Europe The Great War Remembered Tour 2026

The Great War Remembered Tour 2026

Room Only

Travel Solutions Rep

Sold Out

Description

Join us on a Moving Tour of Remembrance: The Battle of the Somme. Step back in time and journey with us through one of the most poignant chapters of history — the Great War. This unforgettable tour explores the largest and most devastating battle of the Western Front: The Battle of the Somme, where over one million soldiers were wounded or made the ultimate sacrifice in 1916. Our base will be the Mercure Hotel in Arras, ideally located within walking distance of the historic town centre. From here, we’ll visit key battle sites, significant landmarks, moving memorials, and beautifully preserved cemeteries that tell the story of this monumental conflict. Led by an expert local historian, you’ll gain powerful insights and hear personal stories that bring history to life. This deeply meaningful experience offers not only a deeper understanding of the past but also a lasting connection to the legacy of those who served. Join us in remembrance – and help ensure their stories live on forever.

Price Includes

Return flights from Belfast City Airport to London Heathrow with British Airways
Airport taxes and security charges
One piece of 23kg checked-in luggage per person
Executive coaching for the duration of your tour
Euro Tunnel – Folkestone to Calais / Calais to Folkestone
4 nights hotel accommodation in the 4* Mercure Arras Centre Gare, Arras
Breakfast
Visits to Grandcourt Cemetery, The Ulster Tower, Theipval Memorial, Lochnagar Crater and Commonwealth War Graves
Full day tour including The Irish Peace Tower, Tyne Cot Cemetery, Essex Farm
Visit Ypres and the Passchendaele Memorial Museum
Attend The Last Post Ceremony
Free time in Arras
Services of an experienced Travel Solutions tour manager

Gallery

Accommodation

The Great War Remembered Tour 2026

The Mercure Arras Centre Gare is positioned opposite the Arras Train Station and within walking distance from the historic centre. Offering 80 bedrooms and all have been refurbished. A buffet breakfast is served daily at the hotel and a bar and restaurant are also available. Additional facilities include a 24-hour reception desk and on-site parking.

Room Types

Twin/Double Classic Room - sleeps max. 2
Superior Family Room - sleeps max. 3

Hotel Services/Facilities

Coffee house on site
Bar
Restaurant
Wi-Fi
24-hour front desk
Board games/puzzles
Shared lounge/TV area
Lift
Fitness

Guest Rooms

Twin/Double Classic Room - features one double bed or two single beds, tea/coffee making facilities, bathroom with hairdryer, satellite TV, heating/air-conditioning, desk and telephone.
Superior Family Room - features one double bed and one single bed, free in room mineral water, tea/coffee making facilities, bathroom with hairdryer, satellite TV, heating/air-conditioning, desk and telephone.

*Some services may have additional charges

Please Note

Full payment required 12 weeks prior to departure
Itinerary is subject to change due to attractions availability

Itinerary

Day 1: Belfast – Arras Upon arrival at Belfast City Airport, proceed to the British Airways check-in area, where you’ll be greeted by your Travel Solutions Tour Manager, who will assist you with the check-in process. Once you’ve received your boarding passes, continue through security to your departure gate. After landing at London Heathrow, meet your Tour Manager again at the baggage reclaim area, then board your coach for the journey to Folkestone. From there, we’ll take the Eurotunnel across to Calais, before continuing the journey to Arras, France. On arrival in Arras, check in to your hotel and enjoy the remainder of the evening as your leisure.

Day 2: Arras – Vimy Ridge This morning, enjoy some free time to explore the historic town of Arras at your own pace. With our hotel conveniently located in the town centre, you’ll find yourself just steps away from charming restaurants, bars, shops, and the stunning Grand Place, rich in Flemish-Baroque architecture and wartime history. In the afternoon, meet your local expert guide and begin your tour with a visit to the Commonwealth War Graves, a powerful reminder of the sacrifices made during the Great War. From there, travel to the Vimy Ridge Memorial and preserved battlefield, where you’ll explore the trenches and learn about the heroic efforts of Canadian forces, more than 60,000 of whom lost their lives in the region. Time permitting, we will also visit a selection of other notable Somme battlefield sites before returning to the hotel for a relaxed evening.

Day 3: Ypres – Irish Memories – The Last Post Ceremony After breakfast this morning (departure time will be confirmed by your Tour Manager), meet your local expert guide, and set off for a full-day tour exploring some of the most significant moving sites of the Western Front. Today’s highlights include visits to the Irish Peace Tower at Messines, the Tyne Cot Cemetery – the largest Commonwealth war cemetery in the world – Essex Farm, where John McCrae wrote In Flanders Fields, and the poignant site of the famous Christmas Truce of 1914. You’ll then have free time to explore Ypres at your leisure – perhaps visit the charming town square, enjoy a local café, or reflect in the Flanders Fields Museum (optional). In the afternoon, we continue to the Passchendaele Memorial Museum, which offers powerful insight into the horrors of trench warfare. This evening, we gather at the iconic Menin Gate Memorial to the Missing to witness the Last Post Ceremony, a daily act of remembrance held since 1928. After the ceremony, re-join your coach for the return journey to your hotel (departure time will be advised by your Tour Manager).

Day 4: The Somme Valley – Ulster Tower – Thiepval – Lochnagar Crater After breakfast this morning (departure time will be confirmed by your Tour Manager), meet your local expert guide and depart for a full day exploring the poignant landscapes of the Somme Valley. Our first stop is the Grandcourt Cemetery, which marks the furthest advance made by the Royal Irish Rifles behind German lines on 1st July 1916, the devastating first day of the Battle of the Somme. We then continue to the Ulster Tower, a moving tribute to the Officers and Men of the 36th (Ulster) Division. This striking memorial, a replica of Helen’s Tower in County Down, holds special significance as the first official memorial erected on the Western Front. In the afternoon, we visit the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing and its museum, dedicated to over 72,000 British and South African soldiers who have no known grace. Finally, we travel to Lochnagar Crater, the result of one of the largest mines detonated on the Western Front – a dramatic and haunting reminder of the scale of destruction. Later, re-join your coach (departure time will be advised by your Tour Manager) and return to your hotel for the evening.

Day 5: Return Journey – Arras to Belfast After breakfast and check-out this morning (departure time will be confirmed by your Tour Manager), board your coach and begin the journey to Calais for your Eurotunnel crossing back to Folkestone. On arrival in the UK, we continue our journey toward London Heathrow Airport, with a comfort stop en route. Upon arrival at Heathrow, check in for your return flight to Belfast City Airport, bringing your memorable tour of remembrance to a close.