WW1 Flanders & Somme Battlefield Tour from Ireland

Your Day-by-Day Tour Itinerary

Our comprehensive 4-day tour is led by expert historian guides, ensuring a rich, informative, and deeply moving experience.

Day 1: Ypres, Passchendaele & The Last Post

Your journey begins with a flight from Dublin to Brussels, where you will meet your Tour Manager and transfer by executive coach to Ypres, the city that stood as a symbol of Allied defiance. We visit the world-renowned Memorial Museum Passchendaele 1917, dedicated to the Third Battle of Ypres. Here, you can view an extensive collection of artefacts and photos, and experience a chilling sense of history in the carefully replicated trenches. This evening, we attend the deeply moving Last Post ceremony at the Menin Gate Memorial, a tribute to the 54,896 missing soldiers with no known grave, performed nightly since 1928.

Day 2: The Battlefields of the Somme

Today is dedicated to the Somme, the site of one of the bloodiest battles in human history. We begin at Rue du Bois and the Le Touret Memorial, where Father Francis Gleeson gave the Last General Absolution to the Munster Fusiliers. We continue to the 16th Irish Division Memorial at Guillemont and the massive Lochnagar Crater, a stark reminder of the first day of the battle. We then visit the preserved battlefield at Newfoundland Park Memorial and the Ulster Tower, a memorial to the 36th Ulster Division. Our day culminates at the vast Thiepval Memorial, the largest Commonwealth memorial to the missing in the world, before a final stop at the Pozières Memorial.

Day 3: The Battlefields of Flanders

After breakfast, we explore the significant sites of the Flanders battlefields. We visit Artillery Wood Cemetery to see the memorial to the renowned Irish poet Francis Ledwidge and then Langemarck, the only German cemetery in the Salient. The sheer scale of Tyne Cot, the largest Commonwealth war cemetery in the world, offers a humbling perspective on the cost of the war. We will stand on Hill 62 to appreciate the commanding view of the battlefields before visiting the 16th Irish Division Memorial at Wytschaete, commemorating their role in the Battle of Messines. The day holds special significance at the Island of Ireland Peace Park, a memorial symbolising the unity of Irish Catholic and Protestant soldiers, before a final stop at the grave of Major Willie Redmond.

Day 4: In Flanders Fields Museum & Departure

Following breakfast and check-out, we visit the award-winning In Flanders Fields Museum in Ypres. This immersive museum, located in the rebuilt Cloth Hall, provides a moving narrative of the invasion, the war, and remembrance. After some free time to explore Ypres, you will return by executive coach to Brussels or Amsterdam for your return flight to Dublin, carrying with you a profound understanding of the events that shaped our world.

Please note that while this is our planned itinerary, we may have to make slight changes due to unforeseen circumstances. Regardless, we’ll pack in as much adventure as possible on this holiday of a lifetime!

7th June 2026 departure leaves from Cork airport. All other dates depart Dublin.

To be part of this great tour or for more information, call us on Dublin (01) 294 1000 Or

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Why Tour the Battlefields with Travel Escapes? Choosing the right tour for a journey of this significance is paramount.

Expert-Led Historical Insight: Our guides are not just tour managers; they are passionate historians who bring the events of the past to life with compelling detail and personal stories.

• Seamless Travel from Ireland: With flights, transfers, and accommodation all organised for you, your journey from Ireland is completely hassle-free.
• A Focus on a Complete Narrative: We believe in showing the full picture. By visiting both Allied and German cemeteries and exploring both successes and failures, we provide a balanced and comprehensive understanding of the conflict.
• Designed for Enthusiasts: This tour is crafted for those with a genuine interest in history. We don’t just see the sites; we spend quality time at each one, allowing for proper exploration and quiet reflection.