Memory Tracks
" L e s C h e m i n s d e l a M e m o i r e "
Normandy Battlefields Tours
"Omaha beach & La Pointe du Hoc Tour"
The Tour
- The first step of your journey will be the “Fox Red” sector of Omaha beach.
There, just a few meters from the bunkers of the German strongpoint coded "Wn60", at the top of the 40 meters high cliff, you will enjoy an incredible view of the whole beach. This is the place where we will mention details of the plan of the landing at Omaha on June 6th, 1944.
- Then we will reach "Fox Green" sector, to tread the sand of "Bloody Omaha", and to walk the beach and the dunes where you will discover the remnants of the German defence strongpoint "WN62".
It is at this precise place that, "your feet in the sand", you will understand why nothing went as planned on this morning of June 6, 1944 and why this beach has turned into a deadly trap for the men of the 1st and the 29th Infantry Divisions.
- The third step of the journey is a very symbolic location representing the engagement of American and European forces during the second world war, and it is intensely emotionally charged: the American military cemetary of Colleville sur Mer, where 9387 fighters are laid to rest after being killed on D-Day or during the battle of Normandy.
- Subsequently, we suggest, if that is your wish, the visit of one of the 4 museums (*) of the area presenting the landing operations of Omaha Beach and displaying important collections of uniforms, equipment and vehicles. These museums are quite different from each other and we can help you to make your choice according to your expectations. (*) Private full-day tours only
- We will then follow Omaha Beach west (along the “Easy Red", "Easy Green”, “Dog Red”, “Dog White”, “Dog Green” and “Charlie” sectors), before setting the course to Pointe du Hoc, a few kilometers away.
- Once arrived at La Pointe du Hoc, we will touch on the conquest of the German position by the 2nd battalion of Rangers commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel James Earl Rudder. You will be able to discover the German fortifications implanted on the site. 80 years after the end of combat, you might be taken by the scenery, still to this day affected by the heavy aerial and marine bombings of D-Day and the previous weeks.
- Finally we will make our way back using small country roads,
surrounded by scenery that has not much changed since 1944.
- Full-day Tours only : before arriving back on the main roads we will make one last stop to the German military cemetery of La Cambe where 21,222 soldiers are laid to rest that were killed during the battle of Normandy. You might be taken by the peculiar atmosphere of the location, very different from the American cemetery of Colleville that you’ll have seen a few hours prior.
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Half-day or full-day Tour ? We recommend that our guests who wish to take their time in these memory places choose the full day. This option also includes a visit to the German Military Cemetery of La Cambe.
However, for people who would have little time on site, it is quite possible from Bayeux to discover Omaha beach and its major sites - including the American Military Cemetery of Colleville and the Pointe du Hoc - in a half-day (morning or afternoon).
The advantages of the option "Private tours" :
- The vehicle is exclusively dedicated to you during the day.
- We can adapt the schedule and pace of the tour to your specific needs.
- Pick-up and return are done directly to your place of residence (Bayeux, Caen, and Omaha beach area, as well as Sainte-Mère-Eglise and its surroundings).
- Price/vehicle and not/person : it is no longer dependent on the number of passengers, which can be interesting for groups of 5 people and more.
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Practical Information
- Prior reservation required.
- Times (shared tours) : Departure from pick-up point at 08.45. Return around 17.30.
- Rates, and pick-up / drop-off points : Please, see Rates and useful information page.