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USMA West Point - Class of 1958 Tour
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Custom Tour
- Normandy - Paris
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Welcome Classmates, Friends
and Families of the Class of 1958! Contact Alpventures® or call toll-free for questions or concerns: 1 (888) 991-6718. Normandy, the Loire Valley and Paris |
| The D-Day Landing Beaches and the Battlefields of Normandy |
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Our hotel in Bayeux (Novotel) is located just a short walk to the shops, and less than 10 miles from the beaches. We will tour the American invasion sector: Utah and Omaha Beach. WWII historical sites will include Ste. Mere Eglise, St. Marie-du-Mont, Vierville, St. Laurent and Colleville sur Mer. The British also played a major role in the operation, so we don't leave them out; we visit various sites at Gold, Juno and Sword Beaches such as Arromanches, Longue sur Mer and Pegasus Bridge. Additional sites include a stop at Erwin Rommel's headquarters during the invasion at La Roche Guyon Castle and Monet's famous gardens in Giverny. Normandy has already been undertaking major preparations for the 60th D-Day Anniversary celebrations in June and into the summer. We'll be there when the energy is high, but the crowds low; touring all the significant historical D-Day sights before the large crowds gather later. Then it's off to majestic Mont St. Michel, an icon of medieval French architecture.
Saumur is famous for many things and the city has old ties to the military, going back to the 18th Century, when the Calvary School was founded. We will take a guided tour of the school and visit the museum to see cavalry battle scenes and all the old uniforms. Our group will also have a special lunch at the Officer's Mess Hall. You won't miss a thing at the Musee des Blindes (Armor Museum); which is dedicated to the history of tank warfare. An afternoon will be spent at the most magnificent Chateaux in France -- Chenonceau (Chenonceaux), Chambord and Chateau de Villandry; which is more famous for it's Renaissance gardens. Enjoy some of the best wine in France at night in our charming Loire valley hotel near Orleans.
This special tour includes just about everything. Lunches are normally "on your own;" that is, they are not included except when indicated. There are also a couple dinners you are responsible for and of course any items of a personal nature; such as beverages, souvenirs, etc. Otherwise, everything else included in the tour price is listed here:
Tour Price includes First-class accommodations in 3 and 4 star hotels, meals indicated as included tour features, ground transportation in comfortable, deluxe touring Motor Coach with air-conditioning; all sightseeing attractions, entrance fees (indicated as included tour features), service charges, and luggage service. All prices are Land only unless otherwise indicated. Prices are based on double occupancy and are subject to change (limited single rooms available for a supplement; see prices below). Tour begins
at Paris CDG Airport on the morning of April 14, 2004. (Please note:
flight departure from the US on April 13, 2004). MEETING POINT: 0930 Hrs Aerogare
(Terminal) 1, Arrival Level, Between Gates 2 & 34, Information Booth. Call
toll-free for flight quotes on discounted fares: 1 (888) 991-6718. When
arranging your own flights, please contact Alpventures® for important details
on meeting the tour group.
We anticipate about 35 people on both Tours. Don't wait to
reserve your spot on this historical journey to
beautiful Europe. You'll love all the great sights, museums and wonderful hotels
we have in store for you.
Book your tour reservation today! A tour deposit of $200 per person is due by
Nov. 30, 2003 (payment by check or credit card) . The final balance is required
by Jan 31, 2004 (official check, bank check or cashier's check). All payments
should be made payable to: Alpventures, 16190 S. Gunzer Drive, Oregon City, OR
97045.
Apr 13: In flight to Paris CDG Morning
arrival at Paris - CDG Airport. Transfer to the Normandy Coast in northwestern
France. Stop at Field Marshall Erwin Rommel’s D-Day HQ on the Seine River at
La Roche Guyon Castle. Visit the famous Impressionist, Claude Monet’s gardens
and have lunch in Giverny near Vernon. Continue to Normandy for hotel check-in
at Novotel*** in Bayeux. Leisure time to relax
before dinner. Special welcome dinner and tour orientation tonight. Apr
15: SWORD / JUNO / GOLD BEACHES…The Other Sectors Transfer
this morning to Arromanches (GOLD Beach) to see the remains of the greatest
engineering feat of the invasion: Project Mulberry, the artificial harbor. We
begin with a special 360° film presentation of ‘The Price of Freedom’ and
visit the D-Day Museum. Transfer to Courseulles sur Mer (JUNO Beach) for a
brown-bag lunch on the Canadian Beach. Early afternoon transfer to Benouville,
on the eastern flank of the Allied invasion beaches. Here we will learn how the
British 6th Airborne spearheaded the landings at Pegasus Bridge (SWORD Beach).
Also visit the famous Gondreé Café. We continue with a stop at Abbaye de La Ardenne
(site of SS massacre of Canadian POW’s) en route back to Bayeux to visit the 1944
Battle of Normandy Museum or free time. Traditional Norman dinner tonight at the
famous Le Lion d'Or, Ike's favorite restaurant in Normandy. Apr
16: UTAH BEACH…The US Airborne Landings Check
out of Novotel this morning. Today we begin with a visit to the German War
Cemetery at La Cambe; to see the grave of SS Hauptstumführer Michael Wittman (highest decorated Tanker Ace of WWII). We continue with the story of the first American Airborne landings in and around the towns of St. Mere Eglise and St. Marie-du-Mont during the night of June 5-6, 1944. We will trace the path of the American paratroopers first at La Fiere to see the Iron Mike Memorial. In Ste. Mere Eglise we will visit the Airborne Museum and have a short coffee and calvados break at Hotel John Steele. Then it's off to La Madeline, also known as Roosevelt Beach (UTAH); seeing St. Marcouf Battery and Easy Company's Brecourt Manor (Band of Brothers), site of a former German 105mm Battery en route. Lunch at Cafe Roosevelt on UTAH Beach. Afternoon tour of the former US Navy Radio Bunker and Landings Museum. Transfer back to Bayeux for dinner and overnight. Apr
17: OMAHA BEACH…The US Sea Landings The most American casualties suffered during The Longest Day were on the sandy beaches of bloody OMAHA, the left flank of the American landing sector. This morning our Tour of OMAHA begins at Pointe du Hoc. The rocky cliffs bear witness to the courage of Colonel Rudder's 2nd Ranger Battalion who faced impossible odds in attacking the heavily defended German battery there. We then transfer east along the beach to visit Vierville sur Mer and Les Moulins where the 29th INF DIV landed. Transfer to the Normandy American Cemetery at Colleville sur Mer, seen in the epic movie Saving Private Ryan, for a Guided walk through the cemetery grounds. Free time to visit the 1st INF DIV Memorial. We continue to the quaint town of Port-en-Bessin for lunch at the Hotel de La Marine. This afternoon we will tour the only German battery in the Atlantic Wall which still has its original guns in place: Longues sur Mer. Return to Bayeux for dinner. Apr 18: ST. LO and MONT ST. MICHEL·Operation Cobra and the Allied Breakout After breakfast and check-out, we leave Bayeux and head south through hedgerow country via St. Lo (site of COBRA - VII Corps Breakout) and Mortain to Mont St. Michel. Tour the ancient abbey and have lunch in one of the picturesque restaurants surrounding the abbey. Afternoon transfer south to Angers in the Loire River Valley. Visit the Chateau de Angers with its famous Doomsday Tapestry. Hotel check-in and dinner. Apr
19: LOIRE VALLEY·Saumur and the Loire Chateaux This morning we leave Angers for Saumur, with its splendid battlemented 14th Century castle dominating the town. Our first stop is the E'cole et Musee de la Cavalerie (French Calvary School and Museum); for a guided tour through the interesting French cavalry battle scenes and old uniforms. A special group lunch is planned for the Officer's Mess Hall. Saumur has old ties to the military, going back to the 18th Century, when the Calvary School was founded. After lunch we will visit the Musee des Blindes (Saumur Armor Museum), which is dedicated to the history of tank warfare. Afternoon transfer along the Loire River stopping for photos at Chateau de Villandry; whose Renaissance gardens are more famous than the chateau itself. Villandry's amazing water garden, ornamental flower garden, and vegetable gardens are laid out on three levels and are unique in Europe. Our last stops of the day are among the most beautiful Chateaux in France; Chenonceau (Chenonceaux) and Chambord. Hotel check-in near Orleans and dinner. Apr
20: PARIS…Chateau Fontainebleau
This morning our first stop is the beautiful Fontainebleau Castle, south of Paris. Tour of the Chateau along with a visit to Napoleon's chambers. Lunch. Afternoon transfer to Paris for a guided City Tour, including sites such as the Arch di Triumph, Sacre Coeur and artists colony, Place de Concorde, the Eiffel Tower, Hotel des Invalides (Napoleon's Tomb and French Army Museum) and Notre Dame. Check-in at our Paris Hotel and dinner. Apr 21: PARIS…Tour Conclusion Today
we begin with a Seine River Cruise, seeing many more Paris landmarks before
breaking up for free time. Most of the day at leisure; for sightseeing personal
interests, visiting one of Paris’ wonderful museums (such as the Louvre or
Gare d’Orsay) or shopping. Special Farewell Dinner tonight at La Taverne du
Sergent Recruteur on L’Isle St. Louis behind Notre Dame. Transfer back to our
hotel and overnight in Paris. Apr
22: In flight to US (or continue on Ardennes Tour Extension)
Do you have a question or concern? We would be happy to provide you more details. Contact Alpventures® by email or call toll-free for more information: 1 (888) 991-6718. You can also find helpful answers to your questions at our website, including Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs), unsolicited testimonials from our past tour guests and helpful travel tips and information at our Travel Center. You can also search for flights, hotels and local tours in other areas at our Travel Center. [ Top ] | ||||||||||||||
We continue the tour with a visit and tour of Chateau Fontainebleau; once the residence of French Royalty including Napoleon Bonaparte. We finish off in spectacular Paris. During a comprehensive guided city tour, we will discover all the beauty and charm Paris has to offer; such as the Arch of Triumph, Sacre Coeur and artists' colony, Place de Concorde, the Eiffel Tower, Hotel des Invalides (Napoleon's Tomb and French Army Museum) and Notre Dame Cathedral. We will also see many city highlights during a relaxing Seine River Cruise. Since this tour finishes in Paris, we include some free time for your personal interests such as shopping or visiting one of the many world-class museums or other attractions. The tour concludes enjoying each others company and recapping the tour during a special farewell dinner downtown. The next morning, we head to the Paris CDG Airport for those of you flying back to the US. The rest of us will continue to Riems in the Champagne Department of France, on our way to the Ardennes. (Click here for details on the optional, 6 day 