Region Overviews: France Travel Guide: Overview
Long considered a global center of art, science, philosophy and sophistication, France boasts incredible diversity in its offerings to travelers.
Walking & Hiking
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Brittany & Normandy Family Walking & Hiking Tour - 20s & Beyond
France's D-Day Beaches to St-Malo
Sandy beaches and pretty seaside villages. A mystical island monastery and towns that spirit your family 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.
THIS ITINERARY: 6 days, 5 nights
ACCOMMODATIONS: Premiere Hotels
FROM:
$4,599 pp dbl occ
($900 for sgl occ)
France Brittany & Normandy Walking & Hiking
France
Start Caen / End Rennes
Start/End locations may vary. Do not book flights until your trip details are confirmed.
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
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Itinerary
Accommodations may vary based on departure date.
6 Days Premiere Hotels
Accommodations may vary based on departure.
Days 1-2
Embark on a family walk through Normandy's idyllic bocage countryside | Following a path along the Aure River, arrive in beautiful Bayeux, the first French town to be liberated after D-Day | Stroll the length of the 11th-century Bayeux Tapestry, a stunningly detailed 203-foot-long embroidery depicting the Norman conquest of England | Experience the splendor of Normandy's coast, with its unique arch formations and panoramic vistas | Walk along the now tranquil 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 | Visit the shattered bunkers of the German stronghold Pointe du Hoc | Taste farm-fresh cider, apple brandy and Pommeau de Normandie.
Villa Lara
Bayeux
| Premiere Hotel An elegantly appointed and family-owned boutique hotel just steps from the Bayeux Cathedral in the heart of the city.
Day 3
Discover the village of Arromanches, famous for the artificial port constructed to aid in the D-Day Invasion | Walk to the clifftops for a breathtaking look over town and across the Channel | Behold the Longues-sur-Mer battery, once a section of Germany's coastal fortifications | Rest and relax with your family at an 18th-century manor turned luxury hotel.
La Chenevière
Port-en-Bessin
| Premiere Hotel A "relaxing 18th-century honey-colored château-hotel surrounded by rose gardens... minutes from Omaha Beach," according to Andrew Harper. 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.
Grand Hôtel Barrière
Dinard
| Premiere Hotel This hotel, built in 1859, welcomes you with warm décor and mesmerizing views overlooking the coast and St-Malo. (pool, spa)
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. View cancellation policy
Click on dates for pricing, itinerary variations and to book your trip. Price is per person, double occupancy.
- 2021
- Jul
Available to book
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Activity Level: 1-3
Every Backroads trip is designed to appeal to a wide variety of interests and fitness levels. We know your pace may vary from one day to the next—and your traveling companion's may differ somewhat from yours. So we present a range of mileage options, and each day you decide exactly what and how much you want to do. LEARN MORE.
Note: The terrain on this trip includes forest trails, rocky coastal dirt paths and some paved roads.
What's Included
- All breakfasts, 5 lunches, 4 dinners
- Expertise and services of our experienced Trip Leaders
- Snacks and beverages between meals
- Additional guides and experts from the region on many trips
- Van shuttles to support a variety of route options
- Comprehensive Travel Planner with detailed pre-trip information
- Private guided tours at museums, historic sites, wineries and other select attractions as noted in the Travel Planner
- All gratuities at hotels and restaurants
- Special events, including wine tastings and other select attractions as mentioned in the Travel Planner
- On biking and multi-adventure trips, use of fully equipped Backroads titanium bike plus helmet and accessories
- Trailercycles, carriers, and kid-sized helmets for Family Trips
- Equipment and experienced guides for kayaking, rafting, snorkeling, sailing and canoeing as described
- Park and other entry fees
- Fares for trains, ferries and other modes of travel as listed in the Travel Planner
- Select coach transfers
- Baggage transfers and porterage
Straight talk
We want to make sure you're on the right trip and that you have the best experience possible. Every Backroads trip is unique and this one is no exception.
Air-Conditioning
La Chenevière and Château Richeux are Premiere Hotels housed in beautiful historic buildings. While they offer outstanding service and amenities, please note that they are not equipped with air-conditioning. Despite the region's generally temperate climate and cool nights, guestrooms can occasionally become warm during peak temperatures.
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