Remembrance Day Travel

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Vimy Ridge Memorial against stormy cloudy sky in France. Photo: Getty Images

Canadian War Memorial Tours celebrate our history

It’s the centenary of the Great War, the First World War. Lest we forget, commemorating our war heroes can go beyond wearing a poppy and a moment of silence. Travel to some of the most significant sights of sacrifice by our armed forces members with guides and experts, all who know the history, the local language and insights that reveal what it meant to be here during times of the First and Second World Wars. —Vivian Vassos

Vimy – Photo Credit: Jim McConkey

By Land

For 2015, Globus announces it will be offering five departures of its Great Canadian War Memorial tour to France and Belgium next year. The itinerary is designed by Canadians for Canadians to help acknowledge all who have served their country in the Great War and World War II.

Deal alert:  Book any 2015 departure of the Great Canadian War Memorial Tour on an air-inclusive basis before December 2 this year and receive $100 towards your airfare.

Says Stéphanie Bishop of Globus’ Canadian office: “It’s a moving and absorbing way to pay tribute to the brave men and women who fought for their country.”

The tour to France and Belgium takes in many museums, memorials and special sites that commemorate Canadians’ contributions. These include the inspiring Canadian National Vimy Memorial at Vimy Ridge and the Canadian Cemeteries in Reviers and Dieppe, as well as the Newfoundland Memorial Park at Beaumont Hamel. Other destinations include the Landing Beaches of Normandy, the Juno Beach Memorial Centre, Amiens and Ypres.

Omaha Beach Bunkers – Photo Credit: Globus

“We’ve found that this tour not only appeals to military history buffs but also to Canadians who grew up hearing tales of war from their parents and grandparents,” adds Bishop. More than one million Canadians served with the British Forces in the Second World War alone.

Giverny – Photo Credit: Globus

The tour, priced from $2,849 to $3,069 (excluding airfare) includes all sightseeing with VIP access, first class accommodation and transportation in air conditioned, Wi-Fi equipped motorcoaches, the services of a professional Tour Director who will share particular historic knowledge, daily breakfasts and three dinners including a welcome dinner in Paris.  There are five departures of the tour between April and September 2015.  Travellers who book this tour will also have access to Globus’ transatlantic airfares.

For more information, visit www.globusjourneys.ca, call them at 1-800-268-3636, or see your travel agent.

NEXT: A River Cruise Option

Prefer a river cruise option for 2015?

For the 100th Anniversary of Canada’s entrance into the First World War, CroisiEurope river cruise operators is introducing three commemorative WWI cruises that will tour historically significant sites in Belgium and France. Known as one of the most tragic conflicts in history, WWI had the effect of uniting Canadians as they fought for the first time as a distinct unit and, eventually, under a Canadian commander.

These three new cruises will sail on ships that are among the few capable of navigating these challenging waterways, giving guests the unique opportunity to take excursions to visit the memorials, battlefields, related museums and other cultural immersion experiences.

These three exclusive cruises include:

  • A Great War – A Commemorative Cruise (Ostend to Lille):During this 7-day cruise, guests will discover historic sites in Belgium and France such as the “Trench of Death”, the Memorial to the Missing in Kotrijik and the underground tunnels used during the war. Prices begin at $1,809 per person for travel on September 10, 2015.
  • A Great War – A Commemorative Cruise (Lille to Ostend):This journey begins in France with tours of Lille and Comines including visits to memorials, the Passchendaele Museum and the Last Post Ceremony before ending in Ostend. Prices for this 7-day tour begin at $1,809 per person for travel on September 16, 2015.
  • The Great War – Cruise on a Hotel Barge in Champagne:Beginning in Paris, this 7-day cruise aboard one of CroisiEurope’s new barge ships combines visits of battlefields, museums and memorials dotting the Marne before enjoying champagne tastings in Chalons-en-Champagne. Prices begin at $2,781 per person for travel on May 28, 2015, July 8, 2015 and September 17, 2015.

Each cruise includes onshore excursions as described in the itinerary, meals on-board and complimentary drinks with dinner except for champagne and wines on the wine menu. The prices can vary according to departure date, cabin deck, ship category and/or single-occupancy (additional fees).

For more information on the Great War commemorative cruises, go here.