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Insight Vacations

WWI and WWII Battlefields

Classic Group

Everyday Price From

$6,248

$7,350

11 days

No Countries

Overview

Your Europe battlefield tour is the ultimate in-depth journey into the history of World Wars I and II. Journey to the Ypres Salient battlefields and see the Passchendaele Memorial and Tyne Cot Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery. Visit the Australian Fromelles Military Cemetery, where 250 British and Australian soldiers were buried and learn insights from a Local Expert for a tour of the key battlefields of the Somme. In Normandy, stand on the 100-foot-tall Pointe du Hoc overlooking the D-Day Landing Beaches and be guided through the Normandy American Cemetery at Omaha Beach. Indulge in a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER®️ Experience at Les Confisseurs confectionary. End the trip exploring Paris' celebrated squares and avenues, from Place de la Concorde to the Champs-Élysées.

Locations Visited

London, Brussels, Ypres, Lille, Arras, Amiens, Rouen, Caen, Versailles, Paris

Countries Visited

England, Belgium, France

Travel Style

Regional

Accommodations

10 nights included

Age Requirements

Minimum age 5

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Itinerary

COLLAPSE ALL EXPAND ALL

Day 1

Welcome to London

Begin your WWI and WWII battlefield tour in stylish London. After checking into your hotel, the afternoon is free to enjoy this city famous for its grandeur and famous landmarks. Perhaps relax with a walk along the Serpentine in Hyde Park or window shop in the boutiques of Knightsbridge. Or, stroll along the Thames to the iconic Tower Bridge and Tower of London. This evening, join your fellow travelers for a dinner.

  • Accommodation

    Park Plaza Victoria


  • Meals

    Dinner

See London’s iconic landmarks on a guided tour with a Local Expert, from the stately Houses of Parliament to Buckingham Palace. Then, delve into Britain’s wartime past at the Imperial War Museum. Explore thought-provoking exhibits, from a recreated World War I trench to the Holocaust Gallery, and see the machine that once decrypted enemy codes in WWII. This afternoon, enjoy time at leisure or choose to join an Optional Experience. Step inside St. Paul’s Cathedral, a masterpiece of British architecture crowned by Sir Christopher Wren’s magnificent dome. Then, venture to the Tower of London, where tales of imprisoned monarchs, legendary ravens and the dazzling Crown Jewels await. 

  • Accommodation

    Park Plaza Victoria


  • Meals

    Breakfast

Highlights

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London City tour with LE

See Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament, St Paul’s Cathedral, Westminster Abbey and Trafalgar Square. Witness the pomp and pageantry of the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace (if operating).

Visit the Imperial War Museum

Explore one of the world’s leading museums of conflict, focusing on the impact of modern warfare on individuals and societies. Through powerful exhibitions, learn about the World Wars and their lasting effects, featuring personal stories, military artifacts, and immersive experiences.

Journey on the Eurostar to Brussels where you can curate the rest of the day of your battlefields tour exploring the city with Insight Choice. Opt to visit the historic battlefield of Waterloo. At the site of the final battle of the Napoleonic Wars, learn about Napoleon's June 18 defeat in 1815, which marked the end of his attempts to dominate Europe. Should you prefer to indulge your sweet tooth, you can choose to join your Local Expert on a city tour of Brussels and chocolate-making class. Conclude your day dining with your travel companions at a local restaurant.

  • Accommodation

    Cardo Brussels Autograph Collection


  • Meals

    Breakfast

    Dinner

Highlights

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Brussels City Tour and Chocolate-making

Join a private chocolate truffle-making lesson and tasting with a master chocolatier to get up close and personal with the decadent flavours of Brussels. Then enhance your discovery exploring Brussels with your Local Expert. Visit the cobbled square of the Grand-Place, home to the Town Hall and other buildings of political significance. This 12th century, Gothic architectural gem also hosts many concerts, fairs and folklore events and has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1998.

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Waterloo Visit

No visit to Belgium is complete without a trip to the site of the historic Battle of Waterloo. Your Travel Director reveals how the Battle of Waterloo was fought at this very spot between Napoleon’s French Army and a coalition led by the Duke of Wellington and Marshal Blücher, ending a 23-year war and Napolean’s imperial power. Step inside the museum and the underground Visitor Centre to enhance your discovery through a 3D film and monumental panoramic painting depicting the battle.

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Dinner in Brussels

Discover the flavours of Belgian cuisine, from rich chocolates to savoury moules-frites, in the capital’s historic heart.

Embark on your journey to Ypres. The next two days are dedicated to the First World War – viewing Hill 60, Polygon Wood, the Passchendaele Memorial and Tyne Cot Cemetery. Uncover the history of the Battle of Messines, a prelude to Passchendaele, where Australian and New Zealand Forces combined to attack the German defensive position. In the town of Ypres, sample the local beer before concluding your day hearing the Last Post sounded at the Menin Gate. 

  • Accommodation

    Mercure Lille Centre Grand Place Hotel


  • Meals

    Breakfast

Highlights

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Ypres Beer Tasting

Sample a cool Belgian beer, brewed with traditional methods that have defined the region’s taste for generations.

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Visit the Memorial Museum Passchendaele 1917

Discover the tragic history of one of the bloodiest battles of World War I. The Memorial Museum Passchendaele 1917 offers a poignant journey through the events of the Battle of Passchendaele, with vivid displays of war relics, reconstructed trenches, and interactive exhibits to understand the devastation and courage of the soldiers.

 

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Visit the Tyne Cot Cemetery

Pay your respects at the largest Commonwealth military cemetery in the world, where over 11,900 soldiers of World War I are laid to rest. The Tyne Cot Cemetery is a solemn and moving tribute to the fallen, offering an opportunity for quiet reflection amidst the rows of white gravestones and the impressive memorial wall.

 

Arriving at the Australian cemetery of Fromelles, pause to pay your respects and to learn about this monument commemorating one of the darkest days in Australian military history. Then learn about the efforts of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission that commemorates the 1.7 million casualties from the First and Second World Wars. Explore the town of Arras and consider joining an Optional Experience to Wellington’s Quarry Museum, named after a network of tunnels used during World War I. Make an insightful stop at the Vimy Ridge Visitors Centre, dedicated to a battle that defined Canada. Finish your day in medieval Amiens rebuilt after World War II, spending some time in the historic Saint-Leu district lined with colourful houses, canals, tiny bridges and water-powered mills.

  • Accommodation

    Mercure Amiens Cathédrale Hotel


  • Meals

    Breakfast

    Dinner

Highlights

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Vimy Ridge Canadian National Memorial Visit

Visit the Canadian National Memorial, dedicated to a battle that defined Canada as a nation, and walk among the original 100-year-old trenches. 

Your Local Expert illuminates the stories behind the key battlefields of the Somme. Visit the Franco-British Memorial at Thiepval, the Lochnagar Crater, the South African and New Zealand Memorials at Longueval. Stop at Ocean Villas for lunch, and later visit the war museum on a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience. Your guided visit to the Australian National Memorial at Villers-Bretonneux and the Sir John Monash Centre shines a light on how Australian soldiers saved this town. Return to Amiens to view the largest Gothic cathedral in France, boasting the second tallest nave of any medieval church in the country. 

  • Accommodation

    Mercure Amiens Cathédrale Hotel


  • Meals

    Breakfast

    Lunch

    Dinner

Highlights

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Visit Somme Battlefields with a Local Historian

Venture through the battlefields of the Somme, as your local historian explains how brave soldiers fought tirelessly for five months.

Visit Ocean Villas Museum

Visit the WW1 museum at Ocean Villas and meet owner and founder Avril Williams, who created this private museum on battlefields, including original war trenches. The museum displays memorabilia and artefacts from the war, recovered during the construction and through private donations. See what is known as the first private Remembrance Wall on the Western Front, commemorating both those who survived and those who were killed in action. This MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience helps preserve cultural vibrancy while advancing United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 12: Sustainable Cities and Communities.

Today make your way to Rouen, capital of Normandy, to admire its ancient cathedral - a masterpiece of Gothic style and the subject of paintings by Monet. Wander through the narrow streets beneath the Great Clock to the Old Market Square where a modern church commemorates the burning of Joan of Arc on this very spot in 1431. Cap off your day at the Château Champ de Bataille, a masterpiece of 17th-century architecture. 

  • Accommodation

    Hotel Mercure Caen Centre Port de Plaisance


  • Meals

    Breakfast

    Dinner

Highlights

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Visit the Chateau du Champ de Bataille

Step into the opulence of the Château du Champ de Bataille, a magnificent 17th-century estate in Normandy. This grand chateau boasts stunning gardens designed by renowned landscape architect Jacques Garcia, who has also restored the lavish interiors, offering visitors a glimpse into aristocratic life and French history.

 

Follow the route of the Rangers and visit the bunkers and the Rangers Memorial at Pointe du Hoc. Then delve into the sights and insights over a D-Day Experience. You’ll even step aboard a genuine C-47 built in 1943 for a simulated flight over the D-Day Landing beaches. Enter the house dubbed Dead Man’s Corner used in the film Band of Brothers. Visit the Utah Beach Museum, illuminating the story of D-Day from its preparation to its conclusion. Stop at the Omaha Beach Memorial before spending a few reflective moments at the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial. Enhance your evening with an optional dining experience to taste Normandy's renowned local cuisine.

  • Accommodation

    Hotel Mercure Caen Centre Port de Plaisance


  • Meals

    Breakfast

Highlights

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Visit the Normandy D-Day Beaches

Join an emotive journey tracing the story of the D-Day landings. Visit the American Military Cemetery at St-Laurent-sur-Mer, to the Utah Beach Landing Museum and the bunkers at Pointe du Hoc.

Your Travel Director will show off the highlights of the city of Versailles, with monuments, churches and elegant squares inspiring the mind of any curious traveller. Then venture to Paris where, as evening descends, the City of Light lives up to its name as the monuments, buildings are lit up in all their glory. For that special touch of excitement and glamour do not miss the chance to join an Optional Experience to one of the world-famous cabaret shows.

  • Accommodation

    Paris Marriott Rive Gauche Hotel


  • Meals

    Breakfast

With a Local Expert, explore the iconic sights and streets of Paris. See famous landmarks including the Eiffel Tower, the 3,000-year-old Luxor obelisk in the centre of the Place de la Concorde and enjoy a drive along the Champs Elysées to Napoleon's Arc de Triomphe. Curate your day with an Optional Experience of a romantic Seine Cruise. You are in for a memorable evening which begins with a dinner featuring delicious French cuisine and wine.

  • Accommodation

    Paris Marriott Rive Gauche Hotel


  • Meals

    Breakfast

    Dinner

Highlights

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Dinner in Paris

Join your Travel Director and fellow guests at a local restaurant in the heart of the city for a delightful dinner served with wine.

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See the Top Sights of Paris

Experience the magic of Paris with Insight Vacations as you explore its iconic sights, landmarks, and charming streets. Meander along the picturesque banks of the River Seine, delving into the rich history of its beautiful bridges and renowned landmarks, including the majestic Notre-Dame Cathedral, the Eiffel Tower, the Champs-Élysées, and the Arc de Triomphe. Whether from the comfort of your coach or a scenic vantage point, immerse yourself in the timeless stories that bring this enchanting city to life.

Say au revoir to the City of Light. Your battlefield tour concludes with a transfer to Charles de Gaulle Airport.

  • Meals

    Breakfast

Highlights

Well-being

  • Enjoy the comfort of Insight's luxurious, air-conditioned, 40-seat coach with double the standard legroom and onboard washroom. Our customized luxury coaches are sanitized before the start of your tour and are maintained to very high standards. Physical distancing measures have been implemented on our customized luxury coaches.

What's Included

Gratuities

  • Hotel and restaurant tips are included - you'll never have to worry about how much to give, nor search for foreign currency. We also include all taxes and porterage charges at hotels.

Touchpoints

  • From time to time, your Travel Director will delight you with an Insight Flourish, which is a local specialty representing the destination.

Transport

  • If your arrival and/or departure flights are as per the itinerary start and end dates, then transfers are available at scheduled times. If your flights are outside these times, or you have booked additional nights accommodation with Insight Vacations, you may purchase transfers or make your own way from/to the airport.

Wifi

  • Stay connected with friends and family with our complimentary coach and hotel Wi-Fi (where available).

Porterage

  • We carry your bags for you and promptly deliver them to your hotel door.

Vox Headsets

  • Personal radio headsets give you the freedom to wander during visits to famous highlights, without missing any of your Local Expert's fascinating commentary.

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Special Offers

Airfare is not included, but can be added to quote upon request.

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Terms & Conditions

Trip Notes: 

  • Please note that airfare to and from your start/end destinations is not included in the cost of your trip. 
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Terms & Conditions: 

  • Prices listed are land only & do not include airfare to and from the start/end of the tour. 
  • Prices listed are per person, based on twin share. If you’re travelling solo, we can pair you with a same-sex roommate at no extra cost or you can upgrade to a single for an additional cost, subject to availability. Please note solo room share is not available on all trips. 
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  • All discounts are for new bookings only, subject to availability and may be withdrawn at any time without notice. Call or request a quote for complete details. 
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