Guide for Normandy and Mount St Michel

I was on an Overlord Tour in October 2024 - Utah and Omaha beaches one day tour. Two of the couples in our group of 8 had been to MSM with Overlord the previous day. I thought a lot of my tour, similarly the others that had toured MSM the day before were pleased.

I don't mean to be argumentative or "difficult", but I was surprised with your statement "Overlord didn’t have what I was looking for. " Overlord was my first thought. Are you looking for something very specific?

In the off-chance that something was missed, links to a couple Overlord tours
MSM - https://www.overlordtour.com/product/mont-saint-michel-tour/
2 Day Tours - https://www.overlordtour.com/product/tour-6-neptune-tour-two-days-tour/
https://www.overlordtour.com/product/tour-7-bradleys-tour-two-days-tour/

I have self-toured MSM in past years. Easy to do. I liked the efficiency of a tour for the Normandy beaches - I have "wandered" the area in years long past on a self-driving exploration, but found the day tour preferable.

Bayeux is a charming town easily accessible from Paris St Lazare station. It is the perfect base for taking the Overlord tours - much better for the exploring the region when time allows than traveling from Paris for a day. (my opinion, of course)

Keep in mind that Mont-Saint-Michel is in Normandy. If by "Normandy" you mean the WWII Battle of Normandy and the beaches, here's what I recommend (and i have done this many times): Take a train from Paris to Rennes for Mont-Saint-Michel, rent a car there (several options) and drive to MSM and then Bayeux/Caen. I have never used a tour guide for Normandy, so can't comment on an operator. But everyone who takes an organized tour—regardless of with whom—speaks highly of their particular tour guide. And whether you get a tour guide or not, do yourself a favor and learn at least the basics of the battles before going. Anecdotes, and pointing out significant features or individual stories are one thing—but having to have the tour guide give you a basic history lesson on the clock seems like a waste of time and money when you can do a little learning before you even leave home. And tour guide or not, you will get more out of your visit if you at least know the basics going in.

Also, do everything you can to get to Mont-Saint-Michel before or after the mid-day tourist crush. MSM is most magical when you are there early and late and can avoid the masses of people who just show up in tour buses. Finally, enjoy and absorb all you can. Normandy is at both times a magical and sobering place.