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the ONTR Museum Tank Tour
HOSTED BY THE ONTARIO REGIMENT RCAC MUSEUM

Inside the new Vimy Ridge Interpretation Centre - Photo taken by tour guide Sam Cowan, April 2019
October 19th-28th 2023
Join Ontario Regiment RCAC Museum members and staff on a specialized custom tour exploring the First and Second World War battlefields and armoured vehicles of Britain, France & Belgium.
We begin in the UK, with special visits to the Duxford Imperial War Museum and the Bovington Tank Museum. Join us, and stand with us in awe of those who built and crewed these complex vehicles with powerful adaptability through history and into our modern world.
Tour Info
Destinations: England, France & Belgium
Tour Dates: October 20th to 28th 2023
Flight departure: [Oct 19] Flight return: [Oct 28]
Flight departure [your major gateway] > [LHR], Flight Return [CDG] > [Home]
Ontario Regiment Tank Tour | Map & Outline
TOUR HIGHLIGHTS
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A visit to the Duxford Imperial War Museum, the largest aviation Museum in the country
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See the historic port of Portsmouth
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A visit to the Juno Beach Centre & Canadian Battlefields in Normandy
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A visit to the tank museum of Saumur
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Exploring Beaumont Hamel, the largest preserved battlefield in the world
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See the Vimy Ridge Monument & Memorial Park
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Exploring and understanding the First World War Battlefields of Flanders Fields & the Ypres Salient
^^^ Explore by scrolling through the cities we will be visiting, and zoom in to get familiar with where we will be visiting on this tour.
Ontario Regiment | Itinerary
- - 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

^^^ Arrive and transfer to the Duxford IWM

^^^ Take the Brittany Ferries Corssing from Portsmouth, UK, to Normandy, France

^^^ Exploring the Juno Beach Centre & Beaches

^^^ Exploring the landing beaches of Dieppe

^^^ A visit to Beaumont Hamel Battlefields

^^^ A visit to the Canadian Memorial of Vimy Ridge

^^^ Ypres Belgium, "The City of Peace" - the In Flanders Fields Museum & Cloth Hall

Extend your tour & continue exploring Europe - choose from our following extensions:
-the Road to Holland
-the Paris Extension
-the Road to Berlin
Minimum Tour Capacity:
10 Travellers per 35 seat coach
Maximum Tour Capacity:
25 Travellers per 50 seat coach
This Tour Includes...
Tour pricing comes with the following inclusions & exclusions:
Inclusions
Exclusions
Lunches (L), + drinks with dinner
Some Dinners (D) as per itinerary
Single Room Supplement
Gratuities owed to tour staff (5 EUR per person per day)
Travel Insurance (please contact your travel agent or DH Tour if you need assistance booking medical or trip cancellation insurance)
R/T Airfare YYZ > LHR // CDG > YYZ
Accommodations in Superior
Tourist Class (3 - 4 Star Hotels)
Full-Time Experienced Battlefield
Tour Manager
All Entrances as per Itinerary
Executive Motor Coach with Washroom/AC/tea/coffee
Breakfast (B) throughout
Dinners (D) as per itinerary
Online Custom Map Kit & Tour
Resource & Info Guide
All surcharges, fees, and departure taxes
Tour Pricing
$4,775.00 CAD
$875.00 CAD
Per person, based on twin occupancy
Single Supplement
**Air is available from all major Canadian cities - please contact your Travel Agent for more information**
TOUR PAYMENT SCHEDULE
Initial Deposit: $300 (non-refundable) to guarantee your space is due immediately
Your Remaining Balance: Due 90 days prior to departure
METHOD OF PAYMENT
All funds will be collected by our host agency, DH Tour. If you would like to use your credit card, our agency will collect your payment details over the phone after you have registered. DH Tour accepts Visa, Mastercard, and American Express, as well as cash and cheque payments.
Personal cheques can be made to:
“DH Tour”
Attn to: Karen Burwood [Travel Manager]
Mail to: 2289 Fairview St., Suite 321, Burlington ON L7R 2E3
Please review our Groups Terms & Conditions before booking with us.
REGISTRATION INSTRUCTIONS
Early registration is recommended for this battlefield program - This program will not be made available to more than 25 travellers, we suggest you register as soon as possible to hold your space
No payment is required to register - An initial deposit of $500 CAD (non-refundable) will be called upon to reserve/secure your spot.
Final payment is due 90 days prior to departure