2018 Northwest Europe
Canadian Battlefield Tour
From the Normandy Shores
to the Liberation of the Netherlands
to the Liberation of the Netherlands
2018 Northwest Europe Canadian Battlefield TourFrom the Normandy Shores to the Liberation of the NetherlandsAnniversary Year of the End of WWIApril 22 to May 7, 2018
France - Belgium - Holland (16 days) 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
- Vimy Ridge
- Passchendaele
- Dieppe
- Beaumont-Hamel & The Somme
- ... and much more
We also pay special attention to the final months of The Great War and the key Canadian contributions which brought about the end of WW1 in this, the centenary year.
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 ... 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.
Vimy Ridge, France.
Every Canadian ought to visit once.
ITINERARY
Day 1
Sunday April 22
Depart from Canada for your overnight transatlantic flight to Paris, except for those who may choose to leave for Paris sooner to extend their trip. Where available, guests will enjoy the luxury of a premium airport departure lounge.
Day 2
Monday April 23
Upon arrival at Charles de Gaulle Airport we will proceed to downtown Paris where a local guide will come on-board our coach for a sight-seeing drive of the city. The day includes a Welcome Lunch/Dinner in the city and a cruise of the River Seine. Upon arrival your hotel room is available for immediate check-in, providing the opportunity for rest for those who wish it. Overnight - Novotel Paris Tour Eiffel.
Day 3
Tuesday April 24
Enjoy a full free day at your leisure in Paris. Overnight - Novotel Paris Tour Eiffel. Breakfast.
Day 4
Wednesday 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. We 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 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 - Novotel Bayeux. Breakfast, Lunch.
Day 5
Thursday April 26
This morning we honour the 74th 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. For lunch we invite our guests to walk with us across the canal into Courseulles to explore local restaurants. We then move to eastern sectors of Juno Beach at Bernières-sur-Mer and Saint-Aubin-sur-Mer to observe the famous Canada House and the coastal defenses. In the afternoon we visit the hallowed grounds of Beny-sur-Mer Canadian War Cemetery, the burial place of 2,044 Canadians who died in the liberation of Normandy. Overnight - Novotel Bayeux. Breakfast, Lunch.
Day 6
Friday April 27
Day Six takes us to points west where we 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, made famous 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. It's time for lunch with wine at a local restaurant, situated on the hill with a view directly looking onto Omaha Beach. We then move west to Pointe-du-Hoc where the United States Army Rangers 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 - Novotel Bayeux. Breakfast, Lunch.
Day 7
Saturday April 28
Today is a scheduled free half day, 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. In the afternoon we visit l'Abbaye d'Ardennes near Caen, and then say goodbye to Lower Normandy and continue our journey northeast along the coast to Dieppe for the night. Overnight - Hôtel Mercure Dieppe La Présidence. Breakfast.
Day 8
Sunday 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 then 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 I, spending the night in the historic city of Amiens. Overnight - Mercure Cathedrale Hotel Amiens. Breakfast.
Day 9
Monday April 30
Day Nine is steeped in history as we wind our way into the countryside to consider the Battle of the Somme, one of the largest and bloodiest 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 the region. Our lunch stop is in the midst of the Somme battlefield region, at a local high restaurant hidden from view which serves excellent food, with wine. Next is a visit to see the impressive Thiepval Memorial, the largest British battle memorial in the world and on which are inscribed the names of over 72,000 soldiers who have no known grave. The day includes a visit to the Lochnagar Crater. Overnight - Holiday Inn Express Arras. Breakfast, Lunch.
Day 10
Tuesday 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, one of 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. 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. Selected travelers will be invited to lay a wreath on behalf of the tour in honour of the centenary of the end of WWI. Overnight - Novotel Ieper Centrum. Breakfast, Lunch.
Day 11
Wednesday 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 day includes The Brooding Soldier at St. Julien. 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 (the following day, May 3, will be the 103rd anniversary of its composition). We also visit the monument to the Battle of Passchendaele and nearby Tyne Cot Cemetery, the largest Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery in the world. We return to Ieper for free time in the afternoon. Overnight - Novotel Ieper Centrum. Breakfast.
Day 12
Thursday May 3
This morning we say goodbye to Belgium and 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. We then pay 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. Overnight - Best Western Hotel Haarhuis. Breakfast, Lunch.
Day 13
Friday May 4
Our day begins with a highlight event, the annual Remembrance Service at Holten Canadian War Cemetery. We see how the local school children are made central to the event, which often features pipes & drums, members of the Royal Canadian Legion 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. Our next stop is the tiny village of Rha where we learn of the efforts of the Queen's Own Rifles to liberate the local residents. We then travel to the coast for the evening. Overnight - Hampshire Hotel Delft. Breakfast, Lunch.
Day 14
Saturday May 5
The battlefield portion of the tour is over but our vacation is not! After exploring the charming town of Delft in the morning we gather for our Farewell lunch of typical Dutch fare. We then carry onward to Amsterdam for the afternoon and evening, including a delightful canal boat cruise of the old inner city. Overnight - Wyndham Apollo Hotel Amsterdam. Breakfast, Lunch.
Day 15
Sunday May 6
Enjoy a full free day at your leisure in Amsterdam. Overnight - Wyndham Apollo Hotel Amsterdam. Breakfast.
Day 16
Monday May 7
Morning departure via Schiphol Airport for those returning home, while others may extend their stay at their option. Box breakfast.
Note: This itinerary is tentative, with minor changes possible prior to departure. 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.
Day 1
Sunday April 22
Depart from Canada for your overnight transatlantic flight to Paris, except for those who may choose to leave for Paris sooner to extend their trip. Where available, guests will enjoy the luxury of a premium airport departure lounge.
Day 2
Monday April 23
Upon arrival at Charles de Gaulle Airport we will proceed to downtown Paris where a local guide will come on-board our coach for a sight-seeing drive of the city. The day includes a Welcome Lunch/Dinner in the city and a cruise of the River Seine. Upon arrival your hotel room is available for immediate check-in, providing the opportunity for rest for those who wish it. Overnight - Novotel Paris Tour Eiffel.
Day 3
Tuesday April 24
Enjoy a full free day at your leisure in Paris. Overnight - Novotel Paris Tour Eiffel. Breakfast.
Day 4
Wednesday 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. We 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 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 - Novotel Bayeux. Breakfast, Lunch.
Day 5
Thursday April 26
This morning we honour the 74th 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. For lunch we invite our guests to walk with us across the canal into Courseulles to explore local restaurants. We then move to eastern sectors of Juno Beach at Bernières-sur-Mer and Saint-Aubin-sur-Mer to observe the famous Canada House and the coastal defenses. In the afternoon we visit the hallowed grounds of Beny-sur-Mer Canadian War Cemetery, the burial place of 2,044 Canadians who died in the liberation of Normandy. Overnight - Novotel Bayeux. Breakfast, Lunch.
Day 6
Friday April 27
Day Six takes us to points west where we 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, made famous 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. It's time for lunch with wine at a local restaurant, situated on the hill with a view directly looking onto Omaha Beach. We then move west to Pointe-du-Hoc where the United States Army Rangers 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 - Novotel Bayeux. Breakfast, Lunch.
Day 7
Saturday April 28
Today is a scheduled free half day, 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. In the afternoon we visit l'Abbaye d'Ardennes near Caen, and then say goodbye to Lower Normandy and continue our journey northeast along the coast to Dieppe for the night. Overnight - Hôtel Mercure Dieppe La Présidence. Breakfast.
Day 8
Sunday 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 then 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 I, spending the night in the historic city of Amiens. Overnight - Mercure Cathedrale Hotel Amiens. Breakfast.
Day 9
Monday April 30
Day Nine is steeped in history as we wind our way into the countryside to consider the Battle of the Somme, one of the largest and bloodiest 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 the region. Our lunch stop is in the midst of the Somme battlefield region, at a local high restaurant hidden from view which serves excellent food, with wine. Next is a visit to see the impressive Thiepval Memorial, the largest British battle memorial in the world and on which are inscribed the names of over 72,000 soldiers who have no known grave. The day includes a visit to the Lochnagar Crater. Overnight - Holiday Inn Express Arras. Breakfast, Lunch.
Day 10
Tuesday 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, one of 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. 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. Selected travelers will be invited to lay a wreath on behalf of the tour in honour of the centenary of the end of WWI. Overnight - Novotel Ieper Centrum. Breakfast, Lunch.
Day 11
Wednesday 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 day includes The Brooding Soldier at St. Julien. 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 (the following day, May 3, will be the 103rd anniversary of its composition). We also visit the monument to the Battle of Passchendaele and nearby Tyne Cot Cemetery, the largest Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery in the world. We return to Ieper for free time in the afternoon. Overnight - Novotel Ieper Centrum. Breakfast.
Day 12
Thursday May 3
This morning we say goodbye to Belgium and 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. We then pay 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. Overnight - Best Western Hotel Haarhuis. Breakfast, Lunch.
Day 13
Friday May 4
Our day begins with a highlight event, the annual Remembrance Service at Holten Canadian War Cemetery. We see how the local school children are made central to the event, which often features pipes & drums, members of the Royal Canadian Legion 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. Our next stop is the tiny village of Rha where we learn of the efforts of the Queen's Own Rifles to liberate the local residents. We then travel to the coast for the evening. Overnight - Hampshire Hotel Delft. Breakfast, Lunch.
Day 14
Saturday May 5
The battlefield portion of the tour is over but our vacation is not! After exploring the charming town of Delft in the morning we gather for our Farewell lunch of typical Dutch fare. We then carry onward to Amsterdam for the afternoon and evening, including a delightful canal boat cruise of the old inner city. Overnight - Wyndham Apollo Hotel Amsterdam. Breakfast, Lunch.
Day 15
Sunday May 6
Enjoy a full free day at your leisure in Amsterdam. Overnight - Wyndham Apollo Hotel Amsterdam. Breakfast.
Day 16
Monday May 7
Morning departure via Schiphol Airport for those returning home, while others may extend their stay at their option. Box breakfast.
Note: This itinerary is tentative, with minor changes possible prior to departure. 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.
PRICING
$5750 CAD Land Only, based on Double Occupancy
$1550 CAD Single Supplement
PRICING INCLUDES:
PRICING DOES NOT INCLUDE:
This tour is now booking! To reserve your seats please contact our exclusive booking agent:
Debbie Baggley
Uniglobe Travel Innovations Ltd
348 Lakeshore Road East, Suite #4
Mississauga, Ontario L5G 1H5
Toll Free: 1-800-565-7999
Email: debbie@travel-til.com
Are you a travel agent? Contact us!
$5750 CAD Land Only, based on Double Occupancy
$1550 CAD Single Supplement
PRICING INCLUDES:
- 14 nights accommodation in twin-bedded rooms with private facilities
- Guests on the group flight will enjoy gathering at a premium departure lounge (where available) ... an exclusive benefit not offered by other battlefield tours
- Upon arrival in Paris in the early morning your hotel room is reserved for you and available for immediate early check-in should you wish to take some rest after your flight ... an exclusive benefit not offered by other battlefield tours
- 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 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, 2018 and return group transfer to Schiphol airport on May 7, 2018; individual transfers are the responsibility of the client
PRICING DOES NOT INCLUDE:
- Airfare - optional group booking:
22Apr18 Air France AF351 Toronto->Paris dep 1820 arr 0750
07May18 KLM Royal Dutch Airlines KL691 Amsterdam->Toronto dep 0945 arr 1140
$993 which includes estimated departure taxes - 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
- Prices are subject to change based on currency fluctuations, to be confirmed at time of final payment
- Hotels have been pre-booked but are subject to change
- This tour requires a minimum of 20 passengers to operate
- $500 Non-Refundable Deposit due with booking. Balance of Payment due on or before December 15, 2017. All deposits and payments are non-refundable.
- Please be sure to read our Terms & Conditions.
This tour is now booking! To reserve your seats please contact our exclusive booking agent:
Debbie Baggley
Uniglobe Travel Innovations Ltd
348 Lakeshore Road East, Suite #4
Mississauga, Ontario L5G 1H5
Toll Free: 1-800-565-7999
Email: debbie@travel-til.com
Are you a travel agent? Contact us!
Join us on the journey of a lifetime.
