Private tour in Cherbourg Graham O
4.7
(6) reviews
10 hours
1
10 hours
1
Graham O.
5.0
Guide rating
258
Reviews
Tours delivered
7 hrs
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I was born and grew up in Kent, United Kingdom. I am widely traveled and I have been living in Normandy for seventeen years, studying the history of this ancient historical region, both Medieval/Middle Age and WWII. With my Anglo/Norman roots, I am passionate about both these periods and take great personal delight in passing on much that I have learned to my guests and enjoy discussions and exchanging personal ideas. I have been told that I have a friendly nature and an enthusiastic manner, I am easy to understand as I am a Native English Speaker. I worked in all of these sectors throughout the summer season of 2017 on an almost daily basis. I have Lived in Le Mont St Michel for short periods and was privileged to attend Christmas mass in the Abbey with the Monks and Sisters and dined and conversed with them. During all this time I kept up my studies both off and on-site, picking up knowledge from personal stories of guests, including a D day veterans. I am a member of the Guild Of battlefield Guides and a registered Guide in France. My Local knowledge allows me to visit sites that are less well known by non locals. Numero Carte Professionelle (professional driving license number): 06120619701 professional vehicle transport number: VTC0131609/EVTC061200004 Member of the Guild Of battlefield Guides and a registered in France as Guide Accompagnateur. Not normally permitted to give official guided tours in the Abbey of Le Mont St Michel, it is restricted to their personal guides. Low profile is the better part of valor!
Have a question or want to customize this tour? Message Graham O.
This tour will include, Omaha Beach, an enormous task but overcome by the Rangers 'Lead the way', the 29th inf Div and the Big Red One 1st Inf division, Utah Beach where Theo Roosevelt 'Began His War', and the American Cemetery at Colleville which sits peacefully and poignantly above Omaha Beach, a stark reminder of the huge sacrifice made by so many brave young men for the freedom that we still enjoy today. Sainte-Mère-Église, the vital town on the Caen Cherbourg road, captured by Matthew Ridgeway Colonel Krause and Lt. Colonel Vandervoort and the 82nd airborne made famous by John Steele, caught by his parachute chords on the church steeple. Known as Mont Tombe, from the Roman name Tumba, Le Mont St Michel is a granite outcrop, a tidal island, that was formed 525 million years ago. The first community was formed by an Irish Hermit. But it was the Bishop of Avranches who built the first church. Which became the Gothic splendour we see today. Surviving the 100 years war, religious wars and the revolution.
Graham did a great job showing my family both the beaches of Normandy and Mont St. Michel. This was a 10 hour tour, however, Graham did a great job driving, telling stories and getting us back to the boat on time. He was also very flexible allowing us to change our schedule to see area of interest and provided great recommendations on food. Thank you Graham!
Our trip to the D Day sites, Normandy and Mont St. Michel were absolutely wonderful with the guidance of Graham. He was knowledgeable, charismatic and a pleasure to accompany on the tour! The pace of the stops was appropriate, and the knowledge of the area in general was a bonus since we asked a lot of questions! Definitely recommend this tour, and make sure to ask for Graham!
The best tour we have ever taken. We cannot speak highly enough of our experience touring the Normandy beaches and Mont St. Michel. Graham is an exceptional guide. He is incredibly knowledgeable, which of course is essential, but he is also friendly and warm and a wonderful person to spend two days with, as we did. He tailored the tour to our interests and was as patient--and fun--as you could hope. This tour was the highlight of an already very wonderful month-long trip to France. Thank you so much.
We really enjoyed our tour with Graham. He was very knowledgeable and answered questions from our entire group, ranging in age from 10 to 75. He was very friendly and helped us put together a tour that suited our interests and time. Would definitely recommend!
Graham was amazing. We were traveling with two boys (14 & 11 years old), and he catered to them and adjusted as the day went on, so that they learned a lot and had a great time. His knowledge of history went well beyond just the WWII tour we booked, and he talked about the general history of the area as he drove us around. Great driver too!
This tour begins at the American Cemetery above Omaha Beach, it's a perfect place to begin to pay our respects to the fallen heroes and examine the superb maps on the memorial walls to explain Operation Overlord. We then spend some time from the east to west on omaha beach to examine the German defenses and discuss the American and German strategies. Heading north west to Utah Beach, where Theodore Roosevelt Landed and began his war. In keeping with the American advance we head west to join up with the airborne forces, crossing the 101st dropping zones where Dick Winters began his heroic struggle and to the historical town of Sainte mere Eglise where around 30 airborne troops were dropped off course into the town. After lunch we head south west through St lo to le mont St Michel, arriving at the port culis, we climb the narrow cobbled Street with timber framed houses towards the Abbey. I am not permitted to tour the Abbey, official guides only. You may tour the Abbey with the official guide or headset.
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Luxury 7 Seater or 9 seater
Cherbourg-en-Cotentin, Normandy, France
Airport: ,Cruise: ,ByGuide: I can collect from any of the above as long as they are within a reasonable distance from the beaches or Le Mont st Michel.
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10 hours
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10 hours
1
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