Hand Maid Tours
Hand Maid Tours offer the independent traveller to France escorted
visits, in English to the D-day beaches, heritage sites and museums
Many people have limited time in Normandy and require a day tour
rather than our regular three or five day tour. Whilst time is of the
essence, we do manage to visit most of the important sites.
Each tour is arranged for small groups of four people or less.
This enables us to give sufficient time to individual needs, and we
will plan your visit to optimise your time in Normandy.
The cost of our one day tour is 550€, which includes up to four
passengers. The tours start at 09:00 and finish around 19:00
The one day tour is based on one of two options
Option One
Based on the American sector this is by far our most popular tour.
We start at Ste Mere Eglise and explain the importance of the Allied
air drops to seize important objectives and to seal off the American
and British flanks from German attack.
We then make our way to Utah Beach, by far the most important of
the five beaches to be taken on D-day.
We then go on to visit one of the many first aid posts set up after the
landings.
Pointe du hoc is where the American Rangers scaled the cliffs to
capture a German stronghold on the morning of D-day.
Next we visit Omaha Beach the most difficult and bloody beach to
be taken. Finally we pay our respects at the poignant American
Cemetery perched on the bluffs above Omaha.
If time permits we also include both a German and British Cemetery.
Option Two
This tour is centred on the British and Canadian sectors.
We generally start with the British Cemetery in the heart of Bayeux.
Pegasus Bridge is our next stop, this is where the Oxford and Bucks
made a daring glider landing to secure bridges over the Orne river
and canal. We then drive along Beaches Sword, Juno and Gold.
Stopping at each one to explain the events of D-Day.
We also visit the remains of the Mulberry Harbour constructed in
record time by the engineers to bring men and equipment ashore to
support the landings.
Longue sur Mere is our final stop, the only German Batterie to retain
its guns.
To Reserve Your Day Tour e-mail [email protected]
Or Contact Us Via Our Website www.handmaidtours.com
From USA : 011 33 2 33 52 91 94
From UK : 00 33 2 33 52 91 94
The two suggested tours are just that, suggestions. Our tours can be tailored to
suite your interests.
If you are already staying in Normandy, we will pick you up from your hotel
the Bayeux area or to the west is included in the price.
What is not included is Museum admission and lunch.
If you arriving by train from Paris, we generally meet you in Carentan.
The first train out of Paris on weekdays is from Gare St Lazare and leaves at
07:00, getting you into Carentan at 09:30.
This gives us a full day in which to explore both the American Beaches, as
detailed in the attached PDF file, before getting you back to Carentan for the
18:00 train to Paris.
Gare St Lazare This station, the oldest in Paris is your departure point for
Normandy. The Cherbourg trains leave from the platforms at the extreme right
of the station (high numbered platforms), and first class coaches are at the Paris
end of the train.
Before you board your train you must stamp your ticket in a yellow machine,
these can be found at the end of each platform. For day tours we will meet you
at Carentan, but beware that the train only stops in the station for a couple of
minutes, so be ready. Journey time is around 2 hours 45 minutes
At the moment there are no refreshment services on these trains, so you might
want to get provisions at the station before you board the train.
Our Websites
www.handmaidtours.com
www.normandy1944.org.uk
www.atlantikwall.org.uk
www.loirevalley.org.uk
our main Normandy travel website
this site deals with the liberation of Normandy
Information on German fortifications
our main Loire valley travel website