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London, Paris, and Normandy Tour

London and Paris are two of Europe’s most visited cities. Visitors find them enticing for a number of reasons including not only the presence of wonderful historical sites but also for their beauty and excitement. On this tour, we provide the best of those two cities in a trip designed for those who don’t have a lot of time to spare but want to experience two of the continent’s most treasured gems. Add to that a chance to view many of the sites so significant to World War II and you’ve got a trip that’s an ideal choice for older travelers or for those with a keen interest in history.

Begin with a flight to London. Arrive in England’s capital in time to enjoy a leisurely afternoon at your hotel or take time to explore the area. After a delicious dinner, head to your West End theater to view your choice of a current play or musical at one of London’s beautiful venues. After a good night’s sleep, you’ll be treated to a 5-hour private London city tour where you’ll see the sights of this famous city, including Big Ben, the Tower of London, the Tower Bridge, Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace and the Changing of the Guard, the Houses of Parliament, Trafalgar Square, St. Paul’s Cathedral, Piccadilly Circus, and the River Thames.

The following day, you’ll depart for Paris on the Eurostar train and arrive in the City of Lights in time for lunch. In the afternoon, embark on a private city tour, exploring Paris’s many exciting and eclectic neighborhoods. View famous sites including the Eiffel Tower, Champs Elysees, the Arc de Triomphe, the Louvre, Notre Dame Cathedral (including interior tour), La Cite and St. Louis islands, the Luxembourg gardens, the Invalides, and the famous bridges of Pont de l’Alma, and Pont Neuf. A walking tour of Montmarte is included as well. At night, travel along the Seine on a romantic and exquisite dinner cruise aboard a glass boat that allows spectacular views of Paris in her evening splendor.

After your one-night stay in Paris, depart for Normandy, where you’ll remain for four nights. On the way, visit Giverny and the home, garden, and workshop of famous French Impressionist Claude Monet. You’ll have the opportunity to explore the rest of the country village of Giverny as well, and to visit Rouen, one of medieval Europe’s most prosperous cities, home to a magnificent cathedral as well as a variety of notable museums and other sites.

The following day, you and your traveling companions will embark on a private tour of the Normandy D-Day Museum. You’ll relive the “longest day in history” in the town that has been marked forever by the events of June 6, 1944. You’ll also visit Pointe du Hoc, the site of a famous and heroic battle by U.S. rangers against the Germans and then stop at a local fishing port for lunch. Then head to St. Mere Eglise, the first town to be liberated by the Allies. Experience charming and quiet villages along the way and view the batteries of Longues-sur-Merpart of the “Atlantic wall”, a system of German fortifications preserved today as a memorial to WWII.

Continue your World War II-related tour the following day with visits to the Caen War Memorial and Omaha Beach, where thousands of Americans died on that fateful day. After a stop at the American Cemetery at Colleville-sur-Mer, step back in time with a look at the Bayeux Tapestry, which depicts the events leading up to the Norman Conquest in the 11th century.

On the final day of your tour, visit Mont St. Michel, a 247-acre rocky tidal island situated about a half-mile off the coast; and Brittany, bordered by the English Channel and boasting a wide variety of cultural opportunities, magnificent architecture and museums. Be sure to stop for a glass of Brittany’s famous homemade cider!