Description

Day 1 : Somme and Le Quesnoy

After pick up in Lille we drive to Arras and visit the Wellington tunnels.
We discovering the sites of the battle of the Somme 1916 and visit: Bapaume, Grevillers, Flers, Longueval and Carterpillar cemetery, where the unknown New Zealander was exhumed to be taken back to New Zealand.

We continue our journey further and visit the sites related to the battle of the Somme 1918 such as Havrincourt, Vertigneul and Le Quesnoy.

Included pick up in Lille, lunch, entrée fees, accommodation  *** hotel  Ypres.

Day 2 : Ypres and Passchendaele

Today we will discover the different phases of the 3th battle of Ypres. We start to follow the road taken by the New Zealanders when they liberated Messines.and visit the different memorials related to the battle of Messines Ridge in June 1917.

We will approach Passchendaele Ridge just like the New zealanders did in October 1917 , follow the Menin Road, Hooge Crater and Clapham Junction. During our visit to Polygon Wood we discover the memorial for the missing New Zealanders.

In Zonnebeke we visit the Passchendaele memorial museum. After Broodseinde we reach Passchendaele Ridge and visit Tyne Cot cemetery ,the biggest Commonwealth cemetery of the world, with the memorial to the missing New Zealanders of the battle of Passchendaele .
At the end of the day Last Post ceremony at the Menin Gate. Possibility to lay a wreath (ask us in advance).

Included breakfast, lunch, entrée fees, accommodation *** hotel Ypres.

Day 3  : Behind the front line

We visit Flanders Fields area. In Langemark we visit the German cemetery. In Poperinge we visit Lyssenthoek cemetery and the visitor centre to discover how the evacuation of the wounded took place. We visit the grave of Dave Gallaher in Nine Elms cemetery. In Poperinge we visit Talbot House and find out about life of the soldiers when they had rest and recreation. Also what happened to the thousands of civilians.
Via Armentieres and Houplines where the New Zealanders had there first experience with rhe war we go back to Lille.

Included breakfast, lunch, entrée fees, accommodation  *** hotel  Ypres.

 Day 4 : Ypres, Armentieres and Ploegsteert

We visit   Essex Farm where John McCrae wrote his famous poem: In Flanders Fields.

We visit the the Flanders Fields museum in Ypres and the Ramparts.

In Plugstreet wood we discover where the New Zealanders made a dugout for 1200 soldiers and visit the museum.

Before arriving in Lille we visit Armentieres, Houplines and Fleurbaix.

Included breakfast, lunch, entrée fees,