D-Day beaches tour from Paris: Stand where history was made

The most brutal landing site on D-Day, walking along the beach you will see the Les Braves memorial, preserved German bunkers, and key points where soldiers landed under heavy fire as your guide recounts personal accounts of the battle.

A short drive away, the Overlord Museum houses an extensive collection of military vehicles, weapons and personal artifacts from both Allied and German forces like letters, uniforms and photographs, humanizing the stories of the soldiers who fought here. 

Overlooking Omaha Beach, at the American Military Cemetery at Colleville-sur-Mer you will be lead through the symmetrical rows of white crosses and Stars of David, and told the stories of some of the nearly 10,000 soldiers buried here.

Within the cemetery grounds, the Memorial, Chapel, and Garden of the Missing honor those whose bodies were never recovered. Your guide will explain the significance of the Wall of the Missing, engraved with the names of over 1,500 soldiers lost in battle.

At Arromanches, your guide will take you to a viewpoint overlooking the remains of Mulberry Harbor, an artificial port that played a crucial role in sustaining the invasion. You’ll learn how these massive floating structures were constructed and how they allowed the Allies to bring in essential supplies after securing the beaches. Here, you will also stop for a 2-course authentic Normandy lunch at a local restaurant (included with an upgrade).

Juno Beach was the primary landing site for Canadian forces on D-Day. Here, your guide will explain the unique challenges faced by the Canadian troops and how they overcame them to secure the beach. Along the shore, you’ll see the remaining German bunkers and defensive structures.

The Juno Beach Centre is the only museum in Normandy dedicated to Canada’s role in World War II. Your guide will walk you through exhibits that highlight Canada’s military contributions, as well as the personal stories of soldiers and civilians affected by the war.

Upon arrival, you will step onto the sands of Juno Beach, where 14,000 Canadian troops landed under intense fire. Your guide will explain how the landings unfolded, the strategic importance of this sector, and the challenges Canadian forces faced as they pushed inland.

Next, you’ll visit the Juno Beach Centre, a museum detailing Canada’s role in the Normandy invasion through interactive exhibits and personal testimonies. Afterward, an official Juno Beach Centre guide will lead you inside two original German bunkers, normally closed to the public.

A short walk from the landing site, you’ll visit Canada House, believed to be the first home liberated by Allied troops on D-Day. Your guide will share stories of the soldiers who fought here and explain how this house, still privately owned, became a symbol of the liberation. For lunch, the guide will take you to a nearby restaurant offering local specialties at reasonable prices.

Here, more than 2,000 Canadian soldiers who lost their lives in the Battle of Normandy are laid to rest. You will get to know personal stories of some of these men, offering a moving tribute to their bravery and sacrifice. The peaceful setting of the cemetery provides a moment for reflection and remembrance. For lunch, there will be a one-hour stop at a top-rated Poziere restaurant, or you may bring your own.

Then, you’ll visit Hell’s Corner, the furthest inland point reached by Canadian forces on D-Day, located just 5 miles from Caen. Despite their success at the beach, Canadian troops encountered fierce German resistance as they pushed forward.

Your final stop is Ardenne Abbey, the site of one of the war’s darkest atrocities where 20 Canadian soldiers were taken prisoner and executed by the SS Hitler Youth Division in direct violation of the Geneva Convention.

The memorial honors 10,738 Australian soldiers who died on the Western Front with no known grave. Each year, this site hosts Anzac Day ceremonies, commemorating the bravery and sacrifice of Australian troops.

The mine was created by a massive explosion on July 1, 1916—the first day of the Battle of the Somme. This enormous crater, 30 meters deep and 100 meters wide, was formed when British forces detonated explosives beneath German defensive positions.

Pozières was a key battleground during the Somme offensive, particularly for Australian and British forces. The village church, with its delicate Gothic arched ceiling, serves as a stark contrast to the destruction that once engulfed this area. For lunch, there will be a one-hour stop at a top-rated local restaurant, or you may bring your own.

The Thiepval Memorial to the Missing is the largest Commonwealth war memorial in the world, listing the names of more than 72,000 British and South African soldiers who died in the Somme and have no known grave.

This memorial is the largest preserved battlefield of the Somme, where the landscape remains scarred by the trenches, shell craters, and barbed wire of 1916. Your guide will take you along the original trench lines, explaining how the Newfoundland Regiment suffered devastating losses within minutes of going over the top.