This year marks the 82nd anniversary of one of the most pivotal moments in World War II: D-Day. On the 6th of June, 1944, Allied forces launched a massive invasion on the beaches of Normandy, France. This monumental military operation, with thousands of troops storming ashore under heavy fire, signaled the beginning of the end for Nazi occupation in Western Europe. The successful amphibious assault established a crucial foothold, leading to the liberation of France and ultimately changing the course of the war. We invite you to join us on a memorial journey retracing the steps of the liberation of France and the restoration of freedom and peace in Europe.

Places of Remembrance:
Stand on the sands of Omaha and Utah Beaches, look out from the cliffs of Pointe du Hoc, walk among the headstones at the Normandy American Cemetery, and visit Sainte-Mère-Église—places where history, sacrifice, and memory remain powerfully present.

A Living Classroom:
Unpack for six nights at the peaceful Domaine de Bayeux, where each evening’s “mission prep” over wine and cheese frames the days ahead—connecting sites, sources, and strategy with care and intention.

Understanding the Why:
Go beyond the familiar narrative of D-Day to examine the decisions behind it: why the invasion waited, why Normandy was chosen, why German defenses failed, and how seemingly small details—down to a pair of women’s shoes—shaped the outcome of history’s longest day.

Allied Perspectives:
Explore the British and Canadian landings at Pegasus Bridge and the Sword, Juno, and Gold Beaches, situating Normandy within the full Allied effort and the global stakes of World War II.

Museums & Human Stories:
Visit exceptional D-Day museums in Caen and Arromanches and step inside the “Church of the Snagged Paratrooper” in Sainte-Mère-Église, where individual lives and quiet moments bring the scale of the operation into human focus.

Expert Leadership:
Led by Colonel Steve Hall, a longtime college lecturer in World War II history and a retired U.S. Air Force officer with 26 years of service. Detour alongside him to experience the same wind, taste the same salt, and view the same bluffs as the 156,000 troops who went ashore in Normandy—guided not just through what happened, but why it mattered.

We’ll meet at the Charles de Gaulle Airport, where we will rendevous with our private coach, and proceed west to the delightful town of Bayeux. We’ll unpack for the week at the charming Domaine de Bayeux, where a welcome reception will warm our travel-weary spirits with France’s beloved fruit of the vine and a feast of regional specialties.

Today we visit Pegasus Bridge, a key D-Day target. In a daring pre-dawn glider assault, British Airborne troops captured this vital crossing over the Orne River Canal, ensuring the success of Allied landings. Their speed and precision remain legendary. After lunch, we explore the Caen Memorial Museum, with its powerful exhibits on World War II and 20th-century conflicts. On our return to Bayeux, we’ll pass the British Sword and Gold beaches and the Canadian Juno Beach—sites of sacrifice and courage. We end the day with a wine and cheese gathering, sharing reflections before enjoying dinner together.

This morning we visit the German Military Cemetery at La Cambe, the final resting place for over 21,000 German soldiers. The serene grounds evoke a sense of reflection and remembrance, offering a poignant contrast to the turbulent history it represents. We then travel to Pont du Hoc, where U.S. Rangers scaled its steep cliffs under intense enemy fire to seize and secure vital German artillery positions. We end our day walking Omaha Beach, discussing one of the most intense battles the American troops would face to secure a critical foothold in the Allied invasion of Normandy.

Today we see (at low tide) what is arguably the greatest engineering artifice of the European war: the portable harbor at Arromanches. Two artificial harbors were fabricated in England and were floated to Normandy shortly after D-Day. This afternoon we will take a few centuries of a step back in time and pay a visit to the world-famous Bayeux Tapestry that chronicles William the Conqueror’s 1066 invasion of England—the first cross-channel invasion, but from a different direction. We’ll finish off the day by experiencing something no other tourist does, a guided tour of the stunning Cathedral and its gothic spires. .

This morning we visit the most meaningful of locales, the Normandy American Cemetery in the village of Colleville-sur-Mer. This solemn site is the final resting place for over 9,000 American soldiers. Each grave marker represents a story of bravery and selflessness, honoring those who made the ultimate sacrifice for freedom. The afternoon is free to explore Bayeux, the town we have come to call home by now. Roam its meandering streets, savor its rich coffee, indulge in its delectable croissants, and take more photos than our smart phones can manage. La vie est belle!

This morning we visit the superb open-air museum-park at Ste. Mere Eglise, dedicated to bravery of the U.S. troops invasion of Utah Beach. Paratroopers from the 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions were dropped behind enemy lines to secure key objectives and disrupt German defenses. Despite scattered landings and challenges navigating unfamiliar terrain, these courageous soldiers rallied swiftly, seizing crucial causeways and bridges, paving the way for the successful inland advance of Allied forces. Their daring actions and resilience played a vital role in the liberation of Normandy and marked a pivotal chapter in the success of the broader D-Day campaign.

We say au revoir to the Hotel Domain du Bayeux and head for Paris’ airport. We will stop at the delightful town of Poses for a leisurely luncheon on the Seine at L’Auberge du Halage. Savoring our final time together as a group, we’ll conduct our last debrief and answer any lingering questions about our detour through the D-Day invasion. We will continue to Charles de Gaulle airport for a final over-night.

Our detour ends after breakfast this morning. Make your way to the terminal, or to your next destination, but wherever you venture, tell the wonderful story of D-Day to others...they need to know this significant part of US and military history.