EscortedWWII Tour - Normandy Beaches

27 June 2024 - This morning fly from Belfast to London at approximately 7am. Your official WW2 tour guide will meet you in London and escort the group to your coach. Travel from London to Folkestone for your Eurotunnel crossing to Calais. On route stop at Bais de Somme area for rest stop. On arrival in Calais, travel to the Best Western Royal Hotel Caen for a five-night stay on a bed and breakfast basis.  

28 June 2024 - Britain’s D-Day: Pegasus Bridge. This Morning after breakfast start at Pegasus Bridge, the scene of the first actions of D Day. Airborne forces storm the position from gliders and hold until relieved by forces arriving at Sword Beach. See where the gliders landed, visit the Cafe Gondree the first house liberated on D Day. Visit the Pegasus Bridge Museum. Lunch stop at 3 Gliders restaurant at Pegasus Bridge.  2pm From Pegasus Bridge we will attend Merville Battery, a formidable location able to fire on the troops landing at Sword. Airborne forces were tasked to attack this location. Gun positions are still in situ. We will then attend Ranville cemetery and see the graves of the Airborne Forces who died protecting the flank of the landing area. Return to hotel for evening free.

29 June 2024 - British Beaches and Mulberry Harbour. Start at Sword Beach, seen as the most important landing Beach, the gateway to Caen. We move onto Juno Beach the site of Canadian Landings then onto Gold, where heavy casualties were suffered by British Troops and the location of the action resulting in the award of the only Victoria cross on D Day. Visit Arromanches Les Bains site of Mulberry and a lovely seaside town. With museum, restaurants and the amazing 360°cinema. You will have free time for a lunch stop here and a bit of free time to enjoy Arromanches. Moving onto Longues Sur Mer the location of huge German guns, the guns still in situ and were able to fire on both the British and American ships. Finish the day at Bayeux Cemetery, the largest Commonwealth Cemetery to those who fought in France. A really moving experience. Return to hotel at approximately 5.30pm for overnight.

30 June 2024 - America's D Day. Look at the story of Bloody Omaha and the terrible American Sacrifice on D Day. We will examine the events as portrayed in Saving Private Ryan and visit the American Cemetery. From Omaha we move onto Pointe du Hoc where US Rangers scaled cliffs to attack the guns a feat of superhuman strength and courage. We then visit Saint Mer Eglise and look at the story of the American Airborne forces, made famous by Dick Winters and the Band of Brothers of Easy Company. Here is an incredible museum with restaurants, shops and bars. Time permitting you will visit the museum at Dead Man’s Corner.

Free time for lunch At Ste Mer Eglise. There are various bakeries, cafes etc so nothing needs to be pre-booked! Your day will finish around 5.30pm.

1 July 2024 – American Landing Beaches. Today you visit the Utah Beaches.  Le Roosevelt Cafe at Utah Beach was there on D Day and was used by Germans so a good place to be.  A Lunch stop will be provided there at around 1.30pm

Your tour finishes today around 4.30pm but not without with a visit to a special place and an excellent way to finish your tour of the D-Day Landings…….this one is a secret until you get there!. Finish the day by 4.30pm.  Overnight at hotel.
 

2 July 2024 - Leave your hotel after breakfast for your return journey across the channel and onwards to London for your return flight to Belfast.

Price Per Person: -       £895pp

Single supplement:      £225pp (max 6 rooms)

The above price includes: -

• Return flights from Belfast City airport.
• Flight taxes
• 1 x 20kg suitcase per person
• Coach services from London to France return
• Eurotunnel return
• 5 nights BB in BW Royal Hotel Caen
• Entrance fees where mentioned.
• Services of a fully licensed knowledgeable guide

Not included:

• Items of a personal nature
• Travel Insurance
• Meals unless specified.

Places are limited and are only confirmed upon receipt of a completed booking form, copy of your passport and deposit of £200pp.

Payment dates:      Deposit £200 by return   

2nd payment           £250pp by 8 December 2023    

3rd payment           Final balance by 31 March 2024

Your Guide – Jim Aitchison

Jim has served in Royal Artillery on leaving then joined the Police and retired in 2019.

He has escorted in Normandy on many occasions with veterans from the D Day landings and Normandy campaign as well as private tours.

The highlight of Jim’s  involvement with D-Day veterans was being a guide for the official D-Day commemoration events on board the cruise ship Boudicca, where by 300+ Normandy veterans attended events in UK and France for the 75th Anniversary.

Jim’s interest is as a result of my Grandfather, a commando who landed on Sword Beach on D-Day.

D-Day is such a massive subject and he certainly highlights the personal stories of individuals on such a momentous day, weeks and months.