world war 2 trip

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16-day World War II Memorial Tour of Europe

NORMANDY, FRANCE

The Higgins boat monument at Utah Beach

Colleville-sur-mer, france.

The American Cemetery near Omaha Beach honors over 9000 fallen soldiers

Paris, france.

The Arc de Triomphe stands at the end of the famous Champs-Élysées Avenue

Amsterdam, the netherlands.

Quaint row houses line the canals of this influential city

Antwerp, belgium.

The main city square is lined with 16th-century Flemish Guildhouses

Dachau, germany.

The memorial at Dachau Concentration Camp was designed by Holocaust survivor Nandor Glid

Munich, germany.

Get a taste of Oktoberfest all year round at the Hofbräuhaus beer hall

Caen, france.

The Caen Peace Memorial & Museum

Nuremberg, germany.

The colossal Congress Hall was built to seat the Nazi Party congress

Rhine river, germany.

This legendary waterway is lined with castle ruins, vineyards, and romantic villages

Pricing disclaimer.

16-day tour featuring Germany, Austria, Luxembourg, Belgium, Holland and France. Revisit the dramatic history of World War II at famous battle sites, war museums and memorials. Many scenic and cultural highlights are also included, providing an enjoyable combination of learning and leisure.   Highest Elevation: 2,500 feet in the Apline Village of Austria.

Tour Year 2024

Tour itinerary.

DAY 1 - Overnight flight to Europe.

The Trip Documents will provide guidance for airport check-in and for your arrival in Europe. Relax on your transatlantic flight with the assurance that Image Tours has taken care of all the details.

DAY 2 - GERMANY . . Arrival at Frankfurt Airport – Bavaria.

Upon arrival, clear passport control and collect your luggage. Refer to the “Arrival Instructions” in the Trip Documents for directions on where and when to meet your tour manager. Settle into your comfortable motor coach on the way to your hotel in the scenic and festive state of Bavaria. Get acquainted with your fellow tour members during the “Welcome to Europe” dinner. (Dinner)

DAY 3 - GERMANY . . Nuremberg - Bavaria.

Your bus transfer into the city center introduces you to the history of Nuremberg. Hitler staged his propaganda rallies here and, after his fall, it was chosen as the location for the War Trials. You will have an opportunity to see the Nazi Party Rally Grounds, Congress Hall, and Palace of Justice where the War Trials were held. Consider the causes and consequences of Nazi Germany during a visit to the Documentation Center (visit the temporary exhibit during the 2023 renovations).  Discover the Old Town’s half-timbered buildings and gingerbread shops before returning to your Bavaria hotel for dinner. (Breakfast, Dinner)

DAY 4 - GERMANY . . Dachau - Munich - Tyrolean Village.

Travel to Dachau for a somber visit to the Concentration Camp Memorial. At the entrance, you are prompted to reflect on the incomprehensible as your tour manager translates the German phrase on the iron gate: ARBEIT MACHT FREI (Work Makes One Free). Study the exhibit recounting the “path of the prisoners” and see the site of the former barracks. Your tour continues to Munich, the elegant capital of Bavaria. Pass points of interest, such as the Hitler Building, on your way to the Marienplatz, a pedestrian-only zone where historic buildings are cleverly interspersed with modern store fronts. The centerpiece of the square is the Rathaus (Town Hall) with its captivating Glockenspiel (clock tower). Following your visit to Munich, head south into the mountain range along the German/Austrian border, where you will spend the next two nights in a Tyrolean Village. (Breakfast, Dinner)

DAY 5 - GERMANY/AUSTRIA . . Tyrolean Village.

Enjoy a relaxing day in the surroundings of your hotel. Your Alpine Village offers a variety of options for leisure activities amid the spectacular mountain scenery. Another choice is to join the full day optional Salzburg & Eagle’s Nest with Dinner  excursion (see Optional Excursions), which includes a guided visit to the Kehlsteinhaus, Hitler’s mountain hideaway, followed by an afternoon in Salzburg, known as Mozart’s birthplace and the setting for “The Sound of Music.” Spend a second night at your peaceful Tyrolean Village hotel. (Breakfast)

DAY 6 - GERMANY . . Ulm – Bad Herrenalb.

After breakfast, travel to Ulm to view the imposing Ulm Minster with the tallest church steeple in the world. This afternoon, make a stop at the grave of Erwin Rommel, the German general who was forced to commit suicide when Hitler suspected him of treason. End the day with a buffet dinner at your hotel in Bad Herrenalb, on the northern edge of Germany’s Black Forest. (Breakfast, Dinner)

DAY 7 - FRANCE . . St. Avold – Fort Hackenberg & GERMANY . . Trier.

Follow a scenic route through the Alsace Region and the Vosges Mountains. This area was the site of heavy fighting in the fall of 1944. You will make a stop at Lorraine’s American Cemetery in St. Avold, the largest American World War II cemetery in Europe. The afternoon is reserved for a tour of Fort Hackenberg, part of the Maginot Line, which was constructed between the world wars as a defense against any future German invasions. Your hotel for the next two nights will be in Trier, the oldest city in Germany, located near the three-country border of France, Luxembourg and Germany. (Breakfast, Dinner)

DAY 8 - LUXEMBOURG . . American Cemetery - Diekirch, BELGIUM . . Ardennes – Bastogne & GERMANY . . Trier.

The morning stop is at the American Cemetery in Luxembourg where General George Patton is buried. Continue into the Belgian Ardennes Region and arrive in Bastogne to view the star-shaped Mardasson Monument, a tribute to the soldiers who died in the Battle of Ardennes. You will also see the fox holes used by Easy Company, whose stories inspired the TV mini-series “Band of Brothers.” Your travels this afternoon take you to the Luxembourg National Museum of Military History in Diekirch. Trier's famous Porta Nigra provides an intriguing backdrop for your independent dinner before returning to your hotel. (Breakfast)

DAY 9 - GERMANY . . Rhine River – Remagen – Rhine-Ruhr Region.

Motor to one of the most beautiful stretches of the Rhine River where you will board a river steamer for a boat ride past endearing villages, medieval fortresses, and hillside vineyards known for producing the distinctive Rhine wines. Continue through the Rhine River Valley to Remagen to view the remains of the Ludendorff Bridge, the last standing bridge on the Rhine, which was captured by U.S. soldiers on March 7, 1945. By mid-afternoon, continue to your Rhine-Ruhr region hotel. Dinner will be served at the hotel this evening. (Breakfast, Dinner)

DAY 10 - HOLLAND . . Groesbeek – Nijmegen – South Holland.

Crossing the border, focus on sites significant to World War II liberation efforts in The Netherlands (Holland), including locations associated with Operation Market Garden. The bridge over the Waal River at Nijmegen was a strategic asset reclaimed after the historical crossing of American paratroopers. Travel Hell’s Highway and stop at the memorial in Overasselt, commemorating the site of the largest airborne operation of all time. This day will also feature a visit to one of the local museums documenting the World War II resistance in The Netherlands. Continue to your South Holland hotel for check-in and dinner. (Breakfast, Dinner)

DAY 11 - HOLLAND . . Amsterdam – South Holland.

Travel through Holland's countryside, characterized by canals, dikes and windmills, as you make your way to the dynamic city of Amsterdam. Your visit begins with a ride aboard a glass-topped boat through Amsterdam’s harbor and canals where you will see numerous bridges, boathouses and bicycles while gliding past 17th-century gabled houses. During an independent lunch, try a pannekoek (Dutch pancake) or other local specialties. This afternoon, walk to the main square, an ideal focal point for your individual exploration. Return to your South Holland hotel for dinner. (Breakfast, Dinner)

DAY 12 - BELGIUM . . Antwerp & FRANCE . . Caen.

Today consists of a full day of travel from Holland to Caen, France, with a stop in the port city of Antwerp, Belgium. Explore the central market square with its irresistible chocolate shops and convivial outdoor cafés serving Belgian Waffles. Continue the drive into France for an early evening check-in at your Caen hotel where dinner is served shortly after your arrival. (Breakfast, Dinner)

DAY 13 - FRANCE . . Normandy Landing Beaches – Caen.

The entire day is spent touring the famous Normandy Landing Beaches. From Caen, drive to the coast and stop at Pointe du Hoc to view the German fortifications. You’ll also travel to Utah Beach and Sainte-Mère-Église, the site where paratroopers landed during World War II as portrayed in the movie “The Longest Day.” Visit Sainte-Mère-Église Airborne Museum before continuing to Omaha Beach and the American Cemetery. Proceed to the artillery battery at Longues-sur-Mer. At today’s final stop in the village of Arromanches, view remnants of the artificial harbor and reflect on the sights of the day over an independent dinner. (Breakfast)

DAY 14 - FRANCE . . Caen – Paris.

Spend the morning touring the Caen Peace Memorial and Museum, established to honor the liberators, victims, and all those who continue to fight for peace. As you depart Caen, pause at the Pegasus Bridge to understand how its capture by the British 6th Airborne division was instrumental in deterring a German counterattack. Arrive in Paris by early evening and join your travel companions for a festive “Farewell Dinner” of enticing French dishes at an authentic Parisian bistro with roving musicians. The return transfer provides additional impressions of the city at dusk. (Breakfast, Dinner)

DAY 15 - FRANCE . . Paris.

The day is devoted to Paris, La Ville Lumìere ("City of Light"). On your way into the center, see the Arc de Triomphe which has been the staging area for victory parades throughout history including those following World War II. Your tour manager will also direct you to the location of other principal sights, such as the Notre Dame Cathedral, Eiffel Tower, and Louvre Museum (open every day except Tuesday). Before beginning your free time, we suggest joining the optional Seine River Cruise excursion (see Optional Excursions). Spend the evening exploring the Montmartre District, where Paris looks as it does in old paintings and artists still display their works. An uphill walk to the Sacré-Coeur Basilica rewards you with expansive views of the cityscape. Montmartre boasts excellent restaurants and characteristic sidewalk cafés perfect for an independent dinner in the French capital. (Breakfast)

DAY 16 - Daytime flight back to U.S.A.

Transfer to the Paris Airport for your return flight home. (Breakfast)

Travel Time

Overnight flight from the U.S.A. to Frankfurt.

Arrival at Frankfurt Airport . Meet your tour manager, board your deluxe motor coach and travel (1¾ hrs) through the Franconian Wine Region . After a rest stop, continue (1½ hrs) to your hotel located in the festive state of Bavaria for a "Welcome to Europe" dinner. ( Dinner )

During an introductory sightseeing (1 hr), experience the history of Nuremberg and view the site of the Nazi Party Rally Grounds, the Congress Hall, and the Palace of Justice where the War Trials were held. Return (½ hr) to your hotel in Bavaria  for dinner. (Breakfast, Dinner)

DAY 4 - GERMANY . . Dachau - Munich - Alpine Village.

Depart Nuremburg (1¼ hrs) and after a morning stop travel (1¼ hrs) to Dachau Concentration Camp . In the afternoon continue (½ hr) to the elegant Bavarian capital of Munich . Depart Munich in the late afternoon and head south (2 hrs) to an Alpine Village hotel for dinner. (Breakfast, Dinner)

DAY 5 - GERMANY/AUSTRIA . . Alpine Village.

Enjoy a day of leisure or join your tour manager for the full day optional Salzburg & Eagle's Nest with Dinner  excursion, including a guided visit to Hitler's mountain hide-a-way (1 hr), sightseeing in Salzburg (½ hr) and an authentic Austrian dinner (1 hr) before returning (1 hr) to your Alpine Village hotel. (Breakfast)

Return to Germany (2 hrs) and after a morning stop proceed (1½ hrs) to Ulm for an independent lunch and views of the imposing Ulm Minster. Next, travel (1 hr) to the Rommel Memorial. Continue (2¼ hrs) to Bad Herrenalb , on the northern edge of Germany's Black Forest. (Breakfast, Dinner)

DAY 7 - FRANCE . . St. Avold – Fort Hackenberg & GERMANY . . Igel.

Follow a scenic route (1¾ hrs) through the Alsace Region and Vosges Mountains. On to (1 hr) Lorraine's American Cemetery, the largest American World War II cemetery in Europe. From here continue (1 hr) to Fort Hackenberg , part of the Maginot Line. After a visit, continue (1½ hrs) to your hotel in Igel . (Breakfast, Dinner)

DAY 8 - LUXEMBOURG . . American Cemetery - Diekirch, BELGIUM . . Ardennes – Bastogne & GERMANY . . Trier – Igel.

It's a short ride (¾ hr) to the American Cemetery in Luxembourg . Drive (1½ hrs) through the Belgian Ardennes Region and arrive in Bastogne . In the afternoon travel (¾ hr) to the Luxembourg National Museum of Military History in Diekirch . Transfer (1 hr) to Trier , the oldest city in Germany, for an independent dinner before returning (¼ hr) to your hotel in Igel . (Breakfast)

In the morning, travel (2 hrs) to the legendary Rhine for a boat ride along one of the most beautiful stretches of the river. After disembarkation, proceed to Remagen (1 hr) to view the Ludendorff Bridge. Continue (1¼ hrs) to your hotel in the Rhine-Ruhr Region . (Breakfast, Dinner)

Cross the border (2¼ hrs) on the way to Nijmegen to focus on the sites significant to WWII liberation efforts in the Netherlands. Visit (½ hr) one of the local museums before traveling (1½ hrs) through the Dutch countryside to your South Holland hotel. (Breakfast, Dinner)

Transfer (1½ hrs) to Amsterdam where a boat ride through the canals is followed by ample free time. In the evening, return (1½ hrs) to your South Holland hotel for dinner. (Breakfast, Dinner)

A full day of travel. Head south (1¾ hrs) into Belgium to visit the historic town of Antwerp . After free time in Antwerp, drive (2 hrs) to a lunch break near the French/Belgian border. Continue (2¼ hrs) to an afternoon stop in northwestern France. Just before dinner time, arrive (2 hrs) at your hotel in Caen . (Breakfast, Dinner)

The entire day is spent touring the famous Normandy Landing Beaches , including a visit to Pointe du Hoc, Utah Beach, Sainte-Mère-Église Airborne Museum and stops at Omaha Beach, the artillery battery at Longues-sur-Mer and Arromanches (travel time between stops varies from ¼ hr to ¾ hr). Short transfer (½ hr) back to Caen . (Breakfast)

Transfer (¼ hr) to the Caen Peace Memorial and Museum for a visit and then continue (½ hr) onto the Pegasus Bridge. Stop for lunch (1¾ hrs) in the French countryside on the way (1¾ hrs) to Paris . Spend the evening in the Montmartre District, an ideal place for your independent dinner (¼ hr). (Breakfast)

A full day for individual exploration (¾ hr transfer in each direction) of Paris , during which you may wish to join the optional Seine River Cruise excursion. This evening, join your travel companions for a festive “Farewell Dinner” at an authentic Parisian bistro. (Breakfast, Dinner)

Transfer (1 hr) to Paris Charles de Gualle Airport for your flight home. (Breakfast)

Favorite Traveler Experiences

•   View Hitler’s Nuremberg Rally Grounds with solemn contemplation
•   Examine the eye-opening exhibits at Dachau Concentration Camp
•   Listen to the chiming of the Glockenspiel on Munich’s main square
•   Tour part of the Maginot Line defense structure at Fort Hackenberg
•   Explore Bastogne, synonymous with the “Battle of the Bulge”
•   Glide past castles and vineyards on a scenic Rhine River boat ride
•   See first hand the Eiffel Tower and Arc de Triomphe in Paris
•   Take a serene boat tour through the famed canals of Amsterdam
•   Tour the Normandy Landing Beaches and Military Cemetery
•   Accommodations in Superior Tourist Class or First Class hotels
•   14 Breakfasts and 10 Dinners in addition to any in-flight meals
•   Tour Manager for the full European duration of the tour
•   Land Transportation in Europe by deluxe, air-conditioned motor coach
•   Image Tours Touroclopedia® trip preparation tips
•   Trip Documents with luggage tags, final details and travel guidance

Traveler Reviews

Kenneth & tammie j., andrew & jean b., paul & tammy k..

The Availability, Departure Dates, and Rates are for illustration and planning purposes only. Since final pricing and single availability can only be confirmed with a travel agent, steps 4 & 5 of this on-line booking module is reserved for your travel agent only. (Please Call) indicates that we still have some tour availability; however, you should have your travel agent call our office to confirm air availability.

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Upcoming departures, sep 04, 2024, sep 19, 2024, $4,940 p.p.d.o., sep 11, 2024, sep 26, 2024, may 07, 2025, may 22, 2025, $4,990 p.p.d.o., jun 11, 2025, jun 26, 2025, sep 03, 2025, sep 18, 2025, oct 01, 2025, oct 16, 2025, tour hotels.

NH Collection Nürnberg City

• Air Conditioning
• Satellite TV
• In-Room-Safe

Seminaris Hotel Nuremberg

• satellite TV
• in-room safe
• fitness center

Landhotel Kirchenwirt

• wellness area

Parkhotel Luise Bad Herrenalb

• indoor swimming pool
• safety deposit box at reception

Vienna House Easy Trier

NH Hotel Capelle

• air conditioning
• in room safe

Van der Valk hotel Ridderkerk

Mercure Caen Côte de Nacre

• restaurants

Holiday Inn Express - Canal de la Villette

• internet center

Optional Excursions

OPTIONAL EXCURSIONS DETAILS

Our tours are carefully planned to offer a comfortable balance of sightseeing, entertainment and leisure time. Optional Excursions provide the flexibility to choose between leisure time or additional guided sightseeing activities. Unless otherwise noted, optional excursions must be booked with and paid to your tour manager during the tour. Prices are in U.S. Dollars. MASTERCARD®, VISA®, or DISCOVER® (no other credit cards are accepted) are recommended to avoid carrying excessive cash and exchange rate fluctuations. You must be able to present the actual card to your tour manager. If you bring a DISCOVER® card, also bring a VISA® or MASTERCARD®, as DISCOVER® is not widely accepted in Europe. Cash payments during the tour must be in Euros. Personal checks and traveler’s checks are not accepted. The operation of all excursions is subject to sufficient participation, and some excursions are subject to favorable weather conditions. Your tour manager reserves the right to make changes or cancel excursions at their sole discretion.

SALZBURG & EAGLE'S NEST WITH DINNER

Upon arrival in Berchtesgaden, Germany, you will take a bus and elevator up to the Eagle’s Nest, Hitler’s mountain hide-away. In the case of halted bus operation, we will substitute a visit to the Obersalzburg Documentation Center. After an independent lunch, become acquainted with nearby Salzburg, famous home of the “Sound of Music” and Mozart. This excursion includes a traditional Austrian dinner at an alpine village restaurant.

SEINE RIVER CRUISE

Glide along the Seine River by boat, while viewing the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, the Notre Dame Cathedral, and several other impressive sights in Paris. This excursion provides for excellent photo opportunities.

Tour Extensions

Paris post-tour extension, paris and london post-tour 3-night extension, tour year 2025.

Today begins your World War II Memorial Tour of Europe adventure. The Image Tours "Departure Instructions" will provide guidance for airport check-in. Relax on your transatlantic flight with the assurance that Image Tours has taken care of all the details.

Refer to the “Arrival Instructions” for directions on where and when to meet your Tour Manager. Settle into your comfortable motor coach on the way to your hotel in the scenic and festive state of Bavaria. Get acquainted with your fellow tour members during the “Welcome to Europe” dinner. (Dinner)

Your bus transfer into the city center introduces you to the history of Nuremberg. Hitler staged his propaganda rallies here and, after his fall, it was chosen as the location for the War Trials. You will have an opportunity to see the Nazi Party Rally Grounds, Congress Hall, and Palace of Justice where the War Trials were held. Consider the causes and consequences of Nazi Germany during a visit to the Documentation Center.  Discover the Old Town’s half-timbered buildings and gingerbread shops before returning to your Bavaria hotel for dinner. (Breakfast, Dinner)

Travel to Dachau for a somber visit to the Concentration Camp Memorial. At the entrance, you are prompted to reflect on the incomprehensible as your Tour Manager translates the German phrase on the iron gate: ARBEIT MACHT FREI (Work Makes One Free). Study the exhibit recounting the “path of the prisoners” and see the site of the former barracks. Your tour continues to Munich, the elegant capital of Bavaria. Pass points of interest, such as the Hitler Building, on your way to the Marienplatz, a pedestrian-only zone where historic buildings are cleverly interspersed with modern store fronts. The centerpiece of the square is the Rathaus (Town Hall) with its captivating Glockenspiel (clock tower). Following your visit to Munich, head south into the mountain range along the German/Austrian border, where you will spend the next two nights in a Tyrolean Village. (Breakfast, Dinner)

Enjoy a relaxing day in the surroundings of your Tyrolean Village hotel, which offers a variety of options for leisure activities amid the spectacular alpine scenery. Another choice is to join the full day optional Salzburg & Eagle’s Nest with Dinner  excursion (see Optional Excursions), which includes a guided visit to the Kehlsteinhaus, Hitler’s mountain hideaway, followed by an afternoon in Salzburg, known as Mozart’s birthplace and the setting for “The Sound of Music.” Spend a second night at your peaceful Tyrolean Village hotel. (Breakfast)

DAY 10 - THE NETHERLANDS. . Groesbeek – Nijmegen – South Holland.

Crossing the border, focus on sites significant to World War II liberation efforts in The Netherlands (Holland), including locations associated with Operation Market Garden. The bridge over the Waal River at Nijmegen was a strategic asset reclaimed after the historical crossing of American paratroopers. Travel Hell’s Highway and stop at the memorial in Overasselt, commemorating the site of the largest airborne operation of all time. This day will also feature a visit to one of the local museums documenting the World War II resistance in The Netherlands. Continue to your, in the region of South Holland, for check-in and dinner. (Breakfast, Dinner)

DAY 11 - THE NETHERLANDS. . Amsterdam – South Holland.

Travel through Holland's countryside, characterized by canals, dikes and windmills, as you make your way to the dynamic city of Amsterdam. Your visit includes a ride aboard a glass-topped boat through Amsterdam’s harbor and canals where you will see numerous bridges, boathouses and bicycles while gliding past 17th-century gabled houses. During an independent lunch, try a pannekoek (Dutch pancake) or other local specialties. This afternoon, walk to the main square, an ideal focal point for your individual exploration. Return to your South Holland hotel for dinner. (Breakfast, Dinner)

Today consists of a full day of travel from The Netherlands to Caen, France, with a stop in the port city of Antwerp, Belgium. Explore the central market square with its irresistible chocolate shops and convivial outdoor cafés serving Belgian Waffles. Continue the drive into France for an early evening check-in at your Caen hotel where dinner is served shortly after your arrival. (Breakfast, Dinner)

The entire day is spent touring the famous Normandy Landing Beaches. From Caen, drive to the coast and stop at Pointe du Hoc to view the German fortifications. You’ll also travel to Utah Beach and Sainte-Mère-Église: the site where paratroopers landed during World War II as portrayed in the movie “The Longest Day.” Continue to Omaha Beach and the American Cemetery. Proceed to the artillery battery at Longues-sur-Mer. At today’s final stop in the village of Arromanches, view remnants of the artificial harbor and reflect on the sights of the day over an independent dinner. (Breakfast)

Spend the morning touring the Caen Peace Memorial and Museum, established to honor the liberators, victims, and all those who continue to fight for peace. As you depart Caen, pause at the Pegasus Bridge to understand how its capture by the British 6th Airborne division was instrumental in deterring a German counterattack. Arrive in Paris by early evening and join your travel companions for a festive “Farewell Dinner” of enticing French dishes at an authentic Parisian bistro with roving musicians. The return transfer provides impressions of the city at dusk. (Breakfast, Dinner)

The day is devoted to Paris, La Ville Lumìere ("City of Light"). On your way into the center, see the Arc de Triomphe which has been the staging area for victory parades throughout history, including those following World War II. Your Tour Manager will also direct you to the location of other principal sights, such as the Notre Dame Cathedral, Eiffel Tower, and Louvre Museum (open every day except Tuesday). Before beginning your free time, we suggest joining the optional Seine River Cruise excursion (see Optional Excursions). Spend the evening exploring the Montmartre District, where Paris looks as it does in old paintings and artists still display their works. An uphill walk to the Sacré-Coeur Basilica rewards you with expansive views of the cityscape. Montmartre boasts excellent restaurants and characteristic sidewalk cafés perfect for an independent dinner in the French capital. (Breakfast)

•   Take a boat tour through the famed canals of Amsterdam
•   Tour Manager for the full duration of the tour within Europe
•   Trip Documents with final details and travel guidance

Upon arrival in Berchtesgaden, Germany, joined by a local guide, you will take a bus and elevator up to the Eagle’s Nest, Hitler’s mountain hide-away. In the case of halted bus operation, your Tour Manager will substitute a visit to the Obersalzburg Documentation Center. Return to Austria to become acquainted with Salzburg, famous home of “The Sound of Music” and Mozart. This excursion includes a traditional Austrian dinner at an alpine village restaurant before returning to your hotel.

16-day World War II Memorial Tour of Europe Map

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11 Day Battlefield Tour of UK, Belgium and France

11 days, 3 countries and 11 cities

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10 Breakfasts, 4 Dinners

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Travel to the front lines of Europe, where brave soldiers once fought for freedom. On this epic battlefield tour through the countryside of Britain, Belgium and France, you’ll explore the tragedy and triumph of two World Wars.

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11 days itinerary trip from London to Paris visiting 3 countries and 11 cities

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About this trip

Sightseeing highlights.

Explore London and Paris

Discover  Brussels, Ypres, Amiens, Rouen, Normandy and the Somme Region 

Visit the Imperial War Museum in London, the D-Day Landing Beaches, Amiens Cathedral, military cemeteries throughout northern France and Belgium, the Australian National Memorial, the Caen Memorial, WWI & WWII Battlefields, the Dunkirk War Museum and evacuation beaches, and the Memorial Museum Passchendaele

View Buckingham Palace in London, the Eiffel Tower, Saint-Sulpice church and the Arc de Triomphe in Paris and the Menin Gate in Ypres

Travel highlights

Specific transfer information can be found here:

Airport Transfers

An expert Travel Director and professional Driver

Cherry-picked hotels, all tried and trusted

All porterage and restaurant gratuities

All hotel tips, charges and local taxes

Breakfast daily and up to half of your evening meals

Must-see sightseeing and surprise extras

Audio headsets for flexible sightseeing

Luxury air-conditioned coach with Wi-Fi in most countries or alternative transportation (such as rail journeys)

Optional Experiences and free time

Eurostar high-speed train from London to Brussels

On occasion, hotels of similar standard and location may be utilized.

MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experiences

Every one of our tours includes at least one conscious travel experience that supports one or more of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGS). Look out for yours within the day-by-day trip itinerary.

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Net-zero by 2050

Travel knowing our 4-point climate action plan will ensure net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

Support Local

Your tour directly supports local communities by visiting family-run businesses, UNESCO sites and places of cultural significance.

Sustainable Practices

Every part of our business, from trip design to how we run our offices, aligns to our 5-year sustainability strategy which ensures a positive impact on people, the planet and wildlife.

Philanthropic Efforts

Our not-for-profit, the TreadRight Foundation, invests in nature-based solutions to address climate change.

You’ll make a positive impact to people, planet and wildlife on this tour

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During the Second World War, the Germans took four years to build the Atlantic Wall. On four beaches it held up the Allies for about an hour; at Omaha it held up the U.S. for less than one day.

– STEPHEN E. AMBROSE

Founded by the late Stephen E. Ambrose, our company was developed from his research and work. He combined his input, passion and knowledge to create WWII tours that celebrate the American spirit.

Today, Stephen Ambrose Historical Tours continues to preserve his legacy with our WWII tours and expand the carefully conceived and executed heritage itineraries inspired by his life’s work.

Our historians are experts in their field and world-renowned authors. Their years of extensive research and interviews with hundreds of WWII, Band of Brothers and D-Day veterans on the battlefields on which they fought add a personal dimension to our tours that no other company can offer. It is a highlight to hear them tell these stories of America’s heroes at the very places where they occurred. These harrowing tales of bravery and courage capture a moment in time.

We invite you to travel with us through the battlefields of Europe and the Pacific. Here our historians will share these remarkable narratives that have changed the course of history. It is their passion and enthusiasm that leave our fellow travelers with memories of a lifetime.

World War II Tours

D-day to the rhine tour.

Our D-Day Tour was designed by Stephen E. Ambrose, who first led this WWII tour in the late 1970s, and further developed by our historians. The itinerary is based on thousands of hours of interviews with D-Day veterans, studying of the battlefields, and other World War II research. Thanks to their experience with the terrain and its history, we are able to present a D-Day Tour that is unmatched in its authenticity.

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Operation Overlord

The Operation Overlord Tour covers the planning and launch of the D-Day Invasion. It is a great choice for people who want to visit England and the Normandy beaches on a shorter tour than D-Day to the Rhine.

Ghost Army of WWII: Secret War Tour

Follow along the path of the 23rd Headquarters Special Troops, the extraordinary deception soldiers better known as the Ghost Army. Led by the producer of the award-winning PBS documentary, The Ghost Army , you will visit many World War II sites on a route that closely follows our D-Day to the Rhine Tour (two tours in one!), to offer a wider context for the story of these heroes.

In Patton’s Footsteps Tour

Led by the author of Patton’s Photographs: War as He Saw It , we visit the sites and battlefields significant to Patton’s Third Army, including Normandy, Brittany, Mont-St-Michel, the battlegrounds of Falaise Pocket, the German border, and the Battle of the Bulge, to understand how this maverick general helped win the war in Europe.

Italian Campaign Tour: Sicily to Rome

Sometimes referred to as “the Forgotten Campaign,” the Allied effort in Italy was actually of terrific significance. The campaign became a proving ground for Allied capabilities on sea, land, and in the air. Amphibious landings with Higgins crafts on the beaches of Italy provided crucial training for the Normandy invasion. Proceeding to fight and push the Germans north, the Allied forces in Italy created another front for Hitler, dividing his defense of the Reich. Bonus? The food and scenery are bellissimo!

Iwo Jima: War in the Pacific Tour

Our Iwo Jima: War in the Pacific Tour is a transformative experience! Travel with our historians to the islands where the battles raged during the War in the Pacific, where “Uncommon valor was a common virtue.”

WWII: Poland & Germany Tour

We begin in Gdansk, Poland, where the first shots of WWII rang out. We then wind our way on to Ketrzyn, Warsaw, Krakow, Oswiecim, and Zagan, where some of the fiercest battles of the war were fought, before finishing at the site of the war’s end, Berlin, Germany. Guests who have traveled on this tour rave about the charm of these historic cities and towns, the warmth of the people, and the many outstanding restaurants.

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Band of Brothers Tours

Bringing history to life.

If you are looking for military historical tours in Europe, we are the best local experts you can find. In terms of World War II tours, no one comes even close to offering the quality you get from us. Our Tour Directors and local guides are professionals who have perfected their craft. All our hotels and restaurants are tried and true, and our local knowledge is evident and all of our staff speak fluent English. Our secure and guaranteed payment systems allow you to shop online with the utmost confidence. Once you book your trip, we will guide you through everything related to your tour, from what travel documents you need and what to pack to a recommended list of books to read and movies to watch before your departure. We are not an assembly line company focused on mass production – our goal is to give you a once in a lifetime experience.

BAND OF BROTHERS TOUR

This is an adventure designed for your bucket list and your pocket book. Feel the sands of the landing beaches between your toes, stand at the very foxholes where heroes fought for your freedom and breathe the Alpine air at Hitler’s Eagle’s Nest.

The ultimate trip through the American WWII effort: our Band of Brothers Tour is an epic journey from Normandy to Hitler's Eagle's Nest via the battlefields of the Battle of the Bulge in the footsteps of the famous Easy Company.

Band of Brothers - The Screaming Eagles

The 101st Airborne Division came into existence on August 16, 1942, and the "Screaming Eagles" quickly soared to legendary status. With a proud service history in World War II, Vietnam, and more recently Kuwait, Iraq, Afghanistan and other locations, they are a shining example of American military excellence. The division’s WWII actions were depicted in several movies and series, the most famous being HBO’s Band of Brothers miniseries. Read on here: Band of Brothers

80th ANNIVERSARY BULGE TOUR

Remember the bloodiest battle for the American forces in World War II. On this tour you can see where the brave soldiers held their ground during the siege of Bastogne, and experience the citizens “throwing nuts” to commemorate their liberators.

THIRD REICH TOUR

Numerous historical sites tell the tales of the rise, the fall and the aftermath of Hitler’s Third Reich on this tour. Join us at the epicentre of WWII, where the Führer rallied followers, commanded armies, held events and eventually met his demise.

BRITAIN AT WAR TOUR

Hit all the essential sites on this streamlined 10-day tour combining the air war related sites with the iconic vehicles on display at the Bovington Tank Museum and finishing off with a cultural intake of the prehistoric monument of Stonehenge.

BEACHES OF NORMANDY TOUR

Our signature tour gives you an opportunity to thoroughly explore the beaches and the sites of Normandy connected to the D-Day landings. This tour is designed for people who want to enjoy military history and culture alike on their vacation in Normandy.

Our first-class historical tours take you on a journey through iconic World War II sites around Europe, as well as the most emblematic moments of American heroism of the time. From the Normandy beaches to Bastogne and the Bavarian Alps we guide you through the significant events and experiences of the war that changed the world. Band of Brothers Tour is a registered brand and protected trademark in the European Union by Beaches of Normandy Tours.

The first days of the tour dive into all five landing beaches, with a special focus on the American landing sectors. We then head east through the Ardennes to Belgium, where passengers can crouch in the foxholes of Bois Jacques and learn about the vehicles that defined the Allied war effort during the Battle of the Bulge and the Siege of Bastogne. Our journey ends in Germany, where we learn about the context of the Nazi regime, a sobering visit to the very first concentration camp of Dachau and we top off the tour with a day trip to the Bavarian Alps, where we visit the famous Eagle's Nest on top of the Kehlstein mountain.

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10 days in Europe: the World War II sites

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Discover the European sites of World War II with this 10-day itinerary. Follow in the footsteps of the Allied forces, from the beaches of D-Day to the heart of Berlin, and into Poland to witness the destructiveness of the Nazi regime. 

Itinerary highlights

Visit World War II sites of great historic significance: the beaches of Normandy, the Anne Frank house, and the dreaded Auschwitz extermination camp.

Normandy, France

Operation Overlord: Start of the Allied invasion

On June 6 th 1944 (known as D-day), the Allied Forces launched a full scale assault on the beaches of Normandy.

Visit the impressive Utah Beach museum , built on the exact spot where the first American troops landed.

Check out the Airborne museum in Sainte-Mère-Église , the French village that was the first to be liberated by paratroopers.

Ardennes, Belgium

Battle of the Bulge: A cold counter offensive

On December 16 th 1944, the Nazis started their last great offensive in the Ardennes region in Belgium.

Check out the Mardasson Memorial in Bastogne , dedicated to the American troops who liberated the city.

Learn all about the Battle of the Bulge in the Bastogne War Museum.

Arnhem, the Netherlands

Operation Market Garden: A bridge too far

On September 17 th 1944, the Allies attempted to cross the Rhine, but failed to take the last bridge in Arnhem.

Follow the Liberation route to see the John Frost bridge and other battle sites in and around Arnhem.

Take a 1 hour trip to Amsterdam to visit the famous Anne Frank House and the Resistance Museum .

Berlin, Germany

The Battle of Berlin: Road to victory in Europe

On May 7 th 1945, World War II ended in Europe with the unconditional surrender of Nazi Germany.

Visit the Humboldthain Flak Tower , the last remaining anti-aircraft tower that was built to defend Berlin.

Walk through the blocks of the impressive Holocaust Memorial and take a trip to Sachsenhausen concentration camp.

Warsaw, Poland

Operation Tempest: The tragic fate of Warsaw

On August 1 st 1944, the Warsaw Uprising started. It would end with the near-obliteration of the city.

Visit the Warsaw Uprising Museum to learn more about the dramatic events that took place here.

Walk through the remains of the Warsaw Ghetto , which was burned down after the Jewish revolt of 1943.

Krakow, Poland

The Holocaust: The Nazis' final solution

On January 27 th 1945, Russian troops liberated Auschwitz, where over 1.1 million people were killed.

Take half a day to explore Auschwitz and learn about one of the darkest pages in history.

In Krakow, visit the factory of Oskar Schindler , who managed to save the lives of over 1,000 Jewish workers.

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DESTINATION: WWII

A World War II Travel Blog

Welcome to Destination: WWII  – Your online resource for visiting World War II battlefields, museums, monuments, and memorials around the world.

Latest Posts

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Driving in Normandy: What You Need to Know + Helpful Tips for Your D-Day Trip

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Meet Your Guide

Hi, I’m Ashley! I’m a full-time travel writer, tour guide, and World War II historian based in Boston, MA who’s traveled to 39 countries on 5 continents. I formed Destination: WWII from a desire to encourage and help travelers visit WWII sites around the world.

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  WWII Memorial Tour of Europe

  Visit the Historic Battle Sites, Enjoy beautiful Cities, Towns and Villages. Meet the People and Honor our Veterans and Fallen Heroes - at the BEST time of year to go !

May 15-30, 2024! 80th Anniversary of D-Day

* Space limited, call for details.

Y our WWII Memorial Tour Price INCLUDES:

• First Class Hotels in great locations
• Local WWII Educator in Europe with extensive knowledge of sites and history
• Fully escorted from Salt Lake City by Brian Judd Tours
• All sightseeing and admissions as outlined
• 24 total meals: 14 Full Breakfasts and 10 Dinners
• Deluxe Tour bus, restroom and DVD equipped
• Baggage handling & Top quality service throughout
• Germany, Holland, Belgium, France and Austria!
• See the impressive Memorials and famous sites
• Option to purchase discounted group airfare from Salt Lake when available

Land package only pricing

Tour Package is *$4695.00 per person double.   Single person room + $1695.00 Triple and Quad rooms limited, call for pricing. * Price reflects a pay bycheck/cash discount.  Credit cards + 3.85%

Airfare package price:

  * Airfare is not included in the price. Airfare will not be available for this tour until September 2023, however we expect the round-trip Delta airfare to be * $1795.00.

Tour Itinerary

DAY 1 - SALT LAKE CITY . . FRANKFURT The big day has finally arrived, so take time to relax on your trans-Atlantic flight with the assurance that Brian Judd Tours has taken care of all the details.     (Meals in flight)

DAY 2 - GERMANY . . ARRIVAL AT FRANKFURT AIRPORT - NUREMBERG. Upon arrival, we clear passport control and collect our luggage. Settle back in your comfortable motor coach on the way to your hotel in the scenic and festive state of Bavaria. After check-in, freshen up and relax a bit before the 'Welcome to Europe/Get-acquainted' group dinner at our hotel.     (Dinner)

DAY 3 - GERMANY . . NUREMBERG . . BAVARIA Today is devoted to the history of Nuremberg. Hitler staged his propaganda rallies here and, after his fall, it was chosen as the location for the War Trials. You will have an opportunity to see the Nazi Party Rally Grounds, Congress Hall, and Palace of Justice where the War Trials were held. Consider the causes and consequences of Nazi Germany during a visit to the Documentation Center (visit the temporary exhibit during the 2023 renovations).  Discover the Old Town’s half-timbered buildings and gingerbread shops before returning to your Bavaria hotel for dinner    (Breakfast, Dinner)

DAY 4 - GERMANY . . Dachau - Munich & AUSTRIA . . Tyrolean Village. Travel to Dachau for a somber visit to the Concentration Camp Memorial. At the entrance, you are prompted to reflect on the incomprehensible, as your tour manager translates the German phrase on the iron gate: ARBEIT MACHT FREI (Work Makes One Free). Study the exhibit recounting the “path of the prisoners” and see the site of the former barracks. Your tour continues to Munich, the elegant capital of Bavaria.  Pass points of interest, such as the Hitler Building, on your way to the Marienplatz, a pedestrian-only zone where historic buildings are cleverly interspersed with modern store fronts. The focal point of the square is the Rathaus (Town Hall) with its captivating Glockenspiel (clock tower). Following a leisurely visit, depart Munich and cross the border from Germany into Austria, where you will spend the next two nights in a Tyrolean Village.     (Breakfast, Dinner)

DAY 5 - AUSTRIA . . Alpine Village. Enjoy a relaxing day in the surroundings of your hotel. Your Alpine Village offers a variety of options for leisure activities amin the spectacular mountain scenery.  Another choice is to join the full day optional Salzburg & Eagle’s Nest with Dinner excursion. This excursion includes a guided visit to the Kehlsteinhaus, Hitler’s mountain hide-away, followed by an afternoon in Salzburg, Mozart’s birthplace and the filming site for “The Sound of Music." This evening, return to your Alpine Village hotel.   (Breakfast)

DAY 6 - GERMANY . . Ulm – Bad Herrenalb. After a leisurely breakfast, travel to Ulm for time to view the imposing Ulm Minster with the tallest church steeple in the world. This afternoon, make a photo stop at the grave of Erwin Rommel, the general who was forced to commit suicide when Hitler suspected him of treason. End the day with a buffet dinner at your hotel in Bad Herrenalb, on the northern edge of Germany’s Black Forest.  (Breakfast, Dinner)

DAY 7 - FRANCE . . Saverne – St. Avold – Fort Hackenberg & GERMANY . . TRIEL. Follow a scenic route through the Alsace Region and the Vosges Mountains to the town of Saverne, the site of heavy fighting in the fall of 1944. Stop at Lorraine’s American Cemetery in St. Avold, the largest American World War II cemetery in Europe. The afternoon is reserved for a tour of Fort Hackenberg, part of the Maginot Line. This system of obstacles was constructed between the world wars as a defense against any future German invasions. Your hotel for the next two nights will be in Trier, a quiet village near the three-country border of France, Luxembourg and Germany. (Breakfast, Dinner)

DAY 8 - LUXEMBOURG . . American Cemetery - Diekirch, BELGIUM . . Ardennes – Bastogne & GERMANY . . Trier. The morning stop is at the American Cemetery in Luxembourg where General George Patton is buried. Continue into the Belgian Ardennes Region and arrive in Bastogne to view the star-shaped Mardasson Monument, a tribute to the soldiers who died in the Battle of the Ardennes. Also see the fox holes used by Easy Company, whose stories inspired the TV mini-series “Band of Brothers.” Your travels this afternoon take you to the Luxembourg National Museum of Military History in Diekirch. Trier’s famous Porta Nigra provides an intriguing backdrop during your independent dinner, before returning to your hotel.     (Breakfast)

DAY 9 - GERMANY . . Rhine Cruise– Remagen – Rhine-Ruhr Region. Motor to one of the most beautiful stretches of the Rhine River where you will board a Rhine steamer for an upstream cruise past endearing villages, medieval fortresses, and hillside vineyards known for producing the distinctive Rhine wines.  Following the 90 minute cruise, travel to Remagen to view the remains of the Ludendorff Bridge, the last standing bridge on the Rhine, which was captured by U.S. soldiers on March 7, 1945.  By mid-afternoon, continue to your Rhine-Ruhr area hotel.  Dinner will be served at the hotel this evening. (Breakfast, Dinner)

DAY 10 – HOLLAND. . Groesbeek – Nijmegen – South Holland. Crossing the border into Holland (the Netherlands), focus on sights significant to the area’s WWII liberation efforts, including Operation Market Garden.  The bridge over the Waal River at Nijmegen was a strategic asset reclaimed after the historical crossing of American paratroopers.  Travel Hell’s Highway and stop at the memorial in Overasselt, commemorating the site of the largest airborne landings of all time.  The day will also feature a visit to one of the local museums documenting the WWII resistance in Holland. Continue to your South Holland hotel for check-in and an included dinner.      (Breakfast, Dinner)

DAY 11 - HOLLAND . . Amsterdam – South Holland. Travel through the Dutch countryside, characterized by canals, bridges, dikes and windmills, as you make your way to the dynamic city of Amsterdam.  Your visit begins with a cruise aboard a glass-topped boat through Amsterdam’s harbor and canals where you will see colorful gabled houses and numerous bridges.  This afternoon, walk to the main square, an excellent starting point for your individual exploration. During an independent lunch, you may wish to try Dutch pancakes or poffertjes (mini-pancakes), or other local specialties. Return to your South Holland hotel for an included group dinner.      (Breakfast, Dinner) DAY 12 - BELGIUM . . Antwerp & FRANCE . . Caen. Today is a full day of travel from Holland to Caen with a stop in the port city of Antwerp, Belgium, characterized by its convivial atmosphere.  Around the large central market square, there are cozy outdoor cafes (try an authentic Belgian waffle), fine lace stores and irresistible chocolate shops.  Continue the drive into France for an early evening check-in at your Caen hotel.  Dinner will be served upon your arrival.    (Breakfast, Dinner)

DAY 13 - FRANCE . . Normandy Landing Beaches – Caen.  The entire day is spent touring the famous Normandy Landing Beaches.  From Caen, drive to the coast and stop at Pointe du Hoc to view the German fortifications. You’ll also travel to Utah Beach and Sainte-Mere-Eglise, the site where paratroopers landed during World War II as portrayed in the movie “The Longest Day.” Visit Sainte-Mere-Eglise Airborne Museum before continuing to Omaha Beach and the American Cemetery.  Proceed to the artillery battery at Longues-sur-Mer.  At today’s final stop in the village of Arromanches, you can view remnants of the artificial harbor and reflect on the sights of the day over an independent dinne r. (Breakfast)

DAY 14 - FRANCE . . Caen – Paris. Spend the morning touring the Caen Peace Memorial and Museum.  This beautiful place honors the liberators, victims, and all those who continue to fight for peace.  As you depart Caen, paus at the Pegasus Bridge for a guided visit to understand how its capture by the British 6 th Airborne division was instrumental in deterring a German counterattack.  By late afternoon, arrive in Paris and join your travel companions for a festive “Farewell Dinner” of enticing French dishes at an authentic Parisian bistro with roving musicians. After dinner, return to your hotel with beautiful views of the city at dusk. (Breakfast, Dinner)

DAY 15 – FRANCE . . . Paris. The day is devoted to Paris, La Ville Lumiere (the City of Light).  On your way into the center, see the Arc de Triomphe which has been the staging area for victory parades throughout history including those following World War II.  Your tour manager will also direct you to the location of other incredible sights, such as the Notre Dame Cathedral, Eiffel Tower, and Louvre Museum. Before beginning your free time, we suggest joining the optional Seine River Cruise excursion.  Spend the evening exploring the Montmartre District, where Paris looks as it does in old paintings and artists still display their works. An uphill walk to the Sacre-Coeur Basilica rewards you with expansive views of the cityscape.  Montmartre boasts excellent restaurants and characteristic sidewalk cafes, perfect for an independent dinner in the French capital. (Breakfast)

DAY 16 – Paris . . . Salt Lake City. Transfer to the Paris Airport for the return flight home.    (Breakfast. Meals in flight)

About this tour :   This will be an outstanding tour and a once-in-a-lifetime World War II History experience.  We are excited about this well planned, well organized itinerary taking you to all the WWII sights and special points of interest in Germany, Austria, France, Luxembourg, Belgium and Holland.  You will appreciate the top quality service, first class hotels, 24 meals, outstanding value & extensive sightseeing.

80th Anniversary of D-Day!  

About this tour :  

We invite you to join us on this outstanding tour and once-in-a-lifetime World War II History experience. We are excited about this well planned, well organized itinerary taking you to all the WWII sights and special points of interest in Germany, Austria, France, Luxembourg, Belgium and Holland. You will appreciate the top quality service, first class hotels, 24 meals, outstanding value & extensive sightseeing. This is an exciting and history-filled tour.  Book Today ! Don’t miss this outstanding trip!

“Our debt to the Heroic Men and Valiant Women in the service of our country can never be repaid. They have earned our undying gratitude.  America will Never forget their sacrifices”.

    - President Harry S. Truman -   

Tour Visits:

• Marienplatz
• Bad Herrenalb
• Black Forest
• Danube River
• Waal Bridge at Nijmegen
• Maarsbergen
• Arnhem/Groesbeek
• Alpine Village
• Eagle's Nest option
• Omaha Beach
• Ste. Mere Eglise Airborne Museum

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Second World War Expert Led Battlefield Tours

Each of our expert led Second World War tours are distinctive and will resonate at different levels as we explore the locations, stories and significance of a war that defined a generation. We combine the battlefields with important cultural sites and monuments, offering a comprehensive tour led by our expert guides , all of whom are either authors, historians or ex-military personnel.

Many of those participating will have relatives who fought or died in the locations we visit – which makes these battlefield tours all the more realistic and poignant. We encourage those with family connections to bring the stories with them and share them with other participants – thus ensuring a ‘living history’ experience.

All of our forthcoming Scheduled Second World War Tours are listed below.

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Second World War Tours - Future Planning

We intend to run all of the following tours in the near future. Final dates and prices are yet to be confirmed. Register your interest and we will contact you as soon as these tours become available.

We will stay at 3, 4 and 5 star accommodation, allowing you to relax in comfort after a day of discovery and learning. Alongside our expert guide there will be a dedicated tour manager who will take care of all of the headaches of travel, freeing you to fully enjoy your holiday.

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For up to date news as well as details about all of our tours please subscribe to our fortnightly e-newsletter

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• D-Day & A La Carte Normandy tours (1 to 8 Days)
• European Tours (8 to 14 Days)
• European Ancestry Tours (8 days minimum)
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Watch to Learn More About Normandy American Heroes

Fully customized world war ii tours of europe, what does your once-in-a-lifetime trip look like.

Explore the rich history of WWII on a tour that has been designed just for you. Our international team of experts will plan a private experience for your group based on your bucket list, your unique interests in culture, history, art, music and gastronomy, and your travel experience and preferences.

On our custom tours, there are no restrictions on your time spent abroad. We can travel from the United Kingdom to Morocco, France to Germany, Italy to Finland, Luxembourg to Austria, Belgium to Czechoslovakia, and beyond—all in first-class accommodations.

You can of course choose one of our all-inclusive European or Normandy tour packages acclaimed by our guests unanimously.

Make your next holiday an unforgettable adventure where luxury meets history, as you walk the hallowed paths of heroes.

Submit the form to get our full brochure, and someone from our team will be in touch ASAP.

"Rudy created a 1-week custom tour for my dad, uncle, brother and I to follow the path of my Grandpas division (2nd Infantry Division) in WWII. We have been researching and talking about going on this trip for over 5 years and Rudy made our dream trip come true and exceeded all expectations. Rudy has great knowledge of WWII and has detailed stories of what took place at each of the battle sites that we visited. Rudy was able to customize a tour for us to travel all over France to visit every battle my Grandpa's division fought and took us to other historic sites and museums. He created a tour that was a true honor to my Grandpa and all the heroes from WWII. Rudy will take care of all of your logistics once you arrive in France. He is the best tour guide I have experienced!"

"Our recent private Normandy tour helped us appreciate through first-hand experience why Rudy has so many 5 Star ratings from his clients. Rudy has absolutely earned all the accolades posted here; they are spot on. What still brings tears to my eyes is the profound concern Rudy has in making his tours personal. War is about great battles, but it is carried out by individuals. At every stop along our route, Rudy spoke of the soldiers as well as the civilians caught up in the war. We learned about tactics, armor, artillery, tanks, bombings in a way that gave us an inkling of what being in battle really means. Cemeteries became more than just rows of stone markers as we stopped and paid homage to particular soldiers as well as a randomly picked gravesite. In each cemetery, Rudy explained the concept behind the design layout of the cemetery as well as provided the time we needed to process our emotions."

"This tour was very personal as we were retracing the steps of my uncle who ultimately died in the Battle of the Bulge. Rudy was glad I mentioned Steve was wounded near Vire and he said we would go there. Long story short, it was dark as we drove through the village to find the monument that Rudy knew was there. He parked so the car lights lit up the Memorial. The stars were brilliant and the connection I felt to my Uncle in that place will be with me always."

We will be forever grateful to Rudy.

-Mike & Karen (Alaska)

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Normandy, france, all tours include:.

Full-Time Escort & Historian

Our founder Rudy Passera provides unparalleled knowledge, qualifications, & experience

Deluxe SUV for Road Travel

Sit back in first-class comfort, as you enjoy air conditioning and Wi-Fi in between tour stops

Airport Pickup & Drop-off

Relax from the moment you arrive. Transportation provided on the first and last day of tours.

First-Class Accommodations

Decompress from the day in private rooms at refined, stylish hotels in every town (free Wi-Fi included)

World Heritage Sights

Explore breathtaking places, from the Roman city of Bath to the Spanish Riding School of Vienna

Mix of Activity & Relaxation

Choose your activity level, from full days of walking tours to a more balanced blend of walking and rest

Premium Local Food & Drink

Enjoy delicious breakfast, lunch, and dinner each day of your tour, for a full sensory experience

Museum Entrance Fees

Enrich your tour with curated, emotionally moving museum experiences at no additional cost

Golf is a game whose aim is to hit a very small ball into an even smaller hole, with weapons singularly ill-designed for the purpose!

Next of Kin

Every veteran has a unique story. Let us customize your bucket list tour to follow the footstep of your Next of Kin

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15 Must See World War II Sites in Europe

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For those who are constantly glued to the World War II documentaries on the History Channel and have read countless books and articles about Allied tactics and strategic movements on the European fronts, a visit to Europe is the next step in your historical education. Personally seeing and physically standing on the many sites that were significant to that time will provide an unparalleled perspective and insight into the facts you already know about the war, as well as offer new information that is sometimes hard to come by from secondary sources. So for all the history buffs out there, here are 15 sites significant to the Second World War that, ranging from inspirational to overwhelming, are worth visiting in Europe:

15. Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp, Germany

This work camp just outside of Berlin is found about three km from the location of the first ever Nazi concentration camp known as Oranienburg (now destroyed). The camp became the center of Nazi operations and is now a museum detailing the life of the inhabitants, both officers and detainees in a number of exhibits. Visitors can also see the special exhibition dedicated to the Oranienburg camp found in the museum’s permanent exhibit, and walk the ground of the camp for an incomparable lesson in the severity of the Nazi aggression.

14. Arnhem Bridge, Netherlands

This bridge became well known after the strategic operation known as Operation Market Garden, whereby the Arnhem Bridge was the last in a string of strategic points targeted for takeover by the Allied forces. Successful up until that point, the Allies were unable to capture the bridge in the September 1944 Battle of Arnhem, an event that later became the subject of several books and the Hollywood film “A Bridge Too Far.” Surviving the September battle, the bridge was destroyed by Allied troops in October of the same year to help curb the transport of German supplies. In 1949 the bridge was rebuilt in the same style, and in 1977, renamed “The John Frostburg” in honor of the British commander that defended it in the September battle.

13. Oskar Schindler’s Enamel Factory, Krakow, Poland

As many who have read the Thomas Keneally’s novel “Schindler’s List” or seen the Spielberg movie of the same name know, Oskar Schindler was a Nazi Party member who saved hundreds of Jewish lives through political bribery and Jewish employment at his enamel and munitions factories. The administrative building of the enamel factory still stands today, and houses the Krakow Museum of Contemporary Art, as well as the Historical Museum of the City of Krakow, which is mainly devoted to the Party member and the lives of “his Jews.” This museum is must-see for anyone who wants to learn more about the life of a man now largely regarded as a hero.

12. Humboldthain Flak Tower, Germany

Originally constructed as a solution to air-strike vulnerability, German Flak Towers were domineering concrete complexes that sheltered anti-aircraft guns and protected ammunition from falling bombs. The towers operated in pairs, one a gun tower (Gefechsturm or G tower) and the other a command tower (Leitturn or L tower). Their heavily reinforced structure also served as bomb shelters for civilians as well as an extremely effective defensive center, with a radar dish that could detect bombers from over 50 miles away, eight 128-mm cannons with a firing capacity of 48 shells per minute and a number of other smaller cannons scattered around the tower. Many of the towers have since been destroyed or converted, but the one remaining in Berlin is open to visitors.

11. Vel D’Hiv Monument, France

Though the actual building of the Velodrome d’Hiver (indoor cycling track) was destroyed and replaced by government buildings, visitors can still stand on the spot, commemorated by a plaque, where in July of 1942, Jewish families in France were rounded up by the French police and forcibly herded into the Velodrome. It is there that over 13,000 citizens waited in deplorable conditions (without food, water or washroom facilities) for days before being dispersed among various concentration camps. A memorial to the victims was erected in the city in 1993, with the French Government issuing a public apology at a memorial service at the site in 1995.

10. Oradour-Sur-Glane, France

This small village in western France is memorialized as the site of one of the largest Nazi massacres on French soil. On June 10, 1944 SS officers stormed the village and killed the vast majority of residents, some 642 men, women and children, before largely destroying the area. Though officially rebuilt a few km north, the French government ordered the original site to be untouched and to stand testament to the horrors committed there. Visitors can walk through the ruins of the ghost town and pay their respects at the onsite memorial.

9. Umschlagplatz, Warsaw, Poland

During German occupation, the German-named Umschlagplatz (“reloading point”) was the Square in Warsaw used to round up Polish Jews and organize their deportation from the Ghetto to the Treblinka concentration camp. People waited in hordes for hours until enough detainees were rounded up to fill the train cars, with any signs of resistance resulting in instant death. Today, the site of the former Square is home to a memorial constructed in the image of train cars, erected to pay tribute to the countless lives doomed (and lost) on these very premises.

8. Warsaw Ghetto, Poland

In the beautiful Polish city of Warsaw, there still stands a testament to the largest and deadliest Nazi-created Ghetto in Europe. By the deadline of October 15, 1940, the city’s large Jewish population was forcibly required to move into an 18 km area which enclosed 73 of the city’s 1800 streets, and was divided into the “small” and “large” ghettos linked by a wooden bridge. At highest capacity, the Ghetto housed about 380,000 people, translating to about eight residents per room. Today, the site is commemorated by “The Footbridge of Memory” which denotes the location of the original bridge between the two Ghettos, several monument and memorials. The area also still contains chunks of the original separating wall as well as decrepit residential buildings which have stood untouched for the past seven decades.

7. The Wolf’s Lair, Poland

This major complex hidden among a dense Masurian forest was Hitler’s first headquarters on the Eastern Front, and became his most frequently inhabited hideout (he spent about half the war here). Originally built for the impending invasion of the Soviet Union, the property became a sort of small town consisting of shelters, barracks, two airfields as well as a power and rail station. Despite being heavily reinforced and highly secure, this was also the site of the infamous July 1944 assassination attempt of Hitler by Claus Von Stauffenberg. The premises were vacated and destroyed by German officials in January of 1945 and remained untouched by the Polish Government until the fall of Communism. Today, the site is in ruins but has become a popular tourist attraction with a handful of hotels and restaurants now available in the remote area.

6. Bletchley Park, England

Featured in the film “The Imitation Game,” Bletchley Park in Buckinghamshire was Britain’s central site for code breaking during the Second World War. As the location of the Government Code and Cypher School (GC&CS), it became the largest and most successful institution in penetrating secret Axis communications, most famously of the German Enigma and Lorenz ciphers. Analysis now suggests that the efforts conducted on these premises shortened the war by about 2 years, and the school is now an educational and historic attraction commemorating the accomplishments of the institution.

5. Fuhrerbunker, Berlin

Now largely destroyed, this bunker was located under the former Reich Chancellery building in the heart of the city, and is the site where Hitler spent the last few weeks of the war, married Eva Braun and committed suicide in April of 1945. Located 11.5 feet below ground level, the bunker was a system of 30 small rooms protected by 13 foot thick concrete walls with an exit point in the Reich Chancellery gardens. Today, the site looks inconspicuous enough as a quiet residential neighborhood, and is largely unmarked save the small plaque and information board that denotes the location and provides a schematic diagram of the bunker.

4. Cabinet War Rooms, England

Partially restored and opened as a museum to the public in 1985, the Cabinet War Rooms were originally a secret complex under the basement of the Treasury. The bomb blitz of December 1940 forced the complex to be reinforced as a bomb bunker, becoming the main strategic headquarters for the War Cabinet (consisting of Prime Minister Churchill and several Conservative and Labor Party ministers). Today visitors can descend below the streets of Westminster and check out the various rooms of the complex as they would have existed during the war, and of especial significance, the Map Room, which remains exactly as it was when the premises were closed and vacated in August of 1945.

3. Auschwitz- Birkenau, Poland

Originally built in 1940 as a detention center for political prisoners, Auschwitz-Birkenau became the Nazi’s most gruesome legacy—the largest death camp and the primary site for the “Final Solution.” Located on the site of a former military base just outside of Krakow, Poland, the complex was regarded as the ideal location to carry out Nazi atrocities because of its proximity to the rail lines used to transport prisoners. Liberated on January 27, 1945 by the Soviet Army, estimates suggest that upwards of 1.1 million deaths were carried out on the property. Today, Auschwitz is a harrowing museum complex not for the faint of heart. While undeniably an important site to see, visitors are urged to check out the museum website ( http://visit.auschwitz.org/ ) to familiarize themselves with the rules, entry pass guidelines and capacity restrictions before their visit.

2. Musee de la Reddition, France

This red brick schoolhouse just northwest of the Reims train station is the historic site where, in the early morning of May 7, 1945 high officers from the German army met with officers of the Allied forces and signed the declaration of unconditional surrender, ending the second world war in Europe. Now known as the Lycee Roosevelt, the property was being used as the headquarters of Supreme Allied Commander in Europe, General Dwight D. Eisenhower, and the room where the signature took place, the map room, remains perfectly preserved behind a glass panel and comprises the museum now called the Musee de la Reddition.

1. Normandy, France

It is on this stretch of beaches on the Normandy coast where the infamous D-Day Landings of June 6, 1944 took place, changing the course of the war to favor the Allies. The five beaches—Sword, Juno, Gold, Omaha and Utah—were where the forces of the French, British, Canadian and American armies successfully landed and commenced an operation that changed the tide of WWII in Europe. Today, visitors can pay their respects to the sacrifices made by these troops at the various memorials found on the beaches, at the military cemeteries of each army and learn more about the operation and strategy at the various museums and information centers.

Like this? Check out  10 Significant World War II Sites to Visit in Germany

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Educational Travel

The National WWII Museum provides vivid insight into the war that changed the world, but nothing can tell its story more dramatically than a visit to the sites where victory was fought for and won. As the nation’s foremost expert in WWII history, the Museum’s Travel Program is dedicated to providing the highest quality educational content by creating custom-curated itineraries, arranging the finest boutique hotel accommodations, procuring comprehensive local meal packages in the countries we visit, and touring aboard premium motor coaches and cruise ships. Experience a journey in first-class comfort to the beaches, bridges, cities, and villages where crucial battles took place and history-making decisions were made.

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Victory in Europe: The End of The War on the Elbe

The 80th Anniversary Elbe River Cruise Collection Abroad Viking Beyla. A voyage aboard Viking Beyla that delves into some fascinating aspects of the war that are seldom explored by Americans.

May 1-8, 2025 | May 6-13, 2025

Landing Beaches to Liberation

The Battle of Normandy and Seine River Cruise to Paris featuring Michael Neiberg, PhD, and William I. Hitchcock, PhD

October 26 – November 3, 2025

Paris to Pointe du Hoc

A voyage along the Seine River to the Beaches of Normandy , featuring expert historians John C. McManus, PhD, and James Holland

October 26 - November 3, 2025

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Masters of the Air: The Mighty Eighth over the Skies of Europe

Featuring best-selling author and historian Dr. Donald L. Miller on select departures

Multiple Departures Available

What They Fought Against: Scars of the Nazi War Machine

A companion tour to The Rise and Fall of Hitler’s Germany featuring author and historian Dr. Alexandra Richie

Only One Departure Available! July 11–22, 2024

Italy: 1944

A story of mud, mountains, and mules

D-Day: The Invasion of Normandy and Liberation of France

Explore America’s most famous WWII battle in Europe

Easy Company: England to the Eagle’s Nest

Our most popular tour follows in the footsteps of the 101st Airborne Division’s 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment across seven countries

Espionage and Intelligence: The Allied Secret Agents & Codebreakers of World War II

Embark on a mission through England. Discover stories of spies, operatives, and codebreakers along the way.

Battle of Normandy and Liberation of Paris

The best of our D-Day touring plus a day in medieval Rouen and 3 nights in the “City of Light”

Travel with featured historians and authors on select programs

The Rise and Fall of Hitler’s Germany

A companion tour to Megastructures featuring author and historian Dr. Alexandra Richie

80th Anniversary Commemorative Tour: Easy Company: England to the Eagle’s Nest

Enhanced program featuring four Band of Brothers actors

September 2–15, 2024 (SOLD OUT!)

80th Anniversary Commemorative Tour: Battle of the Bulge

Optional pre-tour extension program: The Battle of the Hürtgen Forest

December 11–19, 2024 (SOLD OUT!)

World War II in the Philippines

A companion tour to Victory in the Pacific featuring expert historian James Scott

Only One Departure Available! March 16 – 24, 2024

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Live the memory of a lifetime on an American History or WWII tour by Stephen Ambrose Historical Tours! Our Founder Stephen E. Ambrose, author of the best-selling books, Band of Brothers , D-Day: June 6, 1944 and Undaunted Courage , had a passion for teaching Americans about our nation’s heritage and heroes. Today our full-time historians carry on his legacy. 

Domestic Tours Brochure: Travel the USA

We invite you to travel with us through the sacred battlefields of the Civil War and follow the path of America’s explorers and legendary figures.

As Stephen Ambrose said, “The best way to understand history is to study the places it was made.”

And there are so many wonderful places to study history in America. Check out our new domestic tours brochure to learn more about our tours on the Civil War , Revolutionary War , WWII Home Front and Great American West .

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For a more in depth study of WWII, join us on  The Normandy Campaign (the Allied plan to take Brittany and trap the remaining German army in Normandy) or WWII: Victory in Europe (the Allied march through Europe).

Two other military history tours that have received great reviews are our  WWI Tour: Western Front , and Scotland Jacobite Rising , Bonnie Prince Charlie and the Battlefields of the Highlands.

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• Tours 8-day 80th ANNIVERSARY BULGE TOUR 9-day BAND OF BROTHERS TOUR 11-day BAND OF BROTHERS TOUR 12-day D-DAY ANNIVERSARY TOUR 12-day D-DAY LUXURY TOUR 6-day BEACHES OF NORMANDY TOUR 6-day AMERICAN NORMANDY TOUR 11-day WAR IN POLAND TOUR 11-day THIRD REICH TOUR 10-day BRITAIN AT WAR TOUR 11-day ITALIAN CAMPAIGN TOUR 12-day WORLD WAR I TOUR

Beaches of Normandy Tours

80th ANNIVERSARY BULGE TOUR

Remember the bloodiest battle for the American forces in World War II . On this tour you can see where the brave soldiers held their ground during the siege of Bastogne, and experience the citizens “throwing nuts” to commemorate their liberators.

• Day 8: Departure

BAND OF BROTHERS TOUR

This is an adventure designed for your bucket list and your pocketbook. Feel the sands of the landing beaches between your toes, stand at the very foxholes where heroes fought for your freedom and breathe the Alpine air at Hitler’s Eagle’s Nest.

• Day 9: Departure

The ultimate trip through the American WWII effort: our Band of Brothers Tour is an epic journey from Normandy to Hitler’s Eagle’s Nest via the battlefields of the Battle of the Bulge in the footsteps of the famous Easy Company.

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D-DAY ANNIVERSARY TOUR

Celebrate the linchpin moment in World War II on our D-Day Anniversary Band of Brothers Tour that visits the iconic sites and commemorates American heroes. This special 12-day trip only happens once per year, on the anniversary of D-Day .

• Day 12: Departure

D-DAY LUXURY TOUR

Honor the Greatest Generation at the annual D-Day anniversary ceremonies on the luxury version of our Band of Brothers Tour . Visit iconic sites while you enjoy your 5-star hotel rooms and appreciate the services the best local restaurants can offer.

BEACHES OF NORMANDY TOUR

Our signature tour gives you an opportunity to thoroughly explore the beaches and the sites of Normandy connected to the D-Day landings . This tour is designed for people who want to enjoy military history and culture alike on their vacation in Normandy .

• Day 6: Departure

AMERICAN NORMANDY TOUR

This is designed for people who want to combine culture and military history on their vacation in Normandy before or after the high season. It studies American operations during D-Day and explores exemplary cases of the heroism of American soldiers.

WAR IN POLAND TOUR

Explore the sites of the greatest atrocities unleashed by Nazi Germany on Poland and the peoples of Europe in WW2 . Discover the rich history, the finest acts of selflessness that took place and the indomitable spirit of the Polish people on this 11-day tour.

THIRD REICH TOUR

Numerous historical sites tell the tales of the rise, the fall and the aftermath of Hitler’s Third Reich on this tour. Join us at the epicentre of WWII , where the Führer rallied followers, commanded armies, held events and eventually met his demise.

BRITAIN AT WAR TOUR

Hit all the essential sites on this streamlined 10-day tour combining the air war related sites with the iconic vehicles on display at the Bovington Tank Museum and finishing off with a cultural intake of the prehistoric monument of Stonehenge.

• Day 10: Departure

ITALIAN CAMPAIGN TOUR

Spend 11 unforgettable days exploring the stunning landscapes and iconic sites of the Italian Campaign. Discover a vast array of unique WWII vehicles and incredible cultural artifacts.

WORLD WAR I TOUR

Spend 12 days with us on this special 110th Anniversary World War I tour , that takes you off the beaten track. Learn about the military operations of the Great War and experience the iconic locations and items, such as trenches, weapons and tanks.

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If you are looking for military historical tours in Europe we are the best local experts you can find. In terms of World War II tours , no one comes even close to offering the quality you get from us. Our Tour Directors and local guides are professionals who have perfected their craft. All our hotels and restaurants are tried and true, and our local knowledge is evident and all of our staff speak fluent English. Our secure and guaranteed payment systems allow you to shop online with the utmost confidence. Once you book your trip, we will guide you through everything related to your tour, from what travel documents you need and what to pack to a recommended list of books to read and movies to watch before your departure. We are not an assembly line company focused on mass production – our goal is to give you a once in a lifetime experience. Our first-class historical tours take you on a journey through iconic World War II sites around Europe, as well as the most emblematic moments of American heroism of the time. From the Normandy beaches , such as Utah, Omaha Beaches and the British Beaches , to Bastogne and the Bavarian Alps , we guide you through the significant events and experiences of the war that changed the world. As an organization, we are dedicated to preserving the memory and courage of American heroes and helping you trace their footsteps to connect with the Nation's past.

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Remains of world war ii pow who died in the philippines returned home to california.

Associated Press

ONTARIO, Calif. – The long-unidentified remains of a World War II service member who died in a Japanese prisoner-of-war camp in the Philippines in 1942 were returned home to California on Tuesday.

The remains of U.S. Army Air Forces Pvt. 1st Class Charles R. Powers, 18, of Riverside, were flown to Ontario International Airport east of Los Angeles for burial at Riverside National Cemetery on Thursday, 82 years to the day of his death.

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The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency announced in June that Powers was accounted for on May 26, 2023, after analysis of his remains, including use of DNA.

Powers was a member of 28th Materiel Squadron, 20th Air Base Group, when Japanese forces invaded the Philippines in late 1941, leading to surrender of U.S. and Filipino forces on the Bataan peninsula in April 1942 and Corregidor Island the following month.

Powers was reported captured in the Bataan surrender and was among those subjected to the 65-mile (105-kilometer) Bataan Death March and then held at the Cabanatuan prison camp where more than 2,500 POWs died, the agency said.

Powers died on July 18, 1942, and was buried with others in a common grave. After the war, three sets of unidentifiable remains from the grave were reburied at Manila American Cemetery and Memorial. They were disinterred in 2018 for laboratory analysis.

Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

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From lush forest views to spectacular city sights, 6 NJ scenic overlooks you must see

If you're looking for a new perspective, a road trip to a lookout point may be right up your alley.

News and entertainment site Stacker compiled a list of six unique vantage points in New Jersey, based on data from the travel website TripAdvisor, including reviews and ratings.

The offerings include everything from lush forests to the sea to amazing views of the New York City skyline.

Here's what they ranked as the top lookouts in the Garden State.

World War II Lookout Tower, Lower Township

A historic fire control tower that is New Jersey's last freestanding World War II Lookout Tower. It was built quickly in 1942 and was one of 15 towers in Delaware and New Jersey "used as observation posts to detect enemy vessels and direct the artillery fire from nearby coastal batteries," according to Cape May County MAC (Museums, Arts, Culture). It now includes a wall of honor that recognizes local citizens who served during the war, as well as changing exhibits highlighting various historical topics. It is included on the National Register of Historic Places. Visit capemaymac.org/experience/world-war-ii-tower to learn more.

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Mount Mitchell Scenic Overlook, Atlantic Highlands

Part of the Monmouth County Park System, the 266-foot-high overlook "sits on the highest natural elevation on the  Atlantic seaboard (excluding islands) from Maine to the Yucatan, providing beautiful views of Sandy Hook, Sandy Hook Bay, Raritan Bay and the New York skyline," according to the park system. The 12-acre site is also home to Monmouth County's Sept. 11 memorial, honoring 147 people who lost their lives in the terrorist attacks. It contains a beam from the World Trade Center. Learn more at monmouthcountyparks.com/page.aspx?Id=2534 .

Hudson River Waterfront Walkway

Spanning nine towns − Bayonne, Jersey City, Hoboken, Weehawken, West New York, Guttenberg, North Bergen, Edgewater and Fort Lee −the walkway is planned to continuously connect the tip of Bayonne to the George Washington Bridge with a 30-foot-wide path. It offers spectacular views of the river, as well as walking, jogging, biking, fishing, boat and kayak launching and more, according to the Hudson River Waterfront Conservancy. Learn more at hudsonriverwaterfront.org.

Rockefeller Lookout, Englewood Cliffs

Named for John D. Rockefeller Jr. to honor his preservation work of the Palisades, the lookout located along the Palisades Interstate Parkway offers a peaceful place to relax, as well as views of Manhattan, the George Washington Bridge and Hudson River. Learn more at njpalisades.org/pipway.html .

Wildcat Ridge Hawkwatch, Rockaway Township

An official Hawk Migration Association of North America  “hawkwatch,” this is a top spot to see migrating hawks in the spring and fall "as they ride the thermals along the ridgetop," according to New Jersey Fish and Wildlife. It offers views of the Highlands forest and valleys, and even peeks of the New York City skyline on clear days. According to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, "no other area in North Jersey has the large unfragmented forests needed to preserve populations of endangered hawks, owls, and increasingly rare songbirds. These forests are also highly important to the millions of people living in urban centers whose drinking water comes from the lakes and streams of the Highlands, purified by its forests and open space." Learn more at dep.nj.gov/njfw/wildlife/wildcat-ridge-hawkwatch.

State Line Lookout, Alpine

Another beautiful area off the Palisades Interstate Parkway, this spot is located about a half-mile south of the New Jersey/New York border. It includes a refreshment stand, as well as access to hiking and cross-country skiing trails, as well as incredible views. Visit njpalisades.org/stateline.html to learn more.

• Hanford B Reactor will soon close for tourists. What to know if you go

It’s a 45-minute bus ride to get a firsthand look into a top secret Eastern Washington project that changed the world.

Tucked away in the desert at the Hanford site northwest of Richland is the historic B Reactor, the world’s first full-scale nuclear reactor built during World War II to develop the atomic bomb.

About twice as many people have visited the reactor this year compared to the same time last year, said Colleen French, the Department of Energy program manager for the Manhattan Project National Historical Park at Hanford.

The release of the Oscar-winning film “Oppenheimer” is contributing to the demand. The biographical thriller focuses on theoretical physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer’s work at Los Alamos, N.M.

The Hanford site still contains radioactivity in certain areas, but those areas are controlled with no public access. It was shut down permanently in February 1968.

Last August, it was announced that the reactor is expected to close to tours for at least the next two years for repairs and preservation work on the 80-year-old reactor building.

That means the 2024 tour season, now planned through October, is the ideal time to sign up for a visit .

Inside the reactor

On your guided ride across the vast Hanford site, visitors soon spot the B Reactor entrance. The blocky old structure looms in the distance, tan and gray.

Once off the bus, you make your way inside to the center of the reactor, where the iconic front face is located.

It’s a moment of awe, looking up at the front face’s gold rows of process tubes.

The design allowed the reactor to produce plutonium-239 by irradiating naturally occurring uranium with neutrons.

The visit begins with a presentation at the front face, when a guide explains how the reactor was operated and what tools and equipment were used.

Armed with a paper map, you then have time for a self-guided experience in 12 rooms, including the control room, fuel storage basin viewing room and valve pit room.

Walkways take you through the exhaust and intake fan hallways, office settings, and exhibits of safety signs, tools and clothing. Machinery is painted a minty green, and there are handwritten signs labeling parts of the reactor.

There’s about two hours to explore the building before heading back to the visitor center. The full tour lasts about four hours, including time on the bus.

During the visit, guides provide two other optional presentations at the front face/valve pit room and inside the control room.

Before you go

The free tours begin and end at the visitor center at 2000 Logston Blvd. in Richland and include bus rides to and from the reactor. Visitors must take the bus to get to the B Reactor.

Tours are offered daily, except most Sundays. They start at 8:30 a.m. or 11:45 a.m., depending on the date.

To register, go to manhattanprojectbreactor.hanford.gov . Those without internet access may contact the tour center by calling 509-376-1647.

Expect large groups — there are up to 43 seats per tour.

The main tour route in the B Reactor is wheelchair accessible on one level with smooth finished surfaces. Wheelchair accessible buses and sign-language interpreters are available with two weeks notice.

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Restrooms are located in the visitor center. The only restrooms at the reactor are porta-potties outside the building.

Food and nonalcoholic drinks are allowed on the bus. Only bottled water is allowed inside the reactor. There is no food or drink available to purchase at the visitor center or the B Reactor.

Cameras, cellphones and other recording devices are allowed.

There is no air conditioning inside the reactor, so dress to stay cool in the summer heat. Wear comfortable shoes.

There is no age limit. The tour may be best for older children.

NATO allies call China a ‘decisive enabler’…

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Rnc live coverage: republicans weigh in on rachel morin death, foreign policy, news world news, nato allies call china a ‘decisive enabler’ of russia’s war in ukraine.

WASHINGTON (AP) — In their most serious rebuke against Beijing, NATO allies on Wednesday called China a “decisive enabler” of Russia’s war against Ukraine and expressed concerns over Beijing’s nuclear arsenal and its capabilities in space.

The sternly worded final communiqué, approved by the 32 NATO members at their summit in Washington, makes clear that China is becoming a focus of the military alliance. The European and North American members and their partners in the Indo-Pacific increasingly see shared security concerns coming from Russia and its Asian supporters, especially China.

Beijing insists that it does not provide direct military aid to Russia but has maintained strong trade ties with its northern neighbor throughout the conflict.

In the communiqué, NATO member countries said China has become a war enabler through its “no-limits partnership” with Russia and its large-scale support for Russia’s defense industrial base.

“This increases the threat Russia poses to its neighbors and to Euro-Atlantic security. We call on the PRC, as a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council with a particular responsibility to uphold the purposes and principles of the U.N. Charter, to cease all material and political support to Russia’s war effort,” read the communiqué, which referred to China by the abbreviation of its official name, the People’s Republic of China.

“The PRC cannot enable the largest war in Europe in recent history without this negatively impacting its interests and reputation,” the document says.

Beijing has expressed displeasure at NATO’s growing interest in Asia and has demanded the alliance stay out of the Asia-Pacific region and not incite confrontation.

“NATO should not use China to justify its insertion into the Asia-Pacific and attempt to disrupt regional dynamics,” Lin Jian, a spokesman for the Chinese foreign ministry, said Tuesday. “China is a force for world peace, a contributor to global development and a defender of international order.”

Danny Russel, a former assistant secretary of state for Asia, called the new wording by NATO “an extraordinary step,” particularly because it was coupled with the warning that Beijing continues to pose “systemic challenges” to European interests and security.

“It is a mark of how badly Beijing’s attempt to straddle Russia and Western Europe has failed and how hollow its claim of neutrality rings,” said Russel, who is vice president for international security and diplomacy at the Asia Society Policy Institute. “China’s attempts at divide-and-conquer have instead produced remarkable solidarity between key nations of the Euro-Atlantic and the Asia-Pacific regions.”

Max Bergmann, director of the Europe, Russia, and Eurasia Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said the statement is “highly significant” because it signals to China that Europe, just like the U.S., also condemns support to Russia.

“The U.S. believes that Europe has influence in Beijing, and that while China will not pay any attention to U.S. condemnation, they will pay attention to European condemnation because just because Europe trades with China, China also trades with Europe,” Bergmann said.

In this year’s final declaration, NATO member countries reiterated their concerns that China poses “systemic challenges” to Euro-Atlantic security. It was first raised in 2021.

The alliance said China has been behind sustained, malicious cyber and hybrid activities, including disinformation and expressed concerns over China’s space capabilities and activities. It also raised alarms that China is rapidly expanding and diversifying its nuclear arsenal with more warheads and a larger number of sophisticated delivery systems.

In Washington, where leaders of NATO nations are convening this week to mark the coalition’s 75th anniversary, President Joe Biden said the alliance must not fall behind Russia, which is ramping up weapon production with the help of China, North Korea and Iran.

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said China provides equipment, microelectronics and tools that are “enabling Russia to build the missiles, to build the bombs, to build the aircraft, to build the weapons they use to attack Ukraine.”

He said it was the first time all NATO allies have stated this so clearly in an agreed document.

Australia, New Zealand, Japan and South Korea have sent their leaders or deputies to the NATO summit in Washington this week. They are partners, not members, of the alliance.

In the final declaration, NATO members affirmed the importance of the Indo-Pacific partners to the alliance and said they were “strengthening dialogue to tackle cross-regional challenges.”

NATO and the Indo-Pacific partners plan to launch four projects to support Ukraine, bolster cooperation on cyberdefense, counter disinformation and work on artificial intelligence. The NATO members said these projects would “enhance our ability to work together on shared security interests.”

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News Analysis

An Assassination Attempt That Seems Likely to Tear America Further Apart

The attack on former President Donald J. Trump comes at a time when the United States is already polarized along ideological and cultural lines and is split, it often seems, into two realities.

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By Peter Baker

Peter Baker has covered the past five presidents.

• Published July 14, 2024 Updated July 15, 2024

Follow the latest news on the Trump assassination attempt.

When President Ronald Reagan was shot by an attention-seeking drifter in 1981, the country united behind its injured leader. The teary-eyed Democratic speaker of the House, Thomas P. O’Neill Jr., went to the hospital room of the Republican president, held his hands, kissed his head and got on his knees to pray for him.

But the assassination attempt against former President Donald J. Trump seems more likely to tear America further apart than to bring it together. Within minutes of the shooting, the air was filled with anger, bitterness, suspicion and recrimination. Fingers were pointed, conspiracy theories advanced and a country already bristling with animosity fractured even more.

The fact that the shooting in Butler, Pa., on Saturday night was two days before Republicans were set to gather in Milwaukee for their nominating convention inevitably put the event in a partisan context. While Democrats bemoaned political violence, which they have long faulted Mr. Trump for encouraging, Republicans instantly blamed President Biden and his allies for the attack, which they argued stemmed from incendiary language labeling the former president a proto-fascist who would destroy democracy.

Mr. Trump’s eldest son, his campaign strategist and a running mate finalist all attacked the political left within hours of the shooting even before the gunman was identified or his motive determined. “Well of course they tried to keep him off the ballot, they tried to put him in jail and now you see this,” wrote Chris LaCivita, a senior adviser to the former president.

But the Trump campaign seemed to think better of it, and the post was deleted. A memo sent out on Sunday by Mr. LaCivita and Susie Wiles, another senior adviser, instructed Trump team members not to comment on the shooting.

Either way, the episode could fuel Mr. Trump’s narrative about being the victim of persecution by Democrats. Impeached, indicted, sued and convicted, Mr. Trump even before Saturday had accused Democrats of seeking to have him shot by F.B.I. agents or even executed for crimes that do not carry the death penalty.

After being wounded at the rally, Mr. Trump, with blood staining his face, pumped his fist at the crowd and shouted, “Fight! Fight! Fight!”

What exactly drove the gunman, who was quickly killed by Secret Service counter snipers, remained a matter of speculation. Identified as Thomas Matthew Crooks , 20, from Bethel Park, Pa., he was a registered Republican but had also given $15 to a progressive group on Mr. Biden’s Inauguration Day, more than three years ago. The authorities said they were still investigating his motive.

The shooting came at a time when the United States was already deeply polarized along ideological, cultural and partisan lines — split, it often seems, into two countries, even two realities. More than at any time in generations, Americans do not see themselves in a collective enterprise but perceive themselves on opposite sides of modern ramparts.

The divisions have grown so stark that a Marist poll in May found that 47 percent of Americans considered a second civil war likely or very likely in their lifetime, a notion that prompted Hollywood to release a movie imagining what that could look like.

The propulsive crescendo of disruptive events lately has led many to compare 2024 to 1968, a year of racial strife, riots in the cities and the assassinations of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert F. Kennedy. Protests over the Vietnam War helped prompt President Lyndon B. Johnson to drop out of his race for re-election that year.

Until now, there had been one important difference. “Of all the similarities between 1968 and 2024, the lack of political violence this year has been one of the key areas where the years diverge,” said Luke A. Nichter, a historian at Chapman University and the author of “The Year That Broke Politics,” a history of 1968. “That is no more.”

Michael Kazin, a historian at Georgetown University, said political violence had a long history in America. “As in 1968 — or 1919 or 1886 or 1861 — the violence that just occurred is rather inevitable in a society as bitterly divided as ours,” he said. “And of course there’s actually less violence in politics now than there was in those other years.”

Yet not since President Abraham Lincoln was shot by a Confederate sympathizer at Ford’s Theater has an assassination attempt against a president or major presidential candidate so sharply exacerbated the partisan divide.

Presidents James A. Garfield, William McKinley and John F. Kennedy were shot to death by lone gunmen who were upset with them for one reason or another, but the killings did not become sources of schism between the Republican and Democratic Parties. The same was true with Dr. King and Robert Kennedy’s assassinations, as well as shootings that missed President-elect Franklin D. Roosevelt and President Gerald R. Ford.

Gov. George C. Wallace, Democrat of Alabama, was shot at a campaign event during his 1972 presidential run by a man who wanted to be famous. The attack left the segregationist governor paralyzed but eventually contributed to his evolution and disavowal of past racism. John Hinckley attacked Mr. Reagan out of an obsession to impress the movie star Jodie Foster.

In recent years, political violence in America at levels below the presidency has become increasingly partisan. Representative Gabrielle Giffords, Democrat of Arizona, was critically wounded in a mass shooting in 2011, prompting angry criticism of Republicans for fomenting hate. Representative Steve Scalise of Louisiana, now the Republican majority leader, was shot and injured during a congressional baseball game practice in 2017 by a supporter of Senator Bernie Sanders, Independent of Vermont.

An armed man was arrested outside the home of Justice Brett Kavanaugh in 2022 and told the authorities that he wanted to kill the conservative Supreme Court justice because of his positions against abortion and gun control. Later that year, a man wielding a hammer broke into the San Francisco house of Representative Nancy Pelosi, then the Democratic speaker, and beat her husband, Paul Pelosi .

The most famous recent case of political violence before this weekend was the attack on the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, by supporters of Mr. Trump trying to block the certification of Mr. Biden’s election victory. The Capitol Police investigated 8,008 cases of threats involving members of Congress last year. While most of them were not serious, it was the second-highest total in the department’s history and has prompted the hiring of more prosecutors.

Many of these recent cases have led to not so much soul-searching as blame-setting. After Ms. Giffords was shot, Democrats assailed Sarah Palin, the former Republican vice-presidential candidate, because Ms. Giffords’s district had been among 20 singled out underneath digitized cross hairs on a map circulated by Ms. Palin’s political action committee, although there was no evidence the gunman knew about or was driven by the map.

House Democrats impeached Mr. Trump for instigating the Capitol attack with his inflammatory language at a rally beforehand. The former president has a long history of encouraging violence . He urged supporters to beat up protesters at rallies, cheered a Republican congressman for body-slamming a reporter , called for looters and shoplifters to be shot, made light of the attack on Mr. Pelosi and promised pardons to Jan. 6 rioters. When some of his supporters chanted “Hang Mike Pence!” on Jan. 6, Mr. Trump told aides that maybe the vice president deserved it because he had defied efforts to overturn the 2020 election.

Republicans turned the tables on Democrats this weekend, arguing that if Mr. Trump was responsible for provocative rhetoric, then Mr. Biden should be as well. Speaking with donors on Monday, the president said he wanted to stop talking about his poor debate performance and instead “put Trump in a bull’s-eye.” He described his strategy as “attack, attack, attack.”

“The central premise of the Biden campaign is that President Donald Trump is an authoritarian fascist who must be stopped at all costs,” Senator J.D. Vance, Republican of Ohio and a front-runner to be named Mr. Trump’s running mate, wrote on social media two hours after the attack on Saturday. “That rhetoric directly led to President Trump’s attempted assassination.”

Mr. Scalise, also the victim of a political attack, agreed. “For weeks, Democrat leaders have been fueling ludicrous hysteria that Donald Trump winning re-election would be the end of democracy in America,” he said. “Clearly, we’ve seen far-left lunatics act on violent rhetoric in the past. This incendiary rhetoric must stop.”

Representative Mike Collins, Republican of Georgia, wrote on social media that “ Joe Biden sent the orders ” and urged the local prosecutor to “immediately file charges against Joseph R. Biden for inciting an assassination.” But not all hands are clean. Mr. Collins once ran a campaign ad in which he fired a rifle at Ms. Pelosi’s agenda and shot a cardboard cutout of so-called RINO Republicans.

Some Republican leaders took a more measured approach. Speaker Mike Johnson, speaking on “Today” on NBC, said on Sunday that Mr. Trump had “been so vilified and really persecuted by media, Hollywood elites, political figures, even the legal system” and cited Mr. Biden’s “bull’s-eye” comment.

“I know he didn’t mean what is being implied there, but that kind of language on either side should be called out,” Mr. Johnson said . But he emphasized that “both sides” have “got to turn the temperature down in this country.”

Mr. Biden did not directly respond to criticism of his language during three televised appearances since the shooting, but he flatly condemned the attack and called Mr. Trump to wish him well. Like Mr. Johnson, he said that Americans must “lower the temperature” and that “it’s time to cool it down.” During a rare Oval Office address, he added: “Politics must never be a literal battlefield, and God forbid a killing field.”

The danger is if political violence becomes normalized, just another form of the endless partisan wars. A study published in May found that 11 percent of Americans said violence was sometimes or always justified to return Mr. Trump to the presidency, and 21 percent said it was justified to advance an important political objective.

But Garen J. Wintemute, the director of the Violence Prevention Program at the University of California, Davis, and the lead author of the study, said it was important to remember that most Americans still rejected political violence.

“It’s the job of that majority to make their views known, over and over again, and as publicly as possible,” Dr. Wintemute said. “A climate of intolerance for violence reduces the chance that violence will occur. The question before us as a nation is, ‘Will violence become part of American politics?’ Each of us as an individual needs to answer that question, ‘Not if I can help it.’”

Peter Baker is the chief White House correspondent for The Times. He has covered the last five presidents and sometimes writes analytical pieces that place presidents and their administrations in a larger context and historical framework. More about Peter Baker

Our Coverage of the Trump Rally Shooting

The Investigation : The motives of the 20-year-old gunman who tried to assassinate former President Donald Trump remain a mystery , even after the F.B.I. gained access to his cellphone .

 How the Security Broke Down : The Secret Service is facing questions  about why the building from which the gunman fired was left out of the security perimeter. It’s also unclear whether the local forces  used the same building as the shooter.

The Gunman : In interviews, former classmates of the suspect described him as intelligent but solitary , someone who tried to avoid teasing by his classmates, and who grew up in an area where hunting and target shooting  have long been popular pastimes.

Trump Devotees React : Some of Trump’s followers had long viewed him as handpicked by God. The attempted assassination has only increased such quasi-religious rhetoric .

Online Conspiracy Theories : Soon after the shooting, claims that President Biden and his allies ordered the attack on Trump, or that Trump staged the shooting, spread fast across social media .