You’ll be picked up from your Caen hotel by minivan in the morning for your full-day tour to Honfleur, Deauville and Trouville. As this is a private tour, you can customize your specific itinerary to your interests ─ simply let your guide know what you’d like to see.
Head first to Honfleur, located on the Seine estuary across from Le Havre. Your guide will reveal this town’s long history, from the Viking invasions to the seafarers of the 16th century to today.
Go back in time as you wander the narrow cobbled streets lined with half-timbered houses. Arrive at the old port, a picturesque setting that attracted many Impressionist painters including Claude Monet and Johan Jongkind. Imagine the ships of bygone seafarers, such as Samuel de Champlain, who left from Honfleur for his expeditions to Canada and founded the city of Quebec in 1608.
See Porte de Caen (Caen Gate), the only remnant of Honfleur's medieval fortifications, and visit St Catherine's Church, one of France’s largest wooden churches, built by the city's shipbuilders just after the Hundred Years’ War.
Before leaving Honfleur, walk up Cte de Grce, a hilltop pilgrimage site dating back to the 10th century where you’ll get a great view of the city and the impressive Normandy Bridge.
Next, make your way to Deauville, one of the most prestigious seaside resorts in France known for its horse races and international film festival. Saunter down the Promenade des Planches and along the harbor lined with nice hotels and villas, and ask your guide to take you to the famous Deauville-La Touques Racecourse or the Grand Casino.
Your next stop is Trouville, a traditional fishing village that allured the artists and writers of the Belle Epoque and is now a popular tourist spot. Stroll the boardwalk, visit the covered fish market, and stop by a local eatery to purchase a fresh seafood lunch (own expense) or a galette (savory cr□pe, a local specialty).
After your time in Trouville, hop in the minivan and head back to Caen to conclude your full-day tour.