VIP D-DAY IN NORMANDY

Would you like to experience a special VIP treatment during your VIP D-Day in Normandy tour?

VIP Tours will give you full satisfaction taking you on this unforgettable journey in Normandy that will introduce you to the history of the World War II and more specifically to the Allied Landing beaches.

Your personal, licensed driver-guide who is a specialist of the D-Day battle of Normandy will pick you up at your hotel in a luxurious Mercedes minivan or car and will tailor your tour to your specific wishes and needs.

During the VIP D-Day in Normandy, on the way to the first visit (about 2 hours of driving), your personal driver-guide will give you a historical introduction to the D-Day and to the battle of Normandy. Upon your arrival in Normandy, you will begin by the visit of Pegasus Bridge, one of the most famous bridges in World War II that was captured by Major John Howard. There, you will make a break in a French “patisserie” enjoying one of their delicious pastries.

After that, your personal driver-guide will take you to Arromanches to discover with you the remains of the artificial harbor (Mulberry) that played a vital part in the success of the Landings.

Then, you will go to the German coastal artillery battery of Longues sur Mer that formed a part of Germany’s Atlantic Wall coastal fortifications. The battery was completed by April 1944 and consisted of four 152 mm navy guns, each protected by a large concrete casemate, a command post, shelters for personnel and ammunition and several defensive machine-gun emplacements.

It is now time for your lunch break in a very nice, typical French restaurant or brasserie (lunch not included in the price).

After this culinary break, your tour will continue with a visit of the American Cemetery of Colleville, that covers 172,5 acres and that contains the graves of 9387 soldiers, most of whom lost their lives in the D-Day landings and ensuing operations (visit of the Memorial, the wall of Missing, the Chapel, many special tombs – Medals of Honor etc).  Your visit will be followed with a stop at the American Interpretive Center where you will have the opportunity to view remarkable films and documentaries relating the DDAY and Battle of Normandy operations.

The next private visit will take place in the famous Omaha Beach that since June 6^th 1944 has become the symbol of the sacrifice of American soldiers in WWII.

The primary objective of Omaha was to secure a beachhead of some 5 miles between Port en Bessin and the Vire River, linking up with the British landings at Gold Beach and the Americans at Utah Beach. The defenses were unexpectedly strong and inflicted extremely heavy casualties on landing US troops. Small penetrations were eventually achieved by groups of survivors making improvised assaults, scaling the bluffs between the most heavily defended points. By the end of the day, 2 small isolated footholds had been won, which were subsequently exploited against weaker defenses further inland, thus achieving the original D-Day objectives over the following days.

The last private guided visit of the day will  be the Pointe du Hoc, where the Germans had built 6 casemates to house a battery of 155 mm guns. Situated between Utah Beach and Omaha Beach, these guns threatened Allied landings, risking heavy casualties in the landing forces. The US 2nd Ranger Battalion under the command of Colonel James Rudder was given the task of destroying the strongpoint from the sea. Their heroic struggle and final success has entered into history.

On the way back to Paris, you will pass through the Grandcamp Maisy and the German Cemetery (short stop if time) before arriving at your hotel around 7 pm.

This tour due to the VIP treatment that we provide will leave you without doubt outstanding memories of your day in Normandy.