Day 1   |     Friday, May 14th 2027

Depart Canada

Depart Canada to Paris, beginning your journey in the footsteps of the Canadian Airborne. For travellers who have purchased our airfare package, we will depart Toronto on Air Canada Flight AC872 at 20:30 hrs for our overnight flight to Paris. Sit back, relax, and prepare to begin an unforgettable journey following the story of the Canadian Airborne through France, Belgium, and the Netherlands.

Meals included: Dinner, drinks & breakfast served onboard

 

Day 2   |   Saturday, May 15th

Arrival in France – Welcome to Normandy

Upon arrival at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport, we will be met by our private coach before travelling west to the historic city of Caen in the heart of Normandy. Upon arrival in Lower Normandy, we will have an opportunity to visit Hill 67 which was a key tactical high point south of Caen fought over by Canadian forces during the Battle of Normandy and overlooking Verrieres Ridge. It served as a vital strategic strongpoint and launch site for Allied offensives in the summer of 1944. We then have an opportunity to visit Abbey des Ardennes, where we visit the Canadian Garden of Remembrance, the site of the execution of 20 young Canadian POWs by Kurt Meyers SS troops. This evening, we'll gather for a welcome reception at our hotel, providing an opportunity to meet your fellow travellers and tour hosts before beginning our exploration of the Canadian Airborne story. We will spend the next three nights at the Holiday Inn Caen- Epron 3★

Meals Included: Lunch & Dinner

Overnight: Caen

 

Day 3   |   Sunday, May 16th

Juno Beach & Canada's D-Day Story

We begin today at the Juno Beach Centre, followed by a visit to the Bény-sur-Mer Canadian War Cemetery. From there, we explore key sites along the Juno sector, including the Queen’s Own Rifles House - the first home liberated by Canadian forces on June 6th, 1944. We then visit La Chaos, a remarkably well-preserved German offshore battery, before continuing to the remains of the Mulberry Harbours at Arromanches. Our day concludes at Omaha Beach, where we’ll reflect on the immense challenges faced by American forces during the D-Day landings on what became known as "Bloody Omaha." We will then travel the short distance to Pointe du Hoc to understand the courage and objective of Rudder's 2nd Ranger Battalion.

Meals Included: Breakfast & Lunch

Overnight: Caen, France

 

 

Day 4    |   Monday, May 17th

In the Footsteps of the Canadian Airborne

Today is dedicated to the remarkable story of the 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion on D-Day and the hard-fought Normandy campaign that followed. We will trace the battalion's actions from their parachute drop in the early hours of 6 June 1944 through the fierce fighting that helped secure the Allied bridgehead and pave the way for the liberation of Northwest Europe. Our journey includes a visit to the Merville Battery, where the Canadians were to protect the left (southern) flank of the 9th Battalion,afterwards seizing a position astride the Le Mesnil crossroads, a vital position at the centre of the ridge. We then visit the iconic Pegasus Bridge, one of the most celebrated objectives of D-Day, along with the Pegasus Memorial Museum, where original artefacts, personal stories, and the famous bridge itself

bring the airborne assault vividly to life.

Meals Included: Breakfast & Lunch

Overnight: Caen, France

 

Day 5     |  Tuesday May 18th

From Normandy to the Ardennes

Today we bid farewell to Normandy as we journey east into the picturesque Ardennes region of Belgium, following the route taken by Allied forces during the liberation of Europe. While much of the day is spent travelling through the beautiful French and Belgian countryside, there will be time to appreciate the changing landscapes and reflect on the campaign that carried the Canadian Airborne beyond Normandy. Upon arrival in the historic city of Namur, the remainder of the afternoon and evening is at leisure to relax, explore the charming riverside city, or simply unwind before the next stage of our battlefield tour. Tonight we stay at the Mercure Namur 4 ★★★★

Meals Included: Breakfast & Lunch

Overnight: Namur, Belgium

 

Day 6     |     Wednesday, May 19th

The Battle of the Bulge & Fort Eben-Emael

Today we explore the dramatic story of the Battle of the Bulge. Our journey takes us through the historic towns of La Gleize and Malmedy, where fierce fighting unfolded amidst the snow- covered Ardennes in the winter of 1944–45. Later, we visit the legendary Fort Eben-Emael, once considered Europe's most formidable fortress. Here, an audacious assault by German airborne troops in May 1940 forever changed military history and demonstrated the revolutionary potential of airborne warfare. This evening, we cross into the Netherlands for our overnight stay in the Maastricht region at the Hotel Valkenburg by Mercure 4 ★★★★

Meals Included: Breakfast & Lunch

Overnight: Valkenburg, Netherlands

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Day 7    I     Thursday, May 20th

Operation Market Garden

Today we travel north to Nijmegen, our final base for the tour, where we begin exploring the story of Operation Market Garden—the ambitious Allied airborne offensive of September 1944. As we trace the fighting around Nijmegen, we will gain a deeper understanding of the challenges Allied airborne and ground forces faced in their attempt to secure a route into Germany. Highlights of the day include a visit to the outstanding Freedom Museum which tells the story of the liberation of the Netherlands, followed by time at Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery, the largest Canadian war cemetery in the country and the resting place of more than 2,600 Canadian servicemen and women. We will spend the next three nights at the Mercure Nijmegen Centre 4 ★★★★ our base for exploring the final airborne operations of the Second World War.

Meals Included: Breakfast & Lunch

Overnight: Nijmegen, Netherlands

 

Day 8    |     Friday May 21st

Arnhem – A Bridge Too Far

Today we explore the battlefield of Arnhem, where the British 1st Airborne Division fought one of the most famous and courageous actions of the Second World War during Operation Market Garden. We will follow the story of the airborne assault from the original landing zones to the iconic John Frost Bridge, where determined defenders held out against overwhelming odds. Our day includes visits to the original drop zones, the outstanding Airborne Museum at Hartenstein. Through expert interpretation and visits to these historic sites, we will gain a deeper appreciation of the courage, sacrifice, and legacy of the airborne forces who fought in this pivotal campaign.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Overnight: Nijmegen, Netherlands

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Day 9    |    Saturday, May 22nd

Operation Varsity & Farewell Dinner

Our final day on the battlefields is dedicated to Operation Varsity, the largest single-day airborne operation in history and the final combat action of the 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion. We will follow the battalion's role alongside the British 6th Airborne Division as they crossed the Rhine in March 1945, helping to open the way for the Allied advance into the heart of Germany and the final defeat of Nazi forces. This evening, we gather for a special farewell dinner, reflecting on the remarkable journey we have shared while honouring the courage, sacrifice, and enduring legacy of the Canadian Airborne.

Meals Included: Breakfast & Dinner

Overnight: Nijmegen, Netherlands

 

Day 10   |     Sunday, May 23rd

Departure from Europe

After breakfast, we bid farewell to Europe as we transfer to Amsterdam Schiphol Airport. For travellers who have purchased our group airfare package, we will depart on Air Canada Flight AC809, departing Amsterdam at 12:35 hrs for our return journey to Canada. For those extending their European adventure, Schiphol Airport offers convenient rail and air connections to destinations throughout Europe. As our journey comes to an end, we leave with a deeper appreciation of the courage, sacrifice, and enduring legacy of the Canadian Airborne, having walked the battlefields where history was made.

Meals Included: Breakfast

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TOUR END - OPTION TO EXTEND