Battle of Vimy Ridge
110th Anniversary Tour
Battle of Vimy Ridge 110th Anniversary Special Edition TourIncludes Juno Beach & FlandersAt a glance
March 30 - April 10, 2027 France & Belgium ◈12 days 🍁 Overnight destinations Normandy • Amiens • Arras • Ieper (Ypres) • Mons • Paris Highlights Canadian National Vimy Memorial & Vimy 110 Commemoration • The Royal Newfoundland Regiment caribou monuments at Masnières, Monchy-le-Preux & Beaumont-Hamel • Canada's 100 Days • Last Post Ceremony at the Menin Gate in Flanders • and much more 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. They will earn the nickname ‘shock troops’ as they win important victories at Vimy Ridge, Hill 70, Passchendaele, Amiens and more. Canada will take its place as a signatory to the Treaty of Versailles. It is the birth of a nation. |
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Do you recall hearing about the big Vimy 100 anniversary back in 2017? Wish you had been there?
This is your chance to be in France for the next big event. April 9, 2027 is estimated to be attended by several thousand people. It will be a unique opportunity to gather and reflect upon Canada's sacrifices, with a feeling of immense pride. Each traveler will receive the Vimy Lapel Pin and the Vimy Pilgrimage Medal.
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Monday March 29
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 March 30 We meet you at Charles de Gaulle Airport, where you coach is waiting to pick you up. After a brief stop in the city to pick up other travelers who have arrived in Paris on previous days, we hit the road for Normandy! Upon arrival, you will have some time to unpack and rest. In the late afternoon we gather for a meet and greet glass, then enjoy a Welcome Dinner to set the stage for our very special journey. Overnight Normandy - hotel tbc. [D] (If you wish to have some sightseeing time in Paris, either before or after the tour, contact us about how you can easily book extra days and extend your trip.) |
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Day 2
Wednesday March 31 This morning we remember the historic allied landings of D-Day - June 6, 1944. We walk along the shoreline, with storytelling and much reflection, to hear personal accounts of the men who landed in this stretch of Juno Beach. We then tour inside the Juno Beach Centre, your home away from home in Normandy. After a pause for a group lunch, we make our way to the village of 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. We wind down the day with a visit to 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. Overnight Normandy - hotel tbc. [B,L] |
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Day 3
Thursday April 1 Our visit to the Juno sector of Normandy is nearly complete. In the village of Buron we learn why this little place earned the nickname 'Bloody Buron.' Our final stop is at Ardennes Abbey near Caen, an important Canadian pilgrimage where 20 Canadian soldiers were illegally executed in the early days following the D-Day landings We then say goodbye to beautiful Normandy and continue our journey northeast - pausing in historic Honfleur for lunch at your leisure. Overnight Amiens - hotel tbc. [B] |
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Day 4
Friday April 2 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. We will also 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 Arras (3 nights) - Ibis Styles Centre. [B,L] |
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Day 5
Saturday April 3 This morning you have the option (at no extra charge) to visit the Wellington Tunnels. In 1916, the British discovered the potential of these forgotten chalk quarries and created a network of underground barracks which could accommodate up to 24,000 soldiers while waiting for the Battle of Arras to start. The mission to build this was entrusted to the New Zealand Tunnelling Company who, in just six months, accomplished one of the great engineering achievements of WWI. The day is otherwise free for you to explore the beautiful town of Arras at your leisure. Its two main squares feature 17th century architecture with lots of places to sit outdoors and take in the European atmosphere. Overnight Arras - Ibis Styles Centre. [B] |
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Day 6
Sunday April 4 Each Canadian ought to visit Vimy Ridge once in their lifetime. The Canadian National Vimy Memorial is arguably the most impressive of all the war monuments in Europe. Today we visit the Canadian National Vimy Memorial ahead the big day, to get up close to the monument before the crowds descend. Ample time is then given to be at, on and around the monument, and to walk the park for photos and exploration. Scheduling permitting, we will also take a guided tour of the tunnels which reveal how soldiers lived and prepared for battle beneath the earth. This day also features a visit to the Hill 70 Memorial, newly created in 2017 to commemorate a battle 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. The tour will also pause at Neuville-Saint-Vaast German Cemetery where over 44,000 German soldiers are buried. Overnight Arras - Ibis Styles Centre. [B,L] |
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Day 7
Monday April 5 Our Monday 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 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. The tour also makes a stop at Lijssenthoek War Cemetery just south of town. We arrive in Ieper (Ypres) for two nights. This is your first of two opportunities to witness the Last Post Ceremony at the Menin Gate at 8pm, a daily act of remembrance stretching all the way back to 1928. Overnight Ieper (Ypres) - Novotel Centrum. [B] |
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Day 8
Tuesday April 6 Ieper (Ypres) was the center of fierce, prolonged, bloody fighting in World War One and the remnants of this are all around. We pass Hellfire Corner on our way to the monument at Hill 62 (Sanctuary Wood). Our route 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. The monument to the Battle of Passchendaele at Crest Farm will feature a compelling account of life in battle here. The day includes a visit to Tyne Cot Cemetery, the largest of all the commonwealth war cemeteries in the world. In the evening, guests will have a second opportunity to observe the Last Post Ceremony at the Menin Gate. Selected travelers will be invited to lay a wreath on behalf of the tour group. Overnight Ieper (Ypres) - Novotel Centrum. [B] |
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Day 9
Wednesday April 7 Today we continue our exploration of the WW1 memorials, returning to France to explore '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 lunch at leisure 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 tbc. [B,L] |
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Day 10
Thursday April 8 The tour begins to wind down. This 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. Overnight Mons / Arras - hotel tbc. [B] |
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Day 11
Friday April 9 Battle of Vimy Ridge 110th Anniversary We will join with dignitaries, officials and fellow Canadians at this very special event, hosted by Veterans Affairs Canada. The schedule is kept clear to accommodate the final details. At the conclusion of the commemoration we journey down the ridge to a local restaurant which will open exclusively for their Canadian guests. Here we gather for our Farewell Dinner, to raise a toast to Canada and all those who have served our nation in uniform - and continue to do so today.🍁 Overnight Arras / Paris - hotel tbc. [B,D]
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Day 12
Saturday April 10 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] |
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