Overview
With spectacular coastlines, medieval towns, and renowned cuisines, Normandy and Brittany are ideal for a cultural hiking adventure. We visit Normandy’s evocative D-Day beaches with a local historian, walk across tidal flats to reach the stupendous island-abbey of Mont-Saint-Michel, and savor coastal hikes on Brittany’s ravishingly beautiful Côte de Granit Rose, where pink cliffs soar above the deep blue—and sometimes wild—sea. Culinary treats abound, including cider fresh from the orchards, sweet crêpes, savory galettes, and a bounty of local seafood, from moules marinières to scampi (Brittany’s oysters are so beloved that Louis XIV had them brought to him at Versailles). If you love hiking, history, and great food, this is your trip!
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 1-2
Caen / Bayeux / D-Day Beaches
In the medieval town of Bayeux, we view the thousand-year-old Bayeux Tapestry, then head to Pointe Du Hoc, the high cliffs between Utah Beach and Omaha Beach. We’ll walk this evocative trail, joined by a historian, and visit the American war cemetery at Colleville-sur-mer, with its neat rows of crosses on tranquil clifftop lawns.
Days 3-4
Mont-Saint-Michel
Mont St. Michel’s spire-topped abbey is one of the most famous silhouettes in Europe. We hike the coast for stunning views of it, then approach this sanctuary on foot, crossing the bay at low tide to ascend the island’s single narrow street past cloisters and medieval gabled houses. Our private visit here lets us see rooms and chapels that the general public doesn’t have access to.
Days 5-6
Cancale / Dinan
The harbor village of Cancale on the Cote d’émeraude is home to probably the tastiest oysters in Brittany and we’ll sample some along the docks. After a visit to the charming port of Saint Malo, we enjoy a hike along the banks of the River Rance as flows past 13th century Dinan, one of the best preserved medieval towns in Brittany.
Days 7-10
Côte de Granit Rose / Ploumanac’h
Surreal rockscapes of 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 a revered pilgrimage site, and we’ll see Castel Meur, a famous stone house wedged between 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
