ypres salient tours

Daily Guided Tours of the Ypres Salient and Tours on the Western Front

Not just a business, but a way of life… Flanders Battlefield Tour is well known for organising both, daily tours of the Ypres Salient and the Somme amongst other Western Front areas. Run by Jacques Ryckebosch and Genevra Charsley both are extremely passionate about the First World War. Prior to Flanders Battlefield Tour Jacques curated for many years at Talbot House (TOC H as it was known by the soldiers/veterans) meeting and becoming good friends with First World War veterans. Genevra Charsley has been a member of the Western Front Association since 1997 and assisting with the Poppy Parade on Armistice in Ieper (Ypres) since 1997, both are associate members of the Guild of Battlefield Guides and both have featured on BBC television and international television. Our guides all come highly recommended and are as equally passionate about the First World War, residing within the Ypres Salient they are always well informed and involved about the latest discoveries and development.

"Thank you Jacques for our interesting & personal trip to the somme, a BIG thank you for being so informative.  I'm sure we'll be back for more.  Wishing you both all the success you so rightly deserve."

"Just a note to say that Susan and I were thrilled with Jacques and Genevra's presentations on the Somme & Ypres Salient.  First rate!"

"I would like to thank you for making the arrangements for our tour.  Jacques was superb as our guide and I cannot thank him enough for making our afternoon in Ieper so informative and interesting.  His recollection of facts, views and testimony of those men who witnessed the campaigns was superb as well as sobering.  We hope to be in touch again and will certainly recommend you."

"Having now returned to the UK, we just wanted to drop you a couple of lines Genevra to say thank you again for the informative and interesting Grand Tour we took with you.  We took your advice also and visited St Georges Memorial Church.  Beautiful.  Touching.  We shall certainly recommend your service to any friends that visit Ypres/Ieper in the future."

"Thank you for your tour.  It was fantastic and I was so impressed with your passion.  Your comments relating to Jews were particularly insightful and meaningful to me.  I noticed the grave of one of my namesakes near the Dressing Station althought it was not likely that he is related.  I was, however, able to perfrom the ritual of leaving a stone on the headstone to show visitation."

" Dear Genevra, We're back home on the Mornington Peninsula near Melbourne, and have finally recovered from jet lag and are getting back to normal. Thank-you very much for the amazing day we spent with you - visiting Ypres and many of the WW1 sites, cemeteries, and especially my great-uncle's resting place. It was a day we will not forget.  Your research was so thorough and comprehensive. We cannot remember the name of the other support service you had found, so when you email us the material you promised, could you please let us know. Hoping to hear from you soon."

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Ypres battlefield tours and sites – A visitor’s guide

28 August 2023

Looking to visit the iconic former battlefields of Ypres? Our visitor’s guide to Ypres battlefield tours is here to help.

Ypres battle sites – where to visit

Image: Modern-day Ypres with the magnificent Cloth Hall restored to its medieval grandeur (Wikimedia Commons)

Ieper, the modern-day name for the city of Ypres , holds a long, storied history.

From the magnificent Cloth Hall to its historic Grote Markt marketplace, the small city is packed with historical buildings and curios that tell its millennia-long history.

But for military history enthusiasts, the name Ypres conjures up images far removed from cloth making and trade. Instead, imagery of trenches, artillery, and mud-bound Tommies spring to mind.

Ypres is indelibly linked to the First World War. Today, the city, its former combat zones, and its cemeteries and memorials attract hundreds of thousands of visitors a year.

Best battle sites near Ypres

Image: Ypres's Cloth Hall and city centre were levelled during the First World War (© IWM Q 57287)

Ypres lies in the heart of Flanders, South Belgium , amidst some of the most hotly contested battlefields of World War One .

The city, long a culturally and economically significant Flanders population, was hot property during the Great War. Whoever controlled Ypres controlled the vital passes to the channel ports of Northern France and Belgium.

Some titanic clashes took place in and around Ypres in an area called the Ypres Salient. The Ypres Salient spread from the city centre to cover the countryside outside the city. In total, it spanned around 9.2 square miles.

As such, if you’re looking for the best battle sites near Ypres, you’re really spoiled for choice.

There is the historic and beautiful town itself of course, but other Ypres battlefields to visit include:

• Polygon Wood
• Messines Ridge
• Ploegsteert Wood
• Passchendaele
• Hooge Crater
• Sanctuary Wood & Hill 62
• Bluff Crater

This is a small selection of the former Great War combat zones you can visit on a WW1 battlefield tour of Ypres .

The geography of the Ypres Salient and its former battle sites took in hilly ridges, thick woodland, open rolling farmland, and medieval city streets. Make sure you’ve got the footwear to handle different terrains when out and about visiting Ypres battlefields!

Preserved trenches near Ypres

There are several stretches of preserved trenches near Ypres that would make a perfect stop on an Ieper battlefield tour .

One of the most popular sections is the trench network at Sanctuary Wood, aka Hill 62.

Sanctuary Wood got its name during the early stages of the First World War. British soldiers used the hillside woodland to shelter from enemy artillery fire as it was a relatively quiet spot, hence the name “sanctuary”.

However, by the end of 1914, Hill 62 had been bombarded heavily, turning sanctuary into danger. Tens of thousands of Commonwealth troops lost their lives here.

Image: The preserved trenches at Sanctuary Wood

A Belgian farmer named Schier returned to his land to find it a blasted mess of trenches, debris, rusting barbed wire and casualties. Once cleared, and casualties put over into Commonwealth War Graves care, Schier simply left the site as it was.

Sanctuary Wood offers a tangible glimpse into the horrors that soldiers across the Western Front dealt with daily. For added authenticity, visit on a rainy day and experience just how quickly the trenches become sodden with mud and water.

Another location to visit on a Ypres battlefields tour would be the Yorkshire Trench. Just take a short drive north of Ypres to the village of Boezinge to find it.

Yorkshire Trench was a British dugout during the war. It contains a stretch of circa 1915 trench and a piece constructed in 1917.

Unlike Sanctuary Woods, Yorkshire Trench does not attempt to keep things as they were once the fighting stopped.

Instead, they have been cleaned up with wooden duckboards and concreted sandbags, but they are nonetheless powerful reminders of the conditions millions of soldiers fought in around Ypres.

Memorials and Cemeteries in Ypres

The first cemeteries and memorials to the dead of the Ypres Salient sprang up pretty much straight away. 10,500 British Expeditionary Force soldiers lost their lives during the First Battle of Ypres in 1914.

Casualties would continue to mount throughout the war.

There are over 150 Commonwealth War Graves Commission sites in and around the Ypres Salient. You may not be able to visit them in a single tour, so you’ll have to come back and visit us! 

There are several CWGC locations in the city of Ieper itself.

Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial

The stunning Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial is visited by hundreds of thousands of people a year, from school groups on battlefield trips to individual history enthusiasts wanting to pay their respects to the fallen.

Straddling a main route out of the city centre, the Menin Gate stands as a symbol of the huge loss of life experienced in the Ypres sector. It commemorates some 54,000 officers and enlisted men from Canada, the UK, Australia, India, and South Africa who died before 16 August 1917 but with no known grave.

Ypres Town Cemetery & Extension

The establishment of the Ypres Salient was really cemented in October 1914 by which time casualties were beginning to mount.

At this time, there were no established military cemeteries in Ypres. Burials from the early stages of the city’s war were placed in the existing civil cemeteries and churchyards.

For instance, Ypres Town Cemetery holds 120 war graves from October and November 1914.

Ypres Town Cemetery Extension added a further 127 graves shortly after but was significantly expanded after the November 1918 Armistice. Now, just over 600 Commonwealth burials lie within Ypres Town Cemetery Extension.

Ypres Reservoir Cemetery

During the Second Battle of Ypres in April 1915, the city sustained a terrible artillery bombardment that left it hammered and scarred. Ypres was essentially turned to rubble but even then certain buildings remained distinguishable.

Near Ypres’ western gate lay the city’s prison and reservoir and water tower. Three cemeteries were built here during wartime with the last first known as “Cemetery North of the Prison” before it was dubbed with its current name.

Ypres Reservoir Cemetery was used by fighting units and ambulances for the remainder of the war. Now, it holds 2,600 or so Commonwealth burials of the First World War. Just under half are unidentified.

White House Cemetery, St. Jean-Les-Ypres

Follow the road from the Grote Markt in the city centre north-east for a short time and you’ll discover White House Cemetery just off the Brugseweg road.

Here lie over 1,100 Commonwealth burials of the First World War alongside eight Second World War burials.

White House Cemetery is an example of concentration. This term means moving burials and war graves from smaller or scattered sites into a singular location.

Many cemeteries within the Ypres Salient are concentration cemeteries. In White House’s case, burials were moved from eight other locations post-Armistice.

Outside of the city limits, there are many CWGC memorials and cemeteries that dot the past battlefields of the salient.

Tyne Cot Cemetery

Tyne Cot Cemetery is the largest Commonwealth War Graves war cemetery in the world and an important stop on many Belgian war graves tours .

Just shy of 12,000 casualties from across the Commonwealth are buried here. Demonstrating the terrible nature of Great War fighting, just 3,600 or so are identified.

A further 35,000 missing casualties with no known grave are commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial within the cemetery.

In 1917, British Forces launched the Third Battle of Ypres , known better as Passchendaele. The battle, which raged from July to November, was a terrible slog with over 77,000 Commonwealth soldiers killed. Tyne Cot marks the final resting place for many of these casualties of Passchendaele.

Essex Farm Cemetery

Essex Farm Cemetery sits close to the Yser Canal. Its location formed part of the frontline between April 1915 and August 1917 and was the site of an advanced dressing station, essentially a forward medical post.

In fact, if you visit Essex Farm, you can still see the remains of the concrete operating stations within the cemetery. It was in one of these that Canadian poet John McCrae wrote the now legendary poem In Flanders Fields which is rightly regarded as one of the most influential and important works in the First World War canon .

Reading a cemetery correctly can reveal hidden truths you may otherwise have missed. In the case of Essex Farm Cemetery, some of the headstones are crammed shoulder to shoulder.

That’s because, as an advanced dressing station, the medical staff working there were reacting to and treating casualties coming straight from the frontline, often under fire themselves.

Burials would have been made with urgency and lack of planning in such conditions, hence the cramped conditions at Essex Farm Cemetery.

Use our Find Cemeteries & Memorials tool to search for them and plan your Ieper tour. You will be able to search by country, name, and location – in this case West Flanders – which will reveal all Commonwealth War Graves sites in and around the city.

Visiting Ypres Battlefields

The battle sites near Ypres are many and varied. How you visit them is entirely up to you, but here are some ideas to help you plan perfect Ieper battlefield tours.

Ypres self-guided battlefield tours

Self-guided tours are exactly what they say on the tin: tours you undertake yourself at your own pace without a group or guide.

Luckily, Ypres is a small city with great transport links. It is very easy to get around by car or public transport, but it is advised to drive if possible to take in as many Ypres battle sites as possible on your tour.

Your itinerary and tour plans are also entirely in your hands, but we can push you in the right direction.

With our partner Wesstoer, we have made it possible for you to plan your own Flanders pilgrimage , including visits to our Ypres cemeteries and memorials.

We have set up three suggested tours of West Flanders that explore the region’s landscape and how our cemeteries and memorials interact and intertwine with it.

Ypres tour themes include:

• Landscape – A half-day tour highlighting the scars that still blight the Ypres Salient, some of its last remaining original battlefield features, and how CWGC sites there were shaped by the First World War.
• Passchendaele, the 3rd Ypres Offensive – Passchendaele was one of the most infamous campaigns of the Great War. Experience its story via our sites on this half-day tour.
• Must See – Only got time for one tour of Ieper’s former battlefields? This is the one for you. It covers some of our most iconic Ypres Salient sites, including Tyne Cot and the Menin Gate, that tell the story of the region’s startling wartime experience. 

Each tour also comes with free materials that give more information on each site, visitor’s info, and some stories of those commemorated within.

Visit our Wesstoer page to plan your own self-guided tour of our Ypres and West Flanders sites.

A Michelin Atlas of Cemeteries and Memorials in Belgium and Northern France is also available to buy from the Commonwealth War Graves Foundation gift shop . Pick one up to help you navigate your way through the region’s former Great War battlefields. All proceeds go to the Commonwealth War Graves Foundation charity.

Don’t forget to visit the CWGC Ieper Information Centre in the heart of the city. Our staff will also be able to help you find our Ypres cemetery and memorials as well as make suggestions on which former battlefields to take in on your self-guided tour.

You can also visit our Tours section to learn more about our prepared tours in Belgium, covering:

• Ieper walking tour
• Tyne Cot Cemetery & memorial tour
• Menin Gate tour

Please note: these tours are not guided. 

Private Ypres/Ieper battlefield tours

Numerous operators and travel companies offer Ypres battlefields as part of guided or package tours.

Private tours may also include tours of the Ypres Salient and the Somme in one trip, linking two important regions of the Western Front deeply connected to the Commonwealth’s wartime experience.

While we do not partner with any tour operators specifically, CWGC memorials and cemeteries are often included on battlefield tour itineraries. Be sure to check with your tour operator of choice to learn more.

Ypres battlefield map

The below map shows the locations of CWGC sites dotting the Ypres battlefields.

As the Ypres Salient was comparatively small but significant, the locations of our cemeteries and memorials provide a good indicator as to where the Ypres battlefield sites lay.

The history of Flanders battlefields

The history of Flanders battlefields is the history of the First World War in which Ypres played an integral part.

It was not Allied troops who entered the city first though. Imperial German Troops entered the city on the evening of October 7, 1914. As many as 10,000 Germans descended on the city, with men billeted to sleep in the Cloth Hall, schools, army barracks, shops, and railway stations.

By the next day, however, the German Army retreated from Ypres, taking food, straw, and important supplies. Citizens were left clutching coupons and IOUs for their goods and produce. It seemed highly unlikely they’d ever be paid for the goods taken by the very brief German occupation.

On 13 October, French and British troops entered the city and took up defensive positions to stave off an impending German attack. From the Allied arrival, the historic city of Ypres would be embroiled in some of the First World War’s most infamous campaigns.

Image: The devastation of Ypres (© IWM Q 29795)

By the time of the Armistice, Ypres had been shattered. Her picturesque medieval town city was now a blasted ruin. It would be a long road to recovery but thankfully many buildings, such as the inimitable Cloth Hall, stand today in Ieper.

But let’s not forget the Second World War. Flanders fields may have stronger links to the Great War in the public imagination, but Ypres was still the site of frantic, desperate fighting during the blitzkrieg of 1940.

The town centre was once again damaged, but not completely levelled as had been the case 30 years earlier.

What battles took place around the Ypres Salient?

Numerous campaigns, skirmishes and major offensives were fought on battle sites near or in Ypres between 1914-1918.

First Battle of Ypres

Fought during the crucial early days of the “Race to the Sea”, the battle ends with the Allies in control of the city but with Imperial German units now dug in positions circling the city. The Ypres Salient is born.

(Image: © IWM Q 57218)

Second Battle of Ypres

The Second Battle of Ypres began on 17 April 1915 with the British attack on Hill 60. Hill 60 overlooked Ypres and whoever controlled it essentially dominated the surrounding landscape. After four days, the British took Hill 60.

Elsewhere, the Imperial German Army attempted to capture Ypres with the war’s first use of gas. The battle lasted until 25 May with the attack halted and Ypres still in Allied control.

(Image: © IWM Q 61600)

Battle for Mount Sorrel

On 2 June 1916, Imperial German forces attacked positions on Mount Sorrel: more high ground to the southeast of Ypres. Standing in their way were three divisions of the Canadian Corps.

The initial German attack was a success, but by 13 June, the Canadians had driven the German Army back to its starting position. By the end of the two-week battle, 1,000 Canadians had been killed.

(Image: Wikimedia Commons)

Battle of Messines

On the morning of June 7 1917, 19 huge explosions rocked the German positions on the Messines Ridge. The sound, it is said, could be heard from London.

Across seven days, Australian, New Zealand and British Infantry drove the German Army off Messines Ridge, capturing more high ground and strengthening their position in the southern salient.

(Image: © IWM Q 5488)

Battle of Passchendaele

They call it Passchendaele… Also known as the Third Battle of Ypres, Passchendaele was a five-month attack to the north of Ypres undertaken by the British army on 31 July 1917. Torrential summer rains turned Flanders fields into bogs and charnel pits.

The German frontline had been strengthened across Passchendaele Ridge. The combination of dogged resistance and awful terrain and mud meant casualties were horrific. 

To make matters worse, all the ground taken during the attack was recaptured in the Spring Offensive of April 1918.

The cost of Passchendaele is estimated to have reached 400,000 losses for both sides between July-November 1917.

(Image: © IWM CO 2252)

Fourth Battle of Ypres

The Spring Offensive of April 1918 was the Imperial German High Command’s attempt to break the deadlock on the Western Front and win the war. Part of this sweeping attack was “Operation Georgette”: an advance through Flanders on Ypres.

Through a combination of surprise, daring, and new tactics, the German Army was able to recapture all the land lost at Messines and Passchendaele but could not make the final breakthrough to capture Ypres.

The land retaken remained in German hands until September 1918 when it was recaptured during the Hundred Days Offensive at the Fifth Battle of Ypres.

(Image: © IWM Q 7808)

How many battles were fought around Ypres?

The six major battles around Ypres we detailed above included many numerous smaller skirmishes and actions.

Including these, around 30 battles were fought on the Ypres battlefields.

Ypres Battlefields Today

Today, Ieper has been rebuilt but the reminders of its wartime experience can be found everywhere.

The Ypres (Menin Gate) is the most easily identifiable link to the city’s World War past, as are the cemeteries and memorials the CWGC maintains in and around Ieper.

Discover them for yourself with a tour of Ypres’ battlefields. Don’t forget to build your own personal pilgrimage to Flanders Fields or pop into the CWGC Ieper Information Centre to learn more our work, the history of Ypres in wartime, and more ideas on how to plan your perfect war graves tour.

10 Thought-Provoking Ypres Battlefield Tours (2024)

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Would you like to know what the best Ypres Battlefield Tours are? You’ve come to the right spot!

I live an hour away from Ypres , a town known for its WWI history. Being Belgian, I grew up close to these real stories of the past.

In fact, as a kid, I used to speak every year on the November 11 memorial at the Canadian War Cemetery in Adegem. One time, our then prince, now king, Philippe , was even there to listen.

Ypres is famous for the Battle of Ypres , which was a series of battles during World War I between Germany and the Allied forces. Surrounding the town are battlefields, cemeteries, war museums, and memorials that honour these battles.  

Since September 2023, nearly all of the locations mentioned have been recognised by UNESCO as World Heritage collectively listed under the title “ Funerary and Memory Sites of the First World War (Western Front) “

Joining a Ypres battlefield tour will allow you to dive deep into the history of the First World War. It’s the perfect occasion to learn more about the significance of the area in WW I and/or to honour someone who fought .

I will guide you through the best battlefield tours Ypres, Bruges and even Brussels have to offer and I’ll tell you more about the history of the places you’ll be visiting.

MY TOP PICKS From Ypres | Ypres Battlefields Public Half-Day Tour or Private 4-hour Tour of the Ypres Battlefield |From Bruges Great War Flanders Fields Minibus Tour w/Lunch  

Battlefield Tours from Ypres

BEST YPRES BATTLEFIELD TOURS

1. Private 4-hour Tour of the Ypres Battlefield

⭐ RATING: 5/5 ( 71 Reviews ) |⌛TOUR LENGTH: 4 hours approx.|💰 CHECK PRICE

This Ypres battlefield tour will take you from Ypres to Passchendaele as you board a private car.  

If you have limited time for a tour, this is the perfect chance to retrace the footprints of soldiers between 1914 and 1918 within four hours. 

The first stop is Hill 60 , where you will learn the story behind the massive mines in 1917. 

At Sanctuary Wood Museum , you will see relics of the original Canadian trenches and have an insight into the challenges WW I soldiers endured in these. There are also displays of relevant WW1 artefacts and photographs. 

The Saint Julien Memorial features an 11-metre-tall column of The Brooding Soldier . A visit will give you an in-depth narration of the first German gas attack and how Canadian soldiers bravely held on despite this. 

This tour also allows visits to three cemeteries, where you can commemorate the lives of the fallen Commonwealth and German soldiers. 

Highlights of this tour

• Sanctuary Wood Museum  
• Tyne Cot Cemetery  
• Langemark Cemetery 
• Saint Julien Memorial  
• Essex Farm Cemetery 

“We had an excellent guide who made the afternoon very special! He went out of his way to make our tour relevant and informative. We even found our family name on one of the memorials.” CURTIS_S, Dec 2023  ( see more reviews )

2. The Christmas Truce to Passchendaele Ypres Based WW1 private tour    

⭐RATING: 5/5 ( 20 Reviews ) |⌛TOUR LENGTH: 8 hours approx. | 💰 CHECK PRICE 

In addition to Hill 60, Tyne Cot Cemetery, and Sanctuary Wood Museum, this private, customizable Ypres to Passchendaele tour has eight other stops. 

The tour begins at Messines Ridge , south of Ypres, which features 19 mine craters. 

This will be followed by a stop at Hooge Crater Cemetery . Here you can visit the grave of Patrick Joseph Bugden, VC. He was a recipient of the Victoria Cross, which was considered the highest award for bravery. 

The tour continues to the sites of The Black Watch and the Battle of Polygon Wood . The latter is a significant landmark that features the woods which were fought over the war. A visit to this place is not complete without stopping at the cemetery and the Australian 5 th Division monument. 

During the latter part of the journey, you will see the Site John McCrae and Menin Gate Memorial in between drive-throughs to the Broodseinde and Zonnebeke battles sites. 

The Site John McCrae is where the physician and lieutenant colonel composed the poem In Flanders Fields during his service. 

The Menin Gate Memorial , on the other hand, is dedicated to fallen British and Commonwealth soldiers whose graves are not known. If you’re like me, not only will you get overwhelmed by the magnificence of its walls, but also by the number of soldiers—over 54, 000—who fought and whose names are listed here. 

Make sure to return to the gate at 20:00 for the daily Last Post Ceremony – it’s a thought-provoking moment and something you shouldn’t miss when in the neighbourhood.

• Messines Ridge  
• Hooge Crater Cemetery  
• The Black Watch 
• Battle of Polygon Wood  
• Broodseinde  
• John McCrae Site  
• Menin Gate Memorial 
• Zonnebeke  
• Sanctuary Wood Museum 

“Great day out very informative. And always made feel confortable by out guide. I Would highly recomend to anyone visiting Ypres” SEAN_B, AUG 2022 ( see more reviews )

3. Ypres Battlefields Public Half-Day Tour

⭐RATING: 5/5 ( 45 Reviews ) |⌛TOUR LENGTH: 3 hours 30 minutes (approx.)|💰 CHECK PRICE

This Ypres Battlefield half-day tour is perfect if you have a small group.  

This is also a great option if you have limited time in the city, but do not want to pass up the chance to revisit the Ypres Battlefields history! 

The tour starts at Sanctuary Wood and its iconic museum , which will give you an overview of the battles in The Ypres Salient. The preserved trenches give a raw insight into what it must have been like to live through the horrible war. 

The Essex Farm Cemetery is also a stop on this tour. This preserved historical area also served as a dressing station and was instrumental in the evacuation of wounded soldiers. 

Following are Commonwealth Tyne Cot Cemetery and the German Langemark Cemetery . Between these, you will pass by the Saint Julien Memorial and have a look at the battlefields of Passchendaele . 

• Sanctuary Wood  
• Essex Farm Cemetery  
• Langemark Cemetery  
• Saint Julien Memorial (Pass By) 
• Passendale  
• Tyne Cot Cemetery 

“Excellent half day tour – our guide Roger was very knowledgeable and gave our small group a very good overall feel for the history of the battles around Ypres Thoroughly recommended” SIMON_R, OCT 2023  ( see more reviews )

4. Full-Day Canadian WW1 Vimy and Somme Battlefield Tour  

⭐RATING: 5/5 ( 6 Reviews ) |⌛TOUR LENGTH: 9 hours (approx.) | 💰 CHECK PRICE  

This full-day Canadian battlefield tour starts from Ypres and continues to Vimy and Somme. 

At the Canadian National Vimy Memorial, you will see the Grange Tunnel as well as the Vimy Ridge, where you will see Canadian and German trenches. The place also has a visitor centre, where you can stop by! 

The next destinations are Courcelette Canadian Memorial and Lochnagar Crater. The latter was the aftermath of an underground explosion. 

At Thiepval Memorial, you can pay respects to more than 72,000 soldiers, who passed away in the Somme and, unfortunately, do not have known graves. 

The last stop is the Beaumont-Hamel Newfoundland Memorial, which commemorates World War 1 Newfoundlander soldiers. The memorial holds a striking bronze caribu that shows honour to the memory of the Newfoundland Regiment volunteers. 

• Canadian National Vimy Memorial  
• Courcelette Canadian Memorial  
• Lochnagar Crater  
• Thiepval Memorial  
• Beaumont-Hamel Newfoundland Memorial 

“Claude was a really good guide. He was totally knowledgeable about the Great War and all of dates and stats were in his head. He made sure he did whatever we wanted to do and gave us options wherever it was possible. The tour was comprehensive and gave us a better understanding about the causes of the war.” MILLERS, MAR 2020 ( see more reviews )

battlefield tours from bruges

5. great war flanders fields minibus tour w/lunch   .

⭐ RATING: 4.9/5 ( 787 Reviews ) | ⌛TOUR LENGTH: 9 hours | CHECK PRICE  

This historical, full-day Ypres battlefield tour begins from Bruges. 

In an air-conditioned minibus, you will be transported to preserved war trenches, bunkers, and craters, such as Hooge Crater .  

This tour also includes visits to war sites, graves, and memorials including Polygon Wood, Passchendaele, and Menin Gate Memorial.  

As you ride through the Ypres countryside, you have the chance to appreciate the iconic poppy fields that grace the Flanders region. 

Lastly, at the Menin Gate, you can catch the Last Post Ceremony , a daily tribute that remembers the bravery of soldiers. For this, you can request the tour to be extended. 

• Hooge Crater 

Passchendaele 

Polygon wood .

• Menin Gate Memorial (for the Last Post Ceremony) 

“We cannot recommend this tour highly enough!!! Sharon and Philippe were so friendly and helpful, accommodating a stop at a family members grave (thank you again for this!) and even getting in touch with us before the tour to check if we wanted picking up from our hotel instead of walking to the meeting point – now that’s service!” DANIELLE. , DECEMBER 5, 2023 ( see more reviews )

6. Flanders Fields Remembrance Full-Day Trip

⭐️RATING: 4.6/5 ( 15 Reviews ) | ⏳TOUR LENGTH: 11 hours| 💰 CHECK PRICE  

This Flanders Field remembrance full-day guided tour starts in Bruges.  

The first stop is the Passchendaele Battlefield, and then your tour guide will take you to Tyne Cot Cemetery.  

For the rest of the morning, you are set to visit Polygon Wood, where some of the Australian and New Zealand Troops fell.  

This will be followed by stops at memorials for Canadian Troops, including the monument of the Brooding Soldier and Essex Farm Cemetery. 

After lunch in Ypres, you will be set for a drive to France for the Vimy Memorial, which also houses a museum and trenches.  

If the packed schedule allows, you might be able to take a stop at Hill 60 in Ypres. 

Like most tours, this one will conclude with attending the Last Post Ceremony at the Menin Gate. 

• Passchendaele Battlefield 
• Polygon Wood  
• Brooding Soldier Monument  
• Vimy Memorial 
• Menin Gate 

“Apart from a late start due to unforeseen circumstances in Brussels the tour was magnificent. I would highly recommend the tour to anyone interested to broaden their knowledge of military history. The guides knowledge and sharing of his history made the trip very memorable…..thank you..” Garry. , October 3, 2023 ( See more reviews )

7. Private Vimy and Belgium Canadian Battlefield Tour  

⭐ RATING: 4.5/5 ( 5 Reviews ) | ⌛DURATION: 10 hours approx. | 💰 CHECK PRICE    

This private Canadian-focused full-day battlefield tour to Vimy and Belgium starts in Bruges.  

This journey that follows the footsteps of Canadian soldiers will first move towards the Canadian National Vimy Memorial in France. Here you have the chance to walk through the preserved trenches and the Grange Tunnel.  

Around lunchtime, you will pass by the Ploegsteert Memorial before arriving at Hill 62 or Sanctuary Wood. 

Your tour guide will then take you to Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry Memorial, which commemorates the bravery of the fallen soldiers under Princess Patricia of Connaught. 

After stops at the Tyne Cot Cemetery and the Brooding Soldier Memorial, you will see the German Langemark Cemetery, where you will witness its contrast to the allied cemeteries. The trip will continue to Essex Farm Cemetery. 

Before ending the trip at Menin Gate for the Last Post, you will have free time to explore the town of Ypres. Here, you can see the beautiful buildings on Main Square, especially the Cloth Hall. 

• The Ploegsteert Memorial 

Hill 62 (Sanctuary Wood) 

• Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry Memorial  
• Saint Julien Memorial 
• Ypres Cloth Hall  

“Claude was a wonderful tour guide for this trip. He was very knowledgeable on the history of different battles and explained them while showing us where the front lines were. Most memorable was the Canadian Vimy Memorial and the Passchendaele Museum.” PATRICIA_P, SEP 202 ( see more reviews )

8. Australian Battlefields Private Tour in Flanders

⭐ RATING: 5/5 ( 5 Reviews ) | ⌛ DURATION: 11 hours approx. |💰 CHECK PRICE  

This whole-day, private Australian Battlefields tour from Bruges will help you trace the Australians’ involvement in World War 1.  

The first destination is the Museum of the Battle of Fromelles. The place will help you understand why and how the bodies of 250 soldiers who were buried in mass graves were unearthed and re-buried in individual graves. The latter is the Pheasant Wood Military Cemetery, which will be the next stop. 

This will be followed by visits to the Australian Memorial Park, VC Corner Australian Cemetery, and Rue Pettilon Military Cemetery. Then you will pass by the Mademoiselle from Armentieres and The Ploegsteert Memorial. 

At Messines Ridge, you will bear witness to the place where the Australians attacked the place. At Hill 60, you will see craters before going to Polygon Wood, the Memorial Museum Passchendaele 1917, and Tyne Cot Cemetery. 

After visiting the interesting Australian memorial sites, you will have free time to wander around the town of Ypres. Here you can visit the Cloth Hall, among other impressive buildings in the area.  

Lastly, you will attend the Last Post at the Menin Gate before going back to your place of origin. 

• Museum of the Battle of Fromelles 
• Pheasant Wood Military Cemetery 
• Australian Memorial Park  
• VC Corner Australian Cemetery  
• Rue Pettilon Military Cemetery  
• Mademoiselle from Armentieres 
• Memorial Museum Passchendaele 1917  
• Ypres Cloth Hall 
• Menin Gate (for the Last Post Ceremony) 

“This tour was very interesting and emotional. A must for all Australians.” JULIE K, MAY 2017  ( see more reviews)

9. Flanders Fields Remembrance Tour with Lunch  

⭐ RATING: 4/5 ( 179 Reviews ) |⌛DURATION: 11 hours approx. |💰 CHECK PRICE  

This full-day tour will take you on a Flanders Fields remembrance adventure from Bruges on an air-conditioned bus.  

You will be transported to the town of Vladslo for the German War Cemetery , which holds more than 3,000 graves. Here, you can also view the Grieving Parents sculpture, which was created by Käthe Kollwitz in memory of her fallen son. 

This will be followed by a visit to the Trench of Death (Dodengang) in Diksmuide, at the Belgian coast. The site gives a preview of the horrors faced by soldiers during the Great War.  

After about half an hour, you will reach the Saint Julien Memorial (Brooding Soldier). 

Before continuing the journey, you will take a break for a satisfying, traditional Belgian lunch at a local restaurant in Ypres. This is already paid for and included in the tour. 

After your meal, you will learn more at the In Flanders’ Field Museum , which is one of the top Ypres tourist attractions. It’s an interactive museum with an audio-guided commentary about the battlefields’ history and stories of war. 

In the latter part of your tour, your guide will take you to Passchendaele and Passchendaele New British Cemetery . You will pass by Tyne Cot Cemetery and Hill 60 as well. 

To conclude your trip, you will stop by Essex Farm Cemetery before participating in the solemn Last Post Ceremony at the Menin Gate. 

• Germany Military Cemetery 
• Grieving Parents 
• Trench of Death 
• Saint Julien Memorial (Brooding Soldier) 
• Flanders’ Field Museum 
• Passchendaele  
• Passchendaele New British Cemetery 
• Pass by Tyne Cot Cemetery 

“Our guide was very knowledgeable and really brought history to life. Very friendly, able to answer any questions about the area, the battles. The Last Post ceremony was very moving..” JUSTINE_R, OCT 2023  ( see more reviews )

battlefield tours from brussels

10. flanders fields remembrance full-day trip.

⭐ RATING: 4.43/5 ( 30 Reviews ) |⌛DURATION: 13 hours approx. | 💰 CHECK PRICE 

This Flanders Fields full-day tour starts and ends in Brussels. 

At Passchendaele, you will see the location where the first gas attacks occurred.  

Afterwards, you will be headed to Tyne Cot. A resting place of almost 12,000 soldiers, it is the largest Commonwealth cemetery to date. 

As the trip continues in the afternoon, you will visit the dressing station, where John McCrae composed the famous poem In Flanders’ Fields. Aside from this, other WWW1 memorial sites, such as the Brooding Soldier, are on the list.  

The tour concludes with a visit to the Menin Gate in Ypres for the Last Post Ceremony. 

• Brooding Soldier 
• Canadian National Vimy Memoria 
• Nauville-Saint-Vaast 

“Really jam packed full day of everything WW1 in Belgium. Lots of interesting commentary and poignant visits to trenches, graveyards, memorials and a museum, plus more. Stefan our guide was knowledgeable, engaging and even added his own personal history..” SARAH, AUGUST 30, 2023  ( see more reviews )

Popular Tour Stops

Passchendaele is a rural Belgian village in Zonnebeke, West Flanders. It is almost synonymous with the Third Battle of Ypres as it is where the unfortunate event took place.

In Passchendaele’s battlefields, you will see the remnants of the man-made earthquake that is WW1.

The Battle of Polygon Wood, a part of the Battle of Passchendaele, had been fought in this forest, which makes it a significant WW1 landmark. 

It derives its name from its shape on the map. This now peaceful wood holds two Commonwealth War Graves Commission cemeteries. Some remains of bunkers also still survived. 

The Canadian Hill 62, otherwise known as the Sanctuary Wood Memorial, features war trenches and a museum. Its trench system is extensive and has sections that run underground.

You will see corrugated iron on the trenches’ sides to preserve its shape these days. The privately owned museum, on the other hand, holds relics and artefacts. These include weapons, stereoviews, and a large collection of WW1 photographs.

Hill 60, which is about 60 meters above sea level, is a significant WW1 site as battles between the German and the Allied Forces took place here.

Due to the extreme nature of the fighting that took place, it is considered a mass grave.

It became impossible to recover and/or identify the soldiers’ remains. The site, nevertheless, is maintained by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

Menin Gate Memorial (Watch the Last Post) 

The Menin Gate Memorial to the Missing is one of four memorial sites dedicated to the British and Commonwealth soldiers who lost their lives during WW1 in Ypres.

On its walls are engraved names of more than 54,000 soldiers whose graves were unknown.

Poppy Fields of Flanders

The war brought opportunities for poppies to appear as they thrived in the harsh conditions of this event.

Later on, these became a symbol of remembrance for the WW1 battles and thousands of soldiers who lost their lives after Lieutenant-Colonel John McCrae penned the poem In Flanders Fields after his friend, another soldier, died.

Saint Julien Memorial/Brooding Soldier

The Saint Julien Memorial is a Canadian war memorial site that commemorates the Canadian First Division’s part in WW I.

They participated in the Second Battle of Ypres, which had them brave the first poison gas attacks.

The park features a towering, 11-meter column of a single granite shaft. At the top, you will see a figure of a Canadian soldier with a bowed head and folded hands. 

Tyne Cot Cemetery

The Tyne Cot Cemetery is where the Commonwealth, French, Belgian, and German forces fought during the First World War.

Now, it has become a Commonwealth War Graves Commission burial site for the departed soldiers of the said war in the Ypres Salient. It is also considered the largest Commonwealth Cemetery in the world. 

Essex Farm Cemetery

The Essex Farm Cemetery is another Commonwealth War Graves Commission burial site. This is specifically situated within the grounds of the Site John McCrae.

There are over 1,200 burials commemorated, a little over 100 of which are unidentified. Among other resting places of soldiers, it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site under funerary and memory sites of World War I. 

Langemark German Cemetery

The Langemark German War Cemetery is located near the Langemark village, where the first German gas attack occurred. The burial ground holds 44,000 graves. A sad fact about this place is that it holds several mass graves. 

In Flanders Fields Museum (and Belfry) in Ypres’ Cloth Hall

The In Flanders Fields Museum is a military history museum dedicated solely to the First World War.

It allows visitors to experience and learn more about the horrible life at the front through preserved artefacts, touching videos, special sound fragments, and other multimedia materials.  

The museum is located on the second floor of the Cloth Hall in the city centre of Ypres. This is a must-visit memorial conveniently located at the market square. 

Hooge Crater Memorial Museum 

Named after the deep crater, that resulted from a mine explosion during World War I, nearby,  the Hooge Crater Museum is dedicated to said event.

It houses reconstructions of full-scale battle scenes as well as a unique yet extensive collection of war photographs, weapons, uniforms, and other military equipment.  

The museum has a café where visitors can take a break after all the learning!

How to Get to Ypres?

If you are travelling from further away, it is best to note that the nearest airports to Ypres are Brussels , Lille and Charleroi (well, actually, Bruges-Ostend is the closest but it’s tiny and only a couple of airlines fly here).

where to stay in Ypres

If you haven’t already booked your accommodation in Ypres, I can recommend Main Street Hotel . This quirky boutique hotel has the perfect location to explore Ypres. Some rooms come with a terrace and some with a whirlpool, but an extensive breakfast (with sparkling wine!) is included in all stays.

more about the WW I history in Ypres and The Ypres Salient

What caused the ypres war    .

The Battle of Ypres resulted when the Race to the Sea ended. During this time, the Allied forces and the German side both attempted to turn each other’s western flank. 

Why did the Germans want Ypres?    

Ypres is a valuable asset as it offers a strategic route to the coastal ports of France and Belgium.  

What countries fought in the Battle of Ypres?    

The countries that fought in the Battle of Ypres were Germany, Belgium, France, Britain, and Canada. 

How many battles of Ypres are there?

There were five battles of Ypres.  

• First Battle of Ypres – 1914 
• Second Battle of Ypres – 1915 
• Third Battle of Ypres or Battle of Passchendaele – 1917 
• Fourth Battle of Ypres ( Battle of the Lys or Battle of Estaires )   1918 
• Fifth Battle of Ypres ( Advance of Flanders or Battle of the Peaks of Flanders ) – 1918 

How long did the Battle of Ypres last? 

The Battle of Ypres was a series of battles that spanned between 1913 and 1918. 

Who won the Battle of Ypres?

The British Allies were victorious during the Fifth Battle of Ypres. 

How did the Battle of Ypres end?

By the Fifth Battle of Ypres, the morale of German troops waned. Additionally, American soldiers, who were on the Allies’ side, were arriving and gave the latter an advantage. The British had the advantage, the poor condition of the weather and roads made mobility challenging, and the Germans increased their resistance. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, you can visit war trenches in Ypres. Frequently visited ones include the well-preserved Sanctuary Wood or Hill 62 as well as Yorkshire Trench.  

There are a number of World War I cemeteries, where German soldiers and Allied Forces troops are laid to rest.  

The Third Battle of Ypres, also called the Battle of Passchendaele, occurred in Passchendaele, which is in the municipality Zonnebeke in the West Flanders province. It is close to Ypres.  

During the Battle of Passchendaele, the British army suffered approximately 275,000 casualties. Under this include 5,300 New Zealanders, 15,600 Canadians, and 38,000 Australians. On the other hand, it was 220,000 on the German side.  

Yes, you can visit Flanders Fields independently of on a Ypres battlefield tour.

Flanders is the Dutch-speaking northern part of Belgium. The area around Ypres sits on battlefields where many of the World War I Battles occurred. The term “Flanders Fields” itself comes from the poem “ In Flanders Fields ” by John McCrae.

The In Flanders Fields poem by John McCrae is still popular today as it continues to be a part of ceremonies, particularly Remembrance Day in Canada. Such a day is celebrated to commemorate the men and women who served their country during the war. 

Unfortunately, the person who planted the poppies in Flanders Field is unrecorded or unknown. 

Poppies are disappearing from Flanders Fields because of the changing plant life in the area. Some native plants to the area are close to extinction while invasive, more diverse ones are appearing. 

There are many cemeteries in Flanders Field. There are more than 300 soldiers who were buried in Flanders Field American Cemetery alone.  

YPRES BATTLEFIELD TOURS

So, are Ypres Battlefield Tours Worth It?

Visiting Ypres battlefields does not only mean being in significant places but also immersing yourself and learning about the sad history that deserves remembering.  

Especially if you’re a history enthusiast, joining at least one of the WW1 Battlefield tours from Ypres is worth it! These are well-structured, comprehensive, and most of the time, tailored to you.

Also, if you’re not bringing a car, I highly recommend participating in one for the best experience because everything will be laid out for you! 🙂

🏆We recommend the Private 4-hour Tour of the Ypres Battlefield as the best one available!

BELGIUM TRAVEL PLANNING RESOURCES  

Getting to Belgium : Fly into one of the main international airports : Brussels Airport (BRU) or Charleroi Brussels South Airport (CRL). Take an international train to Brussels South Station. Or take a ferry to Dover or The Netherlands, then drive or take the train to Belgium.

Getting Around : For the major destinations, the train is by far the best option. You can book your train tickets here . If you’d like to visit smaller places, the most convenient way would be to rent a car. We always use Discover cars , they compare all the rental companies and give you the best rates.

Accommodation : Booking.com is the most popular accommodation platform in Belgium. It’s what I use every single time.

Guided tours : Use Get Your Guide or Viator to find fun tours in Brussels, Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp. Or Guruwalk to find free walking tours in multiple destinations.

Babs Rodrigus is a travel addict at heart and loves to explore her home country Belgium and the rest of the world – preferably with her wife and kids. She’s all about showing you the most mesmerising spots in this tiny European country and making you see how great it truly is.

When she’s not travelling, Babs loves to read, write, eat chocolate (hey, Belgian remember) and sing Frozen songs with her daughter.

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Kim's Battlefield Tours

Specialising in world war  one   battlefield  tours ypres, passchendaele, vimy and the somme.

Connections

What connects us in 2024 when it comes to World War I? Eight participants, including myself, each selected an object from the WWI collection in Flanders Fields that deeply moved us. Jelle Vermeersch captured this profound emotional journey through photo and video.

A passionate WWI tour guide from the U.K now based in Ypres, Belgium. Bringing to life the stories of the men who fought here, helping to keep their memories alive. 

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  Flanders Fields

Ww1 battlefield tours, ypres salient tour, last post ceremony tour, custom designed tour.

Mob : +32 (0) 475 51 98 28

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  +32 (0) 475 51 98 28

Messines Ridge  -  Fromelles  -  Vimy Ridge  -  Somme  -  Retracing ancestors’ footsteps

  It is also nearby Ypres, that Lieutenant-Colonel John McCrae wrote his most famous poem  

   “ In Flanders Fields the poppies blow,  

                                         Between the crosses, row on row, …”

From 1914 to 1918, Flanders Fields was the scene of some of the fiercest battles during the First World War , also known as “ The Great War ”. Over a million soldiers were wounded, missing or killed in action over here. The complete destruction of the city of Ypres and the brutal conditions experienced in the Battle of Passchendaele became symbols for the senselessness of war. Today, the landscape still bears witness to this history through its cemeteries, memorials, musuems and the countless individual stories. And “beneath Flanders Fields”  there is so much more…

- fully guided, English - French - Dutch spoken, personalised battlefield tours in the Ypres   Salient & other areas of the Western Front.  

- experienced guide with military background / high-quality tours , top-rated on Tripadvisor       

- comfortable transportation / pick-up and drop-off at hotel / B&B or other place as agreed

- tour information follow-up included

- custom made / private tours possible

We are dedicated to make your Flanders Fields battlefield tour truly memorable and give you an insight in the Great War by guiding you through a careful selection of battlefields, memorials, cemeteries, trenches, bunkers, ...

2Xplore Tours differ because of their unique concept which will be unveiled by your guide. Endless lectures and ready explanations on the usual tourist sites do not fit in our tours. A careful selection is made of “must-see” sites and “off the beaten track” (private) sites, going local !  

We also try to make your visit as comfortable as possible, so you can focus on Flanders Fields to reveal its tragic secrets to you. Forget struggling with maps or books,  traffic & parking problems, timings , looking for the best places,... just listen to & follow your guide.

We provide fully guided daytours for all kind of groups and individuals.

Custom designed tours possible. Ask for it!

Burgmolenstraat 17

8690 Alveringem

BTW BE0607.855.646

• [email protected]
• 1300 880 340
• +61 (0)2 9001 5150

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Our office is closed from Friday 22 December 2023 to Friday 05 January 2024. We reopen Monday 08 January 2024.

During this period, for any enquiries please email [email protected] and we will reply after the break.

We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Ypres Salient Private Tour

Private tour, lille to ypres/lille.

• PRICE: per person, twin share
• SINGLE SUPPLEMENT: $1566
• DEPOSIT: 30%

The Ypres Salient was a bulge in the front line that curved around Ypres for most of the war. More than a million men were killed or wounded trying to gain control of this small patch of ground. On our two day Ypres Salient Private Tour you will explore the major Australian battle sites in the Ypres Salient where the Anzacs made history in 1917, including visits to Polygon Wood, Tyne Cot Cemetery, the Memorial Museum Passchendaele, In Flanders Fields Museum, Langemark German Cemetery, Talbot House and Menin Gate. Your expert Historian will bring the stories of courage and sacrifice to life.

2024 pricing: $1793 per person twin share. Single supplement $1566

2025 pricing: $1969 per person twin share. Single supplement $1909

Day 1 > The Ypres Salient

Welcome to your battlefield tour. Your Historian will meet you at your Lille hotel or Lille Train Station at 9.30am to begin your Western Front tour. Today you will visit various destinations on the Ypres Salient, places where the Anzacs made history in 1917. The Ypres Salient was a bulge in the front line that curved around Ypres for most of the war. More than a million men were killed or wounded trying to gain control of this small patch of ground. You will visit the 5th Australian Division Memorial at Polygon Wood and see the graves of Private Hunter and Sergeant Calder, the two Australian soldiers who featured in Mat McLachlan’s documentary ‘ Lost in Flanders’ . Afterwards you will get a taste of the devastation caused by four years of continuous artillery fire at the cratered landscape of Hill 60, before visiting Tyne Cot, the world’s largest Commonwealth war cemetery. Tyne Cot sits in the heart of one of the most horrific battlefields of the war — Passchendaele. You will then visit the very interesting Memorial Museum Passchendaele 1917. This museum combines the interactive design of a modern museum with the exceptional aspect of experiencing the Dugouts & Trenches. The museum section provides an overview of the five battles of Ypres, including the Battle of Passchendaele.  Your final stop today before heading to your accommodation is at the German Cemetery at Langemarck, where you will learn about the men on the other side of the line.  Between 1914 and 1918 the town of Ypres was the centre of four great battles, and was completely destroyed by shellfire. Today the rebuilt town is one of the iconic places on the Western Front. After checking into your hotel there will be time to relax before walking to the Menin Gate, where the names of 54,000 missing British and Commonwealth soldiers are recorded, for the moving Last Post ceremony. The Ypres fire brigade has performed this bugle ceremony every day and in all-weather since the memorial opened in 1927. The only interruption was during the four years of German occupation during the Second World War — the ceremony recommenced on the day the town was liberated.

STAR INCLUSIONS   ★ Pick-up from Lille hotel or train station ★  Full day touring the Australian battlefields of the Salient    ★  Visit the grave of Private Hunter ★  The Last Post ceremony at Menin Gate

Day 2 > Ypres and Poperinge

This morning after breakfast your historian will take you on a walking tour around the town, visiting key sights from the war such as the magnificent Cloth Hall, St George’s Chapel, St Martin’s Cathedral, the Menin Gate and Ramparts Cemetery. Next we will visit the outstanding In Flanders Fields Museum, a provocative collection of relics and displays that chronicles the fighting in Flanders and the personal stories of the people involved.  Leaving Ypres we then travel to the town of Poperinge. During WWI the town was situated directly behind the front lines. It was a place where soldiers came to rest or to be medically taken care of.  Whilst here we will visit Talbot House, the most well-known soldier’s club of the Great War. Besides a museum, visitors can enjoy a cup of tea in the canteen. The tour will then either return to Ypres where you may extend your tour or drop you to Lille where you may catch a train or the Eurostar for your onward journey.

STAR INCLUSIONS    ★  Morning walking tour of Ypres ★  In Flanders Fields Museum ★ Talbot House

★    Services of our expert WW1 Historian ★    Convenient pick up at your Lille hotel or Lille Train Station ★    All excursions, scenic drives and comprehensive touring of the major Australian battlefield sites as described in the itinerary ★    1 night’s accommodation in a central battlefield hotel ★    Travel by comfortable air-conditioned vehicle ★    Breakfast daily ★    All entrance fees as per the itinerary

Australians firing a 9.2 inch Howitzer out of the Ypres salient during the Battle of Passchendaele Ypres Salient Private Tour 785840620

The night view of the Cloth Maker Hall in Ypres Belgium Ypres Salient Private Tour Battlefield Tours 233581822

An unidentified Australian Machine Gun section with packed horses passing the ruins of the Cloth Hall Ypres

Langemark Cemetery one of four German First World War cemeteries in the Flanders region of Belgium Ypres Salient Private Tour 1092791366

The Menin Gate Memorial to the Missing war memorial in Ypres, Belgium.

Booking request.

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Ask about our airfare, hotel and car hire deals, which offer great discounts when booked in conjunction with our tours.

Please note: Itineraries are subject to change due to operational reasons. In addition, your Historian may alter the sites visited on each day to suit local conditions. Any changes will be advised closer to the time of departure.

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“We have no hesitation in giving you a 10/10, and highly recommend Mat McLachlan Battlefield Tours. Adrienne & Graham Buttner Bombing of Darwin Anniversary Tour I really enjoyed the tour it was enjoyable, entertaining and informative, could not have asked for anything better. Jack Thomason Bombing of Darwin Anniversary Tour Amazing!  My sister and I visited the Western Front and experienced a one day private tour on the Ypres Salient and also a one day private tour on the Somme. As I go through my photographs of the 3 weeks we spent in Europe, it is these 2 days that I keep coming back to and would class as the highlight of the trip. The information provided was first class, the effort to locate some of our ancestors who did not make it home was very much appreciated and the whole experience was extremely moving.

I know that these 2 days will stay with me forever.

Absolutely incredible!

Erdem as guide, Roachie as our historian and Zafir as our fearless bus driver.

I would like to recommend highly the Western Front Battlefields Tour.

My husband and I thoroughly enjoyed the tour. The whole experience was one I will remember.

The Tour Guide was very knowledgeable and approachable. The facilities were amazing.

I have been in complete awe of the service and experience from Mat McLachlan tours.

Not only was my family and I reassured about our safety from the moment we booked but we knew we were in safe hands the moment we started the tour.

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Contact Details

• 1300 880 340 (Within AUS)

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Discover our WW1 Battlefield Tours

Battlefield Tours

New-Zealand

1 Day Tours

A local and experienced guide

The combination of local knowledge and historical research through the years turns out to be a major asset to give our clients the most rewarding experience.

Adapted on your own expectations

The main issue for us is to give our clients a tour adapted to their needs and expectations.Whatever their choice is, a one day or several day tours we can arrange it.

Personal service

Following the footsteps of your relative is very humbling and a lifetime achievement with their suffering in the back of your mind.

Testimonials

"great experience".

We were three friends from Spain and wanted to visit in one day the most important places of WWI at Ypres. Annette was an EXCELLENT guide, the tour that she made absolutly completed our expectations. Without her guidance and knowledge (that is impressive) it would have been imposible to seize the day as we did.

Guided Tours of the Western Battlefields

Battlefield sites

Our guided tour will take you to the most relevant trenches and significant battlefield sites from World War One such as Hill 60, Hill 62, Tyne Cot cemetery, Polygon Wood,Essines Ridge and more in the Ypres Salient. In the Somme we go to Thiepval, Pozieres, Mouquet farm, Villers Bretonneux.

Your own choice

But we take you also to places of your own choice: a small cemetery where a relative is buried or a less known battlefield where he fought was wounded or received an award. We also visit German sites as well Allied.

Trace a soldier

As a special service we can try to trace the movements of an individual soldier during the first world war. If you are interested in that service, please give us notice a few weeks prior to your arrival.

Ypres & Somme Battlefield tours accommodation

During our package tours we use the Novotel in Ypres and breakfast and dinner is included in the price of our 2. 3 or 4 day battlefield tours. Convenient is to arrive in Lille the day before the tour. In this case we will be happy to recommend accommodation near the station where you arrive. If you have choose your own accommodation, we are also able to guide you on the Ypres and Somme battlefields.

Ypres Battlefield Tours

[email protected], partner to your battlefield  pilgrimage.

Menin Road  and Messines *€45 per person.

One of our two daily standard tours and normally starts in the afternoon, although this is negotiable.

The tour is a great supplement to the morning tour or as a standalone tour.

Starting at either the Hooge Crater or Hill 62 preserved trenches, the tour then progresses to the preserved battlefield of the infamous Hill 60 and the awe- inspiring caterpillar crater. Then on to Messines ridge where we stop briefly in the village and then onto the Christmas Truce site of 1914. We finish the tour at the beautiful Ploegsteert Memorial to the Missing and adjacent cemetery. This tour is suitable for every level of ability, as all the sites are accessible.

The tour duration is around 3.5 hours and is conducted in English.

* Does not include entrance fee to museum / trenches. Payable by yourself on the day.

To book as a private tour please contact me for a price quote.

Please note we reserve the right to change the tour itinerary if needed

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• World War One Tours
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Tour Guides

Ypres & somme tour.

The Western front

The Western Front was the main theatre of war during the First World War. Following the outbreak of war in August 1914, the German Army opened the Western Front by invading Luxembourg and Belgium, then gaining military control of important industrial regions in France. The tide of the advance was dramatically turned with the Battle of the Marne. Following the Race to the Sea, both sides dug in along a meandering line of fortified trenches, stretching from the North Sea to the Swiss frontier with France, which changed little except during early 1917 and in 1918.

This is a Bespoke Tour

Between 1915 and 1917 there were several offensives along this front. The attacks employed massive artillery bombardments and massed infantry advances. Entrenchments, machine gun emplacements, barbed wire and artillery repeatedly inflicted severe casualties during attacks and counter-attacks and no significant advances were made. Among the costliest of these offensives were the Battle of Verdun, in 1916, with a combined 700,000 casualties (estimated), the Battle of the Somme, also in 1916, with more than a million casualties (estimated), and the Battle of Passchendaele (Third Battle of Ypres), in 1917, with 487,000 casualties (estimated).

To break the deadlock of trench warfare on the Western Front, both sides tried new military technology, including poison gas, aircraft, and tanks. The adoption of better tactics and the cumulative weakening of the armies in the west led to the return of mobility in 1918. The German Spring Offensive of 1918 was made possible by the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk that ended the war of the Central Powers against Russia and Romania on the Eastern Front. Using short, intense “hurricane” bombardments and infiltration tactics, the German armies moved nearly 100 kilometres (60 miles) to the west, the deepest advance by either side since 1914, but the result was indecisive.

The unstoppable advance of the Allied armies during the Hundred Days Offensive of 1918 caused a sudden collapse of the German armies and persuaded the German commanders that defeat was inevitable. The German government surrendered in the Armistice of 11 November 1918, and the terms of peace were settled by the Treaty of Versailles in 1919.

On fresh air

• Garden furniture
• Beach (first line)
• Sun terrace
• Private beach area
• Barbecue facilities

Meet at London & Middlesex Rifle Club at the world famous Bisley ranges. Live firing of WW1 Lee Enfield rifles. Catch the coach to Mons.

Visit the sites of the Battle of Mons and the retreat of the BEF. After lunch visit Saint-Symphorien Cemetery where the first and last troops of the Great War are buried. Also, the first soldier to be awarded the Victoria Cross, is buried just a few feet from the first German recipient of the Iron Cross. Coach to Arras.

Visit the German War Cemetery Saint-Laurent-Blangy. The cemetery is the last resting place for 31,939 German soldiers who died in the Great War, including graves of Jewish soldiers are marked with headstones bearing the Star of David. After Lunch visit The Wellington Quarry. The New Zealand Tunneling Company was based in this part of the underground tunnel system during the build-up to the Allied offensive, the Battle of Arras 1917, which was launched in the early hours of 9 April 1917.

Battle of the Somme Visit Lochnagar Crater. The Lochnagar mine was an underground explosive charge, secretly planted by the British during the First World War, ready for 1 July 1916, the first day on the Somme. Visit Thiepval.  After the War ended, Thiepval was chosen as the location for the Memorial to the Missing to commemorate those who died in the Somme sector before the 20th of March 1918 and have no known grave. This is the largest and most imposing of the Memorials to the Missing, and visiting here is a moving and sobering experience. After Lunch visit Ulster Towers and the very moving sight of the Sunken Road at Beaumont Hamel.

Drive to Ypres. Visit the site of the famous Football match and Christmas cease fire at Plugstreet. After lunch onto Tyne Cot which is the largest British Cemetery on the Western Front with 11,953 burials, followed by Sanctuary Wood, which is one of the few places on the Ypres Salient battlefields where an original trench layout can be seen. In the evening we visit the Menin Gate Ceremony.

Visit the Cloth Hall, Museum and Cathedral in Ypres. After lunch return home.

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Explore, Discover, Remember

Bespoke guided cycling and walking battlefield tours

Cycling Tour - View Prices and Schedule

Ypres Cycling Tour Pedal to Passchendaele

The name Ypres immediately evokes images of mud, blood and extraordinary struggle. The fighting around Ypres and the fields of Flanders became the longest battle in modern British history and the costliest in terms of lives lost.

Explore the Ypres Salient with us on quiet country roads and excellent cycle paths. Cycling at your pace through the scenes of some of the most ferocious battles in the First World War, we will encounter enduring evidence of the fighting that took place here. The flat terrain and abundance of cycle paths make this a comfortable and leisurely tour for cyclists of all abilities.

Tours take place over 4 or 5 days.

Bespoke Battlefield Tours

Because everyone is different we prefer the tailor-made approach to our battlefield tours . Whether travelling as individuals, members of a small or a large group, travel at your own pace to explore the sites included in our itineraries and those of your own choosing.

Remember, each holiday is bespoke. Anything is possible!

Get in touch with us today to discuss your bespoke tour requirements.

Excellent Value

Our cycling holidays generally include the following;

• Bed and breakfast accommodation in 3 and 4-star hotels.
• Luggage and equipment transfers.
• The services of a battlefield guide throughout your visit.
• Entry to museums

Schedule, Prices & Booking

Sample Tour Itinerary

Day 1 Walking tour of the town and visiting the Menin Gate, Ypres cathedral, Ramparts Cemetery, the site of the former ‘office’ of the Wipers Times – now a brewery and bar.

Day 2 Follow cycle paths and country lanes to the north and east of Ypres to take in Hill 60, Sanctuary Wood, Polygon Wood, Passchendaele and Langemarck. This route weaves between both the British and German front lines. We finish the day at Essex Farm, the Aid Station made famous by John McCrae.

Day 3 Follow the front line to the south of Ypres towards the French border, travelling through villages such as Wytschaete, Messines and Ploegsteert to witness the aftermath of some of the largest explosions of the war. Amongst other sites we visit the preserved German trench system at Bayernwald and the site of the famous football match in the 1914 Christmas Truce.

Day 4 Today we cycle behind the front lines from Ypres to Poperinghe and back along the route taken by soldiers arriving at the front. An opportunity to visit the site of one of the largest field hospitals on the Western Front as well as a visit to the ‘Death Cells’ in Poperinghe and a chance to visit Talbot House.


Accommodation

If you wish us to book accommodation, a wide range is available. The area has numerous 3 and 4-star hotels. Many clients opt to book on a bed and breakfast basis. There are plenty of restaurants in Ypres, catering for most tastes. We will be on hand to advise you of the best places to eat in any case.

Travel Arrangements

If you would like us to make travel arrangements for you, our tours to Ypres typically start and finish St Pancras.

Outward Journey: Travel by Eurostar to Lille. Transfer to a local taxi service to Ypres.

Return Journey: Return journey from Ypres to Lille Europe and on to St Pancras where our tour finishes.

Tour Gallery

Please note that for all cycling tours you are required to bring your own equipment such as helmets etc. Bikes are included in the tour price.

The original Flanders Battlefield Tour

Company since 1993.

Ypres Afternoon Tour

2.00pm - 5.30pm approx, (€50 .00 pp)   (minimum 3 people/or payment for 3).

We will begin the drive with a talk about the battle of Messines Ridge. First arriving at Hill 60 and the Caterpillar Crater we will talk more about the stressful underground war and the mining and tunnelling involved.

We will then drive to the German trench at Bayernwald to spend a little time walking through and discovering a little more what it may have been like for those soldiers.  

We will then move on to one of the sites of the famous Christmas Truce football/soccer match site of 1914 and see the memorial next to Prowse Point Cemetery. To finish, we will visit the little church of Messines and the crypt and discover it's connection to 4 historical figures!

All of our tours can incorporate a visit to a particular cemetery and war grave where  practical  by special arrangement. Talk to us and let us know what you want to see and we'll see if we can help.

If you are unable to get to our starting location, The British Grenadier Bookshop, we may be able to help. Please contact Steve Douglas to see if we can arrange something. Please be aware, additional costs may be added to your tour price depending on your requests. Everything will be discussed with you first.