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    • 2023 GROUP TOURS >
      • Medieval Britain (May 17-28)
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      • Italian Campaign (Oct 17-30)
    • 2024 GROUP TOURS >
      • Northwest Europe (Apr 21 - May 6)
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      • Northwest Europe (Sep 19 - Oct 3)
    • 2025 GROUP TOURS >
      • Holland Liberation 80th Anniversary (Apr 21 - May 7)
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2023 The Cinderella Army
WWII Canadian Battlefield Tour

​Follow in the footsteps of the liberators,
​from D-Day to V-E Day

2023 The Cinderella Army Canadian Battlefield Tour

Follow in the Footsteps of The Liberators, from D-Day to V-E Day

a special tour focused on WWII
At a glance     
Sep.28 - Oct.14, 2023 • England, France, Belgium, Germany, Holland • 17 days​

Overnight destinations     
London • Southampton • Bayeux • Rouen • Dieppe • Boulogne-sur-Mer • Bruges • Middelburg • Groesbeek • Rijssen • Groningen • Amsterdam

Highlights     
Juno Beach & The Battle of Normandy • Dieppe • Bruges • Battle of the Scheldt • Canadian War Graves Cemeteries • Liberation of Holland • ​scroll down to see complete details
Click to Download Brochure
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In 2023 we launch a brand new tour ... The Cinderella Army. Join us as we follow in the footsteps of 'The Liberators' on this WW2 tour, from the D-Day beaches of Normandy all the way to the northern frontier of Holland and V-E Day.

Along the way, we'll discuss the combined efforts of Royal Canadian Navy, the Canadian Army, and the Royal Canadian Air Force to bring about 'the destruction of the German war machine' and restore freedom to the people of Western Europe. Canada played a key, significant role, while paying a heavy price along the way. 
Your pilgrimage begins in London, crosses the English Channel to Normandy, and then carries north along the coast to Belgium and Holland. The tour includes visits to sites of significance to Canada and her allies: ​

  • ​The shores of Portsmouth, England
  • Juno Beach & and the story of D-Day
  • Verrieres Ridge, The Falaise Gap & The Battle of Normandy
  • Dieppe 1942 & the return of the Canadians in 1944
  • The Channel Coast, including the Scheldt
  • The Liberation of Holland 1944 & 1945
  • ... and much more
This tour is ideal for those who have family members who served in WWII, and also for those who are more generally interested in the fascinating history of this time. It is also a chance for returning travelers to join us for some new sites, different places and more amazing experiences. 

Your excursion also includes free time to enjoy a little culture, with the opportunity to visit several UNESCO World Heritage Sites and to explore two of Europe’s most beautiful capital cities ... London and Amsterdam. You’ll stay at quality hotels throughout, selected for their great location and service. Read what past travelers have said about our trips.

It's time to follow the Canadians on their march through northwest Europe. Join us, and step into history.

​All our tours are carbon-neutral.

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Mark Zuehlke

Award-winning author of the Canadian Battle Series and your exclusive guide for seventeen amazing days on tour!

The Navy, The Army, The Air Force.
The Canadians of WWII - an unstoppable force.

ITINERARY
Wednesday September 27
For many of our Canadian travelers it is departure day, for the overnight transatlantic flight to England. Some travelers may choose to leave for Europe sooner to extend the start of the trip - let us know if we can quote you on pre-tour accommodations.

Guests who have other travels already in progress, or g
uests from other points of origin including the United Kingdom, the United States and elsewhere, will meet the start of the tour on Day 1 in London.
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The optional group flight is typically arranged with Air Canada.

Day 1
Thursday September 28
In the mid-afternoon all clients can check into the group hotel. In the meantime, luggage is stored in the hotel baggage lock-up. Today you are free to explore London, an amazing city of history and monuments waiting to be discovered including the Tower of London, Buckingham Palace, Hyde Park, the Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey, the Imperial War Museum, Covent Garden, Trafalgar Square, Piccadilly Circus, Shakespeare's Globe Theatre, Platform 9-3/4 at Kings Cross Station ... and so much more! 

In the evening we gather in the heart of London for our Welcome Dinner, to share a glass of wine and set the stage for our special journey. Overnight London - Radisson Blu Edwardian Mercer Street. [D]

Day 2
Friday September 29
We make an early departure, to begin exploring the story of D-Day. We'll being with a visit at the Aldershot Military Museum, in the heart of the area where thousands of Canadians were encamped for training in the early 1940s.

After lunch we visit The D-Day Story, located on Southsea Common right on the coast. This museum expertly tells the story of the D-Day build-up, and features a very rare LCT landing craft. From here it is a short stroll along the promenade to the beautiful Portsmouth Naval Memorial, which commemorates nearly 25,000 sailors of the two great wars who were lost at sea. Overnight Southampton - Hilton at the Ageas Bowl. [B,L] ​

Day 3
Saturday September 30
Today is a travel day. Just as the lads did in 1944, we'll pack up our kit and set sail across the English Channel - destination, France. 

Our sailing is from Portsmouth to Ouistreham, a crossing of ~6 hours. ​Overnight Bayeux - 
Novotel. [B] ​​
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Departing Portsmouth for the Normandy Coast. © Brittany Ferries.

Day 4
​
Sunday October 1
This morning we mark D-Day by walking the sands of Juno Beach at Courseulles-sur-Mer, with story telling and much reflection. A visit inside the Juno Beach Centre is featured, along with a tour of the underground German command bunker just out front. We then walk along the shore to hear personal stories of the men who landed here.

After a pause for lunch in Courseulles, we move east to the Juno sector at 
St-Aubin-sur-Mer where a 50-mm German anti-tank gun still sits ominously in its casemate. From here we venture along the shore to Bernières-sur-Mer to observe the famous Canada House and the nearby defenses.

In the afternoon we visit the hallowed grounds of Bény-sur-Mer Canadian War Cemetery, the burial place of 2,044 Canadians who fell in the early hours of D-Day and the subsequent liberation of Normandy. Overnight Bayeux - Novotel. [B,L]​

Day 5
Monday October 2
We set out into the Normandy countryside to hear about the 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion and their key role in the airborne landings, and visit the spot where they set up their first command HQ on the evening of June 6, 1944.

​We'll make a stop at Carpiquet Airport to hear about the battle there, and visit the villages of Buron and Authie which were liberated in the afternoon of D-Day. We also pay a solemn visit to nearby Abbey Ardenne where Canadian soldiers were illegally executed in the early days following the allied landings. Overnight Bayeux - Novotel. [B,L] ​

Day 6
Tuesday October 3
Day Six takes us inland, where the Battle of Normandy played out in the days and months following D-Day. We'll visit various historical points related to Verrieres Ridge, including the monument at Point 67 which dominates the landscape. We stop in St-Lambert-sur-Dives where David Currie earned a Victoria Cross in the battle for the Falaise Gap. Our visit features a walk down the narrow laneway to the small bridge where the German Army attempted a desperate escape.

Our day includes stops at the German Tiger Tank in Vimoutiers, and also the Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery at Bretteville-sur-Laize - the largest Canadian WWII cemetery in France. Overnight Rouen -
Mercure Centre Cathédrale. [B,L]

Day 7
Wednesday October 4
We begin our journey north along the channel coast, following the footsteps of the Canadian Army affectionately known as "Cinderella on the Left." But today, we step back in time to 1942 and the Raid on Dieppe. We start with a morning stroll along the main beach of Dieppe to consider Operation Jubilee - the plans, the execution and the after-math of a plan that went horribly wrong.

The raid entailed three Canadian attack zones and we next move northeast to the beach at 
Puys, arguably Canada's darkest hour of WW2, followed by a visit to Pourville to the southwest and Merritt's Bridge. We pause for lunch, allowing time to explore the many restaurants which line the inner harbour.

In the afternoon we conclude the visit of the battlefields with a view of Dieppe from the coastal cliffs above, to recall the largest air battle of the entire Second World War which took place here in the skies over the beaches of Dieppe. We close out our day with a visit to the 
Dieppe Canadian War Cemetery, tucked away up the hill and beyond the edge of town, which beckons Canadians to visit. Listen here to CBC's Robert Bowman and his broadcast from Dieppe the day after the raid. Overnight Dieppe - Mercure la Présidence. [B]

Day 8
Thursday October 5
Today begins with a visit to the impressive site at La Coupole, a German bunker complex built to launch V-2 rockets against London and southwest England. The site was captured by the allies in September 1944 and abandoned, until the mid-1990s when it was restored and opened as a museum.

After a pause for lunch we stop at the old citadel to chat near the WWII plaques erected to the Canadians, who liberated Boulogne-sur-Mer in early fall of 1944. You are then free to explore the old town at leisure.  Overnight Boulogne-sur-Mer -
Ibis Centre Cathédrale. [B,L]

Day 9
Friday October 6
Just a short drive north from Boulogne we pause to view the channel from the cliffs atop Cap Gris Nez, the closest point to England. It's then time for a fascinating visit to the Museum of the Atlantic Wall at Todt Battery, which was captured by the Canadians in their drive northward along the channel coast.

Later we cross over the Dragoons' Bridge, dedicated to the regiment from Manitoba who entered the city of Bruges at this very spot. The balance of the day is free time to explore this "Venice of the North." A canal boat tour is always a great option, along with exploring the many squares and their patio tables for a cup of tea or a glass of wine. Overnight Bruges - Martin's Hotel. [B,L]

Day 10
Saturday October 7
Our Saturday morning will see us visit a number of interesting sites in the very southwest corner of the Netherlands. We will look at the crossing of the Leopold Canal and the fight for the Breskens Pocket. This is the beginning of the Battle of the Scheldt, a costly battle for Canada and a crucial success story for the allied war effort.

We pause for lunch at the 
Canada-Poland Museum in Adegem, Belgium, to see their amazing one-of-a-kind collection followed by a group lunch in their wonderful, historic hall. 

We will visit monuments at Eede, as well as Hickman's Bridge and the Hoofdplaat monument. Each visit tells a part of the story of the Canadians and the fierce fighting that took place in this region, as the liberation of Holland began. Of particular interest will be a walk to an original Bailey Bridge, still in place exactly where it was constructed by the Engineers in 1944. Overnight Middelburg - Van der Valk Hotel. [B,L]

Day 11
Sunday October 8
We continue our journey through the Scheldt region today, with a visit to the Walcheren monument to hear about the battle for the causeway, a seemingly impossible objective.

We also make a visit to Woensdrecht where we are joined by one of Holland's top WWII historians. He grew up here, and was just a young boy when the fighting raged in the streets. He will share the vivid stories of Canadian sacrifice in the fight to free the Dutch people in his little village. We then visit Bergen-op-Zoom Canadian War Cemetery to pay our respects.


​After lunch we stop for a visit at the rarely visited monument at Kapelsche Veer, following in the direction taken by the Canadians as they gradually moved northeastward toward the German border in the fall of '44. Overnight Groesbeek - Fletcher Parkhotel Val Monte. [B,L]

Day 12
Monday October 9
Today we will dip our toes into Germany, visiting the spot where a Victoria Cross was earned and where very difficult, heavy fighting saw Canada suffer terrible losses in close-quarters combat.

From here, we venture back into the Netherlands and take a much anticipated tour of 
Overloon War Museum. The collection here is incredible. In the afternoon we return to the Groesbeek area for a tour of the Vrijheidsmuseum (Freedom Museum), another superb centre of artifacts, interpretation and history.

We close the day just around the corner from our hotel at Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery, the largest in the Netherlands. Overnight Groesbeek - Fletcher Parkhotel Val Monte. [B,L] 

Day 13
Tuesday October 10
Our Tuesday morning drive takes us into the quiet countryside of the Netherlands, to visit a little monument raised by the citizens to honour the Canadians who died liberating their small village. Next we venture into the town of Zutphen, for a photo opportunity at Canada Bridge, so named for the place where the liberating army fought their way into the town in the spring of 1945.

Following lunch we pay respects at Holten Canadian War Cemetery, the final resting place of those who fell in the final months and weeks of the war. Overnight Rijssen -
Fletcher Hotel Sallandse Heuvelrug. [B,L]

Day 14
Wednesday October 11
Our morning is devoted to a tour of Camp Westerbork, a transit camp through which many Dutch members of the Jewish community were sent to the notorious camps in Germany and Poland. The camp was liberated by the Canadians in April 1945, and today stands as an important reminder of the horrors of war.

In the afternoon we tour the Delfzijl region on the north coast, to visit our final battlefield sites - poignant monuments in the villages of Holwierde and Wagenborgen honouring the Canadians who liberated the citizens in the final days of the war. Overnight Groningen -
Best Western Centre. [B,L] ​

Day 15
Thursday October 12
We make for Amsterdam for two nights stay, pausing for a Farewell Lunch before taking the balance of the day to explore the historic city. The old inner canals are a UNESCO World Heritage Site - it is one of the most beautiful cities of Europe. Overnight Amsterdam - The Manor. [B,L]

​
Day 16
Friday October 13
Enjoy a full free day. Your day might include a visit to the Rijksmuseum or the Van Gogh Museum, or perhaps the Anne Frank House. The flower market is a great place for souvenirs, and the Leidseplein and the Rembrandtplein are great places for food and people-watching! Overnight Amsterdam - The Manor. [B]

Day 17
Saturday October 14
This morning is departure day for those Canadians returning home on the optional group flight - buffet or box breakfast is included, depending on departure time from the hotel. Some travelers may choose to remain in Europe longer to extend the end of the trip - let us know if we can quote you on post-tour accommodations.

Others guests will depart for home or continue their travels on other routes. [B]​
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Note: This itinerary is subject to minor alteration prior to the booking deadline. Clients should also keep in mind that minor variances are always possible during the actual tour based on the need to adapt to circumstances we encounter during our travels.
Click to Download Brochure

PRICING
$7929 CAD Land Only, Per Person, Based on Double Occupancy (two people sharing a room)
$2250 CAD Single Supplement (the additional cost if traveling on your own - one person in the room); very limited quantity of single rooms are available on each tour - if you are a single traveler please book early to avoid disappointment

PRICING INCLUDES:
  • An expert Canadian Historian, and an expert Canadian Tour Director, who will both accompany you on your full tour
  • ​​Sixteen nights accommodation in twin or double rooms with private facilities
  • Travel by luxury air-conditioned coach with reclining seats, facilities and free on-board Wi-Fi
  • Buffet breakfast (cold and/or hot) at the hotel each morning, plus select meals as outlined in the itinerary (B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner); lunches and dinners typically include a glass of wine/beer
  • All entrances as per your itinerary
  • All hotel service charges, local taxes, and porterage (where available, one bag per person) are included
  • Gratuities to Coach Driver and Local Guides are included ... these costs are extra on most other tours and can add up to $200 CAD or more per person at the end of your trip, be sure to compare
  • Tour package which includes select daily detailed historical battle maps, period photographs, original audio recordings, and more ... a complete digital copy of all this is also given to you at the farewell dinner - an invaluable personal resource

PRICING EXCLUDES:
  • Airfare
    An optional group air booking is available for Canadian travelers, Economy Class, departing from Toronto:
         Air Canada AC854 27 Sep dep Toronto 18:20 arr London 06:35
         Air Canada AC809 14 Oct dep Amsterdam 12:15 arr Toronto 14:15
         Base Fare $516 + Estimated Fuel & Taxes $806 = $1322 CAD
    We can provide a quote for connecting flights from other gateways in Canada; alternatively, we can quote individual flights to match your own individual preferences, including different dates or routes, different class of seating, etc.; travelers on the group flight will be picked up from London Heathrow Airport on September 28, 2023 and dropped off to Schiphol Airport on October 14, 2023; all other travelers are responsible for their own airport transfers
  • Meals other than stated on the itinerary
  • Travel Insurance Protection - check with your favourite travel agent or ask us for a quote from Manulife 
  • Passport & related fees
  • Any optional excursion not specifically stated
  • Items of a personal nature
  • Pre-tour and/or post-tour accommodations - check with your favourite travel agent or ask us for a quote 
    ​ 
IMPORTANT NOTES:
  • Hotels have been pre-booked but are subject to change
  • This tour requires a minimum of 20 passengers to operate
  • Non-refundable deposit of $500 per person due upon booking
  • Balance of payment due on or before the booking deadline: June 27, 2023
  • Liberation Tours will donate on your behalf to Forest Recovery Canada, to make your trip carbon-neutral
  • Download and read our Terms & Conditions ​prior to making your booking

Book Your Trip!
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Questions? Contact your favourite travel agent or:

John Cannon, Tour Director
1-833-252-0001  |  booking@liberationtours.ca 

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​Travel Agents  ✈  
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Join us on the journey of a lifetime.
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©2023 Liberation Tours Inc.
info@liberationtours.ca

(833) 252-0001
(647) 812-9601


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