WWII & the Liberation of France
🔹 Curated experiences: Every program is intentionally designed to feature guided learning, cultural engagement, and independent exploration experiences to drive global competency development, denoted on each itinerary with a blue diamond. Learn more about these experiences.
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Day 1: Fly overnight to England
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Day 2: London
Meet your Field Director at the airportTake a walking tour of London
With your Field Director you will see:
- The Strand, London's major thoroughfare
- Trafalgar Square, a bustling central square
- Leicester Square, a square lined with theaters and other events
- Covent Garden, a vibrant and charming shopping area
Enjoy a fish and chips dinner in London
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Day 3: London
🔹 Guided learning: Take a WWII-themed guided tour of London
With your expert local guide you will see:
- Grosvenor Square, home to Eisenhower’s military headquarters during the war
- Piccadilly Circus, a five-way intersection
- St. Paul’s Cathedral, a domed church which has hosted many royal events
- Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace (if scheduled)
Visit the Cabinet War Rooms, where Prime Minister Churchill and the Allied Commanders planned the Allied war effort
Visit the Imperial War Museum to gain insight into the everyday challenges of modern warfare, the life of Winston Churchill and the workings of his cabinet during World War II
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Day 4: London • Normandy region
Visit Portsmouth's D-Day museum
Travel by ferry to the Normandy region along the same route used by Allied naval forces
Enjoy dinner on the ferry
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Day 5: Normandy region
🔹 Cultural engagement: Tour the D-Day beaches of Normandy with an expert local guide
Visit the Caen Memorial, dedicated to reminding visitors of the fragility of peace
Take a guided tour of Normandy
With your expert local guide you will see:
- Pointe du Hoc, the 320-foot cliff scaled by Allied troops to suppress the German attack
- American Cemetery, where nearly 10,000 American soldiers are buried
- Arromanches, another key battleground
Visit Pointe du Hoc, the 320-foot cliff scaled by Allied troops to suppress the German attack
Visit the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial, where nearly 10,000 American soldiers are buried, their graves marked with rows of white crosses
Stop to take a photo in Arromanches, another key battleground
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Day 6: Normandy region • Rouen • Paris
Travel via Rouen, and step inside the stunning Rouen Cathedral, which was severely damaged by Allied bombs in 1944, on your way to Paris
Tour Rouen with your Field Director
Visit the Rouen Cathedral🔹 Cultural engagement: Take a walking tour of the Latin Quarter, so named because the language was once commonly spoken by the Sorbonne students that populated the area
See Notre-Dame Cathedral, known for its sculptured facade, stained-glass rose windows, and seemingly weightless vaulted ceilings, and see the progress of its restoration following the 2019 fire which damaged much of the building
Enjoy a scenic view of Paris as you sail along the iconic Seine River
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Day 7: Paris
🔹 Guided learning: Take a guided tour of Paris
With your expert local guide you will see:
- Place de la Concorde, a major public square
- Champs-Élysées, an elegant boulevard packed with high-fashion boutiques
- Arc de Triomphe, a monument honoring those who fought for France in the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars
- Eiffel Tower, built for the 1889 World's Fair and an iconic symbol of Paris
- Hôtel des Invalides, a grand hospital commissioned by Louis XIV
Visit the Shoah Holocaust memorial and museum, including the Wall of Names, which is cut from stone straight from Jerusalem and inscribed with the names of 76,000 French Holocaust victims
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Day 8: Paris
Add this in-depth excursion:
Versailles
Welcome to the world headquarters of decadence—the grand palace of Versailles. The enormous estate was built to keep commoners far from its gilded doors and expansive gardens—but fortunately, you won’t have to win Louie or Marie’s notoriously fickle favor to get in. After spending the day in a maze of manicured shrubbery and the staggering Hall of Mirrors, continue the theme of indulgence by treating yourself at a local patisserie nearby.Enjoy dinner in the Latin Quarter -
Day 9: Depart for home
-
Day 1: Fly overnight to England
-
Day 2: London
Meet your Field Director at the airportTake a walking tour of London
With your Field Director you will see:
- The Strand, London's major thoroughfare
- Trafalgar Square, a bustling central square
- Leicester Square, a square lined with theaters and other events
- Covent Garden, a vibrant and charming shopping area
Enjoy a fish and chips dinner in London
-
Day 3: London
🔹 Guided learning: Take a WWII-themed guided tour of London
With your expert local guide you will see:
- Grosvenor Square, home to Eisenhower’s military headquarters during the war
- Piccadilly Circus, a five-way intersection
- St. Paul’s Cathedral, a domed church which has hosted many royal events
- Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace (if scheduled)
Visit the Cabinet War Rooms, where Prime Minister Churchill and the Allied Commanders planned the Allied war effort
Visit the Imperial War Museum to gain insight into the everyday challenges of modern warfare, the life of Winston Churchill and the workings of his cabinet during World War II
-
Day 4: London • Normandy region
Visit Portsmouth's D-Day museum
Travel by ferry to the Normandy region along the same route used by Allied naval forces
Enjoy dinner on the ferry
-
Day 5: Normandy region
🔹 Cultural engagement: Tour the D-Day beaches of Normandy with an expert local guide
Visit the Caen Memorial, dedicated to reminding visitors of the fragility of peace
Take a guided tour of Normandy
With your expert local guide you will see:
- Pointe du Hoc, the 320-foot cliff scaled by Allied troops to suppress the German attack
- American Cemetery, where nearly 10,000 American soldiers are buried
- Arromanches, another key battleground
Visit Pointe du Hoc, the 320-foot cliff scaled by Allied troops to suppress the German attack
Visit the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial, where nearly 10,000 American soldiers are buried, their graves marked with rows of white crosses
Stop to take a photo in Arromanches, another key battleground
-
Day 6: Normandy region • Rouen • Paris
Travel via Rouen, and step inside the stunning Rouen Cathedral, which was severely damaged by Allied bombs in 1944, on your way to Paris
Tour Rouen with your Field Director
Visit the Rouen Cathedral🔹 Cultural engagement: Take a walking tour of the Latin Quarter, so named because the language was once commonly spoken by the Sorbonne students that populated the area
See Notre-Dame Cathedral, known for its sculptured facade, stained-glass rose windows, and seemingly weightless vaulted ceilings, and see the progress of its restoration following the 2019 fire which damaged much of the building
Enjoy a scenic view of Paris as you sail along the iconic Seine River
-
Day 7: Paris
🔹 Guided learning: Take a guided tour of Paris
With your expert local guide you will see:
- Place de la Concorde, a major public square
- Champs-Élysées, an elegant boulevard packed with high-fashion boutiques
- Arc de Triomphe, a monument honoring those who fought for France in the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars
- Eiffel Tower, built for the 1889 World's Fair and an iconic symbol of Paris
- Hôtel des Invalides, a grand hospital commissioned by Louis XIV
Visit the Shoah Holocaust memorial and museum, including the Wall of Names, which is cut from stone straight from Jerusalem and inscribed with the names of 76,000 French Holocaust victims
-
Day 8: Paris
Add this in-depth excursion:
Versailles
Welcome to the world headquarters of decadence—the grand palace of Versailles. The enormous estate was built to keep commoners far from its gilded doors and expansive gardens—but fortunately, you won’t have to win Louie or Marie’s notoriously fickle favor to get in. After spending the day in a maze of manicured shrubbery and the staggering Hall of Mirrors, continue the theme of indulgence by treating yourself at a local patisserie nearby.Enjoy dinner in the Latin Quarter -
Day 9: Depart for home
Confidence • Curiosity • Global perspective • Empathy • Adaptability • Relatability • Self-Awareness
What's Included
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Transportation
Various modes of transport are tailored to your program. While some transfers are included, others may come at additional cost.
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Accommodations
Safe, comfortable lodging will be waiting for you at your destination.
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Select meals
Enjoy a combination of included meals and the freedom to explore local cuisine on your own.
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End-to-end support
Your dedicated EF team helps secure administrative approval and academic credit, provides enrollment tools, and helps establish your program’s ongoing presence on campus.
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EF Global Learning Toolkit
We offer various tools to help educators facilitate student growth abroad and on campus, including academically enriched travel programs, industry engagement opportunities, global learning resources, and a Global Competencies Assessment tool.
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Guided exploration
Gain insider knowledge and cultural perspective from licensed local guides: natural historians who provide cultural insights to enhance learning moments throughout the program.
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Field Visits
Experience academics in action during engaging visits with relevant organizations, thought leaders, and partners.
