d day 80th anniversary tours

80th Anniversary of D-Day: American WWII History

12 days   |   15 days with Netherlands extension

4.8 out of 5 stars

Remember, reflect, and pay your respects during a major milestone year.

Whether you’re a WWII history buff or you’re celebrating family members who served, you’ll feel moved by the memorials and museums you visit on this tour, and by the battlefields and beaches of Normandy and Bastogne, where brave soldiers fought the Battle of the Bulge. Explore pivotal battle sites, take time to honor the sacrifices made by the Allied soldiers, and bond with your fellow travelers while experiencing exclusive anniversary events. For even more history, extend your stay and explore important sites in the Netherlands.

Your tour package includes

• 10 nights in handpicked hotels
• 10 breakfasts
• 5 dinners with beer or wine
• 7 sightseeing tours
• Expert Tour Director & local guides
• Private deluxe motor coach
• 1 ferry transfer

Included highlights

• Special 80th anniversary celebration of D-Day
• Imperial War Museum
• Dover Castle
• Ferry ride across the English Channel
• American Cemetery in Colleville-sur-Mer
• Omaha Beach
• Mémorial des Martyrs de la Déportation
• Musée de la Reddition
• Bastogne War Museum

Overnight Flight 1 night

Day 1: travel day.

Board your overnight flight to London.

London 2 nights

Day 2: arrival in london.

Included meal : Welcome dinner

Welcome to England! Gather with your fellow travelers at tonight’s welcome dinner served with beer or wine.

Start planning today

Our travel experts are here to help.

We handpick every hotel to strike the balance of comfort, location, and local charm. Specific accommodations will vary based on your departure date, but these are frequently used hotels for this tour and we're confident you'll be satisfied.

Copthorne Tara Hotel London Kensington

This relaxing hotel is located in the residential area of Kensington in London. Guests enjoy views of the city, spacious rooms, and many on-site dining options. Nearby, you’ll find Kensington Palace, the Design Museum, and the...

Novotel Suites Rouen Normandie

This riverside hotel is located just outside of downtown Rouen in the Normandy region. Guests enjoy suite-style rooms, the fitness center, and the peaceful courtyard. Nearby, you’ll find the Musée Flaubert d’Histoire de la...

Marriott Rive Gauche Hotel

This modern hotel is located in Montparnasse. Guests enjoy a fitness center, restaurant, and free Wi-Fi in the lobby. Nearby, you’ll find Luxembourg Gardens, Notre-Dame Cathedral, and the Catacombs of Paris.

Meliá Luxembourg

This luxurious hotel is located in the Kirchberg area of Luxembourg. Guests enjoy the GOYA Restaurant, AQUA Lounge, and spa area. Nearby, you’ll find the Luxembourg Philharmonic, Place d'Armes, and MUDAM.

Thon Hotel Bristol Stephanie

This colorful hotel is located in the Châtelain neighborhood of Brussels. Guests enjoy a French cuisine restaurant, a spacious gym, and an infrared sauna. Nearby, you’ll find the Royal Palace, Avenue Louise, and the Peter Pan...

Mercure Hotel Nijmegen Center

This modern hotel is located in Nijmegen’s city center in the Netherlands. Guests enjoy the fitness center, sauna, and extensive breakfast buffet. Nearby, you’ll find the GelreDome, the Valkhof Museum, and the Grote Markt.

Hampshire Hotel - Rembrandt Square Amsterdam

This modern hotel is located in the Canal Ring. Guests enjoy room service, free Wi-Fi, and a bar. Nearby, you’ll find the Amstel river, Willet-Holthuysen Museum, and the Rembrandtplein.

Round-trip flights are one more thing we handle to make your journey as smooth as possible. Our team of travel experts will find the best flight itinerary for you at a competitive rate, thanks to our partnerships with top airlines.

Add our airfare and you’ll get:

• Round-trip flight for your tour
• Airport transfers at your destination
• A great price locked in today
• 24/7 support from our dedicated service team
• Options for arriving early, staying longer, or requesting an upgrade
• Flexible rebooking options if your tour itinerary changes

Find out more about flights

• In order to enter the United Kingdom, France, Belgium, and Luxembourg (as well as the Netherlands on the tour extension), U.S. and Canadian citizens need a valid passport with an expiration date extending at least six months beyond the date of reentry.
• We recommend having at least one blank passport page for entry stamps.
• Beginning in 2025, U.S. and Canadian passport holders must register for an ETIAS travel authorization in order to enter many European countries.
• Passport holders from over 60 visa-exempt countries (including the U.S. and Canada) will need to apply for an ETIAS travel authorization in order to visit 30 European countries. That means that even if you’ve previously traveled to any of these European countries without a visa, starting in 2025, you’ll need to get ETIAS authorization to visit them again. If you’re traveling to multiple countries with this requirement, you only need to complete the form once. All Go Ahead travelers are responsible for obtaining their own ETIAS travel authorization before departure. For more details, please visit our Help Center .
• If you are not a U.S. or Canadian citizen, you must contact each country’s consulate for your specific entry requirements.
• You can see the most up-to-date entry requirements for the destination(s) you’ll visit on tour by going to goaheadtours.com/entry-requirements and searching the code DDA.
• You will walk for about 2.5 hours daily across moderately uneven terrain, including cobblestone streets and paved roads.
• Travelers should be healthy enough to participate in all included walks without assistance. Adding optional excursions may increase the total amount of walking on your tour.
• You should feel comfortable managing your own baggage at times, as well as getting in and out of ferries.
• If you have any mobility concerns or physical restrictions, please contact our Customer Experience Team.
• Round-trip flights booked through Go Ahead Tours arrive in London and depart from Brussels (or Amsterdam on the tour extension). When you first arrive in London, a driver from a private chauffeur service will be standing at the arrival gate with your name on a message board. If you do not see your driver, please remain in the arrival lounge, as the driver may be escorting one of your fellow travelers to the shuttle at the time of your arrival. For more details, please reference the London transfer information included in your Go Kit.
• Transfers to and from the airport at the beginning and end of the tour are included for travelers who purchased their flights through Go Ahead Tours. Travelers who booked their own flights are responsible for securing their own airport transfers.
• A ferry ride from Portsmouth to Normandy is included in the price of your tour.
• All other included transportation on this tour is by private motor coach.
• Airlines have varying weight restrictions on baggage. Some airlines may impose additional charges if you choose to check any baggage; be advised that you are responsible for any such costs.
• Contact your airline for baggage size and weight restrictions for your flight, but please note that our travelers are restricted to one checked bag per person due to storage limitations on motor coaches and other transfers, which may include train connections or flights.
• One carry-on bag of 45 total inches (length + width + height) is also permitted.
• Make sure you label your baggage and keep valuables, medication, and documents in your carry-on bag.
• We recommend packing lightweight, loose-fitting clothing that can be easily layered to accommodate varying temperatures, as well as a light jacket or rainwear.
• A sturdy pair of walking shoes or sneakers is recommended for sightseeing.
• You may want to pack dressier attire if you plan to visit a high-end restaurant or attend a special performance.
• It is preferable not to visit churches or other religious sites with bare legs and shoulders (and entrance may be denied on this basis).
• At least 60 days prior to departure, check with your doctor or healthcare provider for the latest updates and entry requirements, or visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website at cdc.gov .
• If you have medication that you take daily, be sure you have enough for each day of the tour as well as any possible delays encountered.
• If you have dietary restrictions and/or food allergies please notify Go Ahead Tours at least 30 days prior to departure by logging in to your account and updating your traveler info. To update this information closer to your departure date, please call our Customer Experience Team.
• For traditional English fare at a reasonable price, try a pub meal of fish and chips or bangers and mash. Stilton cheese, steak and kidney pie, and Cumberland sausages are also worth a try.
• Modern-day London boasts an array of diverse international restaurants. Popular options include Indian, Thai, Chinese, Indonesian, Greek, and West African cuisines. Sip afternoon tea with delicious finger sandwiches and scones at Harrods for the ultimate in English tradition.
• Chicken, rabbit, and duck are staples of Norman cuisine, and you can find fish and shellfish in the region’s coastal towns. The abundance of dairy farms throughout the region means many dishes are accompanied by cheeses and creams. Normandy is also famous for its apples, which are used to create cider and calvados, or apple brandy.
• In Luxembourg, culinary influences are mostly Germanic. Smoked sausages, hams, and hearty stews are popular.
• In Belgium, seafood is of a very high quality, and mussels steamed in white wine are a favorite. Patisseries offer decadent pastries and cakes, and you won’t want to miss indulging in favorites like fries, handmade chocolate, locally brewed Abbey-style beer, and, of course, Belgian waffles. Please note that Belgian beers vary widely in style and flavor and are often much higher in alcohol content than other European beers.
• On the tour extension in the Netherlands, simply prepared meat and fish dishes, substantial soups and hearty stews are local staples. Snack food traditionally features fish—you might try maatje, raw green herring served with onions—but pancakes, french fries, doughnuts, and waffles are just as plentiful.
• The United Kingdom operates on the European standard 220-240 volts and uses a Type G plug with three large, flat pins.
• France, Luxembourg, and Belgium (as well as the Netherlands on the tour extension) operate on the European standard 220-240 volts and use Types C, E, or F plugs with two small, round pins
• We recommend packing a universal adapter, as well as a voltage converter if you plan on using your own hairdryer or other device without a built-in converter.
• The strength of the air conditioning in European hotels is often not as strong or as cool as what you might be used to in the U.S. or Canada. When air conditioning is available, it is usually regulated seasonally and controlled centrally by the hotel.
• Your hotels may provide hairdryers, irons, and other small appliances. However, these amenities cannot be guaranteed.
• Wi-Fi is available in most hotels, though some charges may apply.
• There is no Wi-Fi on any of the motor coaches.
• Please contact your mobile service provider for information on roaming charges.
• The United Kingdom is on Greenwich Mean Time Zone (GMT) and is five hours ahead of Eastern Time (ET).
• France, Luxembourg, and Belgium (as well as the Netherlands on the tour extension) are one hour ahead of GMT and six hours ahead of ET.
• When it’s noon in New York, it’s 5pm in the United Kingdom and 6pm in France, Luxembourg, and Belgium (plus the Netherlands on the tour extension).
• You will use the pound sterling in the United Kingdom and the euro in France, Luxembourg, and Belgium (as well as the Netherlands on the tour extension).
• Better rates of exchange are usually available overseas, although it’s worth ordering some currency from your local bank to use when you first arrive.
• We strongly advise that you take debit/bank cards and credit cards, which can be used to withdraw cash at local banks as needed.
• You can use most debit/credit cards at ATMs on the international networks Cirrus and Plus, but make sure to check with your home bank about withdrawal fees.
• Inform your bank and credit card company of your travel plans so that they won’t confuse your international purchases for fraudulent charges.
• International banks and businesses primarily accept debit and credit cards that work with the EMV chip system. If you do not already have at least one debit or credit card with a chip in it, we strongly recommend requesting one from your bank prior to your tour.
• At the conclusion of your tour, it’s customary to offer your Tour Director and driver a gratuity in local currency. Please keep current exchange rates in mind.
• We recommend tipping the equivalent of $10USD to $12USD per person per day for your Tour Director and the equivalent of $3USD per person per day for your driver.
• If applicable, we also recommend the equivalent of $2USD per local guide.
• Tips can only be paid in cash.
• Most optional excursions will be available for purchase while you are on tour.
• Your Tour Director will only accept cash (in USD only), Visa, or MasterCard as payment for excursions.
• Please be advised that if you pay for an excursion by credit card while on tour, it may take up to three months for your card to be charged.
• Some optional excursions may only be purchased in advance. See page four of your tour itinerary for more information.

Select tour date

Overall rating based on 21 traveler reviews

Showing 1 - 6 of 21 traveler reviews

5 out of 5 stars

3rd-time traveler Patrick, traveled in Jun 2024

This tour was outstanding and memorable. The schedule was hectic, packing a lot in, but very enjoyable. My fellow travelers were wonderful, the tour guide, Lexi, was outstanding; accommodations good for the most part, but the most memorable part of the trip was the individual... Read more of Memorable experience

EF Go Ahead Tours

Thank you so much for your wonderful review of your recent tour experience with Go Ahead! We are thrilled to hear that your journey was... Read more of the response to Memorable experience

2nd-time traveler Bill, traveled in Jun 2024

An outstanding tour commemorating the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landing! The tour leader, hotels, meals, and fellow tour "friends", were outstanding! I am so glad I made it back!

1st-time traveler Corey, traveled in Jun 2024

I was very impressed with the overall tour, sites and scheduling. Carole, specifically, made the trip as wonderful as possible.

1st-time traveler Tom, traveled in Jun 2024

The 5-6 hour delay getting out of the parking lot at the Ceremony at the Cemetery should be reviewed to see how it could be avoided. We had a dinner at 11:30 pm something we did not ear as it’s too late. This was in no way Lexy’s fault. She did a great job

2nd-time traveler Marvin, traveled in Jun 2024

This was a wonderful tour and our tour guide, Carole, was superb! She made every day a great experience and never got rattled when we had to change plans on the fly.

1st-time traveler Casey, traveled in Jun 2024

We were so fortunate to have Carol as our guide. It is quite the challenge to herd 30+ Americans through Europe and she did so with an enthusiasm and grace. She is incredibly knowledgeable on the regions we visited and she had a deep level understanding of WWII. I was impressed... Read more of Five Stars for Carol

June 20 th , 2024

D-Day & the Band of Brothers: Normandy to the Eagle’s Nest

June 6 th marked the 80 th anniversary of “D-Day,” the momentous turning point towards Allied victory in WWII. The event has been made famous by movies such Saving Private Ryan or the miniseries Band of Brothers, which recounts the story of the US 101 st Airborne Division’s “Easy Company,” from the Battle of Normandy through the Battle of the Bulge till the taking of Hitler’s infamous Eagle’s Nest in Berchtesgaden.

When Easy Company – the “Band of Brothers – arrived in Berchtesgaden they discovered an impressive treasure trove of artwork and wine collected by Goering and hidden in his train and in underground bunkers. Among numerous other topics, I describe the stolen art collections and where they were stashed in Germany and Austria in my latest book, EXPOSING THE REICH, which is available on Amazon.

In honor of the bravery and sacrifice of the WWII soldiers and to commemorate the 80 th anniversary of D-Day, I am leading a “Normandy to the Eagle’s Nest” tour this September.

HIGHLIGHTS:

• The D-Day Landing sites : In Normandy we visit the American landing zones of Utah Beach and Omaha Beach, as well as a section of the British landing zone. We’ll also tour museums, such as the Airborne museum, as well as other sites related to what happened on D-Day and during the months to follow.
• V-1 & V-2 Sites: The German Armed Forces selected an area in the North of France as a site to assemble, test and launch the infamous V “flying bombs”, rockets and super-cannons. Several colossal bunkers – known as Sonderbauten (special structures) were built by forced labor in the Pas-de-Calais region to develop, house and deploy these massive operations. We shall visit two of these impressively large and massive sites.
• Dunkirk: As dramatically portrayed in the 2017 motion picture “Dunkirk” this French harbor is where tens of thousands of British and French troops regrouped as they became surrounded by the rapidly advancing German armed forces. Though some 338,000 Allied servicemen were successfully evacuated, tens of thousands were taken prisoner or killed.
• Atlantic Wall Bunkers : A noteworthy part of the Germans’ Atlantic Wall chain of coastal defenses can be visited near the town of Ostend, Belgium. The Atlantic Wall Open Air Museum comprises massive fortifications with elements from both the First and Second World Wars.
• Wolfsschlucht: We discover Hitler’s near-unknown HQs in the Belgian forest that he personally used during the French invasion.
• Battle of the Bulge: We not only visit the Mardasson Monument and its adjoining Battle of the Bulge museum in Bastogne but we’ll explore the Bois Jacques woods to locate original foxholes used by the men of the 101st Airborne Division – the ‘Band of Brothers’ – during the fierce fighting in the Ardennes region in the freezing cold of winter.
• Luxembourg: We pay our respects at the cemetery where General Patton is buried, along with thousands of American soldiers who died during the Battle of the Bulge.
• Nuremberg: We visit the courtroom where the most infamous war criminals and Nazi leaders were put on trial, as well as its adjoining interpretive center. We also visit the Nuremberg Party Rally grounds and its surviving structures.
• Munich and Dachau: We visit downtown Munich while discovering some of the architectural sites linked to the 3rd Reich in the Bavarian capital. We’ll also tour the Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site.
• Hitler’s Eagle’s Nest and Berchtesgaden: We stay in Berchtesgaden, location of Hitler’s former HQs. Here we’ll tour the underground bunkers, the interpretation center, the site of the destroyed Berghof (Hitler’s home) as well as the Eagle’s Nest, perched atop a 6,000 foot peak.

There are still four spots left on this tour. If you’re interested please email us at [email protected]

David Harper

• What does “Third Reich” mean

RESISTING THE REICH: 80 years since the assassination attempt on Hitler

D-Day 80th Anniversary – Following the Band of Brothers from Normandy to the Eagle’s Nest

Band of Brothers at the Eagle’s Nest and Hitler’s Opinion of the USA

• Booking Information
• Testimonials
• Documentation Obersalzberg
• Privacy Policy
• About Eagle’s Nest
• Our Historical Tour
• History Buff Tours
• Sound of Music
• Harper’s New Book
• 80 years since the assassination attempt on Hitler
• D-Day & the Band of Brothers: From Normandy to the Eagle’s Nest
• Hitler’s Opinion of the USA
• Nazi Propaganda imposed April 20th as the birthday of the “New Savior”
• Albert Speer and Nuremberg Party Rally Grounds
• Hitler’s Eagles Nest: A Statement of Monumentality

• Tours 8-day 80th ANNIVERSARY BULGE TOUR 9-day BAND OF BROTHERS TOUR 11-day BAND OF BROTHERS TOUR 12-day D-DAY ANNIVERSARY TOUR 12-day D-DAY LUXURY TOUR 6-day BEACHES OF NORMANDY TOUR 6-day AMERICAN NORMANDY TOUR 11-day D-DAY TO CHANNEL ISLANDS TOUR 10-day CHANNEL ISLANDS TOUR 11-day WAR IN POLAND TOUR 11-day THIRD REICH TOUR 10-day BRITAIN AT WAR TOUR 11-day ITALIAN CAMPAIGN TOUR 12-day WORLD WAR I TOUR

80 th Anniversary Tours

Beaches of Normandy Tours Band of Brothers Tours 48 Rue de Thouays, 50480 Sainte-Marie-du-Mont, Normandy, France

Phone: +1 855-473-1999 Monday - Friday, 10am - 6pm ET e-mail: [email protected]

• Expeditions
• Complimentary Brochures
• London to Paris

Paris & D-Day 80th Anniversary

• From $6,599
• 8 Guided Tours
• 2 Countries
• Dates & Pricing

Paris & D-Day 80th Anniversary Map

Honoring Those Who Freed Europe

Commemorate Operation Overlord on this 12-day cruisetour. D-Day was the catalyst for the liberation of Western Europe from German occupation. In Paris, your ship is docked in the heart of the city, offering views of the Eiffel Tower. Sail through Normandy and visit D-Day sites, explore fascinating museums and relive epic events of World War II. Witness poignant displays and hear inspiring tales of bravery as you join us on a journey of remembrance.

End of Summer Sale

Viking Inclusive Value

All you need included, with no surprises or hidden fees

To learn more about each port of call and our included as well as optional excursions, click on the individual days below.

Itinerary and shore excursions are subject to change and may vary by departure.

More features, services and excursions included

One complimentary shore excursion in every port of call

Free Wi-Fi (connection speed may vary)

Beer, wine & soft drinks with onboard lunch & dinner

24-hour specialty coffees, teas  & bottled water

Port taxes & fees

Ground transfers with Viking Air purchase

Visits to UNESCO Sites

Enrichment lectures & Destination Performances

Your Stateroom Includes:

River-view stateroom

Bottled water replenished daily

110/220 volt outlets

Queen-size Viking Explorer Bed (optional twin-bed configuration) with luxury linens & pillows

Private bathroom with shower, heated floor & anti-fog mirror

Premium Freyja® toiletries

Plush robes & slippers (upon request)

40" or 42" flat-screen Sony® TV with infotainment system featuring Movies On Demand, plus CNBC, CNN, FOX & more

Telephone, safe, refrigerator

Individual climate control

*All amenities on board Viking Longships; amenities vary on other ships.

Pre & Post Cruise Extensions

More days means more to discover, with extension packages you can add before or after your Viking cruise or cruisetour. Enjoy additional days to explore your embarkation or disembarkation city, or see a new destination altogether with a choice of exciting cities. Pre & Post Cruise Extensions vary by itinerary and are subject to change.

Post: Paris

From $949 | 3 Nights

Post: Paris Premium

From $1,499 | 3 Nights

Post: Lille & Bruges

From $1,599 | 4 Nights

Post: Brussels

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2024-2027 RIVER CRUISE AND AIR FARES:  Offer applies to bookings made from September 1-30, 2024. Terms & conditions for select promotions may vary. $25 deposit is applicable to all River itineraries. Special fares plus up to FREE International airfare valid on select departures of Grand European Tour, Lyon Provence & the Rhineland, European Sojourn and Capitals of Eastern Europe, Paris to the Swiss Alps, Cities of Light, London, Paris & D-Day, Rhine & Main Explorer . Airfares may vary on other gateways & departures. Airfare does not have to be purchased to get cruise\cruisetour offer. All prices are in US dollars and for US residents only. Additional restrictions may apply. 2024 : Pay in full by September 30, 2024 or at time of booking if within 120 days of departure. 2025 : Pay in full by October 31, 2024. 2026 : Pay in full by April 30, 2025. 2027 : Pay in full by January 15, 2026. Offers expires September 30, 2024.

$25 DEPOSIT:  For itineraries 35 days or less, a $25 deposit applies to February 2025 & onward departures; for itineraries greater than 35 days, a $25 deposit applies to April 2025 & onward departures; World Cruise products excluded; call for details.

AIR UPGRADE:  Upgrade to Premium Economy air from $799 per person or Business Class air from $3,499 per person based on select gateways and dates. Additional airline-imposed baggage charges may apply; for more information visit  Airline Luggage Restrictions  . Air prices are per person based on cruise/cruisetour check-in date and include transfers plus all government taxes/fees of approximately $160 and air fuel surcharges. Air seats are limited; airfares are subject to change and are not guaranteed until full payment of air is received. For more information about customized air services and US gateways, visit the Viking Air Plus page.

GENERAL RESTRICTIONS:  Cruise fares listed are cruise only in U.S. dollars, per person, based on double occupancy. Single supplement savings are off applicable rates. Cruise fares listed are valid for U.S. residents only. All fares and offers are for new bookings only and are subject to availability, may not combinable with other offers except Viking Explorer Society Travel Credits and Viking Referral Rewards, are capacity-controlled and may be withdrawn at any time without prior notice. Special fares are based upon published full brochure fares; cruise fares do not include pre-paid charges, optional facilities, and personal charges, as defined in the terms and conditions of the  Passenger Ticket Contract  which may be viewed elsewhere on this website. Full brochure fares may not have resulted in actual sales in all stateroom categories and may not have been in effect during the last 90 days. Promotional fares may remain in effect after the expiration date. Air promotion applies to roundtrip flights only from select Viking Cruises U.S. gateways and includes airport-to-ship or hotel transfers, air taxes and air fuel surcharges. Roundtrip airport transfers are included when air is purchased with a cruise or cruisetour package; if air is not purchased from Viking, transfers may be purchased separately. All transfers must be in conjunction with a Viking-purchased cruise, cruisetour, land extension or extra hotel nights. Viking reserves the right to correct errors or omissions and to change any and all fares at any time. For up-to-date prices, please call Viking or your Travel Agent. Additional terms and conditions may apply. Complete terms and conditions may be found in the  Passenger Ticket Contract .

AIR OFFER RESTRICTIONS:  Offer expires September 30, 2024.

NOTE: U.S. flights depart one day prior to check-in date. Paid Business or Premium Economy Class may require travel in economy on flights within North America or Europe. Premium economy is limited to specific airlines and we may not be able to accommodate based on aircraft type and availability. Roundtrip airport transfers are included when air is purchased with a cruise or cruisetour package; if air is not purchased from Viking, transfers may be purchased separately. All transfers must be in conjunction with a Viking-purchased cruise, cruisetour, land extension or extra hotel nights. Air prices are per person based on cruise/cruisetour check-in date and include transfers plus all government taxes/fees of approximately $160 and air fuel surcharges. Air seats are limited; airfares are subject to change and are not guaranteed until full payment of air is received.

WHO D-Day 80TH Anniversary Tour

Allied travel presents who d-day 80th anniversary tour, with simon conway.

June 1-11, 2024

On the 80th anniversary of D-Day, board a ferry and follow the path of thousands of Allied troops. That afternoon, stand in the sand of the Normandy beaches where these brave troops fought to liberate France from Nazi Germany.

See orange buttons on the right of this screen for trip brochure with itinerary details, and traveler information form.

Price per person: $7985.00 per person double occupancy, $9485.00 per person single occupancy.

Space is limited! A non-refundable deposit payment of $1500.00 per person is due to confirm your reservation.

Trip insurance is recommended and is $575 per person double occupancy, $683 per person single occupancy. The trip insurance premium is non-refundable and must be paid with deposit payment.

Final Payment is due February 16, 2024.

Contact Dean Burtch at Allied Travel: 515-270-7070

D-Day 80th Anniversary

Small Group Tour 4 to 9 June 2024 In The Footsteps® has been arranging tours to the anniversary of the D-Day landings in Normandy for small groups of up to seven people for over sixteen years. These small group anniversary tours include attending a commemorative event as well as visiting the most significant D-Day battlefield sites.

The best way to attend the D-Day 80th Anniversary

Discover the incredible story behind the Allied Invasion that came ashore on the Calvados Coast of Normandy on 6 June 1944, D-Day, that momentous day that changed the course of history. Our D-Day Anniversary tour will combine commemorative activity with a comprehensive tour visiting the battlefields of all five landing beaches and the two airborne landing zones. It will include visiting the major iconic sites at Sainte-Mère-Église, La Fière bridge and causeway, Brécourt Battery, UTAH Beach, OMAHA Beach, the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial, Longues-sur-Mer Battery, GOLD Beach, JUNO Beach, SWORD Beach, Pegasus Bridge and the Café Gondrée. Join one of our expert Battlefield Historians on this tour commemorating the 80th Anniversary of the D-Day Landings, which will include attending one of the commemorative events honouring those who fought in this epic battle.

4 June 2024: Outward journey

Our In The Footsteps® D-Day 80th Anniversary Tour begins when we collect you from London and drive to Portsmouth. During the day we explore some of the invasion related locations nearby before overnighting close to the ferry port.

5 June 2024: The American Airborne and UTAH Beach*

Today begins with when we cross the English Channel on the early morning sailing to Normandy. Today, we concentrate on the UTAH Beach area, beginning at Sainte-Mère-Église, the first town liberated. We then continue to look at the actions of the American Airborne, before going to UTAH Beach to explore the landing area of the US 4th Infantry Division. The evening is spent at your leisure either in your hotel or local area.

6 June 2024: Attend a commemorative anniversary event*

Today will be spent at an event commemorating the 80th Anniversary of the D-Day Landings and you will return to your hotel at approximately 17:30 hrs. The evening is spent at your leisure either in your hotel or local area.

7 June 2024: Pointe-du-Hoc, OMAHA Beach and American Cemetery*

Today we explore Pointe-du-Hoc and OMAHA Beach and the landing areas of the US Rangers and the 29th and 1st Infantry Divisions. During the day we will visit the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial. The evening is spent at your leisure either in your hotel or local area.

8 June 2024: The British and Canadian Beaches*

Today is spent exploring the British and Canadian landing beaches. We begin at the German Coastal Artillery Battery at Longues-sur-Mer, with its guns still in their casements and intact observation post looking out over the English Channel before heading to the Normandy British Memorial to pay our respects to the fallen. We then spend the remainder of the day exploring the British and Canadian landing beaches of GOLD, JUNO and SWORD. The evening is spent at your leisure either in your hotel or local area.

9 June 2024: The British Airborne area and return journey

This morning, you will visit the British Airborne sector beginning at Pegasus Bridge, Bénouville. You will have the opportunity to take refreshments at the Café Gondrée, the first house liberated. Time permitting, your battlefield historian will take you to either Ranville to visit the Churchyard and adjacent CWGC Cemetery or Merville Battery. Our tour at an end, we begin our journey back to the UK. *  These days may be changed around to facilitate attending the appropriate commemorative event. Please note: Itineraries are subject to change due to operational reasons. Any changes will be advised closer to the time of departure.

From £3,400.00 GBP*

The price for this tour is dependant upon accommodation availability and costs. It is based upon:

• Pick-up and drop-off from London or Paris CDG
• Seven people touring
• Travel in a dedicated tour vehicle driven by our expert battlefield historian
• Two people sharing a double or twin room
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Home > News > Reserve Your Spot on Our 80th Anniversary of D-Day Tour!

Reserve Your Spot on Our 80th Anniversary of D-Day Tour!

Stephen E. Ambrose himself designed our D-Day tour, and he was the first to lead this WWII tour in the late 1970s. The itinerary is based on thousands of hours of interviews with D-Day veterans, studying of the battlefields, and other World War II research.

Thanks to our historians’ experience with the terrain and its history, we are able to present a D-Day Tour that is unmatched in its authenticity.

The optional post-tour extension includes a visit to the historic city of Nuremberg for a guided tour of the Nazi Party Rally Grounds and Nuremberg Trials Courtroom 600, a tour of Munich and Dachau Concentration Camp, and a day trip to Berchtesgaden to visit the Obersalzberg bunker and Eagle’s Nest.

We will also offer a Canadian D-Day Tour that will focus on all the Canadian and British sites in Normandy, as well as Private D-Day Tours for organizations, schools, and family and friends.

If you are interested in traveling with us on one of our 80th Anniversary of D-Day Tours, sign up for more information by filling out a booking form. There is no obligation on your part and a deposit is not required at this time. Once we have all the dates, prices and itineraries set, we will reach out to our “first-dibs interest list” before we publish the information on our website.

Reserve your spot on our 80th Anniversary of D-Day Tour  >

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D-DAY Tours

Bringing history to life.

Celebrate the linchpin moment in World War II on our D-Day Anniversary Tour that visits the iconic sites and commemorates American heroes. This special 12- day trip only happens once per year, on the anniversary of D-Day . Our first-class historical tours take you on a journey through iconic World War II sites around Europe, as well as the most emblematic moments of American heroism of the time. From the Normandy beaches to Bastogne and the Bavarian Alps, we guide you through the significant events and experiences of the war that changed the world.

D-DAY ANNIVERSARY TOUR

Celebrate the linchpin moment in World War II on our D-Day Anniversary Band of Brothers Tour that visits the iconic sites and commemorates American heroes. This special 12-day trip only happens once per year, on the anniversary of D-Day .

D-DAY LUXURY TOUR

Honor the Greatest Generation at the annual D-Day anniversary ceremonies on the luxury version of our Band of Brothers Tour . Visit iconic sites while you enjoy your 5-star hotel rooms and appreciate the services the best local restaurants can offer.

BAND OF BROTHERS TOUR

This is an adventure designed for your bucket list and your pocketbook. Feel the sands of the landing beaches between your toes, stand at the very foxholes where heroes fought for your freedom and breathe the Alpine air at Hitler’s Eagle’s Nest.

The ultimate trip through the American WWII effort: our Band of Brothers Tour is an epic journey from Normandy to Hitler’s Eagle’s Nest via the battlefields of the Battle of the Bulge in the footsteps of the famous Easy Company.

BEACHES OF NORMANDY TOUR

Our signature tour gives you an opportunity to thoroughly explore the beaches and the sites of Normandy connected to the D-Day landings . This tour is designed for people who want to enjoy military history and culture alike on their vacation in Normandy .

AMERICAN NORMANDY TOUR

This is designed for people who want to combine culture and military history on their vacation in Normandy before or after the high season. It studies American operations during D-Day and explores exemplary cases of the heroism of American soldiers.

This annual take on our Band of Brothers Tour is a commemorative 12-day journey celebrating the heroes who changed history on D-Day. From the beaches of Normandy to Hitler's Eagle's Nest, this tour hits the highlights of the American WWII war effort, with special stops focused on collectively honoring the sacrifice of our American heroes. We follow the path from D-Day to V-E Day, roughly in the footsteps of the famous Easy Company, who were present for the most pivotal moments in the later years of war. This trip is tailored for patriots who want to pay their respects and learn new details along the way.

Detailed Itinerary

Our first-class historical tours take you on a journey through iconic World War II sites around Europe, as well as the most emblematic moments of American heroism of the time. From the Normandy beaches to Bastogne and the Bavarian Alps we guide you through the significant events and experiences of the war that changed the world. Band of Brothers Tour is a registered brand and protected trademark in the European Union by Beaches of Normandy Tours.

The first days of the tour dive into all five landing beaches, with a special focus on the American landing sectors. We then head east through the Ardennes to Belgium, where passengers can crouch in the foxholes of Bois Jacques and learn about the vehicles that defined the Allied war effort during the Battle of the Bulge and the Siege of Bastogne. Our journey ends in Germany, where we learn about the context of the Nazi regime, a sobering visit to the very first concentration camp of Dachau and we top off the tour with a day trip to the Bavarian Alps, where we visit the famous Eagle's Nest on top of the Kehlstein mountain.

Boost your knowledge

The End of World War II The signing of the Japanese Instrument of Surrender September 13, 2024 Read more

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The StuG Germany's premier not-a-tank August 23, 2024 Read more

Montgomery - Part II In defeat, unbeatable; in victory, unbearable. August 16, 2024 Read more

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80th Anniversary of D-Day - World War II Remembrance

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DEPART THE USA:

London, england:, houses of parliament • big ben • sir winston churchill:, bletchley • woodstock • london:, chartwell • portsmouth:, portsmouth • ouistreham • bayeux, france:, bayeux • ducy-sainte-marguerite:, longues-sur-mer • arromanches-les-bains • ver-sur-mer • courseulles-sur-mer:, colleville-sur-mer • vierville-sur-mer • pointedu- hoc • la cambe • sainte-mere-eglise • le madeleine:, caen • paris, france:.

Tour arranged by: Christian Tours & Operation Europe

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WWII 80TH ANNIVERSARY Official Tour Provider of the WWII  80th Anniversary Commemoration June, 2025

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Now is the time to plan your next Journey. There is so much to see, do and learn about in this world. For those who appreciate history, there is truly no substitute for learning the lessons of the past at the place that history was made. 

We invite you to step into the past by registering for your next Historic Journey. Your experience will be fulfilling and truly meaningful. The education that you receive by being there will create memories that will last forever. 

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Now, select the tour date that best fits your schedule. Our journeys operate during different times of the year to destinations all over the world. Spring, Summer, Winter and Fall are all perfect times to take a trip.  Once you select your date you can begin your planning for a learning and inspiring adventure of a lifetime. 

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Daily Itinerary

Normandy - the 80th anniversary d-day tour, including london and paris, june 1 - 10, 2024.

Day 1 – Jun 1

Depart USA to Heathrow, London

Day 2 – Jun 2

Arrival into London Heathrow airport. We will enjoy a guided city tour of London’s West End, Trafalgar Square, Whitehall and 10 Downing Street, Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace. Dinner and overnight London. (D)

Day 3 – Jun 3

Today is a full day guided tour of the City of London. Sites to be visited include St Paul’s Cathedral, The Tower of London, and Tower Bridge. We will experience the Cabinet War Rooms and the Churchill Museum. The day ends with a cruise on the River Thames. Overnight London (B)

Day 4 – Jun 4

We will have an early morning departure to Paris via the Eurostar and then be transported by private motor coach to Normandy. Our first visit will be the British 6th Airborne zone of operations to see the “Pegasus Bridge”, Pegasus Memorial Museum and the British Airborne cemetery in nearby Ranville. We will also see the shell damaged church. The day will end with a Normandy welcome cocktail and dinner. Overnight Normandy (B)(D)

Day 5 – Jun 5

Today we drive to Pointe du Hoc, the cliff top climbed and captured by the men of the U.S. 2nd Ranger Battalion. We then travel down the Vierville Draw to the 29th Infantry Division sector of OMAHA Beach. After a walk on the beach, we drive east on the coast road then up the “Les Moulins”  Draw to the U.S. Military Cemetery at St. Laurent sur Mer to pay our respects and lay a wreath. Visit the emotive Visitor Center. Dinner and overnight Normandy (B)(L)(D)

Day 6 – June 6

80th anniversary of the normandy landings.

Today we will join in the various ceremonies and celebrations to remember those who gave their lives to help defeat Hitler and his Nazis. There are many events planned which will be attended by Heads of State from many countries. We will attend as many as possible once the program of events is published. Box lunch. Dinner and overnight Normandy (B)(L)(D)

Day 7 – Jun 07

After breakfast, we will visit Saint Mere Eglise to view its famed 13th century church with its Airborne stained-glass windows and the Airborne Museum. This afternoon we will visit the La Fiere bridgehead and its “Iron Mike” U.S. Airborne statue. Later, we drive through the 101st Airborne drop zones C and D then onto the Division command post. We will pass the Brécourt Manor captured by Company E of the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment to UTAH Beach where the 4th Infantry Division landed. Dinner and overnight Normandy (B)(D)

Day 8 – Jun 08

This morning we will drive along the British Beaches GOLD, JUNO and SWORD to the British 6th Arromanches to see the remnants of one of the two artificial harbors erected by the Allies after D-Day. This afternoon, bid farewell to Normandy and return to Paris. Upon arrival at our central Paris hotel, evening is at your leisure. Overnight Paris (B)

Day 9 – Jun 09

Today we will enjoy a morning tour of Paris and see many of the emblematic monuments of this grand city. Sites will include the Louvre, the Champs-Élysées and the Arc de Triomphe, Notre-Dame, The Eiffel Tower, The Invalides, The Alexandre III bridge and others. The afternoon is at leisure before we enjoy a farewell dinner in Paris. Overnight Paris (B)(D)

Day 10 – Jun 10

Transfer to the Paris Charles de Gaulle airport for our return flight home (B)

(B) – Breakfast included    (L) – Lunch included     (D) – Dinner included

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The last heroes of Normandy return to France 80 years after D-Day invasion

The sun was yet to rise over the beaches of Normandy when, on June 6, 1944 -- 80 years ago this week -- thousands of American sons and Allied troops began what would become the largest amphibious assault in history.

Their bravery and their sacrifice would turn the tide of World War II and push Nazi Germany to defeat.

For the last five years, ABC News' "World News Tonight" anchor David Muir and his team have traveled around the country documenting the stories of World War II veterans who landed on those beaches on D-Day and the days that followed.

For the 80th anniversary of the Allied invasion, Muir met these quiet heroes as they journeyed back to Normandy, many of them for the first time since landing there as young soldiers fighting for freedom.

Related Articles

MORE: Reporter's notebook: A Black WWII hero is finally honored, 80 years after lifesaving D-Day courage

Out of the 16.4 million Americans who served in the armed forces during WWII, less than 1% of them were still alive at the end of 2023, according to estimates from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs .

The country loses an average of 131 WWII veterans every day.

'People have to know that freedom is not free.'

Irving Locker is 99 years old, but in 1944 he was a 19-year-old staff sergeant in charge of 65 men. Drafted right out of high school in 1943, he went on to be in the First Army, 4th Infantry Div., 116th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Gun Battalion.

And he was with his battalion that fateful day in June. His orders: land and run through the beach and start setting up your guns.

He remembers the moment when -- at 5 feet tall -- he jumped into the frigid waters as German forces attacked the beaches.

"I've never seen as many dead men on the beaches as I've seen," he told ABC News of the invasion.

"Everybody was scared," Locker said. "The long life we figured we're gonna have could be ended with one bullet, or one bomb, or one mine."

Reflecting on his acts of service and those who paid the ultimate price with their lives, Locker said, "People have to know that freedom is not free."

"So I'm doing that now with my full heart and conscience," he said of returning to Normandy.

'It was just ... tough for a little old kid to handle'

Jack Claiborne of Dyersburg, Tennessee, drove the troops to Omaha Beach on LCI 492. He was a helmsman and gunner.

"Seeing all of these boys that was killed, and just layin’ there on the beach," Claiborne told ABC News in 2019. "It was just ... tough for a little old kid to handle."

"We were all young," he said.

Claiborne died on September 28, 2023. His family told ABC News this year, he was proud to have served, and to have spent his last years talking about the war to younger generations.

'Eighty years. And the people of Normandy are still honoring us.'

At 102 years old, WWII veteran Andrew "Tim" Kiniry was just 22 when he landed on Omaha beach in the days after the invasion.

With no time to think and there to help the injured as a medic with the 45th Evacuation Hospital, Kiniry said soldiers had to keep moving.

As a young man at war, Kiniry kept a list of his outfit’s movements. Under June 1944, that list had two words: "bloody beach.”

Kiniry, who has lived in Vineland, New Jersey since 1964, fears the sacrifices of D-Day will be forgotten if veterans don’t share what they went through during the war.

Not a day goes by he doesn’t think about the men lost during the invasion. Now 80 years later, he’s going back to Normandy for the first time since he first landed there.

"Eighty years, and the people of Normandy are still honoring us," Kiniry told Muir. "That's somethin' that gets – gets to me."

'It was just, take care of your friend. And that’s what we all did.'

Harold Himmelsbach landed in Normandy on D-Day at age 18, and called it "the most dramatic time" in his life.

Himmelsbach, who's now 98, said in an interview with Muir commemorating the 75th anniversary of D-Day that he remembers seeing "things that very few people would ever see" in their lifetime. "I would see other guys die within feet of me."

"You knew you had to do these things," he continued. "It was just take care of your friend. And that’s what we all did."

He remembers the letter he wrote to his mother.

“Dear mom I suppose I should begin by telling you I’m somewhere in France," Himmelsbach wrote.

'There was a job had to be done. Somebody had to do it. We did it.'

Born and raised in Dora, Alabama, Harold McMurran served with the 546th Ord as a FA, Instrument Fire Control Repairman, on June 6, 1944, on Utah Beach and faced 300,000 Germans.

Like many soldiers, McMurran kept a diary. On D-Day, he wrote, “June 6, 1944. Invasion started." He wouldn't write in his diary for the next five days.

In 2019, McMurran told ABC News he watched the medics trying to save his friends. "Sometimes they would be in worse shape than the men they were trying to take care of," he said.

"People say, 'How did you get off that boat and go in on that beach?' There was a job had to be done," he said, holding back tears. "Somebody had to do it. We did it."

McMurran, who received the French Legion of Honor Medal, died on Dec. 25, 2022.

'You always went with the idea you were gonna make it through.'

Jake Ruser was a combat medic in Normandy with the 4th Infantry Division, 2nd Brigade Medical Detachment, 12 Inf. Reg.

"For 67 years, I never talked about it," he told Muir in the hallways of a high school in Downingtown, Pennsylvania, where he went to speak to a high school history class about the sacrifices made for freedom.

Those students were nearly the same age that Ruser was when he was sent off to war.

"You always went with the idea you were gonna make it through," he told the students.

'You grow up in a hurry.'

In Gainesville, Georgia, Alan Kinder prepared for his first trip back to Normandy since the invasion.

He remembers how the country came together when word got out that American troops had landed in France. And the scene when he got to Utah beach in the middle of the night.

"We knew the people had to be killed," he told ABC News. "You grow up in a hurry."

Kinder now grateful he gets to share his story, saying talking about it with his grandson, Justin, a history teacher, has brought them closer.

They traveled together to Normandy.

"Being able to come here and experience this with him, it's – words can't describe it," Justin said. "It's amazing."

'I didn’t realize what war was until that day.'

Onofrio Zicari, 96, of Las Vegas, fought with the 5th Amphibious Brigade, 5th Wave on D-Day.

"Man I was scared," Zicari told ABC News. "I didn’t realize what war was until that day; it was awful.”

Now, 80 years after answering the call, Ruser, Kimora, Locker, Kinder and Zicari return to Normandy with help from the nonprofit, “Forever Young Veterans.”

Just before the anniversary commemorations, the five brave heroes journeyed back to Utah beach, where Muir met them.

Kinder, who has not set foot back on that beach until now, said he is grateful to be here. This is also the first time he has seen Utah Beach in the daylight.

"When they told me there was a chance to come here, I've kinda lived my life over again," he said. "I've really, really enjoyed that."

Locker told Muir that returning to Normandy meant that he came back because he’s determined to honor the sacrifices of D-Day, and hopes to connect with the next generation.

"I thank God every single day that I'm alive and well," he said. "And people have to know that. People have to know that."

Kiniry told Muir being back in Utah Beach reminded him of the brave men, his brothers, who were lost.

"It means a great deal to me to be here today to honor ... the ones that lost their lives in particular," he told Muir.

MORE: Biden marks 80th D-Day anniversary in Normandy

Ruser also took notice of the large number of people honoring the sacrifices WWII veterans made in Normandy. And as strangers approached them to shake their hands, he was moved by their gratitude.

"We're meeting people from all over the world," he said. "It's really – something when you're remembering what happened 80 years ago here."

Zicari, who Muir first met five years ago, returned to Normandy again, thinking of the future.

"We fought for freedom," he said. "We gotta have the younger generation help us now."

"We're depending on them. They depended on us. We're gonna depend on them now," Zicari added.

MORE: Women veterans return to Normandy for 80th D-Day anniversary

Diane Hight, the founder of "Forever Young Veterans," told Muir about the mission they hope to achieve.

"We must never forget," she said. "A lot of people think, 'Oh. Well, how nice that you take these vets on trips.' These are not vacations."

"Do you know why they really wanna come back?" she continued. "They want to say to their friends that did not come home, 'I haven't forgotten you. And I hope I've lived my life where you're proud of me.'"

Full episodes of "World News Tonight with David Muir" are now available to stream on YouTube.

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The Top 12 Things to Do in Omsk

Feel the love in the very heart of Russia

In Russia, all roads lead to Moscow , on account of the city's status as the national capital and its importance throughout history. If geography were the deciding factor, however, the Siberian city of Omsk would be the point where all Russia's roads converge—it's located literally in the heart of the country, approximately as far from Vladivostok as it is from the Belarusian border. Omsk boasts a spate of exciting attractions, even if you simply make a stop here as you ride the Trans-Siberian Railway eastward or westward.

Marvel at Assumption Cathedral

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Orthodox architecture never gets old, even if you've been traveling in Russia for a long time. This is particularly the case when it comes to the Assumption Cathedral of Omsk, whose gold-and-turquoise domes look resplendent under the blue skies that bless Omsk during the warmer months of the year. The cathedral was built in 1891 under the orders Nicholas, the last Tsar of Russia.

Time Travel at Omsk Fortress

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The bad news? Much of what was once Omsk Fortress is now a residential area, with the only notable landmark that still stands being Tobolsk Gate (think Paris' Arc de Triomphe , but yellow and smaller). The good news? There's essentially no reason for a military fortification to exist in today's peaceful Omsk, which means you can stroll amid parks and cafés and imagine the area being war-torn—a small sacrifice to make in exchange for not being blown to bits.

Go Green at Ptich'ya Gavan'

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Or white, as it were: Omsk is covered with snow several months of the year, which means that its prized Ptich'ya Gavan' central park is often more of a winter wonderland than the green reprieve you experience in summer. The park is popular with local families, to whom you can say "Privet" (Hello) as you walk past.

Walk on Omsk's Artsy Side

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Although the building that houses Omsk District Museum of Visual Arts is unmistakably Russian, the collection you find inside is surprisingly eclectic for a city deep in Russia's interior. Recent collections have included a revival of Van Gogh's great works, among others. This is a particularly enjoyable Omsk attraction on cold winter days, when temperatures can drop far below freezing and sunshine can be rare.

Shoot for the Moon

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Though Omsk is a relatively large city, the skies over it become dark enough in the evening for stargazing. While visitors are not permitted to use the expensive telescopes housed inside, exhibits inside the museum provide a fascinating look into the cosmos, narrated by expert astronomical guides.

Shop on Lenin Street

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Lenin Street's name is appropriate: Although it's the high street of a city thousands of miles from Moscow, the European-style architecture and cosmopolitan vibe you feel as you stroll past its boutique and cafés evokes the capital of Russia more than its forlorn interior. Local specialties you can purchase here include rustic jams made from local berries (and even, in some shops, cedar cones), as well as handmade rugs from Kazakhstan, which sits just south of Omsk.

Sample Siberian Cuisine

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Speaking of unique Siberian food, it's not just preserves made from the fruits of evergreen trees. Omsk is a great place to discover the flavors of Russia's wild interior, whether you eat zagutai and stroganini (Siberia's take on sushi) or classic Russian plmeni dumplings filled with decidedly Siberian ingredients, such as bear and rabbit meat. Vkusno ! (That's Russian for "delicious"!)

Enjoy Historical Houses—While You Still Can

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The wooden houses that line Nikolskiy Prospekt aren't protected, but they should be. Historical structures that are unfortunately in a state of disrepair, these houses are slated for demolition at some unspecific point in the future. Be sure to catch a glimpse of these historical house before they're gone. There will, however, be at least one left standing for a long time. The Omsk State Art Museum is in a traditional wooden house.

Go to the Circus

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Omsk State Circus is a popular spot for local families, whose children love the opportunity to see acrobatic performances and animals that wouldn't otherwise make appearance in Siberia. If you do attend a show here, keep in mind that ethics with regard to animal treatment might not match up with those in North America or Western Europe, to say nothing of the smell that can pervade the auditorium during and even after a show.

Be a Drama Queen

While there's no guarantee that any shows will be playing at Omsk Drama Theater at the time of your trip, a visit to this 19th century building is a spectacle in and of itself. While not as huge, say, as Moscow's Bolshoi Theatre, it's nonetheless an ornate architectural wonder that hearkens back to a glorious time in history. The interior of the theater is even open during the daytime; ask the person who's inside if any tours are available when you turn up.

Explore Cities Deeper in Siberia

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Siberia starts in Omsk, even if you can't continue far into it. If you don't plan to travel on the Trans-Siberian Railway, take one of two day trips from Omsk. Travel to Tobolsk, whose hilltop Kremlin is one of the most picturesque in all of Russia, and whose beauty inspired a photo by Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev that ended up winning several awards. Or visit Tomsk, where you'll find a botanical garden dedicated to Siberian flora, and a museum that celebrates wooden architecture.

Ride the Trans-Siberian Railway

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The idea of leaving Omsk behind can seem difficult, especially now that you've gotten to know this city in the heart of Siberia as well as you have. The mint-colored facade of Omsk Railway Station will make you smile, however, even if you're crying inside as you depart. Though it's not quite on the mid-line of the Trans-Siberian route between Moscow and Beijing , Omsk is a worthy starting place to begin a journey to either. If you head east make sure to stop in Irkutsk , the home of Lake Baikal and another underrated Siberian city.

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2024 Election

To mark d-day, biden will deliver a defense of democracy that hits on campaign themes.

Tamara Keith

World War II veteran Gene Kleindl, age 102, from Rockford, Ill., receives a kiss from Chantell Boivin while leaving the Normandy American Cemetery on June 4 in Colleville-sur-Mer, France. Kleindl, a medic in the U.S. Army's 90th Infantry Division, arrived on the beaches of Normandy on D-Day. Win McNamee/Getty Images hide caption

President Biden is in France to commemorate the 80th anniversary of D-Day, when tens of thousands of allied troops landed on the beaches at Normandy and turned the tide in World War II.

It's a pilgrimage that many American presidents have made, but as Biden does it, the lessons of 80 years ago are being debated once again — and hold particular resonance for his reelection bid.

The anniversary comes as a land war rages once again in the European continent with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, raising the stakes as World War II fades from people’s memories and into the history books.

"He will take full advantage of the opportunity to talk about the moment we are living in: of democracies working together on behalf of their peoples — but also the importance of American leadership," John Kirby, a spokesman for the National Security Council, told reporters.

Biden argues that democracy is under attack

To get a sense of how Biden sees this current moment in the sweep of history, look no further than his most recent State of the Union address. He started with the image of President Franklin Roosevelt in early 1941, months before the attack on Pearl Harbor that would draw the United States into World War II.

President Biden delivers the State of the Union address on March 7, 2024. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images hide caption

“President Roosevelt’s purpose was to wake up Congress and alert the American people that this was no ordinary time,” said Biden, delivering his remarks in the same House chamber where Roosevelt had spoken. “Freedom and democracy were under assault in the world.”

The United States was still on the sidelines in the war at that point. But Hitler was on the march in Europe, and American allies were under attack. Like then, Biden argued, this is no ordinary time.

“What makes our moment rare is that freedom and democracy are under attack both at home and overseas at the very same time,” said Biden.

The monument at Pointe du Hoc, where U.S. Army Rangers scaled cliffs on D-Day to disable German artillery as troops landed on beaches below. Magali Cohen/Hans Lucas/AFP via Getty Images/AFP hide caption

Biden is giving a speech from Pointe du Hoc

Expect Biden to expand on those themes in an address to the American people he’s set to deliver from Pointe du Hoc, overlooking the beaches where the Americans landed on June 6, 1944. More than 70,000 American troops joined allied forces for the dangerous and daring D-Day operation. Casualties were heavy, with 2,500 Americans killed on D-Day itself and some 29,000 more in the Battle of Normandy that followed.

Biden says the fight for democracy is at the heart of his 2024 rematch with Trump

While Biden's address isn’t a campaign speech, the undercurrent will be unavoidable. Biden has framed his reelection campaign against former President Donald Trump in stark terms, as he did at a fundraiser in New York earlier this week.

"What those soldiers died for should never be given up,” said Biden. “Democracy is literally on the ballot this year.”

Asked whether this speech about democracy and freedom was aimed at Trump, National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said it would focus on universal themes. “Principles that have served as the foundation of American security and American democracy for generations, including the generation that scaled those cliffs, including today’s generation, including the next generation,” Sullivan told reporters traveling with Biden on Air Force One. “He’s going to be speaking in terms of principles and values and lessons from history that are applicable today.”

Trump has questioned the value of the NATO alliance

Biden, who describes Trump as an existential threat to America’s place as a global leader, takes pride in marshalling U.S. allies to support Ukraine after Russia's invasion, and expanding NATO to include two new members.

While at the international commemoration of D-Day on Thursday, Biden is scheduled to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and the leaders will discuss the state of play in the war with Russia, Sullivan said. Biden recently authorized Ukraine to use U.S.-supplied weapons to strike inside Russia, an escalation as the war grinds into its third year.

Republicans in the Trump wing of the Republican Party have questioned the utility of ongoing U.S. support for Ukraine. And Trump himself has repeatedly toyed with the idea of the U.S. not keeping its commitment to the NATO alliance.

Trump says he wouldn't defend NATO allies from Russia if they're 'delinquent'

During a campaign rally in February, Trump said America would not defend allies that did not spend enough money on their own defense, should Russia attack them. “In fact, I would encourage them to do whatever the hell they want," Trump said.

The NATO alliance and its commitment to mutual defense grew out of the experience of World War II. And polling from the Chicago Council on Global Affairs finds the majority of Americans still support that alliance.

“We have understood for so long now since D-Day really, that our security, our prosperity and our freedom depends on the security, prosperity and freedom of our allies around the world,” said Ivo Daalder, who heads the Chicago Council and was the U.S. ambassador to NATO during the Obama administration.

But Daalder says isolationist views are growing. “NATO is becoming politicized in a way it never was until this point,” said Daalder.

President Ronald Reagan and two veterans look at a hook used by the U.S. Army Rangers to climb the cliffs of Pointe du Hoc during commemorations for the 40th anniversary of D-Day on June 6, 1984. Ron Edmonds/AP hide caption

What Reagan said at the same spot Biden will deliver his speech

There’s a massive gulf between Trump’s message today and the one then-President Ronald Reagan delivered 40 years ago at a D-Day ceremony in Normandy.

“We in America have learned bitter lessons from two World Wars. It is better to be here ready to protect the peace than to take blind shelter across the sea, rushing to respond only after freedom is lost,” Reagan said then. “We’ve learned that isolationism never was and never will be an acceptable response to tyrannical governments with expansionist intent.”

A lot has changed since 1984. The Berlin Wall fell. The Cold War ended. The Soviet Union dissolved, only for Russian President Vladimir Putin to decades later attempt to rebuild it.

In Ukraine, the vote to renew U.S. aid was cheered. But unease for the future remains

There are echoes of that Reagan speech in the way Biden describes Putin and his war in Ukraine. But many people aren’t buying that argument.

“You could feel the loss of understanding at the end of the Cold War of what our allies were for,” said Heather Conley, director of the German Marshall Fund of the United States.

Conley is in the midst of a tour of the country, trying to make the case for continued U.S. military aid to Ukraine. And she’s getting an earful.

“The American people have some important questions to ask about what’s important about our security, our level of debt,” said Conley. “These are the right questions to ask. But you have to engage them in a conversation.”

Conley, who was a senior official in former President George W. Bush's State Department, said she's glad Biden is giving the speech this week. But she said she wishes he had made this case more forcefully and more often.

“If it’s important to the country, we have to have an important conversation with our citizens,” said Conley.

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