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.