Dunkirk & Fortress Europe


4 - 5 days from £419pp

About the tour: Dunkirk & Fortress Europe

  • Campaign: World War 2 (WW2)
  • Campaign Dates Covered: May 1940 - Sep 1944

This tour will cover the following key events

  • Battle of France begins - 10 May 1940
    Taking only 6 weeks, the Battle of France saw the Germans successfully invade and conquer France, The Netherlands, Luxembourg and Belgium.
  • Operation Dynamo: Dunkirk - 27 May 1940
    Ordered by Winston Churchill, Operation Dynamo saw the evacuation of troops from the harbour and beaches of Dunkirk who had been surrounded by the Germans after fighting during the Battle of France. The operation was a success and over 338,000 men were rescued.
  • Armistice at Compiegne - 22 June 1940
    In June 1940, Hitler arranged for an Armistice to be signed between Nazi officials and the French Third Republic. Hitler chose Compiegne Forest to be the location that the Armistace was signed, due to its role in the 1918 Armitice signing at the end of WW1. The Armistice gave Germnay occupation of Nothern and Western France, including all ports on the English Channel & Atlantic ocean.
  • Start of the Liberation of Flanders - 6 September 1944
    On the 6th of Septmeber 1944, Canadian troops entered Belgium and captured areas in Flanders including Passchendaele and Ypres.

Tour Introduction

More than 330,000 British and French troops were evacuated from Dunkirk in May 1940, during Operation Dynamo. It followed the Battle of France and was one of the major turning points of World War 2. The occupation lasted for four years and saw the construction of the Atlantic Wall, which was built to prevent Allied return. This battlefield tour sees us visit the battle sites of these significant events, as well as Dunkirk beaches, its port and ship wrecks, and some of the many memorials in the area, such as Dunkirk Memorial and War Cemetery. We also visit some of the local war museums, take a look at sites where the V-weapons were launched from and explore the defences and bunkers.

Dunkirk the movie

The most anticipated film of 2017, Christopher Nolan’s WW2 Action Thriller, Dunkirk, is set to bring the world’s focus to the true plight of Operation Dynamo. Featuring the likes of Tom Hardy, Cillian Murphy and, of course, the acting debut of Harry Styles, the action packed film, released on the 21st July, will bring World War 2 back into focus. A story more than worthy of the silver screen, find out more about the Dunkirk movie.

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Tour Includes


  • 3 or 4 nights hotel with continental breakfast
  • Specialist Battlefield Guide
  • Convenient local joining points
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(Deposits from £150pp)

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 -

  1. 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.
  2. Send payments via online banking.
  3. Send payments via cheque.
  4. 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.

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Tour Itinerary

Day 1

Local departure by coach, then to Belgium for a three-night stay.

Day 2 - Battle of France: Retreat To Dunkirk

We start the tour with a look at some of the fighting in the Battle of France in May 1940 following the story of the Durham Light Infantry and Royal Welch Fusiliers at St. Venant, seeing the memorial and nearby graves. At Cassel Hill we examine the last stand here by the Oxs & Bucks and Glosters. Following lunch we visit the site at Wormhout where a massacre of British troops took place by the SS and then go into Dunkirk to visit the excellent War Museum of Operation Dynamo, followed by a visit to the East Mole. We end the day in the dunes of Dunkirk to remember the sacrifice of French troops in May-June 1940.

Included meals: Breakfast

St Venant: Memorial & Cemetery

St. Venant: Memorial & Cemetery (7)

Key Visits

  • St. Venant: Memorial & Cemetery
  • Cassel Hill
  • Wormhout Massacre site
  • Dunkirk Mole
  • Dunkirk War Museum
  • Dunes of Dunkirk

Day 3 - Miracle of Dunkirk: The V-Weapons

We return to Dunkirk to see the Dunkirk War Cemetery and the Dunkirk Memorial to the Missing. At Bray Dunes we look at the story of the evacuation beaches and the ‘little ships’, forever connected to the Dunkirk story. At Eperlecques we see the massive Blockhaus, built as a launch site for V2 rockets. We then see a typical V1 Doodlebug ski-ramp site, hidden in the woods near Morbecque and constructed to fire more than 2000 V1s a day at London. In the evening join us on an optional trip to nearby Ypres for the moving Last Post Ceremony.

Included meals: Breakfast

Blockhaus Eperlecques

Blockhaus Eperlecques (7)

Key Visits

  • Blockhaus Eperlecques
  • Menin Gate
  • Last Post Ceremony
  • Dunkirk War Cemetery & Memorial
  • Bray Dunes
  • V1 Site, Morbecque

Day 4

Return home.

Included meals: Breakfast

Day 1

Local departure by coach, then to Belgium for a four-night stay.

Day 2 - Battle of France: Retreat To Dunkirk

We start the tour with a look at some of the fighting in the Battle of France in May 1940 following the story of the Durham Light Infantry and Royal Welch Fusiliers at St. Venant, seeing the memorial and nearby graves. At Cassel Hill we examine the last stand here by the Oxs & Bucks and Glosters. Following lunch we visit the site at Wormhout where a massacre of British troops took place by the SS and then go into Dunkirk to visit the excellent War Museum of Operation Dynamo, followed by a visit to the East Mole. We end the day in the dunes of Dunkirk to remember the sacrifice of French troops in May-June 1940.

Included meals: Breakfast

Dunes of Dunkirk

Dunes of Dunkirk (7)

Key Visits

  • Dunkirk War Museum
  • St. Venant: Memorial & Cemetery
  • Cassel Hill
  • Wormhout Massacre site
  • Dunkirk Mole
  • Dunes of Dunkirk

Day 3 - Miracle of Dunkirk: The V-Weapons

We return to Dunkirk to see the Dunkirk War Cemetery and the Dunkirk Memorial to the Missing. At Bray Dunes we look at the story of the evacuation beaches and the ‘little ships’, forever connected to the Dunkirk story. At Eperlecques we see the massive Blockhaus, built as a launch site for V2 rockets. We then see a typical V1 Doodlebug ski-ramp site, hidden in the woods near Morbecque and constructed to fire more than 2000 V1s a day at London. In the evening join us on an optional trip to nearby Ypres for the moving Last Post Ceremony.

Included meals: Breakfast

Dunkirk War Cemetery & Memorial

Dunkirk War Cemetery & Memorial (7)

Key Visits

  • Blockhaus Eperlecques
  • Menin Gate
  • Last Post Ceremony
  • Dunkirk War Cemetery & Memorial
  • Bray Dunes
  • V1 Site, Morbecque

Day 4 - Atlantic Wall: Liberation

On the Belgian coast at Raversijde we see how the WWI Aachen Battery was turned into a section of the Atlantic Wall by the Germans, seeing the bunker, trenches and many original features. We then travel back into France for lunch and in the afternoon visit Batterie Todt, a massive bunker that housed a huge artillery piece which bombarded Britain and could be used to fire on any invasion fleet. We see the museum here which includes a very rare German 280mm Railway Gun, then visit the V3 super-gun system at Mimoyecques. Here we go through tunnels built to house this incredible weapon which was never fired in anger due to Allied bombing. We end the day looking at the liberation of the coastal region in northern France in September 1944 with a visit to Calais Canadian Cemetery.

Included meals: Breakfast

Raversijde

Raversijde (5)

Key Visits

  • Raversijde
  • Batterie Todt
  • V3 Site Mimoyecques
  • Calais Canadian War Cemetery

Day 5

Return home.

Included meals: Breakfast

Please note: between October and March, the V3 super-gun site at Mimoyecques will be closed as it is a site for hibernating bats. We will still visit the exterior of the site and illustrate its purpose during the tour.

Entrance to museums, places of interest and optional excursions are at extra cost.

Museum package available whilst on tour approx. cost €25 (4-Day tour), €50 (5-Day tour).

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.

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Hotel

You will stay for three or four nights at the 3-star Hotel Oude Abdij in the historic town of Lo.

Oude Abdij

Oude Abdi
Oude Abdij
Oude Abdij

About the hotel

The 3-star Hotel Oude Abdij is located in unique 18th century Dovecots of the Augustine monks which still remains. The hotel grounds have beautiful views and include an orchard and fishing lake for you to enjoy.

Hotel Features

  • Bar
  • English Speaking Staff
  • Guest Lounge
  • Lift
  • Restaurant
  • WiFi Available

Room Features

  • Bath and/or Shower
  • Hairdryer
  • Telephone
  • TV

Travel Options

All our coaches and transfer vehicles operate a 'no smoking on board policy'. The use of electronic cigarettes is strictly forbidden.
In the interest of fellow guests, do not take hot food or ice cream on board.
alcohol can only be taken on board our vehicles at the discretion of your driver.

When it comes to getting to the Battlefields, Leger Holidays make it easy, with a selection of travel options for you choose from.

Executive Coach

Executive Features

  • Air conditioning
  • Drinks machines
  • Onboard toilet
  • Reclining seats

Silver Service Coach

Silver Service, refreshments
Silver Service, lounge
Silver Service, entertainment

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

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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

Join 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.

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