Day Of Days: The British D-Day Story - Jg Explorer

Itinerary

Day of Days: the British D-Day Story - JG Explorer

Travel in deluxe style on this holiday aboard a JG Explorer coach!  

On this fascinating break, we remember one of the greatest battles for freedom the world has ever known – the Allied invasion of Normandy during the Second World War and the events of 6 June 1944. We visit the British Normandy Memorial, which lists the names of all the 22,442 British servicemen and women who passed in the Normandy campaign that year. We also tour some of the D-Day Landing beaches, discover more about the incredible events that took place and hear stories of great human sacrifice and bravery from our specialist guide. So, join us on a journey of remembrance to pay homage to those who gave their lives during this heroic campaign.

Day of Days: the British D-Day Story - JG Explorer

Itinerary

Day 1

Ferry to Calais and on to our hotel in Ouistreham or Caen, where we stay on a bed and breakfast basis.

Day 2 – Memorial & Normandy Beaches

We join our specialist battlefields guide and travel first to Pegasus Bridge, originally known as Bénouville Bridge, it was renamed in honour of the British 6th Airborne Division, whose emblem was the winged horse Pegasus. This bridge played a crucial role during the D-Day landings it was one of the first objectives to be captured by Allied forces to prevent German reinforcements from reaching the beaches. The successful capture of Pegasus Bridge by glider-borne troops ensured the protection of the eastern flank of the landing area, contributing to the overall success of the Normandy invasion.

Next, we head to British Normandy Memorial, overlooking Gold Beach. Honouring all those under British command who never came home from Normandy in the summer of 1944, the memorial was inaugurated on 6th June 2019 (the 75th anniversary of D-Day) and officially opened on 6th June 2021 and includes an evocative D-Day Sculpture created by David Williams-Ellis.

Afterwards, we tour some of the infamous D-Day Landing beaches, learning more about the events of 6th June 1944 when the Allies landed on the coast of Normandy for what was the turning point in the Second World War. Later, we return to Ouistreham where there’s free time to enjoy dinner at a restaurant of your choice.

Day 3 – Optional excursion to Honfleur & Trouville-sur-Mer (£19pp)

Our day starts with a visit to Honfleur, one of the most picturesque fishing ports in France and a favourite haunt for artists. The quaint harbour is lined with narrow, slate-fronted houses while the Old Town boasts narrow cobbled streets and half-timbered buildings with art galleries, boutiques and traditional craft shops.

We continue on to the fashionable seaside resort of Trouville-sur-Mer. This charming town is renowned for its glamorous villas and beautiful beach as well as a casino. It is also home to a vibrant fishing port with a lively fish market and plenty of small cafés and restaurants selling fresh seafood. On our return to Ouistreham, the evening is at leisure to find a restaurant of your choice for dinner.

Day 4

En-route back to Calais, we stop in La Touquet. Part of the Atlantic wall, this charming seaside resort was the site for Operation Starkey, a failed allied landing. During D-Day over 2,000 bombs were dropped on the town killing 55 people inc. the town’s Mayor. We have free time here to explore and find lunch (not included).

Later, we continue our journey and catch the return ferry home.

Day of Days: the British D-Day Story - JG Explorer

• Return coach travel aboard a JG Explorer Coach (see Helpful Information below)
• Ferry crossings
• 3 nights at a selected hotel in France (JG3 rating) with breakfast
• Guided tour of the British Normandy Memorial & D-Day Landing Beaches with a specialist battlefields guide
• En-route visit to Le Touquet

Optional excursion to Honfleur & Trouville-sur-Mer (£19pp)

Day of Days: the British D-Day Story - JG Explorer

• Guided tour of the British Normandy Memorial & D-Day Landing Beaches with a specialist battlefields guide
• Excursion to Honfleur & Trouville-sur-Mer
• En-route visit to Le Touquet

JG3

Hotels with a JG3 rating tend to be a more formal style of hotel, often part of a hotel chain, or are very-welcoming family-owned properties. Generally, they offer a greater range of facilities and services, and bedrooms tend to be a little more spacious with additional features. Public areas are larger and include lounge seating, bar and restaurant with good quality food served either buffet style or waiter service.

JG3+

JG3+ hotels typically enjoy higher levels of satisfaction on both online hotel rating sites and our own customer satisfaction surveys and may enjoy superior locations close to resort attractions or surrounded by spectacular scenery.

Images

Images

JG Explorer

JG Explorer Coaches 

We are pleased to introduce JG Explorer – a brand-new deluxe coach, thoughtfully designed to provide an elevated coach experience and ensure your journey is special and memorable.

Exclusive to the JG Travel Group, the design of these coaches has been meticulously thought through with your comfort in mind – with only 44 seats meaning more room on board and padded seats. There’s improved legroom and a footrest, making certain that wherever you sit, you’ll be able to relax and enjoy your journey. We know it’s the small things that make a big difference in terms of ease and added convenience, so our JG Explorer coaches feature a floor-level, rear-mounted toilet, accessible to all customers.

On-board entertainment throughout your journey is easy to find on the JG Explorer, with access to Azimut, our wireless media system, providing films and quizzes. Simply bring along your smartphone or iPad and enjoy this entertainment interruption-free, with the use of our extra reliable Wi-Fi, free to all passengers and a handy USB port at each seat.

The layout of the JG Explorer includes a floor-level, rear-mounted kitchen with a sink, an espresso machine to purchase delicious Nespresso coffee, dispensed by your driver during comfort breaks, and a fridge stocked with cold drinks and milk. Customers are welcome to help themselves to complimentary JG bottles, that can be used for refill at the built-in cold-water filter, cutting down on the need for disposable plastic bottles and doing our part for the environment.

Accommodation

Ibis Styles Hotel, Ouistreham

JG3 rating

Our ibis Styles hotel is located in the resort town of Ouistreham, just 500m from the quaint fishing harbour and beach, codenamed Sword Beach during the Normandy landings. Hotel facilities include a bar, restaurant, comfortable en-suite bedrooms and free Wi-Fi.

Originals City Hotel Caen Mémorial, Caen

JG3+ rating

Situated in the historic city of Caen, the Originals City Hotel Caen Mémorial offers free Wi-Fi, a restaurant, bar, outside terrace and well-appointed rooms with tea and coffee-making facilities, TV and hairdryer.