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  • Self-guided hiking tour through France - Normandy Hiking Tour
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From1,945
Rate in Euros
From1,945
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France – Best of Normandy Hiking Tour

(3 Reviews)

Normandy Hiking Tour Self-Guided: Discover coastal paths and countryside walks that take you past some of Normandy’s most well-known sites and towns. Normandy is the birthplace of Impressionism, the artistic movement inspired by Claude Monet, who created many of his works of art in Honfleur and other sites in Normandy. Honfleur and its port will leave you impressed and perhaps inspired to paint or draw along the route. Experience the interior lands where apples are grown for cidre and the famous Norman whiskey – Calvados. Finish on the landing beaches of WWII, and feel the immensity of the landing that was the beginning of the end of Nazi Germany in France. Visit the sites between Arromanches and Colleville sur Mer, the site of the somber and beautiful American Cemetery. Back in Bayeux, stroll the old streets, visit the cathedral, and take time to view the famous Bayeux Tapestry, which depicts earlier battles of the Norman’s conquests in England. Hiking through Normandy offers incredible coastal views over impressive cliffs, giving you an authentic sense of the ‘savage beauty’ of this land, as well as the determination of the troops that landed here!

Get your adventure!   
1. Call or email with questions: +1-970-230-5896 or email us. 
2. Book the trip, pay a deposit, and get excited about your adventure!
Book This Tour

Arrival & Departure Locations

Arrival city is Trouville, which is easily accessible by train from Paris St Lazare (2 hours.) Tour finishes in Bayeux, which also offers trains back to Paris. 

Price Includes

  • 7 nights of very charming, deluxe lodging 
  • Daily breakfast at the lodging
  • Private Luggage transfer between hotels
  • Private Welcome orientation and tour introduction
  • Private transfer on Day 5
  • Detailed Tour Book including details maps, touristic information, a step-by-step itinerary, and cue sheets
  • Pre-tour travel information and all necessary details to prepare for your trip
  • Emergency local telephone support during the tour
  • GPX files to use on your device, available prior to travel if requested

Not Included: 

  • Admissions and entrance fees
  • Travel Insurance (required)
  • Tourist tax of 1€ to 3€ per person per night, payable upon checkout

Lodging

Included Deluxe Hotels: 

  • Trouville: Hostellerie du Vallon **** (2 nights)
  • Honfleur: Le Maisons de Léa ****  (2 nights)
  • Port-en-Bessin: Mercure **** (2 nights)
  • Bayeux: Le Lion d’ Or *** (1 night)

Note: City taxes are not included and need to be paid in cash at the hotels. Superior rooms requested, subject to availability. There is the option to upgrade to 5-star hotels in Trouville (Hôtel Le Normandy) and Bayeux (Villa Lara.) Please inquire at the time of booking.

Optional Add-Ons

Guides & Local Support

Patrick, our local rep, will get you started on your self guided bike tour in Burgundy.
Local Expert:
Patrick, who lives in Normandy, has a real feel for our travelers’ expectations when it comes to exploring uncharted territory and he possesses a definite flair for finding a region’s hidden treasures. Our local guides and experts are available by phone to assist during your trip with any kind of need, and if due to weather or other reason you need to arrange a transfer.

Tour Highlights
  • Hiking the beautiful Landing Beaches of WWII
  • Coastal landscapes, farms, and charming half-timbered Medieval villages
  • Art galleries, churches, and museum visits 
  • Delicious culinary specialties of the region: camembert, calvados, cider

Need to Know: 

  • For parties of less than 4, this trip must start on Saturday or Monday. Other start days are possible with a supplement.
  • The terrain is rolling meadows and coastline, with some hilly cliff-sides, and wet weather or coastal winds can happen in a short duration.
  • Weather changes rapidly; experienced hikers come prepared with rain jackets and hike in both dry, wet, sunny, warm, and cool conditions!
  • Bookings around June 6th dates are hard to book because of D-Day celebrations, and access to sites may be limited due to media coverage. These dates are not recommended.
  • Travel Insurance is required on all Pure Adventures tours.
  • General Country Information
Photos
Itinerary

Day 1Arrive to Trouville

Today is your arrival day, making your way to a charming hotel in Trouville. You can easily take the train from Paris, or you may prefer to make your own arrangements with a private transfer. Tomorrow, get ready to lace up your hiking shoes and set out to explore beautiful Normandy!

Overnight: Trouville

Day 2Deauville/Trouville Loop: 9 km / 6 mi

Today’s route consists of a walking loop, and you can do as much or as little as you like. Trouville and Deauville have so much to offer and are just separated by the Touques River. Trouville, an old fishing village, still has a strong fishing culture and also, a lively atmosphere in the evening with lots of restaurants. Deauville is a very famous beach resort built in the middle of the 19th Century by a wealthy Parisian industrialist. It was he who brought the first train route connecting Paris and the Normandy Coast. You are sure to enjoy exploring here, strolling along the well-known boardwalk. There is so much to see: two horse race courses, polo grounds, hundreds of stunning villas, the beautiful 4 km long beach, the occasional celebrity sighting, and more!

Meals: breakfast
Distance: 9 km / 6 mi, +57 / -59m
Overnight: Trouville

Day 3Trouville to Honfleur: 18 km / 11 mi or shorter

Today’s walk taking you North-West towards the Seine Estuary, passing through the coastal villages of Villerville and Criqueboeuf. Enjoy the peaceful atmosphere as you hike past numerous orchards, gardens, and typical French Norman houses, all while having the Seine river estuary and the city of le Havre accmpanying you for the majority of the route. Along the way, you will have the opportunity to do a visit and tasting at a local distillery in the village of Pennedepie (cider, apple brandy, etc.) If you want to walk less, our local representative can pick you up in the morning at your hotel and drop you either in Villerville or Criqueboeuf.

Meals: breakfast
Distance: 11 km / 8 mi or 18 km / 11 mi, +362 / -372m
Overnight: Honfleur

Day 4Honfleur Loop Hike: 19 km / 12 mi

This day presents you with two options! You can either spend a “rest” day, taking some time to visit Honfleur. This medieval town has preserved its artistic and maritime heritage. Be sure to visit the picture-perfect old harbour, Ste Catherine church, art galleries, the impressionist museum, and many nice restaurants. From that rich past, almost everything is preserved, including the bell-tower, 500 year old buildings, and cobblestone streets. It is a real treasure!

If you prefer to do some more hiking today, you can do a 19 km loop. Starting in the old harbour, hike up to the Notre dâme de Grace’s chapel, pass through some lovely countryside, the Bois du breuil, and have the opportunity for a calvados or cider tasting in the Apreval. The tasting opportunity is located in Pennedepie, and we highly recommend making a stop here! Then, continue on through nice trails that return you back to Honfleur.

Meals: breakfast
Distance: 19 km / 12 mi, +253 / -257m
Overnight: Honfleur

Day 5Honfleur to Gold Beach / Port en Bessin: 14km / 8.5 mi

After breakfast you can pack up to move to your next location on the famous landing beaches of D-Day. A one hour private transfer takes you to the start of the walk at Gold beach with the best view from the cliff over the artificial harbor of Arromanches (Mulberry port) . Further west is the the German Battery of Longues-sur-mer. A few more kilometers and you get to the fishing harbor of Port-en-Bessin.

Meals: breakfast
Distance: 14 km / 8.5 mi +138 / -175m
Overnight: Port en Bessin

Day 6Port en Bessin Loop Hike: 12 or 25 km / one way or roundtrip

Today’s loop allows you to visit the American cemetery at Coleville sur Mer where you will want to leave some time to visit. A long day overall if you do the full round trip, you can arrange a taxi to return you 1 way back or to the cemetery. The entire loop is 25 km.

Meals: breakfast
Distance: 25 km / 16 mi or 12 km / 7.5 mi, +268 / -269m (long route)
Overnight: Port en Bessin

Day 7Port en Bessin to Bayeux: 18 km / 11 mi

You leave the coast, and come to the little Aure Valley. From there you walk south to Tour-en-Bessin where you will see some stunning old granite manors & farm houses showing you this prosperous part of Normandy. You eventually walk westward through the village of Barbeville before arriving to the former allies headquarter through the commonwealth war memorial. The great cathedral will be your land mark to find your hotel right in the center of the extremely well preserved city of Bayeux. We also recommend the visit of the famous tapestry relating the Battle of Hasting – the Bayeux Tapestry. It is an unbelievable piece of art and you will want to allow 50 minutes for this visit.

Meals: breakfast
Distance: 18 km / 11 mi, +152 / -107m
Overnight: Bayeux

Day 8Departure Day

Your tour ends today, after breakfast. To depart, you can take a direct train to Paris: 2hr 10min. Please let us know in advance if you would like to book additional nights in the area, or if you would like to add on another Pure Adventures tour!

Meals: breakfast

Map
Normandy hiking tour
Dates & Rates

Dates: For parties of less than 4, this trip must start on any Saturday or Monday. Other start days are possible with a supplement. D-Day (June 6) and adjacent dates impact hotel availability; please plan well in advance.

2024 Tour Rates: (based on double occupancy)

  • 2 persons: 2013 euros/person
  • 4 persons: 1945 euros/person
  • Single Supplement: 389 Euros/person (applies when 2 or more traveling but in separate single-use rooms)
  • Solo Supplement: ask us for rates

Notes:

  • Start days are Saturday or Monday. To start any other day with less than 4 participants a supplement of 88 euros/person applies.
  • New! Travel Insurance is now required to participate in this tour. You can book through our preferred vendors or your own. Proof of coverage will be required.

Make it Custom: Do you like this tour but want to make it different? Tell us your wishes & we will quote it!

Booking Terms:  In addition to our posted cancel Terms and Conditions, our local vendors on this trip have the following:  35 euros change fee for any modification after confirmation, 10% of total trip cost is non-refundable from time of confirmation, 20% of total non-refundable at 60 days to 30 days; then as much as 100% non-refundable at 15 days prior to travel. 

 

How do our tours compare to similar trips? You Get MoreIf you compare prices, we are much less than guided trips with similar experiences. In our private, independent format, you get much more than what most traditional self-guided tours offer, plus it’s a better experience! Our team has gone to great lengths to build and create exceptional tours worldwide, vacations that will give you lifelong memories. From the accommodations to the routes themselves, we hold each component of our tours to a very high standard. We are dedicated to empowering people through travel!
 
Next steps:  
1. Call or email with questions: +1-970-230-5896 or email us. 
2. Book the trip, pay a deposit, and get excited about your adventure!
Book This Tour
3 Reviews
Sort By:RatingDate

Jk Dowling

Couple Traveller

Our trip was great and the weather was really good!!! It was very moving to see the D-Day beaches and the American and British Cemeteries. We added on a side trip to Mont St. Michel and St. Malo at the end of the trip. Those were both quite impressive. Highly recommend this tour program!

August 4, 2023

Lucile F

Group Traveller

We had a fabulous trip. Our guide was outstanding. SiSi was very well informed on the area and knew great restaurants for us to go to eat. She was very accommodating and made reservations for our group of 15 and made sure we had tables together. I became ill half way through the trip and had to finish the trip in the support van. Sisi took me to a doctor and a pharmacy for medicines. Thank goodness we had the support van. The countryside was gorgeous and the hotels were nice. A very memorable trip. Loved staying at Le Grand Hard. Jo was wonderful and made us all feel at home.

August 1, 2019

Brinkley P

Couple Traveller

This was a great trip. Our support, CiCi, was just fabulous. The accommodations were perfect and the recommendations for meals as well. They did a great job in allowing us to enjoy the trip but not be overburdened with activities and a tight schedule.

October 8, 2018