What to expect
WW1 Battlefields
Discover ramparts & No Man's Land
Tyne Cot Cemetery
Visit the resting place of fallen soldiers
Witness Menin Gate
Hear the Last Post played
Three Guided Walks
Led by a local specialist guide
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About this trip...
About the trip
Join your fellow Solos on a journey through Ypres to explore the poignant history of World War I, taking us back to 1914 to 1918, when Europe was engulfed in war and Ypres was a battleground for full four years of war. We walk the front lines where soldiers fought and were in stalemate with the German Army, visiting cemeteries and memorials, preserved trenches and craters created from tunnelling beneath the front lines and detonating mines. This historic escorted group tour offers a deep, immersive experience of the region's battlegrounds and war stories, perfect for those fascinated by wartime history.Activity Level:
What's this?What's included
Return Eurostar & transfers
Single rooms
Breakfast daily and welcome dinner
Walks from 3-6km-
In Flanders Fields Museum
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Learn about the The Underground War at hill 60
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Visits to cemeteries and memorials such as Tyne Cot, Essex Farm Cemetery & Dressing station, Sanctuary Wood Cemetery and more
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Yorkshire Trench and dug-out
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Last Post ceremony
Accompanying Solos Tour Leader
Fully financially protected
Itinerary
- Arrival in Ypres
- Essex Farm Cemetery & Dressing station and Tyne Cot Cemetery
- Flanders Fields Museum and Sanctuary Wood
- The Underground War and Messines
- Return home
What you'll be doing
Day One: Arrival in Ypres
We arrive into Lille Station and transfer to Ypres, a city in the Belgian province of West Flanders, known for its significant role during World War I. The city and surrounding area is infamous for its bloody battles during World War 1 and was virtually destroyed during the war. The city has been meticulously rebuilt to resemble its pre-war state. This includes the Cloth Hall (Lakenhalle) and St. Martin's Cathedral.
This evening, we gather for a welcome drink and dinner.
- Dinner included
Day Two: Essex Farm Cemetery & Dressing station and Tyne Cot Cemetery
Today we begin exploring the area, transferring to Essex Farm Cemetery & Dressing station. The cemetery is situated on the site of a former Advanced Dressing Station (ADS), which was used by the British Army during the war to provide medical treatment to wounded soldiers close to the front lines. Essex Farm is also famously associated with Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, a Canadian doctor and poet. It is here that he wrote the iconic war poem "In Flanders Fields" in May 1915, inspired by the death of a friend and the sight of poppies growing amidst the graves of fallen soldiers.
We then head to Ypres North Visitor Centre and walk to the Yorkshire Trench and dug out - a preserved trench system discovered in 1990. We move on to Welch Cemetery ( Caesar’s Nose), Carrefour des Roses, Artillery Wood Cemetery before returning to Ypres.
This afternoon we transfer to the largest Commonwealth cemetery in the world - Tyne Cot Cemetery and Memorial. The cemetery contains almost 12,000 graves, of which over 8,300 are unidentified. These graves represent soldiers from the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and Newfoundland. Additionally, the Tyne Cot Memorial to the missing, located within the cemetery, bears the names of nearly 35,000 servicemen who died in the Ypres Salient after August 16, 1917, and have no known grave. We continue to walk to Passchendaele (Keerlaarhoek), Nova Scotia Battalion Memorial, and the Passchendaele Canadian Memorial.
- Breakfast included
- Walking distance: 3-6km
Day Three: Flanders Fields Museum & Sanctuary Wood
This morning we begin the day heading to the interactive 'In Flanders Fields Museum'. The exhibition has touching video projects, unique sound fragments, and the most up-to-date multimedia applications, designed to immerse you in life at the front. Each visitor receives a poppy bracelet that enables him/her to discover four personal stories. This afternoon we walk the Ypres Ramparts, a series of historical fortifications surrounding the city of Ypres. The ramparts were part of the defensive positions held by the Allied forces and the fortifications provided some protection to soldiers and civilians from the relentless artillery fire. We continue to the Maple Copse and Sanctuary Wood Cemetery.
Not far from here, we visit Hill 62, which was strategically important during World War I because of its elevation, providing a vantage point over the surrounding area. The area saw intense fighting, especially during the Battle of Mount Sorrel in June 1916, where Canadian forces played a significant role in recapturing the hill from German control.
- Breakfast included
- Walking distance: 3-6km
Day Four: The Underground War and Messines
We journey to Hill 60 this morning, another strategic point due to its elevation, Hill 60 was a crucial position for observation and artillery spotting. It changed hands several times between Allied and German forces throughout the war. Hill 60 is particularly famous for the underground war that took place beneath it. Both Allied and German forces dug extensive networks of tunnels and placed large mines beneath enemy positions. The most notable event was the detonation of several large mines by British forces in April 1915 and later in June 1917, during the Battle of Messines. These explosions created massive craters, some of which are still visible today.
Other sites to suffer from 'The Underground War' was Hill 59 and the Bluff. Both the Allied and German forces dug extensive tunnel networks beneath the hill and in February 1916, the British detonated several mines under German positions on the Bluff, causing massive explosions and significant casualties. This afternoon, we head to Messines Church, before walking to the Island of Ireland Peace Park, the 1914 Christmas Truce Monument, Mud Corner Cemetery and Plugstreet Memorial.
- Breakfast included
- Walking distance: 3-6km
Day Five: Return home
We depart the hotel today after breakfast and make our way to Lille Station for our return Eurostar journey back to the UK.
- Breakfast included
Accommodation
New Regina Three-star
The hotel is in prime location in Ypres set on the market square, opposite the medieval Cloth Hall and the In Flanders Fields Museum and this hotel is three minutes on foot from Saint Martin's Cathedral
Facilities include
The hotel has a restaurant and a bar. When the weather is warmer, the terrace will be open to enjoy a drink. There is Wi-Fi within the hotel.
Room includes
Rooms consist of a TV, private bathroom with shower, coffee and tea-making facilities and a fridge.
Dates & Prices
Frequently asked questions
Transfer Time
From Lille Train Station to the hotel in Ypres, this will be approximately 50 minutes.
General Information
Please note: At the beginning of your trip, your Tour Leader will ask if you would be happy to sign a photo permission form. This means that any photographs taken during your holiday can be used by Solos to share what the Solos experience is all about. It also means you have lots of memories to go home with! Details will be given at your welcome meeting.
WhatsApp Group: Just before the start of your trip, you will be sent an invite to the WhatsApp group which will put you in touch with your fellow Solos travellers and Tour Leader prior to your departure day. By choosing to join, you're consenting to share your contact details with other members of your group. However, if you prefer not to join, that's completely fine, and you can meet the group on your first day instead.
Please note, if you have not received an email within 24 hours of departure, we recommend you check your email junk folder.
Important Information
You will need a reasonable level of fitness for this tour as there will be between 3-6km of walking per day when in resort.
We advise of comfortable footwear for this tour. Walking boots/shoes are advised as the ground could be soft, wet and uneven.
Dress Code
It is of paramount importance that you have the correct footwear. It is essential to wear walking boots/shoes that are comfortable and preferably lightweight, with some ankle support and good grip. If you already have a pair of boots that you are happy walking in (including during hot/wet weather and on hard ground), then bring these along. However, if you are bringing new footwear, do make sure they are well broken in before you arrive. Experience has shown that wearing 2 pairs of woollen socks adds to comfort.
Whilst we would hope for good weather during your holiday, it is of course impossible to guarantee this
Gratuities
There is often confusion on the question of gratuities, since it frequently depends on the type of holiday, location and, of course, your attitude towards tipping, as to what is normally expected. To give you a rough idea, we have given appropriate guidance below.
The Tour Leader will be on hand to offer advice or suggestions if required but gratuities are offered entirely at the sole discretion of the individual. We suggest a group collection at the beginning of your holiday to cover drivers, guides, porters and hotel staff. Your Tour Leader will collect this on your behalf and distribute it accordingly, thus relieving you of the burden of who, when and how much to tip.
Passport, Visa & Entry Requirements
Passport Requirements:
Belgium follows Schengen area rules. Your passport must:
- have a ‘date of issue’ less than 10 years before the date you arrive – if you renewed your passport before 1 October 2018, it may have a date of issue that is more than 10 years ago
- have an ‘expiry date’ at least 3 months after the date you plan to leave the Schengen area
- as a tourist
- to visit family or friends
- to attend business meetings, cultural or sports events
- for short-term studies or training
Health Requirements
Before you travel check that:
- your destination can provide the healthcare you may need
- you have appropriate travel insurance for local treatment or unexpected medical evacuation
Currency
Belgium uses the Euro
