WWI and WWII Battlefields
WWI and WWII Battlefields
WWI and WWII Battlefields
12 Days Starting in London and ending in Amsterdam
Visiting: London, Caen, Arromanches-les-Bains, Normandy Beach, Paris, Somme Battlefield Pipe Band, Amiens, Vimy, Dunkirk, Fromelles, Lille, Ypres, Menin Gate, Bruges, Amsterdam
Tour operator:
Tour code:
FBATM18
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
15 - 54
Age range:
5-99
Tour operated in:
EnglishTrip Styles:
Active, Adventure Tours, Cruise, Walking Hiking and Trekking
Interests:
Activities:
Tour Overview
Travel to the front lines of Europe, where brave soldiers once fought for freedom. On this epic battlefield tour through the countryside of Britain, France, Belgium and the Netherlands, you’ll explore the tragedy and triumph of two World Wars, and the memories that remain.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1 : Welcome To London
Location: London
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Park Plaza Riverbank
Meals Included: No Meals
From tragic battles to tales of triumph, this special-interest exploration of two World Wars kicks off in the vibrant British capital of London. Meet your Travel Director and fellow companions this evening for a traditional English pub Welcome Reception.
Day 2 : See The Sights Of London
Location: London
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast
Towering Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament and Westminster Abbey feature on this half-day introductory sightseeing tour with a Local Specialist, which includes views of Buckingham Palace. This afternoon, we visit the Imperial War Museum, which tells the story of those whose lives were shaped by war from World War I to today. See extensive archives and recordings, as well as a Spitfire that saw action in the Battle of Britain. Maybe enjoy London after dark, spending your evening at leisure meandering along the Thames, riding the London Eye or watching the Ceremony of the Keys at the Tower of London.
Day 3 : Cross The English Channel To Caen
Location: Caen
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Novotel Côte de Nacre
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
We journey south to Portsmouth and leave British shores bound for Caen by ferry this afternoon. After dinner on the ferry, we transfer to our hotel in Caen.
Day 4 : Explore The D-Day Normandy Beaches
Location: Arromanches-les-Bains, Normandy Beach
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
We journey to the historic D-Day Normandy Landing Beaches, including Juno Beach, Pointe du Hoc and Omaha Beach. Visit the D-Day Museum in Arromanches as well as the American Cemetery and Memorial to learn about the Canadian, American, and Commonwealth involvement in this unbelievable battle for supremacy.
Day 5 : Journey To Elegant Paris
Location: Paris
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Mercure Vaugirard Porte de Versailles
Meals Included: Breakfast
Take yourself back to June 6, 1944. Imagine the terror and bravery of thousands of soldiers who landed on the beaches of Normandy to free Europe from the Nazis. This morning, we visit the Memorial de Caen to learn about the significance of Normandy and the day that changed World War II. You'll also receive a D-Day Landings souvenir booklet, before travelling to Paris, the 'City of Lights'.
Day 6 : Discover The Delights Of Paris
Location: Paris
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast
Join your Local Specialist to visit the remarkable church of Saint-Sulpice, then delve into the lives of Parisians, wandering through the enchanting hidden squares and secret passages of one of Paris's oldest neighbourhoods. Our walking tour concludes in one of the city's loveliest squares which is a real favourite among the locals. Spend the rest of the day on your own to see the sights. Consider an Optional Experience to the opulent Palace of Versailles. This evening, you may wish to enjoy a traditional Parisian Cabaret.
Day 7 : Onwards To The Somme Battlefields And Amiens
Location: Somme Battlefield Pipe Band, Amiens
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Mercure Cathedrale
Meals Included: Breakfast
The bloody battlefields of the Somme take centre stage today. Stop at the Villers–Bretonneux memorial to the Australian soldiers who lost their lives in WWI. Carry on to Thiepval to see the poignant memorial which honours the 72,337 missing British and South African men who died with no known graves. We journey to Amiens for an evening at leisure.
Day 8 : Venture To Vimy Ridge, Dunkirk, Fromelles And Lille
Location: Vimy, Dunkirk, Fromelles, Lille
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Novotel Centre Grand Place
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Today we visit the memorial at Vimy Ridge dedicated to the Canadian soldiers, who fought a battle here in 1917. This horrific battle, and the bravery of the men who fought in it, came to symbolise Canada's coming of age as a nation. We then journey to Dunkirk, where Operation Dynamo miraculously saw over 330,000 Allied troops evacuated to Britain. We stop in Fromelles, where there was a combined operation between British troops and the Australian Imperial Force, described as the "worst 24 hours in Australia's military history".
Day 9 : Off To The Ypres Battlefields And Menin Gate
Location: Ypres, Menin Gate
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast
Some of the biggest battles of World War I are explored at Ypres Salient in Belgium, where we will see such sites as Tyne Cot, Langemark and Vancouver Corner. Stop in Zonnebeke for an included visit to the Memorial Museum Passchendaele 1917, where you can see a replica trench. See Essex Farm Cemetery where over 1,200 brave servicemen are buried and where Lt. Col. John McCrae wrote his immortal poem, ‘In Flanders Fields'. Spend the rest of the afternoon on your own, before making your way to Menin Gate to witness the moving Last Post Ceremony to pay tribute to over 100,000 soldiers who laid down their lives more than a century ago.
Day 10 : Journey To Bruges And On To Amsterdam
Location: Bruges, Amsterdam
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Leonardo Royal
Meals Included: Breakfast
Travel to Bruges and perhaps try the delicious local chocolate and Belgium's famous frites – the perfect fried chips! Explore the cobblestone streets and medieval façades reflected in the still waters of the canals. Continue to Amsterdam, where we spend the next two nights.
Day 11 : Experience Atmospheric Amsterdam
Location: Amsterdam
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast
Gabled townhouses dating back centuries and leafy canals provide a beautiful backdrop for our orientation tour. Enjoy free time afterwards to explore the city on your own. Later, we Dive Into Culture and gain insights into the art of making cheese and wooden clogs, before we Connect With Locals, joining the Pauw family for a gezellig Be My Guest Farewell Dinner.
Day 12 : Farewell Amsterdam
Location: Amsterdam
Meals Included: Breakfast
Say tot ziens to this magical city and the fields of bravery dotted across Western Europe at the end of a remarkable trip. Find out more about your free airport transfer at trafalgar.com/freetransfers.
What's Included
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1 Be My Guest
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1 Welcome Reception
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11 Breakfasts
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3 Dinners
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An expert Travel Director and professional Driver
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All hotel tips, charges and local taxes
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Cherry-picked hotels, all tried and trusted
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Must-see sightseeing and surprise extras
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Breakfast daily and up to half of your evening meals
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Audio headsets for flexible sightseeing
What's Not Included
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Tipping and Gratuities
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International Travel
Check out our Q&As
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Are airport transfers included in this tour?
No
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Are the local guides on the tour English speaking?
Yes
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Are all the relevant entry visa’s included in the price of the tour?
No
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Are children permitted to take part in the tour?
Yes
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Are flights included in this tour?
No
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Who will be my travelling companions on the tour?
The beauty of taking a guided holiday with us is that you’ll have the opportunity to meet and travel with people from all over the globe.
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What policies are in place for Covid-19?
Vaccination against Covid-19 is not mandatory to travel with Trafalgar. However, we strongly recommend that guests are vaccinated before travelling. Please note that airlines and/or other authorities may have different requirements. It is the guest's responsibility to comply with these requirements at all times.
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How long has the tour company been trading?
Since 1947
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What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?
Trafalgar is a founding partner of the TreadRight Foundation, a not-for-profit organisation established in 2008. So far, the charity has donated more than US$2 million to help underprivileged communities and support sustainable tourism around the world.
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Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?
Yes
Reviews of this Operator
Book with Confidence
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Transfer as credit to Future Tours
Trafalgar allows you to transfer existing payments to a future tour to avoid cancellation fees if you can't travel and inform trafalgar, 90 days before departure.
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Low Deposit
Trafalgar requires a minimum deposit of 200 GBP per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 90 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of trafalgar charges.
Up to 60 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
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