Calvados hiking tour
Hiking trip details : Hiking the Calvados
Located less than two and a half hours from Paris, in the heart of Normandy, Calvados is a department with an exceptional historical, cultural and gastronomic heritage. This walking tour is ideal for the whole family and will help you discover the richness and emblematic places of this department, from Honfleur to Bayeux!
You will be seduced by the variety of landscapes encountered, from the hills and orchards of the Pays d'Auge to the D-Day landing beaches, as well as by the richness of Normandy's gastronomy: Cider, Calvados, Pont l'Evêque, Camembert, mussels and other seafood! Enough to eat after a good day's walking!
Calvados is also a department rich in history, from the Viking invasions to the conquest of England in 1066 by William the Conqueror, Duke of Normandy, to the Allied landings of 6 June 1944 and the terrible fighting that followed!
Honfleur, cradle of the Impressionists
The first stop on this walking tour is the charming port of Honfleur. Situated on the south bank of the Seine estuary, its picturesque slate houses have inspired many impressionist artists such as Claude Monet and Gustave Courbet. Honfleur prospered between the 15th and 17th centuries thanks to the triangular trade and served as a base for expeditions to conquer the New World: Canada, the West Indies and Louisiana. Walking through its winding streets, you will have the impression of going back in time. The old buildings have lost none of their authenticity, some dating back to the Hundred Years War !
Don't miss the opportunity to make a diversion to the Notre Dame chapel, which offers a breathtaking view of the town and the Seine estuary.
Then your walking tour of Normandy will take you to the villages of the Pays d'Auge, including Beuvron-en-Auge, voted the most beautiful village in France, and Cambremer, famous for its cheese and cider.
At the heart of the D-Day beaches
The next stage takes you to the D-Day landing beaches. After a private transfer across the Caen plain, you arrive at Arromanches, in the Gold Beach area, famous for the remains of its artificial harbour and its two museums dedicated to the events of 6 June 1944. You then continue along the cliffs to the fishing port of Port en Bessin, and on the way visit the German battery at Longues sur Mer!
The following day, from Port en Bessin, the cliffs take you to the village of Colleville sur Mer and Omaha Beach, the area where the American troops suffered the most casualties on D-Day. A visit to the memorial and the beach is a must, before you go to the cemetery where nearly 10,000 American soldiers are buried today, a testimony to the harshness of the fighting on that tragic day!
Your hiking trip ends with a visit to Bayeux and its tapestry, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The tapestry recounts in embroidery form the glorious epic of William the Conqueror during the capture of England in 1066. The town centre of Bayeux, spared from the bombing, is full of medieval buildings, shops and good restaurants! A charming way to end your stay!
DAY 1 : Arrival in Honfleur
Your hotel is located near the old harbour. Take time to discover Honfleur, a real jewel of art and history on the south bank of the Seine estuary.
It was a strategic port before becoming an important trading port in the 16th century. Then in the 17th century, it became the departure point for many sailors to the New World: Brazil, Newfoundland and Quebec... Almost everything has been preserved from this rich past: churches, old port, bell tower, old half-timbered houses, cobbled streets much too narrow for cars... A real treasure!
Night in Honfleur.
DAY 2 : Honfleur
Distance : 16 km
For this first day of walking, you will start with a trip back in time through the winding streets of old Honfleur. The buildings in this part of the town date back to the Hundred Years War! The architecture is quite unique as all sorts of materials were used for the construction of these buildings: oak, flint, thatch, slate, tiles, bricks, limestone, clay...
Leaving Honfleur, you will pass by the Chapelle Notre Dame which overlooks the town and offers the most beautiful view of the Seine estuary, crossed by the Pont de Normandie. You will cross the Bois du Breuil to reach the village of Pennedepie. You will be able to taste cider and calvados in one of the most famous farms in the region, before returning to Honfleur.
Night in Honfleur.
DAY 3 : Honfleur to Beuvron en Auge
Distance : 12/18 or 22 km
At the beginning of the day we will pick you up after breakfast and drive you to the starting point of your tour. (it takes about 30 minutes by car). Depending on how fit you are and what you want to do, you can choose the starting point. You will start your walk through the famous roads of the Pays d'Auge. You will go eastwards through some typical villages before reaching Beuvron-en-Auge, elected most beautiful village in France.
Night in Beuvron.
DAY 4 : Loop Beuvron - Cambremer - Beuvron
Distance : 22 km
Today we suggest a loop on the Cider Route. You will pass through Cambremer, a small village in the heart of the Pays d'Auge whose cheese and cider have made its reputation throughout the country. You will have the opportunity to taste cider and calvados in almost every village you pass through. After a break in a typical Norman café-restaurant, you will be ready to walk back to Beuvron. On the way back, take the time to discover the magnificent castle of Crèvecœur-en-Auge.
Night in Beuvron.
DAY 5 : Arromanches to Port-en-Bessin
Distance : 14 km
The day will start with a one hour private transfer to the plain of Caen and the D-Day beaches. Depending on your wishes, we will drop you off between the town of Creully and Arromanches-les-Bains. You will start your walk on Gold Beach and then reach the top of the cliffs overlooking the artificial harbour of Arromanches. Your time will be taken up with museums and beaches before reaching the German Battery at Longue-sur-mer. A few kilometres further on you will reach the fishing port of Port-en-Bessin where your hotel is located.
Night in Port en Bessin.
DAY 6 : Loop around Port-en-Bessin
Distance : 12 or 24 km
Today we head west along the coast to Colleville sur Mer. This is the eastern end of Omaha Beach, the scene of one of the bloodiest battles of Operation Overlord. After a tour of the visitor centre, you will visit the American Cemetery where over 10,000 soldiers are buried. You will follow the coast to Saint Laurent sur Mer.
You will then return to your hotel.
Night in Port en Bessin.
DAY 7 : Port-en-Bessin to Bayeux
Distance : 17 km
You will leave the coast to reach the Aure Valley and Tour-en-Bessin. You will appreciate the magnificent manor houses and stud farms on your way, witnesses of the prosperity of the Bessin Normand.
You will arrive in Bayeux via the Commonwealth Cemetery and Memorial. The Cathedral will be your landmark to find your hotel in the extremely well preserved centre of the town of Bayeux. We recommend a visit to the tapestry, a historical testimony to the Norman epic of William the Conqueror. For dinner, the town is full of excellent restaurants.
Night in Bayeux.
DAY 8 : Bayeux
End of the tour in Bayeux after breakfast.
Our 15 years of experience has enabled us to build strong relationships with all our hotel partners. Some of them have become true friends and we have a real trust in them.
Their priority is to make your stay unforgettable and carefree.
And because everyone has their own budget, we offer you different categories of accommodation.
One thing is certain, from small family accommodation to large 5* hotels, a warm welcome is always reserved for Normandie Rando clients.
Because we organise sporting holidays, we attach great importance to breakfasts.
All the establishments we work with offer a varied and copious breakfast made up of fresh and local products.
Standard accommodation
You stay in small family-run 2* or 3* hotels.
The welcome is always friendly and the rooms simple but with all the comfort.
We know that a walking or cycling holiday requires a good rest between each stage and the bedding is always of high quality.
Comfort accommodation
You stay in 3* or 4* hotels.
The rooms are spacious and the hotel offers many services.
The bedding is of very good quality and the decoration is well thought out.
Luxury accommodation
You stay in a 4* or 5* hotel.
The establishments are often part of the historical heritage (old houses, castles...)
The rooms are very spacious and have all the necessary equipment.
The bedding is excellent.
High season : From June 1st to August 31
Accommodation :
Standard accommodation starting from : 1010€
Single room supplement : 345€
Comfort accommodation starting from : 1140€
Single room supplement : 430€
You do not wish to benefit our luggage transport service ?
40€ discount (offer cannot be combined with the "Group Traveller" discount)
Solo traveller : 175€ supplement
Group traveller (more than 4 persons) : 40€ discount
Departure on Monday
If departure on another day : 60€
High season supplement : 30€
All prices, discounts and supplements are per person.
The list of hotels included in your stay is available on request via our contact form.
Included in the tour price :
- 7 nights in standard, comfort or luxury accommodation with breakfast
- 6 days of hiking.
- Luggage transfers in between each steps.
- Detailled tour explanations, advices...
- Travel documents : roadbook, detailled maps and GPX tracks (on demand)
Non included in tour price :
- Dinners, lunches and drinks
- Daily tourist taxes
- Entry fees and tickets for cultural and historical sites
- Travel insurance
- Single room supplement
- High season supplement
How to get there ?
Coming by train from Paris :
Paris - Trouville/Deauville : 2h10 (direct train)
Coming by car :
Private pay parking lot or free unsupervised parking in Trouville
How to go back ?
Getting back to Paris by train :
Sncf Bayeux train station - Paris : 2h20 (direct train)
Get your car back at the end of your tour :
Private transfer from Bayeux to Trouville (Prices on demand)
Trouville
Bayeux
8 days/7 nights
Easy
From 960.00€
Book your stayAll included tours
Luggage transfers
Bicycle rental
Roadbook + GPS
Assistance
7/7