80th Anniversary of D-Day: American WWII History
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Remember, reflect, and pay your respects during a major milestone year.
Whether you’re a WWII history buff or you’re celebrating family members who served, you’ll feel moved by the memorials and museums you visit on this tour, and by the battlefields and beaches of Normandy and Bastogne, where brave soldiers fought the Battle of the Bulge. Explore pivotal battle sites, take time to honor the sacrifices made by the Allied soldiers, and bond with your fellow travelers while experiencing exclusive anniversary events. For even more history, extend your stay and explore important sites in the Netherlands.
Your tour package includes
- 10 nights in handpicked hotels
- 10 breakfasts
- 1 lunch
- 5 dinners with beer or wine
- 7 sightseeing tours
Included highlights
- Special 80th anniversary celebration of D-Day
- Imperial War Museum
- Dover Castle
- Ferry ride across the English Channel
- American Cemetery in Colleville-sur-Mer
An expert specializing in tours of this region is here to help.
Day-by-day itinerary
Print itineraryBoard your overnight flight to London.
Welcome to England! Gather with your fellow travelers at tonight’s welcome dinner served with beer or wine.
Meet up with your local guide and take in the historical sights, buildings, and landmarks of England’s vibrant capital.
- Step inside the Imperial War Museums to see moving exhibits focusing on people’s experiences during times of war.
- See Westminster Abbey, a UNESCO World Heritage Site built in the 13th century not only as a great monastery and place of worship, but also as a site for royal coronations, weddings, and burials.
- Pass by Wellington Barracks, headquarters for the British Army’s Foot Guards.
Spend a free afternoon in London or add an excursion.
Tower of London
From $109 per person
Transfer to Dover and step inside Dover Castle, the largest castle in England. Learn about the evacuation of Dunkirk during Operation Dynamo.
Then, board a ferry and cross the English Channel to Normandy. Sail along the same waters that the Allied soldiers did prior to the Normandy landings. You’ll dock in the Calais before heading to your hotel in the Normandy region.
Join your fellow travelers at a special event arranged by Go Ahead Tours to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the D-Day invasion.
Tonight, gather together with your group for an included dinner served with your choice of beer or wine.
Please note: Details will be announced closer to the tour departure date. Travelers should allow for flexibility of the inclusions and order of events. Only water is allowed to be brought in during the ceremony, boxed breakfast and lunch will be provided before and after the ceremony.
Set out to explore the Normandy region, visiting historic sites as you go.
- Walk along Omaha Beach, the landing site of American troops on D-Day.
- Visit Pointe du Hoc to view the granite monument that honors the American 2nd Ranger Battalion, which seized German cannons here before they could be used to fire on American troops.
- Stop in the seaside town of Arromanches, home to one of the main Allied landing harbors, and enjoy free time to explore.
This evening, join your group for an included dinner served with beer or wine.
Please note: The activities are subject to change due to closures surrounding D-Day anniversary ceremonies.
Make your way to Paris this morning. Upon arrival, meet up with your local guide for a history-focused tour. Get to know the architecture, scenery, and history of the city’s many neighborhoods, or arrondissements.
- Stop to take a photo of the Eiffel Tower.
- See Le Meurice hotel, which served as the Nazis’ headquarters during the Occupation.
- Walk through Le Palais Royal and past the Louvre to Île de la Cité, an island in the Seine River where you’ll see Notre-Dame Cathedral, the Paris Police Prefecture, and the Mémorial des Martyrs de la Déportation.
- As you view these historic sites, hear from your guide about the Occupation, Resistance, and history of French heroes.
- End in Le Marais, the city’s Jewish Quarter.
Spend a free day in Paris or add excursions.
Historic Versailles
From $135 per person
Dinner in Paris & Seine River Cruise
From $129 per person
Today, make your way to Luxembourg. On the way, stop in Reims, the ancient city whose red-brick school served as the headquarters of General Dwight D. Eisenhower, Supreme Allied Commander in Europe.
- Enter the Musée de la Reddition—the very room in the school where three high officers of the German armed forces signed their unconditional declaration of surrender in 1945, ending WWII in Europe.
- Enjoy free time for lunch and to explore the area.
Later, cross into the tiny principality of Luxembourg, where you’ll join your group for an included dinner served with beer or wine.
Today, join your local guide for a tour of the City of Luxembourg, the country’s deeply historic capital.
- Enter the Luxembourg American Cemetery and Memorial, a serene 17-acre site where 5,070 service members—including General George Patton and thousands who died during the Battle of the Bulge and in the advance to the Rhine River—are buried.
- View the WWII Monument to National Unity in the New Town.
- See the Citadel of the Holy Spirit, Notre-Dame Cathedral, and the Grand Ducal Palace.
- Travel through the Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site whose location on a steep, rocky outcrop at the confluence of the Alzette and Pétrusse Rivers made for an exceptional strategic position throughout various periods of European history.
Spend a free afternoon in Luxembourg City or add an excursion.
Maginot Line
From $85 per person
Travel by coach to Bastogne, where you’ll visit the battlegrounds and museums related to the Battle of the Bulge.
- Visit the Bastogne War Museum and pay tribute to the American soldiers who defended Belgium in WWII during the Battle of the Bulge.
- See the Mardasson Memorial, a monument dedicated to the Americans who lost their lives during the Battle of the Bulge.
- Visit the site of the Bois Jacques Foxholes manned by the Easy Company Band of Brothers—the elite team of U.S. paratroopers whose harrowing journey from Normandy to the Eagle’s Nest inspired the hit HBO miniseries of the same name.
- Explore Bois de la Paix, the grove of 4,000 trees that were planted for the 50th anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge.
- Stop at the German military cemetery in Recogne.
Continue to Brussels and celebrate your trip alongside your fellow travelers at tonight’s farewell dinner served with beer or wine.
Transfer to the airport for your flight home or extend your stay to explore the Netherlands.
Set off for the Nijmegen region, stopping en route in the historic cities of Mechelen and Antwerp.
- Enter the Kazerne Dossin in Mechelen, a memorial, museum, and research center on the Holocaust and human rights.
- Pay a visit to Antwerp, where you’ll enjoy free time for lunch and to wander its medieval streets.
Continue to the Nijmegen region, where you’ll have the option to join the daily Sunset March across the Oversteek Bridge in tribute to the 48 Allied soldiers who lost their lives crossing the river during Operation Market Garden in 1944.
As you travel to the Netherlands, visit the city of Arnhem to explore sites integral to 1944’s Operation Market Garden—the Allies’ ambitious and ultimately doomed plan to cross the River Rhine and advance deep into northern Germany in part by seizing key bridges in the Netherlands.
- Visit the Airborne Museum, dedicated to the Battle of Arnhem, and learn about the British, Polish, and German soldiers on a guided tour.
- Travel through the central part of the city, where you’ll hear more about how Operation Market Garden failed.
- Enjoy free time in the city to relax, have lunch, and explore.
Then, continue to Amsterdam and enjoy a free evening or add an excursion.
Canal Cruise & Dinner
From $139 per person
Today’s sightseeing tour introduces you to Amsterdam’s iconic canals and unique character.
- Begin with a walk through Jodenbuurt, the city's old Jewish Quarter and view the Holocaust Name Monument and the Auschwitz Monument in Wertheimpark across the canal.
- Continue past the 17th century Portuguese Synagogue, Hollandsche Schouwburg—a theater which was converted to a deportation center for thousands of Jews, and the Shadow Canal monument dedicated to the 200 some Jews who lived along the Nieuwe Keizersgracht canal.
- End near the Anne Frank House, where the young, Jewish diarist and her family hid from Nazis during World War II.
This evening, enjoy a farewell drink as you celebrate your trip with your fellow group members.
Transfer to the airport in Amsterdam for your flight home.
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Reviews
4.7 out of 5 stars
Overall rating 4.7 out of 5
5 out of 5 stars
I was very impressed with the overall tour, sites and scheduling. Carole, specifically, made the trip as wonderful as possible.
5 out of 5 stars
The 5-6 hour delay getting out of the parking lot at the Ceremony at the Cemetery should be reviewed to see how it could be avoided. We had a dinner at 11:30 pm something we did not ear as it’s too late. This was in no way Lexy’s fault. She did a great job
5 out of 5 stars
This was a wonderful tour and our tour guide, Carole, was superb! She made every day a great experience and never got rattled when we had to change plans on the fly.
Traveler photos
Hotels, flights & FAQ
Here's the nitty-gritty—where you’ll stay, how you’ll get there, and what to know about your destination before you go.Hotels
We handpick every hotel to strike the balance of comfort, location, and local charm. Specific accommodations will vary based on your departure date, but these are frequently used hotels for this tour and we're confident you'll be satisfied.This relaxing hotel is located in the residential area of Kensington in London. Guests enjoy views of the city, spacious rooms, and many on-site dinin...
This riverside hotel is located just outside of downtown Rouen in the Normandy region. Guests enjoy suite-style rooms, the fitness center, and the pea...
This modern hotel is located in Montparnasse. Guests enjoy a fitness center, restaurant, and free Wi-Fi in the lobby. Nearby, you’ll find Luxembourg G...
This luxurious hotel is located in the Kirchberg area of Luxembourg. Guests enjoy the GOYA Restaurant, AQUA Lounge, and spa area. Nearby, you’ll find ...
This colorful hotel is located in the Châtelain neighborhood of Brussels. Guests enjoy a French cuisine restaurant, a spacious gym, and an infrared sa...
This modern hotel is located in Nijmegen’s city center in the Netherlands. Guests enjoy the fitness center, sauna, and extensive breakfast buffet. Nea...
This modern hotel is located in the Canal Ring. Guests enjoy room service, free Wi-Fi, and a bar. Nearby, you’ll find the Amstel river, Willet-Holthuy...
Flights
- Round-trip flight for your tour
- Airport transfers at your destination
- A great price locked in today
- 24/7 support from our dedicated service team
- Options for arriving early, staying longer, or requesting an upgrade
- Flexible rebooking options if your tour itinerary changes
- Find out more about flights
FAQ
Print FAQ- In order to enter the United Kingdom, France, Belgium, and Luxembourg (as well as the Netherlands on the tour extension), U.S. and Canadian citizens need a valid passport with an expiration date extending at least six months beyond the date of reentry.
- We recommend having at least one blank passport page for entry stamps.
- Beginning in 2025, U.S. and Canadian passport holders must register for an ETIAS travel authorization in order to enter many European countries.
- Passport holders from over 60 visa-exempt countries (including the U.S. and Canada) will need to apply for an ETIAS travel authorization in order to visit 30 European countries. That means that even if you’ve previously traveled to any of these European countries without a visa, starting in 2025, you’ll need to get ETIAS authorization to visit them again. If you’re traveling to multiple countries with this requirement, you only need to complete the form once. All Go Ahead travelers are responsible for obtaining their own ETIAS travel authorization before departure. For more details, please visit our Help Center.
- If you are not a U.S. or Canadian citizen, you must contact each country’s consulate for your specific entry requirements.
- You can see the most up-to-date entry requirements for the destination(s) you’ll visit on tour by going to goaheadtours.com/entry-requirements and searching the code DDA.
- You will walk for about 2.5 hours daily across moderately uneven terrain, including cobblestone streets and paved roads.
- Travelers should be healthy enough to participate in all included walks without assistance. Adding optional excursions may increase the total amount of walking on your tour.
- You should feel comfortable managing your own baggage at times, as well as getting in and out of ferries.
- If you have any mobility concerns or physical restrictions, please contact our Customer Experience Team.
- Round-trip flights booked through Go Ahead Tours arrive in London and depart from Brussels (or Amsterdam on the tour extension). When you first arrive in London, a driver from a private chauffeur service will be standing at the arrival gate with your name on a message board. If you do not see your driver, please remain in the arrival lounge, as the driver may be escorting one of your fellow travelers to the shuttle at the time of your arrival. For more details, please reference the London transfer information included in your Go Kit.
- Transfers to and from the airport at your destination are included for travelers who have purchased flights through Go Ahead Tours. Travelers who purchase their own flights may request airport transfers with Go Ahead Tours for an additional cost.
- A ferry ride from Portsmouth to Normandy is included in the price of your tour.
- All other included transportation on this tour is by private motor coach.
- Airlines have varying weight restrictions on baggage. Some airlines may impose additional charges if you choose to check any baggage; be advised that you are responsible for any such costs.
- Contact your airline for baggage size and weight restrictions for your flight, but please note that our travelers are restricted to one checked bag per person due to storage limitations on motor coaches and other transfers, which may include train connections or flights.
- One carry-on bag of 45 total inches (length + width + height) is also permitted.
- Make sure you label your baggage and keep valuables, medication, and documents in your carry-on bag.
- We recommend packing lightweight, loose-fitting clothing that can be easily layered to accommodate varying temperatures, as well as a light jacket or rainwear.
- A sturdy pair of walking shoes or sneakers is recommended for sightseeing.
- You may want to pack dressier attire if you plan to visit a high-end restaurant or attend a special performance.
- It is preferable not to visit churches or other religious sites with bare legs and shoulders (and entrance may be denied on this basis).
- At least 60 days prior to departure, check with your doctor or healthcare provider for the latest updates and entry requirements, or visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website at cdc.gov.
- If you have medication that you take daily, be sure you have enough for each day of the tour as well as any possible delays encountered.
- If you have dietary restrictions and/or food allergies please notify Go Ahead Tours at least 30 days prior to departure by logging in to your account and updating your traveler info. To update this information closer to your departure date, please call our Customer Experience Team.
- You can see the most up-to-date entry requirements for the destination(s) you’ll visit on tour by going to goaheadtours.com/entry-requirements and searching the code DDA.
- For traditional English fare at a reasonable price, try a pub meal of fish and chips or bangers and mash. Stilton cheese, steak and kidney pie, and Cumberland sausages are also worth a try.
- Modern-day London boasts an array of diverse international restaurants. Popular options include Indian, Thai, Chinese, Indonesian, Greek, and West African cuisines. Sip afternoon tea with delicious finger sandwiches and scones at Harrods for the ultimate in English tradition.
- Chicken, rabbit, and duck are staples of Norman cuisine, and you can find fish and shellfish in the region’s coastal towns. The abundance of dairy farms throughout the region means many dishes are accompanied by cheeses and creams. Normandy is also famous for its apples, which are used to create cider and calvados, or apple brandy.
- In Luxembourg, culinary influences are mostly Germanic. Smoked sausages, hams, and hearty stews are popular.
- In Belgium, seafood is of a very high quality, and mussels steamed in white wine are a favorite. Patisseries offer decadent pastries and cakes, and you won’t want to miss indulging in favorites like fries, handmade chocolate, locally brewed Abbey-style beer, and, of course, Belgian waffles. Please note that Belgian beers vary widely in style and flavor and are often much higher in alcohol content than other European beers.
- On the tour extension in the Netherlands, simply prepared meat and fish dishes, substantial soups and hearty stews are local staples. Snack food traditionally features fish—you might try maatje, raw green herring served with onions—but pancakes, french fries, doughnuts, and waffles are just as plentiful.
- The United Kingdom operates on the European standard 220-240 volts and uses a Type G plug with three large, flat pins.
- France, Luxembourg, and Belgium (as well as the Netherlands on the tour extension) operate on the European standard 220-240 volts and use Types C, E, or F plugs with two small, round pins
- We recommend packing a universal adapter, as well as a voltage converter if you plan on using your own hairdryer or other device without a built-in converter.
- The strength of the air conditioning in European hotels is often not as strong or as cool as what you might be used to in the U.S. or Canada. When air conditioning is available, it is usually regulated seasonally and controlled centrally by the hotel.
- Your hotels may provide hairdryers, irons, and other small appliances. However, these amenities cannot be guaranteed.
- The United Kingdom is on Greenwich Mean Time Zone (GMT) and is five hours ahead of Eastern Time (ET).
- France, Luxembourg, and Belgium (as well as the Netherlands on the tour extension) are one hour ahead of GMT and six hours ahead of ET.
- When it’s noon in New York, it’s 5pm in the United Kingdom and 6pm in France, Luxembourg, and Belgium (plus the Netherlands on the tour extension).
- You will use the pound sterling in the United Kingdom and the euro in France, Luxembourg, and Belgium (as well as the Netherlands on the tour extension).
- Better rates of exchange are usually available overseas, although it’s worth ordering some currency from your local bank to use when you first arrive.
- We strongly advise that you take debit/bank cards and credit cards, which can be used to withdraw cash at local banks as needed.
- You can use most debit/credit cards at ATMs on the international networks Cirrus and Plus, but make sure to check with your home bank about withdrawal fees.
- Inform your bank and credit card company of your travel plans so that they won’t confuse your international purchases for fraudulent charges.
- International banks and businesses primarily accept debit and credit cards that work with the EMV chip system. If you do not already have at least one debit or credit card with a chip in it, we strongly recommend requesting one from your bank prior to your tour.
- At the conclusion of your tour, it’s customary to offer your Tour Director and driver a gratuity in local currency. Please keep current exchange rates in mind.
- We recommend tipping the equivalent of $10USD to $12USD per person per day for your Tour Director and the equivalent of $3USD per person per day for your driver.
- If applicable, we also recommend the equivalent of $2USD per local guide.
- Tips can only be paid in cash.
- Most optional excursions will be available for purchase while you are on tour.
- Your Tour Director will only accept cash (in USD only), Visa, or MasterCard as payment for excursions.
- Please be advised that if you pay for an excursion by credit card while on tour, it may take up to three months for your card to be charged.
- Some optional excursions may only be purchased in advance. See page four of your tour itinerary for more information.