WWI BATTLEFIELDS Blue-Roads | Europe

This fascinating and moving tour focuses on the major areas of British and Commonwealth involvement across the Western Front - from The Somme to Flanders. Providing guests with a level of flexibility to visit memorials to his (or her) country's fallen, and the expert knowledge of our Tour Leaders - this tour promises to be as unforgettable as it is enlightening.

TOUR CODE:

BEWBFLL-2 Thank You for Choosing Blue-Roads

Thank you for choosing to travel with Back-Roads Touring. We can’t wait for you to join us on the mini-coach!

About Your Tour Notes THE BLUE-ROADS DIFFERENCE Have the opportunity to pay your respects at your relatives' graves with These tour notes contain everything you need to know visits to significant sites before your tour departs – including where to meet, Receive a fascinating insight into the what to bring with you and what you can expect to do lives of WWI soldiers at the on each day of your itinerary. You can also print this Underground City of Naours document out, use it as a checklist and bring it with you Attend the playing of the Last Post on tour. under the famous Menin Gate in

Please Note: We recommend that you refresh this document one week before your tour TOUR CURRENCIES departs to ensure you have the most up-to-date accommodation list and itinerary information + France - EUR available. + Belgium - EUR Your Itinerary

DAY 1 | LILLE

After meeting the group in Lille, we’ll kick off our battlefields tour with a delicious welcome dinner. Here’s to the incredible journey ahead. Accommodation: Hôtel Couvent des Minimes (or similar)

MEALS: Dinner

DAY 2 | LILLE – SOMME – AMIENS

After breakfast, we’ll begin our first full day together by exploring the region of the Somme – the infamous site of one of the costliest WWI battles. While we’re here, we’ll visit Newfoundland Memorial Park – where the original trench lines have been preserved. Later, we’ll visit Ulster Tower – a memorial to the 36th (Ulster) Division – and Pozières Cemetery. We’ll also have time to pay our respects at the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme before we set a course for Amiens. Accommodation: Hôtel Le Prieuré (or similar)

MEALS: Breakfast

DAY 3 | AMIENS – NAOURS – AMIENS

Today will begin with a visit to the underground city of Naours. Here, we’ll tour the vast cave network where hundreds of ANZAC soldiers left their mark. With the largest concentration of WWI inscriptions on the Western Front, this site provides a touching insight into the lives of the brave soldiers fighting on the front. Then: we’ll round off the day back in Amiens, where you’ll have some free time to explore at your own pace. Accommodation: Hôtel Le Prieuré (or similar)

MEALS: Breakfast DAY 4 | AMIENS – VILLERS-BRETONNEUX – YPRES

This morning, we'll leave Amiens behind us - moving on to the Australian National War Memorial and Cemetery at Villers-Bretonneux. After taking some time to pay our respects, our next stop will be the Canadian National Vimy Memorial: Canada's largest overseas National Memorial. This evening will see us dining together in Ypres - a town that was completely destroyed during WWI and rebuilt anew. Accommodation: The Albion Hotel (or similar)

MEALS: Breakfast Dinner

DAY 5 | YPRES – YPRES SALIENT – MENIN GATE – YPRES

The beautiful town of Ypres sits in the epicentre of British WWI endeavours, and there is much to see in the surrounding countryside. We’ll start with a visit to John McCrae’s Dressing Station at – the site where his famous poem was written in 1915. Continuing our journey, we’ll visit the German Cemetery at Langemark and Vancouver Corner. Then, we’ll explore the fascinating Hooge Crater Museum – home to a unique collection of WWI artefacts and reconstructed trenches. An evocative end to the day is in store: we’ve an appointment to keep at the Menin Gate Memorial, where we’re invited to attend the Last Post ceremony. Accommodation: The Albion Hotel (or similar)

MEALS: Breakfast

DAY 6 | YPRES – FROMELLES – LILLE

Today, we’ll visit Hill 60 – a manmade promontory on the edge of the Ypres Salient where many fierce battles between the Germans and Allied forces took place. After, we’ll take some time to explore the area around Fromelles, VC Corner and the Australian Memorial Park – before having the opportunity to visit Pheasant Wood Cemetery: the final resting place of 250 Australian and British soldiers killed in the battle of Fromelles. After returning to Lille, our incredible journey will come to a close.

MEALS: Breakfast Tour Information

Meals Blue-Roads Travel App INCLUDED MEALS

Breakfast (B) is included daily. Why not check in for your tour using the Back- Some of your lunches and dinners are also Roads app? included, either in hotels or local restaurants. This handy tool allows you to view your These are indicated by (L) and (D) in the bookings, check your itinerary, see tour maps itinerary. and more – making it the perfect travel Please note that drinks will not always be companion for your Back-Roads trip. included. How to Download the Back-Roads app We will do our best to accommodate any specific dietary requirements you may have. 1. Launch the App Store or Google Play on Please ensure to make these clear to us your device before your tour begins so we can 2. Search ‘Back-Roads’ and click ‘OK’ communicate them to our hotels, restaurants 3. Select the Back-Roads app in the search and suppliers. results 4. Click the download/install button 5. The app should be installed in your device’s applications page

Other Information

Finances

CHANGING MONEY SPENDING MONEY CASH: Foreign money can be changed at Naturally, everyone’s spending varies. Many of banks, airports, railway and tube stations, and your meals are included in the price of your at major hotels (though at a less favourable tour, so this just leaves a few meals and your rate) personal spending to budget for. CREDIT CARDS: Visa and MasterCard are widely Tips for the Tour Leader and Driver are not accepted. American Express is only accepted in included. Tipping is entirely at your some larger establishments discretion; however, if you feel you have CASH MACHINES: ATMS are widely available received exceptional service, it is recommended that you tip £1-2/€ per day for Drivers and £4-5/€ per day for Tour Leaders.

Insurance Passports and Visas

You will need to take out full travel insurance We advise you either to carry a photocopy of before travelling with Back-Roads Touring. your passport (and visa, if applicable) with you Please ensure that you have adequate medical, while abroad, or to ensure that you leave a personal effects and cancellation cover. copy with relatives back at home. We recommend that you carry your insurance This will enable the local embassy or high details with you at all times. You may be asked commission to arrange a replacement if the to provide details of your medical insurance or original should be lost or stolen. a payment guarantee in some countries before If you do take copies with you on your trip, medical assistance can be provided. please ensure that you keep these separate Your insurance company may not assist you from your original documents. with your claim if the instructions given in the It is your responsibility to obtain any visas policy have not been followed. necessary to enable you to travel in Europe or Asia. Contact your local consular office for more information. Transport

We travel in premium mini-coaches equipped with comfortable seats, air conditioning and large windows for enjoying the view. With far more flexibility than a standard-size coach, we’re able to take the scenic route – winding through beautiful countryside to the heart of tiny villages and coastal towns. What to Bring

Suggested Packing List Wondering what to take with you on tour? Our packing list can be used as a guide. Please Note: What you pack will depend on the countries you’re visiting and the time of year you plan to travel. The following is a suggested clothing list only, based on our experience:

Sun hat Sunglasses Shorts/skirts Long-sleeved tops Short-sleeved tops Trousers Light jacket Waterproof jacket and Warm jacket umbrella Walking shoes/comfortable shoes Smart casual evening Sleepwear Swimwear and towel wear

Other things to pack:

Multi-use travel adapter Camera Batteries Phone Personal medication Sunscreen Paracetamol or aspirin

OPTIONALS TO CONSIDER:

Motion sickness tablets Anti-diarrhoea tablets Sewing kit Lip balm

That's it!

We look forward to seeing you on tour.