ANZACS on the Western Front
| Resort: | ANZACS on the Western Front |
| Operator: | |
| Destination: | Australia & The Pacific, Europe, France |
| Price From: | £1059.00 |
OverviewFrom the trenches of Ypres to monuments marking The Somme, our ANZAC tour maps Australian and New Zealand troops’ movements in WWI – delving into the stories of the soldiers’ involvement in the battles of the Western Front. And with poignant visits to cemeteries and national memorials on the agenda, this history-themed adventure is perfect for those wishing to learn more about their ancestors who fought and died in The Great War. Please note: this tour runs on selected dates throughout the season. Inclusions
ItineraryDay 1 Lille-YpresThe first day of our tour will take us from Lille to Ypres via the historic Messines Ridge. After walking in the footsteps of WWI soldiers at the Passchendaele battlefields (where allied forces fought to break the German line in 1917), well pay our respects at Polygon Wood and Tyne Cot Military Cemetery. After that, well have plenty of time to visit the shell-scarred Hill 60 and fascinating Hooge Crater Museum before we return to Ypres for the evening where a welcome dinner awaits us. Day 2 YpresAfter this mornings breakfast, well continue to delve into the moving stories of the West Flanders Front with an included visit to the In Flanders Fields Museum a unique institution that commemorates the four-year trench war and conveys a contemporary message of peace. This afternoon, youll be free to explore Ypres as you please and this evening, well have the privilege of attending the playing of the Last Post under the iconic Menin Gate. Day 3 Ypres-AmiensToday its out of Belgium and onwards to Flanders. Our destination? Fromelles, the site of the disastrous attack of 19 July 1916 where well pay a poignant visit Pheasant Wood Cemetery and the new exhibition nearby. Then: well move on to the Wellington Quarries, where New Zealand engineers dug tunnels to the Front as part of the preparations for the Battle of Arras. Well remember Australias role in this battle at Bullecourt, with a stop at the Digger Memorial later this afternoon. Day 4 Amiens-The Somme-AmiensThe Somme still captivates the soul and its here that the ANZACs first saw major action in 1916. Today well visit Pozires and Mouquet Farm (sites that were especially important for Australian soldiers), as well as Longueval and Flers which were similarly significant to the Kiwis. Before we reminisce on our tour at this evenings farewell dinner, well also take some time to remember the colossal loss experienced by Great Britain, with a visit to the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme. Day 5 Amiens-Villers Bretonneux-LilleAs the home of the National War Memorial, Villers-Bretonneux is central to Australian WWI commemoration and memory. Today well visit the Franco-Australian Museum and the Sir John Monash Centre before shifting our focus to the last year of the war 1918 with a visit to Le Hamel, the site of the successful 4 July attack. Then, its back to Lille we go where our tour will come to a close. |
