Coastal Normandy and WWII History

Coastal Normandy and WWII History

5 night self guided bike tour in France

From Caen to St Mere l' Eglise, embark on a WW2 memorial tour of Normandy, cycling along the beaches where the famous landings took place and through cities full of history.

Starting in Caen where you can visit the WWII Memorial, cycle the Calvados region to the famous Pegasus Memorial and Museum. The tour then takes you to Bayeux, famous for its 11th-century tapestry. On the way there, you will stop in Arromanches where you can visit the Landing museum. Continue cycling along the coast, and you will get the chance to visit Omaha beach with the US Military Cemetery, the Pointe du Hoc, Utah beach and other famous historical battle sites.

This tour is as beautiful as it is emotional.

Highlights

• WWII History
• Gold, Sword, Carentan, and Utah Beaches
• Pegasus Memorial and museum
• Bayeux Tapestry
• US Military cemetery
• Caen
• St. Marie du Mont

Learn More

Learn more about self-guided tours.

Daily program

Day 1: Arrival in Caen
Arrival in Caen - the main city of the region and home of the WWII Peace Memorial. Check in to your hotel and then enjoy some free time and explore Caen. A museum visit of the Caen Memorial is a highly informative and complete start of your tour. Orientation in the evening with an English speaking guide.
Overnight in Caen

Day 2: Loop ride to the Beaches of Normandy (option: 25 miles/40 km, 80m elevation gain or 31 miles/50 km, 90m elevation gain)
Cycle to Merville-Franceville-Plage sur Mer in the Calvados area and visit the Battery Museum. Then head on to Pegasus Bridge, originally named the Benouville Bridge. There, you can visit the Pegasus Memorial and museum, dedicated to the first liberators who arrived in Normandy on the night of 5th/6th June 1944.

Finally, you will arrive in Ouistreham where, on Riva Bella, you will have an overview on the landing area of Sword Beach. Here you can visit the Atlantic Wall Museum, inside the "Big Bunker," a former German headquarters. The Belvedere has an interesting orientation table and in front of the casino you can visit the Landing museum.
Overnight in Caen

Day 3: Caen – Bayeux (36 miles/58 km, 349m elevation gain)
Today you will ride from Caen to Bayeux. You will reach Arromanches & Gold Beach, where you can visit Arromanches 360, a circular theatre where "The Price of Freedom" is shown on nine screens. In the D-Day Landing Museum in Arromanches you will learn about the construction and operation of the artificial harbors assembled in front of Arromanches on the days following D-Day.

You will finish in Bayeux, where you may take the opportunity to visit one of the many points of interest of this town of art. The Bayeux Tapestry – 230 ft long and 2 ft high (70m x 50 cm), completed in the 11th century- is unique in the world. Other visits include the recently re-opened Musée de la Bataille de Normandy and Mémorial du Général de Gaulle.
Overnight in Bayeux

Day 4: Bayeux – St Marie du Mont (44 miles/70 km, 336m elevation gain)
A strong ride today from Bayeux to discover some of the most famous WWII sites in the area: Colleville-sur-Mer and Omaha beach. In Colleville take some time to visit the US Military Cemetery, the chapel and the memorial dedicated to the youth of America.

There is also a viewpoint which overlooks Omaha Beach. After you continue to ride to La Pointe du Hoc, Carentan and Utah beach.
Overnight in St. Marie du Mont

Day 5: Loop ride to St. Mere Eglise (30 miles/49 km, 188m elevation gain)
A loop tour from your hotel will first focus on the Utah Beach landings close to your hotel, then move north toward the point on the coast at Quineville then inland to St Mere Eglise, and a visit the famous battery of Crisbecq, Azeville and the very famous village of Ste Marie du Mont. Then back to your hotel.
Overnight in St. Marie du Mont

Day 6: Departure
Departure after breakfast at your leisure. Trains through Bayeux and on to Paris are possible.

Surface and terrain

The route contains some rolling hills and the tour is on quiet roads about 95% of the tour.

Hotels

These are sample hotels and may vary based on availability.

Category A: 3-, 4- and 5-star hotels

Hotel Le Dauphin, Caen
www.le-dauphin-normandie.com

Villa Lara, Bayeux

Le Grand Hard, Sainte Marie du Mont
www.legrandhard.fr

Category B: 3- and 4-star hotels

Hotel Le Dauphin, Caen
www.le-dauphin-normandie.com

Lion d'Or, Bayeux
www.liondor-bayeux.fr

Le Grand Hard, Sainte Marie du Mont
www.legrandhard.fr

Interested in visiting other areas before or after your tour? Visit our hotels page to learn more about lodging options.

How to get there

Tour start
Nearest airport: Paris
Nearest train station: Caen

Tour end
Nearest airport: Paris
Nearest train station: Carentan

Tips on getting to and from your tour

Dates

Prices

Included services

• 5 nights accommodations in the selected category
• Breakfasts
• Luggage transfers
• Detailed road book, including details maps, touristic information, step by step itinerary and cue sheets
• Technical and emergency support
• 2 dinners (Day 4 and Day 5), no dinners included for Category A
• Hybrid bike rental
• Garmin GPS Oregon 600t navigating system (1 per 3 persons)
• Arrival orientation by phone and bike delivery at first hotel

Please note that on Category A option no dinners are included.

Bike rentals

Bikes available and included in the tour cost (must be reserved in advance at time of booking):

• Hybrid touring bikes

Bikes available for rent (must be reserved in advance at time of booking) include:

• Road bikes (not available in July)
  
• Electrically assisted bike*
• Tandem

*More about electrically-assisted bikes >

Equipment included with bike:

• Helmet
• Garming GPS
• Odometer
• Lock
  
• Pannier and handlebar bag (hybrid bike)
• Saddle bag (road bike)
• Water bottle
• Repair kit (spare tube, tool kit, patch kit, pump)

Pedals:
The bikes will have flat pedals. If you want to bring your own pedals, please bring your own shoes and also the necessary equipment to change the pedals.

Helmet:
A helmet is included with your bike rental, however, we do recommend that you bring you own helmet for saftey and hygiene reasons.

Tour Company