high ground. Our guide tells the story of the battles for the eastern flank and the battles for Caen. Prior to time for lunch in Ouistreham, we visit the Merville Gun Battery, which was disarmed at great cost by the 9th Battalion of the Parachute Regiment under the brilliant command of Lt. Col. Terence Otway D.S.O. in the early hours of 6 June. It is now a superbly restored Museum. In the afternoon we see the beaches – Sword, Juno, Gold – in the British/Canadian sector, hearing the story of the only Victoria Cross of D-Day, won by CSM Stan Hollis. We conclude the day at Arromanches, with its fine Mulberry Harbour Museum. After time for dinner at our hotel, why not join our optional excursion in to the town centre of Caen. B
• Day 3 – The American Sector (included) Firstly we visit the huge guns at the Battery at Longues-sur-Mer, taken by the Devonshires on 7 June, then we enter the highly emotive American Sector, visiting the American Cemetery overlooking tragic Omaha Beach, and the beach itself, walking in the footsteps of these brave young men. Time for lunch and a visit to the Airborne Museum in Ste. Mère Église, the scene of some of the tragic landings of the U.S. Paras, the Screaming Eagles and the All-Americans. In the afternoon we see Utah Beach where the U.S. Infantry landed to link with the Paratroopers to secure the Cherbourg peninsula and make a stop at the German Peace Garden Cemetery, where 21,000 fallen from the Normandy Campaign are buried. Before returning to our hotel we also visit the headland of Pointe du Hoc, courageously taken by the American Rangers. B
• Day 4 – Journey to Calais, then return home. B

5-Day Break

• Day 1 – Local departure then to Normandy for a four-night stay..
• Day 2 – The British Sector (included). We begin in the British Sector, studying some of the initial landings by the brave 6th Airborne Divison, visiting Pegasus Bridge, heroically taken by Major John Howard and his men – see Café Gondré and the Pegasus Memorial Museum. We then pay our respects at Ranville Commonwealth Cemetery and at Bréville Ridge, an important sector of high ground. Our guide tells the story of the battles for the eastern flank and the battles for Caen. Prior to time for lunch in Ouistreham, we visit the Merville Gun Battery, which was disarmed at great cost by the 9th Battalion of the Parachute Regiment under the brilliant command of Lt. Col. Terence Otway D.S.O. in the early hours of 6 June. It is now a superbly restored Museum. In the afternoon we see the beaches – Sword, Juno, Gold – in the British/Canadian sector, hearing the story of the only Victoria Cross of D-Day, won by CSM Stan Hollis. We conclude the day at Arromanches, with its fine Mulberry Harbour Museum. After time for dinner at our hotel, why not join our optional excursion in to the town centre of Caen. B
• Day 3 – The American Sector (included) Firstly we visit the huge guns at the Battery at Longues-sur-Mer, taken by the Devonshires on 7 June, then we enter the highly emotive American Sector, visiting the American Cemetery overlooking tragic Omaha Beach, and the beach itself, walking in the footsteps of these brave young men. Time for lunch and a visit to the Airborne Museum in Ste. Mère Église, the scene of some of the tragic landings of the U.S. Paras, the Screaming Eagles and the All-Americans. In the afternoon we see Utah Beach where the U.S. Infantry landed to link with the Paratroopers to secure the Cherbourg peninsula and make a stop at the German Peace Garden Cemetery, where 21,000 fallen from the Normandy Campaign are buried. Before returning to our hotel we also visit the headland of Pointe du Hoc, courageously taken by the American Rangers. B
• Day 4 – IInland Battles (included). We investigate the ‘inland battles’, including Jerusalem Cemetery and Villers Bocage, covering the story of German tank ace, Michael Wittmann. You’ll also study ‘Operation Epsom’ and Hill 112. In the afternoon, we visit the ‘Falaise Pocket’, walking and driving the ‘Corridor of Death’ – the only escape route for two German armies. Our day ends at the Polish Memorial at Montormel. B
• Day 5 – Journey to Calais, then return home. B

B=Breakfast

An optional evening meal package may be purchased for either hotel. 4-day tour (2 dinners): £25 per person, 5-day tour (3 dinners): £37.50 per person.

Your Holiday Itinerary - 2008

4-Day Break

• Day 1 – We journey to Normandy in France and stay for three nights.
• Day 2 – THE BRITISH SECTOR (included). Full day with your specialist Battlefields Guide. Follow the progress of the British 6th Airborne Division – see Ranville Cemetery, Pegasus Bridge and Café Gondré. Continue along the British and Canadian beaches to Arromanches and Bayeux. B
• Day 3 – MERVILLE BATTERY (optional) and THE AMERICAN SECTOR (included). A visit to the Merville Battery, a huge German casemate built to fire shells directly onto Sword Beach, disarmed by the 9th Battalion of the Parachute Regiment, commanded by Lt. Col. Terence Otway D.S.O., on the morning of 6th June 1944. It is now a restored museum. Later, visit the Bréville Ridge, an important sector of high ground, where your guide will retell the story of the battles for the Eastern flank and the many attempts to take the City of Caen. After lunch it's the highly emotive American Sector visiting the American Cemetery overlooking the tragic Omaha Beah, then a short visit to the beach itself, walking in the footsteps of these brave young men. We then move on to Utah Beach and finally into Ste. Mere Eglise, the scene of some of the tragic landings of the U.S. Paras, the Screaming Eagles and the All-Americans. B
• Day 4 – Journey to Calais then return home. B

5-Day Break

• Day 1 – We journey to Normandy in France and stay for four nights.
• Day 2 – THE BRITISH SECTOR (included). Full day with your specialist Battlefields Guide. Follow the progress of the British 6th Airborne Division – see Ranville Cemetery, Pegasus Bridge and Café Gondré. Continue along the British and Canadian beaches to Arromanches and Bayeux. B
• Day 3 – MERVILLE BATTERY (optional) and THE AMERICAN SECTOR (included). A visit to the Merville Battery, a huge German casemate built to fire shells directly onto Sword Beach, disarmed by the 9th Battalion of the Parachute Regiment, commanded by Lt. Col. Terence Otway D.S.O., on the morning of 6th June 1944. It is now a restored museum. Later, visit the Bréville Ridge, an important sector of high ground, where your guide will retell the story of the battles for the Eastern flank and the many attempts to take the City of Caen. After lunch it's the highly emotive American Sector visiting the American Cemetery overlooking the tragic Omaha Beah, then a short visit to the beach itself, walking in the footsteps of these brave young men. We then move on to Utah Beach and finally into Ste. Mere Eglise, the scene of some of the tragic landings of the U.S. Paras, the Screaming Eagles and the All-Americans. B
• Day 4 – INLAND BATTLES (included). We investigate the 'inland battles', including Jerusalem Cemetery and Villers Bocage, covering the story of German tank ace, Michael Wittmann. You'll also study 'Operation Epsom' and Hill 112. In the afternoon, we visit the 'Falaise Pocket' walking and driving the 'Corridor of Death' – the only escape route for two German armies. Our day ends at the Polish Memorial at Montormel. B
• Day 5 – To Calais then return home. B

B=Breakfast