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Canadian World War History: Vimy to Juno Beach

with Paris extension

Duration: 10 or 12 days
Group size: 15-38
Reviews: 5

Rediscover the past—and look to the future—in this historic region.

Set out from Amsterdam to cross the former battlefields of the Netherlands, Belgium, and France, where brave soldiers gave their lives during the First and Second World Wars. Visit historic sites and memorials in Lille, Ypres, and along the coast of Normandy before ending your journey in awe-inspiring Paris—and returning home with a renewed sense of national pride.

Your tour package includes

8 nights in handpicked hotels
8 breakfasts
4 dinners with beer or wine
3 guided sightseeing tours
Expert Tour Director & local guides

Included highlights

Dam Square
Bergen op Zoom
In Flanders Fields Museum
Vimy Ridge Memorial
Juno Beach

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Day-by-day itinerary

Overnight Flight1 night

Day 1: Travel day

Board your overnight flight to Amsterdam.

Amsterdam2 nights

Day 2: Arrival in Amsterdam

Included meal: Dinner

Welcome to the Netherlands! Meet your fellow travelers at tonight’s welcome dinner.

Day 3: Sightseeing tour of Amsterdam

Included meal: Breakfast

Today’s panoramic sightseeing tour introduces you to Amsterdam’s iconic canals and unique character.

• Walk past the National Opera and Ballet, Jewish Historical Museum, National Holocaust Museum, and Hollandsche Schouwburg war memorial

• Drive through the city center to see Museumplein and Mint Tower

• View Dam Square, home of many landmarks including the neoclassical Royal Palace, the 15th-century New Church, and the National Monument

• Pass the Anne Frank House, where the young diarist and her family hid during World War II

• Stroll by the canals and bridges, taking in the houseboats that dot the banks

Enjoy a free evening in Amsterdam or add an excursion.

Canal Cruise & Dinner

Excursion (additional cost)

Lille2 nights

Day 4: Lille via Bergen op Zoom & Mechelen

Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Travel to Lille, France today, stopping for several visits along the way.

• Stop in the city of Bergen op Zoom to learn about its history as one of the sites of the Battle of the Scheldt, an important military campaign for the Canadian First Army during the Second World War

• Continue on to the Belgian city of Mechelen to enter the Kazerne Dossin, a Memorial, Museum and Documentation Centre on the Holocaust and Human Rights

In Lille, sit down to an included dinner with your group.

Day 5: Full day excursion to Ypres

Included meal: Breakfast

Today, set out to explore the region surrounding Lille with a local guide who specializes in Canadian history.

• Stop at the Canadian Hill 62 Memorial at Sanctuary Wood

• Enjoy free time for lunch in the Belgian city of Ypres

• Visit the Memorial Museum Passchendaele 1917 on the grounds of an historic château to learn about the battle that took place there

• Pay your respects at Tyne Cot Cemetery, the largest in the world for Commonwealth troops

• Enter the In Flanders Fields Museum, where you’ll discover the impact that the First World War had on this region

After free time for dinner, make your way to the Menin Gate for the Last Post ceremony, a nightly tribute to those who gave their lives for Belgium's freedom during WWI. Afterward, travel back to Lille.

Normandy Coast2 nights

Day 6: Transfer to the Normandy Coast via the Vimy Region & Beaumont-Hamel

Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Continue your exploration of the Vimy region today on a sightseeing tour with a local guide.

• Visit the Vimy Ridge Memorial, a national historic site of Canada

• Enter the Vimy Interpretive Centre to see medals and memorabilia from the battle

• Explore the Vimy tunnels and trenches

Continue on to the Normandy coast, stopping en route to visit the Beaumont-Hamel Newfoundland Memorial, which honors the sacrifices made by the Royal Newfoundland Regiment.

Later, sit down to an included dinner with your group.

Day 7: Full day excursion to the Normandy Coast

Included meal: Breakfast

Set out to explore the Normandy region with a local guide who specializes in Canadian history, stopping to uncover historic sites as you go.

• Visit the Bény-sur-Mer Canadian War Cemetery, the burial place of many Canadian soldiers who fought during the beginning of the Battle of Normandy

• Enter the Juno Beach Centre

• Explore the seaside town of Arromanches

• Step inside the D-Day Museum, which highlights the events of June 6, 1944, when Allied forces landed on the beaches of Normandy

Paris2 nights

Day 8: Paris via Dieppe

Included meal: Breakfast

Travel to Paris today, stopping en route to visit the town of Dieppe with your Tour Director leading the way.

• See the Canadian Memorial, which chronicles the events of the Dieppe Raid in August of 1942

• Visit the Dieppe Canadian War Cemetery, where Allied soldiers killed in the Dieppe Raid were laid to rest

Later, arrive in Paris and enjoy a free evening or add an excursion.

Dinner in Paris & Seine River Cruise

Excursion (additional cost)

Day 9: Sightseeing tour of Paris

Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner

A guided tour introduces you to the architecture, scenery, and history of the City of Light’s many neighborhoods, called arrondissements.

• Drive down the sycamore-lined Champs-Élysées to view the Arc de Triomphe

• Pass Pont Neuf and the legendary Notre-Dame Cathedral, located on an island in the Seine River

• See the Eiffel Tower, the Palais Garnier opera house, and Place de la Concorde, the city’s grandest square

• Marvel at the iconic architecture of the Louvre and Hôtel des Invalides

Enjoy a free afternoon in Paris or add an excursion.

Then, join your group for a farewell dinner this evening.

Versailles Palace & Gardens

Excursion (additional cost)

Flight Home

Day 10: Departure

Included meal: Breakfast (excluding early morning departures)

Transfer to the airport for your flight home, or extend your stay in Paris.

Extension to Paris

Paris—the city of love and light. From the iconic Eiffel Tower and Mona Lisa to the bustling Champs-Élysées and winding streets of Montmartre, you'll find romance, history, and beauty. Browse boutiques, stroll through manicured parks, take a seat at a sidewalk café, and watch the sun set over the Seine.

Paris2 nights

Day 10: Free day in Paris

Included meal: Breakfast

Spend a full free day in Paris or add an excursion.

Paris Home-Hosted Dinner

Excursion (additional cost)

Day 11: Free day in Paris

Included meal: Breakfast

Enjoy another full free day in the City of Light or add an excursion.

This evening, sip a farewell drink as you celebrate your trip with your fellow group members.

Walking Tour of Wartime Paris

Excursion (additional cost)

Flight Home

Day 12: Departure

Included meal: Breakfast (excluding early morning departures)

Transfer to the airport for your flight home.

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Reviews

5 average

11/05/2018 by 3rd time traveler Shelley H.

Our tour director Susanne was informative, funny, & helpful. Our bus driver Arno was professional yet open and humorous. He got the bus in places that amazed us. We saw a lot but we would have like more time in the Normandy area. There is so much interesting to see and learn in this area. Less...

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11/05/2018 by 10th time traveler Anonymous

This tour was a wonderful experience steeped in the history of World War I and World War II. For travelers who are history buffs, it is the perfect tour. We saw the claustrophobic tunnels of Passchendaele and the wide vistas of Juno Beach, as well as small cemeteries dotting the countryside. Suza...

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Mission Accomplished! Eight year goal achieved!

10/24/2017 by 2nd time traveler Kate L.

This tour helped me achieve a personal goal,a pilgrimage of sorts. It involved eight years of researching and planning with the pinnacle being the 100th. anniversary of Vimy Ridge. The pilgrimage was to visit the battlegrounds and memorials of the 2 World Wars and the resulting cemeteries where so ...

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10/24/2017 by 2nd time traveler Dennis J.

An amazing tour thanks to our tour director Ione who was very well informed, funny and very warm and caring. Although the bus left one cemetary without Dennis and I but they did come back to collect us and we had a good laugh about Ione is an excellent tour director. We had a lot of fun with her ...

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What a wonderful and educational tour

10/03/2017 by 2nd time traveler Maggie B.

Just returned from a tour of Canadian World War History in Europe. What a wonderful and educational tour. Our tour director was Ione. She was absolutely fantastic. I would definitely go on another tour if I could have her as my director again. She took the time to make sure we were all comfortable...

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Hotels, flights, & FAQ

Here's the nitty-gritty—where you’ll stay, how you’ll get there, and what to know about your destination before you go.

Hotels

We handpick every hotel to strike the balance of comfort, location, and local charm. Specific accommodations will vary based on your departure date, but these are frequently used hotels for this tour and we're confident you'll be satisfied.

Hampshire Hotel - Rembrandt Square Amsterdam

This modern hotel is located in the Canal Ring. Guests enjoy room service, free Wi-Fi, and a bar. Nearby, you’ll find the Amstel river, Willet-Holthuy...

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Mercure Lille Centre Grand Place

This contemporary hotel is located in Lille’s city center. Guests enjoy a restaurant, bar, and lounge. Nearby, you’ll find the the opera house, Grand ...

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Flights

Round-trip flights are one more thing we handle to make your journey as smooth as possible. Our team of travel experts will find the best flight itinerary for you at a competitive rate, thanks to our partnerships with top airlines.

Add our airfare package and you'll get:

Round-trip flight for your tour
Airport transfers at your destination
A great price locked in today
24/7 support from our dedicated service team
Options for arriving early, staying longer, or requesting an upgrade
Flexible rebooking options if your tour itinerary changes

Find out more about flights

FAQ

Passport & visa requirements

This tour visits the Netherlands, Belgium, and France. In order to enter these countries, U.S. and Canadian citizens need a valid passport with an expiration date extending at least six months beyond the date of reentry.
We recommend having at least one blank passport page for entry stamps.
There is no visa required for U.S. or Canadian citizens.
If you are not a U.S. or Canadian citizen, you must contact each country’s consulate for your specific entry requirements.

Tour pace

You will walk for about 1.5 hours daily across moderately uneven terrain, including cobblestone streets and paved roads.
Travelers should be healthy enough to participate in all included walks without assistance. Adding optional excursions may increase the total amount of walking on your tour.
You should feel comfortable managing your own baggage at times.
If you have any mobility concerns or physical restrictions, please contact our Customer Experience Team.

Transportation & arrival information

Round-trip flights booked through Go Ahead Tours arrive in Amsterdam and depart from Paris. A representative from Go Ahead Tours will meet you at the airport and take you to your hotel. Please remain in the arrival lounge, as the representative might be escorting one of your fellow travelers to the bus at the time of your arrival.
Transfers to and from the airport at your destination are included for travelers who have purchased their flights through Go Ahead Tours. Travelers who purchase their own flights may request airport transfers with Go Ahead Tours for an additional cost.
All other included transportation on this tour is by private motor coach.

Baggage allowance

Airlines have varying weight restrictions on baggage. Some airlines may impose additional charges if you choose to check any baggage; be advised that you are responsible for any such costs.
Contact your airline for baggage size and weight restrictions for your flight, but please note that our travelers are restricted to one checked bag per person due to storage limitations on motor coaches and other transfers, which may include train connections or flights.
One carry-on bag of 45 total inches (length + width + height) is also permitted.
Make sure you label your baggage and keep valuables, medication and documents in your carry-on bag.

Clothing & packing tips

We recommend packing lightweight, loose-fitting clothing that can be easily layered to accommodate varying temperatures, as well as a light jacket or rainwear.
A sturdy pair of walking shoes or sneakers is recommended for sightseeing.
You may want to pack dressier attire if you plan to visit a high-end restaurant or attend a special performance.
It is preferable not to visit churches or other religious sites with bare legs and shoulders (and entrance may be denied on this basis).

Health

There are no major health risks associated with traveling to any of the countries on this tour.
At least 60 days prior to departure, check with your doctor or healthcare provider for the latest updates and entry requirements, or visit the Center for Disease Control and Prevention website at cdc.gov.
If you have medication that you take daily, be sure you have enough for each day of the tour as well as any possible delays encountered.
If you have dietary restrictions and/or food allergies please notify Go Ahead Tours at least 30 days prior to departure by logging in to My Account and updating your traveler info. To update this information closer to your departure date, please call our Customer Experience Team.

Cuisine

In the Netherlands, simply prepared meat and fish dishes, substantial soups, and hearty stews are local staples. Snack food traditionally features fish—you might try maatje, raw green herring served with onions—but pancakes, french fries, doughnuts, and waffles are just as plentiful.
In Belgium, seafood is high quality, and mussels steamed in white wine are a favorite. Patisseries offer decadent pastries and cakes, and you won’t want to miss indulging in favorites like fries, handmade chocolate, locally brewed Abbey-style beer and, of course, Belgian waffles. Please note that Belgian beers vary widely in style and flavor and are often much higher in alcohol content than other European beers.
Cuisine in the Normandy region of France is known for its fresh flavors. Chicken, rabbit, and duck are staples, and you can find fish and shellfish in its coastal towns. The abundance of dairy farms throughout the region means many dishes are accompanied by cheeses and creams. Normandy is also famous for its apples, which are used to create cider and calvados, or apple brandy.
For a picnic with French flair, stop at a small grocery store for cheeses, pâtés, cured meats, fresh-baked bread, and fruit. In the cities, sidewalk vendors are known for their steaming crepes, while mouthwatering pastries and hot café au lait beckon from cafes. In restaurants, the prix fixe option is a popular way to enjoy a set three- or four-course menu for a good price.

Electricity & air conditioning

All destinations visited on this tour operate on the European standard 220–240 volts and use Types C, E, or F plugs with two small, round pins.
We recommend packing a universal adapter, as well as a voltage converter if you plan on using your own hairdryer or other device without a built-in converter.
The majority of the hotels on this tour will have air conditioning. The strength of the air conditioning in European hotels is often not as strong or as cool as what you might be used to in the U.S. or Canada. When air conditioning is available, it is usually regulated seasonally and controlled centrally by the hotel.
Your hotels may provide hairdryers, irons, and other small appliances. However, these amenities cannot be guaranteed.

Connectivity

Wi-Fi is available in most hotels, though some charges may apply.
There is no Wi-Fi on any of the motor coaches.
Please contact your mobile service provider for information on roaming charges.

Time zones

The Netherlands, Belgium, and France are one hour ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) and six hours ahead of Eastern Time (ET).
When it’s noon in New York, it’s 6pm on tour.

Currency

You will use the euro on this tour.
Better rates of exchange are usually available overseas, although it’s worth ordering some currency from your local bank to use when you first arrive.
We strongly advise that you take debit/bank cards and credit cards, which can be used to withdraw cash at local banks as needed.
You can use most debit/credit cards at ATMs on the international networks Cirrus and Plus, but make sure to check with your home bank about withdrawal fees.
Inform your bank and credit card company of your travel plans so that they won’t confuse your international purchases for fraudulent charges.
International banks and businesses primarily accept debit and credit cards that work with the EMV chip system. If you do not already have at least one debit or credit card with a chip in it, we strongly recommend requesting one from your bank prior to your tour.

Tipping

At the conclusion of your tour, it’s customary to offer your Tour Director and driver a gratuity in local currency. Please keep current exchange rates in mind.
We recommend tipping the equivalent of $7USD to $10USD per person per day for your Tour Director and the equivalent of $3USD per person per day for your driver.
If applicable, we also recommend the equivalent of $2USD per local guide.
Tips can only be paid in cash.

Purchasing excursions on tour

Most optional excursions will be available for purchase while you are on your tour.
Your Tour Director will only accept cash (in USD only), Visa, or MasterCard as payment for optional excursions.
Please be advised that if you pay for an excursion by credit card while on tour, it may take up to three months for your card to be charged.
Some optional excursions may only be purchased in advance. See page four of your tour itinerary for more information. International travel is, by its very nature, unpredictable. We must therefore reserve the right to change this itinerary, without advance notice, to meet with local conditions at the time of travel. We appreciate your understanding. Please refer to our website for Terms & Conditions, dates, and prices.