14 day Western Front Battlefield cruise + ANZAC
From Flanders Fields via the Somme and Siegfried Line to Reims. Tailor made visits to the frontline
BOOKA CARE
- Your money is safe, we pay your host 2 days after check-in.
- 100% refund in the unlikely event the host cancels.
- Changing booking details is always free.
- Access to urgent phone line during your booking.
- Book Co2 positive, we compensate 3 times more than we emit.
River trip summary
A 14 day World War I remembrance tour to the Western Front, combined with some art, culture and relaxed cruising.
Cruising from Bruges (BE) to Reims (FR) with special interest on April 25 for ANZAC ceremony at Villers Bretonneux.
Retrace the footsteps of your father, grandfather, uncle or other relative that fought in the Great War in Belgium and France. Discover the places that are engraved in our memories: Ypres, Passchendaele, Fromelles, Bullecourt, Villers-Bretonneux and many, many others. Memorials stand as silent witnesses to past battles where now are meadows and cornfields. There are graveyards with rows and rows of white stones, engraved with the names of thousands of young men that gave their lives on foreign ground.
River trip description
On this special WW1 cruise from Bruges to Reims, you get plenty of opportunities to visit the Western Front but also to discover local specialties, interesting places, some art, or just enjoy the view of the passing landscape. We adapt our excursions to your interests whenever possible.
Day 1, Bruges
Welcome on board Johanna, moored near the ramparts of this historic city.
Day 2, Bruges – Deinze
After the morning sailing, our minivan will be waiting for you to visit the city of Ghent. On request we make a first tour to Flanders Fields with the Trenches of Death in Diksmuide and other memorials.
Day 3, Deinze – Wervik
Sailing on the river Lys, passing our first locks. Afternoon visit of Flanders Fields with Hill 60, Polygon Wood, 5th Div. memorial, Tine Cot Cemetary, Ypres and the Last Post at the Menin Gate.
Day 4, Wervik – Lille
We are leaving Belgium entering France. Visit Fromelles with VC corner and Memorial Park. Or discover the bustling city of Lille.
Day 5, Lille – Douai
Today we can see the work of the New Zealand diggers at the Wellington Quarry in Arras. Nearby is Vimy Ridge with the Canadian National Memorial and the remains of Mont St Eloi abbey.
Day 6, Douai – Ruyaulcourt
Sailing on the Canal du Nord, we go from the Scheldt to the Somme valley. First visit to the Somme area: Bullecourt, Pozieres, Mouquet Farm, Thiepval, …
Day 7, Ruyaulcourt – Péronne
Afternoon visit to the Hindenburg line, Mont Saint Quentin, Bellenglise, 2nd and 4th Dividion memorials.
Day 8, Péronne & Villers-Bretonneux (April 25)
At sunrise, ANZAC ceremony at Villers Bretonneux. Don’t forget to register your free tickets! Afternoon tour of Somme battlefield: Le Hamel, Sailly-le-Sec, Lochnagar crater,…
Day 9, Péronne – Noyon
Excursion to the hill city of Laon
Day 10, Noyon – Guny
Lange Max and the “Pariser Kanon” near Coucy-le-Chateau-Aufrique.
Day 11, Guny – Braye en Laonnois
Visit of Soissons, Compiegne armistice wagon
Day 12, Braye en Laonnois – Berry au Bac
Dragon’s cave, California planes, Tank memorial
Day 13, Berry au Bac – Reims
Reims city and optional Fort de la Pompelle
Day 14, Reims
Farewell after breakfast.
Option: Add a few days in B&B on board Johanna in Bruges or Reims at the start or end of your cruise.
In autumn (early October) we offer the cruise in opposite direction.
Other dates on request: June 27 – July 10 and July 14-27 (if available).
Details
Location
River trip owner
Kris
Since 2015, we are offering bespoke cruises in the Champagne area on our ship Johanna. She was converted in 2013 from a cargo vessel to a modern and comfortable 3 bedroom cruise ship.