WWI Battlefields
Lille
Lille
WWI Battlefields
Tour summary
6 days
France & Belgium
7 meals
18 guests (max)
Driver
Trip leader
Luxury minicoach
Twin-share / double / double for single occupancy
5 nights in thoughtfully selected accommodation5 nights
Uncover moving tales of courage, victory and tragedy during this thought-provoking journey along the Western Front. Trace your fingers over the carved names of brave Commonwealth soldiers in the eerie Underground City of Naours. Walk in their footsteps in the Sommes’ mud-splattered trenches. And witness the sheer devastation of war whilst gazing out at a sea of white gravestones in Fromelles. On this WWI tour, you won’t just discover the stories of the fallen – you'll connect with them in a deeply personal way.
Tour highlights
- Have the opportunity to pay your respects at your relatives’ graves with visits to significant sites
- Receive a fascinating insight into the lives of WWI soldiers at the Underground City of Naours
- Attend the playing of the Last Post under the famous Menin Gate in Ypres
Tour itinerary
Day 1 - Lille (France)
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.
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.
Included today
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.
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.
Included today
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.
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.
Included today
Accommodation
Hôtel Le Prieuré (or similar)
Meals
- Breakfast
Day 4 - Amiens – Villers-Bretonneux – Ypres (Belgium)
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.
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.
Included today
Accommodation
The Albion Hotel (or similar)
Meals
- Breakfast
- Dinner
Day 5 - Ypres – Ypres Salient and 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 Essex Farm Cemetery – the site where his famous poem In Flanders Fields 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. Whilst renovation to the Gate is ongoing, we’ll still be able to experience the ceremony that has been performed here daily for almost 100 years.
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 Essex Farm Cemetery – the site where his famous poem In Flanders Fields 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. Whilst renovation to the Gate is ongoing, we’ll still be able to experience the ceremony that has been performed here daily for almost 100 years.
Included today
Accommodation
The Albion Hotel (or similar)
Meals
- Breakfast
Day 6 - Ypres – Fromelles (France) – 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 compelling journey will come to a close.
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 compelling journey will come to a close.
Included today
Meals
- Breakfast
Things we think you'll love
An underground city
Plunge deep below soil to the Underground City of Naours. We'll be joined by an expert guide, who'll lead us through the cave networks to discover the unique markings of soldiers who took refuge here during WWI.
Soldiers' resting spots
Visit significant sites where WWI soldiers are laid to rest and pay your respects to those who served their country with pride.
Atmospheric final salutes
Witness the Last Post, the traditional final salute to the fallen, at atmospheric Menin Gate in Ypres.
Read the reviews
Verified customer feedback powered byFeefo
Peter Wi October 2024
Excellent tour of the main First World War battlefields including some of the cemeteries, memorials and museums. The tour leader was extremely knowledgeable about the battles that were fought on the...
Read full reviewAnonymous October 2024
Good tour leader, good group on the tour, heaps of information, good hotels and breakfasts.
Susan Ga October 2024
A very comprehensive tour led by tour guide Stephen whose knowledge of the First World War and the battlefields brought the experience to life. The tour was flexible and Stephen was happy to include...
Read full reviewPeter October 2024
Excellent and extremely informative tour of the main First World War battlefields, stopping at museums, cemeteries and monuments along the route. The tour leader had an amazing amount of knowledge and...
Read full reviewAnonymous October 2024
Best tour we have done. Our tour leader was passionate, very knowledgeable and able to tell the story without just reciting facts about what went on the Somme and Flanders WW1 battle fields. He was...
Read full reviewAnonymous July 2024
This Tour was purchased through our Travel Agent through DH Tours in Ontario
Glenda Si June 2024
Steve our Guide had an in depth knowledge of the Western Front, front lines of both Allies and German, dressing stations, R & R locations, memorials and cemeteries. The John Monash Centre was a stand...
Read full reviewPamela Cu June 2024
An excellent tour, with great accommodation. Thanks to the wonderful driver and tour guide, we covered so much of the fighting on the Western Front. The guide incorporated people’s request for...
Read full reviewWayne Bu May 2024
Was a great trip, our guide Steve made it such a worthwhile experience. His experience and enthusiasm made it just that much more enjoyable. I would recommend Back Roads to anybody wanting a good...
Read full reviewAnonymous May 2024
Good leader lots of information, good bus driver.
Anonymous December 2023
Excellent tour, great value
Simon Mc November 2023
Incredible Information.
Great Accommodation.
great people.
Tour guide was exceptional, loved his flexibility, knowledge, nice person, easy to talk too, made the trip. Steve Western.
Bus driver was...
Nick Ew November 2023
Fantastic itinerary and guide.
A lot packed into a few days.
Remembrance Day in Ieper was truly memorable.
Anonymous September 2023
Good tour but accommodation needs to consider the age and capabilities of the tour members. I.E. should consider multi story accommodation should have lifts. One elderly couple were on the second...
Read full reviewBarbara Lo September 2023
All expectations met. Because I was the only Canadian amongst a group of Australians, the tour director went out of his way to ensure I had plenty of time to explore Canadian facets of the...
Read full reviewTom La September 2023
Great tour highly recommended
Anonymous September 2023
Well constructed, super fantastic and knowledgeable guide, a nice small group of people. Loved every moment.
Anonymous June 2023
Comprehensive tour with a very knowledgeable guide, Nic.
John Gr May 2023
Nic the tour guide made sure everyone got out of the tour what they wanted !
Kathryn Su December 2022
Excellent tour guide Steve and skilled bus driver, comfortable bus. Small tour group. Tour was adaptable and covered the Western Front history very well.
Anonymous August 2022
Small group, excellent driver,, informative @ well researched leader. Time to add/adjust accordingly. Would be best if accomodation had lifts for baggage (older demographic).
Anonymous August 2022
Informative guide, sites visited appropriate, extra time to fit in Menin Gate & Amiens Cathedral (must do’s). Perhaps more group meals……our small group chose to eat together
Our friendly Customer Service team are available to advise you Monday to Friday.
Full tour details covering accommodation, transport and included experiences are available in our tour notes.
FAQs
Our thoughtfully selected accommodation is full of charm and historic details – expect elegant country inns and grand town centre hotels! For this reason, rooms vary in size, and most hotels don’t have lifts – meaning you’ll likely need to access your room via stairs. Porterage will be included wherever possible.
Note that on Day 2 and 3 of this tour, you’ll be snoozing just a stone’s throw from the stunning Gothic façade of the Cathédrale Notre-Dame d'Amiens. Your hotel is lodged inside an atmospheric old priory and you’ll either stay in the main building or another one a short stroll down the street.
We love helping our groups explore personal connections at specific historic sites or cemeteries in Belgium and France – as long as they’re not too out of the way of our official tour route. Please contact our Customer Service team before your departure and they’ll do their best to add any extra stops to your itinerary in advance.
This tour features several fascinating walking tours which take you across weather- and war-beaten battlefields, through vast and tranquil cemeteries, and into eerie subterranean caverns. We’d recommend packing your comfiest pair of walking shoes and preparing for muddy conditions on rainier days.
All the tour details in one handy document available to read at your leisure!
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