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This is the perfect introduction to the First World War battlefields looking at the key battlefield sites of the Great War on the Western Front in Belgium and France. We take trips to the battlefield areas of Ypres and the Somme, and to Arras and Vimy Ridge on the 5-Day tour. We see the trenches in Sanctuary Wood, see the long lists of names on the Menin Gate and Thiepval Memorial, and discover what the fighting in WW1 was all about. A memorable trip to understand the First World War and a perfect way to begin your battlefield journey.
Please choose your preferred 4 or 5 day itinerary
Local departure by coach, then to our hotel in Belgium or northern France for a three-night stay.
The tour starts in Flanders around the Belgian city of Ypres. Here, one in three of Britain’s Western Front dead fell by 1918 and it has been a place of pilgrimage ever since. We begin by looking at the commemoration of Britain’s dead at Tyne Cot Cemetery, the largest British war cemetery in the world, taking time to also see the visitors’ centre. At Vancouver Corner we examine the use of gas in the trenches and see the moving ‘Brooding Soldier’ Memorial to the Canadians who defended Ypres in 1915 and at Langemarck German Cemetery we see how Germany commemorated her dead and look at the story of ‘Fritz’ on the other side of No Man’s Land. After lunch at Hooge, we visit the preserved trenches at Sanctuary Wood Trench Museum, some of the last original WW1 trenches still surviving in Flanders together with an amazing collection of artefacts and stereoscopic photos. We then travel down the Messines Ridge to Ploegsteert to see the Ploegsteert Memorial to the Missing. Our day ends in Ypres where we attend the moving Last Post Ceremony at the Menin Gate Memorial, held at 8pm each evening.
Includes Breakfast
The Battle of the Somme began on a summer’s day in July 1916 and ended in a snowstorm four and a half months later. It was a battle of contrasts from the blackest day when 57,000 became casualties to the first use of tanks and the change in approach to fighting on the Western Front. We look at all these stories and start our tour at Peronne where we visit the excellent Historial de la Grande Guerre museum which helps to put into context not just our Somme day, but the whole tour. We then see the Lochnagar Mine Crater at La Boisselle, the largest British mine crater surviving on the battlefields. After lunch we see the trenches in the Newfoundland Park and then take time to visit the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing and see the Museum here.
Includes Breakfast
Return home.
Includes Breakfast
More than 750,000 British soldiers were killed on the Western Front during the Great War. Join us on the ideal introductory tour to WW1 visiting the major battlefields of Flanders and France.
Local departure by coach, then to our hotel in Belgium or northern France for a four-night stay.
The Battle of the Somme began on a summer’s day in July 1916 and ended in a snowstorm four and a half months later. It was a battle of contrasts from the blackest day when 57,000 became casualties to the first use of tanks and the change in approach to fighting on the Western Front. We look at all these stories and start our tour at Peronne where we visit the excellent Historial de la Grande Guerre museum which helps to put into context not just our Somme day, but the whole tour. We then see the Lochnagar Mine Crater at La Boisselle, the largest British mine crater surviving on the battlefields. After lunch we see the trenches in the Newfoundland Park and then take time to visit the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing and see the Museum here.
Includes Breakfast
We spend today in northern France visiting the ‘Forgotten Front’ between Flanders and the Somme. Starting on the Loos Battlefield, the scene of the first major British offensive of WW1, we see where the fighting took place and also the Loos Memorial and Dud Corner Cemetery. We then visit the Lens Memorial 14-18 Museum which explains the rich history of this region. After lunch in Arras we visit the Commonwealth War Graves Commission Visitor’s Centre to discover the history of the work to commemorate the dead after WW1. We then travel to the Arras Memorial to pay our respects to the Missing and see the Air services Memorial to those who died above the battlefields in WW1 and end our day at the stunning Vimy Ridge memorial on Hill 145 to examine the attack by Canadian forces here in April 1917.
Includes Breakfast
The tour starts in Flanders around the Belgian city of Ypres. Here, one in three of Britain’s Western Front dead fell by 1918 and it has been a place of pilgrimage ever since. We begin by looking at the commemoration of Britain’s dead at Tyne Cot Cemetery, the largest British war cemetery in the world, taking time to also see the visitors’ centre. At Vancouver Corner we examine the use of gas in the trenches and see the moving ‘Brooding Soldier’ Memorial to the Canadians who defended Ypres in 1915 and at Langemarck German Cemetery we see how Germany commemorated her dead and look at the story of ‘Fritz’ on the other side of No Man’s Land. After lunch at Hooge, we visit the preserved trenches at Sanctuary Wood Trench Museum, some of the last original WW1 trenches still surviving in Flanders together with an amazing collection of relics and stereoscopic photos. We then travel down the Messines Ridge to Ploegsteert to see the Ploegsteert Memorial to the Missing. Our day ends in Ypres where we attend the moving Last Post Ceremony at the Menin Gate Memorial, held at 8pm each evening.
Includes Breakfast
Return home.
Includes Breakfast
YOUNG ADULTS DISCOUNT - Many young adults travel on school visits to the battlefields but sharing historical experiences with all generations of a family can be rewarding. To help families travel together we are pleased to offer a 50% discount on selected dates, please see departure dates for more details.
Entrance to museums, places of interest and optional excursions are at extra cost.
2 x packed lunch/museum package available whilst on tour approx. cost €45
Executive coach departures will stay for three or four nights at the 3-star Hotel Des Acacias Lille Tourcoing, or similar. The hotel has a bar and lift.
Silver Service and Luxuria departures will stay for three or four nights at the 4-star Hotel Alize in Mouscron. The hotel does not have a restaurant, but snacks are available from the bar. There are also a number of restaurants and bars nearby. The hotel has a lift.
On all departures, when demand is high other hotels of a similar 3 and 4-star standard may be used, such as the 3-star Hotel Des Acacias Lille Tourcoing in Neuville-en-Ferrain, 4-star Hotel Horizon Ath Lessines and the 4-star Mercure Lille Airport.
3-star Novotel Ypres Centrum
On selected dates you can choose to stay in central Ypres, just a few hundred yards from the Menin Gate at the 3-star Novotel Ypres Centrum. The hotel has a lift, bar and restaurant.
The Des Acacias Lille Tourcoing Hotel is set in a leafy area near to the towns of Halluin, Roncq and Tourcoing to name a few. The hotel's facilities include a bar, a restaurant, lounge, fitness room and Wi-Fi/internet corner.
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The 4-star Alize Hotel Mouscron is located in the heart of Mouscron. Despite not having its own restaurant, the hotel is ideally located only a short walk from the Mouscron Market Place, where a selection of bars and restaurants can be found. The hotel does have a bar, and all rooms are equipped with a T.V., tea and coffee-making facilities, and a fridge.
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The Novotel Ypres Centrum is located in the heart of historic town of Ypres, just a short walk from the Menin Gate. The hotel makes the ideal base for exploring the rich military heritage of the area.
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Providing modern guest rooms, the Horizon Ath-Lessines is situated in the area of Ghislenghien, close to the towns of Ath and Lessines.
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Stylish and modern, state-of-the-art Luxuria is the business class of coaches. Boasting comfort of the highest standard, sink into the deluxe armchair-style seats, stretch out with much more space around you, and enjoy a vast choice of entertainment on your personal touch-screen TV.
More than simply your method of transport, Silver Service offers a coach with added comfort and facilities, such as deluxe reclining seats with leather headrests, an onboard entertainment system, and a spacious rear lounge so you can socialise with your fellow passengers.
All of our coaches are modern and comfortable, and you can be assured of a high level of service and reliability from our expert-trained coach crews, who will be on hand to assist and escort you along the way.
Reviews
Quality
4.7 / 5
Value for Money
4.6 / 5
Jayne Parnowski, 1 year ago
Very professional, tour guide has exceptional in depth knowledge of the subject matter.Coach was very modern and always clean and tidy, Tony the driver was always smart very professional. It is without hesitation that I would recommend Leger holidays.
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Niamh Bethany Lees, 1 year ago
The tour guide (Tim) was fantastic, incredibly knowledgeable. The tour was brillant and the drive (Tony) was brillant. The only negative was the hotel was not up to standard. Rooms not cleaned when asked to be. Services in the hotel not up to the expected standard.
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William Hill, 1 year ago
Brilliant tour guide and good hotel
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JH, 1 year ago
Excellent trip.
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Mr Barry Pullen, 1 year ago
A great first trip for my grandson. A knowledgeable guide and helpful crew. The hotel was very nice and in a good location.
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Lois Searle, 1 year ago
The tour was excellent - would highly recommend. Highly efficient operation including the travel logistics. Pete Smith was an excellent and informative tour guide and went the extra mile. Really appreciated him pointing out the NZ aspects of the battlefields and helping us to locate a particular cemetery. The only suggestion is to include the museum / lunch charge in the overall fare costs rather than paying it separately. Thanks again, Leger - it was a very special trip! Would use your services again.
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