All Quiet on the Western Front
Centrally located hotel, close to the Menin Gate.
5 days from £599pp
About the tour: All Quiet on the Western Front
- Campaign: The Great War (WW1)
- Campaign Dates Covered: Oct 1914 - July 1917 (What's this?)
This tour will cover the following key events
- First Battle of Ypres - 31 October 1914One of the first fights to breakout between the Germans and the Britians during WW1, the First Battle of Ypres was fought in 1914. It saw a battle that lasted for 34 days, as the Germans faught to get to the English Channel, and the beginning of trench warfare on the Western Front.
- Second Battle of Ypres - 22 April 1915The second battle of Ypres involved four battles which were faught in the northern part of the Ypres Salient. The first battle saw the Germans launch an attack on the French on the Allied Front with poisonous gas, this battle was the first time that this weapon was used.
- Battle of Loos - 25 September 1915The Battle of Loos was the biggest British attack in 1915, and saw the British Army use poisonous gas for the first time. The plan was for the British to attack the Germans in Loos, whilst the French faught for ground in Champagne. Unfortunately the battle did not go to plan and the British losses were twice as high as the German.
- Battle of the Somme - 1 July 1916One of the bloodiest battles of WW1, the Battle of the Somme saw the Britsh and French armies fight the Germans for five long months, with the aim to weaken the Germans and relieve the French Army who were fighting in Verdun.
- End of the Battle of the Somme - 18 November 1916After four months of bloody battles, the British Commander in Chief called a halt to the battle, which turned out to be a disaster and amounted to more than 600,000 British troops being wounded, killed or missing.
- Battle of Arras - 9 April 1917The WW1 battle saw the British achieve the longest advance since trench warfare began, as they attacked the German defences near Arras. The first day saw huge gains for the British, however there was no breakthrough.
- Battle of Messines - 7 June 1917Arguably one of the most successful operations of WW1 on the Western Front, the Battle of Messines saw nineteen mines being detonated underneath the German mines, in a bid to secure Messines Ridge.
- Third Battle of Ypres - 31 July 1917Known as The Battle of Passchendaele, the Third Battle of Passchendaele began in July 1917 and was fought for four long months. The attack was Haig’s attempt to break through Flanders.
Tour Introduction
This is the perfect introduction to the First World War battlefields looking at the key battlefield sites of the Great War on the Western Front in Belgium and France. We take trips to the battlefield areas of Ypres and the Somme, and to Arras and Vimy Ridge on the 5-Day tour. We see the trenches in Sanctuary Wood, see the long lists of names on the Menin Gate and Thiepval Memorial, and discover what the fighting in WW1 was all about. A memorable trip to understand the First World War and a perfect way to begin your battlefield journey.
Early Booking Special Offer!
Book today and save up to £20pp on selected departure dates.
Tour Includes
- 4 nights hotel with continental breakfast
- Specialist Battlefield Guide
- Convenient local joining points
- Travel by Silver Service
(Deposits from £50pp)
We offer flexible payment options
Once you have booked your battlefield tour either online, or by telephone (), you have the flexibility of how you pay off the remainder of your balance. You can -
- Use our balance payment facility online to make and track your card payments. You can pay as much as you want up until your final due date or pay it all, the choice is yours.
- Send payments via online banking.
- Send payments via cheque.
- Call us and make a card payment, either a small amount or as lump sum until your final due date.
Our contact and online banking payment details will be on your confirmation invoice to remind you of your choices.
Tour Itinerary
For customers living outside of the UK, if you want to make a booking you will need to provide a UK postcode on our online booking system. If you are not able to provide a relevant UK postcode then you can enter the postcode for London Victoria Coach Station – SW1W 9TP. You should then be able to proceed to complete your booking.
If you do encounter a problem then you can speak to one of our friendly advisors who will be happy to help.
Please Note : After completing your booking, a member of our Customer Service team will be in touch to make sure everything is okay.
Either e-mail our Reservations Department or call on 01709 830 333 and they will check to see whether you can visit a particular cemetery on any of our Battlefield Tours, if we are not able to fit it into our itinerary then you could take some time out of the tour and do this independently by taxi or public transport.
Day 1
Local departure by coach, then to our hotel in Belgium or northern France for a four-night stay at the Novotel Ypres, just a few hundred yards from the Menin Gate.
Day 2 - Ypres & Passchendaele
The tour starts in Flanders around the Belgian city of Ypres. Here, one in three of Britain’s Western Front dead fell by 1918 and it has been a place of pilgrimage ever since. We begin by looking at the commemoration of Britain’s dead at Tyne Cot Cemetery, the largest British war cemetery in the world, taking time to also see the visitors’ centre. At Vancouver Corner we examine the use of gas in the trenches and see the moving ‘Brooding Soldier’ memorial to the Canadians who defended Ypres in 1915 and at Langemarck German Cemetery we see how Germany commemorated her dead and look at the story of ‘Fritz’ on the other side of No Man’s Land. After lunch at Hooge, we visit the preserved trenches at Sanctuary Wood Trench Museum, some of the last original WW1 trenches still surviving in Flanders together with an amazing collection of relics and stereoscopic photos. We then travel down the Messines Ridge to Ploegsteert to see the Ploegsteert Memorial to the Missing. Our day ends in Ypres where we attend the moving Last Post Ceremony at the Menin Gate Memorial, held at 8pm each evening.
Included meals: Breakfast
Menin Gate (9)
Key Visits
- Panorama of Grote Markt square in Ypres
- Tyne Cot Cemetery in Ypres, Belgium
- Langemarck
- Menin Gate
- Passchendaele
- Ploegsteert Memorial
- Last Post Ceremony
- Sanctuary Wood Trench Museum
Day 3 - Arras & Vimy Ridge
We spend today in northern France visiting the ‘Forgotten Front’ between Flanders and the Somme. Starting on the Loos Battlefield, the scene of the first major British offensive of WW1, we see where the fighting took place and also the Loos Memorial and Dud Corner Cemetery.
We then visit the new Lens 14-18 Museum which explains the rich history of this region. After lunch in Arras we look at life beneath the Western Front in the Wellington Quarries, going underground to see where thousands sheltered on the eve of battle.
At the Arras Memorial we pay our respects to the Missing and see the Air services Memorial to those who died above the battlefields in WW1 and end our day with a visit to the stunning Vimy Ridge memorial at Hill 145 to examine the attach by Canadian forces here in April 1917.
Included meals: Breakfast
Arras Memorial (4)
Key Visits
- Vimy Ridge
- Arras Memorial
- Loos Memorial
- Dud Corner Cemetery
- Wellington Quarry
Day 4 - The Somme
The Battle of the Somme began on a summer’s day in July 1916 and ended in a snowstorm four and a half months later. It was a battle of contrasts from the blackest day when 57,000 became casualties to the first use of tanks and the change in approach to fighting on the Western Front. We look at all these stories and start our tour at Peronne where we visit the excellent Historial de la Grande Guerre museum which helps to put into context not just our Somme day, but the whole tour. We then see the Lochnagar Mine Crater at La Boisselle, the largest British mine crater surviving on the battlefields. After lunch we see the trenches in the Newfoundland Park and then take time to visit the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing and see the new Somme Museum here.
Included meals: Breakfast
Thiepval Memorial to the Missing (4)
Key Visits
- Newfoundland Park
- Thiepval Memorial to the Missing
- Peronne
- La Boisselle
Day 5
Return home.
Included meals: Breakfast
YOUNG ADULTS DISCOUNT - Many young adults travel on school visits to the battlefields but sharing historical experiences with all generations of a family can be rewarding. To help families travel together we are pleased to offer a 50% discount on selected dates. Young Adults aged 8-17 when travelling pay half price on the following dates:
| 2018 | 12 & 15 Feb; 30 Mar; 2 & 6 Apr; 28 May; 20 & 27 Jul; 13, 24 & 27 Aug; 22 & 25 Oct. |
| 2019 | 11 & 14 Feb. |
*Please note this offer is only available when travelling by Silver Service or Executive coach.
2 x packed lunch/museum package available whilst on tour approx. cost €40 (4 days) and €45 (5 days).
Pre-Tour Reading
A selection of related books for pre or post tour reading.
- Coombes, Rose - Before Endeavours Fade (After the Battle – many editions)
- MacDonald, Lyn -They Called It Passchendaele (many editions)
- MacDonald, Lyn -Somme (many editions)
- Middlebrook, Martin -F irst Day On The Somme (many editions)
- Reed, Paul - Walking the Somme (Pen & Sword Ltd new edition 2012)
- Reed, Paul -Walking Ypres (Pen & Sword new edition 2015)
Note: The last two books are written by one of the Leger Specialist Guides and although primarily walking guides, they are profusely illustrated and also double as general guides to these locations.
Passenger Information
Foreign Currency
The tour takes place in Belgium and therefore you will only need the Euro. You are advised to get Euros – in cash – in advance of your tour, as nearly all banks in Belgium do not provided currency exchange services.
What to Bring
The weather in Belgium can be changeable, and it is advisable to bring sensible clothes and always pack a jumper and waterproofs. Good, stout shoes are essential. In warm weather always bring a hat and sun cream, and it is advisable to have a supply of water. As the re-enactment and other events mean long periods in one place and seating is likely to be limited, you are advised to prepare for this and perhaps bring some form of small portable stool/seat. It is unlikely large seats/stools will be permitted.
Noise Levels
The noise levels are likely to be high. You may wish to bring suitable ear-plugs or headphones to mitigate the noise levels.
Umbrellas
In order to ensure good visibility for all spectators, umbrellas or other objects that may impede visibility will not be permitted. In addition, there are no cloakroom facilities available
Rucksacks
Rucksacks will be allowed but a search of the bags may take place depending on the security measures.Public ToiletsPublic toilets will be provided at several locations
Specialist Battlefield Guides
All of Leger’s battlefield tours are accompanied by specialist guides. Their individual in-depth knowledge of warfare will be informative, as well as enhance your overall experience, as they recreate a fascinating perception of the history and factual events of each battle. Discover the actual catalysts for war, the strategies employed and the final, inevitable outcomes, as well as experiencing the emotional human side of the front line.
Please note: On certain tours, you may get tour guides other that the ones listed below.
Hotel
If you prefer, then you can join the tour at the hotel. To do this, we will require a copy of your passport for identification purposes and you must advise us at the time of booking.
No reduction will be given if you should choose to do this.
All hotel rooms benefit from private bathroom facilities.
Some hotels have tea and coffee making facilities. Please check the tour pages for more information or call our Customer Service Department on 01709 830333
Most hotels have a lift, please call our Customer Service Department on 01709 830333 for more information.
Some hotels have ground floor rooms. Please email for information on individual hotels or call our Customer Service Department on 01709 830333.
Your hotels will supply towels in your room.
We are unable to guarantee that the hotel will be able to meet your dietary requirements. We find that the majority of European countries do not generally cater for vegetarians and that the meal supplied may well be what everyone else is having minus the meat.
We will of course endeavour to arrange for a vegetarian meal at the hotel. We do however suggest that you advise us of your dietary requests at the time of booking and recommend that you speak to the receptionist on arrival with regard to your request.
You will stay at the 3-star Novotel in central Ypres, situated in the old town, just a short walk from the Menin Gate. The hotel has a lift, bar and restaurant.
Travel Options
Departure times given for each region are approximate. Please check your travel documents to confirm the actual timings.
Front row seats can be reserved for £14pp (up to 6 days duration), £22pp (7 & 8 days duration) and £25pp (9 days duration and over) on all European tours. In addition to this seats on the second row can be reserved for £7pp (up to 6 days duration), £14pp (7 & 8 days duration) and £15pp (9 days duration and over). This offer is only available for bookings of two or four persons on the front row and is subject to availability. Guaranteed front/second row seats cannot be reserved on feeder journeys to/from the U.K. port. Children under 15 years cannot occupy a front row seat due to French Law. Central view seats are free.
Please note: On some coaches the legroom on front seats may be slightly less than that available on other seats due to the presence of a modesty board in front.
If your tour is cancelled for any reason and front/second row seats are not available on your new tour you will be refunded the supplement. No other compensation will be payable.
Alternatively, we can take seating requests on your booking. However, requests are not guaranteed. All seat numbers are confirmed on travel documents approximately 7-10 days prior to departure.
We guarantee that all passengers on the same booking will be seated together on the main tour coach. Seats on the transfer coaches to and from the U.K. port are not allocated.
Hot and cold drinks are served on the main tour coaches. Prices are approximately £1 or 1.25 Euro per drink. Prices will be confirmed by the driver. Drinks may also be served on the transfer coaches but this is not guaranteed.
Transfer vehicles are routed approximately 2-3 weeks before departure and will depend on where passengers are booked to travel from on any particular date as to which route is taken. If you require further detailed information regarding the route to the port you can contact our Customer Service Department on 01709 830333 two weeks before you are due to travel.
With regard to the route taken by the main tour coach, this is determined by the driver.
All main tour coaches have on-board toilets. Transfer vehicles to and from the U.K. port may not have on-board toilets. When non-British coaches are used on transfers and tours (air holidays only) an on-board toilet may not be available. However, comfort stops will be made during long journeys.
All coaches feature air-conditioning. Should the air-conditioning system break down for a period exceeding 12 hours, compensation will be awarded up to a maximum of £10 per fare-paying passenger per tour.
Depending on the location of your pickup point, you may be picked up by coach (not necessarily the on you are touring on), minibus, taxi, National Express or Megabus service. You may then be taken to another centralised pickup location or service station. We operate a passenger interchange at Stop 24 Services, where you will meet the tour coach you are holidaying on and then continue on with your outbound journey. Similarly, on the way home, you may also change transfer vehicles at another location, to take you to your final drop off point.
One medium sized suitcase per person, which should weigh no more than 20kg when full. We may refuse to carry larger or heavier cases. Hand luggage can be stored in the overhead racks aboard the coach.
It could be either - This will be confirmed in your travel documents.
When it comes to getting to the Battlefields, Leger Holidays make it easy, with a selection of travel options for you choose from.
Silver Service Coach
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Silver Service Features
- Sit back and relax in specially-designed, deluxe reclining seats, with leather headrests, footrests and more legroom than standard coaches.
- Enjoy the perfect temperature onboard with climate control.
- Relax and have a chat in the spacious rear lounge.
- Servery on board offering a range of refreshments.
- Porterage* at most hotels, so you really don’t have to lift a finger.
- Time flies with our onboard entertainment system.
- With free personal headphones you can tune into the music channel, listen to the radio or watch DVDs.
- Onboard toilet
Silver Service Seating Plan
Silver Service Virtual Tour
Travel Extras
With an overnight stay or the option to meet us at the interchange, our travel extras allow you to create a travel experience to suit your needs...
Join coach at Interchange
+ Find out moreJoin your tour coach at the interchange.
On most tours if you’d prefer to join your tour coach at Stop 24 services, you can park your car in the car park which is accredited by the Park Mark safer parking scheme and is monitored 24 hours a day by CCTV. Payment for the parking is made on arrival using the self-service machines.
Excludes tours to Ireland and the U.K. and tours travelling via Brittany Ferries.
