2 Day Australian Tour: Tracing WWII Footsteps in France & Belgium

Explore WWII history with an Australian guide in France & Belgium. Visit key battle sites, graves, and more. Small groups, air-conditioned comfort.

Duration: 2 days
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights

Out in the Somme Day Tour

Serre Road Cemetery No.2 - The largest Commonwealth cemetery in the Somme.

Beaumont-Hamel Newfoundland Memorial - A WWI battlefield left as it was. Walk through authentic trenches used on the first day of the Battle of the Somme.

Memorial de Thiepval - Over 73,000 missing British soldiers are commemorated, those with no-known grave.

Mouquet Farm - The fields here contain the highest concentration of Australia’s fallen on the Western Front.

Tank Corps Memorial - Wind Mill Site, a sacred ground where many Australians fought.

Pozieres - An Australian village in the Somme.

1st austalian devision memorial - The 1st Australian Division lost more men at Pozieres than any other battlefield in France and Belgium.

Lochnagar Crater - An underground mine detonated to start the Battle of the Somme. The biggest scar on the land of the Western Front.

3rd Australian Division Memorial - Where General Monash and the 3rd Australian Division halted the German advance in 1918.

Australian National Memorial - Villers-Bretonneux, the site of the ANZAC Day Dawn Service in France.

Sir John Monash Centre - A “must visit” information centre showcasing Australian action across the Western Front.

Franco-Australian Museum - Victoria School in Villers-Bretonneux, where Australians are forever remembered.

Australian Corps Memorial - Le Hamel - where General Monash introduced tactics that took charge of the war.

Fromelles - Ypres Day Tour

Pheasant Wood Military Cemetery - The newest Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery containing all the Australians found in the mass grave at Pheasant Wood, Fromelles.

Australian Memorial Park - Located on the Fromelles battlefield with the iconic Cobber’s Statue.

VC Corner Australian Cemetery - Located on no-man’s land at Fromelles. Where 1299 Australian missing from the disastrous Battle of Fromelles are commemorated.

Christmas Truce Memorial - The official site of the 1914 Christmas Truce.

Messines Ridge - The ridge blown apart by 19 Allied mines in 1917.

Hill 60 - Walk through the massive crater created by an underground mine in 1917, represented in the book / film “Beneath Hill 60”.

Brothers In Arms Memorial - Born from the fierce passion of a local Belgian, the memorial is dedicated to all the brothers that fought on the Western Front.

Buttes New British Cemetery, Polygon Wood - Polygon Wood, the site of the ANZAC Day Dawn Service in Belgium and the location of the 5th Australian Division Memorial.

Passchendaele Museum - Regarded as the best museum on the Western Front.

Tyne Cot Cemetery - The largest Commonwealth Cemetery in the world;

Menin Gate Memorial - Where the Commonwealth missing in Belgium a commemorated.

Ieper (Ypres) - Dinner is in the old town of Ypres.

Last Post ceremony - The very emotive Last Post Ceremony, performed by the locals every day since 1928. A perfect way the end a Western Front visit.

What's Included
  • In-vehicle air conditioning
What's Not Included
  • Meals and entry fees.
  • Franco-Australian Museum - 4.50 euro / person
  • Memorial Museum Passchendaele - 8.00 euro / person
  • Accommodation.
Additional Information

The only Australian guide operating on the Western Front.

Spend two relaxed days tracing the steps of Australians across France & Belgium. Visit Villers-Bretonneux, Somme, Pozieres, Fromelles, Messines, Polygon Wood, Passchendaele, and more.

All Day Tours begin and end in Arras, conducted in a comfortable, air-conditioned vehicle. Our small group tours offer the chance to visit the grave of a unique soldier or follow the actions of a relative.

Ideal for singles, couples, and small groups. Shared tours with a maximum of 7 clients.

Tours are conducted in English.

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
5.0
(5 Ratings)
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Scott_c
Aug 16, 2024
Memorable Moments - The whole experience stepping into the history of the battlefields and being guided by a well knowledgeable guide!. Very emotional! Eye opening moments. Thanks Phil!
Review provided by Viator
J4193dojanek
Oct 22, 2023
Best Australian battlefield trips. - We did two days of personalised tours with Phil to areas that our relatives had been involved in. Phil's knowledge of the whole Australian history was very impressive and gave us the background we needed to understand the region we visited He had done background reading on our relatives and was able to take us to the specific regions they fought in. We highly recommend these trips to any Australian travellers - it is life changing experience.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Paulf5296
Sep 11, 2023
Moving Western Front experience - The two day Sacred Ground Tour of the World War I battlefields in France and Belgium (backed up with an additional three days in the beautiful town of Arras) was the highlight of our recent holiday in Europe. The tour is led by Phil Hora, a charismatic tour guide with a wealth of knowledge of World War I, delivered with an insightful Australian perspective. The two-day tour had a balanced itinerary, visiting Canadian, Newfoundland, British, New Zealand, French, German and Australian memorials/cemeteries. We visited such well-known memorials as Villers-Bretonneux, Thiepval, Vimy Ridge, Fromelles , Poziers, Passchendaele, Le Hamel, and VC Corner. However, the highlight for my wife and I was visiting the graves of three great uncles who were killed during the Great War. Phil had researched our great uncles and was able to provide information on their war service. He then seamlessly incorporated visits to Doullens (Extension No.1) and Hooge Crater, as well as the memorial wall at Villers-Bretonneux, into the tour so we could pay our respects to the fallen uncles. The fitting finale to this wonderful tour was a visit to Ypres to witness a moving Last Post service at Menin Gate. Sacred Ground Tours is a truly wonderful and worthwhile experience.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
L5253edjamess
Sep 10, 2023
Trip of a lifetime - I would give this tour a 6 out 5 if I could. Phil is a brilliant guide and as an Australian tourist, the tour felt more like travelling with an old mate. Phil is extremely knowledgeable but also very passionate about what he does. We were even able to trace some of the footsteps of my wife's great, great Uncle who fought in WW1. If you want an immersive, entertaining and informative tour of the Western Front, then Phil is your man. Thanks for making our visit to the Somme an unforgettable experience.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
827neridas
Jun 19, 2023
An absolute highlight of a 2 month trip to Europe. A great experience with a great group of Aussies. Thank you Phil 🇦🇺 - This tour was to honour the memory of my grandfather and the many men who fought alongside him and to all those who never came home. To be there with fellow Australians and to have Phil (a very passionate Aussie and advocate for our boys) as our tour guide was very special. Phil’s knowledge is extensive and the many questions from all participants was never a problem. Wonderful bistros chosen for our dining requirements on both days. We had an incredible experience, one we will never forget. Perfect small group option for touring this area. Cannot recommend enough, you will not be disappointed.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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1 Adult
September 2024
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