Day 1

Local departure by coach then head to Dover/Folkestone for the 10.30am crossing to Calais. On arrival in Calais we head for our hotel in Northern France for a four night stay. D

Day 2

Today we explore the Battlefields around Ypres. 250,000 British and Commonwealth soldiers died on this main battlefront of World War I. Sanctuary Wood is our first stop, this museum has preserved trenches and small underground bunkers as well as battlefield artefacts and weapons. After free time to look around we head for Passchendaele Ridge. Passchendaele saw one of the bloodiest battles in history, and the Tyne Cot Cemetery is now the largest Commonwealth war cemetery in the world in terms of burials. On to Crest Farm Canadian Memorial commemorates the commitment of the Canadian Corps which during the Third Ypres suffered heavy losses here. Ypres is our final destination today, you’ll have time to explore Ypres for yourself, we have also included entrance to the In Flanders Fields Museum,located in the heart of the city. B, D

Day 3

After breakfast we continue our tour of the Battlefields of Ypres including Vancouver Corner. We then make our way to Essex Farm - Canadian Medical Officer John McCrae served here and wrote possibly the war’s most well known poem, ‘In Flanders Fields’ in 1915. See the damage that 1700kg of dynamite causes at Hooge Crater where the flame thrower was introduced and see the Museum, where full scale reconstructions of war scenes, an extended collection of weapons, and photos make this museum a true must-see! Finally today we visit Polygon Wood to see where the heroic charge of the 2nd Worcesters was launched. B, D

Day 4

The Somme battlefield is revealed today; Beginning at the Museum in Peronne and then to the largest British Mine Crater on the Western Front at La Boisselle, this was one of several mines exploded under the German front line positions on the Somme on 1st July 1916. At Thiepval we will visit the Memorial and the visitor centre at Ulster Tower. The Ulster Tower commemorates the men of the 36th (Ulster) Division who fought here on that day. Newfoundland Park has been left much as it was at the end of the war, we highly recommend a visit to the Visitors’ Centre. Our final destination today is Serre, where there is much to do and see, including memorials and cemeteries. B, D

Day 5

After breakfast this morning, we start to make out way back to Calais, en route we will make a stop in Bruges for free time. On arrival back in the UK, we will transfer you back to your original joining point. B