Battlebus - Tours of the D-Day Beaches

The tour starts on Juno beach including St Aubin Sur Mer, Bernieres and Courseulles , and visits the famous Juno Centre . Also on the tour is a stop at the Beny sur Mer Canadian Cemetery , before moving inland to hear about the many engagements with the feared 12th SS, including Villons Les Buissons , Authie and a stop at the infamous murder site in the gardens of l’Abbaye d’Ardenne . We also cover the events at Le Mesnil-Patry. If you have a second day why not take our British Highlights Tour too?

The Tour in greater detail
Juno Beach - We make stops at various sections of Juno, our choices include: Bernieres - the Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada landed here, suffering terrible losses, and the machine gun bunkers are still visible along the sea wall in front of the famous QORC house . Or St Aubin sur Mer - where a German 50mm gun still sits in a concrete bunker and the beach where a famous photo of a crashed P47 Thunderbolt aircraft was taken back in 1944. This tour allows plenty of time to view the monuments and defences and to hear the stories - beware of rushed tours with only time for a photo stop.

The Juno Centre - Opened in 2003 its state of the art interactivity make this museum an essential stop to learn about Canada at war and more about Juno on D-Day.

Juno Beach - Courseulles - This is where the Regina and Winnipeg Rifles (amongst others) came ashore. See the only preserved amphibious Sherman DD tank , rescued from the sea after 27 years underwater.

Lunch - We usually take a sandwich or snack from one of the shops or bakeries on the seafront in Courseulles .

Beny Sur Mer Canadian Cemetery - The final resting place of two thousand Canadian troops. This beautiful cemetery overlooks the sea and is an essential stop.

Battling the 12th SS - We then follow the route inland taken by Canadian Forces after D-Day. The Canadians were involved in some pivotal actions in the first weeks of June and suffered terrible casualties fighting German armour. We pass through towns like Anisy , Villons Les Buissons , Buron and Authie, learning about the battles that raged in the narrow Norman streets. Each village was a site of major battles and engagements. We will see the memorials and exact locations of these events, using original photos to compare the buildings of 1944 to those of today - stand where history was made.

Abbaye d’Ardenne - We also acknowledge the murder of groups of Canadian POWs by fanatical SS troops . We visit the Abbey the infamous murder location of 20 POWs.

Bretteville L’Orgueilleuse - The town where the first German Panther tanks were knocked out by infantrymen of the Regina Rifles with anti-tank weapons and grenades. Here the buildings and streets have hardly changed since the war and we have great photos from 1944 to show you.

Norrey en Bessin - Another village, and another battle against German SS tanks . The Church here was very nearly destroyed and we view the field where an incredible tank battle took place on 9th June 1944.

Le Mesnil-Patry - The town south of the Bayeux-Caen highway fought over from 11th June. The attack by the Queen’s Own Rifles through the cornfields is now compared by historians to the “Charge of the Light Brigade”.

Other stops - Depending on the time of year, how many people in the group, the weather etc. There are other stops
we often include if we have spare time. It’s the little “extra stops ”, that make a Battlebus Tour truly special
See also our Canadian Battles Private Tour option.

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Customer comments about this tour
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The tour put into perspective the struggle that first day for so small an area of Normandy countryside. I recommend this tour to those who sincerely want to learn 'the unknown contribution' of the Canadian soldiers.

I was so impressed with the knowledge of the tour guide, and the itinerary of the trip. We covered a lot of ground and a lot of information and it was just fantastic!

I think the package you provide and the quality of the information is exceptional and essential if people are to understand the significance of the Normandy experience.

The guide’s knowledge was unbelievable. And it wasn't just his knowledge that made the experience, it was HIM. His passion, and his ability to tell the stories so passionately. I mean, I could see everything as it must have been at the time.

Your stories and vivid descriptions brought the invasion to reality 60 years later. Your collection of photographs and battle maps was fascinating especially when we walked through the streets of villages. We certainly felt as if we were following the foot steps of the soldiers.

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We reserve the right to alter tour itineraries as necessary and without prior notice. This can be because of traffic delays, museum closures or bad weather etc

Please note that 12 years is the minimum age to take this tour

There is a moderate amount of walking and a considerable amount of standing on this tour