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ANZAC on the Western Front: Dawn Service (Northbound)

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ANZAC on the Western Front: Dawn Service (Northbound)
ANZAC on the Western Front: Dawn Service (Northbound)
ANZAC on the Western Front: Dawn Service (Northbound)

Overview

Book online and enjoy exclusive savings on Back-Roads 7 Day ANZAC on the Western Front: Dawn Service (Northbound). This ANZAC tour has been carefully designed to connect you to the past – and with any ancestors who may have fought and died during the Great War. Encounter tales of the soldiers who courageously captured the Messines Ridge at Passchendaele. Breathe in the scent of damp earth as you delve into the Wellington Quarries’ twisting tunnels. And pay your respects at the ANZAC Day Dawn Service as the sun begins to rise over the heroes laid to rest in Villers-Bretonneux. Join us and uncover read more not just their stories, but perhaps a few hidden narratives of your own.
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There are currently no departures available on this trip. Either the season has ended and new dates will be released soon, or the itinerary has been updated and isn’t operating this season.
Trip Length
Trip Length

7 Days

Trip Starts
Trip Starts

Lille

Trip Ends
Trip Ends

Lille

Countries Visited
Countries Visited:
Operator
Operator
Back-Roads
Trip Style
Trip Style

Small Group

Accommodation
Accommodation

Boutique

Budget
Budget

Premium

Age Range
Age Range

12-99 Years

Max. Group Size
Max. Group Size

18

Guide Style
Guiding Style

Fully Guided

Tour Code
Tour Code

BWFLL6

Itinerary

After meeting the group in Lille, we'll kick off our remarkable journey with a delicious welcome dinner. Stay: Hôtel Couvent des Minimes (or similar) (D)

Today's itinerary will take us from Lille to Ypres via the historic Messines Ridge. Our first stop will be the Passchendaele battlefields – where we'll walk in the footsteps of WWI allied soldiers who fought to break the German line in 1917. Next, we'll pay our respects at Polygon Wood and Tyne Cot Military Cemetery before visiting the shell-scarred Hill 60.

This afternoon, there's an opportunity to explore the fascinating Hooge Crater Museum – home to a unique collection of WWI artefacts and reconstructed trenches. We'll enjoy some free time this evening in Ypres – our home for the next two nights. Stay: Hotel Recour (or similar) (B)

After breakfast, we'll continue to delve into the moving stories of the West Flanders Front beginning with a visit to the In Flanders Fields Museum – a unique institution that commemorates the four-year trench war and conveys a contemporary message of peace. This afternoon, you'll be free to explore Ypres at your leisure. A medieval town that was completely destroyed during WWI and rebuilt anew, there is plenty of history to uncover here.

This evening we'll reconvene to attend the playing of the Last Post at the iconic Menin Gate. Whilst renovation to the Gate is ongoing, we'll still be able to experience the ceremony that has been performed here daily for almost 100 years. Stay: Hotel Recour (or similar) (B)

Today it's out of Belgium and across the border. Our destination? Fromelles, the site of the disastrous attack of 19 July 1916 – where we'll pay an emotional visit to Pheasant Wood Cemetery and the fascinating exhibition nearby. After, we'll move on to the Wellington Quarries: a network of tunnels built by the New Zealand Tunnelling Company as part of the preparations for the Battle of Arras. We'll remember Australia's role in this battle at Bullecourt with a stop at the Digger Memorial later this afternoon. Concluding the day in lovely Amiens, we'll have the evening to spend as we wish. Stay: Hôtel Le Prieuré (or similar) (B)

The Australian War Memorial in Villers-Bretonneux commemorates the battle of 24-25 April 1918 – during which Australian and Commonwealth Soldiers liberated the town. Buried here are more than 2,100 servicemen of the First World War – including over 770 Australians. Since 2008, the memorial has been the site of a special ANZAC Day Dawn Service. Today, stand with fellow visitors from Australia and New Zealand alongside local townspeople in remembering those who lost their lives in the Great War. Stay: Hôtel Le Prieuré (or similar) (B)

The Somme still captivates the soul and it's here that the ANZACs first saw major action in 1916. This morning, we'll visit Pozières and Mouquet Farm – significant sites for the Australian soldiers, as well as Longueval and Flers which were similarly monumental to the Kiwis. Before returning to Amiens, we'll also take some time to remember the colossal loss experienced by Great Britain with a visit to the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme. This evening, we'll regroup for one final dinner together and reminisce on our unforgettable journey. Stay: Hôtel Le Prieuré (or similar) (B/D)

As the home of the National War Memorial, Villers-Bretonneux is central to Australian WWI commemoration and memory. Before we say our goodbyes today, we'll visit the Franco-Australian Museum – a site paying tribute to the brave Australian soldiers who helped to save the town and a monument to international solidarity. We'll make a brief stop at the Sir John Monash Centre before shifting our focus to the last year of the war – with a visit to Le Hamel. Our tour will conclude upon our return to Lille. (B)

Trip Inclusions

  • Attend a poignant ANZAC Day Dawn Service in Villers-Bretonneux
  • Delve into the Australian story on the Western Front at the Franco-Australian Museum
  • Visit the Wellington Quarries – a network of underground tunnels dug by the New Zealand Tunnelling Company

  • 6 nights in thoughtfully selected accommodation
  • Luxury minicoach
  • Driver, Trip leader
  • Group size: 18 guests (max)

  • 6 Breakfasts, 2 Dinners

  • Accommodation, itinerary and inclusions subject to change.
  • Prices are for land/cruise only. International flights not included.

Operator

Back-Roads
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At Blue-Roads we have over 30 years’ experience in creating small group tours that focus on forming experiences that immerse our passengers in some of the most incredible destinations in the world. Our dedicated mini-coaches enable us to travel the back roads, avoiding motorways and taking you to the heart of our destinations. more We pride ourselves on delivering truly unique travel experiences through expert local knowledge, carefully curated cultural experiences and hand-picked boutique accommodation.

Our tours appeal to those looking for a more relaxing style of travel, and who enjoy culture, good food, meeting like-minded people and exploring destinations in depth. We welcome first-time travellers, but also find that many of our passengers have travelled with us before!
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Back-Roads Europe & UK (2025-26) Brochure

Back-Roads Europe & UK (2025-26)

Picture a touring holiday that delves a bit deeper. One that doesn’t simply drop by top sights and major cities, but welcomes you to experience a destination through the eyes of the people who know it best: the locals who call it home. Where journeys are made for absorbing never-to-be-forgotten views, not darting from A to B. And each day ends in hand-picked more accommodation brimming with local charm. At Back-Roads Touring, we’ve been creating these kinds of small group tours for almost 40 years. We know that the best kind of adventure introduces you to local experiences and sights while providing you with the time and space to explore independently.

Prices & Dates

There are currently no departures available on this trip. Either it's the end of the season and new departures will be released shortly, or this itinerary has been changed and is not operating this season. Feel free to contact us for information about when next seasons dates will be released or click here to view general release dates for all destinations.

Note
Tour & cruises prices are per person. Prices shown have savings applied, are subject to availability and may be withdrawn at any time without notice. Pricing and trip details are correct at this point in time, however are subject to confirmation at the time of booking and are subject to change by Back-Roads. For cruise itineraries, cabin images are sourced from the cruise-line and should be treated as indicative only. Cabin inclusions, upholsteries and room layout may differ to the image(s) shown depending on the ship selected and your sailing dates.