Private Tour
Available languages
72 hours
Mobile ticket
This is a stunning private door to door tour, great if you have a ww1 ancestor that you would like to follow, if you haven't you will get goosebumps either way!
The tour is tailored to your every need you can turn the tour around and start in Amiens and finish in Ypres, I can even meet you at you at Eurostar Lille or Bruges and you can start your amazing unforgettable 3 day Australian battlefield tour!
Just be sure t let me know when booking
My own gt uncle was killed in 1915 at 'The Bluff' Ypres, my Gt grandfather was a 15-year-old who served at the Somme and was badly wounded in 1917 at Passchendaele
Complimentary water is supplied each day, meals and hotels are however at the customer's own expense.
Hotels.
if you wish to start the tour in Ieper book 1 night in Ieper & x2 nights in Amiens if you wish to stay in Amiens on the final day.
Amiens Hotel:
The Mercure Cathedral
Ypres Hotel:
The Novotel Ypres Centrum, great location
Wheelchair accessible
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Service animals allowed
Public transportation options are available nearby
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Complementary water is included each day
All meals are at customers own expense
All Accommodation is at the customers own choice and expense
Messines Ridge
This tour covers the Ypres Salient from Messines to Passchendaele spanning 1914 to 1918, we follow the Australian soldiers as they attacked towards Passchendaele in 1917, if you have ancestors that fell in the battle I will tailor the tour where possible to include them
Christmas Truce Memorial
We will stand and hear the story of the famous Christmas Truce in 1914 at Plugstreet Wood.
Spanbroekmolen Mine Crater
Here you will hear the story of the massive mine explosion on the 7th June 1917.
Hill 60
The 2nd of the 2 massive mines that you'll see, this one finished by the 1st Australian Tunnelling Coy.
Battle of Polygon Wood
Here will walk through the woods and visit concrete bunkers that were here when the Australian soldiers captured during the battle, we will visit the cemetery and the Australian 5th Division monument
Driving through following the line of the Australian advance
Tyne Cot Cemetery
Here we will visit the worlds largest Commonwealth War Graves Commission Cemetery 12,000 soldiers are buried here, only 3,000 have names, two Australian VC recipients are buried here.
Essex Farm Cemetery
Here we will see the hospital site where Lt Col John McCrae composed the iconic poem 'In Flanders Fields'
In Flanders Fields Museum
You will have 1 hour to explore the iconic 'In Flanders Fields Museum'
Ypres Cloth Hall
Stand on the main square in Ypres see the Cloth Hall, the Cathedral and spend some free time in town maybe eat the National dish which is Flemish Stew
Last Post ceremony
Take part in the 'Last Post' ceremony at the Menin Gate which has been carried out every night at 8pm by the local fire brigade buglers since 1927 {Other than the NAZI occupation in WW2}
Langemark Cemetery
Here we will see how the Germans commemorated they war dead, walk amongst the 44,000 German dead buried here
Museum of the Battle of Fromelles
Here we see the museum dedicated to the battle of Fromelles and how they found and identified 250 Aussies that had been found in a mass grave in 2008
Le Trou Aid Post Cemetery
Here we will see one of the most stunning ww1 cemeteries and here the story of 'Pompey' Elliott and the massacre of the Australian 5th Division during the battle.
Pheasant Wood Military Cemetery
Here we will see the Australian soldiers who found in the mass grave
VC Corner Australian Cemetery
Here we will see the mass grave and will view the battlefields from the Australian trench lines.
Australian Memorial Park
We will see the battlefield from the German perspective and hear the story of the 'Cobbers' statue
Arras
We will have a lunch break here is the stunning Unesco world heritage site that is Arras, the main square is absolutely stunning and will give you goosebumps.
The Bullecourt Digger
Here you'll here about the battle of Bullecourt which led to the deaths of 10,000 Australian soldiers in 2 weeks
Slouch Hat Memorial
We will see remnants of the tanks that fought in the battle and the Australian slouch hat memorial.
Amiens
Arrive at Amiens around 5pm, I'll show you where you can eat and where the best views are so that you can wonder around and explore on your own after I drop you off at your lodging.
Albert
We stop at the Basilica & hear the story of the famous Leaning Virgin
Lochnagar Crater
Here we will see the 30 meter deep crater from the mine blown on the 1st July 1916 and hear the story of that day that led to the deaths of 20,000 British soldiers
1st austalian devision memorial
Here you'll hear the story of the 6 week slaughter that was the battle of Pozieres that led to the deaths of 24,000 Australian soldiers for a 1 mile long ruined village
Windmill Memorial
Here we will see the site of the German trench system known as OG1 and OG2 and what was once a windmill
Tank Corps Memorial
It is here that tanks were 1st ever used in battle, here you will hear the story of how they came about and their developments and tactics that evolved
Le Tommy
Stop here for lunch, a great cafe full of love and respect for the Australian sacrifice ( Lunch is at your own expense )
Here we will see the wonderful story of the little French school paid for by pennies of little children in Australia in the 1920's who paid for this school
Adelaide Cemetery
Here we will see the story of the unknown Australian soldier exhumed from this site in 1993
Australian National Memorial
Here we will see the stunning memorial to the 20,000 missing Australians in this area.
Sir John Monash Centre
Finally you will have 1 hour to explore the stunning Sir John Monash centre
Australian Corps Memorial
Here you'll see the site of Monash's masterpiece, the Battle of Le Hamel, a stunning battle that was rapid, cost less lives and had many historical first!
Amiens
You will be dropped back to your hotel in Amiens or the Amiens railway station
Pickup included
3 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Craig n,
Jun 17, 2024
- Viator
It's a bit hard to put this all into words as its so emotional (I still have tears) but here goes...... We travelled from Australia and did a 3 day private tour with Soren - what a lovely, heartfelt person he is. Soren did so much preparation research on our two Great Great Uncles (brothers) that died in WW1 that just made our tour so special. He took us to all the relevant sites, where they died and we could really feel the emotion as we walked around. His knowledge on WW1 events and battles is second to none, he is very descriptive and its spell binding listening to him. He is well regarded and respected in the area and we can see why. He also knows when to give you space and alone time when appropriate and was always empathetic to our needs. I wish we had more time to just keep going with Soren. I guarantee that you will not be disappointed on a tour with Soren - great knowledge, humor and a down to earth good guy. Thanks Cobber, you made our trip of a lifetime!
Bronwyn W,
May 29, 2023
- Viator
We highly recommend this tour of the WW1 battlefields. It was one of the best tours we’ve done. Soren Hawkes was informative, reliable and great company to be around. Soren really went the extra mile for us each day of the tour and even picked us up at 2:30am to attend the Anzac Day dawn service, which was really a once in a life time experience. Soren knows so much about the Anzac experience; the paths they walked, the battles they won / lost. Soren took us to all the key destinations, museums, memorials and waited patiently while we spent our time getting around the museums. Soren will even help you find your relatives. We would do this tour all over again if we could! We loved every moment. All the best Soren. Thanks for putting WW1 in perspective for us. It truely was eye opening. We’ll never forget! Bronwyn and Russell White
Operated by A Foreign Field WW1 Tours