Ben Macintyre is the multimillion-copy bestselling author of books including The Siege, Colditz, Agent Sonya, SAS: Rogue Heroes, The Spy and the Traitor, Agent Zigzag, Operation Mincemeat and A Spy Among Friends. He is a columnist and Associate Editor at The Times, and has worked as the newspaper's correspondent in New York, Paris and Washington. Several of his books have been made into films and television series, including Operation Mincemeat, A Spy Among Friends and SAS: Rogue Heroes.

Expert-led
Visit D-Day landing sites and learn about Operation Fortitude with author Ben Macintyre
"In wartime, truth is so precious that she should always be attended by a bodyguard of lies."
- Winston Churchill
If D-Day was the turning point of World War II, it was not only a triumph of arms but also one of cunning, deceit and bravery by a small group of spies, codebreakers and agents.
Operation Fortitude was part of an elaborate deception plan, to fool the Germans that the Allied invasion would fall on the short channel crossing to the Pas de Calais, rather than Normandy. Author Ben Macintyre's book, Double Cross: The true Story of the D-Day spies, tells the story of Operation Fortitude. Ben will join for the first day of the tour giving a talk sharing his knowledge and expertise. You'll also receive a copy of his book Double Cross: The true story of the D-Day spies.
During this five-day tour, you'll hear about those plans, the spies and double agents that helped reinforce Fortitude.
From Dover, cross the channel to France, to see parts of Hitler's immense Atlantik Wall in the Pas de Calais, avoided by the D-Day planners.
You'll also visit some of the landing zones and beaches in Normandy, where Allied forces landed during Operation Overlord, including Sword Beach and Gold Beach - the central beach of the five landing areas.
During these landing visits, you'll be able to compare and contrast the defenses faced by Allied troops on June 6th.
Essential information
SINGLE SUPPLEMENT - $569
Please note this information is indicative and subject to change.
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Tour Highlights

D-Day landings

Expert insights

Visit cemeteries and memorials

No-fly tour

Travel with an expert tour guide
Your expert guide
Price includes
- Overnight stay at the four-star Dover Marina Hotel & Spa
- Three-night stay at the four-star Novotel Caen Cote de Nacre
- Welcome dinner on your first night
- Talk from Ben Macintyre
- A copy of Ben Macintyre's Double Cross: The true Story of the D-Day spies (one per booking)
- Visits to Dover Castle, Pas-de-Calais, Pegasus Bridge and Hermanville British Military Cemetery
- Visit the Longues Battery and British Normandy memorial
- See the landings at Sword Beach, Juno Beach and Gold Beach
- Services of battlefield guide, Julian Whippy throughout the tour
- Return ferry crossing from Dover to Calais
- Coach transfers
Availability
Itinerary
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Day1Arrive in DoverDover, United Kingdom
Ben Macintyre will join on the first day of your tour. Your trip begins deep beneath the walls of Dover Castle, where you will enjoy welcome refreshments and hear a talk from Ben. Dover Castle is where Combined Operations set up a command centre to handle invasion signals - many of them false - to help as part of Op Fortitude. The centre also shows how Dover controlled the Dunkirk evacuation in 1940. You will explore the castle and tunnels during your visit. After, transfer to your hotel for an overnight stay. This evening, enjoy a welcome dinner and opening lecture from author and Historian Ben Macintyre.
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Day2Pas-de-CalaisCalais, France
This morning, check out of your hotel and take a ferry crossing to France. Look at the immense Nazi concrete works built by forced labour around the Pas-de-Calais. The quiet coast roads from Calais reveal bunkers, emplacements and shelters as well as enormous railway guns that shelled Kent. Continue your journey to Normandy and arrive at your hotel for a three-night stay.
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Day3NormandyCaen, France
This morning, learn about the resistance networks at work around Caen and how they fed Whitehall information and intelligence at great risk to themselves and their families. Visit Pegasus Bridge captured by daring glider troops just after midnight on D-Day. At Sword Beach, see evidence of how much weaker the defences found in Normandy were compared to Calais, but how they still posed a formidable obstacle. British ingenuity is also on show as we examine some of the 'funnies' in the area. These were specially adapted armoured vehicles designed to help an amphibious invasion. Later, visit Hermanville British Military Cemetery where over 1,000 casualties from the campaign lie - 10% of which are unknown soldiers. Return to your hotel.
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Day4NormandyCaen, France
The tour continues in Normandy. First, look at the Canadian landings on Juno Beach and also British forces on Gold beach. The floating 'Mulberry harbour' is not only a triumph of engineering but also testament to the secrecy maintained in relation to Allied plans before D-Day. Visit the Longues Battery to see one of the more intact coastal gun batteries that fired on the Allied ships and end the day at the relatively new British Normandy memorial, which pays tribute to all who fell in Normandy. Return to your hotel.
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Day5Departure dayCaen, France
Today, check out of your hotel and transfer back to Calais for your return ferry to Dover.
Accommodation
Caen Novotel Cote de Nacre
Novotel Caen Côte de Nacre combines comfort, convenience, and a warm atmosphere. With 126 modern rooms, flexible meeting spaces, a restaurant, bar, and outdoor terrace overlooking a heated pool and garden, you’ll find everything you need for a relaxing stay. Just minutes from Caen’s historic center and major attractions, and with easy access to Normandy’s D-Day beaches and charming seaside towns, Novotel Caen Côte de Nacre is the perfect base to explore, work, or unwind.
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