Experience the WWI Centenary With Commemorative Travel Activities from Viator
San Francisco, CA (PRWEB) April 23, 2014 -- Spring 2014 will begin the four-year-long commemoration of World War I. Viator, the leading resource for researching and booking tours and activities worldwide, has a collection of single and multi-day tours from Brussels and France that bring travelers onto the very battlefields that served as the backdrop to the tragedy and the heroism that unfolded during the early months of the “Great War.”
Flanders
Stretching north of the Brussels capital territory and along the North Sea coast, Flanders is one of Belgium’s most unique and varied regions featuring numerous UNESCO World Heritage sites and WWI battlefields.
The World War I Battlefields Tour of Flanders from Brussels, Ghent or Bruges, lets travelers follow along the trail the soldiers tread 100 years ago. Focusing on the tributes that pepper the Belgian countryside around Ypres, the tour gives a well-considered introduction to the world’s first major conflict. The day includes visits to German Military Cemetery of Vladslo and Tyne Cot Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery, the In Flanders’ Field Museum, and quite unique to this tour, attendance at the Last Post Ceremony in Ypres in the evening. Other sites include the Trench of Death (the trench lines from Belgium to the Alps) in Diksmuide, the impressive Gate of Peace (IJser Gate), Yser Tower (IJzertoren), the Peace Mill and the Canadian Monument in St Julien. Travelers will see additional monuments to Canadian and Australian soldiers after driving along Hellfire Corner to Hill 62 and Hill 60.
Viator Exclusive
Travelers who would like a more intimate and customizable experience can mark the 100th anniversary of the beginning of World War I with a highly educational and personalized, in-depth private tour – Viator Exclusive Private World War I Battlefields Tour of Flanders from Brussels – only available through Viator.
Ypres Salient
Spend the day discovering the fascinating history of the Ypres Salient, a battlefield in the Belgium Flanders region that saw intense conflict during World War 1. The Small Group Day Trip from Paris Tour of Ypres Salient WWI Battlefield in Belgium visits several memorials and cemeteries including the St Julien Memorial and the Tyne Cot Cemetery. Travelers can walk up to the famous battlefield of Hill 60 (a highly contested and strategic war-time location), see the Menin Gate Memorial, and enjoy free time to explore the town of Ypres at their leisure.
Multi-day Excursions
For travelers who would like to explore the region more deeply, Viator offers 3 and 4-day excursions that include accommodations and breakfasts in addition to the expert guided tours and local transportation.
The 3-day Small Group Tour of French and Belgian WWI Battlefields from Lille, gives travelers time to delve into the history of the Somme, Pozieres, Beaumont Hamel, the Salient, Passchendaele, Ypres, Fromelles and Loos. Other sites can also be added according to your interests given the small group size of no more than 15 travelers.
• Day 1: Day One: Lille - Ypres Salient
• Day Two: Ypres - The Somme - Villers-Bretonneux - Ypres
• Day Three: Ypres – Fromelles - Vimy Ridge - Lille
The 4-day World Way I Battlefields Tour from Paris includes visits to all of the major battlefields and memorials along with 3-nights’ accommodations. All major battlefields and memorials are visited including the Canadian National Memorial at Vimy Ridge and the Australian National Memorial at Villers-Bretonneux.
• Day 1: Paris – Lille
• Day 2: Lille – Amiens, site of the 1918 Battle of Amiens, which led to the end of the war.
• Day 3: Amiens, including a ride along the Circuit of Remembrance, which passes through pivotal battlefields and visits to the South African and New Zealand Memorials at Longueval and the Franco British Memorial at Thievpal
• Day 4: Amiens – Paris; visit Villers-Bretonneux Military Cemetery and see the Australian National Memorial.
For more information on Viator’s WWI experiences, including excursions to other major WWI battle sites to be explored over the course of the Centennial including Gallipoli as well as the latest deals, promotions, contests and news, travelers can check out Viator.com, the Viator Tours & Activities App (iOS and Android) and the Viator Travel Blog. Follow Viator on Facebook and Twitter.
About Viator
Viator is the leading global tours and activities provider for travelers, delivering online and mobile access to thousands of curated trip activities including tours, attractions, shore excursions and private guides, in more than 1,500 destinations worldwide. In-house travel experts work with trusted local operators to ensure the quality and value of every experience, all backed by Viator’s 24/7 customer service and global low-price guarantee. With more than 500,000 verified reviews plus exclusive videos and insider travel tips, Viator has everything a traveler needs to find and book the best things to do worldwide. In addition to the flagship site – Viator.com – travelers can book in advance or in-destination via the Viator Tours and Activities App, as well as local-language sites for European, Latin American and Asian travelers. Viator also provides tours and activities to more than 3,000 affiliate partners including some of the world’s top airlines, hotels and online travel agencies. Founded in 1995, Viator is a privately held company headquartered in San Francisco with regional offices in Sydney, London and Las Vegas. Viator – travel with an insider.
Kate Sullivan, Viator, +1 (973) 568-7589, [email protected]
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