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10-Nights WWI and WWII Battlefields - Small Group from $5,375
Insight Vacations
OFFER ID 1560478
Wwi And Wwii Battlefields - Small Group
Your Europe battlefield tour is the ultimate in-depth journey into the history of World Wars I and II. Journey to the Ypres Salient battlefields and see the Passchendaele Memorial and Tyne Cot Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery. Visit the Australian Fromelles Military Cemetery, where 250 British and Australian soldiers were buried and learn insights from a Local Expert for a tour of the key battlefields of the Somme. In Normandy, stand on the 100-foot-tall Pointe du Hoc overlooking the D-Day Landing Beaches and be guided through the Normandy American Cemetery at Omaha Beach. Indulge in a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience at Les Confisseurs confectionary. End the trip exploring Paris' celebrated squares and avenues, from Place de la Concorde to the Champs-Élysées.
Dining Summary
- 5 Dinner (D)
- 10 Breakfast (B)
- 1 Dinner with Wine (DW)
- 1 Lunch (L)
- Brussels: Join a private chocolate truffle-making lesson and tasting with a master chocolatier to get up close and personal with the decadent flavors of Brussels. Then enhance your discovery exploring Brussels with your Local Expert. Visit the cobbled square of the Grand-Place, home to the Town Hall and other buildings of political significance. This 12th century, Gothic architectural gem also hosts many concerts, fairs and folklore events and has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1998.
- Brussels: No visit to Belgium is complete without a trip to the site of the historic Battle of Waterloo. Your Travel Director reveals how the Battle of Waterloo was fought at this very spot between Napoleon’s French Army and a coalition led by the Duke of Wellington and Marshal Blücher, ending a 23-year war and Napolean’s imperial power. Step inside the museum and the underground Visitor Center to enhance your discovery through a 3D film and monumental panoramic painting depicting the battle.
- Brussels: Discover Belgian cuisine in the heart of the capital.
- Ypres: Enjoy a cool Belgian beer.
- Auchonvillers: Stop for an authentic French lunch at the Ocean Villas tearoom – named after British soldiers’ mispronunciation of the town of Auchonvillers – followed by a tour of the adjoining museum. With its remarkable collection of rare artefacts, including uniforms, weaponry and an original section of a British trench, the museum offers a fascinating glimpse into the battlefields of both World Wars.
- Paris: Join your Travel Director and fellow guests at a local restaurant in the heart of the city for a delightful dinner served with wine.
- Brussels: Join a private chocolate truffle-making lesson and tasting with a master chocolatier to get up close and personal with the decadent flavors of Brussels. Then enhance your discovery exploring Brussels with your Local Expert. Visit the cobbled square of the Grand-Place, home to the Town Hall and other buildings of political significance. This 12th century, Gothic architectural gem also hosts many concerts, fairs and folklore events and has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1998.
- Brussels: No visit to Belgium is complete without a trip to the site of the historic Battle of Waterloo. Your Travel Director reveals how the Battle of Waterloo was fought at this very spot between Napoleon’s French Army and a coalition led by the Duke of Wellington and Marshal Blücher, ending a 23-year war and Napolean’s imperial power. Step inside the museum and the underground Visitor Center to enhance your discovery through a 3D film and monumental panoramic painting depicting the battle.
- London: Explore one of the world’s leading museums of conflict, focusing on the impact of modern warfare on individuals and societies. Through powerful exhibitions, learn about the World Wars and their lasting effects, featuring personal stories, military artifacts, and immersive experiences.
- Zonnebeke: Discover the tragic history of one of the bloodiest battles of World War I. The Memorial Museum Passchendaele 1917 offers a poignant journey through the events of the Battle of Passchendaele, with vivid displays of war relics, reconstructed trenches, and interactive exhibits to understand the devastation and courage of the soldiers.
- Zonnebeke: Pay your respects at the largest Commonwealth military cemetery in the world, where over 11,900 soldiers of World War I are laid to rest. The Tyne Cot Cemetery is a solemn and moving tribute to the fallen, offering an opportunity for quiet reflection amidst the rows of white gravestones and the impressive memorial wall.
- Amiens: Venture through the battlefields of the Somme, as your local historian explains how brave soldiers fought tirelessly for five months.
- : Step into the opulence of the Chteau du Champ de Bataille, a magnificent 17th-century estate in Normandy. This grand chateau boasts stunning gardens designed by renowned landscape architect Jacques Garcia, who has also restored the lavish interiors, offering visitors a glimpse into aristocratic life and French history.
- London: See Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament, St Paul’s Cathedral, Westminster Abbey and Trafalgar Square. Witness the pomp and pageantry of the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace (if operating).
- Vimy: Visit the Canadian National Memorial, dedicated to a battle that defined Canada as a nation, and walk among the original 100-year-old trenches.
- Arromanches-les-Bains: Join an emotive journey tracing the story of the D-Day landings. See the remains of the artificial Mulberry Harbor at Arromanches. Visit the American Military Cemetery at St-Laurent-sur-Mer, the D-Day Museum and the bunkers at Pointe du Hoc.
- Paris: Experience the magic of Paris with
10 nights from $5,375 per person
Insight Vacations: WWI and WWII Battlefields - Small Group
Day 1 - Welcome to London
Begin your WWI and WWII battlefield tour in stylish London. After checking into your hotel, the afternoon is free to enjoy this city famous for its grandeur and famous landmarks. Perhaps relax with a walk along the Serpentine in Hyde Park or window shop in the boutiques of Knightsbridge. Or, stroll along the Thames to the iconic Tower Bridge and Tower of London. This evening, join your fellow travelers for a dinner.
Accommodations: Park Plaza Victoria, London
Meals: Dinner
Day 2 - The Imperial War Museum
Start your exploration with a city tour led by a Local Expert, culminating at the Imperial War Museum housing one million artifacts.
Accommodations: Park Plaza Victoria, London
Meals: Breakfast
Day 3 - The Best of Brussels
Journey on the Eurostar to Brussels where you can curate the rest of the day of your battlefields tour exploring the city with Insight Choice. Opt to visit the historic battlefield of Waterloo. At the site of the final battle of the Napoleonic Wars, learn about Napoleon's June 18 defeat in 1815, which marked the end of his attempts to dominate Europe. Should you prefer to indulge your sweet tooth, you can choose to join your Local Expert on a city tour of Brussels and chocolate-making class. Conclude your day dining with your travel companions at a local restaurant.
Accommodations: Le Louise, Brussels MGallery
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner with Wine
Day 4 - Ypres Battlefields
Embark on your journey to Ypres. The next two days are dedicated to the First World War – viewing Hill 60, Polygon Wood, the Passchendaele Memorial and Tyne Cot Cemetery. Uncover the history of the Battle of Messines, a prelude to Passchendaele, where Australian and New Zealand Forces combined to attack the German defensive position. In the town of Ypres, sample the local beer before concluding your day hearing the Last Post sounded at the Menin Gate.
Accommodations: Mercure Lille Center Grand Place
Meals: Breakfast
Day 5 - Fromelles and Vimy Ridge
Arriving at the Australian cemetery of Fromelles, pause to pay your respects and to learn about this monument commemorating one of the darkest days in Australian military history. Explore the town of Arras and make an insightful stop at the Vimy Ridge Visitors Center, dedicated to a battle that defined Canada. On your history tour, consider joining an Optional Experience to Wellington’s Quarry Museum, named after a network of tunnels used during World War I. Then learn about the efforts of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission that commemorates the 1.7 million casualties from the First and Second World Wars. Finish your day in medieval Amiens rebuilt after World War II, spending some time in the historic Saint-Leu district lined with colorful houses, canals, tiny bridges and water-powered mills.
Accommodations: Mercure Amiens Cathédrale
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 6 - The Battlefields of the Somme
Your Local Expert illuminates the stories behind the key battlefields of the Somme. Visit the Franco-British Memorial at Thiepval, the Lochnagar Crater, the South African and New Zealand Memorials at Longueval. Stop at Ocean Villas for lunch and the Newfoundland Memorial and Museum and see rare memorabilia from the First and Second World Wars collected by military historian and collector André Coillot. Your guided visit to the Australian National Memorial at Villers-Bretonneux and the Sir John Monash Center shines a light on how Australian soldiers saved this town. Return to Amiens to view the largest Gothic cathedral in France, boasting the second tallest nave of any medieval church in the country.
Accommodations: Mercure Amiens Cathédrale
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 7 - Highlights of Normandy
Today make your way to Rouen, capital of Normandy, to admire its ancient cathedral - a masterpiece of Gothic style and the subject of paintings by Monet. Wander through the narrow streets beneath the Great Clock to the Old Market Square where a modern church commemorates the burning of Joan of Arc on this very spot in 1431. Cap off your day at the Chteau Champ de Bataille, a masterpiece of 17th-century architecture.
Accommodations: Mercure Caen Center Port de Plaisance
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 8 - Normandy Beaches and D-Day Landings
Follow the route of the Rangers and visit the bunkers and the Rangers Memorial at Pointe du Hoc. Then delve into the sights and insights over a D-Day Experience. You’ll even step aboard a genuine C-47 built in 1943 for a simulated flight, feeling like you’re flying over the D-Day Landing beaches. Enter the house dubbed Dead Man’s Corner used in the film Band of Brothers. Visit the Utah Beach Museum, illuminating the story of D-Day from its preparation to its conclusion. Stop at the Omaha Beach Memorial before spending a few reflective moments at the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial. Enhance your evening with an optional dining experience to taste Normandy's renowned local cuisine.
Accommodations: Mercure Caen Center Port de Plaisance
Meals: Breakfast
Day 9 - Versailles and Paris
With monuments, churches and elegant squares, Versailles will inspire the mind of any curious traveler. Your Travel Director shows off the highlights of the city from the historical center in the Notre Dame neighborhood to the Saint Louis area known for its well-preserved monuments like the Convent of the Récollets, the Old Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and Marine built under Louis XV as well as the Royal Tennis Court, where the French Revolution started. Then venture to Paris where, as evening descends, the City of Light lives up to its name as the monuments, buildings are lit up in all their glory. For that special touch of excitement and glamour do not miss the chance to join an Optional Experience to one of the world-famous cabaret shows.
Accommodations: Marriott Rive Gauche, Paris
Meals: Breakfast
Day 10 - Paris, City of Light
With a Local Expert, explore the iconic sights and streets of Paris. See famous landmarks including the Eiffel Tower, the 3,000-year-old Luxor obelisk in the center of the Place de la Concorde and enjoy a drive along the Champs Elysées to Napoleon's Arc de Triomphe. Curate your day with an optional experience of a romantic Seine Cruise. You are in for a memorable evening which begins with a dinner featuring delicious French cuisine and wine.
Accommodations: Marriott Rive Gauche, Paris
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 11 - Farewell Paris
Say au revoir to the City of Light. Your battlefield tour concludes with a transfer to Charles de Gaulle Airport.
Meals: Breakfast
Vacation Details
* This departure has been designated a guaranteed departure by the operator, meaning that the minimum number of guests has been met, although still subject to weather and other conditions.
Fine dining, on-site bars or lounges and room service with extended hours are characteristic of deluxe establishments. Guest services usually include valet parking, concierge services, baggage assistance and laundry services. Other on-site facilities often include shops and boutiques, full service spas, full fitness facilities with pools and tennis courts. Business amenities may include available up-to-date technology and support staffs available for services. Attention to detail is apparent in the guestrooms which typically have stylish furnishings, quality bedding and bath products and often provide an evening turn down service.
All fares are quoted in US Dollars.
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Anywhere Anytime Journeys
101 E Sangamon Ave.
Rantoul, IL 61866
USA
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