Vimy and Flanders Fields Canadian Battlefield Tour from Lille





Description
Explore Canadian World War I history in Vimy and Belgium on this battlefield tour from Lille or Arras. Follow a guide through Vimy’s WW1 trenches and discover sites of interest including Hill 145, the Canadian Passchendaele Memorial, the St. Julien Memorial, and the Tyne Cot Military Cemetery. See where John McRae wrote his famous poem ‘In Flanders Fields’. Then, finish your tour at the Last Post ceremony in Ypres. This tour of Canada’s WW1 sites includes round-trip travel from Lille or Arras.
Tour Options
Itinerary
You will stand at the memorial, will walk in the Canadian and German trenches, go down in the Grange Tunnel and will see the newly built visitor Centre
You will drive along Ploegsteert Memorial and Hill 63.
Driving through Messines and the battlefields of June 1917.
Stand at Hill 62 or Mount Sorrel where Canadian troops fought at the spring of 1916.
You will stand at Frezenberg where the Patricia's were nearly wiped out in May 1915
The largest CWGC's cemetery.
Seeing the Brooding Soldier Memorial where the Germans used gas for the first time.
Where John McRae wrote the poem "In Flanders Fields".
You will stand on the main square of Ypres seeing the Cloth Hall, the Cathedral and some other nice builddings. You will have some free time to spend in town.
You will attend the daily Last Post under the Menin Gate before heading back to your hotel.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
Pick up at all central hotels or at the train station.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- A minimum of two people per booking is required
Reviews(12)
Claude provided in-depth information historically and relevant to today’s outcomes. We had 12 hours of non-stop celebration of Canadian involvement in the war! Seeing where John McCrea resided when he wrote his masterpiece in Flanders fields, experiencing Vimy with a museum and trench visit, paying respects at a cemetery with 12,000 soldiers unknown and unknown was frankly overwhelming! The Last post in Ypres was was the icing on the cake! The cost was well worth the experience!
Hello Renee, thank you very much for the nice comment. I am glad you both enjoyed the day. Claude Verhaeghe
This was an excellent one day tour of Canadian WW1 battlefields and memorials. Claude was superb guide… knowledgeable, professional, patient answering all our questions. He really took such good care of us. The day was packed with sights but also very easy as Claude took care of every detail. On our own it would have taken at least three days to see the same amount and we wouldn’t have learned nearly as much. It was well worth the price. An incredible experience for our family both young and old.
Hi Marlis, thank you very much for the nice comment.
With our club we went to the Canadiens monument, I put for a hike and a visit. We were received by Alisson, a young Canadian guide who introduces us to the underground trenches. With this notice, we wanted to pay tribute to this young girl, who, through her professionalism, kindness and good humor, made it possible for the entire group to have a wonderful time of memories and tribute to Canadian soldiers. Thank you Alisson for this exchange.
Merci, mais vous vous êtes trompé de site. Bàv. Claude
Reservations are one on Saturday evening must. Price-quality very good. Smooth and pleasant operation. Parking in front of the door.
Dank U.
Claude was the best guide, he was very knowledgeable about all of the sites he took us to. This tour was absolutely amazing. We learned so much about Canada's WWI history. Highly recommended!
Thank you, Julina, for the nice comment. I am glad you enjoyed the tour. Claude Verhaeghe.
Great tour and our guide Claude was very knowledgeable, he provided us with plenty of information and facts about the Canadians troops during WW1.
Hi Donald, thank you for the 5 stars and the nice comment, I am glad you enjoyed the tour. Claude
Claude was excellent as a guide and the experience was extremely moving and memorable. we highly recommend this tour.
Thank you Caroline for the nice review. Claude
Vimy and Flanders Canadian battlefields tour. On August 11,2022 Lloyd and I went on a “full” day tour of Vimy and Flanders battlefields tour with our own guide, Claude Verhaeghe. Lloyd spent 8 years in the army; first with the First Battalion Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada and with the Third Battalion PPCLI in Victoria,BC. then finishing his career in Winnipeg,Mb. with the Second Battalion PPCLI. I am a retired Registered Nurse with 40 years of experience. On November 11th we make it a must to watch the Remembrance Day Service on television. We are reminded of how grateful we are for our lives lived in freedom but more importantly our gratitude to the men and women who sacrificed so much that we rare free to live the life we have. This tour as well as the tour from Bayeux have been on our “bucket list” so we are grateful to have gone on both exceptional tours. Our visit into the trenches at Vimy Ridge and Passendale although informative left me feeling..sad for those who served, yet so grateful for their sacrifice. The Vimy Canadian Memorial on Vimy Ridge is something to behold. Although it’s reason for existing is tragic, we left with a feeling of humble pride. Our lunch stop was a well timed break in the day with yet much more to see and learn about. I was very glad to have visited the Essex Farm where Canadian Army Doctor Major John McRae cared for the wounded and composed his famous poem “In Flanders Fields”. I will now have a vision whenever I hear his poem. Our day finished with taking part/observing the “Last Post” in Ypres. A very moving experience that will not be forgotten. Claude, it was a “full” day and we couldn’t have had a more pleasant, knowledgable person to chauffeur us about and answer our many questions from the time you picked us up at our hotel in Lille at 0900 till you brought us back about 9pm. You have a wealth of knowledge and we are so grateful to have had you share it with us. You made our day very memorable. From two grateful Canadians; Thank you again for a “day to remember” and the keepsake to help us do so. Thank you, Janice & Lloyd
Hi Janice and Lloyd, thank you very much for this nice comment. Claude
Where do I start?! As my husband and I were starting to plan our vacation to Europe one of my must do's was to go and see the Canadian monument, Vimy Ridge. Although I have no present knowledge of relatives who were a part of WW1, as a Canadian, as a child of a serviceman from WW2, a brother, a nephew and my husband have or still do serve, my interest in of taking up the torch to remember and honour those who gave so much. I searched online for tours, months before we left Canada, and came across this tour company "Battlefield Tours". I am unable to say enough wonderful things about this tour company, Claude and his knowledge, kindness, and patience with me as I was becoming more and more interested with each gravesite and monument. I started to look for my family name on graves and found many. Claude obviously had a schedule and I am sure I tested his time but he understood how this was becoming more and more important than even I had imagined. We opted for the private tour and found that it was worth every nickel. Claude has amazing knowledge, passion and obvious great interest in these sites and the history of the European "War To End All Wars". You will NOT be disappointed in this tour company, Battlefield Tours, and I HIGHLY recommend it!
Thank you for the nice comment, I am very glad you enjoyed the day. Claude
<p>Personalized tour with a guide who could relate to the histyory of the battles. The guide also provided axtra detours of some of the Memorials which we wanted to see.</p>



