-  - October 19 2023 | Departure Day

Depart from Toronto's Lester B Pearson Airport on your overnight flight to London. [Dinner and breakfast will be served onboard]

 

Day 1 - October 20 | Arrival Day

Upon arrival, you will be met by your tour manager and coach before embarking on our journey to Duxford, Cambridge (~1h45min, 105km). Here, spend some time stretching your legs while exploring the Duxford Imperial War Museum at your own pace. We depart in the late afternoon as we continue to our hotel in time for our group check-in St Albans, Hertfordshire. Tonight, join us for our group "Welcome Dinner" for the opportunity to meet with our fellow travellers. [Overnight - St Albans or similar (D)]

 

Day 2 - October 21| Journey to Portsmouth

After breakfast, our guide will take us on an exploration through the countryside of Surrey on our way to Portsmouth. En-route, we make a stop at the Bovington Tank Museum (~3h 45min, 196km). Tonight, we enjoy dinner together at the Queen’s Hotel. [Overnight - Portsmouth - The Queen’s Hotel or similar (B, D)]

 

Day 3 - October 22 | Ferry Crossing to Caen

An early start this morning, as we embark on our ferry crossing to Normandy (~5h crossing, with Brittany Ferries). Upon arrival, we begin with a visit to Pegasus Bridge (~20min, 6.2km) where the 6th British Airborne landed, captured and liberated the first house in Europe, the Café Gondree.  We will finish our day in the Normandy region with visits to see the Canadian Memorial Garden in the Abbaye des Ardenne (~20min, 16km) and Verrieres Ridge, where the Black Watch suffered severe casualties in “Operation Spring” (~20min, 15km). We will then make our way to our hotel in Caen (~20min, 16km) for some rest and relaxation before enjoying our first dinner together in France. [Overnight - Caen - Hotel des Quatrans or similar (B, D)]

 

Day 4 -  October 23 | Normandy Beaches: the Canadian Sector

After breakfast, we head over to the Battle of Normandy Museum in the UNESCO World Heritage town of Bayeux (~40min, 33km). Enjoy lunch at your own pace, with time to explore the historic city, and an option to see the UNESCO Bayeux Tapestry. This afternoon, we continue to the Canadian landing beaches at Courseulles-sur-Mer (~35min, 23km). We will take a full visit at the Juno Beach Center, dedicated to Canada’s full involvement during World War II and memorial to the 3rd Division that landed here in 1944, exploring the bunkers, beaches, and interpretation centre. Before heading back for dinner, we will visit the Queens’ Own Rifles House, the first house liberated by Canadian forces when they stormed the beaches at Juno on June 6th, 1944. Our day will end with a solemn sunset visit to the Beny-sur-Mer Canadian Military Cemetery (~15min, 5.8km). Tonight, enjoy dinner at your own pace. [Overnight – Caen - Hotel des Quatrans or similar  (B)]

 

Day 5 - October 24 | Day trip to the Saumur Tank Museum

After an early breakfast, we depart for the Tank Museum of Saumur (~3h 30min, 281km). Enjoy the day to explore the Tank Museum at your own pace. This afternoon, we embark on the long drive back to Caen (~3h 30min, 282km), where we will enjoy the rest of the evening to dine and explore at our own pace.  [Overnight - Saumur - Ibis Styles or similar (B)]

 

Day 6 - October 25 | Dieppe

Saying our farewells to Saumur, we tour to the seaside resort town of Dieppe (~2h 30min, 183km). Here we visit the Dieppe Canadian Cemetery before travelling to the main landing beaches of Red and White on the Dieppe seafront. Lastly, we explore the Blue Beach at Puys, to view the gun emplacements on the cliff tops, which, on Aug 19, 1942, were responsible for such terrible Canadian casualties. This afternoon, we will continue our journey to Arras (~2h 45min, 171km) for our hotel check-in. Tonight enjoy an optional walking tour to the breathtaking city of Arras with your guide, before our group dinner at one of our favourite local restaurants.  [Overnight - Dieppe - or similar (B, D)]

 

Day 7 - October 26 | Exploring the Somme

Our day will be spent exploring the Somme - shifting our focus from the Second World War to the First, with visits to the Memorial to the Missing at Thiepval, as well Beaumont Hamel - the largest preserved battlefield in the world - dedicated to the Royal Newfoundland and Labrador Regiment who lost so many men on that first day of battle (~45min, 30.6km). After enjoying lunch at the Old Blighty Cafe we will continue on to view the Lochnagar Crater, the largest crater made from a non-nuclear blast, on the battlefields of the Western Front. We return to the city of Arras, to enjoy a relaxed evening and dine at our own pace. [Overnight – Arras - Holiday Inn Express or similar (B)]

 

Day 8 - October 27 | Vimy Ridge   

Today we take a tour to the Vimy Ridge Memorial Park (~20min, 10.8km). It was on Hill 145, on April 1917, that Canada truly became a nation in the eyes of the world. Its troops combined and stormed Vimy Ridge after all other allied forces had failed to do so. We will tour the tunnels, trenches and memorial, as well as the new interpretation centre. We continue to visit to the new Canadian Memorial at Hill 70. Here we will discuss the Battle of Hill 70 - oftentimes dubbed as “Canada’s Forgotten Battle”. This afternoon we continue on to explore the Ypres Salient Battlefields (~2h, 90.2km). We begin our introduction with a visit to Essex Farm, the place where John McCrae wrote the famous poem “In Flanders Fields”. We then head north to visit the Tyne Cot Commonwealth Cemetery - the largest Commonwealth Cemetery, of any conflict, in the world. We will also discuss the Battle of Passchendaele, with visits to the Crest Farm Memorial, in Passendale. We continue further to explore the German Cemetery of Langemark, and the 'Brooding Soldier' at St Julien, to commemorate the first gas attacks against the 1st Canadian Corps in 1915. Lastly, we take a visit to the Hooghe Crater, and Hill 62 - a small area of the original battlefield and part of the Canadian Front Line. We finish our orientations today in the medieval city of Ypres, also known as the 'City of Peace' with an early group meal in the heart of Ypres’ Grote Markt. Return to Arras  [Overnight – Arras or similar (B, D)]

 

Day 9 - October 28 | Departure Day

After breakfast, we will be transferred to CDG airport for your flight back to Canada. [(B) Meals onboard].

 

Tour End.
 

*Please note - this custom itinerary is subject to changes & review * 
 

Thinking about arranging a custom pre-tour or post-tour extension to your in Europe? We encourage it! 

 

Should you have any questions regarding your flight, insurance, or travel extension options, contact our host travel agency: 

DH TOUR OFFICE

(Office Phone) 905-639-9954 
(Toll-Free) 1-888-597-3519 | karen@dhtour.ca