DAY 1 | June 19. IN TRANSIT. Depart for Paris, France.
DAY 2 | June 20. Paris/Honfleur
Upon arrival, transfer to Honfleur and the Mercure Honfleur Hotel. Join a Welcome Reception and Dinner.
DAY 3 | June 21. Honfleur
Excursion: Historic Honfleur. Get to know your home base of Honfleur as you stroll the narrow streets in its classic French town center, nestled against a striking 17th-century harbor. Soak in the scene that has inspired artists, writers and musicians for centuries as you visit the Old Port, the wooden Church of Sainte-Cathérine and other historic landmarks.
Local Flavor: Enjoy a lunch of local specialties at a Honfleur restaurant.
Independent Exploration: The remainder of the afternoon is at your leisure to explore or relax.
Educational Focus: D-Day and the Battle of Normandy.
DAY 4 | June 22. Normandy Beaches
Excursion: D-Day and the Battle of Normandy. Take an emotional journey to Omaha Beach, where the largest concentration of U.S. troops landed on June 6, 1944. See the German gun emplacements at Pointe du Hoc. Afterward, continue along the coastline, which is rife with the history of the Battle of Normandy. A historian explains the D-Day events and their impact on World War II. Visit the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial at St. Laurent-sur-Mer.
Local Flavor: Lunch is at a nearby restaurant, then stop for a tasting of Calvados, Normandy’s famous brandy. Later, enjoy dinner at a restaurant on Honfleur’s scenic harbor.
DAY 5 | June 23. Bayeux/Caen
Excursion: The Bayeux Tapestry. Journey to Bayeux, the cradle of the Norman dynasty. There, view the astonishing 200-foot-long Bayeux Tapestry, which depicts the events surrounding William the Conqueror and the Battle of Hastings in 1066. Visit the Cathedral of Notre Dame, a masterpiece of Norman Gothic architecture.
Local Flavor: Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant.
Excursion: Le Mémorial de Caen. Visit the Peace Memorial in Caen, a monument to peace honoring all battle heroes.
Educational Focus: The French Resistance.
DAY 6 | June 24. Honefleur
Independent Exploration: Enjoy the day at leisure.
Local Flavor: Enjoy lunch during the excursion and dinner at a restaurant on the harbor in Honfleur.
DAY 7 | June 25. Mont-Saint-Michel
Excursion: Le Mont-Saint-Michel. The sight of Mont-Saint-Michel’s dramatic, sky-scraping turrets towering over the flat white sands that surround the granite island leave little wonder why this UNESCO World Heritage site is considered the Wonder of the Western World. Explore the island that has served as a fortress, monastery and prison, and its Abbey Church, begun in the eighth century.
Local Flavor: Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant.
DAY 8 | June 26. Honfleur
Independent Exploration: Your final day in Honfleur is at leisure to pursue your own interests. Tonight, attend a Farewell Reception, a Graduation Ceremony and a Farewell Dinner.
DAY 9 | June 27. IN TRANSIT
Transfer to the airport for the return flight to your gateway city.
