My wife and I are going to Paris in April to celebrate our 20th anniversary. I’m looking for recommendations for a good company that provides tours of Normandy. This will just be a one day trip, unfortunately.

Normandy-44 tours…Olivier is the best.

He put together a personal tour for us based on the time we had. A great balance of guided explanations of each site followed by alone time to reflect and take pictures.

I went to Normandy instead of Paris when I was over there.
Spent all day checking that out.
Pretty incredible what went on down there.

I can’t recommend a tour group but suggest delaying your one day trip to Normandy a few days after you’ve arrived. This way you’re not quite as jet lagged and waking up early to depart Paris isn’t such a pain.

I was stationed in France for 3 years during my USAF enlistment and visited Normandy quite often. It is a very sobering site to see the obstacles that ours and other troops faced and know so many were killed.

What about a 2-3 week walking tour. Any recommendations on a route to follow, etc?

Just a single-day to visit Normandy?!? That really doesn't give you much time nor, are you really getting much for how far you've traveled.
IF, you're that time restricted, easy enough to rent a car and visit the areas around Omaha Beach, Normandy American Cemetery and Utah Landing Museum. That should take up about 6-7 hours, with enough time to grab a lunch bite in one of the towns such as Ste-Mere Eglise which is where there's an American paratrooper hanging from a church steeple. A one-day visit is a whirlwind, I'd consider staying over-night at least.

When considering hiring a tour guide, don't just accept what's on their website, they're in the hospitality business and can be flexible with their itineraries so, best to reach out and contact them to see what they can do to accommodate your requests. You are paying for their time, their equipment (van, materials, tickets) and the licensing/insurance they're required so keep that all in mind when considering costs.

Friend of mine used these guys and was pleased
https://www.overlordtour.com/?cn-reloaded=1

This is another they considered
https://www.firstnormandybattlefieldtours.com

If you can swing it, try to visit this museum in Caen. I could have spent all day there.

Ride from Paris is 2.5 hrs.
Visit to Omaha beach-explore the bunkers--views of beach.
Lunch in town. Walk around the beach--town.
Visit the American cemetary. Outside are the graves and small WW2 Memorial similiar to Washingtown,DC. Inside is a narrated slide show (about 30 min)
Ride back to Paris.
A Full day for the above areas.

I will second Overlord Tours and if he is still around a young man by the name of Yanick.

If you're limited to one day and you're adventurous, I'd recommend an early train to Caen. Grab a rental car from the train station and then hit the main sites. Getting around Normandy is pretty easy and straightforward. If you're able to overnight in the area, I can recommend a B&B in Viller Bocage - it's old farm.

Since you're going for your 20th, I'd imagine you're trying to hit all the sites in and around Paris. Doable, but you may run yourself ragged. Take 3-4 days in Paris and 2-3 days in Normandy and Mont St Michele. Paris can be overwhelming if you try to cram it into a week. Just accept that you can't do and see it all (Eiffel tower, Hotel de Invalides, Louvre, Orsay, Arc de Triumph, Champ de Elysees, Versailles).

Besides, a bit of City and countryside is a nice mix. Also, get into shape if you aren't already. Lots and lots of walking, standing, moving, on your feet. It's exhausting.

I can't name a tour company, but I visited Normandy in 2015 as a day trip from a cruise of the Seine River from Paris back to Paris. Our visit to the battlefields was on 5 Jun 2015, the day before the 71st anniversary of D-Day, and there was a lot of activity.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/...s/72157656126136528/

flashguy

We've used Overlord Tours on several trips and were very happy with them. On the first tour we had Olivier mentioned above when he was still with Overlord. He was a great guide and I suggest going with his tour company and if you can't get him go with Overlord.