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  • Europe During World War II

    United Kingdom and France

    – Sample Itinerary –

  • Academic Field(s)

    History

  • Destinations

    London, Portsmouth, Caen, and Paris

  • Duration

    13 days

  • Accommodation

    youth hotel, 2- and 3-star hotels in London, Portsmouth, Caen, and Paris

This history program is designed to give students an understanding of the World War II timeline by visiting sites dedicated to three of the major Western Allied participants: the United Kingdom, France, and the United States.

Students will visit museums and historic battlegrounds to step back in time, helping them comprehend the strategic decisions of the war and its lasting global effects. Alongside these deeply educational field studies, students will experience European culture firsthand in the vibrant capital cities of London and Paris.

  • DAY 1

    • Overnight flight to London, UK (group flight can be booked separately)

  • DAY 2-4: LONDON

    • Orientation session by your on-site CEPA coordinator
    • Hop-on hop-off bus tour of London
    • Welcome dinner at a British pub
    • Guided tour of the Imperial War Museum
    • Audio-guided tour of the Churchill War Rooms
    • Guided tour of Bletchley Park, which was the central site for British codebreakers during WWII.
    • Admission to the HMS Belfast, moored between Tower and London Bridge

  • DAY 5-6: DUXFORD - CAMBRIDGE - PORTSMOUTH

    • Admission to the Duxford Imperial War Museums and American Air Museum
    • Visit the Cambridge American Cemetery and Memorial
    • Free time in Cambridge to explore the city
    • Check-in at the hotel and orientation session by your CEPA On-Site Coordinator
    • Admission to the D-Day Museum and Overlord Embroidery in Southsea
    • Admission to the Portsmouth Historic Dockyard to see famous warships, such as HMS Victory and HMS Warrior

  • DAY 7-9: NORMANDY - ARROMANCHES

    • Ferry from Portsmouth to Caen
    • Admission to the Arromanches 360 to see “The Price of Freedom”, an outstanding film that shows a mixture of the D-Day Landings in 1944 and of Normandy as it is today
    • Guided tour of the D-Day Museum located right in front of the actual vestiges of the artificial harbor in Arromanches
    • Guided bus tour of the Battle of Normandy historic sites

  • DAY 10: CAEN - PARIS

    • Audio-guided tour of the Caen Memorial Museum
    • Train tickets from Caen to Paris
    • Boat tour on the famous Bateaux Parisiens to let yourself be guided through the heart of historic Paris and discover the beautiful banks of the Seine, which are listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site

  • DAY 11-12: PARIS

    • Guest lecture on “The Role of the French during WW II”
    • Guided tour of the Musée de l’Armée, dedicated to military history
    • Free day in Paris to explore the nearby Palace Versailles, where one of the peace treaties at the end of World Was I were signed
    • Farewell dinner at a restaurant in Paris

  • DAY 13: PARIS

    • Departure from Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG)
  • What’s included in this sample itinerary:

    Academic and professional excursions with special presentations • cultural excursions and field trips with local, bilingual guides • entrance fees and reservations • accommodation in a youth hotel and in 2- and 3-star hotels (twin rooms for students; single room for the faculty) • daily breakfast • welcome and farewell dinner • local transportation by private bus as needed • ferry tickets • public transportation passes in London (zone 1-2) and Paris • on-site coordinator during excursions • orientation sessions • time to study, instruct, and explore

Programs require a minimum of 12 participants.

Your custom quote will be tailored to several key factors, including:

  • travel dates
  • final group size (including faculty leaders)
  • program duration
  • specific excursions
  • your preferred accommodation and meal plans
  • other specific requirements

How to Plan with Alternatives in Mind:

As part of our commitment to sustainability and cultural respect, we invite you to make eco-conscious choices for your study abroad journey. Choosing accommodations just outside major city centers is a powerful way to preserve Europe’s heritage and in many cases, offers a more authentic cultural experience.

Together, we can develop programs that make a difference! 

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Accomodation

By exploring nearby housing options instead of staying in major European cities, we can minimize our impact on overtourism. Ask us about the "second city" strategy.

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Pack light

Every extra kilogram on a plane, train, or bus increases energy consumption. A "carry-on only" rule is a win for both the planet and your back.

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Cultural Behaviour

Learn the "Golden Three": Learning "Hello," "Please," and "Thank you" in the local language is more than a courtesy; it signals respect for the local identity and immediately changes the dynamic of your interactions.

Travel routes

By basing a program in one location and building in day excursions, we can minimize the environmental impact.

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Eat "KM 0"

Look for restaurants with the "Kilometro Zero" label (common in Italy and Spain), which guarantees ingredients are sourced locally.

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Water

Refill Stations: Europe has some of the cleanest tap water in the world. Use apps like Refill to find public fountains and avoid buying plastic bottles.

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Climate Action

We offset the carbon footprint of our operations and programs, and plant one native tree for each participant in a CEPA study abroad program.

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Travel in the "Shoulder" Season

Visiting in March or October helps distribute income to locals year-round and prevents the "ghost town" effect that happens in tourist hubs during winter.

Interested in running a similar program or building one from scratch?

Let’s get in touch by choosing where you are in the planning process.

I have all the details

You know your exact travel dates and destinations, and are ready to request a formal proposal with quote. (at no charge or committment)

I am just starting

You have great ideas but might have questions, need further advice or want some guidance to bring everything together in an itinerary.