BATTLEFIELDS IN FRANCE & BELGIUM in 13 days
Champagne - 1 night
Bastogne - 2 night
Brussels - 2 nights
Bruges - 1 night
Normandy - 2 nights
Mont St Michel - 1 night
Paris - 3 nights
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from $4500 + air
Single Supplement from = $900
Join a small group of like-minded travelers exploring some of the most historic battlefields in Europe. Over the course of thirteen days, you'll visit battle sites, memorials, historic towns and villages, and museums and cemeteries related to battles in France and Belgium. This tour is designed for a focused group of 6-18 people interested in the history of Europe and its ever-changing boundaries shaped by war.
We believe in small groups, unhurried pace, immersion in local surroundings, and, most importantly, not over-emphasizing any one aspect of the tour. Many companies are offering "military history" tours where you can spend a week seeing Normandy, or days visiting every foxhole around Bastogne, but in doing so you miss so much of what is around you. On the other hand, we know there are tour companies that only scratch the surface of battlefield events.
Our philosophy is to offer in-depth visits to premier sites from numerous periods and wars while experiencing other elements of European culture as well. You'll learn how champagne is made and even get to taste it. You'll spend time exploring fabulous cities like Bruges, Brussels, and Paris, and smaller places like Bastogne and Bayeux, and still get your picture taken with a King Tiger tank. Overall you will get a good mix of military history, cultural history, and plain old-fashioned sightseeing!
Your Adventure Start Here!
Day 1: Welcome to France - Meet your Exploring Europe guide at the Charles De Gaulle Airport to begin your Battlefields of Belgium and France Tour. Plan to arrive at the airport by 11:00 a.m. for our rendezvous at the CDG Gare SNCF. Enjoy a scenic journey through the beautiful French countryside. Our stops will include Château Thierry, the Aisne-Marne American Cemetery and Memorial in Belleau, Northern France. Reims is located in the heart of the Champagne region. We’ll take an orientation walk through town followed by a visit to a local vintner’s cave for a lesson on making champagne… you’ll get to sample some as well! Sleep 1 night in Reims. Driving: 2.5 hours. Walking: light. Dinner.
Day 2: Lorraine and Ardennes – Today, we will travel from Reims to Sedan, where we cross the Meuse River and head into Belgium. We will make stops in Sedan and the medieval town of Bouillon, with a visit to the Chateau de Bouillon. We will end our day in Bastogne, a bustling town of 15,000 loaded with a rich history and plenty of local flavor. Sleep 2 nights in Bastogne. Driving: 3 hours. Walking: moderate. Dinner.
Day 3: Sights near Bastogne – Today, enjoy a visit to the Bastogne Barracks, where the Belgium Army maintains a large number of military vehicles and also performs restoration work. After lunch, visit the Bastogne War Museum, newly completed in 2014 for the 70th Anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge. Later, visit the Mardasson Memorial, a large structure in the shape of a five-pointed American Star, which honored the 77,000 American soldiers who gave their lives fighting in the Battle of the Bulge. Enjoy a free evening in town. Driving: 1 hour. Walking: moderate.
Day 4: Ardennes American Cemetery and Brussels –Travel to Clervaux and Marnach in Luxembourg today. Then, we will drive the “Skyline Drive” to St. Vith, Belgium, and to Baugnez Crossroads, the site of the Malmedy Massacre. Later, arrive in Brussels for the evening. Driving: 5 hours. Sleep 2 nights in Brussels. Walking: light. Dinner.
Day 5: Brussels, Waterloo, and nearby battle areas: This morning, we will have a visit to the Battle of Waterloo site. Later, back in Brussels you’ll have an opportunity to visit the Royal Military Museum, on your own. Enjoy a free evening to explore Brussels on your own. Driving: 2 hours. Walking: light to strenuous, your choice.
Day 6: Brussels to Bruges – Visit Ypres and the “In Flanders Fields” Museum or Passchendaele (Museum with reconstructed trenches) or another preeminent WW1 site for an overview of World War I. Then, onward to Bruges for sightseeing and an evening in this town known to be the “Venice of the north.” Driving: 4 hours. Walking: moderate. Sleep 1 night in Bruges.
Day 7: Bruges to Bayeux – Today, we will trace the coast of the English Channel on our drive to Normandy. Once in Normandy, we will visit Pegasus Bridge and Sword Beach before arriving at our hotel near Bayeux. Driving: 6 hours. Walking: light. Sleep 2 nights in Bayeux.
Day 8: Normandy Battlefields –We will spend the day touring the Normandy beaches. It was here, in June 1944, the Allied D-Day landings took place. Through the course of the day, we'll visit Pointe du Hoc and the Normandy American Cemetery, where 10,000 white crosses and Stars of David memorialize the Americans who gave their lives in the quest to liberate Europe. Later, we will stop at Sainte Mère Eglise, the airborne parachute site made famous by "The Longest Day" and "Band of Brothers." Driving: 6 hours with sightseeing stops. Walking: moderate.
Day 9: To Mont St. Michel – We’ll devote the morning to catching up on sightseeing in Normandy and possibly Brittany. Then, it will be onward to the Abby Mont St. Michel. We will arrive just in time to wave goodbye to all the tourist crowds, leaving the Mont for us to enjoy in relative peace. Sleep 1 night near Mont St. Michel. Driving 4 hours with sightseeing stops. Walking: strenuous.
Day 10: Paris - Drive from Normandy to Paris. This afternoon let’s focus on Paris' historical center surrounding our hotel neighborhood. On our short walking tour, you'll discover the wonder and history of the Notre Dame Cathedral, the opulence of the nearby Ile St. Louis, and reflect on the atrocities of WWII at La Mémorial des Martyrs de La Déportation. Cap off your day with a dinner at one of David’s favorite restaurants and a sightseeing cruise on the Seine River. Sleep 3 nights in Paris. Dinner.
Day 11: Paris - Enjoy an ascent up the Eiffel Tower this morning for far-reaching vistas of the sprawling metropolis of Paris. Then we’ll head up to the artsy neighborhood of Montmartre to experience this quaint bohemian village and the nearby Sacré Coeur church. Enjoy a free evening on your own. Your tour leader can suggest activities ranging from shopping, museums, catacombs, church towers, and more.
Day 12: Paris and the Louvre - Enjoy the morning at the Louvre museum to experience what some consider the world's best collection of art. Armed with David’s “Louvre Destination Guide,” you will have several hours to explore the art, history, and wonder of this magnificent museum. Following the tour, stroll through the adjacent gardens ending at the famous Champs Elysées, where you can enjoy some shopping and free time. Then let's wrap up our tour with a fine dinner together. Dinner.
Day 13: Your tour ends after breakfast – Breakfast is included this morning at our hotel, but there are no planned group activities. The Paris airports are easily connected by public transportation, and your Exploring Europe guide is always available to help with plans.
Itinerary specifics are subject to change.
Transportation will be provided by motorcoach and/or minivan from Charles de Gaulle Airport to your final hotel in Paris.
12 nights accommodation in well-appointed hotels and guesthouses. All with en-suite bathrooms.
All tips and gratuities to guides, drivers, and restaurant staff.
Guaranteed Small Group consisting of 6 -18 travelers.
All breakfasts and at least four of your dinners or lunches.
Traditional dining experiences at some of David's favorite restaurants. Eating well is a priority on David’s tours, and you’ll enjoy fine regional cuisine featuring the best the locale has to offer.
Water is included with all group meals. Sodas, beer, wine, and other drinks are your responsibility.
Tours and admissions to the attractions, experiences, and sights which are mentioned in the itinerary.
A full-time Exploring Europe guide and battlefield experts dedicated to bringing to life the art, history, and culture of the tour destinations.
David’s tour handouts are delivered electronically and detail each day’s historical and cultural experiences.
Free luggage tags and David’s custom-designed drawstring backpacks.
Our Unconditional Tour Price Guarantee, once locked in, will never change.
$50 Tour Alumni discount for each David McGuffin tour you’ve taken prior to this travel year.
Anything not listed above in the "inclusions" area is not included in the cost of your tour.
You may download a tour application and send it to us with payment.
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You may return it by:
- FAX 1-800-570-1351
- Email - info@davidmcguffin.com
- email - take a photo of the form with your smartphone and attach it to an email
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Walking and Physical Activity: We have planned this trip to provide maximum tour experiences. The basic nature of Europe does require some degree of physical activity to get out and see the sights, especially in the big cities. To help you plan, we’ve included a daily projection of physical activity. Here is the key for our walking activity ratings:
Light – Walking done on level surfaces with some hills and elevation gains. Two miles or less of required walking during the day.
Moderate – Walking done on paved and gravel paths and cobbled city sidewalks. To enjoy the full tour experience, some uphill and downhill walking is expected, as is standing while viewing sights or museums. Four to six miles of walking per day.
Strenuous – Walking done on rugged and rocky paths and city-cobbled sidewalks. There will be steps and stairs. Up to three hours standing in museums or experience sites. Up to eight miles of walking per day.
Your Choice – No matter what your walking ability, we will help you find alternative ways to enjoy and experience all Europe has to offer. To get the most out of our tours, you should be able to operate at the light level every day with spurts of moderate and strenuous.
Now that you've decided to join this tour, we are sure you'll have some questions. Don't worry. We are here to help you through each aspect of your tour from start to finish.
David's 60 Seconds destination videos
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David’s Blog Articles
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