Journey to a place steeped in history and art. Explore Bayeux, where the world-famous tapestry tells the story of William the Conqueror’s invasion of England in 1066. Then head along the D-Day beaches, the scene of another invasion centuries later. Explore seaside resorts graced by elegant villas and follow in the footsteps of the Impressionists who flocked here in the 19th century. Feast on fruits de mer and sip Calvados, Normandy’s famous apple brandy.

Only Great Explorations:

  • Small groups, extraordinary guides, and authentic experiences.
  •  A ride you will never forget: each of the rides crafted to be a uniquely memorable experience.
  • Local expert guides for historic walks and visits.
  • Order off the menu at restaurants you won’t find in guidebooks.
  • Distinctive, charming hotels.
  • We design and operate our own trips so there are only good surprises.

Location

Bayeux

Bayeux, France

Starting Location

Omaha Beach

Omaha Beach

Day 3

Crepon

Crépon, France

Day 4

Cabourg

Cabourg, France

Day 5-6

Honfleur

Honfleur, France

End Location

What’s Included in the Cost of Your Trip?

INCLUDED IN REGULAR TRIP

Services of one or more experienced Great Explorations guides and support vehicle
7 nights lodging
All breakfasts, 2 lunches, and all dinners but 1
Entrance fees for selected historical sites and museums
Detailed map and route instructions
All baggage transportation (right to your room)
All transportation from initial meeting point to final drop-off (see arrive/depart cities)

Particulars

EVENT DATES

2023

Jun 6-13
Aug 19-26
Sep 6-13

2024

Jun 4-11
Aug 17-24
Sep 4-11

Trip can start at any date. Self-guided and custom trips also available. Call or email for details.

TRIP SIZE

4-16 participants

TOTAL DAYS

8 days / 7 nights

ARRIVE / DEPART

Bayeux / Honfleur

ACTIVITY LEVEL

Daily distance averaged 55 km (35 miles)

TERRAIN

Terrain is rolling hills with flat stretches

COST

Land Cost:
US $3,450
Includes 7B/2L/6D

Single Supplement:
US $860

Bike Rental:
US $325

E-Bike Rental:
US $560

E-bikes are generally available but are on an ‘on request basis ‘ and will be confirmed on receipt of your booking registration. E-bikes provided are the best rentals available in the region. Our regular fleet of hybrid and race bikes are fun to ride and light and fast, but if having an e-bike will make your trip, we’ll do our best to provide. E-bike rentals are non-refundable.  

Please note: Final itinerary is subject to revision; any changes made are done so in an attempt to provide the best possible trip given route conditions and available services. Due to the nature of our business and exchange rates, prices are subject to change. All prices quoted are U.S. dollars but we gladly accept payment in Canadian dollars also. Due to cancellations and waiting lists, trip availability fluctuates daily. If you have any questions or would like to confirm space on this trip before making your reservation, please contact us at info@great-explorations.com or by telephone at 604.730.1247

Additional information

DateJune, August, September

The trip starts in Bayeux, about 225 km west of Paris. There are several direct trains every day and the trip usually takes around two hours.


1

Day 1-2

Bayeux

Arrival in Bayeux, the first French town to be liberated in 1944. We’ll meet at 4:00 to fit bikes and enjoy a walking tour of the old town center. Next day, we’ll pedal south through the pretty countryside to the Abbaye de Mondaye, rebuilt in the 18th and 19th centuries. Continue to the Château de Balleroy, built in the 17th century and purchased in 1970 by the late Malcolm Forbes. Return to Bayeux with time to see the Bayeux tapestry, a remarkable piece of embroidery telling the tale of William of Normandy’s conquest of England in 1066.
Distance D2: 29 up to 62 km, elevation gain up to 277 m.*

2

Day 3

Omaha Beach

Today head for the Landing Beaches. Visit Arromanches, with the vestiges nearby of the artificial harbour built by the British, and the German artillery battery at Longues-sur-Mer, the only coastal battery that has kept its guns. Finally, arrive at Omaha Beach, the scene of a terrible battle, vividly recreated in the movie Saving Private Ryan. The military cemeteries are moving memorials to the heroism that took place here. Stay overnight in a hotel just meters from Omaha Beach.
Distance: 29 up to 60 km, elevation gain up to 235 m.*

3

Day 4

Crepon

Visit more D-Day sites along the coast today or follow a route that takes you along quite country roads further inland. Whichever option you choose, your destination is the village of Crépon, known for its fortified manor houses.
Distance: 51 km, elevation gain 235 m.*

4

Day 5-6

Cabourg

Cycle to Cabourg, a seaside resort developed in the second half of the 19th century. Marcel Proust stayed here often and left a vivid evocation of life in Cabourg in “À l’Ombre des Jeunes Filles”. Stroll along streets lined by magnificent villas and on the promenade along the beach. Next day we’ll head south into the Pays d’Auge, an area of pastures, thatched cottages, and farms that produce cider, calvados and Camembert, for which Normandy is famous. You’ll be able to sample some of these and other delicious produits du terroir in Beuvron-en-Auge, designated one of the plus beaux villages de France.
Distance D5: 48 km, elevation gain 138 m or 57 km, gain 176 m.
Distance D6: 41 km, elevation gain 278 m or 63 km, gain 414 m.*

5

Day 7

Honfleur

We’ll follow the Côte Fleurie, traveling in the footsteps of the Impressionist painters drawn here by the magical light and the sea. Arrive in Honfleur, once the haunt of artists such as Arthur Boudin and Claude Monet and home to composer Erik Satie. It was from Honfleur that Samuel de Champlain set sail on the voyage of discovery that resulting in the founding of Québec in 1608.
Distance: 37 km, elevation gain 281 m or 45 km, gain 385 m.*

6

Day 8

Take time for a final stroll around Honfleur before departing for your next adventure.

*Distance and elevation gains may vary depending on hotels chosen for specific departure

Hotel Churchill, Bayeux

Located on a pedestrian street in the heart of old Bayeux with the Tapestry just next door and the Cathedral a few steps away, the Hotel Churchill is the place to stay in the center of town. The staff is exceptionally helpful and friendly and the hotel boasts 32 charming and personalized rooms.


Hotel Ibis Port en Bessin, Port-en-Bessin

Located opposite the Port-en-Bessin fishing port, this hotel is the perfect home base for visiting historical Omaha Beach, the beach at Arromanches, the Bayeux tapestry or the Baron Gérard Museum.


Ferme Hotel La Ranconniere, Crepon

This 13th century manor and former farm has been restored to a quaint hotel, while maintaining the rustic feel. Cozy rooms have exposed beams and stonework, each personalized with 15th century furniture and fine rugs. The gourmet restaurant offers regional specialties made to order in an authentic medieval setting.


Villa les Bains, Houlgate

Located along the charming Rue des Bains, this quaint, modern hotel boasts a lovely location that’s only 2 minutes walk from the sandy beaches of Plage du Casino. From thier intimate patio enjoy the sunsets of the Cote Fleurie


Les Maisons de Lea, Honfleur

Spanning a converted stone-built warehouse, 16th-century townhouses, and separate cottages, this elegant hotel overlooks the cobbled streets of the town square. It’s a 1-minute walk from the harborfront, a 4-minute walk from the Musée de la Marine maritime museum and a 14-minute walk from Plage du Butin beach.



			

Trip Reviews

May 13, 2019

“The level of service by Sebastian and Dimitri was excellent. Both were very attentive, knowledgeable and flexible. They were personable and engaging. The specialized tour to do the Canadian war sites – battles, memorials and cemeteries – accommodated everyone’s interests. Juno Beach and Vimy were memorable but we really liked all the sites. Also the visit to the Benedictine Monastary was very interesting. The preparation (timing, purchasing of tickets, etc.) done by Sebastian and Dimitri made visits to the various sites seem effortless. We were very satisfied with the selection of restaurants and the food exceeded our expectations. Overall we were quite satisfied with the hotels. Some of the hotels were exceptional both in the rooms and in the overall property. We loved all the meals everywhere. We had some picnic lunches and the variety of food and snacks provided by Sebastian and Dimitri was outstanding. The maps & route instructions were easy to follow and the daily briefings were very much appreciated. We were able to discuss options and adjust the route and site visits depending on weather. Ride options were good but some distances were quite long. This was unavoidable due to our request to visit certain sites. There were more hills and steep climbs than expected. E-bikes were a definite asset for some. The van and guides were always available and the technical support was excellent. We noticed that Sebastian and Dimitri were in constant communication in meeting our needs. What did we enjoy most about our trip? Hard to say – scenery, site visits, food, wine, service, cohesiveness of the group – all great.”

May 12, 2019

“All aspects of the trip came together to make a very enjoyable and memorable tour. Our guides were exceptional and travelling with friends made everything easier and more fun. The area was extremely beautiful and although we had been through parts of it before many years ago, the opportunity to bike through the countryside and in historic towns and villages enhanced our experience greatly. The terrain was slightly more hilly than anticipated but a good challenge and for the most part, manageable. Ferme de la Ranconniere was exceptional. It was fun to have open air meals on occasion when weather and timings permitted. The Bayeux tour was exceptional and the guide extremely knowledgeable and entertaining. The cider tasting and Benedictine Abbey (DOM) were also very enjoyable. The historic sites were appreciated and for the most part very well done. Great bike – really appreciated having a lighter frame, particularly on the hills. The technical support provided by the guides was excellent. They were very thorough and helpful in fitting our bikes and rigorously tested our brakes before starting out every day. They loaded and unloaded the bikes efficiently whenever we needed to do transfers. The comradery of the group was exceptional and the guides fit in very well. Learning more about and seeing WWI and WWII sites was very moving and gave more meaning to those points in history. The cultural aspects of the tour were also extremely enjoyable – France is a beautiful country with delicious cuisine. Our drop-in at the community centre/coffee shop was very fun, particularly when Dimitri started playing the drums and one or two of the group started dancing. I personally enjoy active holidays so touring by bike was perfect. It was our first trip and I would like to do more. Having many of our meals and most of the tipping managed by Great Explorations made everything so much easier and also reduced the need to regularly visit bank machines or carry excessive amounts of cash.”

October 22, 2014

Normandy was a destination my sister and myself wanted to make in order to find our uncles grave at the Canadian cemetary. The guides helped to make this a memorable experience and even picked roses for us to place on the grave.

September 25, 2014

Great scenery, great food, great hotels plus history.

September 22, 2014

A well organized trip with two very capable leaders. Good hotels, good restaurants and good biking routes. The leaders went out of their way to accommodate our wishes. I will definitely recommend Great Explorations.

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