Somme Tours
General | History | 2 Days Itinerary | 3 Days Itinerary | View Full Itinerary
Day 1 consists of:
7: 00 Depart local area by coach/minibus for tunnel or ferry crossing to France.
9:30 Crossing
11:00 (local time). Coach towards Arras.
1:00 Snack Lunch en route.
1:30 Arrive at Vimy Ridge, and a preserved area of the battlefield, with its mock up trenches and underground tunnels. Today a huge monument to the Canadian soldiers can be seen overlooking the former battle sites.
3:30 Visit cemeteries on the way, such as La Targette and Cabaret Rouge British Cemeteries. The French National Memorial and Cemetery. The Notre Dame de Lorette is one of the largest cemeteries, with a magnificent light house tower, 52 metres high. At the top is a search light which shines continually through 360 degrees. Stop off at the Faubourg D'Amiens Cemetery where the memorial wall lists just under 36,000 names of the missing from this sector, as well as 2,600 graves.
6:30 Drive to hotel in Arras. Check in.
7:00 Evening free for dinner in Arras town centre.
Day 2 consists of:
8.00 Breakfast. Pack up and leave hotel.
9:00 Coach towards The Somme battlefield area. Drive to Gommecourt, Serre and Beaumont Hamel's Newfoundland Memorial Park. Stop off at various points to look at areas that we will have studied, such as the grave of 16 year old, James Crozier, who was executed for cowardice.
Beaumont Hamel is a small village where the English Army stayed on the way to Agincourt in 1415. The Canadians were here in 1916 and suffered a huge casualty toll on the first day of the battle. The Newfoundlanders were cut to shreds. After the War, the Canadian Government purchased the 80 acre site of the disaster from the French in perpetuity. The result has been the preservation of these trenches in 'good' condition, as the Newfoundland Memorial Park.
12:00 Visit Thiepval Memorial and Museum, Ulster Tower, nearby trenches and cemeteries.The Thiepval Memorial Arch, designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens, contains the names of 73,357 missing soldiers from the Somme battle. It was opened in 1932, by the Prince of Wales. In 2004 a new Visitor's Centre was opened to help visitors to understand the significance of the Memorial to the Missing. The town of Albert stands a few km behind the lines, was badly shelled. It was the central collecting point for troops before they were sent to their respective positions at the front. The story went that if Golden Virgin and Child statue on the top of the basilica fell the war would end. It was hit by a shell and hung precariously over the church from January 1915. However, when the Germans captured Albert in March 1918, it was the British who finally shot it down, April 16th.They were now shelling.
2:00 Snack Lunch in a café in Albert. Optional Museum visit.
3:00 Visit Pozieres and La Boiselle Crater on route back to Calais.
Crossing via Tunnel at approximately 8pm.
See Tour Dates page for further information
Tours are available in Spring and Summer 2010. Other months on request.
The cost is £199 per person sharing for a fully guided tour.
This includes Hotel on a BB basis in Arras, all travel in a luxury coach, all museum entrances and specially prepared educational booklets designed to go with our itinerary.
Our Company Insurance is included. However, you may want your own holiday insurance, as well as your E1 11 card in case of personal injury requiring hospital treatment (or adequate insurance cover). See booking terms and conditions.
Longer, personalised bespoke tours can be arranged for up to 7 people to cater for family or other interests.
