Walk the Ground.
Normandy on Foot.
Fifty miles on foot, from the paratrooper drop zones behind Utah Beach to the bluffs above Omaha. A small group, led by a veteran, built for veterans and their spouses. Singles and non-veterans are just as welcome.
Why walk it
Earned, not driven past
Bus tours see Normandy through a window. We walk the hedgerow lanes, causeways and coastal paths, 6 to 10 miles a day. That's how you understand the distances these men covered under fire.
Led by one of your own
Your trip leader is an Army veteran who runs this the way a good platoon sergeant would: a plan for every day, everyone accounted for, and time set aside to reflect. Licensed local historians join us at the key sites.
Built for couples, open to all
Spouses are full members of the group, not along for the ride, and solo travelers fit right in. The van meets the group at lunch every day, so anyone who wants a shorter day can walk half of it, and we all meet at the same table for dinner.
Day by day
Muster in Bayeux
Take the train from Paris to Bayeux, the first French town liberated after D-Day. Your welcome letter has step-by-step directions from the station to the hotel. In the evening there's an easy walk through the old town, a full trip briefing and a welcome dinner where everyone shares where and when they served.
Arromanches to Longues-sur-Mer
See the remains of the Mulberry harbour off Arromanches, then walk the clifftop path west to the Longues-sur-Mer battery, where the German guns are still in their casemates. Continue to the fishing port of Port-en-Bessin.
Pointe du Hoc and Omaha
Stand in the shell craters at Pointe du Hoc, where the Rangers climbed the cliffs. Walk east along the coast to Vierville, then down Omaha Beach itself. Finish at the Normandy American Cemetery for the daily flag-lowering ceremony.
Off the beach and inland
Start at the Utah Beach Museum, then walk inland as the 4th Infantry Division did, along the causeways and past Brécourt Manor to Sainte-Marie-du-Mont. Carry on through the hedgerows to Sainte-Mère-Église, where we stay two nights.
The paratroopers' ground
Visit the church and the Airborne Museum in Sainte-Mère-Église. Then walk west to the La Fière causeway, where the 82nd Airborne held the bridge over the Merderet against German counterattacks.
Purple Heart Lane
Walk from Dead Man's Corner along the raised causeway into Carentan, the road the 101st Airborne named Purple Heart Lane. On the drive back to Bayeux, stop at the German war cemetery at La Cambe to reflect on the other side.
Free morning, final formation
Rest your legs in Bayeux, or join an optional run east to Pegasus Bridge and the Juno Beach Centre. In the evening there's a remembrance gathering and a farewell dinner.
Head home
After breakfast, take the train back to Paris for your onward flight.
The route
West to east along the American sector. Each morning the van drops us at the day's start, meets us at lunch and collects us at the finish. Routes approximate.
Daily schedule
| Day | On foot | Schedule | Overnight | Meals |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Day 1 Sun 12 Sept |
≈2 mi |
|
Bayeux | D |
Day 2 Mon 13 Sept |
≈8 mi |
|
Bayeux | B, D |
Day 3 Tue 14 Sept |
≈9 mi |
|
Bayeux | B |
Day 4 Wed 15 Sept |
≈10 mi |
|
Sainte-Mère-Église | B, D |
Day 5 Thu 16 Sept |
≈8 mi |
|
Sainte-Mère-Église | B, D |
Day 6 Fri 17 Sept |
≈8 mi |
|
Bayeux | B |
Day 7 Sat 18 Sept |
≈4 mi |
|
Bayeux | B, D |
Day 8 Sun 19 Sept |
— |
|
— | B |
Is this trip for you?
Who comes
The trip is designed around veterans of any branch and any era and their spouses. Anyone is welcome to book: singles, friends traveling together, history lovers and Gold Star family members. You don't need any military background, only an interest in the people who fought here.
How fit you need to be
On the full route you should be comfortable walking 8 to 10 miles a day on consecutive days, over sand, farm tracks and some steep paths. The van meets the group at lunch each day, so you can walk the morning and ride from there, or ride to lunch and walk the afternoon.
What it's like
There's real walking, real history and some heavy moments. The days are long and full, the evenings are relaxed, and you'll be with people who understand what you've done.
Included
- 7 nights in hand-picked hotels in Bayeux and Sainte-Mère-Église
- Daily breakfast and 5 dinners, including the welcome and farewell dinners
- Veteran trip leader for the entire trip
- Licensed local battlefield historians at key sites
- All site and museum entry fees on the itinerary
- Daily van transfers (morning drop-off, lunch meeting point, afternoon pick-up) and luggage moves between hotels
- Pre-trip reading list and a training plan for the walking days
Not included
- Flights to and from Paris
- Train from Paris to Bayeux and back
- Lunches (usually picnics or village cafés along the route)
- Travel insurance (required)
- Drinks with dinner and gratuities
A veteran-owned family business
Long Road Expeditions is owned and run by Scott and Erin Long of Grovespring, Missouri. Scott plans and leads every trip on the ground. Erin runs bookings, payments and the business side, so when you have a question about your reservation, she is usually the one you will talk to. Erin also travels with the group in Normandy, so you will have two of us looking after you on the ground.
We keep groups small and treat every traveler the way we would want our own family treated: a clear plan, honest prices and a team that answers the phone.
Scott Long
Scott served as an M1A2 Abrams crewman and HQ platoon sergeant with the 2/12 and 1/16 Cavalry and deployed to Bosnia in 1999. Since 2017 he has organized an annual reunion that brings nearly 20 veterans and their families together. In Civil Air Patrol he is a ground team leader and has directed national-level training activities.
He builds a trip the way he'd run an operation: a sound plan, a briefing every morning, and nobody left behind. He also leaves room for what this ground means to each person who walks it.
Questions
My spouse doesn't want to walk every day. Is that OK?
Yes. The van meets the group at lunch every day, so anyone can walk half the day: the morning, then ride from lunch, or ride to lunch and walk the afternoon. Plenty of couples split up and meet at lunch.
Do I have to be a veteran?
No. The trip is planned with veterans in mind, but everyone who wants to walk this ground is welcome, and you will be treated as part of the group from day one.
Can I come on my own?
Absolutely. Solo travelers are welcome. A limited number of single rooms are available for a $795 single supplement.
What's the weather like in September?
Usually mild, with highs in the mid-60s to low 70s °F, but expect wind on the coast and at least one day of rain. You'll get a packing list after you book.
Can we visit a relative's grave or unit's location?
Tell us when you book. Where we can, we'll work a personal stop into the route, such as a family grave at the American Cemetery or the ground a relative's unit fought over.
Price
Reservations open in January 2027. A $750 deposit per person will hold your place, and the balance is due 90 days before departure. The trip runs with a minimum of 8 travelers.
14 spots.
12–19 Sept 2027.
Reservations open in January 2027. Join the interest list now and you'll hear first, before we open it to everyone. The early-booking price of $4,295 runs to March 31, 2027.
Email longroadexpeditionsllc@gmail.com · Call +1 417-462-0045