Two-centre trip to Normandy & Paris by coach: 6 days, 5 nights

What you’ll experience:Discover Paris as you’ve never seen it before with a thrilling jetpack flight over Paris in fully immersive virtual reality.

• Immersive video and a dynamic movie platform combine images of flying over Paris with your jetpack’s movements to give you all the sensations of real fight!
• Take off, accelerate, and stop to enjoy the panoramic view, then turn, move sideways, and swoop down for a closer view of a monument
• Paris landscapes, filmed from the capital sky using drones
• A last generation VR headset with a 360-degree vision

 

Select says:View the FlyView website for a taster of what to expect.

What you’ll experience:A favourite for students of all ages. A day or two at Disneyland® Paris is often the highlight of the tour with many attractions to be found in Frontierland, Discoveryland, Fantasy and much more! A great way for students to practice their French speaking and listening skills whilst having fun.

Select says:Disney also provide excellent learning modules across a variety of subjects. Contact us for details.

What you’ll experience:This is Paris’ only skyscraper and the tallest building in France at 210 metres. You can visit the panoramic floor for fabulous views over the city. The tower is open until late, so it’s also possible to take in the beautifully lit night time beauty of Paris.

Select says:This is by far the best place to view of the Eiffel Tower.

What you’ll experience:This iconic monument, built in 1889, is the symbol of Paris and France. The Eiffel Tower is one of the best known monuments in the world. In 2014 a new glass floor was completed on level 1 where visitors can walk 57m from the ground and experience the sensation of stepping out into the void.

Select says:View further details via the Eiffle Tower website.

What you’ll experience:One of the best and most relaxing ways to see the sights of Paris is to take a Seine river boat cruise. Starting at the foot of the Eiffel Tower, your cruise will take you up stream to the Ile de la Cité and Notre Dame Cathedral.

Select says:Trips depart every 20 minutes at peak times.

What you’ll experience:Montmartre is an area in the north of Paris perched high on the ‘Butte’, Paris’s highest hill. Montmartre is dominated by the beautiful white Basilica of the Sacré Cœur located at the top of the hill. It remains the most romantic part of Paris with narrow alleyways, atmospheric cafés, pretty stairways and ivy-clad houses. Many artists had studios or worked in or around Montmartre, including Dalí, Modigliani, Monet, Mondrian, Picasso, Pissarro and van Gogh.

Select says:Look out for the two windmills (moulins) and a small vineyard.

What you’ll experience:A film about the terrible Battle of Normandy taken from archive images from around the world is projected in high definition on 9 screens. This film is a tribute to soldiers from all countries and to the 20,000 civilians who were killed during this battle for the liberation of Europe.

Select says:A preview can be viewed on Arromanches Circular Cinema website. There is a great view of Mulberry Harbour from up here, and views of Bayeaux town and the coast line.

What you’ll experience:The museum has five different sections including: a gallery of working models overlooking the historic site (guided tour), a diorama with special light and sound effects that brings the early hours of D Day to life, the hall of the Allied Nations museum collections, a film featuring archive footage, and shops.

Select says:The museum overlooks where one of the Mulberry Harbours was constructed, and its remains can be seen a few hundred metres from the shore. The beach is a great place to stop for lunch and have a bit of fun after the museum. Encourage the students to re-enact what they think happened as the soldiers landed on the beaches.

What you’ll experience:Utah, Omaha, Gold Beach, Juno Beach and Sword Beach were stormed by Allied soldiers in the morning of June 6th 1944. A visit to the beaches will help your students gain a real feel for the environment and help them imagine events within the settings.

Select says:A visit to Omaha Beach helps to understand the importance of timing and the problems that had to be overcome for the invasion to be a success. Any of the beaches are a wonderful place to stop for lunch.

What you’ll experience:See how the caramels are produced and learn about the process. The company has revived the production of caramel in Isigny sur Mer and produces 300 tons of caramel per year. The company continues to grow while preserving the craftsmanship.

Select says:Don’t miss the sample tasting! Tours are in French so ensure you have a basic understanding or you have a French speaker with you. Still worth a visit though.

What you’ll experience:Festyland is the biggest amusement park in Normandy and offers around thirty rides. A great fun day out for students and great for activity weeks.

Select says:Located in Bretteville-sur-Odon near Caen.

What you’ll experience:Located at the foot of a dell, you’ll receive a warm welcome from Mr Martin to his farm. The 40 Alpine goats are a firm favourite with our school groups and children find out about goat breeding, cheesemaking, and also experience a cheese tasting session. A room is at your disposal for picnics and there is also an outside picnic area.

Select says:Tours are offered in English or French and this is a popular tour for all ages.

What you’ll experience:During the tour, students are shown an introductory video followed by a tour of the orchards and an overview of the production process from washing and crushing the apples to the casks where the calvados is matured.

Select says:This is a welcoming and informative tour and students have the opportunity to taste the apple juice and purchase in the shop.

What you’ll experience:A town with a rich artistic and historical heritage, Honfleur has beautiful old houses, narrow paved streets, monuments, little shops, traditional restaurants, galleries, artists’ studios, a fishing harbour and a marina.

Select says:The changing light on the Seine estuary inspired Monet, Boudin, Courbet, and many others. Great place to stop for lunch on route to your destination or on the way home to break up the journey.

What you’ll experience:The Bayeux Tapestry is a unique source on the 11th century beginning with Harold’s eventful journey to Normandy through to the Battle of Hastings. Visits are by audio-guide giving commentary on the scenes.

Select says:There is a simplified audio version in English especially for children.

What you’ll experience:The cathedral of Notre-Dame in Bayeux is an impressive building with a mix of Romanesque architecture in the 11th century crypt and Gothic in the 13th-century nave. The crypt contains some beautiful murals and the stained-glass windows in the chapel are stunning.

Select says:Read the diagram on the stairs before you descend into the crypt, as it gives some information about the images below.

What you’ll experience:A traditional, pure butter biscuit producer. Located in the small village of Asnelles which has been open now for over 100 years. They will give you a brief tour (normally about 10mins) then you will get the chance to sample the product itself.

Select says:Take some euros as you will also have the opportunity to make additional purchases! Large groups are broken down into smaller groups to ensure everyone gets the full experience.

What you’ll experience:William the Conqueror, the son of Duke Robert of Normandy, was born at the castle in about 1028. William went on to conquer England and become king and possession of the castle descended through his heirs until the 13th century when it was captured by King Philip II of France. The tour uses computer tablets to show the castle as it was lived in together with a description of the history of the Normans.

Select says:There are lots of stairs to climb, but there’s a lovely view over Falaise from the castle heights.

What you’ll experience:At Chocolaterie du Drakkar, students learn all about the history and production of chocolates, including a film which takes you on a trip to the cocoa plantations of Sao Tome. Students will get many insights into the production process at Drakkar, including trying to recognize the aromas that are most often mixed with cocoa.

Select says:Of course, this visit would not be a chocolate tour without some traditional tasting!

What you’ll experience:Giverney was Monet’s home from 1883 until he passed away in 1926. Monet created some of his most celebrated work at Giverny and students will have the opportunity to see his house and the beautiful ‘Water Garden’ – sketch books are essential!

Select says: Reservations are necessary for groups of 20+. You can find out more about Monet’s Garden – Giverny here.