Day one
After an early morning pickup we travel via Eurotunnel straight to Albert (Somme) and our hotel in either Albert or Peronne (we only use hotels in these two most important battlefield towns, as opposed to larger hotels some distance away). One such hotel is the popular Hotel Basilique situated directly opposite the famous Basilica (of leaning statue fame during WWI).  Lunch is usually taken either at our hotel or at Avril Williams Guest House (as featured in the recent BBC series ‘War Walks’), situated just behind the old Front Line at Beaumont Hamel.

The afternoon of our first day is spent visiting some of the most tragic places on the Somme battlefield, such as Serre, and the Sheffield Memorial Park (and memorials to the Accrington and other ‘Pals’ battalions), the Redan Ridge, Sunken Lane & ‘White City’ (from where the detonation of the Hawthorn Mine was film by Geoffrey Mallins), Newfoundland Park (battlefield left as it was, including trenches etc).

Whilst touring the battlefields we will be looking at many enlarged photographs taken in during the war to help us in our quest to see the landscape today as it looked all those years ago. We will also be listening to the the voices of those who were there, recorded back in the 1960s and 1970s. As far as possible we listen to these reminiscences at the very spot they refer to - a very moving experience indeed.

At the end of the day we return to our hotel for a welcome freshen-up and dinner, including wine and coffee (included in cost).

Day two
We start the day be exploring the Thiepval battlefield and the  massive Memorial to the Missing, followed by a visit to the huge mine crater at La Boisselle and onwards to the infamous Delville Wood (if time permits).

After lunch (usually taken at our hotel) we travel north to Ypres and the battlefields of Flanders, such as Passchendaele. Our journey  follows the course of the Western Front and the Messines battlefield of June 1917 where 19 mines were simultaneously detonated by the British in one of the most successful attacks of the Great War. The Messines offensive was the pre-cursor to the Third Battle of Ypres which we shall be studying the following day.

Later in the afternoon we book in to our hotel, the more luxurious family-owned 4-star Ariane hotel situated in the very heart of Ypres, and just a few minutes walk  from the famous Cloth Hall  and Menin Gate.  There is usually time for a walk along the  town's ramparts, ending up at the Menin Gate to witness the playing of the Last Post; a particularly moving ceremony that takes place at 8.00 pm each evening. We then return to our hotel for dinner in the hotel's fine dining restaurant.

Day three
After breakfast we tour the Ypres (Flanders) battlefield and places such as Passchendaele, Hooge, Hell Fire Corner, Langemark, Hill 60, Zonnebeke and Tyne Cot - and more if time permits. At Passchendaele (see photo bottom of this page) we actually follow the course of the main attack, using the small network of roads which criss-cross the fields, which in 1917 were treacherous shell-pocked quagmires, and now the final resting place for the countless soldiers whose remains were never found. You will have your own set of trench maps, photographs and plans, each marked with the route we take as we carefully retrace the final phase of this terrible battle (just as we do for the Somme battlefield).

After lunch we visit the impressive 'In Flanders Fields' museum situated within the rebuilt Cloth Hall. 

We later head back to Calais (via another WWI place of interest if time permits...) for our return Eurotunnel crossing, arriving back in London (or wherever you wish to be dropped off) about 6-7 pm.

Please remember that a tour with us will be your tour. It's not like being on a minibus or coach with others we have to consider. That's the attraction of taking a personal tour with us - we are there for you - and just you!