Menin Gate Centenary Tour 2027

Step into history and join us in Ypres for a very special journey marking a century of remembrance.

In 2027, we commemorate 100 years since the unveiling of the Menin Gate, one of the most poignant and enduring memorials of the First World War. Standing at the heart of historic Ypres (Ieper), Belgium, the Menin Gate commemorates more than 54,000 British and Commonwealth servicemen who lost their lives in the Ypres Salient and have no known grave.

Our special centenary tour takes you deep into the history of Flanders, visiting some of the most significant battlefields, memorials and museums of the Great War. With expert guidance throughout, you will explore Tyne Cot Cemetery, Passchendaele, Messines, the Cloth Hall, the In Flanders Fields Museum and Talbot House, discovering the stories of those who fought, served and sacrificed.

Our knowledgeable guides will bring these historic locations to life, providing fascinating historical context alongside personal stories, individual experiences and lesser-known insights. As you walk across the former battlefields and stand among the memorials, you will gain a deeper understanding of the events that shaped both the region and the wider course of the First World War.

A highlight of this unforgettable experience will be attending the Last Post Ceremony at the Menin Gate. Held every evening since 1928, this moving tradition continues to honour those who fell and have no known grave. During the centenary year, taking part in this remarkable ceremony will provide an especially powerful opportunity for reflection, remembrance and respect.

From the historic streets of Ypres to the battlefields of Passchendaele and Messines, every part of the journey has been thoughtfully planned to combine historical discovery with moments of quiet reflection. Comfortable travel, carefully selected accommodation and expert-led visits ensure that you can experience the significance of Flanders in comfort while making the most of your time in this remarkable region.

Whether you are passionate about military history, following a family connection, or simply wish to understand more about the legacy of the Great War, this centenary tour offers a unique opportunity to walk in the footsteps of those who served and discover the stories behind the names.

Join us in 2027 to commemorate 100 years of the Menin Gate, honour the fallen and ensure their stories continue to be remembered for generations to come.

Return home with a deeper connection to the history of the Great War, treasured memories, and the lasting experience of having shared in this truly special centenary journey.

Price includes:

• Return flights Dublin/Brussels with Aer Lingus
• Coaching throughout tour in Belgium
• 4 nights’ accommodation at the 3* Hotel O, Ypres
• Breakfast at the hotel
• One 10kg checked-in bag per person (max 55 × 40 × 24 cm)
• One small personal item (max 40 × 30 × 20 cm)
• Specialist Battlefield Guide
• Orientation walk of Ypres
• Attend the Last Post Ceremony at Menin Gate/Ypres
• Opportunity to attend any Centenary events taking place in Ypres
• Visit Tyne Cot Cemetery
• Visit Langemark German War Cemetery
• Entrance to Passchendaele Museum
• Entrance to In Flanders Museum and Ypres Cloth Hall
• Entrance to Hooge Crater Museum with Lunch (Sandwiches and drink)
• Visit Hill 60
• Visit Talbot House, Poperinge
• Visit to many Military Cemeteries, sites and Graves
• Services of an experienced Travel Solutions tour manager.

Please Note: City Tax is payable locally to the hotel approx. €2.90 per room per night.

Day 1: Arrival and Introduction to Ypres

Make your way to Dublin Airport Terminal 1, Drop off you bag before proceeding through security to your departure gate. Please meet your Tour Manager at the designated boarding Gate and make sure to introduce yourself before boarding your flight.  On arrival in Brussels, meet your Tour Manager in the arrivals area before boarding our waiting coach for the journey to Ypres (Ieper).

On arrival in Ypres, check into your hotel and settle in before beginning your first taste of the town’s remarkable wartime history. We will visit the Cloth Hall and the In Flanders Fields Museum, offering an immersive introduction to the events and experiences of the First World War and the devastating impact they had on the region.

Afterwards, enjoy an orientation walk through the historic town centre, taking in some of Ypres’ most significant landmarks and learning more about the town’s fascinating past.

The evening is then yours to enjoy at leisure. Take the opportunity to explore Ypres at your own pace and enjoy dinner at one of the town’s welcoming local restaurants.

Day 2: Talbot House and Centenary Commemoration (Menin Gate)

This morning, after breakfast, we head to Talbot House in Poperinge, a unique and deeply human First World War site. Founded in 1915 by British Army chaplains, Talbot House provided a place of rest and refuge for soldiers of all ranks — a rare environment where officers and men could relax together away from the strict hierarchies of the front.

Today, Talbot House has been carefully preserved, allowing visitors to step back in time and gain a personal insight into the lives of soldiers during the war. Highlights include the original soldiers’ rooms, peaceful garden and attic chapel, where many soldiers came to find comfort, peace and reflection. Unlike battlefields and cemeteries, Talbot House provides a glimpse into the friendships, everyday experiences and emotional resilience of those who served.

After our visit, enjoy some free time in Poperinge for lunch at your leisure before rejoining the coach to travel back towards Ypres, visiting two significant First World War cemeteries along the way.

Our first cemetery visit will be to Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery, one of the largest First World War cemeteries in Belgium. Almost 11,000 servicemen from around 30 nationalities are buried here.

Lijssenthoek provides a powerful insight into the story of battlefield medicine. The cemetery was established beside a major group of casualty-clearing stations, where wounded soldiers were treated before being evacuated further from the front.

Despite its size, Lijssenthoek is a peaceful and beautifully maintained cemetery. Walking among the graves offers a poignant opportunity to reflect on the scale of the human cost of the war and the individual stories represented by each headstone.

Our final cemetery visit of the day will be to Brandhoek Military Cemetery and the nearby Brandhoek cemeteries. These sites have a strong connection to the medical services of the First World War and are particularly significant for those interested in battlefield medicine and family history.

Brandhoek was located close to casualty-clearing stations and medical facilities serving the wounded from the Ypres Salient. Together with Lijssenthoek, the Brandhoek cemeteries help tell the wider story of the network of hospitals, casualty stations and support services operating around Poperinge and Ypres during the war.

After our cemetery visits, we return to Ypres, where you will have time to attend any official Centenary commemorative events taking place in the city.

The remainder of the day is yours to explore Ypres at leisure, soak up the atmosphere and take part in the special commemorations before rounding off the day by attending a special, extended Last Post Ceremony at the Menin Gate (meet at the hotel at 6.30 pm if you wish to attend Last Post Ceremony with the group and guide). This moving and internationally recognised ceremony provides an unforgettable opportunity to pause and remember the thousands of soldiers who lost their lives in the Ypres Salient.

As the Last Post echoes beneath the Menin Gate, it offers a fitting and poignant conclusion to a day exploring the places, people and stories of the First World War.

Day 3: Hooge Crater Museum and Flanders Battlefields

Today, after breakfast, join your coach as we spend the morning visiting the Hooge Crater Museum, which is a fascinating and deeply atmospheric First World War Museum located on the former front lines near Ypres. Built around a preserved shell crater from the war, the museum houses one of the most extensive collections of WWI artefacts in the region, including weapons, uniforms, photographs, and personal items recovered from the battlefield. Its location and exhibits provide a vivid insight into trench warfare and the daily lives of soldiers, making it a compelling and educational stop on any battlefield tour.  We will also enjoy Lunch here, which will be sandwiches and a drink before rejoining the coach to spend the afternoon visiting the Messines Battlefield and Museum. A visit to Messines (Mesen) offers a fascinating opportunity to experience one of the most important and dramatic battles of the First World War, while also exploring the landscape and stories behind the fighting. Fought in June 1917, the battle began with the detonation of 19 huge underground mines beneath the German positions. The explosions were among the most powerful of the First World War.  See the battlefield landscape: Unlike simply reading about the battle, visiting Messines allows you to see the ridge, mine craters, trenches and surviving German defensive positions that help explain how the battle unfolded. Then we head to visit Christmas Truce – Ypres & Messines.   The Christmas Truce of 1914 is one of the most moving stories of the First World War. Around Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, unofficial ceasefires took place in parts of the Western Front, including the area around Ploegsteert (Plugstreet) and Messines. British and German soldiers reportedly sang carols, exchanged greetings and gifts, helped recover the dead and, in some locations, played football.  Finally, today we will visit Hill 60, near Ypres, which is one of the most evocative First World War battlefield sites in Belgium. Unlike a traditional cemetery or museum, visiting Hill 60 allows you to see and walk across part of the original battlefield landscape for final reflections on the war’s legacy and remembrance before returning to Ypres to spend your final evening at leisure.

Day 4: Ypres Salient Battlefields and Passchendaele Museum

Our first stop is Tyne Cot Cemetery, the largest Commonwealth war cemetery in the world and one of the most poignant places of remembrance in the Ypres Salient. Located near Passchendaele, it is the final resting place of almost 12,000 Commonwealth servicemen, while the Tyne Cot Memorial commemorates almost 35,000 servicemen who have no known grave. The seemingly endless rows of white headstones create a powerful and moving setting for reflecting on the enormous scale of sacrifice during the First World War.

We then continue to the Passchendaele Museum, where immersive exhibitions bring the story of the Battle of Passchendaele to life. Through reconstructed trenches, original artefacts and engaging displays, visitors can gain a deeper understanding of the brutal conditions faced by soldiers and the realities of trench warfare.

Afterwards, we visit Langemark German War Cemetery, one of the most poignant sites in the region. In contrast to the Commonwealth cemeteries, Langemark is the final resting place of more than 44,000 German soldiers, many of whom are buried in a mass grave. The dark stone memorials, sombre atmosphere and striking “Kameraden” statue provide a different perspective on the war and a powerful reminder that the human cost of conflict was felt on all sides.

Our next stop is Vancouver Corner, near Sint-Juliaan, an important site in the history of the Second Battle of Ypres. On 22 April 1915, German forces launched the first large-scale chlorine gas attack on the Western Front, introducing a terrifying new weapon to the battlefield. Canadian troops were among those who faced the attack and played a crucial role in holding the Allied line.

Vancouver Corner is also home to the St. Julien Canadian Memorial, which commemorates the Canadian soldiers who fought during the Second Battle of Ypres. The distinctive memorial, featuring a soldier with his head bowed and hands resting on his rifle, provides a particularly poignant place for reflection.

Our final stop of the day is Essex Farm Cemetery, one of the most significant First World War sites near Ypres. The site is closely associated with wartime medical services and the nearby Advanced Dressing Station, where wounded soldiers were treated near the front line. It is also forever connected with Canadian physician Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae and his famous poem In Flanders Fields, written during the Second Battle of Ypres in 1915.

After our visits, we rejoin the coach and return to Ypres. The evening is at your leisure to explore the city, enjoy dinner, or relax at the hotel.

Alternatively, you may wish to attend the Last Post Ceremony at the Menin Gate at 8:00pm, a moving daily tribute to the soldiers who lost their lives in the Ypres Salient.

Day 5: Departure

After an early breakfast this morning, check out of your hotel and board your coach to make your way back to Brussels Airport for your return flight to Dublin, bringing your journey to a close returning home with a deeper connection to the history of the Great War, treasured memories, and the lasting experience of having shared in this truly special centenary journey.

• Budget Single Supplement£120 per tour
• Standard Single Supplement£210 per tour