Wilderness-Travel-2017-Catalog

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FOR A DETAILED ITINERARY: 1.800.368.2794 OR EMAIL 37
FRANCESCO CAROVILLANO
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
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
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.
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
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
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
“We had a lot of fun,
visited so many
interesting sites,
and the pilgrim walk
across the sands
to Mont St. Michel
was unforgettable.”
Kathy C., Houston TX