Day 1 — Thursday, May 30

Depart the U.S. on individual flights for London.

Day 2 — Friday, May 31 | London

Arrive in London and transfer to your hotel. Gather as a group in the early afternoon for a visit the H.M.S. Belfast, part of the Imperial War Museum. Then enjoy a welcome dinner with your Smithsonian Journeys Expert and fellow travelers. (D)

Day 3 — Saturday, June 1 | London/Bletchley Park

Travel to Bletchley Park and discover the real story behind Alan Turing and the Enigma code breakers, credited with shortening the war by successfully deciphering the encryption used by the Wehrmacht to safeguard its messages. Your visit will include an explanation of the decoder, as seen in the award-winning film, The Imitation Game. This evening, meet for a private after-hours visit and welcome dinner at Winston Churchill’s Cabinet War Rooms and Museum. It is from this underground bunker that Churchill directed the British war effort and today one can still see maps, telephones and bunks preserved since World War II. (B,R,D)

Day 4 — Sunday, June 2 | London / Portsmouth / Normandy

This morning, travel south to Portsmouth. By special arrangement, visit the Supreme Headquarters of the Allied Expeditionary Force (subject to confirmation). Enjoy a pre-opening visit to The Golden Lion Pub, which was converted into an officer’s mess during WWII. Surrounded by photographs and memorabilia, stand in the very same spot where Eisenhower would drink a ‘pint of beer’. At the D-Day Museum, examine the Overlord Embroidery—a stunning handcrafted depiction of the D-Day events that stretches some 270 feet— and see a replica of the map General Eisenhower used to plot Allied positions. This afternoon, cross the English Channel by ferry and arrive in Normandy in the late evening.  (B, L, D)

Day 5 — Monday, June 3 | Sainte Mère-Église / Utah Beach / La Cambe

Explore the village of Sainte-Mère-Église, where the 82nd and 101st Airborne Division paratroopers dropped from the sky in a hail of gunfire on the night of June 5. View the church steeple upon which one unlucky paratrooper was said to be entangled for hours, and visit the village’s remarkable museum. Stop for lunch at Le Roosevelt, a restaurant built around a former German bunker just steps from the historic beach. Continue to Utah Beach, the site of one of the two American amphibious landings in the early hours of D-Day. This afternoon, pay a visit to the German war cemetery at La Cambe.  (B, L, D)

Day 6 — Tuesday, June 4 | Pegasus Bridge / Omaha Beach

Begin your day with a guided visit to the Pegasus Memorial Bridge and Museum—dedicated to the men of the 6th British Airborne Division. After a picnic lunch, visit the Overlord Museum, then wander along Omaha Beach, site of the bloodiest fighting of the invasion day. At the Omaha Beach Memorial, lay flowers in honor of those who made the ultimate sacrifice. (B,L,D)

Day 7 — Wednesday, June 5 | Pointe du Hoc / Arromanches / Bayeux

One of the most dramatic sites along the Normandy coastline is Pointe du Hoc, where U.S. Rangers used hooks and ropes to scale cliffs some 100 feet high in order to destroy key German gun positions. Walk along cliff-top pathways still cratered by mortar blasts, and venture into the concrete bunkers from which German forces unleashed a barrage of artillery fire. Travel to Arromanches and visit the Arromanches Landing Museum. On the town's beach, see the remnants of Mulberries, prefabricated concrete harbors that were critical to landing Allied supplies. Continue to Bayeux for lunch at leisure and a guided visit to the Bayeux Tapestry Museum. (B)

Day 8 — Thursday, June 6 | D-Day Anniversary

Observe the 80th Anniversary of the D-Day Landing with official ceremonies and commemorations at the Normandy American Cemetery at Colleville-sur-Mer. On this major anniversary, this poignant ceremony will likely be attended by heads of state, international dignitaries, and possibly the very last of the D-Day veterans. All ceremonies are subject to official confirmation and details will be announced closer to the event. This evening, celebrate your journey with a farewell reception and dinner.  (B,L,R,D)

Day 9 — Friday, June 7 | Depart Paris

Depart as a group from Normandy to Charles du Gaulle Airport in Paris for individual flights home or onward. (B)

Day 1 — Friday, May 31 | Depart the U.S.

Depart the U.S. on individual flights for London.

Day 2 — Saturday, June 1 | London

Arrive in London and transfer to your hotel. Gather as a group in the early afternoon for a visit the H.M.S. Belfast, part of the Imperial War Museum. This evening, meet other Smithsonian Journeys travelers for a private after-hours visit and welcome dinner at Winston Churchill’s Cabinet War Rooms and Museum. It is from this underground “safe place” that Churchill directed the British war effort and where today one can still see maps, telephones and bunks preserved since World War II. (R,D)

Please note: There will be six separate departures on this tour each with its own Expert and hotels. Please see the Dates & Prices tab for Expert and hotel assignments.

Day 3 — Sunday, June 2 | London / Bletchley Park

Travel to Bletchley Park and discover the real story behind the Enigma code breakers, credited with shortening the war by successfully deciphering the encryption used by the Wehrmacht to safeguard its messages. Your visit will include an explanation of the decoder, as seen in The Imitation Game. Your evening is at leisure to explore London. (B) 

Day 4 — Monday, June 3 | London / Portsmouth / Normandy

This morning, travel south to Portsmouth. By special arrangement, visit the Supreme Headquarters of the Allied Expeditionary Force (subject to confirmation). Enjoy a pre-opening visit to The Golden Lion Pub, which was converted into an officer’s mess during WWII. Surrounded by photographs and memorabilia, stand in the very same spot where Eisenhower would drink a ‘pint of beer’. At the D-Day Museum, examine the Overlord Embroidery—a stunning handcrafted depiction of the D-Day events that stretches some 270 feet— and see a replica of the map General Eisenhower used to plot Allied positions.

This afternoon, cross the English Channel by ferry and arrive in Normandy in the late evening. (B,L,D)

Day 5 — Tuesday, June 4 | Sainte Mère-Église / Utah Beach / La Cambe

Explore the village of Sainte-Mère-Église, where the 82nd and 101st Airborne Division paratroopers dropped from the sky in a hail of gunfire on the night of June 5. View the church steeple upon which one unlucky paratrooper was entangled for hours, and visit the village’s remarkable museum.

Continue to Utah Beach, the site of one of the two American amphibious landings in the early hours of D-Day. Stop for lunch at Le Roosevelt, a restaurant built around a former German bunker just steps from the historic beach. This afternoon, pay a visit to the German war cemetery at La Cambe. (B,L,D)

Day 6 — Wednesday, June 5 | Pointe Du Hoc / Arromanches / Bayeux

One of the most dramatic sites along the Normandy coastline is Pointe du Hoc, where U.S. Rangers used hooks and ropes to scale cliffs some 100 feet high in order to destroy key German gun positions. Walk along cliff-top pathways still cratered by mortar blasts, and venture into the concrete bunkers from which German forces unleashed a barrage of artillery fire. Travel to Arromanches, one of the few remnants of the prefabricated concrete harbors that assisted in landing Allied supplies and visit the Arromanches Landing Museum. In Bayeux, enjoy lunch at leisure before a visit to the Bayeux Tapestry Museum. (B)

Day 7 — Thursday, June 6 | D-Day Anniversary

Observe the 80th Anniversary of the D-Day Landing with official ceremonies and commemorations at the American Military Cemetery at Colleville-sur-Mer. On this major anniversary, these poignant ceremonies will likely be attended by heads of state and other dignitaries. (B,L,D)

Please note: All ceremonies are subject to official confirmation and details will be announced closer to the event.

Day 8 — Friday, June 7 | Pegasus Bridge / Omaha Beach

Begin your day with a guided visit to the Pegasus Memorial Bridge and Museum—dedicated to the men of the 6th British Airborne Division. After a picnic lunch, visit the Overlord Museum, then wander along Omaha Beach, site of the bloodiest fighting of the invasion day. At the Omaha Beach Memorial, lay flowers in honor of those who made the ultimate sacrifice. This evening, celebrate your journey with a farewell reception and dinner (B,L,R,D) 

Day 9 — Saturday, June 8 | Depart Paris

Depart as a group from Normandy to Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris for individual flights home or onward. (B)