The Silent Cities: The CWGC Story
The Silent Cities: The CWGC Story
The Silent Cities: The CWGC Story
5 Days Starting and ending in Belgium
Visiting: Belgium, Le Touret Memorial, Loos Memorial, Arras, Ypres
Tour operator:
Tour code:
bwc
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Age range:
0-99
Special diets catered:
Vegetarians
Tour operated in:
EnglishTrip Styles:
Interests:
Activities:
Tour Overview
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission cares for the graves and memorials of 1.7 million men and women who died in the two World Wars. Founded in 1917, its dedicated staff now work at 23,000 different places across more than 150 countries and territories. This special tour, developed in association with the CWGC, provides a unique insight into the story of this remarkable organisation.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1 : Travel To Belgium Or Northern France
Location: Belgium
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: 3-star hotel
Meals Included: No Meals
Local departure by coach, then to our hotel in Belgium or northern France, where we stay for four nights.
Day 2 : Visit The ‘Forgotten Front’
Location: Le Touret Memorial, Loos Memorial
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: 3-star hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast
We visit the ‘Forgotten Front’ today – the ground between some of the main battlefields of the later war period. Here we examine the early battles of 1914 and 1915, seeing the Le Touret Memorial to the Missing, and the Indian Cemetery at Zelobes. Lunchtime in Bethune and in the afternoon, we see the Loos Memorial and then visit the new extension to the Loos British Cemetery where dead recovered from new building work in Lens and the Canal du Nord will be buried. We also visit Quarry Cemetery for the story of Fergus Bowes-Lyon and the battles at the Hohenzollern Redoubt. We then return to our hotel.
Day 3 : Arras
Location: Arras
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: 3-star hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast
Today we begin in Northern France near Arras and visit the CWGC Experience where we have a specially arranged visit looking at the global work the Commission does, with talks and demonstrations. We then visit Vimy Ridge to look at the Canadian commemoration of their dead, seeing battlefield cemeteries on the Ridge, and the missing commemorated on the Vimy Memorial. Lunchtime in Arras and then we visit the Somme Battlefields looking at the early work of the Imperial war Graves Commission at Louvencourt, one of the ‘experimental’ cemeteries. We then look at New Zealand on the Somme and their missing at Caterpillar Valley, examining the story of their Unknown Warrior. After dinner we return to the battlefields for a special illumination of the Thiepval Memorial as it gets dark, which means a late finish and return to our hotel.
Day 4 : Ypres
Location: Ypres
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: 3-star hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Today we are in Flanders and look at the early war British sector along the Messines Ridge, visiting the Ploegsteert Memorial and some of the battlefield cemeteries started in 1914, also examining the story of the Christmas Truce. After included lunch at Hooge, with time to see the new exhibition about the cemeteries, we get an update from the Commission about the work at the Menin Gate, and then examine the cemeteries in Ypres itself including Ypres Reservoir Cemetery, and Ypres Town Cemetery, where we look at the story of War Graves Gardeners seeing their special plot and talking to modern day gardeners about the work they do today. We stay in Ypres for free-time and attending the Last Post Ceremony before we return to our hotel.
Day 5 : Return Home
Location: Belgium
Meals Included: Breakfast
Return home.
What's Included
-
Accommodation
As detailed in the itinerary
-
Additional Services
Travel from a wide range of convenient joining points across the UK is included within your coach holiday price; some carry a supplement. Please contact us for our full list of joining points.
-
Airport Transfers at Destination
This trip includes coach travel from/to a local UK joining point
-
Fully Guided
-
International Travel
-
Meals
As detailed in the itinerary
-
Transport
Comfortable, air-conditioned motorcoach
What's Not Included
Accommodation
You will stay for four nights at a minimum 3-star hotel in Belgium or northern France.
Check out our Q&As
-
What is the fitness level required to do this tour?
Low
-
Is there a limit to luggage that can be brought on the tour?
On Leger Coach Holidays, your allowance is one medium sized suitcase per person, which should weigh no more than 20kg when full.
-
Will I know the names and details of all the accommodation before I depart?
Yes
-
Is there any free time to explore places during the tour?
As detailed in the itinerary
-
Is there a supplement for solo travellers?
Some tours carry a supplement for solo travellers, please ask for details if the Single price is not shown
-
Is the tour coach air conditioned?
Yes
-
Are all the relevant entry visa’s included in the price of the tour?
No
-
What type of coach will be used?
You will travel on either our Luxuria Coach or our Silver Service Coach
-
Are the local guides on the tour English speaking?
Yes
-
Will there be an escort accompanying this tour?
Fully escorted by our experienced drivers/crews. And in most towns and cities we either include or offer optional sightseeing tours with expert local guides to help you get the most from your visits.
-
How long has the tour company been trading?
40 years
-
Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
Sole use of your own room on all Single Traveller holidays: means you still get your privacy and time out from the group.
-
Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?
Yes
-
Battlefield Tours - Will it be possible to visit a particular cemetery whilst on the tour?
Please contact us and we will check to see whether you can visit a particular cemetery on any of our Battlefield Tours, if we are not able to fit it into our itinerary then you could take some time out of the tour and do this independently by taxi or public transport.
-
What policies are in place for Covid-19?
Please contact us for latest Covid-19 policies
Reviews of this operator
1 Select your preferred date
Monday - Friday
Aug 26, 2024 - Aug 30, 2024Monday - Friday
Aug 25, 2025 - Aug 29, 2025Monday - Friday
Aug 24, 2026 - Aug 28, 2026Book with Confidence
-
Low Deposit
Leger Holidays requires a minimum deposit of 20% or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 75 days before departure.
-
Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of leger holidays charges.
Up to 56 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 55 days before tour starts: Forfeit 50% of booking price.
At 42 days before tour starts: Forfeit 75% of booking price.
At 21 days before tour starts: Forfeit 90% of booking price.
At 14 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.
Enquire for huge savings
Rated 5* on Trust Pilot & ABTA Protected.