THE GREAT WAR TOUR 2024
inspired by lieutenant leslie miller
The Great War Tour 2024
Inspired by Lieutenant Leslie Miller
At a glance
October 7-18, 2024 • France & Belgium • 12 days
Overnight destinations
London • Portsmouth • Amiens • Arras • Ieper • Mons • Paris
Highlights
All of Canada’s Great War Monuments • Thiepval Memorial • The Royal Newfoundland Regiment's Trail of the Caribou • Tyne Cot Cemetery • The Menin Gate & the Last Post Ceremony • scroll down to see complete details
October 7-18, 2024 • France & Belgium • 12 days
Overnight destinations
London • Portsmouth • Amiens • Arras • Ieper • Mons • Paris
Highlights
All of Canada’s Great War Monuments • Thiepval Memorial • The Royal Newfoundland Regiment's Trail of the Caribou • Tyne Cot Cemetery • The Menin Gate & the Last Post Ceremony • scroll down to see complete details
November 11, 1918 at 11:00 in the morning. The eleventh hour, of the eleventh day, of the eleventh month. So came to an end “the war to end all wars.”
The guns finally fell silent, bringing to a close four long years of unspeakable conflict. The Canadians will suffer gas attacks, infested trenches, misery. Yet through it all the Canadian Expeditionary Force will prove to be the fighting force, which will win them the nickname ‘shock troops’ as they earn important victories at Vimy Ridge, Hill 70, Passchendaele, Amiens and more. Canada will earn its place as a signatory to the Treaty of Versailles. It is the birth of a nation.
Join us on a pilgrimage to the Canadian battlefields of The Great War, inspired by Lieutenant Leslie Miller and The Vimy Oaks Legacy. You will stay at quality hotels throughout, selected for their great location and service. And you’ll be part of a typically all-Canadian group. Read what past travelers have said about our trips. Come with us on a life-changing journey through France and Belgium.
Step into history.
The guns finally fell silent, bringing to a close four long years of unspeakable conflict. The Canadians will suffer gas attacks, infested trenches, misery. Yet through it all the Canadian Expeditionary Force will prove to be the fighting force, which will win them the nickname ‘shock troops’ as they earn important victories at Vimy Ridge, Hill 70, Passchendaele, Amiens and more. Canada will earn its place as a signatory to the Treaty of Versailles. It is the birth of a nation.
Join us on a pilgrimage to the Canadian battlefields of The Great War, inspired by Lieutenant Leslie Miller and The Vimy Oaks Legacy. You will stay at quality hotels throughout, selected for their great location and service. And you’ll be part of a typically all-Canadian group. Read what past travelers have said about our trips. Come with us on a life-changing journey through France and Belgium.
Step into history.
All our tours are carbon-neutral.
The Canadian National Vimy Memorial.
Every Canadian ought to visit once.
ITINERARY
Sunday October 6
For many of our travelers it is departure day, for the overnight transatlantic flight to France. 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 guests 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 Paris.
For many of our travelers it is departure day, for the overnight transatlantic flight to France. 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 guests 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 Paris.
Day 1
Monday October 7
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 early evening we gather in the heart of London for our Welcome Dinner, to share a glass and set the stage for our special journey.
Overnight London - hotel tba. [D]
Day 2
Tuesday October 8
Enjoy a sleep-in and late breakfast, and another half day to explore London. In the mid-afternoon we depart and make for the south coast, to spend the night before our ferry crossing of the English Channel tomorrow.
Overnight Portsmouth - hotel tba. [B]
Monday October 7
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 early evening we gather in the heart of London for our Welcome Dinner, to share a glass and set the stage for our special journey.
Overnight London - hotel tba. [D]
Day 2
Tuesday October 8
Enjoy a sleep-in and late breakfast, and another half day to explore London. In the mid-afternoon we depart and make for the south coast, to spend the night before our ferry crossing of the English Channel tomorrow.
Overnight Portsmouth - hotel tba. [B]
Day 3
Wednesday October 9
Today is a travel day. Just as the lads did in the two great wars, we'll pack up our kit and set sail across the English Channel for France. Our sailing is from Portsmouth to Le Havre, a crossing of ~7 hours.
Overnight Amiens - hotel tba. [B]
Wednesday October 9
Today is a travel day. Just as the lads did in the two great wars, we'll pack up our kit and set sail across the English Channel for France. Our sailing is from Portsmouth to Le Havre, a crossing of ~7 hours.
Overnight Amiens - hotel tba. [B]
Departing Portsmouth for the Normandy Coast. © Brittany Ferries.
Day 4
Thursday October 10
Day Four is steeped in history as we wind our way into the French countryside to consider the Battle of the Somme, one of the largest, bloodiest and most destructive battles of World War One. You will be intrigued with a tour at Beaumont-Hamel - it is here that the Newfoundland Regiment was nearly wiped out in the first few hours of the attack. This proudly Canadian battleground is one of the best preserved sites on all of the Western Front.
Following a group lunch, we visit the Thiepval Memorial. It is the largest monument of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, on which are inscribed the names of more than 72,000 soldiers who fell during the Battle of the Somme and have no known grave.
The day includes a visit to the Lochnagar Crater, preserved as a place of peace and reconciliation.
Overnight Amiens - hotel tba. [B,L]
Thursday October 10
Day Four is steeped in history as we wind our way into the French countryside to consider the Battle of the Somme, one of the largest, bloodiest and most destructive battles of World War One. You will be intrigued with a tour at Beaumont-Hamel - it is here that the Newfoundland Regiment was nearly wiped out in the first few hours of the attack. This proudly Canadian battleground is one of the best preserved sites on all of the Western Front.
Following a group lunch, we visit the Thiepval Memorial. It is the largest monument of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, on which are inscribed the names of more than 72,000 soldiers who fell during the Battle of the Somme and have no known grave.
The day includes a visit to the Lochnagar Crater, preserved as a place of peace and reconciliation.
Overnight Amiens - hotel tba. [B,L]
Lochnagar Crater, La Boisselle.
Beaumont-Hamel Newfoundland Memorial Park.
Y-Ravine Cemetery, Beaumont-Hamel.
Day 5
Friday October 11
The tiny village of Courcelette is forever linked with the advent of the tank, which first appeared on the battlefield here in September of 1916 - alongside Canadian infantry. We will visit two monuments to this event, then take a short walk to nearby Regina Trench Cemetery.
Following a visit to the Ulster Tower Memorial, we visit the Royal Newfoundland Regiment Memorial at Gueudecourt as we continue the Trail of the Caribou.
To conclude the day, we visit the War Graves Commission's factory in Beaurains for an special guided tour at the CWGC Experience. This is here where the soldiers' headstones are engraved, with meticulous reverence and care.
Overnight Arras - hotel tba. [B,L]
Friday October 11
The tiny village of Courcelette is forever linked with the advent of the tank, which first appeared on the battlefield here in September of 1916 - alongside Canadian infantry. We will visit two monuments to this event, then take a short walk to nearby Regina Trench Cemetery.
Following a visit to the Ulster Tower Memorial, we visit the Royal Newfoundland Regiment Memorial at Gueudecourt as we continue the Trail of the Caribou.
To conclude the day, we visit the War Graves Commission's factory in Beaurains for an special guided tour at the CWGC Experience. This is here where the soldiers' headstones are engraved, with meticulous reverence and care.
Overnight Arras - hotel tba. [B,L]
Day 6
Saturday October 12
Each Canadian ought to visit Vimy Ridge once in their lifetime and today is your day. The Canadian National Vimy Memorial is arguably the most impressive of all the war monuments in Europe. We will take a guided tour of the tunnels which reveal how soldiers lived and prepared for battle beneath the earth. We also walk the above-ground trenches for a first-hand feel for trench warfare.
This day also features a visit to the Hill 70 Memorial, newly created in 2017 to commemorate a battle that has been largely forgotten. At the Cabaret Rouge Cemetery you will have a chance to visit one very special grave, amongst the more than 7,000 who rest here.
Overnight Arras - hotel tba. [B,L]
Saturday October 12
Each Canadian ought to visit Vimy Ridge once in their lifetime and today is your day. The Canadian National Vimy Memorial is arguably the most impressive of all the war monuments in Europe. We will take a guided tour of the tunnels which reveal how soldiers lived and prepared for battle beneath the earth. We also walk the above-ground trenches for a first-hand feel for trench warfare.
This day also features a visit to the Hill 70 Memorial, newly created in 2017 to commemorate a battle that has been largely forgotten. At the Cabaret Rouge Cemetery you will have a chance to visit one very special grave, amongst the more than 7,000 who rest here.
Overnight Arras - hotel tba. [B,L]
The Canadian National Vimy Memorial, near Arras, France.
Day 7
Sunday October 13
Our Sunday morning takes us north, across the border into Belgium. We'll make stops at the Ploegsteert Memorial and the Christmas Truce Memorial in Messines. This area is more densely populated with war graves cemeteries than anywhere else on the Western Front.
The tour carries onward to the lovely town of Poperinge and a visit to Talbot House, where soldiers found brief respite behind the lines.
We arrive in Ieper (Ypres) for two nights, and this evening selected travelers will be invited to lay a wreath on behalf of the tour group at the Last Post Ceremony at the Menin Gate at 8pm.
Overnight Ieper - hotel tba. [B]
Sunday October 13
Our Sunday morning takes us north, across the border into Belgium. We'll make stops at the Ploegsteert Memorial and the Christmas Truce Memorial in Messines. This area is more densely populated with war graves cemeteries than anywhere else on the Western Front.
The tour carries onward to the lovely town of Poperinge and a visit to Talbot House, where soldiers found brief respite behind the lines.
We arrive in Ieper (Ypres) for two nights, and this evening selected travelers will be invited to lay a wreath on behalf of the tour group at the Last Post Ceremony at the Menin Gate at 8pm.
Overnight Ieper - hotel tba. [B]
The Ploegsteert Memorial to the Missing.
Day 8
Monday October 14
Ieper (Ypres) was the center of fierce, prolonged, bloody fighting in World War I and the remnants of this are all around. We pass Hellfire Corner on our way to the monument at Hill 62 (Sanctuary Wood).
Our morning includes The Brooding Soldier at St. Julien, which commemorates the Canadians who suffered the first gas attacks of the Great War in 1915. We will visit Essex Farm ... it is here, in the province of West Flanders, that Canadian LCol John McCrae is believed to have penned his famous poem In Flanders Fields.
Our day's visits include the monument to the Battle of Passchendaele at Crest Farm, Langemark German Cemetery, and Tyne Cot - the largest Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery in the world. In the evening, guests will have a second opportunity to observe the Last Post Ceremony at the Menin Gate.
Overnight Ieper - hotel tba. [B]
Monday October 14
Ieper (Ypres) was the center of fierce, prolonged, bloody fighting in World War I and the remnants of this are all around. We pass Hellfire Corner on our way to the monument at Hill 62 (Sanctuary Wood).
Our morning includes The Brooding Soldier at St. Julien, which commemorates the Canadians who suffered the first gas attacks of the Great War in 1915. We will visit Essex Farm ... it is here, in the province of West Flanders, that Canadian LCol John McCrae is believed to have penned his famous poem In Flanders Fields.
Our day's visits include the monument to the Battle of Passchendaele at Crest Farm, Langemark German Cemetery, and Tyne Cot - the largest Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery in the world. In the evening, guests will have a second opportunity to observe the Last Post Ceremony at the Menin Gate.
Overnight Ieper - hotel tba. [B]
Essex Farm Cemetery, Flanders, Belgium, where Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae worked and is believed to have composed In Flanders Fields.
Tyne Cot Cemetery in Passchendaele, Belgium, the largest Commonwealth war cemetery in the world.
Day 9
Tuesday October 15
Today we continue our exploration of the WW1 memorials in the French countryside, especially those involving 'Canada's 100 Days.'
We encounter the Royal Newfoundland Regiment at Masnières and Monchy-le-Preux, and the Canadian Corps at Bourlon Wood and Dury. Once again, Canada will distinguish itself and individual acts of bravery will earn numerous Victoria Crosses.
We pause mid-day for a group lunch in Cambrai. The day also includes a very special guided tour of the Cambrai Tank 1917 Museum, where the remains of an extremely rare WW1 tank have been preserved in a new and modern exhibit - adjacent to the cemetery where most of its crew are laid to rest.
Overnight Mons - hotel tba. [B,L]
Tuesday October 15
Today we continue our exploration of the WW1 memorials in the French countryside, especially those involving 'Canada's 100 Days.'
We encounter the Royal Newfoundland Regiment at Masnières and Monchy-le-Preux, and the Canadian Corps at Bourlon Wood and Dury. Once again, Canada will distinguish itself and individual acts of bravery will earn numerous Victoria Crosses.
We pause mid-day for a group lunch in Cambrai. The day also includes a very special guided tour of the Cambrai Tank 1917 Museum, where the remains of an extremely rare WW1 tank have been preserved in a new and modern exhibit - adjacent to the cemetery where most of its crew are laid to rest.
Overnight Mons - hotel tba. [B,L]
The Cambrai Tank 1917 Museum, next door to Flesquières Hill British Cemetery.
Day 10
Wednesday October 16
The tour winds down with a final day on the battlefields. In the morning we visit the monument to Canadian George Lawrence Price - the last soldier of the British Empire to die in The Great War - which stands next to a bridge named in his honour and near to the place where he fell on November 11, 1918 at 10:58 am, a mere two minutes before the armistice took effect. A short drive then takes us to St. Symphorien Cemetery, the burial location of the first (John Henry Parr, Britain) and last (George Lawrence Price, Canada) soldiers to die in World War One.
Appropriately, we conclude the tour where it all stared, and ended, in the city of Mons, Belgium. Here we gather for our Farewell Lunch, to raise a toast and honour all those who have served, past and present. In particular, we pay tribute to the legacy of Lt. Leslie Miller, 5th Ballation, CEF, in whose footsteps we have followed.
Overnight Paris - hotel tba. [B]
Wednesday October 16
The tour winds down with a final day on the battlefields. In the morning we visit the monument to Canadian George Lawrence Price - the last soldier of the British Empire to die in The Great War - which stands next to a bridge named in his honour and near to the place where he fell on November 11, 1918 at 10:58 am, a mere two minutes before the armistice took effect. A short drive then takes us to St. Symphorien Cemetery, the burial location of the first (John Henry Parr, Britain) and last (George Lawrence Price, Canada) soldiers to die in World War One.
Appropriately, we conclude the tour where it all stared, and ended, in the city of Mons, Belgium. Here we gather for our Farewell Lunch, to raise a toast and honour all those who have served, past and present. In particular, we pay tribute to the legacy of Lt. Leslie Miller, 5th Ballation, CEF, in whose footsteps we have followed.
Overnight Paris - hotel tba. [B]
Day 11
Thursday October 17
Today is free for you to explore Paris at your leisure. Sightseeing highlights could include The Louvre and the Musée d'Orsay, the Arc de Triomphe, Jardins de Luxembourg, Père Lachaise Cemetery, the Eiffel Tower, shopping along the Champs-Élysées, and more.
In the evening, when your bags are all packed, you're invited to the lounge to enjoy a final cocktail with your fellow travelers.
Overnight Paris - hotel tba. [B]
Thursday October 17
Today is free for you to explore Paris at your leisure. Sightseeing highlights could include The Louvre and the Musée d'Orsay, the Arc de Triomphe, Jardins de Luxembourg, Père Lachaise Cemetery, the Eiffel Tower, shopping along the Champs-Élysées, and more.
In the evening, when your bags are all packed, you're invited to the lounge to enjoy a final cocktail with your fellow travelers.
Overnight Paris - hotel tba. [B]
Day 12
Friday October 18
This morning is departure day for some travelers - buffet or box breakfast is included depending on departure time from the hotel. Other travelers may choose to remain in Europe longer to extend their trip - let us know if we can quote you on post-tour accommodations. [B]
Friday October 18
This morning is departure day for some travelers - buffet or box breakfast is included depending on departure time from the hotel. Other travelers may choose to remain in Europe longer to extend their trip - let us know if we can quote you on post-tour accommodations. [B]
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.
PRICING
COMING SOON!
PRICING INCLUDES:
PRICING EXCLUDES:
COMING SOON!
PRICING INCLUDES:
- An expert Canadian Historian, and an expert Canadian Tour Director, who will both accompany you on your full tour
- Ten 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 and local taxes
- 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 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 - we can provide a quote for flights from any gateway in Canada, to match your own individual preferences based on dates, routes, class of seating, etc; there will be one coach transfer at either end of the tour: from Charles de Gaulle Airport to the hotel in Paris on October 7, 2024 in coordination with the arrival of Air Canada AC872; and from the hotel to Brussels Airport on October 17, 2024 in coordination with the departure of Air Canada AC833; travelers not utilizing these will be responsible for their own transfers
- Pre-tour and/or post-tour accommodations - check with your favourite travel agent or ask us for a quote
- Travel Insurance Protection - check with your favourite travel agent or ask us for a quote from Manulife
- Meals other than stated on the itinerary
- Passport & related fees
- Any optional excursion not specifically stated
- Items of a personal nature
- 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: Monday August 5, 2024
- 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
Join the Contact List.
If you think you might be interested in this tour, join the contact list! Simply fill in the form below and you will receive an announcement when the tour opens for booking, which is expected to be in January 2024. If you do not have an email address please call (toll free) 1-833-252-0001 and we will add you to the list over the phone.
If you think you might be interested in this tour, join the contact list! Simply fill in the form below and you will receive an announcement when the tour opens for booking, which is expected to be in January 2024. If you do not have an email address please call (toll free) 1-833-252-0001 and we will add you to the list over the phone.
Join us on the journey of a lifetime.