Ypres was the most important British battlefield of the First World War with more than 250,000 British and Commonwealth dead falling in defence of Flanders Fields. It was here the legend of the Flanders Poppy was born; poppies grew on the disturbed ground of the battlefields and were seen everywhere after the fighting, with the blood red colour symbolising the fallen. We take tours out into Flanders to see the key locations around Ypres where the fighting raged.

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 head to Ypres in Belgium and our hotel for a three-night stay.

Day 2

In Flanders Fields Museum; Ypres

Menin Gate

We start our tour at the In Flanders Fields Museum in Ypres. An internationally recognised museum, it was re-opened with new exhibitions in the summer of 2012. We take time to see the displays and follow the story of someone who served in WW1 with the new interactive ‘poppy’ bracelets. We then walk down to the Menin Gate and look at the missing of Flanders and see the Ramparts of Ypres, the only surviving original feature of pre-1914 Ypres. After lunch at Hooge we see a preserved British Trench – Yorkshire Trench – and then see where the ‘Last Fighting Tommy’, Harry Patch, fought in 1917, seeing his memorial. At Langemarck we look at the German dead in Flanders and contrast this with a visit to Tyne Cot; the largest British Cemetery in the world, with its visitors’ centre. At Frezenberg we see the Scottish Memorial and end the day at Hill 60, with its evidence of the ‘underground war’ at Ypres and numerous concrete bunkers.

Included meals: Breakfast

Day 3

Passchendaele; Messines Ridge

Messines Ridge

Today, we start at Hill 60, with its evidenced of the ‘underground war’ at Ypres and then travel to Zonnebeke and visit the Passchendaele Museum with its new system of re-created trenches. Here, you can walk through British and German trenches, go into dugouts and shelters and see the whole story of trench warfare. After lunch, we travel to the Messines Ridge, scene of mine warfare in 1917, and see some of the preserved craters at St Eloi and Spanbroekmoelen; two of the largest mine craters in Flanders. At Bayernwald we see the German trench system where Hitler fought in 1914. At Messines we visit the smallest British cemeteries in Flanders, before looking at the story of the Christmas Truce and the static front around Ploegsteert: ‘Plugstreet’ to the British, were Winston Churchill served in 1916. We end on Kemmel Hill, overlooking Flanders, where so many soldiers died in defence of Ypres.

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

At a Glance

Tour Includes

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

Included Excursions & Visits

Battlefield visits as described

Optional Excursions & Visits

Entrance fees to museums & places of interest (extra cost)

Notes

Single Room Supplement from £99.00 (4 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 nights at the 3-star Novotel in the centre of Ypres, near the Menin Gate and the market place. The hotel has a lift, bar, and restaurant.

Belgium

Novotel Ypres Centrum

Find out more

Novotel Ypres Centrum

This excellent hotel is located in the heart of historic town of Ypres, only a couple of minutes' walk from the Menin Gate Memorial, where the 'Last Post' is sounded every evening. The hotel is a firm favourite within Leger’s Battlefields programme and makes the ideal base for exploring the rich military heritage of the area. All the comfortably furnished bedrooms are en-suite with T.V., telephone and air-conditioning. The hotel has a small bar area and restaurant.

English Speaking Staff
Guest Lounge
Bar
Restaurant
WiFi Available

TV
Tea and Coffee Making Facilities
Hairdryer
Bath and/or Shower
Telephone

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.