Overview
Our program brings you the best of both worlds: the consistency you rely on and the flexibility your group needs.
Experience the power of discovering some of the most meaningful sites of World War II alongside your students. Your group will visit the Imperial War Museum in London, including the Cabinet War Rooms, walk along the famous D-Day beaches in Normandy, and learn about the Battle of the Bulge. Your students will also reflect on the continued impact of World War II at the Dachau Concentration Camp and the Nazi Rally Grounds Museum.
Itinerary
Day 1
Overnight flight to England (London)
Day 2
Arrive in London
Meet your Tour Director
Your 24-hour Tour Director will meet you at the airport and remain with your group until your final airport departure.
Day 3
London guided sightseeing tour
Join a licensed local guide for an in-depth tour of London. See Buckingham Palace, where you may catch the Changing of the Guard, and stroll through Hyde Park, home to the famous Speakers’ Corner. View Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament, then step inside Westminster Abbey, the coronation site of English monarchs. Continue to St. Paul’s Cathedral, Christopher Wren’s masterpiece, and admire the iconic Tower Bridge spanning the Thames.
Imperial War Museum visit
Explore this unique museum, dedicated to covering conflicts from World War I through the present. Tanks and aircraft, paintings, letters, films, and other exhibits trace the influence of modern war and its effects on our lives.
Cabinet War Rooms and Churchill Museum visit
Explore the underground Whitehall bunker that served as Winston Churchill’s famous Cabinet War Rooms during World War II. Walk through the fully restored Churchill Suite, where the Prime Minister and his wife lived and worked during the air raids on London, and discover the story of his life from childhood through his finest hour and beyond.
Travel to Portsmouth
Day 4
Travel to Normandy by ferry
Caen Memorial visit (Peace Museum)
Caen’s Mémorial, a contemporary museum for peace, tells a complete story of D-Day in interactive displays.
LEAP
LEAP Soldiers' Stories
Step into the shoes of U.S. servicemen landing in Normandy on D-Day. Learn about their lives and experiences to gain both personal and historical perspective.
World War II landing beaches and military cemeteries
Visit key World War II sites along the Normandy coast, where Allied troops landed on June 6, 1944, to liberate France. Walk the D-Day beaches, still marked by German bunkers turned into memorials, and reflect at the Normandy American Cemetery in Colleville-sur-Mer, where white crosses and stars honor the fallen. Continue to the Canadian War Cemetery at Beny-sur-Mer, the final resting place of more than 2,000 soldiers and airmen who fought to secure the beachhead.
Day 5
Arromanches D-Day Museum visit
Ingenious engineering allowed the Allies to land at Arromanches on D-Day, when 600,000 tons of concrete were sunk to form an artificial harbor. Barges, jetties, and 10 miles of floating roadways brought troops ashore. At the Arromanches Museum, dioramas, models, and interactive displays bring this remarkable feat to life.
Pointe du Hoc visit
Stand atop the windswept cliffs of Pointe du Hoc and trace the path of U.S. Army Rangers who scaled its 100-foot face under enemy fire on D-Day. Carved into the earth by fierce combat, this site offers a powerful glimpse into the courage and sacrifice that helped turn the tide of World War II.
Airborne Museum visit
Day 6
Travel to Bastogne
Bois Jacques visit
Walk through Bois Jacques, the forest made famous by the Battle of the Bulge and the soldiers who held the line in brutal winter conditions. Explore the preserved foxholes and surrounding woodland to gain a deeper understanding of the terrain, hardship, and tactical challenges that shaped this pivotal moment in World War II.
Day 7
Bastogne guided sightseeing tour
Walk in the footsteps of WWII history on a guided tour of Bastogne. Visit the Mardasson Memorial and Wood of Peace, then explore the Bastogne Historical Center, where immersive exhibits and artifacts bring the Battle of the Bulge and General McAuliffe’s famed “Nuts” reply to life.
Travel to Cologne
EL-DE Haus visit
Explore the EL-DE Haus, the former headquarters of the Cologne Gestapo that now stands as one of Germany’s most powerful memorial sites. Walk through its preserved prison cells and historical exhibits to encounter original inscriptions, personal stories, and evidence of the surveillance and persecution that shaped daily life under the Nazi regime.
Day 8
Travel to Nuremberg via train
Nazi Party Rally Grounds Museum visit
Unearth the causes, connections and consequences of Nazi Germany amidst the remains of the rally grounds where more than a million people gathered to support the National Socialists between 1933 and 1938. The museum’s sobering Fascination and Terror exhibition takes a deeper look at Nazi dictatorship and the history of party rallies during the Nazi regime.
Travel to Munich
Day 9
Munich guided sightseeing tour
Join a licensed guide for a whirlwind look at Munich, from its medieval heart to modern landmarks. Stroll through Marienplatz to see the Neues Rathaus and its famous Glockenspiel, framed by the twin towers of the Frauenkirche. Visit the Residenz, then explore Olympiapark, built for the 1972 Games, and step into BMW Welt to experience innovation and sleek design.
Dachau Concentration Camp and Memorial visit
Dachau, the first of Nazi Germany’s concentration camps, became the model for thousands that followed. Now a memorial and museum, it honors the 206,000 prisoners held here from 1933 to 1945 and traces the rise of the Nazi party, pre-1930s anti-Semitism, and the lives of those imprisoned.
Day 10
Return home
Optional Extension
Add 2 Days in Berlin
Discover Berlin through a scenic train ride and guided city walk, taking in Alexanderplatz, the TV Tower, Neptune Fountain, and the Rotes Rathaus. Continue with a guided sightseeing tour of iconic landmarks including Checkpoint Charlie, Potsdamer Platz, the Berlin Wall, and Brandenburg Gate, plus a visit to the powerful Topography of Terror exhibit.
TourFlex: Your Experience, Your Way
Explore Your Way
- Add experiences like theater tickets or unique excursions
- Swap activities for ones that better serve your group
- Extend the learning through go-aheads or stay-behinds
Go Your Way
- Choose the most accessible departure airport for your group
- Opt for 2-, 3-, or 4-star hotels that are centrally located or a convenient ride to major itinerary attractions
Dine Your Way
- Opt for pre-selected meals or encourage exploration by dining on your own
- Enjoy 2-3 course, culturally representative meals or opt for 3-course, authentic dinners at local restaurants
Already Included
WorldStrides Tour Director: A dynamic destination expert who makes learning come to life by leading your group's activities and discussions
Transportation to & from your destination
Hotel accommodations
Daily meals, with options varying by program. Ask your Account Manager for details
Admissions to top attractions (details in itinerary)
WorldAssist staff members available 24/7/365 should your group need extra help
High school credit for students in grades 6-12, or college credit for students in grades 9-12, upon completion of the travel program and required WorldStrides online coursework
Field Research Guide (Discovery Journal)
Scenes from London & Normandy
Health & Safety
Additional health and safety measures may be available within your respective destination. Refer to your program-specific materials for complete details.
Financial Assistance
Financial Assistance
WorldStrides provides over $2.5 million in financial assistance each year to thousands of families. Families with annual adjusted gross incomes of less than $85,000 may qualify. One simple call to Customer Service and you’ll know how much may be available for your trip even before signing up. Please note: financial assistance is given on a first-come, first-served basis.
Payment Plans
Advantage Payment Plan
At program sign-up you can opt to pay in full, or break up the cost of your trip with the Advantage Payment Plan. This plan allows you to pay a small initial deposit, then have your remaining payments spread out into affordable monthly amounts.
EZPay
We offer an EZPay option, which is a simple way to pay for your WorldStrides program by scheduling hassle-free, automatic drafts from your checking account. With EZPay, you'll never be late or miss an installment.
Fundraising Tools
Our easy-to-use tools put students in the driver's seat of their own fundraising efforts. Students can send e-cards, share links on social media, and even send out printed letters through WorldStrides' Gift of Education program. In one click friends and family members can make a direct donation to the trip - with 100% of the money raised going to offset their trip price. Thousands of students pay for their entire trip each year through the Gift of Education.
Also, WorldStrides makes program-specific scholarships available as well as other scholarship resources. Ask your Account Manager for more information about scholarships and fundraising tools.