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Special Group Tours

Toll Free: 1 866 725 5250

kate@specialgrouptours.com

'In Flanders' fields the poppies blow

Between the crosses, row on row … '

WEEKEND BATTLEFIELD TOURS OF THE WESTERN FRONT
Two or Three-Day Tours

Until the launch of this special joint Back-Roads Touring Co Ltd and Eurostar 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, combining rail with local mini-bus, now 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 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 oe 3 day weekend visit, with overnight accommodation in Lille.

Cost for a 2-day weekend, 22 March - 15 November 2008: $499 USD per person, inclusive of Eurostar, mini-coach tour, all entrance fees and 1 night Bed & Breakfast accommodation in a twin share. Lunches and dinners are not included. Single person rate = $529 USD

Cost for a 3-day weekend, 22 March - 15 November 2008: $649 USD per person, inclusive of Eurostar, mini-coach tour, all entrance fees and 2 nights Bed & Breakfast accommodation in a twin share. Lunches and dinners are not included. Single person rate = $709 USD.

SATURDAY

THE SOMME, France

Meet London St Pancras station 06.15 for departure at 07.00
Return London St Pancras approximatley 21.50

You board Eurostar's service at London's St Pancras Station. You have to be at the self-tiketing machines by 06.15. On arrival at Lille you're met by your specialist battlefields guide.

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. 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 Poziere 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. Other sites will be added according to the interest of the tour participants.

The return to London is on the 21.06 train from Lille, arriving at St Pancras at 21.56 from where you make your way independently.

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

Meet London St Pancras at 08.05 for departure at 08.53
Return London St Pancras 21.56

You board Eurostar's service at London's St Pancras Station. You have to be at the self -ticketing machine 08.05. On arrival at Lille you're met by your specialist battlefields guide. Those who have been on the day's prior's Ypres Salient tour will be collected from our hotel base.

'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.

If you're returning to London tonight, you'll be catching the 21.06 Eurostar from Lille, arriving in London St Pancras station at 21.56 from where you travel independently.

MONDAY

TRIUMPH AND DISASTER: Loos, Arras and Vimy Ridge

Meet London St Pancras station 06.15 for departure at 07.60
Return London St Pancras approximatley 22.00

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. You can either join for just this one day or make it part of a longer tour. If you're taking this as a one-day tour, you'll catch the Eurostar from London, and be met on arrival in Lille by your Back-Roads Touring Co. Ltd guide. If you've been with us for the two prior days, touring the Ypres Salient and The Somme, you'll be collected from our Lille tour base hotel.

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. You'll see where Adolf Hitler served and the bunker he is reputed to have used as a billet. Australian's will enjoy seeing the Fromelles memorial. We'll tour the Loos battlefield, site of the disastrous battle of 1915, and Vimy Ridge where we take a tunnel tour. Canadians will find this of special interest during the 90th anniversary commemorations. We'll also see sites in and around the pretty city of Arras including (subject to opening) the recently discovered underground hospital and the French National memorial at Lorrette de Notre Dame.

We return to Lille in time for the late evening Eurostar return at 21.06, arriving in London at approximately 22.00.

JOINING THE TOUR FROM LONDON: 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 the Back-Roads Touring London office 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.

Please note: on occasion when there is no availability on Eurostar, we transfer to Calais using a mini-coach. Tour participants are collected at 06.00 from central London locations.

JOINING THE TOUR FROM PARIS: If you are staying in Paris and want to join us, you can do so by catching the TGV from Paris to Lille. You have to book these tickets independantly as they are not included in your package. Trains leave from Gard du Nord at 07.58 for Saturday's tour, 09.58 for Sundays and for Monday at 08.58. (please check these for any changes). Return times should not be booked before 20.00. Cost of the train ticket depends on day of the week traveled and how much in advance tickets are booked. We will provide you with a special “tour only” rate, without the Eurostar -  The cost of the day tour with independent travel to Lille is $149 USD per person.

Please note: Paris trains arrive at Lille Flanders Station which is a 10 minute walk from our meeting point at Lille Euro Station.

TOUR EXTENSIONS
On certain dates this tour can be extended by combining a Saturday/Sunday weekend to our Verdun and the American battlefields near Rheims. It can also be combined with our D-Day and Battlefield France WW2 tour. You could also choose the general sightseeing tour of Medieval Belgium.

'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