^^^ Explore by scrolling through the cities we will be visiting, and zoom in to get familiar with where we will be visiting on this tour.

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS
 

• Join us to commemorate and honour the Canadians in Normandy - from D-Day to Falaise, and all that’s in between
   

• Enjoy locally managed superior tourist class accommodation throughout, staying in some of our favourite hand-picked hotels
   

• Full orientation at Verrières Ridge - Point 67, Hill 100, Bretteville Cemetery and the Abbayes des Ardennes
   

• Executive coach transportation, with washrooms, air conditioning, and now ozone filtration!
   

• Join our long time Battlefield team, along with the guidance of professor and historian David O’Keefe throughout the tour 

-- Tuesday August 2nd 2022

Depart from Toronto's Lester B Pearson Airport on your overnight flight to Paris CDG International Airport. [Dinner and breakfast will be served onboard]

Day 1 - Wednesday August 3rd

This morning, upon arrival at Paris Charles du Gaulle Airport you’ll greet the team, including our guide, historian and professor David O’Keefe. On this tour, we retrace the footsteps of the Battle of Normandy and the D-Day crossing, starting with the first actions of D-Day by the British 6th Airborne Division at Pegasus Bridge. This afternoon, we’ll journey into Caen for our hotel check-in. Tonight, we’ll enjoy our first welcome dinner and reception together. [Overnight - Caen (B, D)]

Day 2 - Thursday August 4th
After breakfast this morning, we’ll head out to explore the Canadian beaches of Normandy. We will visit the exhilarating and informative Juno Beach Center, located right off the dunes where the Royal Winnipeg Rifles landed under heavy fire on the early morning of June 6th. Here we will meet with the Juno Beach staff, see the original enemy bunkers, beach obstacles, and memorials along the beach. After lunch in Courseulles-sur-mer, we visit the first house liberated by Canadians, the “Queens Own Rifles House.” This home is a pilgrimage point for all Canadians to see. By midday, we will pay respects to the Canadian men who lost their lives fighting in the early weeks of the Normandy campaign at Beny-sur-Mer Canadian War Cemetery. Two thousand forty-eight of our countries bravest lie in peace at this immaculately keep sacred ground. Personal stories and accounts of a few of these individuals will be told for all to contemplate and reflect on. Tonight enjoy a visit to Caen to enjoy dinner and explore the city at your own pace. [Overnight - Caen (B)]

Day 3 - Friday August 5th
After breakfast, we’ll be exploring some of the more notable spots on the American and British landing zones. We start with a drive to Omaha Beach. The exposed piece of dangerous ground was the costliest of any of the landing zones on D-Day. We continue to visit one of the most dramatic pieces of undisturbed landscape at Pointe du Hoc. We continue to La Cambe German Cemetery. Concluding the morning, we will pay our respects to our American Ally war dead at Colleville-Sur-Mer War Cemetery. Over 9300 burials are peacefully at rest in this stunningly beautiful but sad piece of hallowed ground. We’ll take a mid-afternoon stop at the German battery of Longues-sur-mer’s La Chaos before heading to the seaside town of Arromanches. Codenamed “Gold Beach,” the waters off Arromanches still show the massive remnants of the artificial harbour called “Mulberry B'' used by the British forces. Our final stop today will be in the historic town of Bayeux, home to the Bayeux Tapestry depicting the Norman conquest of England and the crowning of William the Conqueror as the King of England. Time will be given for those who would like to see it while others can take the optional visit to the Battle of Normandy Museum. We meet back up for dinner at one of our favourite local restaurants before returning back to Caen for our overnight stay. [Overnight - Caen (B, D)]

Day 4 - Saturday August 6th

A short drive this morning brings us to the town of Buron It was here that the Canadians spearheaded the push towards Caen and fought house to house with German forces. See Villons-les-Buissons and Hell’s Corner. A short distance away from Caen is the darkly notorious Abbayes des Ardennes. This 11th Century Gothic Structure became the Headquarters of the 12th SS Hitler Youth Division in the time leading up to the Allied Invasion. After lunch this afternoon, we’ll continue on to Point 67. This strategic position overlooks the Battlefield of Verrieres Ridge, one of the enemy’s strongest lines of defence in all of Normandy. It was during Operation Spring, on July 25th, 1944, that one of Canada's most famous regiments, The Black Watch of Montreal, was virtually wiped out. A complete overview of this highly controversial action will be explained at different angles from those involved. We continue from Verrieres to the Canadian Cemetery of Bretteville-sur-Laize to pay our respects. This afternoon, we’ll finish the story at the Mont Ormel Ridge on Hill 262 to discuss the closing of the Falaise Gap. Enjoy a light walk to stretch our legs in the village of St. Lambert Sur Dives while exploring Canadian actions here. Tonight, enjoy a walk through the City of Caen - see the city through the lens of Operation Charnwood, while exploring other fascinating sides of this Norman city’s history. We’ll finish the day enjoying a group dinner together at one of our favorite local restaurants. [Overnight – Caen (B, D)]

Day 5 - Sunday August 7th

This morning, we say our farewells to Normandy before embarking on the ferry to Portsmouth. En-route, we’ll see Breville Ridge with a visit to the Ranville CWGC War Cemetery. This afternoon, we cross the channel with DFDS Ferries, in the wake of the Canadians who crossed in June 1944. We cross Piccadilly Circus and on towards the white cliffed coastline of England. Enjoy dinner on board. This evening, we’ll arrive in Portsmouth for our check-in, and overnight. [Overnight - Portsmouth (B, D)]

Day 6 - Monday August 8th
This morning we head to Gosport Hardway to discuss the story of the embarkation to Normandy. The hard way had previously been used for Operation Jubilee and lessons that had been gained from the unsuccessful raid would need to be implemented for Overlord. We then head to the D-Day Story to visit the new LCT 7074 and the D-Day tapestry. We then head to RAF Tangmere for lunch and a chance to visit the museum before a walk on the old airfield. From here we head to Hayling Island to take a look at ‘Hayling at war’, visiting the location of where parts of the Mulberry Harbours were constructed. We then return to Portsmouth. Enjoy a group meal at our hotel this evening. [Overnight - Portsmouth (B, D)]

Day 7 - Tuesday August 9th

We begin with a drive to the village of Southwick - the home of the Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force in the build-up to D-Day. Enjoy an early lunch at the Golden Lion pub, as enjoyed by Ike, Monty and Churchill. After lunch, a chance to see the D-Day Map Room in Southwick House for an introduction to the tour. We then head to our hotel - our base for the next few days as we explore the build-up to Operation Neptune and Overlord along the south coast. Tonight, enjoy dinner at your own pace. [Overnight - Portsmouth (B, L)]

Day 8 - Wednesday August 10th

Today we explore Dorset and Hampshire in the buildup to embarkation. We start in the New Forest at the former RAF Stoney Cross before a short drive to the Canadian War Memorial at Lyndhurst. We continue west to RAF Tarrant Rushton where the coup de main gliders took off on the 5th June - bound for Pegasus and Horse bridges. For lunch we head to the Bovington Tank Museum where you will be given ample time to explore the vast amount of armour on display including a DD Sherman tank used by the Canadians on D-Day. On our journey back to Portsmouth we stop off at a marshalling area camp in Southampton to see where the Canadian men spent their final few days before embarkation. Tonight, we’ll enjoy our farewell dinner altogether at one of our favorite local restaurants. [Overnight - Portsmouth (B, D)]

Day 9 - Thursday August 11th

This morning, we transfer to London’s Heathrow Airport - for our return flights home.  [(B) Meals onboard]

TOUR END

***This itinerary is subject to changes*** 

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Thinking about arranging a custom pre-tour trip or post-tour trip extension? 
We encourage it! 

LIMITED SPACE AVAILABLE
Coach & Hotel Space made available for a maximum of 24 people per 40 seat coach

Minimum Tour Capacity: 

15 Travellers per 30 seat coach

Normandy to the UK Tour | Inclusions

Tour pricing comes with the following inclusions & exclusions:

Inclusions

Exclusions

Some Lunches (L) & 
Some Dinners (D)
 

Single Room Supplement

Gratuities to your drivers and guides
 

Porterage (luggage handling to your room is available upon request)
 

Travel Insurance (please contact your travel agent / DH Tour if you need assistance booking medical or trip cancellation insurance)

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Accommodations in Superior Tourist Class Hotels throughout (3-4*)

All Entrances as per your Itinerary

Ferry Transport
 

Full-Time Tour Manager & Escort

Transportation in fully air-conditioned, ozone filtered executive coaches

Breakfast (B) throughout, Most Dinners (D) and some Lunches (L)

Online Map Kit, Tour Resource & Info Guide

All service fees, surcharges, fees, and departure taxes

O'Keefe's Normandy to U.K. Tour | Pricing

O'Keefe's Normandy to the U.K. Battlefield Tour (Summer 2022)

**Air is available from all major Canadian cities - please contact your Travel Agent for more information**

TOUR PAYMENT SCHEDULE

Initial Deposit: $500, ($300 of which is non-refundable) to guarantee your space is due immediately

Your Remaining Balance: Due 90 days prior to departure

METHOD OF PAYMENT

All funds will be collected by our host agency, DH Tour. If you would like to use your credit card, our agency will collect your payment details over the phone after you have registered. DH Tour accepts Visa, Mastercard, and American Express, as well as cash and cheque payments. 
 

Personal cheques can be made to:

“DH Tour”