Anzac History Tour of the Western Front

Your fare excludes:

Day 1 - Lille

After meeting the group in Lille, we’ll kick off our history-laden journey with a delicious welcome dinner.

Day 2 - Lille - Ypres

Our first full day will take us to Ypres via the Messines Ridge. Our first stop will be the Passchendaele battlefields – where we’ll walk in the footsteps of WWI allied soldiers who fought to break the German line in 1917. Next, we’ll pay our respects at Polygon Wood and Tyne Cot Military Cemetery before visiting the shell-scarred Hill 60. This afternoon, there’s an opportunity to explore the fascinating Hooge Crater Museum – home to a unique collection of WWI artefacts and reconstructed trenches. We’ll enjoy some free time this evening in Ypres – our home for the next two nights.

Day 3 - Ypres

Today, we’ll continue to delve into the moving stories of the West Flanders Front, beginning with a visit to the In Flanders Fields Museum – a unique institution that commemorates the four-year trench war and conveys a contemporary message of peace. This afternoon, you’ll be free to explore Ypres at your leisure. A medieval town that was completely destroyed during WWI and rebuilt anew, there is plenty of history to uncover here. This evening we’ll reconvene to attend the Last Post ceremony under the iconic Menin Gate.

Day 4 - Ypres - Amiens

Today it’s out of Belgium and across the border. Our destination? Fromelles, the site of the disastrous attack of 19 July 1916 – where we’ll pay a poignant visit Pheasant Wood Cemetery and the fascinating exhibition nearby. After, we’ll move on to the Wellington Quarries: a network of tunnels built by the New Zealand Tunnelling Company as part of the preparations for the Battle of Arras. We’ll remember Australia’s role in this battle at Bullecourt, with a stop at the Digger Memorial later this afternoon. Concluding the day in lovely Amiens, we’ll have the evening to spend as we wish.

Day 5 - Somme

The Somme still captivates the soul and it’s here that the ANZACs first saw major action in 1916. Today we’ll visit Pozières and Mouquet Farm – significant sites for the Australian soldiers, as well as Longueval and Flers, which were similarly monumental to the Kiwis. Before returning to Amiens, we’ll also take some time to remember the colossal loss experienced by Great Britain – with a visit to the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme. Reconvening this evening, we’ll reminisce on our unforgettable tour over a farewell dinner.

Day 6 - Amiens-Villers Bretonneux - Lille

As the home of the National War Memorial, Villers-Bretonneux is central to Australian WWI commemoration and memory. Today we’ll visit the Franco-Australian Museum, a site paying tribute to the brave Australian soldiers who helped save the town and a monument to international solidarity. We’ll make a brief stop at Sir John Monash Centre before shifting our focus to the last year of the war – with a visit to Le Hamel. Our tour will conclude upon our return to Lille.

Please note: This itinerary may be subject to change.

V​arious departures available from July 2024 to October 2025

Below Pricing is based on 11 October 2024 departure

• Twin Share from $2,499 per person
• Solo Use from $3,179 per person

Please call our friendly travel team on 1300 414 198 to enquire about alternative dates and secure your place today. Why not extend your stay and see more of Europe? Our friendly Australian team can happily help arrange our flights, accommodation and travel insurance.

Please note that prices are subject to availability at time of booking and may change without notice.

5 nights in boutique accommodation.

How much luggage can I bring? As we travel in mini-coaches, luggage space is limited. Each guest may bring one piece of main luggage of a standard size of no more than 158cm (when the length, width and height is added together) and weighing no more than 20kg. You may also bring one small carry-on bag per person. If you have more luggage, please make arrangements to store it prior to joining the tour. We are unable to carry extra luggage on the mini-coach.

What clothes should I bring? A suggested packing list will be provided in your pre-departure information. We suggest packing for variable weather conditions. We also suggest a pair of good shoes for walking tours.

What level of mobility do I need?: You need to be fit enough to get on and off the vehicle on a regular basis, and to walk both to attractions and around towns and villages. You also need to able to walk up and down stairs in the hotels and use a shower over the bath. We frequently use traditional style hotels and the majority will not have lifts or ground floor rooms. 

Unfortunately, we are unable to accommodate mobility scooter or wheelchair users. If you have any medical issues, please declare them to us in advance of your tour. If you are in any doubt as to whether our tours are suitable for you, please check with us.

Will there be issues crossing borders when travelling?  Many of our Back-Roads tours place an emphasis on exploring one country in-depth and we are constantly monitoring government sites, as well as border restrictions in the countries we visit, to track changing regulations. However, if we need to make any alterations to your tour due to border restrictions, we will ensure prompt communication to ensure you’re adequately prepared.