WWI Battlefields 2024

WWI Battlefields 2024

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WWI Battlefields 2024

6 Days Starting and ending in Lille

Visiting: Lille, Amiens, Somme, Naours, Villers-Bretonneux, Ypres, Menin Gate, Ypress Salient Herdenkingsboom 37, Fromelles

Tour operator:

Back-Roads Touring

Tour code:

BBFLL4

Guide Type:

Fully Guided

Age range:

18-90

This tour is no longer available

Tour Overview

This fascinating and moving tour focuses on the major areas of British and Commonwealth involvement across the Western Front – from The Somme to Flanders. Providing guests with a level of flexibility to visit memorials to his (or her) country’s fallen, and the expert knowledge of our Tour Leaders – this tour promises to be as unforgettable as it is enlightening.

Highlights

  • Have the opportunity to pay your respects at your relatives’ graves with visits to significant sites

  • Receive a fascinating insight into the lives of WWI soldiers at the Underground City of Naours

  • Attend the playing of the Last Post under the famous Menin Gate in Ypres

Itinerary

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Day 1: Lille (France)

Location: Lille

Accommodation: Hôtel Couvent des Minimes (or similar)

Meals Included: Dinner

After meeting the group in Lille, we’ll kick off our battlefields tour with a delicious welcome dinner. Here’s to the incredible journey ahead.

Day 2: Lille – Somme – Amiens

Location: Amiens, Somme, Lille

Accommodation: Hôtel Le Prieuré (or similar)

Meals Included: Breakfast

After breakfast, we’ll begin our first full day together by exploring the region of the Somme – the infamous site of one of the costliest WWI battles. While we’re here, we’ll visit Newfoundland Memorial Park – where the original trench lines have been preserved. Later, we’ll visit Ulster Tower – a memorial to the 36th (Ulster) Division – and Pozières Cemetery. We’ll also have time to pay our respects at the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme before we set a course for Amiens.

Day 3: Amiens – Naours – Amiens

Location: Amiens, Amiens, Naours

Accommodation: Hôtel Le Prieuré (or similar)

Meals Included: Breakfast

Today will begin with a visit to the Underground City of Naours. Here we’ll tour the vast cave network where hundreds of ANZAC soldiers left their mark. With the largest concentration of WWI inscriptions on the Western Front, this site provides a touching insight into the lives of the brave soldiers fighting on the front. Then: we’ll round off the day back in Amiens, where you’ll have some free time to explore at your own pace.

Day 4: Amiens – Villers-Bretonneux – Ypres (Belgium)

Location: Amiens, Villers-Bretonneux, Ypres

Accommodation: Hotel, The Albion (or similar)

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

This morning, we’ll leave Amiens behind us – moving on to the Australian National War Memorial and Cemetery at Villers-Bretonneux. After taking some time to pay our respects, our next stop will be the Canadian National Vimy Memorial: Canada’s largest overseas National Memorial. This evening will see us dining together in Ypres – a town that was completely destroyed during WWI and rebuilt anew.

Day 5: Ypres – Ypres Salient And Menin Gate – Ypres

Location: Ypres, Menin Gate, Ypres, Ypress Salient Herdenkingsboom 37

Accommodation: Hotel, The Albion (or similar)

Meals Included: Breakfast

The beautiful town of Ypres sits in the epicentre of British WWI endeavours, and there is much to see in the surrounding countryside. We’ll start with a visit to John McCrae’s Dressing Station at Essex Farm Cemetery – the site where his famous poem In Flanders Fields was written in 1915. Continuing our journey, we’ll visit the German Cemetery at Langemark and Vancouver Corner. Then, we’ll explore the fascinating Hooge Crater Museum – home to a unique collection of WWI artefacts and reconstructed trenches. An evocative end to the day is in store: we’ve an appointment to keep at the Menin Gate Memorial, where we’re invited to attend the Last Post ceremony. Whilst renovation to the Gate is ongoing, we’ll still be able to experience the ceremony that has been performed here daily for almost 100 years.

Day 6: Ypres – Fromelles (France) – Lille

Location: Fromelles, Ypres, Lille

Meals Included: Breakfast

Today we’ll visit Hill 60 – a manmade promontory on the edge of the Ypres Salient where many fierce battles between the Germans and Allied forces took place. After, we’ll take some time to explore the area around Fromelles, VC Corner and the Australian Memorial Park – before having the opportunity to visit Pheasant Wood Cemetery: the final resting place of 250 Australian and British soldiers killed in the battle of Fromelles. After returning to Lille, our compelling journey will come to a close.

What's Included

  • Meals
    5 breakfasts, 2 dinner

  • Transport

    Premium mini-coach transportation

  • Guide

    Experienced Tour Leader and Driver

Check out our Q&As

  • Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?

    We have solo capacity, however no single share.

  • What documents will I receive before I travel?

    Upon final payments, we will distribute E-Documentation to all of our guests. Dont forget we also have our App to download as an added feature.

  • Who will be my travelling companions on the tour?

    Like-minded travellers awaiting the opportunity to explore the less explored regions. Interests in food, wine, history, art as well as wartimes there will be a great mix of people to connect with on tour.

  • What policies are in place for Covid-19?

    We have our COVID Assurance Policy, Book now and relax knowing you are covered under our new COVID-19 Assurance Policy. At no additional cost to you, new bookings are now 100% refundable in the unfortunate event you are diagnosed with COVID-19 or unable to travel due to government-enforced lock downs prior to your scheduled departure date.

  • What level of mobility do I need?

    You need to be fit enough to get on and off the vehicle on a regular basis, and to walk both to attractions and around towns and villages. You also need to be able to walk up and down stairs in the hotels and use a shower over the bath. We frequently use traditional style hotels and the majority will not have lifts or ground floor rooms.

  • Who goes on Back-Roads tours?

    The majority of our guests come from Canada, the USA, the UK, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. All tour commentaries are in English. Our tours appeal to those looking for a more relaxing style of travel, and who enjoy culture, good food, meeting like-minded people and exploring destinations in depth.

  • What is the minimum age for any Back-Roads Touring trip?

    The minimum age on all of our trips is 18 years.

  • Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?

    All Hotels in line with protocols following the World Health Organisation meet and exceed requirements for all Touring with us.

  • How long has the tour company been trading?

    Back-Roads Touring has been operating from the UK for over 30 years.

  • What happens if I need to change my holiday date once I’ve booked?

    Inline with our booking flexibility policy, you are able to make as many changes as required up to 60 days from departue - with 1 last included up until 30 days out.

  • Can I join the tour once it has departed?

    Generally no, but in extraordinary circumstances it can be looked at.

Reviews from travellers on this tour

Ian S  

WWI Battlefields 2024

22-Jul-2019

Kathryn Su  

WWI Battlefields 2024

28-Dec-2022

Excellent tour guide Steve and skilled bus driver, comfortable bus. Small tour group. Tour was adaptable and covered the Western Front history very well.

George H  

WWI Battlefields 2024

15-Jul-2019

I got a great deal of information out of this trip which is not ewasy to find elsewherre

Anonymous  

WWI Battlefields 2024

21-Jul-2019

A once in a life time experience

Anthony P  

WWI Battlefields 2024

11-Jun-2019

Steven E  

WWI Battlefields 2024

20-Jul-2019

Good value considering the locations, accomodation and food.

Anonymous  

WWI Battlefields 2024

14-Aug-2022

Small group, excellent driver,, informative @ well researched leader. Time to add/adjust accordingly. Would be best if accomodation had lifts for baggage (older demographic).

Anonymous  

WWI Battlefields 2024

27-Jul-2019

Guide was brilliant, Mary, Driver was excellent. Issue were with head office, which needs to improve.

Lionel B  

WWI Battlefields 2024

30-Jul-2019

very moving and hard to believe so many young people lost their lives.

Eileen W  

WWI Battlefields 2024

24-Jul-2019

Don't know what this question means, the only thing I purchased was the tour

Read all 18 reviews

Book with Confidence

  • Free Date Changes

    Back-Roads Touring allows you to make 10 free date changes, as long as the change is made at least 60 days before the start of the tour.

  • Transfer as credit to Future Tours

    Back-Roads Touring allows you to transfer existing payments to a future tour to avoid cancellation fees if you can't travel and inform back-roads touring, 60 days before departure.

  • Low Deposit

    Back-Roads Touring requires a minimum deposit of 150 GBP per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 60 days before departure.

  • Cancellation Policy

    We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of back-roads touring charges.

    Up to 61 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.

    At 60 days before tour starts: Forfeit 50% of booking price.

    At 30 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.