Signature: The Legacy of WWII in London & Normandy

Welcome to London. Your expedition begins upon arrival to the Heathrow Airport, where you will be met and transferred to your hotel. In the evening, meet your National Geographic Expedition Leader and be immediately immersed in wartime history at the Churchill War Rooms, a fortified bunker deep underneath Whitehall from which Winston Churchill directed the British war effort. Wander through the historic rooms and the adjacent Churchill Museum, examining maps and items from Churchill's life. Your tour is guided by a former IWM Operations Director, providing deep context to the war. Continue with a welcome reception and dinner inside one of the museum's unique spaces.

Included Experiences

• Arrival Transfer: You will be met at the airport and transferred to the hotel to start your adventure.
• Welcome Moment - Meet Your Expedition Leader and Group: Your opportunity to meet your Expedition Leader and fellow travellers, and learn more about your tour. Don't forget to see the notice in the lobby (or ask reception) for the official time and place to meet up with the group. There will be an included group welcome dinner after the meeting.
• Churchill War Rooms: Enjoy an exclusive evening at the Churchill War Rooms, featuring a private tour and lecture led by a former director or military historian within the underground nerve center of Britain’s wartime government. The experience concludes with a sophisticated 1940s-themed dinner in the historic Harmsworth Room, complete with English sparkling wine, period memorabilia, and a curated three-course menu.

Set out on a powerful walking tour curated and led by professional guides previously affected by homelessness. This experience provides intimate, human insight into the resilience and challenges of London life. Next, board your coach for a panoramic tour of London’s WWII highlights, viewing Buckingham Palace and Westminster Abbey. Visit inside St Paul’s Cathedral, a symbol of London’s defiance during the Blitz. After free time for lunch near Borough Market, explore the decks of the HMS Belfast, a crucial survivor of the Imperial War Museum fleet, gaining firsthand insight into naval warfare. Enjoy a free evening to explore London on your own.

Included Experiences

• Westminster Area Walking Tour: Explore world-famous landmarks like Westminster Bridge while learning about the trailblazing women who shaped British history, and hearing a powerful firsthand account of homelessness that challenges how we think about the city’s public spaces.
• London City Tour: Enjoy a curated journey through the heart of the capital, passing luxury icons like Harrods before pausing for photos at legendary landmarks including Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, and Trafalgar Square. The experience culminates with a grand visit to Buckingham Palace, the official London residence of His Majesty the King.
• St. Paul's Cathedral: Step inside this world-famous landmark to admire the stunning architecture and grand interior of Sir Christopher Wren’s masterpiece.
• Walking: Join your Expedition Leader on a walk to Borough Market.
• Imperial War Museum - HMS Belfast Tour: Led by a knowledgeable guide, this tour explores the historic decks and specialized compartments of HMS Belfast. You will learn about the ship’s significant naval history and see how the crew lived and worked during its years of active service.
• Free Time: After a day of exploring on foot, enjoy a relaxed evening at your own pace to experience London’s world-class dining or the vibrant energy of the West End. Whether you choose a quiet riverside stroll or a cozy corner in a historic pub, the night is yours to soak in the city’s charm.

Depart London for the countryside and be immersed in a world of intrigue and espionage at Bletchley Park. Discover the untold story behind the Enigma code breakers, who successfully deciphered the encryption used by German forces — a crucial insight into the pivot of the war. Lunch is at your leisure at the Canteen. Afterwards, travel to Portsmouth to visit the D-Day Story Museum. Your experience includes a private discussion with the museum curator, gaining unparalleled, personal insight into the invasion history and artifacts before touring the exhibits.

Included Experiences

• Bletchley Park Enigma Machines: Step back in time with a local expert as you tour the once-secret rooms where codebreakers worked to shorten the Second World War. You will explore the historic huts and blocks where the world’s first computers were born and see an original Enigma machine up close.
• D-Day Museum Visit and Discussion with the Curator: Gain a unique perspective on the Normandy landings with a private discussion with the museum curator, followed by a guided tour of the museum. This experience combines expert historical context to accompany the fascinating artifacts and exhibits.

Today, you cross the English Channel by ferry to Caen, tracing the route of the invasion forces. Your exploration of Normandy begins at the Pegasus Memorial Bridge, dedicated to the 6th British Airborne Division, who executed the famous coup de main raid. Walk the poignant sands of Sword Beach, one of the five critical landing points for the Allied invasion, reflecting on the scale of the operation and the thousands of soldiers who arrived here. You'll then transfer to your hotel in Bayeux, a town steeped in history.

Included Experiences

• Pegasus Bridge: Visit the iconic Pegasus Bridge for a photo opportunity at the very location where the Allied liberation of France began. It is a perfect moment to capture images of this world-famous landmark and its dedicated war memorials.
• Sword Beach Walk: Walk the historic length of Sword Beach under the guidance of your expedition leader, who will bring the events of June 6th to life.
• Ferry: Get to the next spot on your route aboard a convenient and efficient ferry boat.

Continue your exploration of Normandy and WWII history with the airborne assault. You'll visit the village of Sainte-Mère-Église, where paratroopers dropped amid gunfire on the night of June 5th. See the church steeple where one paratrooper was famously entangled. Continue to Utah Beach, one of the American landing sites, and visit its museum. Your tour traces the path of resilience: Visit Sainte-Marie-du-Mont, one of the first liberated villages, and see the memorial for Easy Company. Head to La Fière Bridge, site of an important battle led by the 82nd Airborne Division. Afterwards, venture into the field where Easy Company Commander Thomas Meehan and his crew perished when their 47 crashed under enemy fire — a powerful connection to the history that was dramatically recounted in Stephen E. Ambrose’s book Band of Brothers.

Included Experiences

• Sainte-Mère-Église Village Walk: Join your Expedition Leader for a walk through Sainte-Mère-Église, the first French town liberated by American paratroopers during the D-Day landings.
• Airbon Museum Visit: Enjoy a self-guided visit to the Airborne Museum, exploring the history of the American paratroopers through an extensive collection of WWII artifacts. This visit offers the opportunity to see original gliders and transport planes used during the liberation of Sainte-Mère-Église.
• La Fière Bridge: Stop at the historic La Fière Bridge, a critical site where paratroopers of the 82nd Airborne fought a legendary three-day battle to secure the Merderet River crossing. The site features the "Iron Mike" statue and offers a clear view of the flooded marshes that defined this pivotal D-Day objective.
• Utah Beach: Join an expert expedition leader for an exploration of Utah Beach and its historic landmarks. Gain insight into the D-Day landings as your leader breaks down key events that took place across this storied coastline.
• Major Richard Winters Memorial: Take a photo stop at the Major Richard Winters Leadership Memorial, a 12-foot bronze statue of the "Band of Brothers" commander charging toward Brécourt Manor. This monument serves as a powerful tribute to the courage and leadership of all junior officers who spearheaded the D-Day landings.
• Free Time: Return to your hotel and enjoy a free evening in Bayeux to fill however you wish.

Explore Experiences

The day begins by boarding US Army trucks for the drive to the German artillery battery at Longues-sur-Mer. Then, visit the dramatic Pointe du Hoc, where US Rangers used hooks and ropes to scale 30-metre-high (100ft) cliffs — walk along pathways still cratered by mortar blasts, viewing the concrete bunkers. Wander the poignant sands of Omaha Beach, site of the bloodiest fighting during the invasion. A guide uses wartime pictures to bring the operation to life. You'll pause for a minute of reflection on the sand. Conclude your tour at the serene American Military Cemetery in Colleville-sur-Mer, taking in the moving sight of row upon row of small white grave markers.

Included Experiences

• 4x4: Board authentic, period-correct US Army trucks for a scenic drive to the historic coastal battery at Longues-sur-Mer.
• Bunker du Poste de Direction de Tir Walk: Join your Expedition Leader for a walk to the Bunker du Poste de Direction de Tir, where you will explore the strategic remnants of coastal defense history. This excursion includes the rare opportunity to go inside the bunker's reinforced chambers to examine its original layout and learn about its role in maritime surveillance.
• Pointe du Hoc Walk: Join your Expedition Leader for a guided walk along the rugged cliffs of Pointe du Hoc to view the historic bunkers and craters left by the daring Ranger assault. This excursion offers a powerful perspective on the battlefield’s dramatic terrain and the strategic fortifications that once overlooked the English Channel.
• Omaha Beach: Walk through the "Dog Red" and "Easy Red" sectors of Omaha Beach on a guided journey that traces the intense struggle for the Vierville Draw and the German fortifications of the Atlantic Wall. This commemorative experience incorporates historical artifacts and archival imagery, concluding with a poignant tribute as a remembrance cross is placed in the sand followed by a moment of silence.
• American Military Cemetery: Pay your respects at the Normandy American Cemetery in Colleville-sur-Mer, a hallowed site overlooking the English Channel where 9,387 white marble headstones stand in silent tribute to the fallen. Stroll through the impeccably maintained grounds, pausing at the memorial colonnade and the reflecting pool to honor the immense sacrifice made on the nearby shores of Omaha Beach.
• Bayeux War Cemetery: Visit the Bayeux War Cemetery, the largest British military cemetery of World War II in France, to pay your respects at this beautifully maintained memorial to the Commonwealth forces.

Depart Bayeux in the morning bound for the village of Giverny. Visit the sanctuary of artist Claude Monet, restored in the late 1970s, where the pink rendered house and the flower and water gardens are perfectly preserved, immersing visitors in the artist and gardener’s world. Afterwards, continue to Paris. Join your National Geographic Expedition Leader for an optional discovery walk, providing an initial orientation of the French capital before enjoying the rest of the day at leisure.

Included Experiences

• Monet Gardens: Stroll to the historic home of Claude Monet for a delightful afternoon in Giverny, beginning with a leisurely lunch just steps from the artist's front gate. Following your meal, enjoy a self-guided exploration of the vibrant house and its world-famous gardens, including the tranquil Water Garden where you can cross the iconic Japanese bridge and see the lilies that inspired Monet’s greatest masterpieces.
• Free Time: Settle in however you wish this evening; perhaps join your Expedition Leader on a walk to the Louvre.

Explore Experiences

Discover another side of Paris on a guided journey into a ‘city within a city’, exploring historic, glass-roofed passageways filled with 19th-century charm. A local guide highlights this captivating, intimate glimpse into Parisian life. Next, travel to the upscale Marché du Président Wilson, a bustling Saturday market known for fresh seafood, pastries, and cheese. Enjoy a walking exploration of the market, followed by free time for lunch on your own near the Eiffel Tower area. The day concludes with a special farewell dinner, celebrating the end of your journey from resistance to liberation.

Included Experiences

• Guided Walk of Covered Passageways: Join a local guide to explore the enchanting 19th-century "covered passages" of Paris, beginning with the elegant mosaics of Galerie Vivienne and the bustling Passage Choiseul. Your walk continues through the historic Passage des Panoramas and Passage Jouffroy, concluding at Passage Verdeau to discover a hidden world of antique shops, boutiques, and glass-roofed charm.
• Sightseeing Drive to Président Wilson Market: Board a private coach for a panoramic drive past iconic landmarks like the Arc de Triomphe and Notre Dame on your way to the vibrant Marché Président Wilson. Upon arrival, join your Expedition Leader for a guided exploration of one of Paris's premier open-air markets, where you’ll have free time to sample local delicacies and enjoy lunch on your own.
• Free Time: Spend the afternoon however you wish. Perhaps join your Expedition Leader on a walk through the Eiffel Tower area or explore some of the many cafes, museums, or iconic sites.
• Eiffel Tower Visit: Visit the most famous landmark in France, the Eiffel Tower. Opt to climb the stairs or take an elevator to the top for a stunning view over the city. Hang out at dusk and watch the tower light up.

Explore Experiences

Your expedition concludes today. Transfers are provided to the airport at any time during the day.

Included Experiences

• Departure Transfer: You will be met at your hotel and transferred to the airport at the end of your adventure.