WW1 Battlefields Flanders and the Somme

Day 1 Morning departure for the journey to Dover and the ferry crossing to Calais and travel on to Ypres for a three night stay. (Bed and breakfast only).

Day 2 Today you will visit the battlefields around Ypres –the heart of WW1 military action. The award- winning ‘In Flanders Fields’ Museum presents the story of WW1 and includes personal accounts. You can activate the exhibits and tailor the experience to your interests. You will then travel the ‘14-18 Route’, visiting battlefields and memorials. The tour stops at Essex Farm, Langemarck Cemetery (which is one of only four German cemeteries) and Tyne Cot Cemetery which is the largest Commonwealth cemetery in the world. In the evening you may want to head to the Menin Gate to witness the emotional Last Post Ceremony which takes place every evening at 20.00 hours.

Day 3 Just over the northern border of France, you will visit Somme Battlefields where much additional fighting occurred. Accompanied by a knowledgeable guide, explore many different sites including Lochnager Crater, The Thiepval Memorial that commemorates over 72,000 men from the UK and South African forces who have no known grave, whereas Ulster Tower remembers the men of Northern Ireland. You will visit Arras, which has been almost completely rebuilt since its destruction in the Battle of Arras. Discover its history below ground at the Carriere Wellington Museum– underground warrens of tunnels which served as a strategic base to undermine the German lines during the battle.

Day 4 After breakfast, depart the hotel and commence the homeward journey.

This hotel is located in the centre of Ypres on the Grote Markt and has recently been renovated. All bedrooms are en-suite with TV, telephone and tea/coffee making facilities. Lift, bar, restaurant and terrace.