1. Australian Battlefield Tour in Flanders and in the Somme
2. Canadian battlefield tour in Flanders and in the Somme
3. Australian battlefield tour in the Somme
4. Australian battlefield tour in Flanders
5. Canadian battlefield tour in Vimy and the Somme
6. Canadian battlefield tour in Vimy and Flanders
7. A day in Flanders
8. The Atlantic Wall V1 and V2 launching sites
9. Operation Dynamo the retreat from Dunkirk
Leaving your hotel at 09am, driving towards Fromelles seeing the Pheasant Wood Cemetery where the remains of 250 Australian soldiers were buried after being found nearby the wood. Visit of the museum of the Battle of Fromelles before heading towards the Australian Memorial Park built on the old front line.
At the Australian memorial park stands the statue of the Cobbers commemorating the action of Simon Fraser, after the battle when he and his men went in No Man’s Land to collect wounded soldiers. You will stand at VC Corner Cemetery, the only exclusive Australian cemetery in France, and will have a view from where the Australians launched the assault on the German lines at the Sugar Loaf.
You will heading towards Ploegsteert (Plugstreet) the only place where the 5 Australian Divisions were all together the winter of 1917-1918 and where the 1st Australian Tunnelling Cie dug the largest dugout in the area, it was called the “Catacombs or Wallangara”, the official name was “Hill 63 Dugout”.
Time for lunch
On the road to Ypres and Passendale you will stand in Messines on the battlefield where the ANZAC’s were involved in the Battle of Messines, before driving towards Hill 60, standing near the Caterpillar mine crater, one of the 19 mines triggered several minutes before the battle. Now going to Zonnebeke to visit the best WW1 museum in the area, "Passendale 1917 Memorial Museum". You will now visit Tyne Cot Military Cemetery, the largest Commonwealth War Graves Commission’s cemetery in the world. If we have time enough on the road from Passendale to Ypres we will have a stop at the German Cemetery of Langemark.
Arriving in Ypres you have some free time, I will show you the Cloth Hall, the Belfry and the main square before attending the daily Last Post under the Menin Gate. After the Last Post we will be heading back to your hotel.
At 9am leaving towards Villers Bretonneux to see the Victoria School, you will stand at the place where Dawn Service happens in the Australian Memorial Park in Villers Bretonneux and visit the newly build Sir John Monash Centre, a must see.
Now heading to Le Hamel to see the memorial dedicated to the Australian Imperial Forces built on the battlefield where Sir John Monash led the battle on 4 July 1918.
Having lunch near Albert, standing near the Lochnagar Crater triggered on 1st July 1916 at the opening of the Battle of the Somme. In Pozières you will stand at the Windmill; Moo Cow Farm and the Memorial to the 1st Australian Division. You will see the Thiepval Memorial, the largest CWGC's memorial bearing 72 000 names of soldiers who have no known grave.
Now heading back to your hotel.
Minimum 2 persons
Starting from Lille or Arras € 505,00 each
Starting from Ypres or Bruges € 545,00 each
Lunches, transport, driver/guide, entrance fees, bottled water, a booklet recording the event and all taxes included.
Traveling towards Passendale where you will stand at Tyne Cot Military Cemetery, the largest Commonwealth War Graves Commission's Cemetery in the world, it is housing 12 000 graves and the memorial is bearing 35 000 names of soldiers who have no known grave. You will stand at Crest Farm Memorial the last defensive line before reaching Passendale and see the "Canada Gate". You will see the Brooding Soldier Memorial at Sint Julien where the Canadians held the line after the Germans launched their first gas attack. Now heading to Zonnebeke to visit "Passendale 1917 Memorial Museum" the best WW1 museum in the area.
Time for lunch
Afternoon you will stand on the Menin Road at Hooghe near Hell Fire Corner and stand on Hill 62 also called Mount Sorrel. You will stand at the memorial dedicated to the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry and spend some time at Essex Farm Dressing Station where John McRae wrote the poem "In Flanders Fields" before heading to Ypres where you will have some free time. Once arrived in Ypres I will show you the Menin Gate, the Cloth Hall on the main square, at 8pm you will attend the Last Post at the Menin Gate, after the service we are heading back to your hotel.
At 9am driving towards Vimy Ridge where you will go down in the Grange Tunnel, one of the tunnels used by the Canadian troops during the Battle of Vimy Ridge. You will see one of the cemeteries on the ridge, the Canadian and German preserved trenches you will have some time to spend at the newly build visitor centre. You will go to the Memorial, standing near the wall bearing the names of more than 11 000 Canadian soldiers who died in France and have no known grave.
Now heading towards the Somme where you will have a lunch.
Stopping at Courcelette Memorial, standing near the Lochnagar crater it is the result of an underground mine triggered on the morning of 1 July 1916, first day of the Battle of the Somme. You will see the Thiepval Memorial, the largest Memorial bearing 72 000 names of soldiers who have no known grave. You will end this tour at Beaumont Hamel at the park commemorating the sacrifice of the New Foundland soldiers slaughtered on the first day of the Battle of the Somme, you will see the preserved trenches, craters and several cemeteries. Leaving Beaumont Hamel towards your hotel.
Minimum 2 persons
Starting from Lille or Arras € 540,00 each
Starting from Ypres or Bruges € 5150,00 each
Lunches, transport, entrance fees, bottled water, a booklet recording the event and all taxes included.
At 9am you will meet your guide at your hotel or accommodation. Heading towards Villers Bretonneux to see the Victoria School. Visiting the Australian Memorial Park, where dawn service is held on ANZAC Day, the "Sir John Monash Centre" and the memorial bearing the names of 11 000 Australian soldiers who have no known grave. Driving towards Le Hamel to see the memorial dedicated to the Australian Imperial Forces, on the battlefields where Sir John Monash led his troops in the battle on 4 July 1918.
Having lunch near Albert.
Standing near the Lochnagar Crater, the mine was triggered the morning of 1 July 1916 first day of the Battle of the Somme. In Pozières standing at the Windmill, Moo Cow Farm, seeing the Thiepval Memorial before driving towards your departure point.
Minimum 2 persons
Starting from Lille or Arras € 270,00 each
Starting from Ypres or Bruges € 295,00 each
Lunches, transport, entrance fees, bottled water, a booklet recording the event and all taxes included.
Following a 9am pick up at your hotel or accommodation, meet your guide and travel onward into the battlefields of Fromelles where you will start your battlefield tour. On arrival you will visit the newly built Pheasant Wood Military Cemetery and the museum. You will visit the Australian Memorial Park where the Cobbers statue stands, VC Corner Australian Cemetery, the only exclusive Australian cemetery in France. Now heading towards Messines.
Time for lunch
After lunch, explore one of the 19 mine craters of Messines, stand near the memorial dedicated to the 1st Australian Tunneling Cie at Hill 60. Standing at Polygoon Wood where the memorial to the 5th Australian Division stands and where Dawn Service is held on ANZAC Day. Visit Tyne Cot Military Cemetery, the largest CWGC's cemetery in the world and the "Passendale 1917 Memorial Museum" in Zonnebeke, it is the very best museum about WW1 in the area. Now heading towards Ypres where I will show you the Menin Gate, the main square with the Cloth Hall and the Cathedral. You will now have some free time before attending the Last Post at the Menin Gate.
Minimum 2 persons
Starting from Lille or Ypres € 266,00 each
Starting from Arras or Bruges € 299,00 each
Lunches, transport, entrance fees, bottled water, a booklet recording the event and all taxes included.
I will pick you up at your hotel or accommodation at 9am and we will heading towards Vimy Ridge where you will stand in the Grange Tunnel, one of the tunnels used by Canadian troops during the battle on 9 April 1917. Seeing the scars left by the war on the ridge including mine- and shell-craters. You will stand near the memorial on the top of the ridge and visit one of the cemeteries as well as the newly built visitor centre.
Enjoy a lunch before going to see the Lochnagar Crater, Thiepval Memorial and its museum. Thiepval is the largest of all the CWGC's memorials it is bearing the names of 72 000 soldiers who have no known grave. You will end the day at the Beaumont Hamel Memorial Park where the New Foundland Regiment was massacred on 1st July 1916, the 1st day of the Battle of the Somme. Visit Y ravine, the Danger Tree, the 52nd Highland Division Memorial and the famous Caribu.
After a day on the battlefields you will return to your departure point.
Minimum 2 persons
Starting from Bruges or Ypres € 325,00 each
Starting from Arras or Lille € 275,00 each
Lunches, transport, entrance fees, bottled water, a booklet recording the event and all taxes included.
At 9am you will leave your accommodation towards Vimy Ridge where you will visit the Grange Tunnel used by Canadian Troops on the assault of Vimy Ridge on 9 April 1917. You will march in the Canadian and German trenches, see the new Visitor Centre, the Memorial and one of the cemeteries on the ridge.
Moving towards Belgium where we will have lunch
Afternoon, you will stand on Hill 62, also called Mount Sorrel, see the memorial dedicated to the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry before heading towards Passendale visiting the "Passendale 1917 Memorial Museum", Tyne Cot the Largest CWGC's cemetery in the world and seeing Crest Farm Memorial the last strong point captured by the Canadian troops during the Battle of Passendale. Going to Essex Farm cemetery and dressing station where Dr John McRae wrote the famous poem "In Flanders Fields". Visiting Ypres, seeing the Cloth Hall and the main square, you will have some free time before attending the Last Post at the Menin Gate, after the service depart Ypres towards your hotel.
Minimum 2 persons
Starting from Lille or Ypres € 285,00 each.
Starting from Arras or Bruges € 315,00 each
If you stay in Brussels I ask you to take a train towards Kortrijk where we pick you up, this is to avoid staying hours in traffic, after the tour we bring you back to your hotel in Brussels. € 255,00 each.
Lunches, transport, entrance fees, bottled water, a booklet recording the event and all taxes included.
Meeting you at your hotel or accommodation at 9am to start your tour. Standing in Messines on the battlefields of June 1917, seeing one of the craters detonated on the morning of 7 June. See the Lettenberg bunkers near Kemmel Ridge, the highest ridge in the area. A visit of the Lijstenhoek military cemetery and seeing the evacuation scheme in the visitor centre before going to Poperinge where you will see the execution pole and death cells.
Time to lunch.
Now going towards Essex Farm, where John McRae wrote the poem "In Flanders Fields", visiting Langemark German Cemetery, the Brooding Soldier Memorial, the New Zealand Memorial at Gravenstafel and Tyne Cot Cemetery in Passendale. Seeing the Australian Memorial to the 5th Division at Polygoon Wood and the place where Dawn Service is held on ANZAC Day. Having some free time in Ypres before attending the Last Post under the Menin Gate. After the Last Post heading back towards your hotel.
Minimum 2 persons
Starting from Lille or Ypres € 290,00 each
Starting from Arras or Bruges € 340,00 each
Lunches, transport, entrance fees, bottled water, a booklet recording the event and all taxes included.
Starting at 9am at your hotel or accommodation towards the Opale Coast to see a portion of the Atlantic Wall near le Cap Griz Nez, if the weather conditions are good you will see the English coast. Visit of the Battery Todt Bunker Museum, and some similar bunkers destroyed by the allies.
Lunch in one of the coastal towns
Heading towards Eperlecques where the largest bunker built by the Nazis in northern France stands. The bunker was built to be a V2 launching site, after been bombed by the allies it became a liquid oxygen producing plant. Driving towards the "Bois des Huit Rues" where there is a V1 launching site, you will see the "ski shaped" buildings, a launching ramp and various other bunkers in a very good condition. After this we’ll be heading back to our hotel.
Minimum 2 persons
Starting from Bruges € 355,00 each
Starting from Arras Lille or Ypres € 325,00 each
Lunches, transport, entrance fees, bottled water, a booklet recording the event and all taxes included.
At 9am leaving your hotel or accommodation towards the beaches north of Dunkirk, at Zuydcote, at low tide, you will see some remains of a ship wreck, the "Crested Eagle" you will see a part of the later built Atlantic Wall on WW1 coastal defences and the Fort des Dunes at Leffrincoucke (open from April to September).
Time to lunch
Heading to Dunkirk to see the Operation Dynamo Museum, built in the old defences of the harbour, seeing the mole and a part of the harbour. Spending some time in Dunkirk before heading back to your hotel or other departure place.
Minimum 2 persons
Starting from Bruges or Arras € 350,00 each
Starting from Lille or Ypres € 275,00 each
Lunches, transport, entrance fees, bottled water, a booklet recording the event and all taxes included.
Full payment is due at the time of booking and is fully refundable if you cancel at least five, (5), days before the tour start date. Bookings cancelled within five (5), days of the tour start date will forfeit full payment. Payments can be done by Paypal or bank transfer.
Modifications are subject to availability and allowed up to forty-eight (48), hours in advance.
Ploegsteert Battlefield Experience reserves the right to adjust the proposed itinerary according to weather conditions, visitor safety and unplanned site closures on the day of the tour.
Should Ploegsteert Battlefield Experience be unable to deliver any proposed Day Tour as booked, then Ploegsteert Battlefield Experience liability will be limited to a full refund of Ploegsteert Battlefield Experience Day Tour Fees. No refund will be applicable, in the event that any Day Tour is prevented due to "Force Majeure".
The remittance of full or partial payment for a reserved tour(s) confirms acknowledgement and acceptance of these terms and conditions.
The weather in northern France and Belgium is ever-changing and often humid. As your tour will be outside it is important to be prepared for nearly anything. Note that the humidity can make it feel much cooler in the fall, winter and spring than the forecasted temperature.
Be comfortable and dress in light layers that can be added or removed as the weather dictates. Always have a waterproof outer layer; at times the wind can render an umbrella useless.
In the summer it is a good idea to wear a hat and sunscreen
Wear comfortable walking shoes such as sneakers or light hiking shoes. Rain can make battlefields and memorial sites muddy and slippery and we will be walking over uneven terrain. Flip flops are not advised, but in dry, warm conditions comfortable, sturdy walking sandals will do.
You will want to bring your camera and or video camera to record the memories of your tour.
Bring your sunglasses, even on cloudy days the Vimy Memorial is very bright.
Cash in Euros: If you wish to purchase a souvenir of your visit at the Visitor's Centre gift shop, (major credit cards are also accepted), or leave a small donation.
You are welcome to leave a Commemorative item at the memorial such as flowers, wreaths, flags, family photos, poems, letters, etc. It is a good idea to laminate photos or other paper items to protect them from the weather. Commemorative items will remain at the grave or memorial until the caretakers, (usually the Commonwealth War Graves Commission), determine they have been too badly deteriorated by the weather to remain.
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