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REMEMBRANCE DAY

"ALL QUIET ON WESTERN FRONT"

 2008 Tour 11 days / 10 nights
 Departure 2nd November 2008

"The conclusion of this tour has been carefully designed to ensure you will be in Paris on Remembrance Day, 11 November 2008. This will give you the opportunity to absorb the special celebrations and commemorations where it all happened....on the 11 minute of the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month - exactly 90 years later".

A careful balance of the grand sights of France and Belgium plus a sensitive immersion into the life of the ANZAC Diggers throughout the sheer enormity of the tragedy of World War 1 in Northern Europe. From the grand boulevards of Paris and the Palace of Versailles to the cobbled stoned streets of picture perfect Bruges and the medieval squares of Ypres. Now blend this with the staggering devastation of the trench warfare through the Somme battlefields to the moving 'Last Post' under the Menin Gate in Ypres, as we retrace the steps of the ANZAC throughout the Allied battles of the Western Front. Specially designed by our War Historian, this tour offers you a unique and personal experience.

Itinerary

2008 MARKS THE 90TH
ANNIVERSARY OF THE END OF
World War I

Arc de Triomphe - Champs Elysees, Paris

- PARIS -

• The Tour commences in "The Oceania" Paris Hotel.

• A welcome drink will be serve in your hotel and a you will dinner in a local restaurant called "Chez Clement"

Your Paris Hotel: The Oceania Porte de Versailles

Champs de Mars

The Australian Monument in Peronne

- YPRES -

• We depart Paris and mid morning make a long stop in the historical town of Péronne where you will have time at leisure for lunch.

• We’ve also included entrance to the Historial de la Grande Guerre (Museum of the Great War) with its fascinating displays setting the picture of life before, during and after the War, as lived by the French, the British , the ANZACs and the Germans. This visit perfectly enhances our touring over the next few days.

• Later this afternoon we continue to Ypres where we stay the next 4 nights. Between 1916 and 1918 thousands of Australian and New Zealand soldiers came to Ypres where some of the heaviest fighting in W.W.I took place. Completely destroyed in the war, the town was lovingly re-built carefully restoring the grand old buildings and picturesque square.

• Our excellent hotel is superbly located in the very centre of the old town and barely 200 metres from the famous Menin Gate.

• Tonight after a buffet dinner you will attend the sounding of the Last Post at the Menin Gate, a moving ceremony repeated every night since 1928. (B, D)  

Your Ypres Hotel: Novotel Ieper Centrum

The architecture of the Historial - Museum of the Great War, designed by Henri-Edouard Ciriani

- YPRES -

• We have included a delightful excursion today to the charming city of Bruges. Recognised as one of Europe’s best preserved medieval cities, Bruges is riddled with canals, bridges and quiet back streets and is often called the Venice of the North. Wander the quaint and picturesque cobbled streets lined with tiny lace boutiques, tempting chocolate shops and cosy cafes.

• Maybe take a cruise along the canals or a ride in a traditional horse drawn carriage through the old town to admire the historic architecture.

• Or simply relax in one of the pavement cafes on the glorious old market square.

• On our return drive we will stop to visit the Essex Farm Cemetery - site of the composition of the poem ‘In Flanders Field’. (B)

Menin Gate

Bruges - Canal Spinolarei

Ypres by night

- YPRES - 

• Today will be enjoyed in Ypres. Our walking tour through the centre of town including the magnificent Cloth Hall, St Georges Chapel and St Martin’s Church.

• We’ll also visit the beautiful Ypres Ramparts Cemetery and walk on top of the ramparts to the Menin Gate Memorial, the British Empire’s tribute to missing from the battles around Ypres. Highlight of your day will be the ‘In Flanders Fields’ Museum - a remarkable interactive experience of World War I located in the Cloth Hall.

• The rest of your day is free in this delightful gothic town.

Your Ypres Hotel: Novotel Ieper Centrum

- YPRES -

A fascinating day! This morning includes visits to the main Australian and New Zealand battlefields of the ‘Ypres Salient’- Hooge Crater Cemetery and Museum (this small, private museum is in a renovated Chapel and small school), the 5th Australian Division Memorial and New Zealand Memorials at Polygon Wood, and the old British Empire’s largest war cemetery at Tyne Cot.  (B)

Your Ypres Hotel: Novotel Ieper Centrum

Hooge Crater Cemetery

The Irish Peace Tower in the site of the battle of Messine

DAY 6 - 7th November 2008

- AMIENS -

• Today we traverse the old Western Front battlefields between Ypres and Amiens. We visit the site of the Battle of Messines in 1917, the New Zealand Memorial, the beautiful Toronto Avenue Cemetery and the Irish Peace Tower.

• After crossing the border into France, we will tour to Arras stopping at the Australian Memorial Park at Fromelles, the spectacular Canadian National Memorial on Vimy Ridge, and the Bullecourt ‘Digger’ Memorial. 

• A packed lunch has been included today.

• 2 nights in Amiens in a well located Hotel in the very centre of the city. (B, L, D)  

Amiens Hotel: Express by Holiday Inn

- AMIENS -

• Today we follow the tragedy of the 1916 Somme Battlefields including Devonshire Trench Cemetery and the Australian memorials at Pozières which recall the loss of 23,000 men in six weeks.

• A light lunch has been included today at the fascinating Tommy Café in Pozières itself. In the café gardens there is a private museum containing numerous military objects and hardware collected from the surrounding countryside and displayed in and around a series of re-created WWI trenches.

• Later we visit the New Zealand Memorial at Longeuval, the vast and tragic Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, the Ulster Tower to the 36th Ulster Division and the Newfoundland Memorial Park.

• Returning to your hotel your evening is free. Make sure you visit the grand old market squares to take in their glorious Cathedrals - gems of French medieval architecture (B, L).

Amiens Hotel: Express by Holiday Inn

Above, The Australian memorials at Pozieres

The Thiepval Memorial

The Australian National Memorial at Villers-Bretonneux.

- PARIS -

• In 1918 Australian soldiers played a prominent part in the saving of the city of Amiens.  First stop will be nearby at the Adelaide Cemetery (site of the exhumation of Australia’s Unknown Soldier in November 1993) and the Australian National Memorial at Villers-Bretonneux.

• It was here on April 25, 1918, exactly 3 years after the Gallipoli landings, that Australian courage and determination provided a stunning victory that proved a turning point in the war.

• Driving on across the uplands of the Somme we visit the Australian 2nd Division Memorial at Mont St Quentin before a last stop at Compiegne, where the Armistice of 11 November, 1918 was signed. 

• Arriving in Paris, your evening is at leisure to explore this city of romance. (B)

Your Paris Hotel:  The Oceania

DAY 9 - 10th November 2008

- PARIS -

• First stop of the day will be a guided tour through Louis XIV’s magnificent Palace of Versailles, where the Versailles Treaty, which brought WW 1 to an end, was signed.

• In the afternoon we return to Paris for a Panoramic tour which will bring alive the city from the Eiffel Tower, Champs Elysees and Arc de Triomphe (including the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier), to the Louvre and Notre Dame. This evening we will take an Illuminations drive past many of Paris’ landmarks bathed in glorious light as we make our way to the traditional French restaurant called ‘Les Noces de Jeanette’.

• Here we’ll enjoy a 4-course final evening meal including drinks and traditional French accordion music, in a restaurant which is a favourite amongst Parisian artists. (B, D).

Your Paris Hotel:  The Oceania

Chateau de Versailles

Place de la Concorde

Eiffel Tower

DAY 10 - 11th November 2008

- PARIS -

A full free day in Paris. This programme has been re-designed to ensure you’ll achieve all the sights and touring in the above itinerary plus you’ll be there to take in the special, celebrations and commemorations where it all happened… on the 11th minute of the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month – exactly 90 years later. (B)

Your Paris Hotel:  The Oceania

DAY 11 - 12th November 2008

- PARIS -

Sadly your Western Front Tour ends this morning in your hotel after breakfast. (B)

Your Paris Hotel:  The Oceania

The Colline of Caillot and The Trocadero, aerialview

$2589 per person twin share
Single person supplement $695

Price includes:

• All excursions, scenic drives and sightseeing as described in the itinerary

• 10 nights First Class/Superior Tourist accommodation as described  

• Breakfast daily, 2 lunches, 4 dinners including Farewell Dinner at Les Noces de Jeanette in Paris

• Welcome drink Paris

• Services of a Tour Manager and experienced local guides

• End of tour tips to your Tour Manager and Driver.

• All entrance fees as per the itinerary

• Extensive touring of the WW1 Battlefields

• Travel by First Class air-conditioned coaches

• Local taxes and fees

Price does not include:

• Personal expenses

• Lunches & drinks