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Normandy, Mont. St. Michele
Mont-St-Michel to D-Day Beaches

Normandy & Brittany Cultural Walking Tour

6 DaysStarting at $6,625
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Overview

Come home from one of our tours of Normandy and Brittany and you’ll tell everyone you know about the day you walked to Mont-St.-Michel. The cathedral-capped island floats on water—at least until the epic tide recedes to reveal the sandy seabed. Then, as the faithful have done for centuries, we make the pilgrimage on foot to one of France’s most glorious landmarks. True, the provinces of Brittany and Normandy have their apple orchards and salt-meadow sheep flocks and picture-book villages deep in the woods. And we’ve planned beautiful walks among them. But like the people and history of this region, we always seem to come back to the sea. To explore coastlines that have seen invasions from Iron Age Celts to D-Day’s Allied Forces. To stroll in quaint ports that launched the Norman conquest of the British Isles. And to feast in restaurants where great platters of fresh oysters, lobsters and Coquilles St.-Jacques are standard fare. So much beauty, in the shadow of so much history, warmed by a lively hospitality makes this a truly unforgettable journey. 

Classic Journeys provides unbeatable access to experiences around the globe.”
Travel + Leisure

Itinerary Highlights

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  • Explore the famed UNESCO World Heritage Site, Mont St. Michel, on an ‘only with Classic Journeys’ excursion across the low tides. Soak in this memorable experience, on foot at eye level, as you immerse yourself in this island's rich history.
  • Savor the seafood along the panoramic coast of Cancale, stopping to visit an oyster farm.
  • Enjoy an 'only with Classic Journeys' private cooking instruction, dining on your homemade crêpes and galettes for lunch.
  • Take a specially curated walk along Omaha Beach, experiencing what it was like for allied soldiers to arrive at these cliffs and beaches.
  • Stroll through the classic Norman countryside with its apple orchards, wooded valleys, dairy farms, and quaint villages.
  • Visit a family-owned distillery to taste Calvados, sipping on the legendary apple brandy.
  • Marvel at the legendary 230-foot Bayeux tapestry for an up-close look at 11th-century history.
  • Explore Honfleur, the birthplace of Impressionism, with a lovely portside walk with magnificent views from the Cote de Grace chapel.
Download Full Daily Itinerary

Map

  • Starting Point:

    St. Malo – 10:00 am – Le Nouveau Monde Hotel & Spa lobby

  • Ending Point:

    Deauville – 12:00 pm – Trouville-Deauville Rail Station
Itinerary Map

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Walking Level

  • Daily Mileage Options: 2-8 miles

  • Route Notes:

    The terrain on this trip includes a mix of paved and cobblestone streets in Honfleur, Bayeaux, St. Malo and other villages; as well as well-maintained countryside, coastal, beach and riverside trails of compressed dirt and stone. The footpaths offer a selection of level, rolling and hilly terrain with some limited elevation gain and loss.
To See Mileage Daily, Download Full Itinerary

Dates & Prices

The earlier you book, the more choice you’ll have and the lower your price. And you can always change your mind — you won’t be charged to transfer to a different trip before your final payment is due. Talk with one of our travel experts at 800-200-3887.

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Family Departure

Select our “Family Departure” to travel with other families.

Hotels

We spend years cultivating personal relationships with our hoteliers to provide you thoughtfully selected accommodations that reveal the true character of the region. Here is a sampling of our favorite hotels on this tour. 

Le Nouveau Monde Hotel & Spa

Set near the ancient city walls in the heart of town, this property offers wonderful views of the tidal beaches and rooms decorated in soothing contemporary style. Facilities include a spa, a steam room and a jetted indoor pool.

Château la Chenevière

You live the gracious chateau life in this magnificent residence built in the 18th century. It sits in an impressive 30-acre park with rose gardens and a heated outdoor pool. The rooms blend classic charm and modern comfort.

Manoir des Impressionistes - Manoir

Le Manoir des Impressionnistes

Le Manoir des Impressionnistes is a beautiful 5-star hotel situated by the sea in Honfleur. Built in the 18th century, this picturesque property features fine dining, a spa retreat, and manicured gardens.

Le Manoir des Impressionnistes

Le Manoir des Impressionnistes is a beautiful 5-star hotel situated by the sea in Honfleur. Built in the 18th century, this picturesque property features fine dining, a spa retreat, and manicured gardens.

What’s Included

  • Meals: All breakfasts, three lunches, and three dinners.
  • Hotels: Award-winning boutique properties, thoughtfully selected for their exceptional location, design, history, and regional character.
  • Tour Leader(s): Expert guides who are your well-connected local friends and provide you access to people and places you wouldn’t find on your own.
  • Supplemental Experts: Additional regional guides and specialists on select tours.
  • Transportation: All land transportation as listed in the daily itinerary, including fares for trains, ferries, and other modes of travel.
  • Perfect Pairings Dinner: A special dinner prepared by one of our favorite chefs with a procession of wines tailored to each course.
  • Privileged Access Events: One-of-a-kind access to remarkable people, places, and experiences arranged just for you, as noted in the daily itinerary.
  • Admissions & Entry Fees: Entry to tastings, historic sites, and other scheduled activities listed in the daily itinerary.
  • Baggage Transfers: Upon arrival, we whisk you and your bags directly to your room—no waiting, no tipping.
  • Gratuities: All gratuities at hotels, restaurants, and for baggage handling.
  • Dedicated Guest Services Coordinator: Your pre-trip concierge and tour expert, available to answer questions and ensure you’re fully ready to get the most out of your tour.
Not Included: Tour Leader gratuities, travel to and from your trip’s start and end points, and any meals or activities taken independently.

Why Choose Classic Journeys

Travel + Leisure has awarded Classic Journeys the #1 World’s Best Tour Operator multiple times and says, "Classic Journeys provides unbeatable access to experiences around the globe." Here’s what that access means for you.

  • Experience the world on foot and at eye level. Each day, join your guide on the most cinematic footpaths in the region.
  • Exceptional full-time local guides who become your well-connected friend. Our amazing guides are with you throughout each day of the tour, share their lifelong connections as well as engaging anecdotes about the history and culture of the region.
  • Small groups that provide you unrivaled access. An average of fewer than 10 guests per departure means we can offer you special access to sites like Stonehenge so you experience the stone circle when it’s closed to the general public, a guided visit to Zion Narrows that other companies cannot arrange because of larger group sizes, and vineyard walks with a count and countess in Tuscany.
  • Award-winning hotels are waiting for you at the end of every day. Luxuriate in the finest and most distinctive accommodations in the region you’re exploring, including rainforest lodges, 16th century villas, and award-winning properties that show up on World’s Best and Gold lists.
  • Eat like (and with) the locals. Food is a foolproof way into the hearts, homes and history of the places you visit with us. From gourmet picnics to coveted local restaurants, our meals offer you opportunities to explore native food traditions and fine dining.
  • Handcrafted itineraries with all activities included. With our long-term friendships, we know our walking tour regions more personally than anyone else. So you get thoughtfully curated itineraries that combine explorations of the villages, organic farms, archeological sites and the people who know them best.
  • Sustainable travel that supports the places you’re visiting. We put our local currency into the pockets of the people who live where we travel. It’s your guarantee that you’ll have authentic, up-close experiences on your trip. Best of all, our person-to-person approach helps sustain their ways of life.

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FAQs

Why is Classic Journeys the best tour company for Normandy & Brittany tours?

Classic Journeys is the best choice for Normandy & Brittany tours because you’ll experience the region’s history, coastal landscapes, and culinary treasures on immersive walks guided by expert locals—your well-connected friends every step of the way. You’ll join truly small groups, walk at eye level along the D-Day beaches, cross the tidal flats to Mont-Saint-Michel alongside pilgrims, wander bustling market towns, and savor “only with Classic Journeys” access like private cooking lessons and insider visits at a cider farm. Every day blends cinematic coastal scenery, legendary food, and stories that illuminate both Normandy’s solemn history and Brittany’s exuberant spirit.

What does the Classic Journeys itinerary include?

Your Classic Journeys itinerary delivers all of Normandy and Brittany’s icons: in-depth walks on Omaha and Utah Beaches, private guiding at the American Cemetery, and meaningful time at Pointe du Hoc. You’ll marvel at the Bayeux Tapestry, tread the dramatic ramparts of Saint-Malo, and cross the sands to Mont-Saint-Michel in an “only with Classic Journeys” guided walk. Other days include oyster tastings in Cancale, market strolls and cooking lessons, Honfleur’s Impressionist harbor, and panoramic walks along the Étretat cliffs.

When is the best time to visit Normandy and Brittany for small-group tours?

The best time for small-group tours in Normandy and Brittany is late spring (May–June) for wildflowers and quiet trails, or early autumn (September–October) for crisp air and harvest festivals. Spring and autumn offer more peaceful experiences at top sites, while still enjoying mild weather and the full color of these coastal landscapes with your expert local guides.

How many days is the Normandy & Brittany tour, and how active are the daily walks?

The Normandy & Brittany tour is 6 days and 5 nights, with daily walks of 2–8 miles that can be tailored to all abilities. Trails vary from easy coastal and countryside paths to cobbled medieval streets and panoramic clifftops, with van support available for flexible pacing. Walkers of all backgrounds—history buffs, casual strollers, and keen hikers—enjoy immersive on-foot experiences without strenuous climbs or technical terrain.

Are WWII visits included?

Yes—Classic Journeys’ Normandy & Brittany tours feature in-depth, expert-led visits to each pivotal D-Day site: Omaha and Utah Beaches, Sainte-Mère-Église, Pointe du Hoc, Arromanches (Mulberry Harbour), and the American Cemetery at Colleville-sur-Mer. Guides are passionate storytellers with deep local and historical knowledge, ensuring that each walk delivers vivid insights and human stories that go far beyond standard guiding. Moments of reflection, site access, and meaningful context are hallmarks of these daily WWII explorations.

How does Classic Journeys’ Normandy & Brittany small-group tour compare with other operators?

Classic Journeys stands out for its truly small-group size (with an average of fewer than 10 guests and never more than 18), full-time expert guides, and “only with Classic Journeys” access—such as guided tidal crossings at Mont-Saint-Michel unavailable to larger groups or standard tours. This tour offers unmatched personal attention, flexible pacing, skip-the-line museum entries, and privileged events like private cooking lessons and tastings. With meals, boutique hotels, admissions, and expert guiding included, the overall value is exceptional—offering more immersive, personal, and seamlessly organized moments than any other company.