Small Group Travel Blog: Expert Travel Tips, Destination Guides & Tour Advice

Welcome to the Small Group Tours by The Traveling Professor travel blog, featuring expert travel tips, destination guides, cruise advice, airfare strategies, packing suggestions, and first-hand insights from more than 17 years of planning small group tours.

Since 2009, we have helped solo travelers, couples, and friends enjoy adults-only small group tours and luxury river cruises with quality hotels, expert local guides, thoughtful pacing, and personal service.

Explore articles on Scotland, Ireland, Norway, Iceland, Peru, Newfoundland, Paris, Normandy, Santa Fe, Canada, Italy, and AmaWaterways river cruises — then view our current Small Group Tours and River Cruises.

22Sep

The Perfect Normandy Invasion Beaches Tour Itinerary

Discover the Ultimate Normandy Invasion Beaches Tour with The Traveling Professor

For over over 15 years, The Traveling Professor has proudly specialized in Normandy Invasion Beaches tours, offering an immersive journey into one of the most pivotal moments in world history. If you’re passionate about World War II history and want to walk the very sands where heroes fought for freedom, this is the perfect Normandy D-Day tour itinerary for you.

Day 1: Arrival and Settle in Bayeux, Normandy

Your adventure begins as you arrive at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG). From here, a private coach transports you to Bayeux, your base for the Normandy invasion tour. Check in at the historic Churchill Hotel, unwind, and enjoy a welcome dinner where you’ll meet your fellow travelers and expert guides.

Day 2: Omaha Beach and American Cemetery

Start the day visiting the formidable Longues-sur-Mer gun emplacements, part of the infamous Atlantic Wall defenses. Experience the intensity of the battlefield as you walk Omaha Beach, hearing stories of incredible bravery from our professional guides.

Pay homage to the fallen at the American Cemetery at Colleville-sur-Mer, visiting the graves of Medal of Honor heroes like 1st LT Jimmie Monteith and Brigadier General Teddy Roosevelt Jr. End the day at Vierville Draw (Dog Green sector), where the first wave of invaders from the Bedford Boys faced brutal combat.

Day 3: Pegasus Bridge and British Landing Sites

Walk the historic footsteps at Pegasus Bridge, where Major John Howard led British glider troops in the first D-Day combat. Visit Café Gondrée, the first liberated building on June 6, 1944, still run by the Gondrée family.

Explore the Sword and Juno beaches, the Commandos Memorial, and the innovative Mulberry Harbors at Arromanches. If time permits, gain exclusive access to the well-preserved Hillman Bunker.

Day 4: Paratrooper Landing and Utah Beach

Trace the path of American paratroopers who jumped into Normandy, learning about heroes like Private Charles DeGlopper and Major Dick Winters.

Step onto Utah Beach, where Brigadier General Teddy Roosevelt Jr. inspired troops to victory despite being off course. Visit the dramatic cliffs of Pointe du Hoc, where the 225 Rangers overcame intense German defenses.

A visit to the Church of Angoville-au-Plain, still marked by war scars, tells the story of two heroic American medics. Optionally, visit the somber German cemetery at La Cambe for perspective on the war’s human cost.

Day 5: Mont St-Michel – A Stunning Norman Icon

No Normandy tour is complete without a visit to Mont St-Michel, one of the world's most breathtaking wonders. This medieval abbey, perched on a rocky island, offers a breathtaking glimpse into Norman history beyond the war.

Day 6: Return to Paris

After a memorable tour, take the scenic train ride back to Paris St. Lazare station for your departure or continued travels.

Why Book a Normandy Invasion Beaches Tour with The Traveling Professor?

  • Expert, licensed guides with deep knowledge of D-Day history

  • Small groups for a personalized experience

  • Unique access to sites like the Hillman Bunker

  • Thoughtful itineraries blending history, remembrance, and stunning Normandy landscapes

Whether you are a history buff, a veteran, or a traveler seeking an unforgettable cultural experience, the Normandy Invasion Beaches tour by The Traveling Professor offers unparalleled insight and connection to the heroism of June 6, 1944.

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Who Writes the Small Group Tour Blog?

Professor Steve Solosky, The Traveling Professor, is the founder of Small Group Tours by The Traveling Professor, operating since 2009. A former college professor and author of The Traveling Professor’s Guide to Paris, Steve has planned and led small group tours throughout Europe, Canada, South America, and beyond. His travel expertise has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, WCBS Radio, and The New York Times Travel Show.

Each article is written or reviewed from the perspective of a working tour operator who plans real itineraries, works with local guides and hotels, and helps travelers prepare for successful small group trips.

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