The D-Day Marathon & Half Marathon – Normandy D-Day Beaches & Paris
78th Anniversary of the D-Day Landings
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We will see many WWII historical sites and we will learn the personal stories (sometimes triumphant, sometimes tragic) of those who helped to win freedom for France and the World. Whether you are a history buff, or you have had your interest piqued by a movie or tv show, you will find this tour immensely rewarding. Our guide gives you the necessary background information plus the in-depth, personal stories to make the D-Day Landing Beaches come to life.
After Normandy, we will head back to Paris, our favorite city! Paris has many must-see sights, but it also has so much more for those of us who like to immerse ourselves in the neighborhood culture.
If this is your first visit to Paris, we will give you time to visit some of the iconic landmarks: impressionist art at the Musee d’Orsay, Monet’s Water Lilies at the Musée de l’Orangerie, the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre… the list goes on and on!
But, we will also slow down and give you a feel of the “real” Paris – cute neighborhood shops, the many parks and gardens where you can just relax with a baguette for lunch, or the outdoor cafe where you can sit with a glass of rosé and just watch Parisian life go by.
Some of the highlights of this tour*:
Our two days with our private guide in Normandy is an obvious highlight — there is nothing like standing on the sandy beaches in awe of what our soldiers accomplished and sacrificed.
In Paris, we have a delicious, private wine-tasting dinner planned. We will be pairing French wine with a multi-course meal, all while picking the brain of our host and sommelier!
We have one “introduction to Paris” and a Parisian food tour on tap. We’ll explore the “locals” Paris with our guide and learn the history and “hidden gems.” We will find delightful shops, quaint restaurants, and open-air markets which will make Paris feel like your local hangout. Then, we will explore the many French food delights! Pastries, cheese, chocolate, bread, pâté, and more!
View the full itinerary here!The Races:
The D-Day Landings Marathon (Marathon de la Liberté) is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. You will run along the famous beaches and battle sites of the Normandy Landings (Juno and Sword Beaches, the Casino d’Ouistreham, Pegasus Bridge, etc.) making your way to the finish line in Caen. The Pegasus Half Marathon, named after the famous bridge from which it sets off, was the first bridge liberated by British soldiers from the 6th Airborne Division. You will wind your way through quaint villages and the idyllic French countryside to the finish in Caen.
Other Race Options:
4-person marathon relay (approximately 10km for each person) is a great way to experience the full marathon, but with much less training! 🙂
10km through the city of Caen with 5,000 local runners!
La Rochambelle, a 5km women’s walk/run in aid of the fight against breast cancer. (This event is Saturday evening – please contact us for details.)
What’s Included: |
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What’s Not Included: |
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(* – Subject to change)
Additional information
| Accommodations | Luxury 4 or 5 Star Hotel |
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June 10: Arrival
- Arrive in Paris
- Transfer to Bayeux hotel
- Our tour officially begins at 4 pm with a meet and greet “happy hour” to get to know your tour operators and fellow guests. We will be providing you with some information about your tour.
- “Welcome to France” dinner
June 11
- Optional morning run/walk
- Race packet pickup
- Your afternoon is free to explore Bayeux
Check out everything to do in Bayeux! - Dinner on your own
June 12 - Race Day!
- Transfer to race start
- D-Day Landing’s Marathon & the Pegasus Half Marathon
- D-Day Landing’s Marathon & Relay Start: 9:10 am
- Pegasus Half Marathon Start: 8:55 am
- 10km Start: 8:40am
- Transfer back to Bayeux
- Post-race celebratory dinner
June 13
- Optional morning run/walk
- Private tour of Normandy D-Day beaches and museums
- Lunch & Dinner included
June 14
- Optional morning run/walk
- Private tour of Normandy D-Day beaches and museums (continued)
- Lunch & Dinner included
June 15
- Optional morning run/walk
- Transfer to Paris
- “Introduction to Paris” tour
- “Welcome to Paris” dinner
June 16
- Optional morning run/walk
- Free day to explore Paris!
Check out everything to do in Paris!
- Wine-pairing dinner
June 17
- Optional morning run/walk
- Transfer to Paris Airport / Train station for the next leg of your journey or your return home
June 17 (10-Day Tour Option)
- Optional morning run/walk
- Paris food & market tour
- Afternoon on your own to explore Paris
Check out everything to do in Paris!
- Dinner on your own
June 18 (10-Day Tour Option)
- Optional morning run/walk
- Free day to explore Paris!
Check out everything to do in Paris!
- Complimentary farewell dinner
June 19 (10-Day Tour Option)
- Optional morning run/walk
- Transfer to Paris Airport / Train station for the next leg of your journey or your return home
(* – Subject to change. More details coming soon.)
Marathon de la Liberté
Now in its 30th year, the Marathon de la Liberté is the leading event of Les Courants de la Liberté, stretching out over the legendary distance of 42.195km. Steeped in history and memories, Le Marathon de la Liberté is sometimes called the D-Day Landings Marathon and is also known as the Caen Marathon. It has been awarded the FFA national label. Its course is one of the most beautiful ones in France.
During this race, the personal endeavor is coupled with the discovery of the major milestones of the Normandy Landings (Juno and Sword Beaches, the Casino d’Ouistreham, Pegasus Bridge, etc.), adding a historical reverence to this intense sporting challenge.
Bayeux Sights & Things To Do:
- Bayeux Tapestry
- Cathedral of Our Lady of Bayeux
- Battle of Normandy Memorial Museum
- Cider & Calvados Tasting
- Shop
Paris Sights & Things To Do:
- Louvre Museum
- Visit the Palace of Versailles
- Eiffel Tower
- Arc de Triomphe
- Musée de l’Orangerie
- Musée d’Orsay
- Musée Jacquemart-André
- Musée de l’Armée
- Petit Palais
- Musée Grévin
- Cité des Sciences et de l’industrie
- Palais de la Découverte
- Picasso Museum
- Rodin Museum
- Grand Palais
- Muséum d’Histoire Naturelle
- Musée du Luxembourg
- Musée d’Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris
- Palais de Tokyo
- Centre Pompidou
- Musée du Quai Branly – Jacques Chirac
- Fondation Louis Vuitton
- Panthéon
- Domaine de Chantilly
- Notre Dame de Paris
- Conciergerie
- Sainte-Chapelle
- Opéra national de Paris – Palais Garnier
- Basilique du Sacré-Coeur de Montmartre
- Père Lachaise cemetery
- Montparnasse Tower
- Visit Montmartre
- Château de Fontainebleau
- Carnavalet Museum
- Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte
- Catacombes de Paris
- Shop!
- Relax in a cafe
- Sip some wine and watch Paris life pass by…
- Or, we can help you organize a private tour to match your interests!
What you need to know about this tour:
- Book your flight into and out of Paris, France. (Most flights from the US will arrive at Airport Code: CDG — Charles De Gaulle. If your flight is arriving at ORY — Orly Airport, please contact us.)
- If you wish to begin or end your tour in a different city, please contact us!
- Your flight will depart the USA on Thursday, June 9, 2022! (It will arrive in Paris, France on Friday, June 10, 2022.)
- You should plan your flight to arrive in Paris approximately mid-morning, local time in France. That will allow you clear customs, meet your private driver for the drive to Normandy, and give you ample time before our happy hour meet-and-greet at 5pm. (If your flight will arrive later, please contact us.)
- Driving time from the Paris airport to our Bayeux hotel is approximately 3 hours.
- Driving time from our Paris hotel to the the CDG airport is approximately 45 minutes – 1½ hours (or more! Paris traffic can be very busy!)
- Your return flight to the USA should depart Paris, France (Either Airport Code: CDG or ORY) on Friday, June 17, 2022 (for the 8-day tour) or Sunday, June 19, 2022 (for the 10-day tour). If you wish to extend your stay, or if you are continuing your journey to other parts of Europe, please contact us.
- We will provide you with lunch and dinner restaurant recommendations for any meals on your own. We have personally visited these establishments and can personally vouch for them! Unlike some hotel concierge desks, these are our unbiased and uncompensated recommendations.
- If you do not feel comfortable on your own with language differences (even though our recommended restaurants all speak English) or going out on your own in a foreign place, you are more then welcome to join us for meals. We are your hosts – we won’t ever leave you to fend for yourself!
- We have many suggestions for things to do on your free days. We will chat about your preferences and give you ideas of activities you will enjoy.
- The D-Day Marathon Cut-Off Time is 5:30.
- The D-Day Half Marathon Cut-Off Time is 2:30.
