D-Day Landings in Normandy


4 - 5 days from £459pp

About the tour: D-Day Landings in Normandy

  • Campaign: World War 2 (WW2)
  • Campaign Dates Covered: Jun 1944 - Aug 1944

This tour will cover the following key events

  • Operation Overlord - 6 June 1944
    Commonly know as the D-Day Landings, Operation Overlord saw the successful invasion of the German occupied Western Europe druing WW2. The operation involed Allied troops landing on five beaches in Normandy and launching a surprise attack on the Germans.
  • Operation Epsom - 28 June 1944
    The purpose of the operation was to outwit the Germans and take control of the occupied city of Caen. Despite two days worth of fighting, in June 1944, securing the British a position on the River Odon, a powerful German counter attack saw the British withdraw.
  • Battle of Caen - 7 July 1944
    The battle of Caen saw the Anglo-Canadian troops attack the Germans in another attempt to gain control over the city of Caen. After an air strike and fierce battles faught over two days, on July the 9th Caen was in Allied hands.
  • Operation Goodwood - 18 July 1944
    Often reffered to as the largest tank battle in British history, the battle saw the Allied forces attempt to capture the rest of Caen. When the batte ended, Caen was free from German control but was mostly left in ruins.
  • Operation Bluecoat - 30 July 1944
    Part of the offensive in the Battle of Normandy, Operation Bluecoat was launched in the attempt to secure the road of Vire Junction and Mont Pincon.
  • Operation Totalise - 8 August 1944
    The operation saw Allied troops attempt to break through German defences to the south of Caen. The plan was to lure the German army into Falaise where the Allied forces could trap and attack them.
  • Battle of Falaise Pocket - 12 August 1944
    This battle was the decisive part of the Battle of Normandy. Falaise has gone down in history for being known as th place where a complete German army was wiped out during WW2. The Canadian, Polish, British and American armies trapped the Germany army in Falaise and launched a successful attack.

Tour Introduction

On this World War 2 introductory tour, we take an in-depth look at the events that took place on June 6th 1944. Seen as a major turning point in WW2, it was the date that the Allied landed on the coast of Normandy during Operation Overlord. We visit the beaches where the battles took place along Normandy’s coast such as Juno Beach, where we see the bunkers and Omaha Beach, known as Bloody Omaha. We visit Pegasus Bridge and take a look at St. Mère Eglise, where the ‘Band of Brothers’ fought. With a 5-day tour option also available, delve even deeper into the events that shaped our modern world.

Tour Includes


  • 3 or 4 nights hotel with continental breakfast
  • Specialist Battlefield Guide
  • Convenient local joining points
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(Deposits from £150pp)

Once you have booked your battlefield tour either online, or by telephone (), you have the flexibility of how you pay off the remainder of your balance. You can -

  1. Use our balance payment facility online to make and track your card payments. You can pay as much as you want up until your final due date or pay it all, the choice is yours.
  2. Send payments via online banking.
  3. Send payments via cheque.
  4. Call us and make a card payment, either a small amount or as lump sum until your final due date.

Our contact and online banking payment details will be on your confirmation invoice to remind you of your choices.

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Tour Itinerary

Day 1

Local departure by coach, then to Caen in Normandy for a three-night stay.

Day 2 - Britain’s D-Day: Pegasus Bridge & British Beaches

Today is spent looking at the British and Canadian involvement on 6 June 1944. We will visit key D-Day sites including Pegasus Bridge and the Pegasus Memorial Museum to look at the glider landings and first actions on D-Day, and then see the graves in Ranville War Cemetery. We later move on to Sword, Juno and Gold beaches, visiting the scenes of the British and Canadian landings, also seeing the new British Normandy Memorial. We end the day at Arromanches to look at the story of the Mulberry Harbour, the artificial port that was key to Allied success.

Included meals: Breakfast

Pegasus Bridge

Pegasus Bridge (8)

Key Visits

  • Arromanches
  • Churchill AVRE, Juno Beach
  • Pegasus Bridge
  • Ranville War Cemetery
  • Sword Beach
  • Gold Beach
  • Normandy British Memorial

Day 3 - America’s D-Day: Bloody Omaha & American Airborne

We begin at the moving Normandy American Cemetery overlooking Omaha Beach, and then visit the Overlord Museum, one of the best in Normandy. Later we go along the Omaha Beach area itself seeing memorials and bunkers, uncovering the real story of Saving Private Ryan and the reality of ‘Bloody Omaha’. With lunchtime in Sainte-Mère-Église, we then look at the Airborne operations around the town including the story of the ‘Band of Brothers’ and visit our final D-Day beach – Utah Beach. Here we see where some of the most successful landings on D-Day took place. We then visit the German Cemetery at La Cambe and finish our day at Bayeux War Cemetery.

Included meals: Breakfast

Normandy Amercian Cemetery

Normandy Amercian Cemetery (8)

Key Visits

  • Omaha Beach
  • Ste Mere Eglise
  • Utah Beach
  • Overlord Museum
  • German Cemetery La Cambe
  • Normandy American Cemetery
  • Bayeux War Cemetery

Day 4

Return home.

Included meals: Breakfast

Day 1

Local departure by coach, then to Caen in Normandy for a four-night stay.

Day 2 - Britain’s D-Day: Pegasus Bridge & British Beaches

Today is spent looking at the British and Canadian involvement on 6 June 1944. We will visit key D-Day sites including Pegasus Bridge and the Pegasus Memorial Museum to look at the glider landings and first actions on D-Day, and then see the graves in Ranville War Cemetery. We later move on to Sword, Juno and Gold beaches, visiting the scenes of the British and Canadian landings, also seeing the new British Normandy Memorial. We end the day at Arromanches to look at the story of the Mulberry Harbour, the artificial port that was key to Allied success.

Included meals: Breakfast

Pegasus Bridge

Pegasus Bridge (8)

Key Visits

  • Arromanches
  • Churchill AVRE, Juno Beach
  • Pegasus Bridge
  • Ranville War Cemetery
  • Sword Beach
  • Gold Beach
  • British Normandy Memorial

Day 3 - America’s D-Day: Bloody Omaha & American Airborne

We begin at the moving Normandy American Cemetery overlooking Omaha Beach, and then visit the Overlord Museum, one of the best in Normandy. Later we go along the Omaha Beach area itself seeing memorials and bunkers, uncovering the real story of Saving Private Ryan and the reality of ‘Bloody Omaha’. With lunchtime in Sainte-Mère-Église, we then look at the Airborne operations around the town including the story of the ‘Band of Brothers’ and visit our final D-Day beach – Utah Beach. Here we see where some of the most successful landings on D-Day took place. We then visit the German Cemetery at La Cambe and finish our day at Bayeux War Cemetery.

Included meals: Breakfast

Normandy Amercian Cemetery

Normandy American Cemetery (8)

Key Visits

  • Ste Mere Eglise
  • Utah Beach
  • Omaha Beach
  • Overlord Museum
  • German Cemetery La Cambe
  • Normandy American Cemetery
  • Bayeux War Cemetery

Day 4 - Battle of the Bocage: Falaise Gap

We move beyond D-Day and look at the fighting in the Bocage countryside following a route via Tilly-sur-Seulles and Fontenay le Pesnel. Going along the ‘Scottish Corridor’, we visit Hill 112 with its Churchill Tank and Memorial Park. After lunchtime in Falaise, we see the ‘Corridor of Death’, used by the Germans to make their retreat in August 1944. At Mont Ormel we remember the Polish troops who fought here and end at Vimoutiers seeing a rare example of an original German Tiger Tank, abandoned nearby in 1944.

Included meals: Breakfast

Churchill Tank Memorial, Hill 112

Churchill Tank Memorial, Hill 112 (7)

Key Visits

  • Corridor of Death, St. Lambert
  • Churchill Tank Memorial, Hill 112
  • West Riding Memorial, Fontenay le Pesnel
  • Falaise
  • Polish Memorial, Mont Ormel
  • Tiger Tank, Vimoutiers

Day 5

Return home

Included meals: Breakfast

Please note: entrance to museums, places of interest and optional excursions are at extra cost.

YOUNG ADULTS DISCOUNT - Many young adults travel on school visits to the battlefields but sharing historical experiences with all generations of a family can be rewarding. To help families travel together we are pleased to offer a 50% discount on selected dates, please see departure dates for more details. 


HOTEL CARLINE CAEN NORD - EVENING MEAL PACKAGE - Available to pre-book when staying at the Hotel Carline Caen Nord 

4-Day Tour (2 meals) From £54 per person 
5-Day Tour (3 meals) From £81 per person



Pre-Tour Reading

A selection of related books for pre or post tour reading.

  • Anon. - Haynes D-Day Operations Manual (Haynes 2014)
  • Buckley, John - Monty’s Men: The British Army in Europe (Yale 2014)
  • Forty, Simon - The Normandy Battlefields (Casemate 2014)
  • Kite, Ben - Stout Hearts: The British & Canadians in Normandy (Helion 2014)
  • Reed, Paul - Walking D-Day: Battlefield Guidebook (Pen & Sword 2012)
  • Shilleto, Carl - Merville Battery (Pen & Sword 2011)
  • Shilleto, Carl - Pegasus Bridge (Pen & Sword 2011)
  • Shilleto, Carl - Utah Beach & St Mere Eglise (Pen & Sword 2011)

Passenger Information

Foreign Currency

The D-Day Landings in Normandy tour takes place in France only and therefore you will only need the Euro. You are advised to get Euros – in cash – in advance of your tour, as most banks and hotels in France do not provided currency exchange services.

What to Bring

As a coastal area the weather in Normandy can be changeable, and it is advisable to bring sensible clothes and always pack a jumper and waterproofs. Good, stout shoes are essential and comfortable walking boots or trainers are ideal. In warm weather always bring a hat and sun cream, and it is advisable to have a supply of water, which is usually on sale on the coach as well.

Specialist Battlefield Guides

All of Leger’s battlefield tours are accompanied by specialist guides. Their individual in-depth knowledge of warfare will be informative, as well as enhance your overall experience, as they recreate a fascinating perception of the history and factual events of each battle. Discover the actual catalysts for war, the strategies employed and the final, inevitable outcomes, as well as experiencing the emotional human side of the front line.

Please note: On certain tours, you may get tour guides other that the ones listed below.

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Hotel

You will stay for three or four nights at the 2-star Carline Caen Nord, 3-star Sure by Best Western Caen Memorial Hotel, 3-star Ibis Falaise - Coeur de Normandie, 3-star Ibis Caen Porte de Bretagne.

Due to demand, we may also use the Balladins Caen Memorial Saint Contest or Ibis Styles Ouistreham or similar.

Ibis Styles Ouistreham

Ibis Styles Ouistreham
Mercure Paris Velizy
Mercure Paris Velizy

About the hotel

Situated in central Ouistreham, the Ibis Styles Ouistreham is just 6 minutes’ walk from the beach and the fishing harbour. The beaches of Ouistreham were codenamed Sword Beach during the WW2 Normandy Landings.

Hotel Features

  • Bar
  • English Speaking Staff
  • Guest Lounge
  • Lift
  • Restaurant
  • WiFi Available

Room Features

  • Bath and/or Shower
  • Hairdryer
  • Telephone
  • TV

Carline Caen Nord

Carline Caen Nord
Carline Caen Nord

About the hotel

The Carline Caen Nord Hotel is set in a flowery surrounding with a garden in the area of Caen. The hotel is close to the D-Day landing beaches and the William the Conquer historical town. The hotel facilities include a lounge, a bar, a restaurant and Wi-Fi in public areas.

Hotel Features

  • Bar
  • English Speaking Staff
  • Guest Lounge
  • Lift
  • Restaurant
  • WiFi Available

Room Features

  • Bath and/or Shower
  • Telephone
  • TV

Travel Options

All our coaches and transfer vehicles operate a 'no smoking on board policy'. The use of electronic cigarettes is strictly forbidden.
In the interest of fellow guests, do not take hot food or ice cream on board.
alcohol can only be taken on board our vehicles at the discretion of your driver.

When it comes to getting to the Battlefields, Leger Holidays make it easy, with a selection of travel options for you choose from.

Executive Coach

Executive Features

  • Air conditioning
  • Drinks machines
  • Onboard toilet
  • Reclining seats

Silver Service Coach

Silver Service, refreshments
Silver Service, lounge
Silver Service, entertainment

Silver Service Features

  • Sit back and relax in specially-designed, deluxe reclining seats, with leather headrests, footrests and more legroom than standard coaches.
  • Enjoy the perfect temperature onboard with climate control.
  • Relax and have a chat in the spacious rear lounge.
  • Servery on board offering a range of refreshments.
  • Porterage* at most hotels, so you really don’t have to lift a finger.
  • Time flies with our onboard entertainment system.
  • With free personal headphones you can tune into the music channel, listen to the radio or watch DVDs.
  • Onboard toilet

Silver Service Seating Plan

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Luxuria Coach

Luxuria - Charging sockets
Luxuria - TV
Luxruia - Seating

Luxuria Features

  • Deluxe armchair-style seats with leather exterior, central arm rests with cup holders and retractable calf rests give you a more comfortable journey.
  • Every seat has its own, fully interactive, touch screen T.V. offering a wide choice of entertainment so you can control what you want to watch and when.
  • There’s also a selection of double and single seats, including four seats face-to-face with tables. And with a total of 7 single seats available, these are ideal for passengers travelling independently.
  • Plug sockets and USB points at each seat mean you can keep your devices fully charged throughout your journey.
  • Onboard toilet.

Luxuria Seating Plan

Luxuria Seating Plan

Travel Extras

With an overnight stay or the option to meet us at the interchange, our travel extras allow you to create a travel experience to suit your needs...

Join coach at Interchange

Join your tour coach at the interchange.

On most tours if you’d prefer to join your tour coach at Stop 24 services, you can park your car in the car park which is accredited by the Park Mark safer parking scheme and is monitored 24 hours a day by CCTV. Payment for the parking is made on arrival using the self-service machines.

Excludes tours to Ireland and the U.K. and tours travelling via Brittany Ferries.

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