Anzac Day 'Dawn Service' + 5-Day Western Front & Normandy Tour (25-30 April 2026)

Duration

5 Days

Tour Type

Group

Group Size

25 persons

Location

Arras

N.B. This tour departs from ARRAS ONLY.

Bundle + SAVE $300 for Anzac Day 2026! Limited seats available! BOOK NOW!

Enhance your European travel experience when you combine our Anzac Day 'Dawn Service' tour at Villers-Bretonneux with our exclusive 5-Day Western Front & Normandy tour (26-30 April 2026). See it all and SAVE $300 per person.

Includes:

Anzac Day Dawn Service 'Villers-Bretonneux' day tour; 2 days on the Western Front; 1 day to Normandy (heritage & battle sites); 2 days of D-Day sites including Airborne and Omaha Beach; and All breakfasts & lunches, and 1 dinner.

'Early Arrival' (ARRAS, 24 April 2026) and 'Late Departure' (BAYEUX, 30 April 2026) accommodation options are available (and recommended).

Check out all the details below and join us on the battlefields in 2026!

Fully escorted Anzac Day tour including the Dawn Service at Villers Bretonneux (Includes lunch)

Highlights

Attend the official Dawn Service at the Australian National Memorial, Villers Bretonneux
Visit Villers Bretonneux village service & visit the School Museum
Explore the Sir John Monash Centre and then enjoy lunch
Visit the Australian Corps Memorial, Le Hamel

Anzac Day; a special day for Australians. Join thousands for the official Anzac Day 'Dawn Service' at the Australian National Memorial, Villers-Bretonneux. The day starts with an early pick up (2:30am – 3am), from either Arras or Amiens. You will then be escorted by our local battlefield expert via coach to the Australian National Memorial to attend the very poignant Dawn Service.

Following the service, we make our way to the village of Villers-Bretonneux to attend the Village ceremony, and visit the Victoria School and Museum. We then return to the Australian National Memorial to visit the innovative Sir John Monash Centre (SJMC), a modern museum depicting events and effects of Australia prior to, during and following the Great War.

We enjoy a hearty lunch before heading to the tiny village of Le Hamel, where General John Monash planned and executed the brilliant operation on 4 July 1918 that became the blueprint for the Allies’ final offensive of the war. Here you will see the impressive Australian Corps Memorial commemorating over 100,000 Australians who served with the Australian Corps in France during the First World War.

A truly unforgettable & commemorative experience that every Australian must do!

Pick-up/drop-off

Arras: leaves 2:30am sharp, In front of the Holiday Inn Express Hotel, 3 Rue du Dr Brassart, 62000, Arras

2:00pm, Return to Arras for the conclusion of the tour.

N.B. DVA Registration: It is compulsory for you to register for the Dawn Service (VB) and bring photographic identification (Passport) - Dept of Veterans' Affairs (DVA) Anzac Day Registration

Travel across time in the footsteps of heroes!

From our Diggers' actions acoss France & Belgium on the Western Front, to WW2 and the D-Day battles in Normandy where the 'greatest generation' saved civilisation. It is an opportunity you just have to take!

The "Western Front to Normandy” tour is perfectly designed for those who love history and have limited time to see everything they want. If you are on your European trip of a lifetime, and came to see where the Anzacs fought, then why not check out the D-Day sites of Normandy while you're here? It's just down the road. Don't deal with all the stress of arranging an itinerary, accommodation, car hire and getting lost when all you need to do is relax and enjoy 5 days of battlefield touring and historic sites across WW1 & WW2.

Day 2: Monday, 26 April 2026 - Out in the Somme

The tour commences at 9:00am in Arras. You will be collected from your accommodation or Arras train station and head down to the Somme for the day. (Please select 'Early Arrival' accommodation when booking if you would like us to arrange accommodation the night beore the tour commences - Recommended).

We head back to mid-July 1916 and visit ‘Lochnagar Crater’, the village of Pozières, the 1st Australian Division Memorial, and the remains of the German blockhouse, ‘Gibraltar’. You will also see the famous ‘Windmill’ site, and consider the attacks on ‘Mouquet Farm’ on our way to visit the imposing, yet somehow unobtrusive, Thiepval ‘Memorial to the Missing’. After lunch we head to the scene of bitter fighting in April & May 1917 at Bullecourt.

You stay in Arras for the evening.

Day 2: Tuesday, 27 April 2026 - Fromelles to Ypres

We start the day with a battlefield walk at the site of one of Australia’s darkest days during the Great War: Fromelles. The ‘Cobber’ memorial and the unique ‘VC Corner’ cemetery are poignant reminders of the bravery and sacrifice displayed by the Anzacs in their first major battle on the Western Front. We then head north venturing through Ploegsteert ‘Plug Street’ Wood and enjoy lunch. We then visit further sites of significance, including ‘Polygon Wood’, Passchendaele and Tyne Cot cemetery. We then head into the old market town of Ypres, where will enjoy a leisurely dinner before we walk to the Menin Gate and the poignant 'Last Post' ceremony. You will have the opportunity to lay a wreath if you would like (just let us know so we can arrange a wreath for you).

We return to Arras, arriving around 9:30pm. A long day, but a rewarding one.

You stay in Arras for the evening.

B D

Day 3: Wednesday, 28 April 2026 - Arras to Bayeux (via Rouen)

We leave Arras behind and head to beautiful Normandy. On the way, we pause in Rouen to visit the CWGC St Sever Cemetery where many Australians are buried after dying of wounds in the nearby base hospitals (located within the race course). Rouen is also the scene of the US 8th Airforce's first daylight bombing raid in August 1942 when B-17s attacked the Rouen-Sotteville marshalling yards.

We then head for Bayeux via Merville Battery, and the famous 'Pegasus Bridge', where the the British 6th Paras were ordered to "Hold until relieved!" on D-Day. We visit a few other very interesting sites before arriving in Bayeux where we will visit the 1,000 year old Cathedral and other sites. Unfortunately, the famous Bayeux Tapestry is being refurbished.

You stay in Bayeux for the evening.

B L

Day 4: Thursday, 29 April 2026 - Utah Sector & Airborne Actions

We head to Utah Beach sector to explore beach where the US 4th Infantry Division came ashore, before venturing inland. Here we discover the landing grounds and famous actions of the 82nd and 101st Airborne where legends were born in the early hours of 6 June 1944. We head to Sainte-Mère-Église and the famous church, before walking in the footsteps of 'Easy Company' at Brecourt Manor and on the road to Carentan. We also make a stop at the striking La Cambe German War Cemetery where famous 'Tiger Tank Ace' Michael Wittman is buried with his crew.

You stay in Bayeux for the evening.

Day 5: Friday, 30 April 2026 - Omaha Sector

One of the significant feats on D-Day was the Ranger action at Point du Hoc. Marvel at the agility and bravery of these young Americans as we tour the bunkers and craters of this stunning coastal area. We venture to Omaha Beach where the troops coming ashore met a hail of bullets. Heavy casualties and hard fighting ensued before small groups of determined men were able to get off the beach and on to the bluffs to eliminate the German defenders. After this we venture up to the Normandy American Cemetery at Colleville-sur-Mer where many of those brave boys now rest.

The tour concludes in Bayeux.

(Please select 'Late Departure' accommodation when booking if you would like us to arrange a further night for you - Recommended).

The letters refer to:

(B) Breakfast included.

(L) Lunch included.

(D) Dinner included.