Days 1 & 2 — Depart the U.S. for Paris / Honfleur

Depart the U.S. on your transatlantic flight to Paris, France.

Arrive at Charles de Gaulle International Airport. After clearing brief immigration and customs formalities, you’ll be met by your Smithsonian Journeys Travel Director and assisted with transfer to the Hotel Mercure in the Norman seaside town of  Honfleur. The approximate transfer time is three hours including a rest stop enroute. Upon arrival at the hotel, you’ll receive a Welcome Package with information about Honfleur and the province of Normandy. Your Smithsonian Journeys Travel Director will be available this afternoon and throughout the program for suggestions regarding restaurants and independent activities.

This evening, meet fellow travelers for a welcome reception and introductions with your Smithsonian Journeys Expert then depart for a welcome dinner at a popular bistro nearby. (R,D)

Day 3 — Honfleur

A full breakfast will be served each day during your stay at the hotel. Later this morning, depart for a tour of the historic fishing port of Honfleur including a visit to the famous wooden church of St. Catherine crafted by local shipbuilders in the  second half of the 15th century. Other town highlights include the Vieux Bassin or old harbor. It’s here the Seine River meets the English Channel. In 1608, French explorer Samuel de Champlain departed from Honfleur on an expedition to the New World and founded the French colony that became Quebec City.   

After an independent lunch, follow your own path and explore independently. Join fellow travelers and Smithsonian Journeys Expert this evening for an informal discussion about the day’s discoveries. Dine out this evening with fellow travelers at a local restaurant. (B,D)

Day 4 – Normandy Beachheads / WWII Memorials

Depart the hotel this morning for the drive to the sites of the D-Day Normandy Invasion of WWII. Normandy boasts a proud and colorful history, one that has profoundly influenced the histories of France, Great Britain and the U.S. During the drive, a local expert will talk about this intrepid invasion that was the beginning of the end of Axis domination of Europe.

This is an emotional journey to the sites that were so pivotal to the ultimate success of the Allied effort, including Arromanches and the Omaha Beach Memorial. Continue along the Calvados coastline, which provided the theater for Operation Overlord, history’s most complex and most important military venture. The day includes a visit to the U.S. Military Cemetery at Colleville-sur-Mer as well as the German defensive emplacement at Pointe du Hoc.

Lunch is served in a local restaurant in Arromanches. After returning to Honfleur you’ll dine independently this evening. (B,L)

Day 5 -L’Etretat / Chateau du Bec / Le Havre

Depart Honfleur to L’Etretat, crossing the famous Pont de Normandie bridge opened in 1995 which spans the Seine River, the last bridge before the river spills into the Atlantic Ocean. The bridge is a perfect reflection of French civil engineering expertise. L’Etretat, is a coastal resort on the north coast of France. It’s known for the striking rock formations carved from its white cliffs, including the Porte d'Aval arch and L'Aiguille (the Needle), a pillar rising up from the sea. Claude Monet and other Impressionists famously painted the arches and cliffs in the nineteenth century. Next, continue to Chateau du Bec, a beautiful 10th century privately owned castle.  Surrounded by a lush wooded park. Meet one of the owners and visit their home and grounds. Following your tour, you will be treated to lunch featuring local specialties in this unforgettable setting. Continue to Le Harve situated on the English Channel, and severely bombed during the Second World War. This afternoon, visit the Musée Malraux of Modern Art or MUMA. The museum is a restful showcase for Impressionist paintings, many of them donations and legacies from major private art collections. Dinner, this evening will be at leisure. (B,L)

Day 6 — Mont-Saint-Michel

Mont-Saint-Michel has justly been called a Marvel of the Western World. Visit the granite island that is home to the glorious Abbey Church, begun in the eighth century. Over the next 1,000 years, buildings were added, rebuilt and adapted. Serving over time as a fortress, a monastery and a prison, Mont-Saint-Michel continues to lure sacred and secular pilgrims from all corners of the globe. Enjoy an independent lunch and then set-out to explore on your own. After returning to the hotel, join fellow travelers and Smithsonian Journeys Expert this evening for an informal discussion about the day’s discoveries. Dinner will be at leisure. (B) 

Day 7 — Caen / Bayeux

This morning, depart the hotel and travel to visit the Peace Memorial at Caen, an award-winning museum dedicated to peace. During your visit, learn about 20th century history including World War II, D-Day Landings and the Cold War through an array of exhibits, photos, film and video footage.

Lunch will be served at a local restaurant where you will enjoy Norman specialties and sample the region’s world-famous Calvados.  Your excursion continues on to the town of Bayeux. Spend time viewing the famed 200-foot long Bayeux Tapestry, that depicts the events surrounding William the Conqueror and the Battle of Hastings. You’ll also see the Notre Dame Cathedral, a masterpiece of Norman Gothic architecture. Enjoy lunch with fellow travelers then spend time exploring on your own. This evening, a local speaker will talk about the origins and leaders of the resistance, the role of the French underground in the lead up to D-Day and the heroic efforts of the men and women who fought to liberate their country. (B,L)

Day 8 – Honfleur

Today is free of planned activities, so let your interests be your guide and set-out to explore on your own. This evening, join new friends and fellow travelers at a farewell reception followed by dinner at a local restaurant. (B,D)

Day 9 — Depart for the U.S.

After an early breakfast, transfer by motorcoach to Paris and Charles de Gaulle International Airport for return flights to the U.S. (B)

Please note: The progression of this itinerary and inclusions may change due to operational considerations. The June 6-14, 2025 program will be accommodated at the Hotel Mercure Deauville Centre in Deauville, France and follow the same itinerary with only minor changes to the scheduling due to the new location.