Travel with us to Belgium and northern France to visit the area where so many perished during The Great War of 1914-18. With expert local guides we will see the sites that bore witness to great loss of life. We also visit the charming cities of Lille and Bruges.
TOUR INCLUDES
- Return ferry Dublin-Holyhead
- Return overnight cruise ferry Hull-Zeebrugge with dinners and
- breakfasts on board
- Luxury coach with fully qualified Driver/Escort
- 3 nights hotel accommodation with dinner, bed & breakfast
- Guided tour of the 14-18 Route
- Entrance to In Flanders Field Museum
- Guided tour of The Somme
HOTEL
Ibis Hotel, Roubaix
COST
€625 per person sharing
€95 single supplement
Group Rate Special Available On This Tour
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ITINERARY
THURSDAY 1ST APRIL
We meet you at one of many pick up points throughout Ireland, then it’s on to Dublin for the ferry to Holyhead. We cross the Pennines to Hull and board the overnight cruise ferry to Zeebrugge, with en-suite cabins, dinner and breakfast included. (Dinner, B&B)
FRIDAY 2ND APRIL
After disembarkation we drive to the French city of Lille. Stretch your legs with a stroll around the centre - there’s lots of fine Flemish architecture to admire. See the Grand’ Place with its towering Belfry and the beautiful Old Bourse where Flemish textile merchants traded their famous high quality cloth. Old Lille has charming narrow streets full of interesting shops and café-bars – why not sample some of the famous local beers? Then it’s a short drive to our hotel in the nearby town of Roubaix for dinner and overnight. (Dinner, B&B)
SATURDAY 3RD APRIL
In the morning we drive to Ypres in Belgium. Here, over one million soldiers on both sides lost their lives in intense and sustained battles between the Germans and the Allied Forces. We visit the Menin Gate, the Cloth Hall and In Flanders Field Museum which gives a full interactive history of the war in this area. In the afternoon, a local guide joins us for a drive along the 14-18 route with stops at Hill 62 – Sanctuary Wood Museum, Hooge Crater Museum and Tyne Cot Cemetery at Passchendaele. After dinner back at our hotel, we return to Ypres to witness the Last Post being sounded at the Menin Gate. This ceremony takes place 365 days a year and is a fitting tribute to lost souls. (Dinner, B&B)
SUNDAY 4TH APRIL (Easter Sunday)
Today we travel through Lille to the area of The Somme. With a local guide we visit Vimy Ridge which was held by the Canadians during WWI, saving the city of Lille. In 1939 a huge memorial was erected, which dominates the skyline, in memory of the 85,000 lives lost. Experience life in the tunnels and trenches then we visit the Canadian cemeteries at Beaumont Hameland Newfoundland Park and the Ulster Tower at Thiepval, the memorial to the soldiers of the 36th (Ulster) Regiment who perished in this area. We also see the Lochnagar Crater at La Boiselle before returning to the hotel. (Dinner, B&B)
MONDAY 5TH APRIL
After a leisurely breakfast we check out of the hotel and drive to Bruges, known as the ‘Venice of the North’. This spectacular medieval city is built on a network of canals and a boat ride or horse-drawn carriage is a must. See the Lake of Love and the Beguinage, surrounded by colourful daffodils in springtime, or relax in the old Market Square. Bruges is famous for lacemaking and chocolate – don’t forget to stock up before the journey home! Late afternoon we make our way to Zeebrugge for the overnight cruise ferry to Hull with dinner and breakfast on board ship. (Dinner, B&B)
TUESDAY 6TH APRIL
We disembark and return across the Pennines to Holyhead for the ferry to Dublin, then we transfer you to your pick up point.
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