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2021 Northwest Europe
Canadian Battlefield Tour

​From the Normandy Shores
​to the Liberation of Holland

2021 Northwest Europe Canadian Battlefield Tour

From the Normandy Shores to the Liberation of Holland

Our Signature Tour

At a glance                                                                                                
April 22 to May 7, 2021 | France - Belgium - Holland | 16 days

Overnight destinations                                                                   _     
Paris | Bayeux | Dieppe | Amiens | Arras | Ieper | Arnhem | Amsterdam

Highlights _______________                                                                  _     
Juno Beach | Pegasus Bridge | Omaha Beach | Beaumont-Hamel | Dieppe | Vimy Ridge | Passchendaele | Arnhem | May 4th Commemoration at Holten Canadian War Cemetery | Last Post Ceremony at Menin Gate, Ypres | scroll down to see complete details
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Embark on a journey of wonder and discovery as you walk in the footsteps of our Canadian soldiers, who left their mark of service and sacrifice in the pursuit of democracy & freedom. 

Your pilgrimage begins in Paris, extends out to the Normandy shores of Juno Beach, and then carries northeast through WW1 and WW2 - all the way to Amsterdam. The tour includes visits to sites of significance to Canada and her allies: ​
  • ​Juno Beach & the D-Day Beaches of Normandy
  • Vimy Ridge & Hill 70
  • Passchendaele & The Ypres Salient
  • Dieppe
  • Beaumont-Hamel & The Somme battlefields
  • the Liberation of Holland
  • ... and much more

Our annual Northwest Europe battlefield tour is the most comprehensive tour of its kind - a pilgrimage to the Canadian battlefields of both WW1 and WW2 where Canada came of age as a nation and forged a reputation as the army to be called upon for some of the most difficult and challenging battles. This is our annual signature tour, ideal for those making their first trek to the battlefields and hoping to catch most of the significant points of interest in a single trip. It is the ideal time of year to visit the battlefields in terms of weather, with western Europe coming into full bloom while still offering pleasant temperatures. And in particular, the annual spring events in Holland make this the perfect time. If you were to make only one Canadian battlefield tour, this is it.

Your excursion includes a little free time to enjoy a some culture, with the opportunity to visit several UNESCO World Heritage Sites and to explore two of Europe’s most beautiful capital cities ... Paris and Amsterdam. You’ll 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.

Join us for an unforgettable, life-changing journey through France, Belgium and Holland.
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Vimy Ridge, France.
Every Canadian ought to visit once.

ITINERARY
Day 1
Thursday April 22

Departure from Canada for our overnight transatlantic flight to Paris, except for those who may choose to leave for Paris sooner to extend their trip.

Travelers on the optional group flight will enjoy the luxury of gathering at a premium departure lounge prior to boarding.
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Day 2
Friday April 23

Upon arrival at Charles de Gaulle Airport we will proceed to downtown Paris to drop baggage at the hotel. You are then free to explore this amazing city. ​In the evening we meet for our Welcome Dinner in the heart of Paris, to share a glass of wine and set the stage for our special journey. Overnight Paris - Novotel Centre Tour Eiffel. [D]
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Day 3
Saturday April 24

Enjoy a full free day at your leisure in Paris. Overnight Paris - Novotel Paris Tour Eiffel. [B]

Day 4
Sunday April 25

This morning we depart for the Normandy coast where we will consider pre-D-Day, looking at the 'Atlantic Wall' defenses facing the Allies in the coming invasion. We visit Pegasus Bridge and the Memorial Pegasus Museum where you will learn the story of the pre-dawn paratrooper landings in the region by the British 6th Airborne and the 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion.

Free time is given to make a must-see visit to the first house liberated on D-Day, the 
Café Gondrée, a special place filled with history and charm. We then pause to enjoy lunch with wine at a local brasserie (advanced menu selection).

Our final stop is 
Longues-sur-Mer, a German coastal artillery position of four large naval guns which posed a serious threat to Allied ships off-shore and the landing beaches themselves. We then make our way to the medieval town of Bayeux for the first of three nights' stay, winding down in the hotel where we gather to chat about the day and raise a toast. Overnight Bayeux - Churchill Hotel Bayeux. [B,L]

Day 5
Monday April 26

This morning we honour the 77th Anniversary of 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 included, along with a tour of the German command bunker. We then walk along the shores to hear personal stories of the men who landed here.

For lunch we invite our guests to walk with us across the canal into Courseulles to explore the local restaurants. We then move east, standing on Juno at 
Bernières-sur-Mer to observe the famous Canada House and the nearby defenses, along with an invitation to visit inside the historic home.

Next we stop at the Juno sector near 
St-Aubin-sur-Mer, where a 50-mm German anti-tank gun still sits ominously in its casemate.

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 - Churchill Hotel Bayeux. [B,L]

Day 6
Tuesday April 27

Day Six takes us to points west where we first explore the British landing zone code named Gold Beach. This area was selected as one of two sites to construct the man-made Mulberry Harbour where ships could off-load the massive supplies for the invasion force. The view from the cliffs above reveals remnants of the harbour just off-shore. We then walk down into Arromanches, a lovely coastal tourist village, to visit the Musée du Débarquement which wonderfully illustrates how the harbours were designed.

Next up is one of two American landing sectors code named 
Omaha Beach, depicted by the opening twenty minutes of the Steven Spielberg film Saving Private Ryan. Here the Americans suffered heavy losses, as illustrated by some time of reflection at the Colleville-sur-Mer American War Cemetery which serenely overlooks the Normandy shore below. We then walk Omaha Beach at St-Laurent-sur-Mer before taking a break for lunch with wine at a local restaurant just up the coast - situated on the hill with a view looking directly onto Omaha Beach and the National Guard monument. 

We then move further west to 
Pointe-du-Hoc where the United States Army Rangers famously scaled 100' cliffs to secure the position. We close out the day with a short drive in-land to La Cambe German Cemetery and an opportunity to respectfully consider the losses of the other side. More than 21,000 German soldiers lie here, some having not quite reached their eighteenth birthday. Overnight Bayeux - Churchill Hotel Bayeux. [B,L]

Day 7
Wednesday April 28
Today is a scheduled free morning, allowing you time to explore the local village of Bayeux. You may wish to consider taking in the 1,000-year-old Bayeux Tapestry which depicts events leading to William the Conqueror's invasion of England, or perhaps peek inside the enormous cathedral. Bayeux is also a wonderful location for photography, the town having been mostly spared the destructive fighting of the war.

​In the afternoon we depart Bayeux, first stopping for a visit l'Abbaye d'Ardennes near Caen, an important Canadian pilgrimage, before saying goodbye to Lower Normandy and continuing our journey northeast along the coast to Dieppe for the night. Overnight Dieppe - 
Hôtel Mercure Dieppe La Présidence. [B]

Day 8
Thursday April 29

We begin the day with a morning stroll along the main beach to consider Operation Jubilee - the plans, the execution and the after-math of the August 1942 raid that went horribly wrong.

The raid entailed three Canadian attack zones and we next move northeast to the beach at 
Puys, followed by a visit to Pourville to the southwest. We conclude the visit of the battlefields with a view of Dieppe from the coastal cliffs above, then head back into the center of town to pause for lunch - allowing time to explore the many restaurants lining the inner harbour.

Our final stop is 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. We then depart the coast and resume our journey into northern France as we move back in time to World War One. Overnight Amiens - Mercure Cathedrale Hotel Amiens. [B]

Day 9
Friday April 30

Day Nine 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 guided 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 in all of the western front.

Our lunch stop is in the midst of the Somme battlefield region, at a local high restaurant hidden from view offering an outstanding menu, with wine. Next is a visit to see the impressive 
Thiepval Memorial, the largest Commonwealth War Graves monument in the world and on which are inscribed the names of over 72,000 soldiers who fell during the Battle of the Somme and have no known grave (including one very special name).

​The day includes a visit to the 
Lochnagar Crater and additional points of interest in the region. Overnight Arras - Najeti Hotel de l'Univers. [B,L]

Day 10
Saturday May 1

Each Canadian ought to visit Vimy Ridge once in their lifetime and today is your day. We will take a guided tour of the underground 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 of trench warfare. Ample time is then given to be at, on and around the Vimy Monument, arguably the most impressive of all the war monuments in Europe.

A short distance down the ridge takes us into Souchez for quick stops at points of interest, along with a delicious lunch with wine at a well-known establishment filled with charm. The tour then pays tribute to the Battle of Hill 70, often called "The Forgotten Victory," where a new monument was finally erected in 2017.

We then say au revoir to France and drive north across the border into Belgium, to the enchanting small town of 
Ieper (Ypres). At 8pm the Last Post Ceremony will take place at the Menin Gate, as it has every evening since 1928. Overnight Ieper - Novotel Ieper Centrum. [B,L]

Day 11
Sunday May 2

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, a favourite monument for many. We will visit Essex Farm ... it is here, in the province of West Flanders, that Canadian LtCol John McCrae penned his famous poem In Flanders Fields. We also visit the monument to the Battle of Passchendaele at Crest Farm, and nearby Tyne Cot Cemetery, the largest Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery in the world.

We return to Ieper for free time in the afternoon. The Last Post Ceremony takes place again at 8pm and s
elected travelers will be invited to lay a wreath on behalf of the tour group. Overnight Ieper - Novotel Ieper Centrum. [B,L]

Day 12
Monday May 3

This morning we say goodbye to Belgium as our journey takes us across the border, into the Netherlands, heading northeast just as the Canadian Army did in 1944. We pause during our journey for lunch with wine at a local Dutch restaurant situated steps from the German border.

Our first stop is a visit to 
Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery, one of the largest Commonwealth War Graves Cemeteries in Holland and the resting place of a recipient of the Victoria Cross. Here are buried many of the young men who fell in the Rhineland battles as the Allies moved across the border into Germany in the spring of 1945.

We wind down the afternoon with a visit to the famous John Frost Bridge - "A Bridge Too Far," to learn about the failed Operation Market-Garden of September 1944. Overnight Arnhem - 
Best Western Hotel Haarhuis. [B,L]

Day 13
Tuesday May 4

Our day begins with a particularly special and poignant event, the annual Remembrance Service at Holten Canadian War Cemetery in the forest just outside of town. We see how the local school children are made central to the event, which usually features pipes & drums, members of the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 005 Europe, local dignitaries, and more.

We then pause for lunch in the forest nearby, to enjoy a typical Dutch lunch with a glass of wine or beer. We round out the day with additional points of interest in the area. Overnight Arnhem - 
Best Western Hotel Haarhuis. [B,L]

Day 14
Wednesday May 5

We will drive toward the coast this morning, and gather for our Farewell Lunch. But, your tour is not over! It's time to carry onward to Amsterdam for the afternoon and evening, including a delightful canal boat cruise of the old inner city. Overnight Amsterdam - Apollo Hotel Amsterdam. [B,L]


​
Day 15
Thursday May 6

Enjoy a full free day at your leisure in Amsterdam. Overnight Amsterdam - Apollo Hotel Amsterdam. [B]

Day 16
Friday May 7

Morning departure via Schiphol Airport for those returning home, while others may extend their stay at their option. Buffet or box breakfast depending on departure time from the hotel.
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Note:  Hotel locations are tentative at this time, and minor changes to the itinerary are possible prior to summer 2020.
Clients should 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.
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PRICING
Pricing will be posted in May 2020.

PRICING WILL INCLUDE:
  • 14 nights accommodation in twin-bedded rooms with private facilities
  • Travel by luxury air-conditioned coach with reclining seats, facilities and free on-board Wi-Fi
  • Guests on the group flight will enjoy gathering at a premium departure lounge on departure day (where available and schedules permitting) ... an exclusive benefit not offered by other battlefield tours!
  • Buffet breakfast (cold and/or hot) at the hotel each morning, plus select lunches/dinners as outlined in the itinerary
  • All hotel service charges, local taxes, baggage handling (one bag per person) are included
  • Gratuities to Coach Driver, On-Board Agent and Local Guides are included! ... these costs are extra on most other tours and can add up to $150 CAD or more per person at the end of your trip, requiring an awkward search for a bank machine in the final days of your vacation ... we eliminate this. Be sure to compare!
  • Group pick-up from Charles de Gaulle Airport on April 23, 2021 and return group transfer to Amsterdam Schiphol Airport on May 7, 2021; all non-group flight travelers are responsible for their own airport transfers

PRICING WILL NOT INCLUDE:
  • Airfare - optional group flight information to be posted in June 2020!
    (or we can provide a quote to connect from other gateways or for alternative flight dates)
  • Meals other than stated on the itinerary
  • Travel / Cancellation / Medical Insurance, Passport & related fees
  • Any optional excursion not specifically stated
  • Items of a personal nature

IMPORTANT NOTES:
  • Hotels will have been pre-booked but are subject to change
  • This tour requires a minimum of 20 passengers to operate
  • $500 non-refundable deposit per person due upon booking
  • Balance of payment due on or before the booking deadline: December 15, 2020
  • Download and read our Terms & Conditions ​prior to making your booking

    This tour will open for booking in May 2020.

    If you think you might be interested in traveling with us, and you would like to be notified when booking opens, please complete the following simple form and we will add you to our contact list. You will receive a couple of email updates per year (typically 4-6 at most) describing our latest tour offerings, and of course you will also receive specific updates regarding this particular tour.
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Join us on the journey of a lifetime.
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info@liberationtours.ca

(289) 470-0299

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