Liberation Tours Canada
  • Home
  • Our Tours
    • 2023 GROUP TOURS >
      • Northwest Europe (Sep 8-20) **JUST ADDED**
      • The Cinderella Army (Sep 28 - Oct 14)
      • Italian Campaign (Oct 17-30)
    • 2024 GROUP TOURS >
      • Northwest Europe (Apr 21 - May 6)
      • Italian Campaign (May 13-27)
      • 80th Anniversary of D-Day (May 29 - Jun 11)
      • Northwest Europe (Sep 19 - Oct 3)
      • Italian Campaign (Oct 6-19)
    • 2025 GROUP TOURS >
      • Holland Liberation 80th Anniversary (Apr 21 - May 7)
  • Testimonials
  • Book
  • About Us
    • Our Team
    • FAQs
    • Covid Protocols
    • Travel Insurance
    • Resources
  • Contact
  • Agents
  • Home
  • Our Tours
    • 2023 GROUP TOURS >
      • Northwest Europe (Sep 8-20) **JUST ADDED**
      • The Cinderella Army (Sep 28 - Oct 14)
      • Italian Campaign (Oct 17-30)
    • 2024 GROUP TOURS >
      • Northwest Europe (Apr 21 - May 6)
      • Italian Campaign (May 13-27)
      • 80th Anniversary of D-Day (May 29 - Jun 11)
      • Northwest Europe (Sep 19 - Oct 3)
      • Italian Campaign (Oct 6-19)
    • 2025 GROUP TOURS >
      • Holland Liberation 80th Anniversary (Apr 21 - May 7)
  • Testimonials
  • Book
  • About Us
    • Our Team
    • FAQs
    • Covid Protocols
    • Travel Insurance
    • Resources
  • Contact
  • Agents

2024 D-Day 80th Anniversary
Canadian Battlefield Tour

From london, across the channeL,
To the beaches of Normandy
Picture

2024 D-Day 80th Anniversary Tour

from London, across the English Channel, to the beaches of Normandy

At a glance     
May 29 - June 11, 2024 • England & France • 14 days

Overnight destinations     
London • Portsmouth • Normandy Region • Paris

Highlights     
cross the English Channel just as the boys did in 1944 • visit all five landing beaches: UTAH - OMAHA - GOLD - JUNO - SWORD • special commemoration event at Juno Beach on June 6 • Falaise Gap • Verrieres Ridge • free time to take in the sights & sounds of the big 80th anniversary year • scroll down to see complete details
Picture
©2022. Used under license.
click to download brochure!
Picture
Picture

The Canadian story ...

​At sea, by land, and in the air, Canada participated in one of the monumental events of WWII - D-Day - June 6, 1944.

​In 2024 the allied nations return to Normandy to mark the 80th anniversary, with a commemoration of service and sacrifice and a celebration of the triumph of liberation.

On a small stretch of beach on the Normandy coast of France, Canada will join in paying tribute to 'The Greatest Generation', to whom we owe so much.


So much to see in Normandy ...

Many years have passed since those fateful days of 1944, but much remains of the occupation and liberation. See "Canada House" at Juno Beach. Visit big German guns on the cliffs above Gold Beach. See remnants of the ingenious Mulberry Harbour, and also tanks, and trucks and bunkers at Omaha and Utah.

But also, see the many poignant and meaningful monuments, big and small, which dot the shores and the adjoining countryside. It is an especially ​good feeling to arrive at some small place, somewhere in Europe, and see the Canada flag flying high. Be prepared to feel a deep sense of pride.
Picture
Picture

Special moments in 2024 ...

Ample free time is programmed into your trip to allow you to take in the celebratory sights and sounds of this next big D-Day anniversary.

Travelers can expect to encounter WWII period vehicles, living history re-enactment camps, live music, fly-overs, and more. Many town squares will feature a festive mood, unique to these D-Day anniversary years.

You'll have free time in Saint-Mère-
Église, Saint-Marie-du-Mont and Arromanches, at Pegasus Bridge, and more. You will also enjoy several brief walks out on the battlefields, retracing the steps of the allied armies while quietly taking in the surrounding landscape.


​ 
Commemorations of WWII ...

Commemorations for 2024 will be incorporated into the itinerary, as they are announced by Veterans Affairs Canada.

Expected events include a remembrance gathering at Bény-sur-Mer Canadian War Cemetery on June 5, and again at Bretteville-sur-Laize Canadian War Cemetery on June 7, along with a major event at the Juno Beach Centre on June 6. Details of these events are typically announced much closer to the anniversary date.


Note: special registration is likely required.
Picture
Picture

Your Home away from Home ...

The Juno Beach Centre is the welcoming place for Canadians in Normandy. You will enjoy a feature tour inside the museum, along with a guided tour of the German bunkers buried below the sand dunes out front.

Over several days, you will see all the sections of Juno Beach in detail, along with various points of interest inland retelling the subsequent Battle of Normandy.

​You will be part of a typically all-Canadian group, mostly couples, from all the across the country. 


Join us for an unforgettable, life-changing journey, and follow in the footsteps of the Canadian liberators.

​All our tours are carbon-neutral.

Your Guide Team

Vertical Divider
Picture
Picture
Picture

Mark Zuehlke

Award-winning author of the Canadian Battle Series and Lead Tour Guide
Picture
Vertical Divider

Picture

Mark Proulx

German Historical Specialist and former officer with the Canadian Army
Picture

Phil Craig

Chief Historian and professional actor of film, stage and television
Picture

John Cannon

Co-founder of Liberation Tours and your Tour Director

Juno Beach, Normandy, France.

Stand on the very shore where Canada made history.

ITINERARY
Tuesday May 28
For many of our Canadian travelers it is departure day, for the overnight transatlantic flight. Some travelers may choose to leave for Europe sooner to extend the start of the trip - let us know if we can quote you on pre-tour accommodations.

Guests who have other travels already in progress, or g
uests from other points of origin including the United Kingdom, the United States and elsewhere, will meet the start of the tour on Day 1 in London.
Picture
The optional group flight is typically arranged with Air Canada.

Day 1 - London
Wednesday May 29
In the mid-afternoon all clients can check into the group hotel. In the meantime, luggage is stored in the hotel baggage lock-up. Today you are free to explore London, an amazing city of history and monuments waiting to be discovered including the Tower of London, Buckingham Palace, Hyde Park, the Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey, the Imperial War Museum, Covent Garden, Trafalgar Square, Piccadilly Circus, Shakespeare's Globe Theatre, Platform 9-3/4 at Kings Cross Station ... and so much more! 

In the evening we gather in the heart of London for our Welcome Dinner, to share a glass of wine and set the stage for our special journey. Overnight London - Hilton London Bankside. [D]

Day 2 - The Build-Up to D-Day
Thursday May 30
​
We make an early departure, to begin exploring the story of D-Day. We'll pause in Aldershot, to see where thousands of Canadians were encamped for training before heading into action.

After lunch we visit The D-Day Story, located on Southsea Common right on the coast. This museum expertly tells the story of the D-Day build-up, and features a very rare LCT landing craft. From here it is a short stroll along the promenade to the beautiful Portsmouth Naval Memorial, which commemorates nearly 25,000 sailors of the two great wars who were lost at sea. Overnight Portsmouth - Marriott Hotel. [B,L] ​

Day 3 - The Crossing
Friday May 31
Today is a travel day. Just as the lads did in 1944, we'll pack up our kit and set sail across the English Channel - destination, France. 

Our sailing is from Portsmouth to Ouistreham, a crossing of ~6 hours. ​Overnight Caen - Novotel Cô
te de Nacre. [B] ​
Picture
Departing Portsmouth for the Normandy Coast. © Brittany Ferries.

Day 4 - Utah Beach
​
Saturday June 1
This morning we set out to visit the first landing beach - the western-most zone code named Utah on the eastern shore of the Cotentin Peninsula. Utah is a wide, flat expanse and offers great views from the dunes, whereupon numerous monuments have been placed to mark the American landings.

​A short drive in from the coast takes us to Saint-Mère-Église, central to the region where the American 101st Airborne parachuted into France to secure the western flank of the allied landings. You'll enjoy some free time here, to take in the sights and sounds of the anniversary year.

We visit a few additional points of interest inland connected to 'Easy Company' of the 101st, and take some further free time in the town of Saint-Marie-du-Mont. ​Overnight Caen - Novotel Côte de Nacre. [B,L]​

Day 5 - Omaha Beach
Sunday June 2
Next up is the other American landing sector, code named Omaha Beach. The D-Day assault on this beach was, according to the veterans themselves, aptly depicted by the opening twenty minutes of the Steven Spielberg film Saving Private Ryan. The Americans suffered heavy losses here, due in part to the difficult terrain which favoured the defenders. We'll take a walk along the bluffs high above the beach, and also walk at the water's edge, to see both perspectives. We will also take some time for reflection at the Colleville-sur-Mer American War Cemetery which serenely overlooks the Normandy shore below. 

We then move further west to 
Pointe-du-Hoc where the United States Army Rangers famously scaled 100' cliffs to secure the position. We close out the day with a short drive inland to La Cambe German Cemetery and an opportunity to respectfully consider the losses of the opposing army. More than 21,000 German soldiers lie here, some having not even reached their eighteenth birthday. ​Overnight Caen - Novotel Côte de Nacre. [B,L] ​

Day 6 - Gold Beach
Monday June 3
Day Six takes us to points of interest within the British landing zone of Gold Beach. This area was selected as one of two sites to construct the man-made Mulberry Harbour where ships could off-load the massive supplies needed for the invasion force. The view from the cliffs above reveals remnants of the harbour just off-shore. We then walk down into Arromanches, a lovely coastal tourist village, for some free time to wander. 

We also make a visit to
Longues-sur-Mer, a German coastal artillery position of four large naval guns which posed a serious threat to Allied ships off-shore and the landing beaches themselves. Our final stop in the afternoon is the British Normandy Memorial, newly dedicated in June 2021. ​Overnight Caen - Novotel Côte de Nacre. [B,L]

Day 7 - Sword Beach
Tuesday June 4
Our Tuesday brings us to the eastern most area of the D-Day landings, and Sword Beach. We get another expansive view of a landing zone at the water's edge, with a monument dedicated to the British forces who came ashore here.

The next stop is Pegasus Bridge near Caen, 
where you will learn the story of the pre-dawn paratrooper landings by the British 6th Airborne and the 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion who secured this eastern flank with incredible precision. You then have free time to make a must-visit to the first house liberated on D-Day, the Café Gondrée, a special place filled with history and charm, while taking in the sights and sounds.

Our afternoon includes a visit to Ranville Cemetery, where some of the very first casualties of D-Day are laid to rest. This includes the Rousseau brothers, Emile Corteil and his Para Dog, and Wing Commander Lloyd Chadburn. ​Overnight Caen - Novotel Cô
te de Nacre. [B,L]

Day 8 - Juno Beach (Part 1)
Wednesday June 5
This is our first of two days along the 8 kilometers of shoreline that comprises Juno Beach. We begin by exploring Bernières-sur-Mer where we find 'Canada House,' easily the most iconic building of the entire Normandy coast. Just down the boardwalk stands one of many concrete defenses, barely unchanged since 1944.

After a short break, we take a battlefield walk along the shoreline to the eastern most point of the Juno sector and the village of Saint-Aubin-sur-Mer. Here we find yet another concrete defense, with the 50-mm German gun still sitting ominously in its place. Along the way we see more iconic beachfront structures.

The afternoon schedule is kept clear, to allow for attendance at an expected commemoration event hosted by Veterans Affairs Canada at Bény-sur-Mer Canadian War Cemetery. Here are buried 2,044 Canadians who fell in the early hours of D-Day and the subsequent battles. ​Overnight Caen - Novotel Côte de Nacre. [B,L]

Day 9 - D-Day 80
Thursday June 6 🍁
Today is the big day, the 80th Anniversary of D-Day. We'll keep the schedule clear to attend the official commemoration ceremonies at the Juno Beach Centre in Courseulles-sur-Mer. ​Overnight Caen - Novotel Côte de Nacre. [B]
Picture

Day 10 - Juno Beach (Part 2)
Friday June 7
On this Friday morning we keep a clear schedule, to allow for attendance at an expected commemoration event hosted by Veterans Affairs Canada at Bretteville-sur-Laize Canadian War Cemetery. It is the largest of the thirteen Canadian-designated war cemeteries.

In the afternoon we begin exploring areas inland from the Juno beachhead, following the path taken by the Canadians. We'll visit the monuments in the village square of Buron, then take a battlefield walk to the next village of Authie to see more tributes. We also make a stop at Carpiquet Airport to hear of the fierce battle for control of this strategic ground.

We close out the afternoon with an important Canadian pilgrimage to Abbey Ardenne, where a number of Canadians were illegally executed in the early days of June 1944. ​Overnight Caen - Novotel Côte de Nacre. [B,L]

Day 11 - Juno Beach (Part 3)
Saturday June 8
With the official commemorations concluded, and the crowds gradually dispersing, we double-back to the Juno Beach Centre for a high quality visit.

Our morning includes a tour inside the JBC, and a feature guided tour of the German command bunkers buried in the dunes out front. Once again, we'll take some time in reflection with a walk along the shoreline, to hear stories of heroism and bravery amidst the chaos of war. 

We'll visit the spot where French General Charles de Gaulle set foot in his triumphant return onto French soil, marked by the Cross of Lorraine. And, we'll see more examples of the military hardware that helped the allies win the war. Overnight Lisieux - Mercure Hotel. [B,L]

Day 12 - The Battle of Normandy
Sunday June 9
For the final day on the battlefields we venture into the countryside south of Caen, where the Battle of Normandy played out in the weeks and months following D-Day. 

We'll visit various historical points related to Verrières Ridge, including the monument at Point 67 which dominates the landscape. We stop in St-Lambert-sur-Dives where David Currie earned a Victoria Cross in the battle for the Falaise Gap.

Our visit also features another battlefield walk, this time through the village to a small bridge where the German Army attempted a desperate escape. Our day concludes with a stop at the German Tiger Tank in Vimoutiers. 

In the evening we gather for our Farewell Dinner, to raise a glass to all who have served and to enjoy the company of new friends. Overnight Lisieux - Mercure Hotel. [B,L,D]

Day 13 - Paris
Monday June 10
It's a morning departure from Normandy and a little road trip to capital. We arrive mid-day, and the rest of the day is free for you to explore Paris at your leisure.

Sightseeing highlights could include The Louvre and the Musée d'Orsay, the Arc de Triomphe, Jardins de Luxembourg, Père Lachaise Cemetery, the Eiffel Tower, shopping along the Champs-Élysées, and so much more! 

In the evening, when your bags are all packed, you're invited to the lounge to enjoy a final cocktail with your fellow travelers. 
Overnight downtown Paris - hotel tba. [B]

Day 14
Tuesday June 11
This morning is departure day for those Canadians returning home on the optional group flight - buffet or box breakfast is included, depending on departure time from the hotel. Some travelers may choose to remain in Europe longer to extend the end of the trip - let us know if we can quote you on post-tour accommodations.

Others guests will depart for home or continue their travels on other routes. [B]​
Picture

Note: This itinerary is subject to minor alteration prior to the booking deadline. Clients should also keep in mind that minor variances are always possible during the actual tour based on the need to adapt to circumstances we encounter during our travels.
Click to Download Brochure!

This tour is ideal for ...

  • travelers who have ancestors who fought in Normandy
  • those who have seen the places depicted in popular media (films like The Longest Day, Band of Brothers, Saving Private Ryan) and have always wanted to see in person the places where the history actually happened
  • clients who have joined us on a previous tour, and would like to see more of Normandy in greater detail and see new things
  • those who enjoy an occasional walk of perhaps 20-30 minutes walking the battlefields, and travelers who enjoy a little more free time to take in the sights and sounds of the anniversary year (note: the coach is always available for those who prefer to skip a walk)

PRICING - Canadian Dollars
$6929 CAD Land Only, Per Person, Based on Double Occupancy (two people sharing a room)
$1400 CAD Single Supplement (the additional cost if traveling on your own - one person in the room); (December 2022 update: our allotment of single rooms is sold out; if you are looking for a single room please contact us first and we will check with the hotels to see if we can acquire an additional single room on a case-by-case basis. 1-833-252-0001 or bookings@liberationtours.ca)

PRICING INCLUDES:
  • An expert Canadian Guide Teram, and an expert Canadian Tour Director, who will both accompany you on your full tour
  • ​Thirteen nights accommodation in twin or double rooms with private facilities
  • Travel by luxury air-conditioned coach with reclining seats, facilities and free on-board Wi-Fi
  • Buffet breakfast (cold and/or hot) at the hotel each morning, plus select meals as outlined in the itinerary (B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner); lunches and dinners typically include a glass of wine/beer
  • All entrances as per your itinerary
  • All hotel service charges, local taxes, and porterage (where available, one bag per person) are included
  • Gratuities to Coach Driver and Local Guides are included ... these costs are extra on most other tours and can add up to $200 CAD or more per person at the end of your trip, be sure to compare
  • Tour package which includes select daily detailed historical battle maps, period photographs, original audio recordings, and more ... a complete digital copy of all this is also given to you at the farewell dinner - an invaluable personal resource

PRICING EXCLUDES:
  • Airfare - we can provide a quote for flights from any gateway in Canada, to match your own individual preferences based on dates, routes, class of seating, etc; there will be one coach transfer at either end of the tour: from Heathrow Airport to the hotel in London on May 29, 2024 in coordination with the arrival of Air Canada AC856; and from the hotel in Paris to Charles de Gaulle Airport on June 11, 2024 in coordination with the departure of Air Canada AC873; travelers not utilizing these will be responsible for their own transfers
  • Porterage at select hotels
  • Pre-tour and/or post-tour accommodations - check with your favourite travel agent or ask us for a quote 
  • Travel Insurance Protection - check with your favourite travel agent or ask us for a quote from Manulife  
  • Meals other than stated on the itinerary
  • Passport & related fees
  • Any optional excursion not specifically stated
  • Items of a personal nature
​ 
IMPORTANT NOTES:
  • Hotels have been pre-booked but are subject to change
  • This tour requires a minimum of 20 passengers to operate
  • Non-refundable deposit of $500 per person due upon booking
  • Balance of payment due on or before the booking deadline: January 29, 2024
  • Liberation Tours will donate on your behalf to Forest Recovery Canada, to make your trip carbon-neutral
  • Download and read our Terms & Conditions ​prior to making your booking

Book Your Trip!
Vertical Divider
Questions? Contact your favourite travel agent or:

John Cannon, Tour Director
1-833-252-0001  |  booking@liberationtours.ca 

​
​Travel Agents  ✈  
click here.
Join us. And step into history.
Picture
©2023 Liberation Tours Inc.
info@liberationtours.ca

(833) 252-0001
(647) 812-9601


Picture
Picture