Normandy Tours:

The Bando Tour to Normandy

In a word: PRIVILEGED.

If ever there was a VIP World War II tour of Normandy France, this is it. "Stand up, hook up" and see the things, access the places, and be told the stories that NO OTHER TOUR available today can give you. This is a D-Day tour that is unrivaled!

Author and historian Mark Bando has been researching WWII and the 101st Airborne for over 30 years and has written 4 books on the subject. His most recent, the acclaimed " 101st Airborne: The Screaming Eagles in World War II ", is considered by some to be the definitive reference on the 101st. Having interviewed over 1,000 Airborne veterans, he has been accepted by them as an expert with whom they've shared their most intimate stories of friendship, combat, sorrow, and triumph. Mark's depth of knowledge in the 101st Airborne is staggering, and he'll share the tales with you, direct from the mouths of veterans, that only a select FEW know. He'll show you priceless artifacts from his vast personal collection, and he'll take you to places that no one knows exist.

Upon completion of this Tour, you'll consider yourself one of the privileged.

But don't take our word for it:
Read customer testimonials
about the Bando Tour to Normandy.
 

Quick Navigation What's included in the price? What will we see? How about some activities? Where will we stay? Whoa! I'm in! How much?! Where's the fine print?

Tours are organizing NOW for: Spring 2009 Contact us to book your reservation! Dates don't work for you? Contact us to organize your OWN tour!

What's included in the price?

• All Inclusive, Normandy Tour provided by expert guides, including Mark Bando, with a special focus on D-Day and the 101st Airborne.
• We are almost always joined by a veteran, who will provide a first-hand perspective on what we see.
• 10-12 night trip (depending on return flight availability)
• Round-trip airfare from central US Airport to France. (You will be responsible for getting to the US Airport, usually JFK in New York, but Mark Patterson can help arrange this.)
• Lodging and ground transportation in France.
• Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner every day!
• Tour materials, which may include overviews, itineraries, maps, etc.
• The WWII Tour of a lifetime!

The Pathfinder Green Light Special

Book 6 reservations, get 1 reservation FREE!
This can be organized in a single trip, or accumulated over time!

No gimmicks. Another thing you can only get from Pathfinder!

Click here for Price information!

Yes! We work with Travel Agents! Please contact us for more info!

 Back to Top

What will we see?

These are just SOME of the places you'll get to see. Sometimes Mark Bando learns of a new location no one has ever been to, and you'll be able to experience it with him! We also have special permission to visit many areas that are off-limits to the general public and we'll also see some unique places that no one knows about...

• Brecourt Manor
  Where Dick Winters led his men of Easy Company 506th to take the German 105mm gun Battery.
• Carentan
  Where the Division won a hard fought battle against German Paratroopers. We will see where Carwood Lipton was wounded, where Dick Winters was hit with a ricochet, and where Easy Company entered the city of Carentan.
• The Cabbage Patch
  Where Colonel Cole led the men of the 502nd in the famous bayonet charge. He was later posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for this action. Ingouf Farm is here as well.
• Dead Man's Corner
  This is the start of "Purple Heart Lane" which leads down across the Douve River bridges and into the town of Carentan.
• The "WXYZ" Complex
  Located in the small village of Les Mezieres, this is where Sgt. Harrison Summers of the 502nd almost single handedly wiped out the German forces there, resulting in the award of the Distinguished Service Cross.
• The Drop Zones
  See the fields where the 82nd Airborne and 101st Airborne landed.
• The Beaches
  See Utah Beach and Omaha Beach from an Allied soldier's perspective. Then see some unique locations from the German perspective, that few know exist.
• The Cemeteries
  Pay your respects at the Normandy American Cemetery where over 9,000 heroes are resting peacefully. Be awed by the stark beauty of the La Cambe German Cemetery.
• Sainte-Marie-du-Mont
  Many famous pictures were taken here. The town pump and the church are locations to see here.
• Saint-Côme-du-Mont
  See where Joe Beyrle landed and follow his actions on D-Day.
• Sainte-Mère-Église
  See the D-Day landing areas north of town. We'll see where men like Bill Guarnere, Carwood Lipton and Dick Winters of Easy Company 506th landed. You can visit the museum here and also see where Pvt. John Steele of the 82nd Airborne 505th was hung up on the famous church steeple (made famous in the film, The Longest Day). Then we'll visit the location where Easy Company ambushed the German wagon column, as seen in Episode 2 of Band of Brothers. You will get the real story of what happened there!
• La Fière and the famous battle of the causeway
  We take a special tour of the grounds here, hosted by the owners of the property. We will walk across the causeway where men of the 82nd Airborne 505th, 507th and 325th GIR fought it out with the Germans to gain control of this key bridge.
• Timmes' Orchard
  The location where Col. Timmes and his men from the 82nd Airborne 507th fought and held off superior German forces.
• General Falley Ambush location
  See the spot where Lt. Malcolm Brannen and men of the 82nd Airborne 508th, ambushed and killed German General Wilhelm Falley.
• Holdy
  Visit the location of George "Doc" Lage's aid station and see the field where the German gun battery was located as well as a famous Glider crash site. This gun battery was perhaps more important than that of Brecourt Manor.
• Hiesville and Château de Colombières
  This is where the 101st Airborne set up an aid station as well as their POW compound. Follow the route of Colonel Sink's "Wild Ride" on D-Day . Gen. Taylor's HQ was set up in Hiesville.
• La Croix
  We visit this location where Don Burgett witnessed massive destruction done on a large German column. (Made famous in his book, Currahee!)
• Angoville-au-Plain
  Visit the church and see the famous "Bloody pews" where medics from the 101st Airborne 501st set up an aid station. You will also see two new stained glass windows that are dedicated to the paratroopers.
• Gillis's Corner
  Visit the location where Sgt. Leo Gillis of the 501st took out a German MG42 nest.
• The Lock at La Barquette
  This was of great strategic importance to the success of the invasion. Men of the 101st Airborne 501st and 506th fought here.
• Hell's Corners
  Not far from the locks. This is the site where the 101st Airborne engaged German Paratroopers of the 1st Batt. 6th Parachute Infantry Regiment and wiped them out.
• The Wooden Bridges at Brevands
  See where Lt. Charles Santarsiero led elements of 3rd Battalion 506th. Originally recommended for the Medal of Honor, his award was downgraded to the DSC.
• Marmion Farm
  Taken by men led by Major John Stopka of the 101st Airborne 502nd. This served as an aid station and a key gathering point for men of both divisions. It is also where S.L.A. Marshall conducted his post battle interviews.
• Bloody Gulch and Bloody Gully
  This is where men of the 506th fought it out with the 17th SS and also where Don Burgett was wounded.
• Graignes
  Where men from the 82nd Airborne 507th and villagers were murdered by men of the 17th SS.
• Ravenoville
  Trace Don Burgett's footsteps from his D-Day landing to Marmion Farm.
• AND SO MUCH MORE!

 Back to Top

How about some activities?

Extra activities and side trips vary due to scheduling and group interests, but here are some of things past tours have done.

• Witness something special!
  We've been able to enter the Normandy American Cemetery before it opens to the public and watch the flag raising. On the May 2007 Tour the veterans of the group, including Don Burgett, had the honor of actually raising the flags.
• Take a side trip!
  We've taken a side trip on the way from Paris to Normandy to see the Abbaye d'Ardenne. A powerful and somber place where many Canadian soldier's were brutally murdered by the German SS. Or we can take a side trip to visit Pegasus Bridge - see in person what you've probably seen in the movie "The Longest Day".
• Go metal-detecting!
  Normandy is a detectorist's dream! It's impossible to go to Normandy and NOT dig up something - and we know all the spots that haven't been hunted out yet. You can bring your own metal detectors too! And as long as it's not live or illegal, you can bring home what you find!
• Do your own thing!
  We allocate some free time in certain towns, like Sainte-Mère-Église, where you can do whatever you'd like. Go souvenir shopping. Take in a museum. Relax at a cafe. It's up to you! Enjoy your furlough...but NO fraternizing!

 Back to Top

Where will we stay?

Lodging is provided by our friend Spencer Henry at Château Bellenau, in Saint-Côme-du-Mont - just down the road from Dead Man's Corner. Spencer, a former British Officer, makes sure everyone's stay is comfortable, and that the Heineken in the Château's "Burgett Bar" never stops flowing!

The Château is famous for its beautiful gardens, which contain many exotic plants and trees. Where else in France can you see a Palm tree? The grounds contain serene walking paths, quiet caves, and ornamental lakes. The Château itself is clean and comfortable. There's a stately dinning room with a large stone fireplace that Spencer keeps lit when it's chilly. There's a wonderful solarium where the group gathers for coffee and conversation. And finally there's the "Burgett Bar", an excellent pub run by Spencer himself, where the beer is always ICE cold.

The Château also has some pertinent WWII history as well: It was a German command post on D-Day. Several paratroopers landed on the roof, smashed through the upper windows, and fought their way room-to-room to secure the building. The field across the street is where Col. "Jumpy" Johnson landed and emptied his .45 ACP into a German sentry before he even got out of his harness.

Château Bellenau isn't off the beaten path, it's in the middle of D-Day history!

Visit Château Bellenau's website to learn more: http://www.bellenau.com/

 Back to Top

Whoa! I'm in! How much?!

Have questions? Want to book a reservation? Would you like to organize a tour for family or friends? Contact Us!

Check, Money Order or International Money Order in $USD
US-Based customers traveling with us abroad. Total Cost Initial Deposit $3,400 $1,000 Overseas-based customers meeting us in Normandy. Total Cost Initial Deposit $2,200 USD $650 USD
PayPal
US-Based customers traveling with us abroad. Total Cost Initial Deposit $3,400 $1,050 Overseas-based customers meeting us in Normandy. Total Cost Initial Deposit $2,300 USD $700 USD
(PayPal premium covers transaction fees charged by PayPal)

 Back to Top

Where's the fine print?

Click here for Terms & Conditions

Click here for printable Terms & Conditions to sign and return

 Back to Top