Meet your English Speaking Driver/Guide who is a local Expert on Normandy
Upon arrival at the meeting point, you will be welcomed by your English speaking guide who will be waiting with a sign bearing the name of the tour and with the Ophorus logo on it. Also, all our guides have a nominative badge so that it will be easy for you to recognize them.
Once you have met your guide, he/she will go over the program and itinerary of the day with you. Then, board your comfortable, air conditioned Mercedes minivan and begin to make your way to visit Mont Saint Michel.
All our vehicles are equipped with an on board P/A system which means that everyone will hear the guide's commentary during driving time, even if you are seated in the back of the van! Also, we have bottled water at your disposal and you can use our free wifi as you travel from one destination to another.
Travel to Southern Normandy
The Unesco World Heritage Listed, Remarkable Gothic Jewel Mont Saint Michel is an island off the coast of Normandy, in the English Channel, and is one of the best Normandy tours you can choose. It is located about 1 kilometer from the shore and sits in a bay that sees some of the biggest tides in Europe. A few years ago, it was linked to the mainland by a bridge that gets flooded during high tides a few times a year only.
The first church was built on the mount in 709 at the request of Archange Michael. A couple of hundred years later, a small group of Benedictines settled there permanently and the church was enlarged. The first monastery was carved in the rock in the 11th century and gradually got bigger and bigger over the following centuries. In the medieval time, it quickly became an important destination for pilgrims, just like Santiago de Compostela in Spain.
Visit the Benedictine Abbey with your guide
The construction of the mont saint michel abbey as we know it nowadays was finished in the 13th and 14th centuries, and the grand chancel was replaced in the 15th century. Those hundreds of years of architectural prowesses have left us with a magnificent monument, now referred to as the “Wonder of the Western World”. It is also a UNESCO world heritage site.
During your day trip to Mont St Michel, our friendly English-speaking driver / guide will take you from Bayeux to the Mont Saint Michel, which you will access via a shuttle and the bridge in accordance with local requirements. While on the road, make sure to take it all in and observe the beauty of the Normandy coastline.
Our Mont Saint Michel tour will then take you to the abbey itself, at the very top of the mount. Follow your guide on a walking tour. The history of its construction will be explained in detail and while you are there, make sure to snap some pictures of the amazing views on the surrounding bay!
Mont Saint Michel is also a lively small town
After the visit of the abbey, enjoy some free time to explore the town at your own pace and bring back some souvenirs for friends and family. Your guide will also suggest some great restaurants for lunch, suitable for all budgets.
If you want to indulge, the Mère Poulard restaurant is probably the most famous on the mount. It gained its reputation thanks to its unique omelette soufflée recipe. It is well worth a visit and a must-try when on a Mont Saint Michel day tour but keep in mind you will need a large amount of time as the restaurant is so popular with visitors.
Guide: English