The evacuation of more than 330,000 British and French troops from Dunkirk in May 1940 during Operation Dynamo, following the Battle of France, was one of the turning points of WW2. Four long years of occupation followed which saw the construction of the Atlantic Wall in this part of Northern France and Belgium, to prevent any Allied return. On this tour we visit the war graves, the memorials, the battle sites of 1940 and both the beaches and port of Dunkirk, even seeing wrecks of the Little Ships. In addition we see some fantastic local war museums as well as the Dunkirk Memorial and War Cemetery. We explore bunkers and defences, as well as seeing where the V-weapons such as the Doodlebug and V2 were launched from.

Tour Includes

3 or 4 nights hotel with continental breakfast
Specialist Battlefield Guide
Convenient local joining points
Travel by executive coach or upgrade to Silver Service

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We offer flexible payment options

Once you have booked your tour either online, or by telephone ( 01709 787 463 ), you have the flexibility of how you pay off the remainder of your balance. You can:

Use our balance payment facility online to make and track your card payments. You can pay as much as you want up until your final due date or pay it all, the choice is yours.
Send payments via online banking.
Send payments via cheque.
Call us and make a card payment, either a small amount or as lump sum until your final due date.

Our contact and online banking payment details will be on your confirmation invoice to remind you of your choices.

Day 1

We make our way to the port of departure and coach interchange where you will join your tour coach for the crossing to the Continent. Upon arrival in France we travel to Belgium and our hotel for a three night stay.

Day 2

Battle of France: Retreat To Dunkirk

St Venant: Memorial & Cemetery

We start the tour with a look at some of the fighting in the Battle of France in May 1940 following the story of the Durham Light Infantry and Royal Welch Fusiliers at St. Venant, seeing the memorial and nearby graves. At Cassel Hill we examine the last stand here by the Oxs & Bucks and Glosters. Following lunch we visit the site at Wormhout where a massacre of British troops took place by the SS and then go into Dunkirk to visit the excellent War Museum of Operation Dynamo, followed by a visit to the East Mole. We end the day in the dunes of Dunkirk to remember the sacrifice of French troops in May-June 1940.

Included meals: Breakfast

Day 3

Miracle of Dunkirk: The V-Weapons

Menin Gate

We return to Dunkirk to see the Dunkirk War Cemetery and the Dunkirk Memorial to the Missing. At Bray Dunes we look at the story of the evacuation beaches and the ‘little ships’, forever connected to the Dunkirk story. At Eperlecques we see the massive Blockhaus, built as a launch site for V2 rockets. We then see a typical V1 Doodlebug ski-ramp site, hidden in the woods near Morbecque and constructed to fire more than 2000 V1s a day at London. In the evening join us on an optional trip to nearby Ypres for the moving Last Post Ceremony.

Included meals: Breakfast

Day 4

We leave the hotel after breakfast and travel to the Channel port. You will leave your tour coach behind as you join your transfer vehicle for your return journey to your original departure point.

Included meals: Breakfast

Your Excursions

Included Excursions & Visits

Battlefield visits as described

Optional Excursions & Visits

Ypres and the Last Post Ceremony

Notes

Please note the Dunkirk War Museum are undertaking major renovations works. These renovation works were due to be completed by the end of June with a re-opening in July 2017. However the museum are unable to give a confirmed opening date at this stage. Therefore until the Dunkirk War Museum are able to give a date when they are due to open we will now visit the Fort des Dunes in its place.

Please note on the departure date of 23rd October, the V3 super-gun site at Mimoyecques will be closed as it is a site for hibernating bats. We will still visit the exterior of the site and illustrate its purpose during the tour.

Entrance fees to museums & places of interest (extra cost). Museum package available whilst on tour approx. cost €20 (4-Day tour), €45 (5-Day tour).

Single Room Supplement from £50.00 (4 days), £75.00 (5 days).

Day 1

Day 2

Battle of France: Retreat To Dunkirk

St Venant: Memorial & Cemetery

Included meals: Breakfast

Day 3

Miracle of Dunkirk: The V-Weapons

Menin Gate

Included meals: Breakfast

Day 4

Atlantic Wall: Liberation

Batterie Todt

On the Belgium coast at Raversijde we see how the WWI Aachen Battery was turned into a section of the Atlantic Wall by the Germans, seeing the bunker, trenches and many original features. We then travel to the French coast for lunch and in the afternoon visit Batterie Todt, a massive bunker that housed a huge artilery piece which bombarded Britain and could be used to fire on any invasion fleet. We see the museum here which includes a very rare German 280mm Railway Gun, then visit the V3 super-gun system at Mimoyecques. Here we go through tunnels built to house this incredible weapon which was never fired in anger due to Allied bombing. We end the day looking at the liberation of the coastal region in northern France in September 1944 with a visit to Calais Canadian Cemetery.

Included meals: Breakfast

Day 5

We leave the hotel after breakfast and travel to the Channel port. You will leave your tour coach behind as you join your transfer vehicle for your return journey to your original departure point.

Included meals: Breakfast

Your Excursions

Included Excursions & Visits

Battlefield visits as described

Optional Excursions & Visits

Ypres and the Last Post Ceremony

Notes

Entrance fees to museums & places of interest (extra cost). Museum package available whilst on tour approx. cost €20 (4-Day tour), €45 (5-Day tour).

Single Room Supplement from £50.00 (4 days), £75.00 (5 days).

Frequently asked questions about our tours

Do I have to do the excursions?

Certain excursions are included in the price of your holiday. If you choose not to go on an included excursion, for whatever reason, no refunds will be made.

Will I receive a more detailed itinerary before I travel?

Yes, you will receive one with your Travel Documents, which are sent 7-10 days before departure.

Do you take children on your European Tours?

We believe that our holidays may not be suitable for children under 8 years old (except for Disneyland Paris bookings) however, we will consider individual requests on application. Customers aged 18 and under at the time of travel must be accompanied by an adult, parent or guardian aged over 18 years old.

Can you tell me what the weather will be like on my tour?

You can check weather averages at here.

Accommodation

You will stay for three or four nights at the Hotel Oude Abdij in the historic town of Lo. This family-run 3-star hotel has a spacious lounge area, bar, restaurant, large patio and lift.

Tour Changes

Friday 18th August 2017 Departure
Tour Code: 4BDK - Altered itinerary due to Dunkirk War Museum closure for renovations.

Frequently asked questions about accommodation

Can I join at the hotel?

If you prefer, then you can join the tour at the hotel. To do this, we will require a copy of your passport for identification purposes and you must advise us at the time of booking.

No reduction will be given if you should choose to do this.

Do the rooms have private facilities?

All hotel rooms benefit from private bathroom facilities.

Are there tea and coffee making facilities in the room?

Some hotels have tea and coffee making facilities. Please check the tour pages for more information or call our Customer Service Department on 01709 830333.

Do the hotels have lifts?

Most hotels have a lift, please call our Customer Service Department on 01709 830333 for more information.

Do the hotels you use have ground floor rooms?

Some hotels have ground floor rooms. Please email for information on individual hotels or call our Customer Service Department on 01709 830333.

Should I take my own towels or will they be supplied?

Your hotels will supply towels in your room.

Will the hotel cater for vegetarians or any other dietary requirements?

We are unable to guarantee that the hotel will be able to meet your dietary requirements. We find that the majority of European countries do not generally cater for vegetarians and that the meal supplied may well be what everyone else is having minus the meat.

We will of course endeavour to arrange for a vegetarian meal at the hotel. We do however suggest that you advise us of your dietary requests at the time of booking and recommend that you speak to the receptionist on arrival with regard to your request.

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Travel Information

Travel Options
Extra Services

Looking for your local joining point? Enter your post code below

*Please note pickups are subject to availability.

Frequently asked questions about travel options

What time will I be picked up and dropped off?

Departure times given for each region are approximate. Please check your travel documents to confirm the actual timings.

Can I pre-book my coach seat?

Front row seats can be reserved for £14pp (up to 6 days duration), £22pp (7 & 8 days duration) and £25pp (9 days duration and over) on all European tours. In addition to this seats on the second row can be reserved for £7pp (up to 6 days duration), £14pp (7 & 8 days duration) and £15pp (9 days duration and over). This offer is only available for bookings of two or four persons on the front row and is subject to availability. Guaranteed front/second row seats cannot be reserved on feeder journeys to/from the U.K. port. Children under 15 years cannot occupy a front row seat due to French Law.

Please note: On some coaches the legroom on front seats may be slightly less than that available on other seats due to the presence of a modesty board in front.

If your tour is cancelled for any reason and front/second row seats are not available on your new tour you will be refunded the supplement. No other compensation will be payable.

Alternatively, we can take seating requests on your booking. However, requests are not guaranteed. All seat numbers are confirmed on travel documents approximately 7-10 days prior to departure.

Will we be sat together?

We guarantee that all passengers on the same booking will be seated together on the main tour coach. Seats on the transfer coaches to and from the U.K. port are not allocated.

Are refreshments served on the coach?

Hot and cold drinks are served on the main tour coaches. Prices are approximately £1 or 1.25 Euro per drink. Prices will be confirmed by the driver. Drinks may also be served on the transfer coaches but this is not guaranteed.

What route does the coach take?

Transfer coaches are routed approximately 2-3 weeks before departure and will depend on where passengers are booked to travel from on any particular date as to which route is taken. If you require further detailed information regarding the route to the port you can contact our Customer Service Department on 01709 830333 two weeks before you are due to travel.

With regard to the route taken by the main tour coach, this is determined by the driver.

Is there a toilet on-board the coach?

All main tour coaches have on-board toilets. Transfer coaches to and from the U.K. port may not have on-board toilets. When non-British coaches are used on transfers and tours (air or TGV holidays only) an on-board toilet may not be available. However, comfort stops will be made during long journeys.

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Call our reservations team on:
01709 787 463

To book this tour, just give our friendly team a call on 01709 787 463 or book online at www.leger.co.uk