

Daily Mileage: 3-5 Miles Daily
7 Days
Starting From
$5,048
10 Days
Starting From
$5,998
per person, double occupancy
Want more from your experience?
Add an ExtensionAs you step onto the causeway, the Benedictine monastery of Mont St. Michel rises like a pyramid from the sand flats ahead, its steeple piercing the midday sky. So continues the lineup of iconic sights this Normandy and Brittany walking tour along France’s spectacular north coast. One day, you’re wandering Étretat’s seaside bluffs, taking in the spectacular rock arches straight out of a Monet painting. The next, your guide is bringing World War II history alive on the sands of Omaha Beach. Along the way, decadent picnics featuring local cheeses, pastries, and cider, as well as meals in out-of-the-way restaurants, showcase the breadth of Norman and Breton cuisine. A walk across tidal flats leads to hidden nesting grounds for egrets, ducks, and marine seagulls. Best of all: you’re exploring with warm and welcoming locals who call this exceptional region home.
Itinerary
Fri, May 27 to Sun, Jun 5 - 2022
Show Itinerary:
All you have to do is get to the airport. On our Flight + Tour Combos, we’ll take care of the rest, handling all the logistics, so you can travel with peace of mind. Spend your first night aloft and arrive refreshed for an unforgettable trip.
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Start off your first day in Paris right by having a Country Walkers representative greet you at the airport. A complimentary car service will whisk you to your centrally located hotel. From here, you are perfectly positioned to explore this charming city at your leisure.
3-4 miles, easy to moderate
After enjoying an included breakfast at your hotel your Country Walkers representative meets you at the Hôtel Splendid Étoile at 8:00 a.m. in the lobby. The tour begins with a two-hour drive to Normandy.
Depart Paris and begin an approximately two-hour drive to Normandy. Your first stop in this region of northern France is the Manoir d’Apreval, a family-owned estate surrounded by an abundant apple orchard with 17 varieties of apples. The estate specializes in making cider and Calvados liqueur. At harvest time, a restored press is used to make cider, which eventually becomes Calvados after aging in oak barrels.
After a tour of the estate and a buffet lunch, you leave the Manoir d’Apreval on foot, entering the Bois du Breuil, a nature reserve. A forest trail alternates with views of the Seine Estuary and country lanes, bordered by Normandy’s famous hedgerows. About one mile from Honfleur, you reach the Notre Dame de Grâce Chapel, a pilgrimage site for local fishermen adorned with message plaques from sailors and their families. You descend into Honfleur, taking in broad views that extend over the Seine River as it flows out to sea and the modern Normandy Bridge, linking Honfleur with the port of Le Havre. Famous 19th-century painters, such as Claude Monet and Gustave Courbet, depicted many of these same views.
Passing Honfleur’s slate-shingled houses, you reach your enchanting hotel in the heart of town. Reconvene for dinner in the restaurant of your charming hotel, where the food reflects the fertile countryside and nearby coast. Monks in Normandy began developing the area’s famous cheeses as early as the 11th century, and dinners (as well as your picnic lunches this week) may conclude with a rich Pont l’Évêque, Livarot, or, the best-known cheese, Camembert.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
4 miles, easy to moderate
Awaken in the comfort of your historic hotel and enjoy a breakfast of fresh fruit and homemade baked goods with jam. You drive through the beautiful countryside of Pays de Caux, to the start of the day’s walk. Your trail gently descends through an oak forest and into an open landscape of pasture and gorse along the dramatic coastline of “La Manche”—the English Channel. You soon have your first views of the towering cliffs and rock formations of Étretat, a favorite subject of the Impressionist painter Claude Monet.
You walk along the trail that takes you on the top of the cliffs and toward the famous Manneporte rock arch, the Porte d’Aval, and the Aiguille or “needle.” The 19th-century French author Guy de Maupassant spent a good part of his childhood in the small fishing and resort town of Étretat.
Upon returning to your hotel, you have time to relax, and perhaps even indulge in a spa treatment or hammam on site before dinner on your own in Honfleur. There are plenty of restaurants to choose from, ranging from gourmet meals to a local crêperie.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
2.5 miles, easy
Today’s itinerary calls for minimal walking as the day’s main focus is visiting the D-Day beaches and the American Military Cemetery. You first drive to a view over Arromanches, a resort town with a sandy beach but no natural harbor, which became one of the world’s busiest ports in June 1944. It was here that Winston Churchill’s idea of using prefabricated floating ports was implemented for the Battle of Normandy, until the existing ports could be liberated from the Germans. From the town of Arromanches, you walk along a short stretch of beach up to the cliffs as your guide begins a discussion of the D-Day landings.
After lunch in a local restaurant, you walk along the sands of Omaha Beach to the American Military Cemetery, where 9,387 American soldiers are buried. The Star of David or a white cross marks each of the graves—this is the first American World War II cemetery on European soil. Your guide provides context about the battle, explaining why the casualties along Omaha Beach were far worse than at other locations along the D-Day beaches. Here, Allied soldiers ran inland toward the German positions on the nearby ridge.
After a moving visit to the American Military Cemetery, you travel to the remote Cotentin Peninsula, which traces its name to the 4th-century Roman Emperor Constantius Chlorus. It is an enchanting area with unspoiled stretches of rocky coastline, sheltering tranquil bays and quaint villages. You are warmly welcomed at your charming seaside hotel in the town of Barneville-Carteret, two coastal resort towns separated by a river estuary. Nearby, the British island of Jersey is just off the coast.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
5 miles, easy to moderate
This morning, you wake to the sound of seabirds and the smell of the salty air. The hotel’s harborside location permits a stroll on your own before breakfast. Today, a short drive brings you to La Hague (literally “high cape”), the Cotentin Peninsula’s westernmost point. This area of Normandy is a picturesque place with granite cliffs, small coves, and green fields. Setting off on a bracing walk along a coastal trail lined with wildflowers, you are graced with views of the British isle of Alderney, the closest Channel Island to the French coast. The small harbor of Goury is near some of the strongest water currents in Europe. Built in 1834, the Phare de Goury, Goury’s lighthouse, signals the local current called the Raz Blanchard. After a picnic lunch of cured meats, cheeses, breads, and pastries, you continue walking to the Nez de Jobourg, a rocky promontory. This evening, you dine on your own in the charming port town of Barneville-Carteret.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
3 miles, easy to moderate
Today’s itinerary takes you from Normandy into Brittany, starting with a drive towards the Baie du Mont St. Michel, known for its extreme tides. The trip provides a panoramic view of the bay and the pyramid-shaped island monastery of Mont St. Michel. Tombelaine Island, a protected sanctuary for nesting shell ducks, marine and brown seagulls, and white egrets, lies opposite the almost fantastical Mont St. Michel. After a short (one-hour) walk along the coast, you continue to the monastery—one of the most impressive constructions of the Middle Ages, a quintessential image of northern France, and a UNESCO World Heritage site. You cross the causeway to the small island just a half-mile off the coast, where your guide leads you through the narrow back streets, winding your way to the top of the mount at the door of the Benedictine Abbey, dating from the 8th century. The majority of the buildings here were built, however, in the 11th century, and the church’s main facade dates from the 12th century. You learn about the lives of medieval monks and village life, with an emphasis on the island’s extraordinarily well-preserved architecture.
Afterward, you travel to your home for the next two nights in Saint Malo, Brittany, a medieval fortified city that was once the home of French “corsair” privateers, as well as Jacques Cartier, considered the first European explorer of Canada. Today, it is a popular seaside resort, with a long sandy beach and promenade leading to the granite city walls. Your oceanfront hotel is perfectly located to stroll along the promenade or to Saint Malo’s old town. After checking in, your guides will provide recommendations for dinner on your own.
Included Meals: Breakfast
5 miles, easy to moderate
Today’s walk takes place on the westernmost tip of the Bay du Mont St. Michel along the Pointe du Grouin, a windswept headland with expansive views north to the Chausey Islands and west along the coast toward Saint Malo. Fifteen miles to the east, Mont St. Michel appears as a speck on the horizon. A German pillbox coastal fortification now serves as an ornithological observatory looking over a bird sanctuary island. The coastal path winds into a string of tiny coves, some with little ports tucked into them.
Later this afternoon, stroll the ramparts of Saint Malo, past the mast-filled port, perhaps pausing to visit La Maison de Corsaire or The Great Aquarium which houses more than 600 species. Or relax by the hotel pool or in the hamman (Turkish bath).
Tonight, celebrate the week’s adventures at a sumptuous farewell dinner at your hotel’s fine dining restaurant.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Departing Brittany for Paris, you stop en route in the charming town of Bayeux, a settlement since the 1st century BC, which has remained an important town in the Normandy region and was virtually untouched during the Battle of Normandy. Here, you visit the fabulous Bayeux Tapestry, which was probably commissioned in the 1070s and depicts the 1066 Norman conquest of England. The tapestry shows, scene by scene, the story of William the Conqueror and Harold, Earl of Wessex, the men who led the Norman and Saxon armies in 1066. William’s defeat of Harold at the Battle of Hastings ensured the success of the Norman invasion of England. Despite its name, this priceless treasure is not a true tapestry, but rather a 230-foot-long embroidered cloth.
After lunch in town on your own, you continue on to Paris. (Dinner is on your own.)
Included Meals: Breakfast
After an included breakfast this morning, complimentary transportation is provided to Charles de Gaulle International Airport based on your departure time.
Included Meals: Breakfast
Sun, May 29 to Sat, Jun 4 - 2022
Show Itinerary:
3-4 miles, easy to moderate
Your Country Walkers representative meets you at the Hôtel Splendid Étoile at 8:00 a.m. in the lobby. The tour begins with a drive to Normandy.
Depart Paris and begin an approximately two-hour drive to Normandy. Your first stop in this region of northern France is the Manoir d’Apreval, a family-owned estate surrounded by an abundant apple orchard with 17 varieties of apples. The estate specializes in making cider and Calvados liqueur. At harvest time, a restored press is used to make cider, which eventually becomes Calvados after aging in oak barrels.
After a tour of the estate and a buffet lunch, you leave the Manoir d’Apreval on foot, entering the Bois du Breuil, a nature reserve. A forest trail alternates with views of the Seine Estuary and country lanes, bordered by Normandy’s famous hedgerows. About one mile from Honfleur, you reach the Notre Dame de Grâce Chapel, a pilgrimage site for local fishermen adorned with message plaques from sailors and their families. You descend into Honfleur, taking in broad views that extend over the Seine River as it flows out to sea and the modern Normandy Bridge, linking Honfleur with the port of Le Havre. Famous 19th-century painters, such as Claude Monet and Gustave Courbet, depicted many of these same views.
Passing Honfleur’s slate-shingled houses, you reach your enchanting hotel in the heart of town. Reconvene for dinner in the restaurant of your charming hotel, where the food reflects the fertile countryside and nearby coast. Monks in Normandy began developing the area’s famous cheeses as early as the 11th century, and dinners (as well as your picnic lunches this week) may conclude with a rich Pont l’Évêque, Livarot, or, the best-known cheese, Camembert.
Included Meals: Lunch, Dinner
4 miles, easy to moderate
Awaken in the comfort of your historic hotel and enjoy a breakfast of fresh fruit and homemade baked goods with jam. You drive through the beautiful countryside of Pays de Caux, to the start of the day’s walk. Your trail gently descends through an oak forest and into an open landscape of pasture and gorse along the dramatic coastline of “La Manche”—the English Channel. You soon have your first views of the towering cliffs and rock formations of Étretat, a favorite subject of the Impressionist painter Claude Monet.
You walk along the trail that takes you on the top of the cliffs and toward the famous Manneporte rock arch, the Porte d’Aval, and the Aiguille or “needle.” The 19th-century French author Guy de Maupassant spent a good part of his childhood in the small fishing and resort town of Étretat.
Upon returning to your hotel, you have time to relax, and perhaps even indulge in a spa treatment or hammam on site before dinner on your own in Honfleur. There are plenty of restaurants to choose from, ranging from gourmet meals to a local crêperie.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
2.5 miles, easy
Today’s itinerary calls for minimal walking as the day’s main focus is visiting the D-Day beaches and the American Military Cemetery. You first drive to a view over Arromanches, a resort town with a sandy beach but no natural harbor, which became one of the world’s busiest ports in June 1944. It was here that Winston Churchill’s idea of using prefabricated floating ports was implemented for the Battle of Normandy, until the existing ports could be liberated from the Germans. From the town of Arromanches, you walk along a short stretch of beach up to the cliffs as your guide begins a discussion of the D-Day landings.
After lunch in a local restaurant, you walk along the sands of Omaha Beach to the American Military Cemetery, where 9,387 American soldiers are buried. The Star of David or a white cross marks each of the graves—this is the first American World War II cemetery on European soil. Your guide provides context about the battle, explaining why the casualties along Omaha Beach were far worse than at other locations along the D-Day beaches. Here, Allied soldiers ran inland toward the German positions on the nearby ridge.
After a moving visit to the American Military Cemetery, you travel to the remote Cotentin Peninsula, which traces its name to the 4th-century Roman Emperor Constantius Chlorus. It is an enchanting area with unspoiled stretches of rocky coastline, sheltering tranquil bays and quaint villages. You are warmly welcomed at your charming seaside hotel in the town of Barneville-Carteret, two coastal resort towns separated by a river estuary. Nearby, the British island of Jersey is just off the coast.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
5 miles, easy to moderate
This morning, you wake to the sound of seabirds and the smell of the salty air. The hotel’s harborside location permits a stroll on your own before breakfast. Today, a short drive brings you to La Hague (literally “high cape”), the Cotentin Peninsula’s westernmost point. This area of Normandy is a picturesque place with granite cliffs, small coves, and green fields. Setting off on a bracing walk along a coastal trail lined with wildflowers, you are graced with views of the British isle of Alderney, the closest Channel Island to the French coast. The small harbor of Goury is near some of the strongest water currents in Europe. Built in 1834, the Phare de Goury, Goury’s lighthouse, signals the local current called the Raz Blanchard. After a picnic lunch of cured meats, cheeses, breads, and pastries, you continue walking to the Nez de Jobourg, a rocky promontory. This evening, you dine on your own in the charming port town of Barneville-Carteret.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
3 miles, easy to moderate
Today’s itinerary takes you from Normandy into Brittany, starting with a drive towards the Baie du Mont St. Michel, known for its extreme tides. The trip provides a panoramic view of the bay and the pyramid-shaped island monastery of Mont St. Michel. Tombelaine Island, a protected sanctuary for nesting shell ducks, marine and brown seagulls, and white egrets, lies opposite the almost fantastical Mont St. Michel. After a short (one-hour) walk along the coast, you continue to the monastery—one of the most impressive constructions of the Middle Ages, a quintessential image of northern France, and a UNESCO World Heritage site. You cross the causeway to the small island just a half-mile off the coast, where your guide leads you through the narrow back streets, winding your way to the top of the mount at the door of the Benedictine Abbey, dating from the 8th century. The majority of the buildings here were built, however, in the 11th century, and the church’s main facade dates from the 12th century. You learn about the lives of medieval monks and village life, with an emphasis on the island’s extraordinarily well-preserved architecture.
Afterward, you travel to your home for the next two nights in Saint Malo, Brittany, a medieval fortified city that was once the home of French “corsair” privateers, as well as Jacques Cartier, considered the first European explorer of Canada. Today, it is a popular seaside resort, with a long sandy beach and promenade leading to the granite city walls. Your oceanfront hotel is perfectly located to stroll along the promenade or to Saint Malo’s old town. After checking in, your guides will provide recommendations for dinner on your own.
Included Meals: Breakfast
5 miles, easy to moderate
Today’s walk takes place on the westernmost tip of the Bay du Mont St. Michel along the Pointe du Grouin, a windswept headland with expansive views north to the Chausey Islands and west along the coast toward Saint Malo. Fifteen miles to the east, Mont St. Michel appears as a speck on the horizon. A German pillbox coastal fortification now serves as an ornithological observatory looking over a bird sanctuary island. The coastal path winds into a string of tiny coves, some with little ports tucked into them.
Later this afternoon, stroll the ramparts of Saint Malo, past the mast-filled port, perhaps pausing to visit La Maison de Corsaire or The Great Aquarium which houses more than 600 species. Or relax by the hotel pool or in the hamman (Turkish bath).
Tonight, celebrate the week’s adventures at a sumptuous farewell dinner at your hotel’s fine dining restaurant.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Departing Brittany for Paris, you stop en route in the charming town of Bayeux, a settlement since the 1st century BC, which has remained an important town in the Normandy region and was virtually untouched during the Battle of Normandy. Here, you visit the fabulous Bayeux Tapestry, which was probably commissioned in the 1070s and depicts the 1066 Norman conquest of England. The tapestry shows, scene by scene, the story of William the Conqueror and Harold, Earl of Wessex, the men who led the Norman and Saxon armies in 1066. William’s defeat of Harold at the Battle of Hastings ensured the success of the Norman invasion of England. Despite its name, this priceless treasure is not a true tapestry, but rather a 230-foot-long embroidered cloth.
After lunch in town on your own, you continue to the tour’s conclusion in Paris.
Included Meals: Breakfast
Hôtel Splendid Étoile
Set in a perfect location in the 17th arrondissement, literally steps away from the Arc de Triomphe, the Hôtel Splendid Étoile offers classic décor and four-star comfort in a quintessentially Parisian 19th-century building. Tastefully decorated guest rooms are air conditioned from mid-April to mid-October. An elegant, wood-paneled bar and fine-dining restaurant are on site. The Champs Élysées, major subway lines, and other Paris sites are within easy walking distance.
Les Maisons de Léa
This charming hotel in the heart of Honfleur, just opposite Saint Catherine’s church, is a restored complex made up of a salt warehouse and three 16th-century houses. It features plush, individually decorated, non-airconditioned rooms and inviting common areas with warm colors and antiques. On-site amenities include a gourmet restaurant and a hammam-type steam room.
Hôtel-Restaurant les Ormes
An intimate, family-run hotel on the waterfront in the small harbor town of Barneville-Carteret, the Hôtel-Restaurant les Ormes has light-filled guestrooms, individually decorated with warm furnishings and fabrics (rooms are naturally cooled without air conditioning). A welcoming lounge, luxuriant terrace garden, bar, and fine-dining restaurant are on site, and the quaint town center and waterfront are just steps away.
Hôtel Le Nouveau Monde
This stylish and welcoming 4-star hotel on the oceanfront promenade of Saint Malo has plush, light-filled guest rooms in soft tones with high-quality fabrics throughout. The hotel’s décor is tastefully inspired by the city’s seafaring history. On site are a fine-dining, sea-view restaurant, bar and tea room, pool, spa with two treatment rooms (available upon request), pool with underwater jets, steam room, and solarium.
2022 Post-Tour Extension - Paris
2 Nights From $448
per person, double occupancy
Single Supplement: From $398
After a delicious included breakfast at your hotel, you are free to explore on your own, using our included city information packet to guide your discoveries.
Included Meals: Breakfast
After a delicious included breakfast at your hotel, you are free to explore on your own, using our included city information packet to guide your discoveries.
Included Meals: Breakfast
After your included breakfast this morning, complimentary transportation is provided to Charles de Gaulle International Airport based on your departure time.
Included Meals: Breakfast
What's Included | Flight + Tour Combo | Tour Only |
---|---|---|
Exceptional boutique accommodations | ||
13 on-tour meals: 6 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 3 dinners | ||
Local guides with you throughout tour | ||
Local wine and/or beer with dinner | ||
Entrance fees and special events as noted in the itinerary | ||
Travel assistance available 24/7 provided by Allianz Global Assistance | ||
Telescopic walking sticks provided on tour | ||
Roundtrip airfare | ||
Two extra nights in Paris, France (one pre-tour and one post-tour) | ||
Airport car service for arrival and departure | ||
Pre- and post-tour breakfasts | ||
Business-class upgrades available |
Dates & Prices
Departing Airport :
Select Year :
Flight + Tour Combo
10 days, includes round-trip international airfare , airport shuttle, and additional hotel nights with included breakfast.
Single Supplement: From $1,298
Fri, Jun 10 - Sun, Jun 19, 2022
From
$5,998
Per person, double occupancy
Reserve OnlineSelect Year :
Tour Only
7 Days. Includes walking vacation only.
Single Supplement: From $948
For more information, call: 800-245-3868
Please note: Special savings cannot be combined with any other offer. Standard Terms & Conditions apply when purchasing this trip. Prices include all airline surcharges and Government taxes and fees. Ask our Tour Consultants for details. Every effort has been made to produce this information accurately. We reserve the right to correct errors. Prices are based on preferences selected above, including meals and sightseeing as specified in What’s Included. All prices are subject to change. Departure dates and prices shown may be updated several times daily, and apply to new bookings only.
This is of course a trip that everyone should make if only to see Omaha beach and learn about WWII, but there is so much more to the trip. Great food, great guides, great hikes.
Deborah11, Tennessee
France: Normandy & Brittany
Thank you for an amazing time Loved each day along the cliffs And appreciating the French
The Wagner explorers, West Palm Beach Florida
France: Normandy & Brittany
Experience your destination like an insider with people who call it home.
Vero Marget
Born in Beauvais, north of Paris, Veronique Marget grew up spending a good deal of time on the coast, where her grandparents had a house on the cliffs of Normandy. Now living in Provence, Veronique has never tired of the many beautiful regions of France, so many known for their strong and unique culture and customs. Some of Vero’s many interests include knitting, sewing, gardening, calligraphy, ballet, bookbinding, and cooking for friends and family.
Corinne Jouin
Born in Rouen, Corinne Jouin has been working as a guide since 1994, including being certified as a hiking guide in the Chamonix Valley. In addition to fulfilling her career goal of working in the outdoors, she has traveled and lived abroad for part of her life, and especially enjoys returning to her roots to visit her family in Normandy & Brittany, where she boats along the Baie de Somme, bikes along the coast of Brittany, and hikes in Arromanches Bay with her husband and children. Originally trained as a graphic designer, she applies her creativity to the Swiss folk art of silhouette paper cutting, and also enjoys exploring the Alps and visiting historical sites throughout France with her family.
Claire Thioliere
A native of Chamonix, Claire Thiolière spent months during her youth vacationing in Normandy thanks to her parents’ passion for the local history of Honfleur, Mont Saint-Michel, and the Cotentin Peninsula. She also traveled extensively in her youth throughout Africa before returning to France where she received a Master’s degree in Geography and Geomorphology. She is a certified guide who has been leading people throughout the Alps for more than 25 years and has also led groups along the Norman coast when not sailing that same coast herself! An avid hiker and skier, Claire’s enthusiasm extends to the impressionist painters whose artistic movement was born in Le Havre, as well as French literature, architecture, and gastronomy.
Sophie Josse
Born and raised between Brittany and the Loire Valley. Sophie Josse attended university in Angers where she studied languages. With a goal of seeing the world, she has spent her adult life working in the travel industry in various capacities, including as a guide to English-speaking guests from around the world! When not leading trips, Sophie enjoys running, biking, and skiing with her husband.
Bruno Latulippe
Bruno Latulippe grew up in Canada and travelled the world after earning a degree in marketing and before settling down in France and marrying his wife, Sophie Josse, a fellow guide and native of Brittany. With over 20 years’ experience working in tourism, Bruno loves sharing his passion for history and culture with guests from around the world. When not on tour, you can usually find Bruno catching up on his reading, skiing, or riding his bike through the French countryside (with Sophie, of course!).
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