Day of Days: the British D-Day Story - JG Explorer

Location: Calais, Ouistreham, Caen

Ferry to Calais and on to our hotel in Ouistreham or Caen, where we stay on a bed and breakfast basis.

Accommodation Name: hotel in Ouistreham or Caen

Meals: Breakfast

Location: Pegasus Bridge, British Normandy Memorial, Gold Beach, Ouistreham

We join our specialist battlefields guide and travel first to Pegasus Bridge, originally known as Bénouville Bridge, it was renamed in honour of the British 6th Airborne Division, whose emblem was the winged horse Pegasus. This bridge played a crucial role during the D-Day landings it was one of the first objectives to be captured by Allied forces to prevent German reinforcements from reaching the beaches. The successful capture of Pegasus Bridge by glider-borne troops ensured the protection of the eastern flank of the landing area, contributing to the overall success of the Normandy invasion. Next, we head to British Normandy Memorial, overlooking Gold Beach. Honouring all those under British command who never came home from Normandy in the summer of 1944, the memorial was inaugurated on 6th June 2019 (the 75th anniversary of D-Day) and officially opened on 6th June 2021 and includes an evocative D-Day Sculpture created by David Williams-Ellis. Afterwards, we tour some of the infamous D-Day Landing beaches, learning more about the events of 6th June 1944 when the Allies landed on the coast of Normandy for what was the turning point in the Second World War. Later, we return to Ouistreham where there’s free time to enjoy dinner at a restaurant of your choice.

Meals: Breakfast

Location: Honfleur, Trouville-sur-Mer, Ouistreham

Our day starts with a visit to Honfleur, one of the most picturesque fishing ports in France and a favourite haunt for artists. The quaint harbour is lined with narrow, slate-fronted houses while the Old Town boasts narrow cobbled streets and half-timbered buildings with art galleries, boutiques and traditional craft shops. We continue on to the fashionable seaside resort of Trouville-sur-Mer. This charming town is renowned for its glamorous villas and beautiful beach as well as a casino. It is also home to a vibrant fishing port with a lively fish market and plenty of small cafés and restaurants selling fresh seafood. On our return to Ouistreham, the evening is at leisure to find a restaurant of your choice for dinner.

Meals: Breakfast

Location: Le Touquet, Calais

En-route back to Calais, we stop in La Touquet. Part of the Atlantic wall, this charming seaside resort was the site for Operation Starkey, a failed allied landing. During D-Day over 2,000 bombs were dropped on the town killing 55 people inc. the town’s Mayor. We have free time here to explore and find lunch (not included). Later, we continue our journey and catch the return ferry home.