Vimy Ridge & Arras
Vimy Ridge & Arras
Vimy Ridge & Arras
5 Days
Visiting: Vimy Ridge - Memorials, Trenches and Tunnels, Arras Battlefields and The Ring of Remembrance, CWGC Experience & ‘1917’ – The True Story
Tour Overview
We look in-depth at the battlefields around Arras, with a full day at Vimy Ridge to properly explore this impressive and important WW1 site.
Itinerary
Day 1
Local departure by coach, then to our hotel in central Arras for four nights.
Day 2 Vimy Ridge - Memorials, Trenches And Tunnels
Location: Vimy Ridge - Memorials, Trenches and Tunnels
We spend the whole day in and around Vimy Ridge, a position taken by Canadian troops in April 1917. We travel to Vimy via the approach to the battlefield in 1917, stopping at the ruined abbey at Mont St Eloi, and then start at the Canadian Memorial Park.
Here we begin with the Visitors' Centre and preserved trenches, having a tour of the tunnels (weather conditions permitting). We then take a short battlefield walk to see the mine craters that scar the ridge. We also visit the battlefield cemeteries in the Canadian Memorial Park, and then look at the impressive Canadian Memorial on the highest point of the ridge, Hill 145 – taking time to walk round it and see it from below.
After lunch we return to the ridge and see one of the original Canadian Memorials. Then, at Thélus, we look at the role of the Canadian Artillery, visit their memorial and see where the Canadians buried their dead in an old mine crater, before visiting another original 1917 memorial. At Farbus, we look at the far end of the ridge, before travelling down into the Douai Plain to see where the battle ended.
Day 3 Arras Battlefields And The Ring Of Remembrance
Location: Arras Battlefields and The Ring of Remembrance
We start on the battlefields close to Arras where the offensive began in April 1917. At the Pont du Jour, we visit the impressive memorial cairn to the 9th (Scottish) Division and see the Sunken Lane battlefield near Fampoux, including the memorial to the Seaforth Highlanders. Later we visit the grave of war poet Isaac Rosenberg, and see the nearby German war cemetery from the fighting here in 1917.
In the afternoon we visit the Lens 14-18 Centre, which explains the history of the region, and then see the Ring of Remembrance Memorial at Notre Dame de Lorette, which commemorates all those who died in the region: British, Commonwealth, French and German alike. We also see the massive French Military Cemetery with more than 44,000 graves – the largest French Military Cemetery in the world.Day 4 Cwgc Experience & ‘1917’ – The True Story
Location: CWGC Experience & ‘1917’ – The True Story
We begin at the Arras Memorial to the Missing and Faubourg D’Amiens Cemetery, seeing where many of those who fell at Arras are buried or commemorated. We then visit the Commonwealth War Graves Commission Experience, a new Visitors' Centre at Beaurains which explains the history of the cemeteries and memorials, and the organisation that maintains them.
In the afternoon we visit the grave of war poet Edward Thomas, and see some of the places connected to the film ‘1917’ near Croisilles and Ecoust.
Later we explore the battlefield at Bullecourt and then see the ground where the final battles around Arras took place in 1918.
Day 5
Return home.
Accommodation
You will stay for four nights at the 4-star Mercure Arras. The hotel is situated just a short walk from the historic heart of the city.
Check out our Q&As
-
How long has the tour company been trading?
40 years
-
Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
Sole use of your own room on all Single Traveller holidays: means you still get your privacy and time out from the group.
-
Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?
Yes
-
Battlefield Tours - Will it be possible to visit a particular cemetery whilst on the tour?
Please contact us and we will check to see whether you can visit a particular cemetery on any of our Battlefield Tours, if we are not able to fit it into our itinerary then you could take some time out of the tour and do this independently by taxi or public transport.
-
What policies are in place for Covid-19?
Please contact us for latest Covid-19 policies
Reviews of this Operator
Book with Confidence
-
Low Deposit
Leger Holidays requires a minimum deposit of 20% or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 75 days before departure.
-
Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of leger holidays charges.
Up to 56 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 55 days before tour starts: Forfeit 50% of booking price.
At 42 days before tour starts: Forfeit 75% of booking price.
At 21 days before tour starts: Forfeit 90% of booking price.
At 14 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.
Why book with tourhub?
Safe & Secure
Your money is protected in an external trust until you travel.
100% Guaranteed Refunds if your trip is cancelled.
The safest way to make overseas, multi-currency payments.
Guaranteed Best Value
Industry leading discounts, we won't be beaten on price.
No cancellation or amendment fees from tourhub.
(Operator terms may apply)
Expert Knowledge
Reliable & unbiased advice from travel experts.
Direct contact with the tour operator via our messaging service.
Inspiration & advice from a community of 6000+ real travellers, influencers & content creators.
Trusted Service
Official partners & licensed agents of 1000+ tour operators worldwide.
Don't just take our word for it...
"Tourhub: Friendliness, Professionalism & Integrity I would happily give tourhub a 6* review if I could..."