Insight Vacations is offering Canadian clients the opportunity to embark on journeys of remembrance with two unforgettable itineraries. 2018 marks the 100th anniversary of Armistice Day as well as Canada’s victory at the end of the war from August 8th to November 11th, 1918.

Below are highlights from the two premium escorted journeys that commemorate the Canadian and Allied forces:

 

World War I Battlefields – 4 days

Departing from Paris, clients will journey north to Ypres to visit Flanders Fields and the historic Ypres Salient battlefields which saw some of World War I's heaviest battles.

Clients will see Hill 60, Polygon Wood, the Passchendaele Memorial where 100,000 Canadian soldiers from The Canadian Corps fought in the front lines in 1917.

 

 

Clients visit the Essex Farm bunker where Guelph, Ontario native Lieutenant Colonel and Doctor, John McCrae, composed In Flanders Fields.

Guests will continue onwards to Tyne Cot Cemetery and pay their respects in the town of Ypres as they listen to the final salute to the fallen at Menin Gate as the Last Post is sounded.

 

 

After being charmed by the small town of Lille, guests continue their poignant journey, travelling south to the Canadian National Memorial at Vimy Ridge.

A Local Expert will share stories of the battles that occurred on those very lands during the Great War throughout the visit through the preserved trenches including the final victorious battle, which was a defining moment for Canada, as more than 10,600 Canadian soldiers were wounded or succumbed to their injuries.

 

 

Proceeding on to the town of Amiens, guests will learn about the Battle of Amiens and explore the medieval town which was tastefully rebuilt following WWII.

Following a relaxed start on Day 3, a Local Expert will convey the catastrophic Battle of Somme as guests are guided through the key battlefields before continuing on for further reflection at the Newfoundland Memorial where 814 Newfoundlanders died in service.

 

 

The afternoon provides time for quiet reflection in Beaumont-Hamel, once the site of one of the largest allied offenses during the Battle of Somme, where they may shop or explore the historic Saint-Leu district.

The final day offers stops at Le Hamel and Péronne, before concluding this immersive journey in Paris.

 

 

To see Insight Vacations’ Normandy, Brittany, and Loire Valley itinerary, please continue to the next page.

 Normandy, Brittany and the Loire Valley – 8 Days

Beginning in Normandy, clients will journey along the River Seine to Rouen to admire its ancient Gothic cathedral before stopping into the charming fishing town of Honfleur that has magically retained its old-world magic.

A visit to the Normandy beaches and D-Day landings will mark an important day on the journey as guests follow the route of the rangers, visit the bunkers and the Rangers Memorial at Pointe du Hoc.

 

 

A Local Expert will guide guests through the D-Day Museum and spend a few reflective moments at American Military Cemetery St-Laurent-sur-Mer near Omaha Beach.

Afterwards, they will travel past Juno and Gold Beaches, both having played an important part in the Normandy landings.

 

 

On June 6th, 1944, the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division and the 2nd Canadian Armoured Brigade joined the Allied Forces on the D-Day landings in Juno Beach. More than 5,000 Canadian soldiers lost their lives during the Battle of Normandy.

Before exploring true French Renaissance architecture at the fairy-tale Château d’Azayle-Rideau, guests will cross the Loire to Saumur where a local vintner guides them through an insightful wine tasting.

 

 

In the Loire Valley, at Château de Villandry which is considered the jewel of the Loire, guests will savour a delicious Farm-to-Table Dinner prepared with only the freshest ingredients and wines from the region.

The journey ends in Paris as the Travel Director introduces guests to key sights such as the Notre-Dame Cathedral, Place de la Concorde, Champs Elysees and more.

 

 

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