Great Canadian War Memorial Tour
September 15 - 26, 2009
This is a Canadian tour, designed by Canadians, for Canadians, to pay tribute to all who served their country in battle and
particularly to those who gave their lives.
From Paris to London, visit the many museums, memorials and special
sites that commemorate Canada’s contribution in the Great War including
Canada’s most impressive tribute, the majestic and inspiring Canadian
ENGLAND
National Vimy Memorial which overlooks the Douai Plain from Hill 145, the
English Channel
highest point of Vimy Ridge.
London 3
Dover
Normandy
Beaches
Calais
1 Ypres
Lille 1
Dieppe
Caen
1
1
Amiens
Paris
2
Start City
End City
1
Overnights
BELGIUM
Arras
1
FRANCE
ITiNERARY
Day 1, Sep 15 – Canada to Paris. (Tue) Board your overnight transatlantic flight to
Paris. Meals and refreshments will be served onboard the aircraft.
Day 2, Sep 16 – Paris. (Wed) The day is free to rest or to start exploring the splendid
French capital. At 6 pm, meet your Tour Director and travelling companions and
leave the hotel for a welcome dinner with wine at one of Paris’ lively restaurants.
After dinner you may wish to join an optional outing to get a first impression of
the “City of Light.” (D)
Day 3, Sep 17 – Paris. (Thu) Morning sightseeing with a Local Guide features the
Arc de Triomphe, Opéra, Madeleine, Louvre, and Champs-Elysées. Visit magnificent
NOTRE DAME CATHEDRAL and for a panoramic view, take the elevator to the
second floor of the EIFFEL TOWER. Balance of the day at leisure. (BB)
Day 4, Sep 18 – Paris to Landing Beaches to Caen. (Fri) A pleasant drive takes you to BÉNY-SUR-MER Canadian War Cemetary near
Reviers. The cemetery contains 2,049 headstones enclosed by pines and maples. These mark the dead of the 3rd Division and the graves
of 15 airmen. On to visit the JUNO BEACH MEMORIAL CENTRE, where, on nearby Juno Beach, on June 6, 1944, Canadian forces landed
and secured the bridgehead for a successful opening of the Western front. The Centre is also an educational institution and provides
recognition for Canada’s military and civilian contribution during the Second World War. We continue past the Gold Beach, ArromanchesMulberry Harbour. Late afternoon we return to Caen and visit the MEMORIAL MUSEUM FOR PEACE. Overnight in Caen. (BB)
Day 5, Sep 19 – Caen to Dieppe. (Sat) After breakfast we will visit THE ARDENNE ABBEY on the outskirts of Caen. Ardenne Abbey was the
location of the headquarters of SS-Panzergrenadier Regiment 25, commanded by SS-Standartenführer Kurt Meyer. On June 7, eleven
captured Canadian soldiers of The North Nova Scotia Highlanders and the 27th Canadian Armoured Regiment were taken to the Abbey
and killed. Next we will make a stop at the famous PEGASUS BRIDGE, secured by the British the night June 5/6, crucial for successful
landing and further operations. At Honfleur, (from where Samuel de Champlain left France in 1603 to become the founder of the Province
of Quebec), we will cross the Normandy Bridge, the longest cable-stay bridge in the world when it was inaugurated. It spans the river
Seine at its mouth, linking Honfleur to Le Havre. Continue along the Atlantic coast to Dieppe. We’ll visit the local MUSEUM, CANADIAN
CEMETERY, and actual beach battle site to pay tribute to 913 Canadian soldiers who died that tragic morning of August 19, 1942. Lessons
learned in August 1942 were instrumental in the successful landing two years later on the beaches of Normandy. On September 1, 1944
the 2nd Canadian division liberated Dieppe. Overnight in Dieppe. (BB)
Day 6, Sep 20 – Dieppe to Amiens to Arras. (Sun) We leave the Atlantic coast and journey eastward towards Arras. We shift our attention
to World War I with a stop in Amiens. Visit AMIENS CATHEDRAL and THE MEMORIAL TO ALLIED FORCES that fought one of the decisive
battles in August 1918, ultimately leading to the end of World War One. Stop in Dury and view the Memorial commemorating the
breaking of the Hindenburg Line on Sep 2, 1918, during the Second battle of Arras. Continue to the town of Albert, famous for the church
with its hanging spire of the Virgin Mary and Jesus. Next we will visit the Newfoundland Memorial Park at BEAUMONT HAMEL. The attack
that tragic morning of July 1, 1916 claimed 91% of the regiment. The site contains a stunning caribou memorial and a new interpretive
centre. Late afternoon arrival to your hotel in Arras (BB, D)
Day 7, Sep 21 – Arras to Vimy Ridge. (Mon) Today we pay a visit to Vimy Ridge, site of a stunning Canadian victory and most important
for the formation of our national identity. Canadian attack commenced on the morning of April 9, 1917. We will visit the newly restored
MEMORIAL that dominates the area. Around its base are engraved the names of the 11,000 missing Canadians who died in France during
the Great War and have no known grave. There will be the opportunity to walk the restored trenches and tunnels as well as visit the
fascinating INTERPERETIVE CENTRE. In the afternoon continue to nearby Monchy, where the Newfoundlanders were back in action. The
village contains another memorial. We will end the day with a visit to CABARET ROUGE cemetery from where an unknown Canadian
soldier was taken back home in 2000 as a symbol of all missing and unknown soldiers fallen during the Great War in Europe. Continue to
Lille for dinner and overnight. (BB, D)
Day 8, Sep 22 – Lille to Ypres. (Tue) Following breakfast we depart Arras for Ypres. First we will visit to the famous CLOTH HALL, which
now contains the “IN FLANDERS FIELDS MUSEUM”. Continue to ESSEX FARM cemetery where John McRae wrote his famous poem. On
to PASSCHENDALE, site of the tragic battle in 1917, where the Local Guide will introduce us to the area. Further up the hill is a Canadian
memorial at CREST FARM. Dominating all in this area is TYNE COT Cemetery, the largest Commonwealth military graveyard in the world
with its 12,000 graves and a memorial to another 35,000 missing. Of the graves at this site almost 1,000 are Canadian, including a Victoria
Cross holder. Overnight in Ypres. (BB,D)
NOTE: Within a two-block walk from the town square you will find the Menin Gate. Every night at 8:00 p.m. under the Menin Gate all traffic comes
to a halt while the last post is played to honour the memory and sacrifice of the war’s dead.
Day 9, Sep 23 – Ypres to Calais to Dover to London. (Wed) After breakfast we depart
Flanders. On the way to Calais we will make a stop near St.Omer and visit LA COUPOLE,
a gigantic underground bunker designed by the Nazis, in 1943-1944, to store, prepare
and launch the V2 rockets (first missiles to reach the stratosphere), the secret weapon
that Hitler was counting on to destroy London and reverse the course of the war.
Journey to Calais and board the afternoon ferry across the Channel. Opportunity to
view the famous White Cliffs of Dover from the ferry. Continue to London via lush
English countryside and check in to your hotel for the overnight. (BB)
Day 10, Sep 24 – London. (Thu) Morning sightseeing with a Local Guide includes all
the famous landmarks: Knightsbridge with Harrods, the Houses of Parliament and
Big Ben beside the River Thames, Westminster Abbey, Whitehall’s mounted horseguards and Buckingham Palace. Highlights are a visit to ST. PAUL’S CATHEDRAL and
the ceremonial Changing of the Guard, if held. This afternoon enjoy an included visit
of the IMPERIAL WAR MUSEUM. This evening is free to explore London on your own.
(FB)
Vimy Ridge Mem
orial, France
Day 11, Sep 25 – London. (Fri) Morning program includes a visit to the CANADIAN
MEMORIAL, Green Park. The stone surface of the memorial is etched with bronze fallen maple leaves
and it is inscribed “From dangers shared our friendship prospers”. It is dedicated to 1 million Canadians who served with the British Forces
in the 2nd World War and the “110,000 who gave their lives in memory of country and cause of freedom throughout the world”. Afterwards we
will view a larger-than-life statue to the great British statesman, Sir Winston Churchill located in Parliament Square. This mornings outing
will conclude with a visit to the CABINET WAR ROOMS, where major decisions regarding the 2nd World War were taken. Included are
the telephone room, map room and Sir Winston Churchill’s Office and Bedroom. Afternoon is at your leisure. Tonight, join your fellow
travellers in the company of the Tour Director, on a guided evening excursion that includes a tasty four-course dinner with wine at a first
class restaurant close to the famous Tower Bridge followed by an illumination cruise on the River Thames, taking in many well known
landmarks (FB, D)
Day 12, Sep 26 – London to Canada. (Sat) Transfer to the airport for your homebound transatlantic flight, which arrives the same day.
Meals and refreshments will be served onboard the aircraft. (FB)
HOTELS
Accommodations will be provided in first class hotels.
Twin-bedded rooms with private bath or shower,
based on double occupancy. Hotel taxes, service
charges, local taxes, tips to baggage porters and hotel
staff are all included in the tour prices.
Paris
Holiday Inn Gare de L’Est
Caen
Mercure
Dieppe
Mercure
Arras
Mercure
Lille
Hotel Crown Plaza
Ypres
Novotel Ieper
London Hilton London Metropole
TRANSPORTATION
Motorcoaches are fully air-conditioned everywhere
while touring.
Tour Code BME/0916
Land only per person,
twin occupancy
$3,230
Single supplement
$ 815
If for any reason we are unable to accommodate the group in our regularly contracted hotels,
we reserve the right to seek alternative accommodation. We will advise you immediately
if such a situation should occur. Hotels are subject to availability & subject to change.
For more information, call your travel agent.
Above land pricing is based on minimum participation of 25 passengers. If minimum number of passengers is not met by June 30, 2009,
price is subject to increase. Groups with names and deposits are allowed, however, the group discount does not apply.
TICO# 1893755