Expedition Details

Commemorate the 65th anniversary of D-Day, one of the most tragic — and heroic — chapters in Western history. Explore London's important World War II sites. Then trace the path of the Allied advance from Portsmouth, England to the shores of Normandy. Stroll the legendary beaches, visit villages that were caught up in the fighting, and lay a wreath at the American Cemetery.

Trip Highlights

• See the specially made D-Day map at Southwick House indicating positions of Allied forces on June 6, 1944.
• Join a military historian for a cruise in Portsmouth Harbour, site of the embarkation.
• Enjoy a reception at the Château de Creully, where on June 7, 1944, BBC correspondents began reporting Allied war operations.

Itinerary - 9 Days

Days 1 & 2 — U.S./London, England

Depart on an overnight flight to London. Upon arrival, check into our hotel, located just steps from Hyde Park. The afternoon begins in the Cabinet War Rooms, a fortified bunker deep underneath Whitehall from which Winston Churchill directed the British war effort. Wander through the rooms — and the adjacent Churchill Museum — and examine maps, telephones, and items from Churchill's life. Gather for a welcome reception and dinner tonight.
Rembrandt Hotel (D)

Day 3 — London

On a morning visit to the Royal Air Force Museum, admire one of the world's largest military aviation collections. Then pay your respects at the American Memorial Chapel, built in a section of St. Paul's Cathedral that had been destroyed during the Blitz. This afternoon, visit the H.M.S. Belfast, a battle cruiser that was one of the first to open fire on German positions on June 6, 1944.
Rembrandt Hotel (B,L)

Day 4 — London

Join senior museum staff for an insider's tour of the interactive World War II collections at the Imperial War Museum. In the afternoon, immerse yourself in a world of intrigue and espionage at Bletchley Park, and discover the story behind the Enigma code breakers.
Rembrandt Hotel (B,L)

Day 5 — London/Portsmouth/Ouistreham, France

Depart for Southwick House, the headquarters of the main Allied commanders, where General Eisenhower made the decision to strike. Enjoy lunch at the Golden Lion Pub, an officer's mess during the planning stages of the invasion. Then board a ferry in Portsmouth for the Channel crossing to Ouistreham.
Ferme de la Rançonnière (B,L,D)

Days 6 & 7 — Normandy Beaches

Visit the Utah Beach Landing Museum and the monuments along the shore. In the village of Sainte-Mère-Église, view an exhibition dedicated to the night American paratroopers dropped from the sky in a hail of gunfire. Stand on bluffs still pocked by mortar blasts at Pointe du Hoc, and wander along Omaha Beach, site of the bloodiest fighting of the invasion day. Lay a wreath at the American Cemetery at Colleville-sur-Mer, and attend a private reception at the Château de Creully, where the BBC reported on the Allied invasion.
Ferme de la Rançonnière (B,D)

Day 8 — Arromanches/Bayeux/Paris

See the remaining Mulberry harbour — known as Port Winston — rising out of the surf off Arromanches. Mulberry harbours were portable platforms that played a critical role in off-loading troops and cargo at the beaches. Then follow the events of the battle at the Bayeux Museum. En route to Paris this afternoon, stop at Château de La Roche-Guyon, once the headquarters of Erwin Rommel. Gather for a farewell dinner tonight.
Charles de Gaulle Radisson Hotel (B,D)

Day 9 — Paris/U.S.

After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your return flight home.
(B)

• Print this page
• Send to a friend
• Ask a question about this trip

 View Larger