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WEEKEND BATTLEFIELD TOURS OF THE WESTERN FRONT
Two or Three-Day Tours
Until the launch of this special package, it has been very difficult to organise single-day, short visits to the incredibly poignant Great War Battlefields of the Somme,Ypres Salient and Arras/Vimy sectors of the Western Front. This unique programme allows you to choose between a one, two or three-day tour at a reasonable price. We can also design a day for groups who might wish to have a special focus on family connections, a particular regiment, or particular battles. These tours are run in small groups, average 10-16 persons, and are accompanied by either ex-army personnel or Battlefield Guides with postgraduate qualifications. We will always try to include specially requested sites.
The day tours of Ypres, The Somme and Arras/Vimy can be combined to make a 2 or 3 day weekend visit, with overnight accommodation in Lille.
Cost for a 2-day weekend, March - November 2012: $499 USD per person, inclusive 2 day mini-coach tours, entrance fees whilst with your guide and 1 night Bed & Breakfast accommodation in a twin share. Lunches and dinners are not included. Single person rate = $595 USD
Cost for a 3-day weekend, March - November 2012: $795 USD per person, inclusive of 3 day mini-coach tours, entrance fees whilst with your guide and 2 nights Bed & Breakfast accommodation in a twin share. Lunches and dinners are not included. Single person rate = $945 USD.
It is important to please ring the Back-Roads’ London office at least 24 hours prior to your tour to re-confirm your pick up point/time!
SATURDAY
THE SOMME, France
To most people the Somme signifies one day - July 1st 1916. It was the day that the British Army suffered its greatest ever losses in a single day with nearly 60,000 casualties. But the actual battle for the Somme raged until November of that year, and saw massive fighting again in 1918.
What remains is truly awesome. There are sites seen today that will be etched into your consciousness forever. We tour the Somme battlefield covering major sites from the calamitous first day through the whole five months of the battle, and then look at some of the the events of 1918. You'll see Delville Wood, the Welsh memorial at Mametz Wood, the huge Lochnagar mine crater, the sunken road where the Accrington Pals were virtually wiped out, Sausage Valley, the Pozieres battlefield and Windmill Hill (both important site for Australians), Courcellette, site of the first major use of tanks supporting Canadian troops, and the nearby the tank memorial. We include Albert, the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing and the Ulster Tower. An undoubted highlight, however, will be our guided walk around the incredible preserved Beaumont Hamel battlefield site.
Those staying on for the weekend have the option of remaining in Ypres to attend the moving Menen Gate ceremony while those on the one-day tour are returned to the Lille rail station where you'll have time for a meal before returning to London.
SUNDAY
YPRES SALIENT, Belgium
'The Salient' struck fear into the Great War Tommy for being the hottest spot on the 70 mile front held by Imperial and Empire troops. Over a quarter of a million men gave their lives to hold this last bit of Belgium from the Germans. Although history records three great battles fought at Ypres, it was in fact a constant battle against shell, bullet, bomb, gas, water and rats.
On our day touring the Salient you'll see, in the company of a first class guide, some of the most important sites that remain; the German trenches at Kemmel, 'Shot at Dawn' execution sites, sites of the first gas attack and where flame thrower were introduced into modern warfare, John McRae's Essex Farm site, the grave of double VC winner, Noel Chavasse, Hoogt crater and museum, the Passendaele dug-out and Tyne Cot cemetery. You'll walk the moonscape of the Hill 60 battlefield and see literally dozens of memorials to British, Australian and Canadian regiments. We'll also spend time in Ypres itself with the opportunity to visit St George's Chapel, the Menen (Menin) Gate Memorial. Those who have stayed overnight on the Saturday will have the opportunity to take an optional tour of the 'In Flanders Field' Museum to do so.
MONDAY
TRIUMPH AND DISASTER: Fromelles and Vimy Ridge
This, the final day in our series of one-day Western Front battlefield visits, takes us to the line between Armentieres and Arras. It's a much neglected region but with a huge amount to see.
On this day we'll visit sites connected with the 1915 battles of Aubers Ridge, Festubert, and Neuve Chapelle, where the Indian Army gave a magnificent account of itself, and the 1917 Battle of Arras. You'll see where Adolf Hitler served and the bunker he is reputed to have used as a billet. Australian's will be touched at seeing the Fromelles 'Digger' memorial, where a current archaeological investigation is uncovering the mass grave of over 400 Diggers killed at this first Australian battle on the Western Front. We'll tour the Loos battlefield, site of the disastrous battle of 1915.
For Canadians Vimy Ridge is the undoubted highlight, where, subject to availability, we take a tunnel and trench tour and spend time at the massive and imposing Vimy memorial. We'll also see sites in and around the pretty city of Arras connected with the huge battle of 1917. If time, we'll see the recently discovered underground tunnels and the French National memorial at Lorrette de Notre Dame.
Tour Pick-Up/Drop-Off:
This tour starts at 09.30 am; meet your Battlefield guide at 'The Meeting Point' in the Eurostar rail terminal, Lille Europe station. Full details provided at time of booking.
JOIN THE TOUR FROM LONDON OR PARIS:
Eurostar service is available London to Lille and the TGV train from Paris to Lille. Add rail tickets to your package (subject to availability,) the cost of rail tickets is separate from the tour price.
Please note: Some Paris trains arrive at Lille Flanders Station which is a 10 minute walk from the meeting point at Lille Europe Station. Please note which Lille station of arrival if confirming your own rail.
When using Eurostar, you are given a self-ticketing reference number that you use to get your ticket at the station of departure. We advise all tour participants to call us a day or two prior to departure to ensure they have the correct ticket reference as we do not have a representative at the station on the morning of departure.
TOUR EXTENSIONS
Combine a Weekend on the Western Front tour with one of our other great tours from Lille, visit the D-day Beaches or explore a general sightseeing tour in Belgium or Northern France
'We are the dead. Short days ago
We lived. Felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now lie
In Flanders' fields.'
This tour is operated by Back-Roads Touring Co Ltd
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