Overview
With dramatic coastlines, tiny stone villages, medieval abbeys, and renowned cuisine, Normandy and Brittany are the perfect settings for our cultural hiking adventure. We visit the D-Day beaches with a historian, walk across tidal flats to iconic Mont-Saint-Michel, and experience the most breathtaking stretches of Brittany’s unique coast on wonderful hikes. Culinary treats abound, including cider fresh from the orchards, sweet crêpes, savory galettes, and a bounty of local seafood from moules marinières to scampi (Louis XIV had Brittany’s Cancale oysters brought to him at Versaille). Join us for delightful hikes, history, and cuisine.
Many highlights come to mind: our sand and sea pilgrimage to Mont St-Michel, delightful walks with gorgeous scenery and powerful history. Culture and hiking interwoven with non-stop fabulous French cuisine!
— Jo L., Santa Barbara, CA
Itinerary at a Glance
Days 1-4
Caen / Bayeux / D-Day Beaches / Mont-Saint-Michel
We view the 11th century Bayeux Tapestry, then head to the coast to hike the D-Day cliff path to Arromanches-les-Bains and visit the American war cemetery at Colleville-sur-Mer, Omaha Beach, and Pointe du Hoc, where a historian brings the dramatic events of D-Day to life for us. We’ll savor the cuisine of the north coast, sampling Normandy’s famed cheeses and tasting local Calvados brandy. Mont-Saint-Michel, a site of pilgrimage since the 8th century, rises like a mirage from the sands of the Bay of Mont-Saint-Michel. We hike the coast for stunning views, then approach this sanctuary on foot, crossing the bay at low tide. Our private visit lets us see rooms and chapels at Mont-Saint-Michel that the general public doesn’t have access to.
Days 5-6
Cancale / Saint Malo / Dinan
At Cancale, we’ll sample the tastiest oysters in Brittany, visit the charming port of Saint Malo, and hike along the river Rance past half-timbered houses. We explore Dinan, a 13th century Breton town surrounded by medieval walls, with a specialist guide.
Days 7-10
Côte de Granit Rose / Ploumanac’h
Surreal rockscapes of glistening rose-tinted crags line this exquisite section of Brittany’s coast known as the Côte de Granit Rose. Our hikes follow coastal trails leading to Brittany’s most revered pilgrimage site, and we’ll see Castel Meur, the famous stone house wedged between two huge rock outcrops. We explore Tréguier, a gem of a medieval town, savor plates of delicious fruits de mer, and enjoy our historic seaside hotel set along pink granite rocks in the village of Ploumanac’h. Depart on Day 10 via Guingamp.
Normandy and Brittany
