A Tale of Two Beaches - From Dunkirk to Normandy

A Tale of Two Beaches – from Dunkirk to Normandy
Join us on a thought-provoking journey, as we delve into the stories of the Second World War and uncover the lesser-known accounts of what happened during those fateful and victorious days. We explore the beaches of Normandy, the shores that saw the largest seaborne invasion in history, and our exploration of the Overlord Museum brings the events of the intensely planned D-Day to life. We also learn more about the extraordinary determination involved at Dunkirk, with our guided tour of the beach and visit to the War Museum of Operation Dynamo. Both locations and their tales are fascinating to discover - while one beach provided the backdrop for victory in saving lives to fight another day, the other led to huge victory on the way to securing peace in Europe.

A Tale of Two Beaches – from Dunkirk to NormandyItinerary
Day 1
Ferry to Calais and continue to Logis Hôtel du Beffroi in Gravelines, near Dunrkirk, with dinner and breakfast included.
Day 2 - Operation Dynamo
Also known as the Dunkirk Evacuation, the rescue mission 'Operation Dynamo' in 1940 was truly remarkable. After the German invasion of Poland in 1939, war was declared by France and the British Empire but by May of the next year, the German troops had trapped the British Expeditionary Force along the northern coast of France. Over a few days from late May to early June, it was then that a grand fleet of over 800 vessels miraculously rescued the stranded troops, against the odds. We learn more on our 'Dunes of Dunkirk' guided tour, before heading to the War Museum of Operation Dynamo for another guided tour, to discover more about the heroic efforts, key decision-making and the boost the success created for British civilian morale.
After lunch, we travel to Caen for free time, before we check in to our hotel here.
Day 3 - British & Commonwealth Beaches
Today is all about the British and Commonwealth beaches that played a pivotal role. D-Day was a turning point in World War II, and we discover the D-Day beaches - code-named Gold, Sworn, Juno and Utah, each with its own story to tell. The Allied operation, coded Operation Overlord, was an extensively planned assault, which sent 156,000 British, American and Canadian troops to German-occupied beaches over France's coast of Normandy; their landing being of paramount significance. The Allies established themselves on shore and could advance into the country, leading to the liberation of France and Western Europe. We also see Pegasus Bridge, a vital strategic landmark captured by British forces at the start of D-Day, with the aim of protecting soldiers who would land at Sword Beach.
Day 4 - The Americans
We delve into what happened to the American Rangers and airborne divisions on that fateful day of the D-Day landings, as depicted in Saving Private Ryan. The film was inspired by the true events of the four Niland brothers, of which three were presumed dead or missing. Ed Niland was sent back to the US to complete his service. However, in a truly Hollywood ending, one of his brothers was alive, in Japanese POW camp in Burma. Yet the story told by Frederick "Fritz" Niland, who fought at D-Day differs slightly from the blockbuster, and we discover more on our visit to the Overlord Museum, which boasts a unique collection of over 10,000 items. To put what we've seen into more context, we also visit the nearby Omaha Beach, one of the beaches used during Operation Overlord. Afterwards, there's free time for lunch in Sainte-Mere-Eglise before we visit the significant beach of Utah, the westernmost of the five landing areas of the Normandy invasion. We finish the day at the Bayeux War Cemetery, a stark reminder of the many lives lost during the Second World War, with over 4,500 war graves found here.
Day 5
Travel to Calais for our return ferry home.

A Tale of Two Beaches – from Dunkirk to Normandy

- Return coach travel & ferry crossings
- 1 night at the Logis Hôtel du Beffroi, Gravelines (JG3+ rating) with dinner & breakfast
- 3 nights at a selected hotel in Caen (JG3+ rating) with breakfast plus one dinner
- Excursions to the Dunes of Dunkirk, the War Museum of Operation Dynamo, British & Commonwealth Beaches, Pegasus Bridge, the Overlord Museum, Sainte-Mère-église, D-Day Beaches & the Bayeux War Cemetery


A Tale of Two Beaches – from Dunkirk to Normandy

- 1 night at the Logis Hôtel du Beffroi, Gravelines (JG3+ rating) with dinner & breakfast
- 3 nights at a selected hotel in Caen (JG3+ rating) with breakfast plus one dinner
- Excursions to the Dunes of Dunkirk, the War Museum of Operation Dynamo, British & Commonwealth Beaches, Pegasus Bridge, the Overlord Museum, Sainte-Mère-église, D-Day Beaches & the Bayeux War Cemetery


JG3+
JG3+ hotels typically enjoy higher levels of satisfaction on both online hotel rating sites and our own customer satisfaction surveys and may enjoy superior locations close to resort attractions or surrounded by spectacular scenery.Originals City Hotel Caen Mémorial, Caen
JG3+ rating
Situated in the historic city of Caen, the Originals City Hotel Caen Mémorial offers free Wi-Fi, a restaurant, bar, outside terrace and well-appointed rooms with tea and coffee-making facilities, TV and hairdryer.

Sure Hotel by Best Wester Caen Mémorial, Caen
JG3+ rating
The Sure Hotel by Best Western Caen Mémorial offers comfortable rooms with en-suite, flat-screen TV, tea and coffee-making facilities. Guests are welcome to dine on the outdoor terrace, available in the warmer months.