Arrive at your hotel on your own. The authentic town of Trouville sur Mer, where this self-guided walking tour in Normandy starts, is a charming little fishing port with a long sandy beach. Culture vultures can find their fill in the galleries around town. Back beside the sea, Trouville's strand was declared "Queen of Beaches" in the past and is still greatly appreciated by bathers and walkers today. *Easiest arrival through Paris Airport. There are direct (or with one change) train services from Paris to Trouville sur Mer (2-2,30hrs ride). There are direct bus lines between Paris and Deauville too (2,45hrs ride). If you are coming from Caen (which is even closer) you can use again train (1 change, 1,20hrs) or direct (and frequent) bus services (1,30hrs).

An organized transfer will take you to Honfleur, a charming little town with an old harbour, tall, narrow houses, wooden church and art galleries. You will cross the town to reach the heights and the chapel of Notre Dame de Grâce, where there is a beautiful viewpoint over Honfleur and the Pont de Normandie. On the way you will pass by some lovely properties and half-timbered houses. Next you will we cross the Bois du Breuil - an enchanting coastal forest, with a great variety of tree species. The most spectacular are the naturalized rhododendrons that colour the forest in purple and mauve in May. Then walk down to see the banks of the Seine River and the beach at low tide. Transfer back to Trouville sur Mer.

Your second hiking day starts from your hotel in Trouville. The final destination is the town of Deauville, which you will reach by crossing the Touques - the river that separates the two towns Trouville and Deauville. Once you reach Deauville you should allow more time to explore its sublime half-timbered villas, luxury hotels and casino. As you climb higher, the scenery changes completely. You are now in Normandy's countryside. There you will discover horse farms and magnificent thatched cottages, and not the least relics of the Second World War, a military cemetery, topped by magnificent views of the Atlantic coast. The hiking trail then continues down to the sea, where you will walk along the immense beach (3km) towards the famous Deauville boardwalk. The latter bears the names of the American actors who took part in the town's "American film festival", like a little "Hollywood boulevard" à la française. (swimming opportunity – life-guard present in July & August). In the afternoon you will return on foot to your accommodation and from there take the train (payable on spot, tickets not included) to Bayeux (1,30hrs ride). This is going to be your next overnight place, and a base for the second part of your independent walking tour.

A short organized transfer will take you to Ryes where today's hiking starts. Your walk begins in the footsteps of William the Conqueror through the countryside (fields and farms) before reaching the coast, still keeping the tragic memories from the more recent history. On your pass you will through Arromanches. It was on the beach of Arromanches that, during the Invasion of Normandy immediately after D-Day, the Allies established an artificial temporary harbor to allow the unloading of heavy equipment without waiting for the conquest of deep water ports such as Le Havre or Cherbourg. You can choose to visit the 360° cinema and the D-Day Museum or you can enjoy a swim (lifeguard station only during the summer school holidays in the afternoon). The hiking route then continues along the cliffs to Longues sur Mer and the old German batteries. These German coastal artillery battery is situated on a 60m high cliff overlooking the Baie de Seine and formed a part of Germany's Atlantic Wall coastal fortifications, between the Allied landing sectors of Gold Beach and Omaha Beach. Your transfer vehicle will be waiting there to take you back to Bayeux.

Morning transfer to the American cemetery. It contains 9388 gravesites and it was built in honor of all American troops who died in Europe during World War II. We recommend that you first visit the visitors center, where a 30min film is shown. There is also a small museum about American soldiers and their equipment. Then it is with emotion that you will stroll among the white tombs overlooking the sea in this place that today is so peaceful and that was once a terrible battlefield. After this moving visit, you will start the walk down to Omaha Beach (with the possibility to swim). This is one of the five beach landing sectors of the amphibious assault component of Operation Overlord during the Second World War. Also known as the “Bloody Omaha”, this was the D-Day landing beach that saw the highest number of casualties on D-Day. The last stages of your self-guided walking holiday in Normandy continue along the coast through the countryside all the way to Port en Bessin, a charming fishing port specializing in scallop fishing. Your transfer vehicle will wait there in order to take you back to Bayeux.

Services end after breakfast.