5 Days
Group
16 persons
Arras
*Once a month - additional dates available on request.
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. Why 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 heritage sites across WW1 & WW2.
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. You will visit places synonymous with Australian achievement and sacrifice along the Western Front; Fromelles, Pozieres, Mouquet Farm, Villers-Bretonneux, Le Hamel, Messines and the Ypres Salient. And then, we venture down to Normandy where we stay in the medieval town of Bayeux and dicover the places brought to life in 'The Longest Day', 'Saving Private Ryan', and 'Band of Brothers'. Walk the fields where Dick Winters and Easy Company captured the guns at Brecourt Manor, and across the blood-soaked sand of Omaha Beach. It is an opportunity you just have to take!
Day 1: 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).
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 south of the Somme to the Australian National Memorial at Villers-Bretonneux, and the battelfield of Le Hamel, before returning via the scene of bitter fighting in April & May 1917 at Bullecourt.
You stay in Arras for the evening.
L
Day 2: Fromelles - 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.
You stay in Arras for the evening.
B L D
Day 3: Arras - Bayeux
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 the famous 'Pegasus Bridge', which 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 magnificent tapestry.
You stay in Bayeux for the evening.
B L
Day 4: Utah Sector
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.
B L
Day 5: 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).
B L
The letters refer to:
(B) Breakfast included.
(L) Lunch included.
(D) Dinner included.