One of the most interesting excursions is exploring the famous D-Day beaches in an authentic jeep. There are various tours in Normandy where you will be guided by a local. Along the way, you will learn about the rich history of this part of France. You'll naturally get a sense of how this immense invasion permanently altered World War II. These are the best tips for the unique jeep excursion to the D-Day beaches.
The majority of these tours can be done in Sainte-Mère-Église, as this place played a crucial role during D-Day. You will learn all about it during the trip. There are also tours offered in the more eastern located city of Arromanches.
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I went on a tour with a guide in an authentic WWII Willys Jeep. We drove to the famous D-Day beaches and the surrounding areas. The guide provides a lot of explanations about the past. It is an intriguing tour.
You have different types of excursions: one hour, two hours, four hours, and a full day. I did a two-hour tour, where you visit various locations. Including the famous beaches, but also the hinterland where a large part of the battle took place.
The excursions are offered in Willys Jeeps. This characteristic jeep is a small four-wheel drive terrain vehicle that was built during the war. It was used by the Allies in World War II. These jeeps, with canvas roof, were produced in large numbers in America from 1941 to 1945.
What Does the Jeep Excursion Look like?
The jeep accommodates three people; two in the back and one in the front. This is in addition to the driver. Most jeeps still have many attributes from that time. You will be picked up in the centre of Sainte-Mère-Église or Arromanches. The route takes you over a surprisingly large number of dirt roads, giving you a sense of what it must have been like over 70 years ago.
The guide tells a lot about D-Day and how the Allies eventually gained control of this part of France. However, this did not happen without a fight. It took weeks to dismantle the heavy German defense works. The number of stops along the way also depends on the length of the tour. The longer the tour, the more stops there are.
D-Day: 6th June 1944
On Tuesday, June 6, 1944, tens of thousands of paratroopers landed behind the German front line as part of the entire D-Day operation. They were followed by over 125,000 soldiers on the beach. The unique aspect was the construction of an artificial harbour to transport tanks and other heavy equipment to the beach. There are still many memories to be visited on the beaches of Normandy. This can be done through a unique jeep tour.
I have stayed in this intriguing region for several days. There are various small hotels, gites, and apartments to choose from. Most of them are located along the coast, on the outskirts of a village, or in nature. Be sure to book in advance, as this is a very popular area. This especially applies to weekends and holidays.
