Wilderness Travel 2017 Catalog of Adventures

Normandy & Brittany COASTAL TRAILS, ANCIENT ABBEYS, AND LEGENDARY CUISINE

With a dramatic coastline of pink granite cliffs and a renowned cuisine of fresh-caught seafood and delectable cheeses, Normandy and Brittany are the perfect settings for our captivating hiking and cultural

sites of June 6, 1944. We’ll walk this evocative trail with an expert historian, passing German bunkers and shell holes. An unforgettable hike brings us across the tidal flats (conditions permitting) to Mont St. Michel, a pilgrim site since the 8th century. On Brittany’s ravishing Côte d’Émeraude, we hike to Cancale, where France’s best oysters are harvested (with a tasting, of course!). Days 6-8 Dinan / Cap Fréhel / Île de Bréhat Contouring along the River Rance, our hike brings us past half-timbered houses, and we’ll walk the ramparts of Dinan’s perfectly preserved 13th century town. On Cap Fréhel, our trail leads to the ruined abbey of Beauport, and a boat crossing brings us to enchanting Île de Bréhat, sheltering a variety of rare wildflowers. We’ll explore this car-free island on foot, with stunning vistas back to the dramatic pink cliffs of the Côte de Granit Rose. Days 9-11 Bay of Morbihan / Carnac / Côte Sauvage From the Bay of Morbihan, our hike leads to Poul-Fétan, the perfect place to enjoy a lunch of traditional galette Bretonne (savory buckwheat pancakes). In Carnac, we walk among ancient standing stones that stretch for miles amid burial mounds. Our journey ends with a spectacular coastal walk at the Côte Sauvage, with its windswept line of cliffs braving the Atlantic waves. Depart on Day 11 via Rennes.

“We had a lot of fun, visited so many interesting sites, and the pilgrim walk across the sands to Mont St. Michel was unforgettable.”

adventure. We’ve crafted a wonderfully varied journey— you’ll walk the D-Day beaches with an expert historian, cross tidal flats on an amazing walk to iconic Mont St. Michel, and

explore Carnac, one of the largest megalithic sites in the world, with its mysterious standing stones dating from 4500 BC. Culinary forays along the way include sipping Calvados at an apple orchard, visiting a historic oyster farm, tasting scallops fresh from the Bay of St. Brieuc, and sampling the tangiest Camembert and Pont l’Eveque cheeses. C’est merveilleux! Days 1-5 Bayeux / D-Day Beaches / Mont St. Michel / Côte d’Émeraude After viewing the famed medieval tapestry at Bayeux, we head to the high cliffs between Utah Beach and Omaha Beach to experience the dramatic D-Day landing

FRANCESCO CAROVILLANO

Kathy C., Houston TX

HIGHLIGHTS • See the extraordinary Bayeux Tapestry, a 230-foot-long embroidery depicting the Norman Conquest of England in 1066 • Visit the evocative D-Day sites of Pointe du Hoc and Omaha Beach with a historian • Hike to spire-topped Mont St. Michel, France’s famous island-abbey • Explore Carnac, one of the most important prehistoric sites in Europe • Savor fresh seafood (and famous oysters!), legendary cheeses, crisp ciders and wines of Brittany and Normandy DETAILS • 11-day trip begins in Caen and ends in Rennes • 10 nights charming hotels and country inns • All meals included except 1 dinner

The magnificent abbey of Mont St. Michel has been a pilgrimage site since the 8th century—and we’ll have special access into a private chapel here. PHOTO: JAN WLODARCZYK

DATES May 15-25, 2017 Jun 12-22 Sep 4-14

TRIP COST $5995 (13-15 members) $6295 (7-12 members) $6595 (6-9 members) Single supplement: $650

TRIP LEVEL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Easy to moderate trails, 3-6 hours a day, van support

FOR A DETAILED ITINERARY: 1.800.368.2794 OR EMAIL EUROPE@WILDERNESSTRAVEL.COM 37