The Normandy Experience

Medieval Bayeux, home base for The Normandy Experience

2027 Trip: September 8 – 15

We were delighted to introduce The Normandy Experience for the first time in 2023 and to welcome groups again in 2024 and 2025. This is a seven-night trip based in the medieval town of Bayeux.

Our focus for this trip is the French region of Normandy, bordered on the north by La Manche (the English Channel) with almost 400 miles of coastline. We primarily focus on the department of Calvados, which gives its name to the premium apple brandy produced in this area.

To many, Normandy is best known for the Allied invasion on D-Day (June 6, 1944) that began the liberation of France and an Allied victory in Europe in World War II. Our group has a full day with an expert guide to visit some of the most important sites, and we visit a other sites during our week in Bayeux. This is definitely be a highlight in a trip with many highlights.

The Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial, final resting place of 9,386 Americans.

But we explore many other dimensions of this beautiful and historic region during our week. Normandy is rich in medieval history, especially relating to William the Conqueror.

Our group bases for seven nights in a beautiful and well-located hotel in the medieval town of Bayeux. Bayeux is centrally located with many restaurants, cafes, and shops.

Experience Normandy

The Normandy Experience follows the same approach as our other Experience trips, including a variety of special activities and experiences unique to this area:

• A guided walking tour of Bayeux, including a visit to the Bayeux Cathedral, consecrated in 1077. You’ll also have time on your own to visit one of Bayeux’s several interesting museums. (The famous Bayeux tapestry is unfortunately not available for visits while a new museum is being constructed.)
• A day focused on D-Day, led by an expert guide, and including landing beaches, museums, cemeteries, memorials, remains of military installations, and other key sites from this historic time. We’ll structure this day based on the nationalities of the travelers in our group. We’ll visit several other D-Day sites during our week, including the Normandy American cemetery.
• A day trip to Honfleur, a lovely town and port on the Seine estuary. We’ll enjoy a walking tour before lunch-on-your own and the opportunity to explore the streets, museums, gardens, galleries and shops of this charming and picturesque town.
• A morning in the town of Falaise, birthplace of William the Conqueror. You’ll have the option to visit the medieval chateau or the Memorial museum commemorating the impact of World War II on the civilian population.
• An afternoon in the rural Pays d’Auge, an agricultural area of picturesque villages, small farms, orchards and cider production, and cheese production. Our visit to a small family dairy farm is always a highlight.  We’ll enjoy tasting the local cheeses.
• Visits to unique chateaus, gardens and abbeys, including the impressive chateau at Balleroy.
• A visit to a family-owned apple distillery, producing juice, cider, pommeau, and Calvados. We’ll enjoy a delicious picnic lunch in the courtyard and a tour with the owner.
• Memorable meals of local specialties in a variety of settings including a gastronomic dinner, simple crêperies, traditional dining rooms, and waterfront cafes.
• Time for relaxing and exploring on your own.

The lovely port at Honfleur

We’re especially pleased that Drew Fedorka is the co-leader for this trip. Drew recently received his PhD in French History from New York University. He will offer a unique and important perspective during our time in Normandy.

Arrival and Departure

Our 2025 group will meet at the Bayeux train station at 3:30 pm on the first afternoon. We’ll return to the Bayeux station on the last morning. Bayeux is about 2 hours 20 minutes from Paris by local train. Our meeting and drop-off times will be confirmed about three months before the trip when train schedules are finalized.

We always recommend arriving in Europe at least one day before our Experience trips begin and most travelers also extend their trip after our Experience ends. You can reach several destinations in Normandy by train, such as Vernon (closest station to the garden at Giverny), Rouen, Lisieux or Caen. We can also provide information so you can plan an independent trip to Mont St. Michel.

Paris is also a natural place to spend a few days before or after The Normandy Experience. You could also join our August 31 – September 4 Inside Lyon trip before traveling to Normandy. (If you book The Normandy Experience and Inside Lyon, we’ll provide a special discount to support your transportation between the trips.)

Leaders: Kelly Wood and Drew Fedorka

Prices: $5,150 per person/double occupancy; $5,700 single occupancy of a double room