Historic WWII sites of France and Germany

Your journey begins with an overnight flight to Paris.

If you purchased airline tickets through YMT Vacations, a friendly representative will welcome you at the airport and transport you to the hotel. The afternoon is yours to enjoy, so we suggest taking a stroll through the bustling streets of Paris. This evening, enjoy a delicious welcome feast at the hotel (included). (D)

Start your day with a panoramic tour of Paris, the City of Light! Take in the sights as your motor coach ventures past Champs-Elysées, known for its grandeur. You’ll also see the Arc de Triomphe, a symbol of French history, the Grand Palais and Alexander III Bridge, Notre Dame and Île de la Cité, and Place de la Concorde, one of the city’s most historic and scenic locations. View the Latin Quarter, chic St. Germain, and the iconic Louvre, as well as the Luxembourg Gardens.

Plus, no trip to Paris would be complete without seeing the famous Eiffel Tower. Your tour also includes entrance to the Paris Liberation Museum. The evening is yours to relax and enjoy the city at your own pace, or you might want to join our optional river cruise and dinner. (B)

You’ll be transferred to Caen in the Normandy region today. Visit the Memorial de Caen, commemorating World War II and the Battle of Caen. You’ll have some free time for lunch on your own. (B, D)

Step back in time and trace the footsteps of heroes on this unforgettable full-day journey along the shores of Normandy. This immersive experience takes you to the most significant sites of the Allied landings on June 6, 1944 — a day that changed the course of history. Begin your day at Utah Beach, where American forces made their first landfall on D-Day.

Next, visit the dramatic cliffs of Pointe du Hoc, and continue to Omaha Beach, where your entrance to Musee Memorial Omaha Beach is included, and Normandy American Cemetery. Conclude your day in Arromanches-les-Bains where the remnants of the ingenious Mulberry harbors still dot the sea. Here, you’ll have an opportunity to experience Arromanches 360, unique circular cinema located atop the cliffs of Arromanches-les-Bains. (B)

Depart Normandy and journey eastward through the historic city of Rouen, with its Gothic spires and Joan of Arc legacy, en route to Reims — the symbolic heart of France’s liberation. Upon arrival, visit the Museum of the Surrender, located in the very room where Germany officially capitulated to Allied forces on May 7, 1945. (B, D)

Leave from Reims and continue your journey east toward the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, pausing first at the Luxembourg American Cemetery. Here, amid rows of pristine white crosses, lie over 5,000 American servicemen, including General George S. Patton. Enjoy free time for lunch in Luxembourg City, followed by a two-hour guided tour of the city. Admire the elegant façade of the Grand Ducal Palace, stroll along the Corniche, often hailed as “the most beautiful balcony in Europe,” and take in sweeping views from the Bock Promontory, the birthplace of the city. (B)

Spend the day learning more about the Battle of the Bulge on an insightful guided tour to all the sites where the battle took place. Start at the Mardasson Memorial Site and Bastogne War Museum. Then visit the Easy Company monument near the old Bastogne-Gouvy railway line (now a cycle route) in Belgium. It commemorates the sacrifices of the men of Easy Company, a unit of the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment of the 101st Airborne Division during the Battle of the Bulge.

Next, drive to the woods near Foy, where remnants of the original foxholes dug by Easy Company (of Band of Brothers fame) can still be seen. After a brief lunch stop on your own in Bastogne, head to Assenois where you can see the bunker where General Patton broke the encirclement. Your next stop is Shumann’s Eck, where you can walk in the woods and see the trenches, as your guide narrates the story behind them. Return to Bastogne at the end of the tour. (B, D)

Depart from Luxembourg and make a stop at the historic town of Remagen to visit the Peace Museum. Housed in the preserved towers of the bridge, the museum tells the extraordinary story of its capture by U.S. forces in March 1945, and proceed to Frankfurt. (B)

Today enjoy a guided tour of Frankfurt, a charming city full of museums, shops, and restaurants. See Frankfurt Cathedral, a great example of Gothic Roman Catholic architecture; St. Paul’s Church, where President Kennedy made a stirring speech in 1963; and the Römer, a medieval building that has served as Frankfurt’s city hall for over 600 years. You’ll have free time for an early lunch, and then be transferred to Nuremberg. (B, D)

Enjoy a guided tour of Nuremberg with entrance to Memorium Trial Museum included. You’ll have some free time for lunch, and then transfer to Munich. (B)

Enjoy a city tour of Munich, known for its hearty German cuisine, beer specialties and the original Oktoberfest. Look forward to seeing iconic sites including the Olympic Park, Schwabing, Marienplatz, Frauenkirche, and Glockenspiel. You’ll also visit the Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site. Later this evening, join us for an included farewell dinner. (B, D)