The Ultimate Normandy Vacation
Explore the historic region of Normandy over 8-days and 7-nights
Explore Normandy over eight days and seven nights, journeying from Paris to the chic Deauville coast and on to centuries-old Bayeux, Mont Saint-Michel, and the historic D-Day beaches. Indulge in local cider, cheeses, and seafood; marvel at Monet’s gardens in Giverny; and discover medieval Rouen—all while immersing yourself in the region’s storied past, from William the Conqueror to World War II.
Normandy 7-Night Trip from Paris
Price: Pricing variable based on number of travelers. ~$5,500 per person based on 2 pax. ~$3,500 a person based on 4 pax.
Duration: 8 days
Meeting Point: CDG airport or central Paris
Group Size: Varies
Availability: Tour is available year-round.
Group pricing available. 14 people? 40? We can do it. Contact us for details.
About This Tour
Included:
- CDG airport pickup and transfer to the Normandy coast
- 8 nights hotel, breakfast included each day
- Guide and transfer services throughout the trip
- All admissions for the activities described above
- Guide per diem
Not included:
- Meals (besides breakfast)
- Personal expenses
- Tip for your guide (recommended but not mandatory)
Normandy 7-Night Trip Itinierary
After landing in Paris, clients will be personally greeted at Charles de Gaulle airport and brought to Deauville for the first part of their Normandy adventure.
Day 1 – Welcome to France and Normandy
Your Ultimate Normandy Vacation begins! Check in for 2 nights at 4-star Normandie Barriere. Free time and dinner on your own. Time to recharge with a good nights rest.
Day 2 – Fecamp and Honfleur
While this is considered the fanciest coastline in France (yes even more than the Cote d’Azur), with famed horse breeders just inland and fast trains and jets from Paris bringing in the glitterati for the yearly film festival, the so-called Flowery Coast has attracted notable artists for more than a century.
Your first full day you will drive to Fecamp, to experience the white cliffs that match those at Dover. Making your way back down the coast, it’s on to Honfleur, to see the multicolored houses of the old port that inspired Claude Monet and Gustave Courbet and formed the basis of Impressionism.
Lunch at Huitre Brulee – Normandy oysters in a lively local café.
After lunch, a visit of the quirky Satie Museum, dedicated to this offbeat and prolific local artist. Then a quick walk along the Old Port.
Return to Deauville. Overnight. Dinner suggested at L’Essential. This haute-cuisine yet friendly establishment is just a block’s walk from the hotel, near a quiet inlet yacht dock. With one-Michelin-star the restaurant offers a fresh Normandy seafood menu with a subtle Asian twist.
Day 3 – Deauville and Bayeux
Deauville – Morning historical tour of Deauville and Trouville, then head inland to Pont-l’Eveque and Cormeille to learn about delicious Calvados, Normandy’s famous apple brandy.
Lunch at Creperie Bar Mont Mirel. Crepes were invented in Brittany/Normandy and embraced in Paris. Eat them here at the source!
Then see the Busnel tasting room dedicated to Calvados spirits. This 200-year-old distillery offers distinctive tastings in the lovely Pays d’Auge countryside.
Finish with a visit to an AOC Camembert dairy farm and Camembert tasting….just outside the village of Camembert. (A visit to Neufchatel or Pont-l-Eveque can be chosen in case Camembert is just not to taste.)
Note: The AOC marking stands for Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée, which translates to “Controlled Designation of Origin”, a designation that assures French food products are from the correct region. It’s a big deal in France.
Drive to Bayeux for check-in at the wonderful Domaine de Bayeux , a converted 18th century mansion in this charming medieval canal town. Famous for being the first town liberated in 1944, Bayeux is a natural jumping-off point for touring the D-Day beaches and Mont Saint Michel. Suggested local dinner at Michelin-starred La Rapiere, or at the rustic Lion d’Or.
Day 4 – Mont St. Michel
Your Normandy vacation continues on day four with a morning drive to Mont St. Michel, the incredible monastery is considered a world wonder. Beginning in the 12th century, Bishop Aubert—a medieval monk guided by a vision of Saint Michael—strove to realize his dream of building a monastery on a rock amongst the roiling tides of the North Atlantic. It took centuries. Your guide will show you the ins and outs of the abbey and the village below.
Enjoy an omelet lunch at the Mere Poulard, or choice of a gourmand lunch nearby with a stunning view of the Mont.
Return to Bayeux for a tour of the town and the Bayeux Tapestry, which chronicles the fascinating story of William the Conqueror and the Battle of Hastings in 1066.
Day 5 – Normandy D-Day Tour
The stunning story of the D-Day invasion begins with a short drive to Sainte-Mère-Église. The so-called “longest day” began with pre-dawn parachute drops in and around this sleepy town. Your day carries on to see both Utah and Omaha Beach, with a lunch stop at a charming seaside café.
The afternoon brings you to Arromanches Harbor, Pointe du Hoc and finishes with Taps at the American Cemetery at Colleville sur Mer. Please note if their is any family connection to the battle and it will be highlighted by the guide, if desired.
Overnight in Bayeux. For dinner, consider La Pommière or the Michelin-starred dining room at La Chènevière, a converted mansion just outside town that served as Nazi headquarters during the Occupation and Allied HQ during the Liberation.
Day 6 – Visit Rouen
Check out and drive to the city of Rouen for a walking tour of the medieval section, with a stop at the Cathedral. Learn the story of heroic Jean d’Arc, the 14 year old girl who inspired the French to defeat the English during the Hundred Years War.
Lunch at Brasserie Paul. After, check in to Hotel Bourgtherolde, near the cathedral. For those touring July through September, the nightly cathedral light show can be seen from the hotel or from the nearby square.
Afternoon tour of the Museum of Fine Arts of Rouen, featuring 15th century masters, and of course cathedral paintings by Monet.
Day 7 – Monet, Giverny and Paris
Drive to Giverny for a tour of the house and gardens at Vernon. Claude Monet was a celebrated Parisian artist when he left for the country and made his home a paradise of gardens and exuberant decorating. Get to know his world, and then enjoy lunch along the Seine at le Jardin des Plumes, right next to the gardens. An acclaimed Normandy chef elevates rustic cuisine in a gorgeous setting.
Afternoon drive to Paris and visit of the Musee de la Liberation, a new museum dedicated to the story of the Resistance fighters and life under the Nazi occupation of Paris. Option to substitute the Musee d’Orsay or the Louvre. Drop-off at Hotel of choice in Paris (not included).
Night on your own in Paris.
Day 8 – Transfer to Charles de Gaulle and Home
Private transfer to CDG or ORLY from your Paris hotel. Guide services end.