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AVRE Churchill tank on Juno Beach
Day Three:
Leave Hotel - 8.45
OPTIONS: We have time this morning to do a combination of TWO of the following: Pegasus Bridge, Omaha Beach & U.S. Cemetery, Bayeux Tapestry, Mulberry Harbour remains Arromanches, German guns on the cliffs at Longues, Canadian paratroop landing area 6th June, Juno Beach Centre
Leave Caen area - 1.15 p.m. Leave Bayeux area - 12.45 p.m.
Drive back to Calais 2 hours 45 minutes from Caen + 30 minute break - arrive 4.30
Depart on Eurotunnel crossing - 5.20
Arrive England - 4.55 BST (5.55 p.m. French time)
Train back to London leaves Ashford International around 5.30, back in to London Charing Cross around 6.45 p.m.
Normandy from Canterbury:
Day Zero: (optional)
Travel by train from London to Canterbury, met by Dr Andrew Thomson, transfer to Guest House (1 night). 90-minute personally-guided Walking Tour of Historic Canterbury. Time free for Cathedral, museums, etc.
Day One:
Leave Canterbury, travelling in comfortable Citroën C8 or rental car - 7.40 a.m. British time (BST)
OR by train from London Charing Cross - 6.25
Arrive Ashford International Station; met by Dr Andrew Thomson - 7.54
Check-in by car at Channel Tunnel - 8.10
Depart on Eurotunnel train-transporter - 9.20 [35 minute journey]
Arrive Calais - 10.25 French time
Drive to Normandy: 3 hours 15 mins to Juno Beach + break of 45 mins
Juno Beach: Courseulles - 2.30 - 3.30
Juno Beach: Bernières - 3.45 - 4.15
This is a private group (i.e. you & your friends), dates by arrangement. We are very happy to amend the suggested schedule to fit in visits to areas that you particularly want to see (perhaps because of family links).
Supplement for different hotel in Normandy:
We have selected small independent 3-star hotels for their comfort, cleanliness, central location, and welcoming staff; they offer a typical small French hotel experience which almost all of our clients really appreciate. However, these hotels have modest-sized rooms, and do not have lifts (elevators), or English-language channels on the TV. If you would like these features, then we can offer these with rooms in chain hotels - for £40 (around $80) per person extra (i.e. £20 per person per night x 2 nights in Bayeux)
Your Guide:
The Tour is escorted by Dr Andrew Thomson, Director of Dr Thomson's Tours, with a History Ph.D. from the University of Kent - his Ph.D. topic was the experiences of U.S. troops in France in 1944-45 (you can consult an abstract of the thesis on this site). He is a knowledgeable and expert guide, highly experienced in tours of this kind. See More About Us
from Canterbury (by train from London) or Paris, for 2 to 5 people, travelling in an air-conditioned Citroën C8
Personally-guided Canadians in the Battle of Normandy
- a sample 3-day itinerary
These are private tours for family / friends groups of up to 5 people, offered by Dr Thomson’s Tours – see Introduction and More About Us for details about us and how we operate our tours. Using a minivan, the sample tour outlined here is led by
Related links:
Dr Andrew Thomson, with a start in England – either with a night before in historic Canterbury (90 minutes by train from London), or by getting the first train of the day down to Ashford International Station to meet Dr Thomson – or we can meet you at your hotel in Paris and start from there.
The advance inland - 4.15 - 6.00 - A 16 mile tour to see how far the Canadians reached on 6th June, and in the days beyond: we will make a series of stops in the territory between Caen and Bayeux where they fought 12th SS Panzer Division:
9th Brigade surprised by 12th SS Panzer in Buron & Authie 7th June
7th Brigade take Bretteville & Putot (& resist counterattacks) 7th & 8th June
The Germans' failed tank attack on Norrey-en-Bessin 9th June
Attack too far: the failed Canadian attack on Le Mesnil-Patry 11th June
To Bayeux for Hotel - check-in to Hotel (2 nights) - approx. 6.30
Day Two:
Leave Hotel - 8.45
Carpiquet (Caen airport) area: Operation Windsor July 4 - 9.10 - 9.30
Charnwood - the attack into Caen 8/9 July - 9.30 - 10.30
Clearing the east side of Caen - Operations Goodwood, Atlantic & Spring - 10.30 - 11.30
Operations Totalize & Tractable - the Verrières Ridge, the Canadian Cemetery,
the Worthington Force memorial, the Laison River, Falaise - 11.30 - 2.30 (incl. lunch)
Falaise Pocket - Trun, St Lambert, Chambois, the Museum on 'The Mace' - 2.30 - 5.00
Drive back to Bayeux (90 mins) - 6.30 finish
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Group of 5 |
Group of 4 |
Group of 3 |
Group of 2 |
1 night away |
£260 ($535) |
£310 ($640) |
£395 ($810) |
£555 ($1140) |
2 nights away |
£385 ($790) |
£455 ($935) |
£575 ($1180) |
£780 ($1600) |
3 nights away |
£515 ($1060) |
£600 ($1230) |
£755 ($1550) |
£1005 ($2065) |
4 nights away |
£670 ($1375) |
£780 ($1600) |
£980 ($2010) |
£1310 ($2690) |
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Supplement for night in Canterbury |
£48 ($100) |
£40 ($85) |
£53 ($110) |
£40 ($85) |
Supplement for Paris start |
£20 ($45) |
£25 ($55) |
£33 ($70) |
£50 ($105) |
Prices are PER PERSON and include: private guiding, transport by car (incl. Channel Tunnel crossing where applicable), road tolls & parking, our professional insurance, and accommodation in 3-star hotels sharing twin/double rooms with en-suite facilities (with breakfast included). Prices do NOT include: meals other than breakfast, museum entries, and personal insurance (purchase of cancellation and general travel insurance is strongly advised) |
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Normandy from Paris:
Day One:
Depart Paris - met at your Hotel - 9.15
Drive to Normandy: 3 hours to Juno Beach + break of 45 mins
Juno Beach: Courseulles - 1.15 - 2.15
Juno Beach: Bernières - 2.30 - 3.00
The advance inland - 3.15 - 5.00 - A 16 mile tour to see how far the Canadians reached on 6th June, and in the days beyond: we will make a series of stops in the territory between Caen and Bayeux where they fought 12th SS Panzer Division:
9th Brigade surprised by 12th SS Panzer in Buron & Authie 7th June
7th Brigade take Bretteville & Putot (& resist counterattacks) 7th & 8th June
The Germans' failed tank attack on Norrey-en-Bessin 9th June
Attack too far: the failed Canadian attack on Le Mesnil-Patry 11th June
To Bayeux for Hotel - check-in to Hotel (2 nights) - approx. 5.30
Day Two:
Leave Hotel - 8.45
Carpiquet (Caen airport) area: Operation Windsor July 4 - 9.10 - 9.30
Charnwood - the attack into Caen 8/9 July - 9.30 - 10.30
Clearing the east side of Caen - Operations Goodwood, Atlantic & Spring - 10.30 - 11.30
Operations Totalize & Tractable - the Verrières Ridge, the Canadian Cemetery,
the Worthington Force memorial, the Laison River, Falaise - 11.30 - 2.30 (incl. lunch)
Falaise Pocket - Trun, St Lambert, Chambois, the Museum on 'The Mace' - 2.30 - 5.00
Drive back to Bayeux (90 mins) - 6.30 finish
Day Three:
Leave Hotel - 8.45
OPTIONS: We have time this morning to do a combination of TWO of the following: Pegasus Bridge, Omaha Beach & U.S. Cemetery, Bayeux Tapestry, Mulberry Harbour remains Arromanches, German guns on the cliffs at Longues, Canadian paratroop landing area 6th June, Juno Beach Centre
Leave Caen area - 1.30 p.m. Leave Bayeux area - 1.00 p.m.
Drive back to Paris 2 hours 30 minutes + 30 minute break ; back in Paris 4.30
German anti-tank gun in its bunker at St Aubin (Juno Beach, east end)
Mulberry Harbour remains in the sea below the Normandy cliffs
Memorial in Putot en Bessin
Looking towards Juno from the 'Hillman' bunker complex
The direction to a church on Juno Beach is indicated inside a German bunker
Worthington Force memorial on the way to Falaise
Canadian Cemetery inland from Juno Beach
