WW2: D-Day Landing Beaches
This professionally guided Escorted Tour from Ireland offers a meaningful opportunity to stand on the D-Day landing beaches, where the course of the Second World War was forever changed. Setting off from Dublin, this four-day trip is designed for those with a keen interest in history, providing a comprehensive look at the events of June 1944. You will be accompanied by a professional historian guide who brings the past to life with factual accounts and personal stories of the soldiers who landed on these shores. The itinerary covers all five main sectors—Omaha, Utah, Sword, Juno, and Gold—ensuring you get a full understanding of the scale and complexity of Operation Neptune.
Normandy is a region of immense natural beauty, but it is its wartime heritage that makes it such a significant destination for Irish travellers. During this tour, you will visit iconic landmarks such as Pegasus Bridge, the site of the first Allied action on D-Day, and the Mulberry Harbour at Arromanches, a feat of wartime engineering. The trip also includes visits to various museums, such as the Utah Beach Museum and the Airborne Museum in Sainte-Mère-Église, where you can see the equipment and vehicles used during the invasion. These visits are balanced with time for quiet reflection at the beautifully maintained cemeteries, including the American Cemetery at St Laurent-sur-Mer and the Bayeux Military Cemetery, the largest Commonwealth cemetery in France.
Your accommodation is based in the city of Caen, which serves as an ideal base for exploring the D-Day landing beaches. The city itself has a rich history and was a primary objective during the initial landings. Our package includes return flights from Dublin, executive coach transfers throughout Normandy, and daily breakfast. By choosing an organised tour, you can focus entirely on the historical experience without worrying about the logistics of travel or navigation. Whether you are a dedicated history enthusiast or simply wish to pay your respects to those who served, this tour provides a factual, respectful, and well-organised journey through the most significant battlefields of the 20th century.
Is this tour suitable for people with limited mobility?
What is the group size and who leads the tour?
Are meals included in the price?
What's Included+
- Booking advice from your Travel Escapes travel advisor
- Return flights from Dublin to Paris including taxes & charges
- Tour manager, professional historian guide & executive coach transfers
- 3 nights’ accommodation in the Ibis Caen Centre with breakfast
- Visit the D-Day Landing Beaches of Omaha, Utah, Sword, Juno and Gold
- Visit Pegasus Bridge Memorial and Ranville Cemetery
- Visit Le Cambe German Cemetery, St Mere Eglise and the American Cemetery at St Laurent Sur Mer including the exhibition centre
- Visit Arromanches Landing Museum and Mulberry Harbour
- Visit the Utah Beach Museum to learn about the Airborne operations of D-Day
- Visit Bayeux Military Cemetery
- Free time for sightseeing and shopping at leisure
Itinerary
1Arrival and the Pegasus Bridge Memorial+
Your journey begins at Dublin Airport for your flight to Paris. Upon arrival, you will meet your professional coach and head towards Normandy. Your first stop is the Pegasus Bridge Memorial, a vital location where Allied gliders landed in the early hours of June 6th. You will have time for lunch and a look around before we transfer to our hotel in the historic city of Caen.
2Exploring the D-Day landing beaches: Sword, Juno, and Gold+
Today we focus on the British and Canadian sectors of the coast. We visit the D-Day landing beaches at Sword, Juno, and Gold to understand the scale of the operation. Highlights include the German artillery battery at Longues-sur-Mer and the Juno Beach Centre, which tells the story of the Canadian contribution. We also visit the Arromanches Landing Museum to see the remains of the Mulberry Harbour and stop at the Ranville War Cemetery.
3The American Sector: Utah Beach and Omaha Beach+
We travel west to the American landing zones, starting at Utah Beach and its immersive museum. We then visit Sainte-Mère-Église, famously liberated by paratroopers. A moving visit to the American Cemetery at St Laurent-sur-Mer follows, overlooking the sands of Omaha Beach. We also spend time at the La Cambe German Cemetery, providing a thoughtful perspective on the heavy cost of the conflict for all sides.
4Bayeux Military Cemetery and Return Journey+
After breakfast, we visit the Bayeux Military Cemetery, the largest Commonwealth site of its kind in France. You will then have free time to explore the charming town of Bayeux at your own pace, with the option to see the historic Bayeux Tapestry. In the afternoon, we depart for Paris Airport for the return flight to Dublin, concluding an informative and memorable tour.
| Date | Acc. | Price | Booking | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13 Jun 2026Twin | 13 Jun 2026 | Twin | €859 | Sold Out |
| 18 Jun 2026Twin | 18 Jun 2026 | Twin | €859 | Sold Out |
| 22 Aug 2026Twin | 22 Aug 2026 | Twin | €859 | On Request |
| 10 Sep 2026Twin | 10 Sep 2026 | Twin | €859 | Enquire Now |
| 17 Sep 2026Twin | 17 Sep 2026 | Twin | €859 | Enquire Now |
| 01 Oct 2026Twin | 01 Oct 2026 | Twin | €859 | Enquire Now |
- Booking deposit: enquire at time of booking
- Prices are per person based on two sharing.
- Single Supplement applies.
- A non-refundable / non-transferable deposit is required at the time of booking.
- Balance due 16 weeks before departure.
- Optional insurance available (terms & conditions apply).
- Taxes, prices & itinerary subject to change.
- Booking terms & conditions apply.
- Travel Insurance is not included.
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