Omaha Beach & Pointe du Hoc: D-Day Afternoon Tour Bayeux

Summary

Walk Omaha Beach hear stories at WN62 pause at the American Cemetery then climb windswept Pointe du Hoc cliffs

You’ll stand on Omaha Beach where history feels close enough to touch, follow your guide through German bunkers, pause among endless white crosses at the American Cemetery, and climb windswept Pointe du Hoc cliffs — all in one afternoon from Bayeux. Expect quiet moments and stories that linger long after you leave.

What’s the experience like?

I didn’t expect to feel so quiet stepping onto Omaha Beach. We’d just left Bayeux after lunch, still thinking about the medieval streets, and suddenly we were here — sand underfoot, wind coming off the Channel, that odd mix of salt and grass in the air. Our guide, Pascal, pointed out WN 62 up on the bluff. He told us “Wiederstandnest” means resistance nest — German strongpoints — and I tried to imagine what it looked like eighty years ago. It’s hard to picture with families walking their dogs nearby now. But you can see why they called it “Bloody Omaha.”

The drive up from Sainte-Honorine-des-Pertes to Vierville was pretty quiet in our little group; maybe everyone was thinking about what happened along these sectors — Fox Green, Easy Red. Pascal stopped us at a concrete bunker and let us run our hands along the rough wall (cold even in June). He explained how US V Corps landed here: 1st Infantry Division, 29th Infantry Division, Rangers. I kept looking back at the sea — it’s so calm now. There was this moment when he read a name from a faded plaque and nobody said anything for a while.

After that we went to the American Cemetery in Colleville-sur-Mer. The rows of white crosses go on forever — 9,387 names. It’s peaceful but not really restful, if that makes sense? You hear birds and sometimes just footsteps on gravel. I saw an older man leave some wildflowers by a grave; he nodded at me but didn’t say anything. I still think about that view over the water from there.

Pointe du Hoc was last. The wind nearly took my hat off as we climbed up to where Rudder’s Rangers scaled those cliffs (Pascal joked my shoes wouldn’t have made it). The craters are still there — grass growing inside them now — and you can see why someone once said three old women with brooms could’ve stopped anyone climbing up. But they did it anyway. We finished standing by the edge looking out west, not really talking much anymore.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Visit Omaha Beach and D-Day sites

• Depart from Place de Quebec, Bayeux
• See German weapons strong points WN 62, WN 65, WN 73
• Visit American Cemetery at Colleville
• Explore Pointe du Hoc cliff monument

Top questions

How long does this Omaha Beach & Pointe du Hoc tour last?

The tour runs for about four hours in the afternoon, typically from 1:45pm to around 5:30 or 6pm.

Where does the D-Day afternoon tour start?

The meeting point is Place de Quebec in central Bayeux, near the Tapestry Museum.

Is pickup included for this tour?

No hotel pickup is included; you meet your local guide at Place de Quebec in Bayeux.

What sites are visited during this half day trip?

You visit Omaha Beach (including WN62), the American Cemetery at Colleville-sur-Mer, and Pointe du Hoc.

Is this D-Day tour suitable for children or people with limited mobility?

The tour is suitable for all fitness levels; strollers and collapsible wheelchairs can be accommodated if assisted.

Are infant seats available on this tour?

Yes, specialized infant seats are available upon request.

Is lunch included during this afternoon D-Day tour?

No lunch is included; tours depart after lunch time from Bayeux.

Can service animals join this Normandy D-Day tour?

Yes, service animals are allowed on this tour.

What’s included

Your afternoon includes guided transport from central Bayeux with a local guide who shares stories and history as you visit Omaha Beach’s landing sectors and bunkers, walk through the American Cemetery at Colleville-sur-Mer, and climb up to Pointe du Hoc before returning in time for dinner back in town.