2026 Northwest Europe Canadian Battlefield TourFollow the Maple Leaf Route from Normandy to the Liberation of Hollandthe Spring Edition of our Signature Tour,
a perfect mix of WWI & WWII At a glance
April 21 to May 6, 2026 • France, Belgium, Holland • 16 days Overnight destinations Paris • Port-en-Bessin • Dieppe • Amiens • Lille • Ieper • Vlissingen • Arnhem • Amsterdam Highlights Juno Beach • Omaha Beach • Beaumont Hamel • Dieppe • Vimy Ridge • Flanders & Passchendaele • The Scheldt • 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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Monday April 20
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. |
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Day 1
Tuesday April 21 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 Paris, the City of Light. 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 so much more! In the late afternoon we gather in the heart of Paris for our Welcome Dinner, to the stage for our special journey. Overnight Paris - hotel tbc. [D] |
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Day 2
Wednesday April 22 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 landings. 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. 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 our hotel for the first of three nights' stay, winding down in the hotel where we gather to chat about the day. Overnight Port-en-Bessin - Mercure Omaha Beach. [B] |
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Day 3
Thursday April 23 This morning we mark the upcoming 80th anniversary of D-Day by walking the sands of Juno Beach. We visit St-Aubin-sur-Mer, where a 50-mm German anti-tank gun still sits ominously in its casemate. From here we venture a short distance to Bernières-sur-Mer to observe the famous Canada House and the nearby defenses. Courseulles-sur-Mer is our next stop, with more visits at the water's edge. After a pause for lunch we tour inside the Juno Beach Centre, along with a guided tour of the underground German command bunker just out front. We then walk along the shore again, with storytelling and much reflection, to hear personal accounts of the men who landed in this stretch of Juno Beach. Overnight Port-en-Bessin - Mercure Omaha Beach. [B,L] |
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Day 4
Friday April 24 Day Four 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 needed for the allied forces. 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 the famous American landing sector code named Omaha Beach, depicted so accurately by the opening twenty minutes of the Steven Spielberg motion picture 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 take a break for lunch at a local restaurant just up the coast - situated on the hill with a view looking directly onto Omaha Beach and the amazing 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 yet reached their eighteenth birthday. Overnight Port-en-Bessin - Mercure Omaha Beach. [B,L] |
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Day 5
Saturday April 25 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 take a 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. Saturday morning is also Market Day in the square! Right after lunch we depart Bayeux, stopping for a visit at 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 Battle of Normandy. The group also pauses at Ardennes Abbey 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 - hotel tbc. [B] |
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Day 6
Sunday April 26 We begin the day with a morning stroll along the main beach of Dieppe 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, Canada's darkest hour of WW2, followed by a visit to Pourville to the southwest and Merritt's Bridge. 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 which line 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 inland and back in time to World War One. Overnight Amiens - Mercure Cathedrale. [B] |
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Day 7
Monday April 27 Day Seven 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 restaurant hidden from view offering an outstanding menu. Next is a visit to see the impressive Thiepval Memorial, the largest Commonwealth War Graves monument in the world 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 Lille - Mercure Centre Grand Place. [B,L] |
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Day 8
Tuesday April 28 Each Canadian ought to visit Vimy Ridge once in their lifetime and today is your day. A short distance north from Arras takes us into Souchez for quick stops at points of interest in the area, then we make our way to the Canadian National Vimy Memorial. Ample time is then given to be at, on and around the monument, arguably the most impressive of all the war monuments in Europe. Scheduling permitting, we will go down into the tunnels with an on-site guide how learn 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. We then say au revoir to France and drive north across the border into Belgium, to the enchanting small town of Ieper (Ypres) in the province of West Flanders. At 8pm the Last Post Ceremony will take place near the Menin Gate, as it has every evening since 1928. Overnight Lille - Mercure Centre Grand Place. [B,L] |
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Day 9
Wednesday April 29 Today we continue our exploration of the WW1 memorials in the French countryside, learning the importance of the battles involving in what has become known as '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 historic 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. Our day concludes across the border in Belgium. Overnight Ieper (Ypres) - Novotel Centrum Flanders Fields. [B,L] |
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Day 10
Thursday April 30 Ieper (Ypres) was the center of fierce, prolonged, bloody fighting in The Great War 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 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 selected travelers will be invited to lay a wreath on behalf of the tour group. Ieper (Ypres) - Novotel Centrum Flanders Fields. [B] |
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Day 11
Friday May 1 Our Wednesday morning will see us visit a number of interesting sites in the very southwest corner of the Netherlands as we move forward in time to World War II. 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. Of particular interest will be a walk to an original Bailey Bridge, constructed by the Canadian Engineers in 1944 and still in use today. We pause for lunch, and then head up to the estuary and the monument at Hoofdplaat. 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. Overnight Vlissingen - Fletcher Hotel Arion. [B,L] |
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Day 12
Saturday May 2 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, and then Bergen-op-Zoom Canadian War Cemetery to pay our respects. After lunch we carry onward to Arnhem, to stand in the shadow of John Frost Bridge, "a bridge too far," to discuss the now infamous Operation Market Garden of September 1944 and the small but pivotal role played by the Canadians. Overnight Arnhem - Van der Valk. [B,L] |
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Day 13
Sunday May 3 To begin the day we make a early visit to Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery, the largest Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery in Holland and the resting place of a recipient of the Victoria Cross. We are often joined by our good friends of the Faces to Graves organization. A short drive around the corner then brings us to the superb Freedom Museum for a self-guided tour. We carry northward to Zutphen to see a small bridge dedicated to the Canadians for liberating their town, and then take some time to wander the beautiful town center and pause for lunch. Later, we venture a short distance south to a little hamlet to see another small monument, raised by the local citizens to remember the handful of soldiers who died in April 1945 to bring them their freedom. Overnight Arnhem - Van der Valk. [B] |
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Day 14
Monday May 4 Today is Remembrance Day in the Netherlands. On this day, at 11am, we attend the annual commemoration 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 features pipes & drums, members of the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 005 Europe, veterans, and dignitaries. In the early afternoon we gather for our Farewell Lunch, and in the evening we join the nation in pausing at 8:00 pm to observe two minutes of silence. Overnight Amsterdam - NH City Center. [B,L] |
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Day 15
Tuesday May 5 The battlefield portion of your tour is over but your trip is not! Today is Liberation Day - enjoy a full free day at your leisure in Amsterdam. You might pay 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 - NH City Center. [B] |
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Day 16
Wednesday May 6 This morning is departure day for some travelers - 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. [B] |
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