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Mont Saint Michel bay walk led by animateur native French speaking instructor

French Language & D-Day School Trip Normandy

Combine French language immersion, culture and D-Day history on a unique school trip to Normandy, helping students develop their language skills while exploring one of the most important turning points of the Second World War.

  • Voyager owned
  • Key Stages 3 - 5
  • Native French animateurs
  • Year round
  • Evening entertainment
  • French workbook

French language, culture & WWII history in one unforgettable tour

Based at Voyager's La Grand'Ferme residential centre, students are immersed in French through a programme of animateur-led activities to gain confidence communicating in French and a glimpse of authentic life in Normandy. 

The tour includes a dedicated visit to Normandy's D-Day landing beaches, museums and memorials. Students will explore the sites of Operation Overlord to understand the planning, sacrifice and significance of the Allied invasion that helped turn the tide of the Second World War.

Groups can also tailor their programme with adventure activities, such as kayaking or the iconic Mont Saint-Michel Bay Walk, to create a varied and memorable itinerary that appeals to a wide range of students.

 Full support throughout your stay

  • Stay at Voyager’s school-only centre, La Grand’ Ferme
  • 24/7 support from Voyager's experienced centre team
  • French-speaking animateurs leading activities and excursions
  • Flexible programme tailored to your learning objectives
  • Optional specialist battlefield guides for an enriched D-Day experience

Ready to plan your French & D-Day tour of Normandy?

Speak to our expert team today to start planning your unforgettable Normandy adventure.


Itinerary

Sample French & D-Day School Tour

Task our Normandy experts to create a Normandy programme tailored to your needs!

Day 1 - Travel to Normandy

  • Depart from your school by coach and ferry/tunnel crossing
  • Arrive at Voyager's La Grand' Ferme accommodation
  • Meet your animateurs before evening meal and intro activities (all in French) 

Day 2 - D-Day history

  • Breakfast and collect packed lunches
  • Visit Gold Beach, assigned to British forces, to explore remnants of the artificial harbour and bunkers
  • Arromanches 360° Cinema uses archive footage to show the scale of the D-Day landings and Battle of Normandy
  • Musée du Débarquement to learn about the ingenious Mulberry harbours 
  • The American Cemetery offers views over Omaha Beach and a chance to reflect on the cost of war
  • Back to the centre for dinner and evening activities led by your animateur e.g. French quiz

Day 3 - French language and culture

  • Market Mission to a traditional French market - in teams, pupils buy their own picnic lunch
  • Picnic lunch and games on the beach
  • Visit to Caramels d’Isigny or return to the centre for an afternoon of onsite French language activities with your animateur, such as French breadmaking, aeroball and archery  
  • Dinner and evening activity with your animateur e.g. soirée française – try snails for dinner!

Day 4 - Adventure

  • Breakfast and collect packed lunches
  • Your choice of adventure activities - there are plenty of engaging activities in the area such as Accrobanches High Ropes, Kayaking, Festyland Theme Park, or a guided walk across the bay to the iconic Mont Saint-Michel (a top pick for most of our school groups) 
  • Dinner and French activity led by your animateurs e.g. jeux d’initiative, team games

Day 5 - Return Journey

  • Musée de la Libération to learn about life under Nazi occupation, the French Resistance and the liberation of Cherbourg
  • Channel crossing and journey back to school
Accommodation

Voyager's La Grand'Ferme centre

La Grand’Ferme is Voyager's gite-style school centre for history and language trips. There's plenty of outdoor space, sports courts, an outdoor pool (seasonal) and large indoor activity area. The centre has two separate accommodation buildings and 24/7 duty manager to support supervision and safeguarding. Stay at La Grand'Ferme to benefit from a range of supervised activities, school-friendly menus, and evening entertainment.

Explore the La Grand'Ferme's facilities here.

 

Excursions
Mont Saint Michel
Mont Saint-Michel Excursion
Boulangerie
Bakery workshop
Sweets
Sweet workshop
voile22
Sand Yachting
Goats cheese farm
Goat's cheese farm
Avranches excursion
Avranches
Festyland
Festyland Park
French language immersion school trip to the Opal Coast of France
Market mission
Bayeux Tapestry
Bayeux Town Visit
Normandy american cemetery and memorial
WWII Cemeteries
Arromanches 360 cinema
Arromanches 360° Cinema
Omaha Beach monument
Omaha Beach
Pegasus Memorial
Pegasus Memorial Museum
Pointe du Hoc
Pointe du Hoc
Merville Gun Battery Normandy
Merville Gun Battery
Museum of Liberation Cherbourg Normandy
Musée de la Libération, Cherbourg
Mont Saint Michel

Mont Saint-Michel Excursion

This island and its surrounding bay are a UNESCO World Heritage site. Scale the cobblestoned streets to reach the churches and the famous gothic-style abbey. Groups with an Animateur will experience a guided barefoot walk across the bay, which is a highlight for students.

Boulangerie

© Monica Arellano-Ongpin

Bakery workshop

At a local boulangerie, a baker will perform a baking demonstration for your group in French. Students will walk away with a croissant and a pain au chocolat each!

Sweets

© Steve Smith

Sweet workshop

Visit a French confectioner and get a masterclass in sugar! Students will watch the sweet makers at work and a few volunteers will get to try their hand at it themselves. Your group will get the chance to sample the sweets too.

voile22

Sand Yachting

Sand yachting offers a gentle and accessible approach to all, accompanied by state-qualified instructors, set off to discover the natural gems of the Baie de Somme.

Goats cheese farm

Goat's cheese farm

Visit a local goat's cheese farm to meet the goats and find out how cheese is made. Students can even have a try at milking the goats, and trying some cheese for themselves!

Avranches excursion

© Anibas

Avranches

Explore the quaint traditional town in Normandy also known as City of Manuscripts, which faces the bay of Mont Saint Michel, visit the botanical garden and interact with the locals

Festyland

Festyland Park

Festyland is a brilliant theme park for all ages of students from the younger ones to the thrill-seekers. Although the park feels busy, you'll find that you never wait too long in queues for the rides.

French language immersion school trip to the Opal Coast of France

Market mission

Visit a local market with your animateur where teams of students will be given money to buy food for lunch. Students will be tasked with ordering in French, creating a great opportunity to interact with the friendly stall owners in their native language. Students will also have free time to pick up some souvenirs.

Bayeux Tapestry

Bayeux Town Visit

Famous as the home of the 70 metre-long Bayeux Tapestry, the medieval town is also home to the largest British military cemetery in France, making it a key destination for groups studying WWII history. Also, don't miss the Cathedral, located in the centre of town. Note the Bayeux Tapestry is closed until Summer 2027.

Normandy american cemetery and memorial

WWII Cemeteries

There are many cemeteries in France which serve as poignant memorials to the fallen of WWII. Visits to these sites complement History tours and allow students to gain a greater understanding of the loss of life and the human effects of the war.

Arromanches 360 cinema

Arromanches 360° Cinema

Experience the 360° cinema in Arromanches displaying brilliantly captured and informative footage from the war across multiple screens.

Omaha Beach monument

Omaha Beach

Visit one of the most arduous landing zones of the D-Day invasion. Remnants of the combat, such as the Mulberry harbours, are still present today and a striking metallic memorial interrupting the scenic stretch of coast invites visitors to reflect.

Pegasus Memorial

Pegasus Memorial Museum

See first-hand the original Pegasus Bridge, daringly captured in an overnight operation by British airborne forces, at this WW2 museum near Caen. Learn about the crucial role of the airborne troops in the early hours of D-Day through an array of informative displays, films and wartime artefacts.

Pointe du Hoc

Pointe du Hoc

Pointe du Hoc site upon a 100-foot cliff and overlooks the English Channel with stunning panoramic views. It was important during WWII as it was the highest vantage point between Omaha Beach to the east and Utah Beach to the west.

Merville Gun Battery Normandy

© JamesWoolley

Merville Gun Battery

Students stand inside the original concrete bunkers to understand the immense scale of the Atlantic Wall and learn about the role of the 9th Battalion Parachute Regiment who, against overwhelming odds, neutralised the heavy guns before the D-Day landings began. One of the casemates features an immersive sound and light simulation of the assault, and the grounds house a restored Douglas C-47 Dakota aircraft.

Museum of Liberation Cherbourg Normandy

© https://www.cherbourg.fr

Musée de la Libération, Cherbourg

Located within the hilltop fortress of Fort du Roule, and with stunning views over Cherbourg harbour. Students can explore the former German stronghold and learn about the liberation of Cherbourg, life under occupation, the French Resistance, and the impact of WWII on the local civilian population.

Onsite activities
La Grand Ferme Swimming pool games
Swimming & pool games
activities Aeroball
Aeroball
archery on school trips case study
Robin Hood
La Grand Ferme Volleyball
Volleyball
Teenagers making bread
Bread making
Circus skills
Circus skills
Petanque
Pétanque
La Grand Ferme Swimming pool games

Swimming & pool games

Take advantage of the centre's heated outdoor swimming pool with leisurely swimming or organised pool games. Teachers are responsible for supervising children in the pool as we cannot provide a lifeguard.

activities Aeroball

Aeroball

Aeroball is a fun, totally unique sport! The trampoline-basketball-volleyball game is suitable for all ages and is played by two teams of 2. Simple instructions are given in French and the students will have the chance to learn/practise the vocabulary for the body parts. It’s also a great opportunity to practise the numbers (scoring and counting down the end of the match). Aeroball is quickly becoming a favourite activity for students and teachers alike!

archery on school trips case study

Robin Hood

Students get the chance to be a Robin Hood. After the obligatory safety talk and explanation of the equipment, the students shoot the arrows onto targets, an excellent opportunity to practise numbers and directions in the target language.

La Grand Ferme Volleyball

Volleyball

Your students will be split into teams to play volleyball on the centre's own court. The game is a great way to practise numbers, instructions and directions in the target language.

Teenagers making bread

Bread making

Suitable for all ages bread making is not just a case of making bread, it’s also a golden opportunity to practise your singing talents, as we sing French songs. Students will be guided from the very beginning with simple French instructions. From the measuring of the flour to the kneading of the bread, this activity will keep their enthusiasm going throughout. They will even get to taste the fruits of their hard work as their bread will be baked in time for the evening meal.

Circus skills

Circus skills

Enables pupils to discover the art of circus on an artistic as well as technical level. Students are introduced to juggling, diabolo and other circus equipment in a fun and educational manner. The French spoken during this activity is very varied and is based on using the names of the equipment (stick, balls, diabolo...), action verbs (to walk, to move...), directions (left, right, up, down...), colours (orange, red, green...), numbers (one, two, three...).

Petanque

Pétanque

Good old fun (and SUPER competitive!), the French game of pétanque takes place on our traditional boule pitch where players are challenged to throw the boule as close to the jack as possible to win.

Included

This French Language & D-Day School Trip includes:

  • Board and lodging at Voyager's own accommodation, La Grand' Ferme
  • A detailed itinerary with pre-booked excursions and on-site activities
  • Support of a full-time Voyager animateur to run students' activities and meal times in French
  • Coach travel with ferry crossing (applicable tolls and taxes included)
  • Use of coach throughout the tour
  • Free teacher-to-student ratio approx 1:8 (coach trips) 
  • 24-hour emergency support
  • Vamoos Travel app
  • Comprehensive travel insurance

Extras to budget for:

  • Supplements for small parties, single rooms and additional adults
  • A specialist history guide for an enriched D-Day experience   
  • EU travel permits if required
Trip Planning and Teacher Resources

Gallery

Louise Richardson

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La Grand Ferme

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