normandy tour bayeux

• All Destinations
• United States
• European Theater
• Pacific Theater
• The Home Front
• The Holocaust
• Pearl Harbor
• WWII Events
• Wings, Wheels, & Weapons
• General WWII Travel Topics
• Work With Me
• Skip to main content
• Skip to primary sidebar

DESTINATION: WWII

A World War II Travel Blog

The 10 Best Local D-Day Tours in Normandy for 2024: Beaches, Battlefields, & Beyond

Last Updated: September 2, 2024 //  by  Ashley Smith 6 Comments

While many travelers can only squeeze in a day trip to Normandy from Paris , just as many others dedicate a couple of days here to take advantage of the many available Normandy D-Day tours. Booking a local day tour of the many worthwhile D-Day sites is the best way to get the most out of your visit.

Table of Contents

Why book one of the Normandy D-Day tours?

Day tours in Normandy are great for many reasons, for instance:

• Transportation – There’s not a lot of reliable public transportation here, so booking a tour will ensure you can get to all the sites you want to see without having to rent a car .
• Expertise – The Normandy tour guides are experts in their field and can provide loads of historical background on the sites you’ll visit.
• Planning – Or really, the lack thereof. Book yourself on a tour and you won’t have to deal with any of the logistical planning.
• Like-minded travelers – On tours like these you get to meet like-minded travelers excited to discuss the topics at hand and share these experiences. This is especially great if you’re traveling solo.

This post only covers D-Day tours originating in Normandy . You have to already be here to join them, or be able to easily get here before the start time. With the exception of two, all the rest start and end in the town of Bayeux (a great Normandy base BTW). If you’re looking for Normandy day tours starting and ending in Paris, check out my post on Normandy day tours from Paris .

Choosing the best Normandy D-Day tours

But which of the many available tours out there are the best ones? Which ones go to the best places and cover the most ground? Luckily, you have a World War II travel expert at your disposal to scrutinize them all and help you choose!

I haven’t taken all the tours on this list, but I do have a keen sense of what the average Normandy visitor wants from a tour of the D-Day sites . To create this list, I’ve compared the many available tours against my stringent set of criteria. I’ve taken into account things like:

• Customer rating and reviews
• Length of the tour and start/end times
• Overall benefit (Is it worth your valuable time?)
• Topic/focus of the tour
• Ease of logistics

…and much more. All so you can be sure which of these Normandy D-Day tours are the most deserving of your precious time and money. All the tours in this post are English-language tours and all prices are listed in U.S. dollars.

So how do I go about choosing which tours are the “best?” Well, I’m extremely particular when it comes to booking travel. I’ll never recommend anything that’s rated lower than 4 out of 5 stars, anything with no reviews, or anything that’s offered by a company that looks less than reputable. As always, I only recommend the things I would personally book for myself. (And I’m a hard sell.)

And if you do find yourself in Paris, be sure to check out the many interesting WWII sites in Paris . There are some great museums and memorials here not to miss.

My favorite day tour companies

The two companies I always go to for day tours (anywhere I go) are Viator and Get Your Guide . I’ve booked many tours through them and have always been satisfied. They’re both well-known in the travel industry; Viator is owned by TripAdvisor. They’re both super easy to book with; most tours offer free cancelation; and they always have competitive prices.

So, let’s get to it! All things considered, these are my choices for the best D-Day tours in Normandy for 2024.

For more information on each of the sites and museums mentioned in this post, check out my articles on what to see at each of the five Allied landing beach sectors: Utah , Omaha , Gold , Juno , & Sword Beaches.

Best D-Day tours in Normandy: at a glance

In this post, I’ll dig into what makes these the best D-Day tours to take in Normandy. I’ll tell you why I picked them, what makes them stand out among the others, what they include (and what they don’t), and more. But first, here’s the quick list of my picks for the 10 best Normandy D-Day tours:

• Best overall : Normandy American D-Day Beaches Full Day Tour from Bayeux
• Best half-day tour : American D-Day Sites in Normandy Half-Day Tour
• Best private tour : Private Full-Day American D-Day Tour from Bayeux
• Best shore excursion : D-Day Landing Beaches Shore Excursion from Le Havre
• Best Band of Brothers tour : Omaha and Band of Brothers Full Day Tour from Bayeux
• Best tour for Canadian visitors : Full-Day Canadian Battlefields and Sites of Normandy Tour
• Most unique Normandy D-Day tour : Half-Day Sidecar Excursion to the Landing Beaches
• Best tour from Caen : Guided D-Day Sites Tour & Caen Memorial Museum
• Best D-Day tour for British visitors : Private Guided British D-Day Tour from Bayeux
• Best bonus D-Day sites tou r: Utah & Omaha Beaches D-Day Group Tour from Bayeux

That’s the simple list; now let’s dig deeper into which of these Normandy D-Day tours is going to be the best for you .

Also check out: 10 Things You Need to Know Before Visiting Normandy’s D-Day Sites

1. Best overall Normandy D-Day tour from Bayeux

My pick for best overall: Normandy American D-Day Beaches Full Day Tour from Bayeux

Without a doubt, my pick for the absolute best D-Day tour in Normandy is this one, for 3 main reasons: it’s a small group tour (maximum 8 people); it has a 5-star rating after almost 1,000 reviews; and it stops at all the right places.

What you’ll see on this tour

This tour includes stops at:

• Omaha Beach
• St-Mère-Église
• Pointe du Hoc
• Utah Beach and the Utah Beach Museum
• Normandy American Cemetery
• La Cambe German Cemetery*

*This stop isn’t listed in the tour description, but many recent reviews say they also stopped here. If you read my post on the best D-Day sites to visit , you’ll know why I recommend a stop at the German cemetery as well.

Why it’s the best

This tour includes all sites I absolutely recommend visiting and no unnecessary fluff. This tour is also ideal for American visitors since it focuses on the American landing zones of Utah and Omaha Beaches. If you have to choose just one day tour for Normandy, this is your best option!

I also love small-group tours because of the individual attention each visitor receives and it’s just a more enjoyable experience overall . (No being herded or not being able to ask questions, etc.) Plus, this tour has a 5-star rating and almost a thousand rave reviews ! Reviewers’ favorite aspects of this tour have been the knowledgeable tour guides and the choice of stops.

What to expect on this tour:

This is a full-day (9-hour) tour that starts and ends in Bayeux . It includes:

• Pick-up and drop-off in Bayeux
• Your own knowledgeable guide
• Air conditioned private transportation
• Free cancelation up to 24 hours before your tour’s start time

It does not include lunch, optional gratuities, or other personal expenses.

How much this tour costs

As of July 2024, this tour is offered 7 days a week and costs just $139 per person . All things considered, I feel this is a fantastic value for such a highly-rated tour that visits many of the best sites. I would absolutely book this tour myself.

A similar option

There’s another tour that’s similar to this one but that trades in the Utah Beach Museum and La Cambe Germany Cemetery for a visit to the small village of Angoville-au-Plain . If you’d like to visit a small local village where a lot of fighting took place (by the 101 st Airborne), check out: Utah & Omaha Beach D-Day Tour from Bayeux Station .

This tour also has a 5-star rating and tons of rave reviews and is also a small-group tour with a maximum of 8 people.

2. Best half-day Normandy D-Day tour

My pick for best half-day Normandy D-Day tour: American D-Day Sites in Normandy Half-Day Tour from Bayeux

If you find yourself on a time budget here in Normandy but still want to see some of the top D-Day sites, this is the tour for you. This 4-hour tour visits the key American locations, has a maximum of 8 passengers, and has a 5-star review rating.

This half-day Normandy tour includes stops at:

If you have limited time for a D-Day tour , these are three sites you shouldn’t miss . It caps the tour at 8 people for a more personalized experience, and it has a 5-star rating after hundreds of rave reviews . All the best reviews go to the tour guide Matt!

Another thing I love about this tour is that you can choose between morning or afternoon start times . Because it’s just a half-day tour, you can opt for either a 9:00 am start or a 2:00 pm start.

What to expect on this tour

This is a half-day tour (4 hours) that starts and ends in Bayeux . It includes:

• Pick-up and drop-off in Bayeux city center
• Private, air conditioned transportation
• Your own knowledgeable tour guide
• Free cancelation up to 24 hours before your tour

It does not include lunch, optional gratuities, or your own personal expenses.

As of July 2024, this tour is offered 7 days a week, two times per day, and costs $109 per person . For a small group tour that visits the three main American D-Day sites with a passionate and knowledgeable guide, this is a great deal.

3. Best private D-Day Normandy tour

My pick for best private D-Day tour in Normandy: Private Full-day American D-Day Guided Tour from Bayeux

There was some stiff competition here for best private tour, but ultimately I chose this one, for many reasons.

The greatest thing about hiring a private tour guide for Normandy is you get to choose which sites you visit . Most guides have a list of sites they think are best, but all are open to amending your tour to your preferences. For instance, on this tour, you’ll visit

• Utah & Omaha Beaches (the two American landing beaches)
• Pointe du Hoc (American battleground)
• Sainte-Mère-Église

But again, the guides are happy to work with you to choose which sites to visit in order to create the D-Day tour you’ve always wanted.

I chose this particular tour for the best private option for a few reasons. First, the reviews. Nothing but 5-star satisfied customers here! (A rarity!) Specifically about the guide–the terms most often used are “phenomenal,” “exceptional,” and “a pleaser to work with.”

Additionally, this tour is available for groups up to 8 people (whereas many of the others can only accommodate 4) and as such is a much better (per-person) value than many others

This is a full-day (9-hour) private tour that starts and ends in Bayeux. It includes:

• Fully customizable itinerary of sites that you choose (or go with the pre-planned ones)
• Your own private expert local guide people can’t say enough good things about

It does not include lunch and other personal expenses, optional gratuities, or museum admission if you choose to visit an extra museum.

As of July 2024, this tour costs $662 for a group up to 8 people , for everything mentioned above. This is a great option for larger groups or families, but at this price point is just as awesome for couples looking for a personalized experience.

4. Best shore excursion Normandy D-Day tour

My pick for best shore excursion to Normandy’s D-Day sites: D-Day Landing Beaches Shore Excursion from Le Havre

If you’re planning to arrive to the area via cruise ship and are looking to spend a day exploring Normandy’s historic sites, this is the best D-Day tour for you, tailor-made for cruise ship passengers.

This full-day Normandy D-Day tour includes visits to:

If you’re visiting Normandy via cruise ship, you’ll most likely dock at the port in Le Havre. But seeing as how most Normandy D-Day tours leave from Bayeux, your options are limited. This particular tour is tailor-made for cruise ship passengers like you.

You’ll get picked up and dropped off right there at the port near your ship by a guide who understands your particular needs as a cruise ship passenger on a shore excursion . The three sites it includes are my top 3 recommendations for anyone visiting Normandy for any amount of time. And most importantly, it has a 5-star rating and rave reviews .

This full-day (10-hour) shore excursion starts and ends at the cruise port in Le Havre. It includes:

• Expert guide to tell you all about the sites you’ll visit plus the relevant history of Le Havre as well
• Round trip transportation to and from your cruise port
• Free cancelation up to 24 hours before your scheduled tour

As of July 2024, this tour ranges in cost depending on which month of the year you book, but starting rates are $220 per person (in the summer). When rates are higher (like in the spring), the price goes down the more people you have in your group. Take a look at their availability calendar to see the different prices.

5. Best Band of Brothers tour

My pick for the best Band of Brothers -inspired tour: Omaha and Band of Brothers Full Day Tour from Bayeux

There’s a good chance that if you’re here looking at Normandy D-Day tours then you’ve either read the book by Stephen Ambrose or watched the Steven Spielberg/Tom Hanks miniseries Band of Brothers . (And if you haven’t, go do that… NOW.) If you’re as big a fan of the story as I am, you’ll love this tour.

This full-day tour of Normandy’s D-Day sites includes visits to:

• Airborne Museum
• Plane crash site at Beuzeville-au-Plain
• Marmion’s Farm
• Brécourt Manor
• Angoville-au-Plain
• Drop Zone D

This tour is specifically tailored to intrigue fans of the show Band of Brothers so you’ll visit many lesser-known sites and learn more about the history.

You can watch Band of Brothers here on Amazon and it’s also currently available on Netflix, Hulu, and HBO Max.

This tour is operated by Overlord Tour, a leading tour company in the area specifically dedicated to D-Day history. Its itinerary and guides have rave reviews and it’s a favorite among Band of Brothers fans and WWII buffs in general.

I like that it visits the top sites, but also many more obscure sites that the majority of visitors don’t get to see or learn about . You’re sure to make some good friends on this group tour. I also really like the price point—good value here for sure.

This full-day (9-hour) tour starts and ends in Bayeux. It includes:

• Round trip transportation
• Small-group limited to 16 people
• Free cancelation up to 24 hours before your start time

It does not include the cost of lunch, any optional gratuities, or other personal expenses.

As of July 2024, this tour is offered 7 days a week and costs $157 per person . Something I’d like to note about the cost: When you book this tour directly with Overlord Tours instead of through Viator, the cost is slightly lower (€130 which is about $141 US ).

While this may be tempting, consider this: when you book through Viator , you get the benefit of a full refund if you need to cancel anytime up to 24 hours before the start of your scheduled tour.

When you book directly with Overlord, if you should need to cancel or you simply change your mind, you’ll be subject to a 6% cancelation fee no matter what. If you need to cancel within 14 days of your tour, you now owe a 50% cancelation fee . And if you should want to cancel within a week of your tour, you lose 100% of your booking cost .

That’s just something to think about. Don’t always be so quick to choose the lowest price without digging a little deeper. (Personally, I’d be happy to pay the $16 more for the peace of mind because I know how unpredictable travel planning can be.) By booking with Viator, you still get the highly-rated Overlord tour, but you also get a little bit more freedom and forgiveness.

6. Best D-Day tour for Canadian visitors

My pick for the best D-Day tour for Canadian visitors: Full-Day Canadian Battlefields and Sites of Normandy Tour

You’ve probably noticed that most of these tours center around the American D-Day achievements, but Canada and Great Britain also participated in this monumental invasion. Canadian visitors, this tour focuses on the struggles and achievements of your fellow countrymen.

This full-day tour of Normandy D-Day sites includes stops at:

• Juno Beach and the Juno Beach Center
• Beny-sur-Mer Canadian War Cemetery
• The communes of Saint-Aubin-sur-Mer, Bernieres-sur-Mer, Authie, Abbey d’Ardenne, and Carpiquet to follow the Canadian advance

As far as Normandy D-Day tours go, there are very few that specifically focus on the battles and achievements of Canadian troops . This tour does not only that, but it also maxes out at 8 passengers , has a 5-star rating , and tons of rave reviews about the tour guides. Plus, the price tag makes this a fantastic value.

This full-day (8-hour) tour starts and ends in Bayeux. It includes:

• Your own expert tour guide
• Small-group tour of 8 passengers or less
• Pick-up and drop-off in Bayeux as well as transportation between the sites
• Juno Beach Center admission costs

It does not include lunch, gratuities, or other personal expenses. For a full refund, you must cancel within one week of your chosen tour’s start time.

As of July 2024, this tour is offered 7 days a week and costs $148 per person . This is a great deal, especially considering this is one of the only tours of its kind dedicated to Canadian-only D-Day sites.

7. Most unique Normandy D-Day tour

My pick for the most unique Normandy D-Day tour: Half-Day Sidecar Excursion to the Landing Beaches

For something quite different than all the other Normandy D-Day tours out there, check out this tour of the D-Day sites via fully restored vintage sidecars!

This half-day D-Day sites tour includes visits to:

• Arromanches-les-Bains (one of my favorite spots)
• Longues-sur-Mer
• The commune of Port-en-Bessin-Huppain

And all of your travel between the sites will take place aboard some awesome vintage sidecars. What a unique way to explore Normandy!

I love this tour because it’s something totally different from the rest. Rather than drive between the sites in a sedan or multi-passenger van (or worse, a giant tour bus), you get to see Normandy from a totally unique (and fun!) perspective .

Beyond that, this is one of the few Normandy day tours that visits Arromanches-les-Bains and the German battery at Longues-sur-Mer . The commune of Arromanches is located in the Gold Beach sector and is famous for being the location of the artificial harbors that helped the Allies win the war (which you can still see out in the ocean today).

The Longues-sur-Mer battery is another great site I recommend visiting. Here, you’ll find the most intact German battery that still exists and it really helps to put German defense of the “Atlantic Wall” into perspective.

This tour also has a 5-star rating and nothing but rave reviews . I also love how hard they work to make visiting these somber locations fun and interesting.

This half-day (4-hour) tour starts and ends in Bayeux. It includes:

• Private, round-trip transportation
• Use of vintage helmets, gloves, glasses, and jackets for some fun photo ops
• Fully licensed and insured professional tour guides
• Maximum of 8 people on this tour
• Full refund if canceled up to 24 hours before your tour’s starting time

It does not include the cost of lunch, gratuities, or other personal expenses.

As of July 2024, this tour is offered 7 days a week and costs $261 per person . For such a unique and fun tour, and one of your only chances to visit Arromanches and Longues-sur-Mer, this price point makes sense, even if it is just a half-day tour. This will definitely be an experience you’ll never forget.

8. Best Normandy D-Day tour from Caen

My pick for the best Normandy tour from Caen: Guided D-Day Sites Tour & Caen Memorial Museum

It’s true that most of the best Normandy D-Day tours start and end in Bayeux, but what if you’re staying in Caen? Rather than having to make your way to Bayeux to start your tour, check out this one that starts and ends in Caen.

This full-day tour includes visits to:

• Caen Memorial Museum

This is one of the only available Normandy D-Day tours that includes a self-guided visit to the Caen Memorial Museum, widely believed to be the best World War II museum in France . I personally consider this museum a must-visit, so I love that this tour includes it. I also like that the museum portion of the tour is self-guided since everyone visits museums in their own way.

This is another small-group tour (capped at 7 people) and it has tons of rave reviews, especially of the guides (5/5).

This full-day (7-hour) tour starts and ends in Caen. It includes:

• Admission to the Caen Memorial Museum
• Maximum of 7 people total
• Full refund if canceled within 2 days of your tour

As of July 2024, this tour is offered 7 days a week and costs $129 per person all year long. Since this includes museum admission (about $22 US), that makes this tour one great value to visit these top locations.

9. Best tour for British visitors

My pick for best D-Day tour for British visitors: Private Guided British D-Day Tour from Bayeux

Despite the fact that Great Britain was a massive participant in the D-Day landings, landing at two of the five beaches, there are shockingly few tours that focus on the British sectors. However, there is one really great option.

• Pegasus Bridge
• The Hillman Site
• Gold and Sword Beaches
• German battery at Longues-sur-Mer
• Arromanches and its artificial harbors
• Bayeux War Cemetery

So few Normandy D-Day tours visit the British sectors and this one is great because it visits so many (without a lot of fluff in between). You also have some very knowledgeable and passionate guides leading you. (And nothing but 5-star reviews!)

This full-day (8-9-hour) tour starts and ends in beautiful Bayeux. It includes:

• Pick-up, drop-off, and round-trip transportation between all sites
• Private transportation in an air conditioned vehicle

It does not include lunch or other personal expenses.

As of July 2024, this tour is offered 7 days a week (but does sell out!) and costs $879 per group up to 8 people . This is one of the best per-person rates of all the private Normandy tours I’ve seen.

10. Best bonus D-Day sites tour

My pick for best bonus D-Day sites tour: Utah & Omaha Beaches D-Day Group Tour from Bayeux

This tour visits many of the same sites as the others, but I’m calling this a “bonus” tour because it passes by a number of additional sites you might not otherwise see. Even though these are just “pass-by” stops, they still might interest you.

• Commune of Angoville-au-Plain, drop zone of the 101 st Airborne
• Site of the hedgerows battle (pass by)
• Major Richard Winters Memorial (pass by)
• Sainte-Marie-du-Mont (pass by)

On this tour, even in between stops you’ll get to see interesting things like the famous hedgerows (“bocage”) and the monument to Maj. Dick Winters whom you may know from Band of Brothers .

This tour also has a 5-star rating and is one of the most popular Normandy D-Day tours on Viator (with over 1,100 rave reviews).

This full-day (8.5-hour) tour starts and ends in Bayeux. It includes:

• Admission to the Airborne Museum
• Round-trip transportation
• Air conditioned minivan
• Professional tour guide

This isn’t necessarily a small-group tour since it has a maximum of 20 passengers (if it fills up). It does not include lunch, gratuities, or other personal expenses.

As of January 2024, this tour is offered 7 days a week and costs $159 per person . This price point is par for the course and you get to see so much.

Other Normandy D-Day tours

If you have questions about other Normandy D-Day tours that I didn’t cover in this post, let me know! I’ve examined nearly all of them. So if you find one you’re curious about, leave a comment below and  I’ll tell you why it didn’t make the list .

More info for your Normandy D-Day trip

• Hotels:  Read reviews and find great places to stay  here on Booking.com  (my personal favorite).  Hotels.com  and  Expedia  usually have good deals too though.
• Save lots of money and time  by getting some  Paris GoCity passes .
• Rental cars:  Check out the  best local rental car deals here.
• For more Normandy D-Day tours,  check out all the options from  Viator  and  Get Your Guide .
• Don’t forget a   France guidebook  and this must-have  France customs and culture guide !

Have a great time on your tour of Normandy! I hope I’ve made planning your trip a little easier.

Save this info, pin this image:

About Ashley Smith

Ashley is a World War II historian and travel expert who has visited 39 countries. She specializes in quick trips throughout Europe and the Americas with a focus on World War II museums, memorials, battlefields, and other sites of interest. Originally from Memphis, TN, she currently lives in Boston with her husband and two feline commanders.

Reader Interactions

April 28, 2024 at 1:30 pm

what itinerary would you recommend if you have a day and half to visit the area. I’ll be staying in Bayeux.

April 29, 2024 at 4:55 am

Hi Ray! I would definitely check out the sites in this post , and then add in another museum or two according to your interests. Check out this post to see which area you might want to focus on.

April 29, 2024 at 12:48 pm

Thanks Ashley. Can you recommend a private tour for my second day?

April 30, 2024 at 2:33 am

Yes – take a look at the many options here on Tours By Locals . They always have great reviews and are usually customizable.

June 27, 2024 at 1:14 pm

Thank you for making this so easy. I am very interested in the Normandy American D-Day Beaches Full Day Tour from Bayeux. I have a group of 3 that will be staying in Paris. What is best, a tour from Paris where you are picked up in Paris and shuttled to Normandy or a tour where we take the train out to Bayeux? It looks as if we are able to get more sites if we do a tour from the Bayeux train station. Just want to maximize the day and not afraid of a long day – we can sleep on the train:).

June 27, 2024 at 5:11 pm

Hi Scott! I agree that getting yourself to Bayeux and beginning your tour from there would be the most time-efficient way to go about it. That is, if you are comfortable using public transportation in France and you’re willing to get started pretty early. (Some people aren’t, lol.) That’s probably the route I would personally go!

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

• Full day tours
• Half day tour
• Mont Saint Michel
• Personalized Tours
• Tour from Paris
• Tour from Ports
• Two days tours

You want the best guides on the Normandy Beaches ?

… Take our shuttle in Bayeux for a sightseeing tour of the D-Day Beaches

TOUR #1 Omaha Beach – Half Day Tour

TOUR #2 Omaha Beach / Utah Beach – Full Day Tour

TOUR #2B The Battle of The Hedgerows Tour – Full Day Tour

TOUR #2FS Omaha / Utah – Full Day Tour

TOUR #3 Omaha / Band of Brothers – Full Day Tour

TOUR #4 British / Canadian Sectors Tour – Full Day Tour

TOUR #5 101st Airborne Tour – Full Day Tour

TOUR #6 Neptune Tour – Two Days Tour

TOUR #7 Bradley’s Tour – Two Days Tour

TOUR #7B Beyond The Beachead Tour

Private Tours #8 – Specialized Tours

Private Tours #9 from Cruise Ports in Van

Group Tours #9B from Cruise Ports

Private TOUR #10 Pick Up Paris – Two Days Tour

Tour #11 Mont-Saint-Michel Tour

Tour #12 – Normandy Jeep Experience – Specialized Tours

TOUR #13 Omaha-Utah / Mont-Saint-Michel – Two Days Tour

Canadian Tour #8B – Specialized Tours

Revisit History With Us

Enjoy a guided sightseeing tour in normandy with overlordtour and take advantage of our 30 years of experience guiding the d-day battlefields of normandy . our shuttles from bayeux offer you the best tours of the normandy d-day beaches ..

On June 6 1944, 135,000 men and 20,000 vehicles were brought onto the shores of Normandy during the night via five landing beaches . Come and re-live the Normandy invasion with a guided tour and discover: the D-Day landing beaches (Sword, Juno, Gold, Omaha and Utah), Point du Hoc, the Airborne sectors, the D-day battlefields and the D-day museums. Take a fascinating and informative battle site tour led by our expert guides. We are recommended by veterans!

Don’t delay! Depart for all your tour destinations with Overlordtour in our luxury air conditioned vehicles:

“Thanks to the most experienced and professional guides , you will take the best guided tours of Omaha and Utah and also of Sword, Juno and Gold beaches.”

“Discover the exciting history of the scattered paratrooper landings of “Easy Company” with Overlordtour. We will take you to the authentic Norman Battlefields where the 506th, Colonel Sink, and Lt Dick Winters fought – including, Drop Zones, Battlefields, D-Day beaches, Headquarters, and remote private locations.”

“The Longest Day” – Twentieth Century Fox, F. Zarruck Productions: All rights reserved. “Saving Private Ryan” – Paramount Pictures: All rights reserved. “Band of Brothers” – HBO (A Divsion of Time Warner Entertainment Company): All rights reserved.

Overlordtour’s Normandy Group Tours are waiting to explore Omaha and Utah with you!

Enjoy a tour with our 1944’s vehicles.

Jeeptours.fr

No better place to die.

Captain Dale Adam Dye Jr., USMC (Ret.) (born October 8, 1944) is an American actor, technical advisor, radio personality and writer. A decorated Marine veteran of the Vietnam War, Dye has also offered his expertise to television, such as the HBO mini-series Band of Brothers and The Pacific , and video games, including the Medal of Honor

His next film “No better place to die” tells of the fierce battle of La Fiere.

The battle at La Fiere was an epic engagement for the 82nd Airborne in Normandy. La Fiere takes its importance from being a crossing for the Merderet River near St. Mere Eglise. As the Merderet River was a significant obstacle in the invasion, securing the river crossings was a major objective of the 82nd Airborne on D-Day in order to anchor the right flank of the invasion.

Exclusive access granted to Overlordtour

Overlordtour has now an official contract with the owner of Brecourt, Mr Devalavielle, who grants us the exclusive access to the Brecourt field.

OVERLORDTOUR provide interactive maps for your convenience

After you have selected or created your own tour with us, Overlordtour will provide you with detailed interactive maps to assist you with orientation and a birds-eye view of the history and excitement that awaits your arrival!

Let Overlordtour take you on a Normandy WWII beaches tour

• “The Best Guided D-Day Tours & Sightseeing Trips in Normandy”
• Tel : +33 (0) 783 810 921

• Service-List
• A Long Story…
• ‘D-Day Then & Now‘ – Video
• Privacy Policy
• Cookie Policy (EU)
• Transport Solutions
• Pick-up / Drop-Off Locations
• Bayeux / Caen Weather
• Booking your Paris Train
• Bayeux Accomodation
• The D-Day Beaches

Free French

Our services.

Depart Bayeux Train Station, Hotels, Guest Houses, B&Bs and private lodgings, as well as * Carentan / * Sainte-Mère-Église and * Caen ( * upon request).

Scroll down for an informative ‘ Welcome ‘ intro to our site, complete with: A ‘ Quick-Links ‘ section; a selection of 5-star reviews ; our * Newsletter sign-up ( * if you’ve booked with us, we strongly advise signing up until the day of your tour – automatic ‘ un subscribe’ available); our ‘ What’s New ‘ section; a Normandy ‘ Then & Now ‘ video (*see our ‘About Us’ Menu); some ‘ website navigation tips ‘; an all-important ‘ Get In Touch ‘ form. Finally, you’ll find our French Transport Operator & Chauffeur licenses , as well as our Certified French Guide Conférencier N° , along with our N ormandy HQ address.

O verlord -N eptune

Normandy on tour, d-day tours, cultural visits, transport services.

Bayeux-based D-Day, Sightseeing, Cultural Tour & Transport Company

→ Our tours are brand new (not just the ‘same old’). Based on years of touring experience, they have been specially crafted to bring the new and the old together . Instead of sticking to the “well-trodden fast-food routes”, we’ll take you on an unforgettable Normandy trip, and on a ‘once-in-a-lifetime’ touring experience . Don’t just take our word for it – read what others are already saying about their recent experiences on Trip Advisor and Google Business .

→ We specialise in organising full-day D-Day Private & Group Tours from central Bayeux, its hotels & train station, accompanied by native English-speaker, or fluent English-speaking, professional Historian-Guides. We also serve Carentan & Caen for all Private Tours & Services and our ‘Outside Zones’ for transport services too, as detailed in our ONTour *brochure (*please refer to the menu bar at top of the page).

→ We also operate Private & Group Tours from Normandy Cruise Ship   Ports , as well as Transport Solutions (Paris Airport < > Normandy Transfers) and D-Day Tours & Sightseeing trips from Paris Hotels (for Normandy-bound clients).

→ Finally, for clients simply seeking a superlative tour, we propose our exclusive Flagship multiple-day touring   experience : ‘ O verlord – N eptune ‘. It’s a complete package, including a choice of: Airport Transfers; D-Day Tours; Normandy Cultural Tours & Sightseeing Visits (from É tretat to Le Mont Saint-Michel – via Giverny, Honfleur, Deauville, Le Pays d’Auge, Bayeux, La Loire & more – with a Paris finale !); Fine Dining experiences; Heli-Tours; Speedboat Rides, all with one dedicated driver and customized itinerary planning throughout.

Important : Please always check all boat, plane, bus & train schedules ahead of booking with us ! And after booking with us, don’t forget to check out our all-important Newsletter sign-up form. Our ‘Helpful Info’ and ‘About Us’ menus are also a strongly recommended read – before you book!

We look forward to welcoming you on board…

Tip (mobile device users): There is a ‘What’s New’ widget section on this page: If viewing on iphone, ipad, mobile device or tablet, please scroll down to view. Pease refer also to our ‘Service-List’ page, accessible via the ‘About Us’ section on the (‘hamburger’) menu above.

TOURS & SERVICES

Apr 2nd – Oct 31st

Nov 1st – Mar 31st

ONTour's Flagship Tour: Overlord-Neptune

 MULTIPLE-DAY TOURS

Tailor-made D-Day Tours , Cultural Tours, Sightseeing Visits & Transport Solutions, with dedicated driver & fully customizable itinerary planning

+ Paris hotel or airport transfers

ALL Normandy Paris Airport Shuttles

 FLEXIBLE TRANSPORT

Premium Transport Solutions Min 4-6-hr ‘hire’ (up to 150km) Max 11-hr ‘hire’ (up to 800km) [8/16 pax]. Fully customizable Multilingual options

*Operates all year round

D-Day Port Tours

Fixed summer schedules from Cherbourg / St-Malo / Le Havre / Hofleur / Ouistreham ). Fluent English-speaker guide [8/16 pax]

*Create your own ‘roll-call’ on Cruise-critic.com

D-Day MOTO Tours

Flexible schedules from Bayeux / Caen hotels & Ouistreham Port. Private (1-8) & Group (9-20) riders. NB: On your own 2-wheels. Multilingual guide

All things Normandy: Stay up-to-date with quarterly News & Events

What’s new in 2024 and beyond ?

April 2nd – Oct 31st , 2024 now bookable via ‘Contact Us’ or ‘Book Now’ Tabs.

*More tour itineraries will be added throughout 2024, starting with our brand new ‘[T6] Band Of Brothers’ Tour.

Don’t forget to check out out our ‘fixed-schedule’ ‘ H1 Tour Alpha ‘, a half-day tour of The US Sector, departing central Bayeux at 09:00 am/ 14:00pm  and its ‘extended’ Tour Alpha-flexi version.

→ Flagship Tour: O verlord- N eptune now available ‘on-demand’ all-year-round.

What’s the time now in Bayeux ? (NB: We’re on Paris CET – please click the link to find out what time it is here in Bayeux – before calling! Note: Messages can also be sent anytime via ‘Whatsapp’ – it’s a free mobile-phone & video app).

→ Please refer to our FAQ section for our Quality-Of-Service promise.

2024 Tours from Paris by train : There is an excellent weekday Train Service from Paris St. Lazare Station to Bayeux, which stops briefly in Caen (15 minutes outside of Bayeux). We therefore pick up our Paris-based tour clients at Bayeux station Mon-Fri either at 09:35  ( 09:45 departure ) OR – if adding our ‘Early-Bird’ add-on – at 08:35  ( 08:45 departure ) , returning to the station at 17:45- 18:00 , in plenty of time to catch the train back to Paris. Please see individual tour pages for info.

NB : Our 4-hr half-day Tours e.g. Tour Alpha or ‘extended Tour Alpha-Flexi [5-9 hrs], including: Pointe-du-Hoc, Omaha Beach & Colleville American Cemetery and much more…), depart central Bayeux, Place de Québec, at 08:50 and again at 13:50 – just a 12-minute stroll from Bayeux’s tiny train station. The afternoon tour, returns to the pick-up point OR to Bayeux station at 18:10, in plenty of time to catch the train back to Paris.

A Half-day 4-hr guided tour is also a GREAT way to see medieval Bayeux (90-minute walking tour), with its stunning Cathedral (+ 45 minutes), followed by a free-time visit to its renowned Tapestry OR Battle of Normandy Museum. Transport provided). Please see individual tour pages for info.

**Please don’t forget to check all train schedules before booking your ONTour service. Thank you**.

Note : For Bayeux sightseeing options on the morning of your Half-day D-Day Tour, we recommend the earliest direct train from Paris St-Lazare station to Bayeux’s tiny roadside platform. We also recommend a 4-hour morning guided visit to medieval Bayeux (see above).

*See ‘Helpful Info’ menu for train info, maps and more…

Our Cancellation Insurance : As stated in our full T&Cs (also delivered as a PDF file with your booking confirmation), we will refund payments for all cancelled services, where our Cancellation Insurance has been purchased at checkout. It’s an inexpensive addition, which we really encourage clients to add to their shopping cart, just for peace-of-mind (since standard travel insurance doesn’t cover cancelled tours!).

Note : On Private Tours and Transport Services a foldable wheelchair and 5-point isofix baby harness are available upon request, and on Group Tours we can provide child booster seats (for kids under 10-yrs), as per French transport regulations.

NB : These must be requested when booking – to avoid disappointment on the day.

“We took the train from Paris…”

“First off our tour guide was AMAZING, he has a real love for the history of D-Day and you can tell when he talks and tells the stories. ‘ The American Beaches ‘ GROUP tour [T1] to Omaha Beach & Utah Beach was amazing. We did a stop at several places during our   group tour including the American Cemetery which was breathtaking. We were even lucky enough to meet a Vet at Sainte-Mère-Eglise. Just going to these places and hearing what happened those days is beyond amazing. It might have been a long day but it was so worth it”. 

April 20th 2023

“Highly Recommended…”

“My daughter, Cousin and I came to France to pay tribute to our grandfather who was among the first wave of British soldiers to storm Gold Beach. Our guide organized our D-Day Tour perfectly and had given special attention to ensure we fully understood what transpired on that fateful day. The multiple sites we were taken to on The ‘ Allied Triangle ‘ PRIVATE tour [T8] would have been impossible to navigate on our own. He was very knowledgeable, competent, patient and attentive. I highly recommend this tour company”.

May 6th, 2023

“Wonderful Half Day…”

“Together with my 18 year-old son, we took the early train from Paris and visited The Bayeux Tapestry and The Museum of The Battle of Normandy in the morning and grabbed a quick lunch before doing the 2pm half-day PRIVATE Omaha Tour [H1]. We were able to visit the D-Day highlights and make our 6:30 pm train back to Paris. It was perfect for our schedule. There is so much to see, so a half-day is really highlights only. Recommend full-day Tour if you want to get into D-Day history a bit more”.

June 19th, 2023

“What An Experience…”

“Our guide took us out for an amazing ‘ Canadian & British ‘ PRIVATE D-Day Tour [T7], seeing Juno Beach and the Bény War Cemetery and he gave a great overview as we drove through the countryside, and took care to answer all our questions. it was a powerful experience to try to imagine the war time action, and this tour was no doubt one of those times our family will always remember.  History came alive.  He also made an effort to engage on a personal level with the children and teens on the trip – really engaging guy.  Five stars”.

May 4th 2023

Website navigation tools:-

Tip #2:  ‘ The only way is up ‘. At the foot of each page look out for the transparent horizontal bar with the icon ‘ ∧ ‘  which will beam you back to the top of the page.

Tip #3:  ‘ Take me back ‘. When approaching the foot of each page, there’s a tiny pop-up on the lower right marked return <  , which will take you back to the previous page.

This website has been optimized for Google Desktop  and Android . On other desktop browsers, the website pages may not display content cohesively. On IOS devices (Iphone or Ipad) we recommend ‘portrait’ (vertical) view only. To view the full site, please peruse the desktop version.

La Pépinière d'entreprises

De bayeux intercom, z.a. de nonant, rue d/longues haies, 14400, nonant, calvados, normandie, france.

Transport License : VP 25 21 02 002

Chauffeur licence (vtc): 01417003201, guide-conférencier: gc 21-14-009p, admin & bookings: +33 (0) 783 810 921, get in touch.

Email Address

NB : At no point do we record, store or sell your personal details nor browser information (e.g. which sites you previously visited before coming here). Our full cookie policy is accessible for your perusal via the link just below.

Normandy guided D-Day tours, visit the D-Day landing beaches with us!

Itinerary of our D-Day Tours in Normandy

Guided D-Day tours in Normandy tour itinerary.

We can offer you different types of guided tours . We have our Private D-Day tours with your group only, seeing what YOU want to see and our Shared group D-Day tour . The last in a set format with small groups of maximum 8 people. We will tell you the stories of the veterans we personally met over the years, having their stories first hand!

The American 82nd and 101st Airborne divisions’ main objective was to secure and protect the Western flank of the D-Day invasion area. Sainte Mère Église was of strategic importance because of its two nearby bridges in the vicinity of Utah beach, about 2mi North-East from the planned drop zone of the 82nd Airborne Division. By mistake, paratroopers from both divisions where dropped into the center of the village. One of them, John Steele, got caught on the church steeple, made famous by the movie “The Longest Day”. We will also visit the Airborne Museum, opposite the church, as an integral part of the shared group tour. Let us tell you the personal stories of veterans we met over the years and about their unfortunate drop the night of June 6th 1944.

•   Infamous hedgerow countryside

On our way to Utah beach you will experience the Normandy countryside with its hedgerows and narrow roads. A lot of the Sainte Mère Église area is still how it was during D-Day. When tractors came into fashion during the 50’s, the farmers wanted bigger fields and took out hedgerows to accomplish this, but not in this area. You will see what problems the soldiers on D-Day had to overcome and why they were so dangerous!

• General Leclerc Monument

A monument to General Leclerc’s 2nd Armored Division of the Free French Army who landed on this stretch of Utah beach on the 1st August 1944. Next to the monument stands a Sherman tank and two armored vehicles and within its vicinity many of the original bunkers, all part of the “Atlantic Wall”.

Omaha beach is the most famous, but Utah beach the more important one. The nearest invasion beach to Cherbourg, with its deep sea harbor, which was important to bring in supplies. Considered as the most successful with the least casualties of all Normandy landing beaches. Here is where the 4th Infantry division came ashore. One of them was Gen. Teddy Roosevelt Jr, being the first general to set foot ashore from the seaborne troops. Learn about this success and why it was the most  successful one on D-Day.

Dick Winters (portrayed in Band of Brothers), was chosen to represent and honor all men leading the forces on D-Day with his Leadership Memorial.  This Memorial will give you a stunning view overlooking Utah beach from a distance.

•    Sainte Marie du Mont

A beautiful, typical Norman village close to Utah Beach. This village has a church steeple overlooking the whole area, including Utah beach, and was used by the Germans as their artillery observation post. As a direct threat for Utah beach, this was one of the objectives for  the 101st Airborne Division. Another was the gun emplacement just outside Saint Marie du Mont, “Holdy” gun battery and later the four guns at “Brecourt” Manor, taken out by Dick Winters’ platoon, also portrayed in Band of Brothers.

Not all was death and destruction. Let us tell you the story of the “Angels of Mercy”. The church of Angoville au Plain was picked by two medics, Bob Wright and Ken Moore, to serve as their aid station giving aid to more than eighty casualties, Americans, Germans and even a fourteen year old boy. You will be stunned hearing their story. This monument is initiated and build by one of our guides, Hubert.

Cross road where a tank coming from Utah beach was taken out by the Germans. A body was hanging from the turret for days. Due to the fierce fighting no one was able to recover the body and soldiers referred to it as “the cross road with the dead man hanging from his turret”. Later on they shortened this to “dead man’s corner”.

A lot of the area was flooded by the Germans and this made it difficult to get into Carentan, coming from Saint Come du Mont. This elevated road crossed the marshland and contained  four bridges with the German paratroopers waiting for the American paratroopers at the other end. Col. Cole commanding 3/502 PIR starting the attack with his 400 men, fought an intense battle and was down to less than 250 by the time they got to the outskirts of Carentan. From here he launched a bayonet charge which led to him being awarded the Medal of Honor. At the end of “purple heart lane” we will pass “Col. Cole’s Bayonet Charge” Memorial.

Pointe du Hoc was the biggest German gun emplacement within the Normandy invasion area. On top of 100-foot high cliffs, considered impregnable. We will be here for an hour and even go into some of the bunkers. Find out how Col. Rudder’s Rangers scaled these cliffs and took this gun battery.

 The worst place to be on June 6th 1944! You will be impressed by the views of this beautiful and now peaceful beach. After we tell you all that went wrong and the differences with Utah beach, you  will understand why this was the worst place to be and even think how it was possible that they took this beach.

All gave some, some gave all……….!

9387 of the ones who gave all are interred here and 1557 names are engraved in the wall of the missing. The 172,5 acre Normandy American Cemetery is where we will end the day. A place to pay your respects and honor these men and women. With over a million visitors every year, this is the most visited cemetery managed by the American Battle Monuments Commission.

Book your private D-Day tour in Normandy here

Book your shared group D-Day tour in Normandy here

Book your D-Day tour in Normandy starting from Cherbourg here

GUIDED TOURS IN NORMANDY

We help Normandy travelers skip basic tours by offering custom experiences with or without transportation. Our approach includes meaningful interpretations, engaging all senses, for unforgettable moments and enriching insights for a lifetime!

Personalized tours tailored to your interests and preferences.

If you need to customize your itinerary, please contact us via email: [email protected]

Tour without transportation

If you have a rental car, it is possible to book guided service only: 295€ half day tour, 395€ full day tour.

Please note that we are not allowed to drive your car.

Tour with transportation.

Our car is Volkswagen Touran (4 adults and 2 children under 10 years old).

Pick up/drop off

As we provide private tours only, we can pick you up from your hotel or B&B near Caen/Bayeux. If you stay in Paris, you should take a train to Bayeux.

A ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME EXPERIENCE IS ENHANCED WITH A PRIVATE GUIDE

Unlocking Exclusive Insights and Tailored Adventures

« If I could give Lena a 6 star rating I would! The private tour that Elena organized was well beyond my expectations. She researched and organized an amazing personal tour of my Great Uncle’s regiment’s route after landing on Juno beach on D-Day. I learned things about what he and his colleagues endured that were well beyond any research I could have done from Canada. Elena is a knowledgeable guide and her passion for her work is evident. She is a true pleasure to spend a day with! »

Adrienne Monreal

« Lena was a top-notch guide for our tour of Etretat and Honfleur. From the moment she met us at the terminal, she was professional, focused on our comfort, and ready to share information that was interesting and educational. Her presentations were enhanced through great activities and visuals. We thoroughly enjoyed her company as well for our full day tour. We would recommend Lena without any hesitation- she is a wonderful tour guide! »

Kim San-Francisco

« Very knowledgeable guide. Great English. Passionate and well prepared for every side we went to. You would be lucky to book this guide!»

Christopher Atlanta

« My wife and I just finished our 6th and last grandkid European/Japan tour and I must say that Lena was one of the best, informative, knowledge, engaging, and personable tour guide we have experienced in our 19 years of traveling with our grandchildren and without. George was 12 when we took him to Normandy and Lena made it enjoyable for him as well as my wife and I. I highly recommend. »

Contact us:

+33 7 50 23 99 74 [email protected]