Full-Day Canadian WW1 Vimy and Somme Battlefield Tour from Arras
Description
Explore Canada’s role in World War I on this full-day Somme battlefield tour from Arras. Explore tunnels and trenches used by Canadian forces during the Battle of Vimy Ridge in 1917 with a guide. Visit the Courcelette Canadian Memorial, Neuville St. Vaast Canadian N°2 Cemetery, and Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, and learn of the many lives laid down in battle. After lunch, visit WWI battle trenches at the Beaumont Hamel New Foundland Memorial Park. Tour includes round-trip travel from your Arras hotel.
Tour Options
Itinerary
You will stand near the memorial and have a view on the Douai plain. Visit one of the tunnels, the Grange Tunnel, in which Canadian troops stood hours before the battle. You will stand at one of the cemeteries on the ridge, see some preserved trenches and spend some time in the newly built visitor centre.
See where the Canadian Unknown Soldier was exhumed from.
Stand on the battlefields where Canadians fought at the fall of 1916.
This memorial is the largest built by the CWGC, it is bearing the names 72 000 soldiers who have no known grave.
See the crater, the result of an undergound explosion triggered on the morning of 1st July 1916.
You will stand near the Caribu and walk on the preserved battlefield from the allied to the German lines passing near the "Danger Tree", "Y Ravine" and the memorial to the 51st Highland division before having a look the New Foundland Visitor Centre.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
Pick up and drop off possible at the train station only 50 minutes away from Paris.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Minimum two adults per booking
Reviews(8)
Excellent tour with Claude. Well paced - time to do everything and spend as much time at the different locations as we wanted. Claude gave excellent guidance for how much time to spend at, for instance, the visitors centre and did not overwhelm us with information - allowing for space for reflection. Visited major sites (Vimy, Thiepval) and smaller sites (Hamel-Beaumont) but never felt rushed or overwhelmed. Lunch at a village restaurant/museum was an added treat (and included in the tour price). Learned a lot and came away with a new understanding and respect for the sacrifice of so many
Thank you Nigel for the nice comment.
The tour was fantastic and told the full story of what took place around the Somme area throughout the war, not just the infamous battle in 1916. Claude was extremely knowledgeable on all aspects of the conflict and was incredibly accommodating by allowing us to visit a cemetery (not part of the original itinerary) where one of our relatives is memorialised. I cannot speak highly enough of this experience and Claude as a guide. I thoroughly recommend this to anyone regardless of their own level of knowledge.
Thank you very much for the nice review; I am glad you both enjoyed the tour. Claude Verhaeghe
We enjoyed a private, exceptionally informative tour with Lucas. He was personable, knowledgeable and wonderfully organized. We appreciated his ability to communicate memorable facts, moments and overview of the history of WW1 and the significance of the battles and memorials. We will be recommended this tour when we return to Canada and are in awe of the respect paid to all those for their sacrifice. Thank you for keeping this subject relevant and important.
Thank you very much, Anne, for your nice review. Claude Verhaeghe
The pictures of Vimy Ridge memorial I have seen do not do it justice having now seen it live. The Newfoundland Caribou memorial does justice to the tragic story of that regiment Our tour guide Claude is top notch
Hi David, thank you for the nice review, I am glad you enjoyed the day. All the best. Claude
Claude was fantastic, his descriptions and knowledge really brought everything to life. He was great at explaining the phases and various battles in the war and showed the various front lines. We covered so much more than we would have got round ourselves and he made it really interesting and informative. We would highly recommend the day.
Thank you, Gemma; for the nice comment.
Clause was a great guide. Knowledgeable and enthusiastic, and also helped us solve a couple of issues related to timing and logistics. Highly recommended!
Thank you for the nice comment Thomas, I am happy you enjoyed the day. Claude Verhaeghe
Claude was an outstanding tour guide. The staff at the Vimy Ridge Center are all Canadian University students from across the country. They were proud to be working at such a historic place. The Newfoundland Memorial Park was also incredible to visit.
Claude was very responsive to our communications and our personal interests. He was on time to pick us up and pleasant and personable. We were looking for a complete and unvarnished depiction of what happened at Vimy ridge and Claude showed that he was very knowledgeable, not just about the dates and facts, but also about the whys and context. He made what happened at Vimy come alive and this is what we were looking for. He answered all of our many questions with knowledgable insight.
Dear Gilles, thank you very much for your comment, I am glad you enjoyed the day. Claaude
