Brittany & Normandy Walking & Hiking Tour
Brittany & Normandy Walking & Hiking Tour
6 days
5 nights
Activity Levels 1-3
Premiere Hotels
2025: Jun-Sep2026: May-Sep
France's D-Day Beaches to St-Malo
Sandy beaches and pretty seaside villages. A mystical island monastery and towns that spirit you back to the days of William the Conqueror. This is Brittany and Normandy. A region so steeped in history you can feel it. Walk it. Hike it. From Omaha Beach and D-Day memorials to St-Malo, Mont-St-Michel and the windswept Emerald Coast. This landscape will transport you.
Highlights
- Hike trails among wildflower-carpeted hills atop the dramatic cliffs of Brittany’s celebrated Emerald Coast
- Reflect on the past as you stroll through seaside villages and along D-Day beaches and iconic World War II historic sites
- Discover medieval treasures and the famous eponymous tapestry in the beautifully preserved Norman town of Bayeux
- Savor fresh-caught seafood and regional specialties like apple cider, crêpes, delectable oysters and classic moules-frites
StartCaen
EndRennes
* Start/End locations may vary. Do not book flights until your trip details are confirmed.
Itinerary
Days 1-3
Embark on a walking tour through Normandy’s idyllic bocage countryside • Enjoy a picnic lunch at a working cider farm • Following a path along the Aure River, arrive in beautiful Bayeux, the first French town to be liberated after D-Day • Experience the splendor of Normandy’s coast, with its rugged cliffs, rambling beaches and tranquil farm villages • Walk along evocative Omaha Beach on your own and with our local guide • High above the beach, the American Military Cemetery in Colleville-sur-Mer is laced with thousands of white marble crosses in honor of D-Day soldiers • Visit the shattered bunkers of the German stronghold Pointe du Hoc • Discover the village of Arromanches, famous for the artificial port constructed to aid in the D-Day Invasion • Taste farm-fresh cider, apple brandy and Pommeau de Normandie.
Nights 1-3
This fanciful 30-acre château exudes historic charm with 18th-century stylings and fascinating connections to WWII. A Small Luxury Hotels of the World member. (pool)
Days 4-6
Revel in the luminous color of the Côte d’Emeraude (Emerald Coast) • Journey to the island monastery of Mont-St-Michel, one of Europe’s most hallowed pilgrimage destinations and a World Heritage site • Witness Europe's most extreme tides in the bay of Mont-St-Michel • Pause in Cancale, the oyster capital of France • Meander through St-Malo, a fortified city with unparalleled sea views that was once notorious as a refuge for the king’s pirates.
Nights 4-5
This stately 19th-century hotel welcomes you with warm décor and mesmerizing views overlooking the coast and Saint-Malo. (pool, spa)
What's Included
See moreHotels
World-Class Hotels
Our hand-selected Premiere hotels offer exceptional hospitality and experiences as special as the regions we explore.
Hotels may vary based on departure. Any variations will be displayed when selecting a departure under Dates & Prices.
Nights 1-3
Premiere Hotel
This fanciful 30-acre château exudes historic charm with 18th-century stylings and fascinating connections to WWII. A Small Luxury Hotels of the World member. (pool)
Nights 4-5
Premiere Hotel
This stately 19th-century hotel welcomes you with warm décor and mesmerizing views overlooking the coast and Saint-Malo. (pool, spa)
Gallery
Review Snapshot
by PowerReviews
Reviewed by 19 customers
Fantastic trip to Normandy and Brittany!
The variety of hiking experiences (coastline, towns, fields) was great. Walking along Omaha beach and seeing the American cemetery was a very powerful and moving expeience. The leaders vere very positive, enthusiastic, knowledgeable and supportive. Food and hotels were terrific. Backroads provides a top notch experience!
Such a wonderful trip!
We enjoyed this trip so much! Every aspect of it was fabulous, starting with our leaders. The hotels were very nice, the walking/hiking trails were beautiful, and the tour guides were informative. It was so moving to be on the beaches of Normandy. Bayeux is such a quaint town, so we enjoyed being there for several days. The more rugged trails in Brittany were some of the most beautiful I've ever hiked. Highly recommend this trip!
Our trip was Awesome!
Our Backroads leaders were fantastic and extremely knowledgeable, helpful and engaging. The hikes were so well planned, with coffee, snacks and anything you could dream of along the way. The historical aspect of the trip was extraordinary and the guides were exceptional. The trip far exceeded our expectations.
Great way to explore and learn about Brittany & Normandy!
If you love learning about the history, culture, and cuisine of this story-rich part of France - and love to walk and wander at the same time - this is the trip for you! The combination of learning about and hiking in the footsteps of centuries of warfare and then pastoral current day life was wonderful.
Our trip was absolutely fabulous!
The walks & hikes were spectacular; our leaders were so friendly and knowledgeable, and the food and accommodations were wonderful.
Hiking in Normandy and Brittany
From the moment I booked the trip I experienced first class service from the staff at Backroads. The 3 guides for the hiking trip were exceptional in both their knowledge and their customer service. I loved getting to meet new people and share new experiences together. Cannot wait for my next trip!
The trip far exceeded my expectations!
Awesome hiking and regional beauty; powerful history; amazing, expert, endearing leaders; great meals and wonderful surprises.
Stunning beauty as well as visceral and moving experince
From start to finish, a beautifully conceived and well-run trip that introduced us to the flavors of Normandy and Brittany, their unique beauty and awesome historical significance.
One of the best trips!
This was my 7th Backroads trip. The combination of history and beautiful hiking trails was fantastic. Our leaders were amazing. We had a great group.
So glad I chose Backroads for this bucket list trip!
I have always wanted to go to Normandy to soak in the history and learn more about D-Day. This trip did not disappoint. Claire, our local guide at Omaha Beach and the American Cemetery was outstanding and made the history come alive. We lucked out and the weather on the whole trip was perfect. The walking/hiking through the Normandy and Brittany countryside and along the beautiful coasts was so enjoyable and such a great way to experience this part of France. There were a few places where the hiking was more technical but it wasn't overly challenging. In Normandy, it was mostly walking rather than hiking which was fine with me. As always, the Backroads trip leaders were top notch. Henry, Sean and Benedicte took great care of us and were so much fun. The hotel accommodations were lovely and in great locations in Bayeux and Dinard. And, as usual with Backroads, you never go hungry! I highly recommend this trip.
Dates & Prices
Dates & Prices
Click on dates for pricing, itinerary variations (if any) and to book your trip. Price is per person, double occupancy in USD.
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