Private WW1 Canadian focused Tour including Vimy Ridge
Description
From the towns of Arras or Albert we head out to the war scarred landscape of this region. The morning will be spent exploring the Battle of the Somme. After lunch we head to Vimy Ridge and the ground over which Canadian troops demonstrated their tenacity and courage during the capture of this strategically important feature. Your experienced guide will tell you the history and how the war unfolded over these sections of the Western Front. We only operate private tours, this will be your tour and adapted as necessary to meet your needs during the time. If you have any special sites, such as areas that involved your relatives, please ask as we are keen to adapt the tour specifically for you. With our years of living and working on these iconic sites we aim to ensure you leave with memories of the sacrifice of a generation. Given suitable notice time and the availability of records we are able to research and prepare a bespoke tour to cover an individual soldier or unit.
Tour Options
Itinerary
You will have a guided visit and time to pay your respects at the stunning WW1 Canadian Memorial to the Missing whilst you learn about the actions that took place here in 1917. The tour also takes in the visitors centre with its tunnel and trench experience
Here you will see the original grave site of the Canadian Unknown Soldier, along with the last resting place of thousands of his comrades. Afterwards we will also take time to stop at the nearby Neuville St Vaast German cemetery.
Walk in the footsteps of the soldiers through the preserved trenches. Learn about how the battle unfolded for the Newfoundland Regiment on that tragic day in 1916.
Learn about the work of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission and pay your respects to the fallen.
Stand on the ground of the Canadian memorial while your guide explains the actions undertaken here by the Canadian forces in 1916.
Tanks were born in WW1. Visit the memorial to see the ground where it began.
Visit the largest crater caused by man in anger. More of the Battle of the Somme will unfold as you walk this scarred landscape.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
Unless pre organised to another location these tours start outside Arras or Albert train stations which are easily accessible from Paris/Lille/Amiens
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Travel time and Lunch stop are included in the tour duration.
Reviews(30)
Outstanding day getting to all the battlefield sites. Our host John is an incredibly knowledgeable guide. He was able to show us all the related sites we were looking for, and answer any questions we had. I don’t think there is anyone else that could provide a more comprehensive day trip. If you want to see Vimy Ridge (especially Canadians), I urge you to book this trip. John had a perfect itinerary planned, which wasn’t rushed, but covered all the points you need to see. Beyond that, he was flexible in any other requests.
Great day with Jon. He was very knowledgeable. Would recommend this tour. We had an emphasis on the Canadian aspect and he was able to show us what we wanted to see.
The tour was only in English but the explanations were very precise. Alison was very generous with her time, she insisted that we see everything there was to see. The 4/5 was only because we could not visit one place because there was a commemoration and it was really not Alison's fault, otherwise it is a 5/5! Thank you Alison From Quebec!
I had a fantastic day touring with John. From the very beginning, everything was well organized. Pickup arrangements and logistics were clearly communicated, making the entire experience seamless and stress-free. Throughout the tour, John shared a wealth of historical facts, fascinating anecdotes, and local insights that brought the area to life. His knowledge and storytelling made the experience both educational and enjoyable. This tour left me wanting to come back and explore even more of the region. I would happily book another tour with John and highly recommend him to anyone looking for an informative, engaging, and well-run experience.
Thank you from myself and Jon, we really do appreciate knowing that the tours are so well received
Jon was outstanding. We booked at the last minute (48 hours in advance) and requested some customization which he readily accommodated. I knew some of the history, but his knowledge was encyclopedic. He provided such meaningful context and information that does not appear in any of the official accounts I have read. Jon has mastered his chosen profession. I have three uncles that served in WW1 with the CEF and Jon helped bring their memories and sense of the sacrifice they made to life.
A big thank you from Jon and myself for your brilliant review
John was excellent! His enthusiasm and knowledge of the area and events are extraordinary. The day ended too quickly! Thank you for, generously, sharing your time with us!
Thank you from Jon and myself for providing such kind feedback
A very comprehensive tour of the Arras battlefield, including all the important sites. Jon the guide was immensely knowledgeable and considerate.
Thank you from myself and Jon for this kind review
A private tour is definitely the way to go for this WW1 Experience. Our guide, Alison, was spectacular ✨ She had such a wealth of knowledge of the tactics of the war, how the soldiers were positioned, and she showed us a many cemeteries and how they were different. This was honestly a life changing experience. « Lest we forget » 🌺
Thank you so much for your lovely company on the day and for these extremely warm words
Alison is a very engaging tour guide. We did a brief visit to the CWGC Visitor Centre and got an overview of the important work that the CWGC does. Alison explained/pointed out lots as we visited various sites of conflict and various memorials scattered around the Somme. By visiting other memorials first, you are able to truly appreciate the masterpiece that is the Vimy Memorial. It is unlike most other memorials and it is particularly moving. I highly recommend this tour and Alison as your guide.
Thank you for your company on the day and taking the time to feedback. Very much appreciated
Private tour with Alison was excellent. She is extremely knowledgeable about WW1 and provided just the right pace to the day. She also was flexible with the schedule knowing we might see some duplicate sites on a subsequent tour. We appreciated her lovely wit and sense of humour.
Thank you so much for this lovely review All the best Alison
