" My husband and I took the Northwest Europe Battlefield Tour in September / October 2025. He has a keen interest in military history and I have a layperson’s interest, but we both found the tour to be fabulous. John, Phil and the rest of the trip delivery crew looked after every detail of our adventure, from luxurious transportation, to comfortable accommodations and delicious meals, to memorable and moving stories about the sites we visited. We felt history come alive as we explored these places and events that are so pivotal to who we are as Canada and Canadians. The continuation of the tour into the Netherlands, in addition to its stops in France and Belgium, helped us to understand why Canadians are still so highly regarded in this part of the world. Recommended without reservation. "
Darlene B. & Bruce W.
2025 Fall Northwest Europe Tour
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Ottawa, ON
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" This September we did the Northwest Europe Canadian Battlefield and Remembrance Tour with Liberation Tours.
The tour itself was well organized; the itinerary had excellent flow; and time was managed effectively. The accommodations were well chosen and meals were very good. We also got to experience local culture and traditions.
John , Phil and team were not only passionate and knowledgeable but also engaging and personable. The amazing accomplishments of our Canadian troops during both WW1 and WW2 were brought to life. They detailed the complex nature of missions, battles and counterattacks fusing all that with the personal stories of those who were key in achieving battle objectives. We came to understand the influence on outcomes these battles held.
If you want a superb battlefields tour you can do no better than Liberation Tours. "
Walter L. & Janice S.
2025 Fall Northwest Europe Tour
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Toronto, ON
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" For a fantastic tour experience, Liberation Tours is the best. From start to finish, they provided amazing support and unparalleled experiences for anyone interested in stories of the wars. You'll enjoy the best food and accommodations as you tour in comfort.
Their guides and travel experts get you to the sites and provide the context that you want. We were thrilled that they dug up more about our relative's service and shared that (something that they did for everyone on the tour who had a connection). We can't wait to book another tour! "
Janice L. & Michael M.
2025 Spring Northwest Europe Tour
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Sudbury, ON
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" This was a personal journey for me. My father served as a 19-year-old Private in the Allied battle to liberate Italy. Going in, I had limited knowledge and a number of questions about what led this boy to leave his home in Canada, to travel halfway around the world and battle a foe only to turn that foe into a friend. What led him to be so loyal to his Regiment. The Liberty team was able to turn my two dimensional understanding of the 2nd World War into 4 dimensions by taking us through the battles and relating each of the our personal relationships with Service members into a narrative that we could relate to. Well done Liberation Tours! "
Miles P.
2025 Italian Campaign Tour
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San Diego, CA
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" We absolutely recommend Liberation Tours. Anyone who wants to learn about Canada’s involvement in WWII and the price paid by those who fought for our country should look into one of their packages. Every aspect of the trip was carefully planned. Subject matter experts were top-notch, provided thorough briefings and were always available for further discussion. Accommodations, transportation and meals were consistently of high quality. Tour personnel were excellent on a daily basis and readily jumped in to help when circumstances beyond control created challenges. We are already reviewing tours scheduled for 2026-2027! "
Martin D. & Céline B.
2025 Italian Campaign Tour
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Rockland, ON
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" We did the Northwest Europe battlefield tour in September 2025. If you are a Canadian interested in the World Wars, you need to take this tour. There isn’t one thing that wasn’t fabulous about this tour. The tour team was exceptional. From their knowledge of the battles, the landscape, the history to where to find a place to eat or wash our clothes, they were on top of it. The hotels we stayed in were comfortable and conveniently located. The coach was comfortable and the driver amazing.I am looking forward to taking another tour with them in the future. "
Mariea & Ken M.
2025 Fall Northwest Europe Tour
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Esterhazy, SK
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" Just arrived home after Liberation Tours Italian Campaign Canadian Battlefield Tour Oct 2025 and I couldn't be more pleased with their tour package and their help and attention to details enroute. They had an expertly researched and well presented series of historical briefings to help us follow the moving stories of soldiers and the complicated details of battles, taking us from the initial invasion of Sicily, across the Straits of Messina and up the Boot of Italy. The briefings were customized to tell the individual stories of loved ones remembered by tour participants.
But, if you think it would be a tour only for descendants of veterans, it's not. It's also a cultural tour. The pre-arranged meals are authentic, delicious and huge. On free days in Rome and Venice the hotels were close to the cultural sites and in Rome a shuttle service was provided. Hotels everywhere were excellent with lavish breakfasts in both Italian and American style. Liberation Tour has formed local connections over the years which enables them to provide unique welcomes from Italian people and special local guides with stories you may not find in history books. If you are not into planning the logistics of travel, Liberation offers services that include everything you need. If you are travelling alone, you can feel safe. They have many repeat customers which says it all! "
Martha S.
2025 Italian Campaign Tour
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Pense, SK
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" My husband and I absolutely loved the battlefield tour. John, our tour director and Phil, our historian were incredible. The organization and coordination was superb and the emphasis on the Canadian troops was thorough, accurate and delivered with wonderful maps and pictures. Highly recommend. "
Charlene & Gary Y.
2025 Northwest Europe Tour
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Calgary, AB
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" Liberation Tours excells; from expert assistance booking (return) travel to join the tour, to attending to all tour related details, you are free to enjoy the sights and sounds and tastes of Sicily and Italy.
Author and expert historian Mark Zuelke, ably supported by arms expert Mark (Karl) Proulx, brings to life conditions endured by Canadian troops during the Italian Campaign. Kudos to John Cannon for pulling together a great team and being such a wonderful host. Highly recommended. "
Bruce & Ava W.
2025 Italian Campaign Tour
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Spruce Grove, AB
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" Liberation tours exceeded all of our expectations. A lifelong friend and I had talked about a trip like this for years and both agree we were very fortunate to have chosen Liberation Tours. John is the logistics master, planned coffee stops, lunches were all perfectly timed so it never felt like endless hours on the bus. Phil shared so many historic details which you would not get if you visit these sites on your own. On this trip Eli & Cam added to the team with photos, organization and more. It is clear these tours are much than a business, their passion for sharing the history shines through. I wholeheartedly recommend Liberation Tours! "
Craig B.
2025 Fall Northwest Europe Tour
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Edmonton, AB
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" My Liberation Memory Tour was EXCEPTIONAL! The tour co-owner, John Cannon, was extremely professional. The two hosts, Mark Zuehlke and Mark Karl Proulx, who shared with us the stories about the Canadian soldiers in the Italian Campaign of 1943-1944, were profoundly knowledgeable about the subject. The tour was emotional and powerful.
All people, whether the tour professionals (John, Mark and Mark/Karl) as well as the clients were amazing storytellers who imbodied the four “I”s of storytelling: 1) idea (the core theme “the Italian campaign of 1943-1944” was communicated effectively), 2) imagination (the descriptions which help the participants visualize the story), 3) identification (the ability to recognize, be empathetic and to connect to the lives of the soldiers and events of the campaign), and impact (the long lasting emotional impression of such a powerful journey). "
Barbara L.
2025 Italian Campaign Tour
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Cape Breton, NS
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" My husband and I really enjoyed the tour. This trip was on my husband’s bucket list and it did not disappoint. Our guide was very informative and organized. The historian did such a wonderful job of making history come to life. I will never take November 11 for granted again. Listening to stories on the battlefields, seeing the Memorials, and visiting the cemeteries has left an imprint on my heart. We are so grateful for the men and women who gave us our freedom. We highly recommend this tour! "
Elaine & Darwin W.
2025 Fall Northwest Europe Tour
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Saskatoon, SK
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" This tour was a bucket list item for my husband. I went along thinking that it would be a long two weeks for me but in the end it didn’t feel that way at all! It was totally engaging, we learned so much and are incredibly proud of our Canadian Legacy! "
Julie & Robert M.
2025 Fall Northwest Europe Tour
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Petawawa, ON
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" Our recent trip with Liberation Tours was outstanding on all fronts. Details including travel, accommodations, meals etc. were perfectly thought out, with an obvious focus on quality. Our tour hosts, John & Phil, consistently made themselves available for support and guidance throughout the tour. The breadth and depth of historical knowledge shared with us by Phil was amazing and has left life-long impressions and memories with us. We are grateful for having been part of this exceptional experience as we travelled, learned and honored those who served. "
Maxine & Terry J.
2024 Fall Northwest Europe Tour
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Owen Sound, ON
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" Having never been on a battlefield tour I wasn’t sure what to expect on the 2024 Liberation Tours Fall NW Europe Tour. I experienced every emotion while visiting all the sites. The local tour company Trafalgar was top notch and their representative John was very knowledgeable and provided excellent care. John and Phil from Liberation Tours have sure perfected a well organized and insightful battlefield tour. Phil’s narratives make you believe you are reliving personal experiences and stories of the participants. Their combined knowledge on the subject was astounding and well delivered. I would definitely consider another tour and recommend this tour to anyone interested. "
Jeff P.
2024 Fall Northwest Europe Tour
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Port Moody, BC
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" After experiencing the Northwest Europe Battlefields tour, Remembrance Day takes on a new and humbling meaning. The tour took us to so many meaningful Canadian sites, the guides John & Phil told so many stories and accounts of the battles at each site. Had we not been on the tour we would have missed out on what we were actually looking at.
A very special and personal part of the trip is that Phil, our historian, collects information from the group about family and friends who served in WWI & WWII and incorporates those stories into the tour. They went above and beyond helping group members find their history.
The tour was extremely well planned. It was wonderful to be taken to interesting places for lunches and dinners. We would recommend this tour company to anyone looking for a vacation experience above the usual. "
Teresa & Todd M.
2025 Fall Northwest Europe Tour
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Carmangay, AB
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" My husband and I went on the Italian Campaign Canadian Battlefied Tour with Liberation Tours and loved it! We read all 5 books by author and Liberation Team member Mark Zuehlke prior to the tour start and found it incredibly amazing to share what we read with Mark and see the areas in person where our men fought and some died to liberate Italy. Everyone from Liberation Tours were amazing and highly knowledgeable on the events that occurred during the 1943-1944 campaign.
A huge thanks to Mark Zuehlke for his patience on answering questions and signing books, John Cannon, our Tour Director, who kept us on track, and Mark “Karl” Proulx for his daily jokes that got the day started. We cannot wait for our next trip with Liberation Tours, thank you for an unforgettable experience. "
Amanda J. & Allan D.
2025 Italian Campaign Tour
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Hammond, ON
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" I went on the Northwest Tour and it was so much more than I could have imagined. It started as a trip for my husband and became so much more! The stories Phil Craig shares made you feel like you are actually watching and hearing as the battle unfolded…so enlightening! John Cannon shard his knowledge as well and kept us together … he watched over us while he too shared his knowledge, his wit, and his way of making sure we got the most of this trip. Together John and Phil made this trip something I will never forget.
Take the tour and come home being so very proud of the men who served and sacrificed so much and humbled to be so blessed to live free. You will get so much more than you imagined and I am thankful to Liberation Tours for the well planned and well organized tour but I am especially thankful to John, Phil, Eli and Cameron for the whole experience ! "
Karen & Jim A.
2025 Fall Northwest Europe Tour
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Riverbank, NB
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" Between the COVID pandemic and scheduling conflicts, it took four years to finally book this tour. It was worth every moment of the wait, especially when that allowed the additional inclusion of the 80th anniversary of the Liberation of Holland celebrations. What a treat to be on an international tour consisting only of Canadians and tailored specifically to Canadians keen on discovering more about Canada, history, and the military as these intersected with personal experience and family memory! The organizers, Phil and John were as knowledgeable and passionate about their subject - World War I and II - as promised. Beyond that, I liked the fact that the tour was further tailored specifically to the needs of individual Canadians seeking to honour family members who had fought in Europe.
Not only did John and Phil incorporate the personal stories of individual family members into their larger historical narratives, but their willingness, with advance notice, to fit in extra side-trips to accommodate visitors trying to visit the graves of relatives that had fallen in World War I and II was very much appreciated. For me, being able to visit the grave of my great-uncle who fell at Vimy Ridge was a highlight of the tour. An enthusiastic 5 stars for the unique, moving, and unforgettable experience Liberation gave us "happy few" in spring 2025. "
