Ypres Battlefields and Passchendaele Museum Full Day Tour
5.0 / 5 · 26 traveler reviews
I am a well established Battlefield historian and author and have been guiding in the area for several years. As an Expat Brit living in Belgium you can book me in confidence knowing there will be no language issues, I also have a great level of local knowledge which means I am able to recommend hotels, restaurants etc should you wish to know. We are the perfect partner for your battlefield pilgrimage. I look forward to meeting you Roger Steward
Your experience
Stop 1
A visit to the excellent Sanctuary Wood museum to see its unbelievable collection of rare 3D original battlefield photographs, huge collection of Great war artifacts, weapons and uniforms and to walk through its extensive preserved British trench system. Closed on Mondays but we visit alternative trenches
Stop 2
After driving through the battlefields of Passchendaele we arrive at the beautiful Tyne Cot cemetery, with its 12,000 graves its the largest British and Commonwealth war grave cemetery in the world. At the rear of the cemetery is the Tyne Cot Memorial wall which contains the names of a further 35000 British and Commonwealth soldiers who are listed as missing with no identified grave. A beautiful place of reflection and remembrance.
Stop 3
The iconic Canadian monument and gardens "The Brooding Soldier" commemorates the Canadian soldiers lost in the gas attacks of 1915. Here we will learn of the gas attacks of 1915 and the history of chemical warfare in the Ypres Salient. Arguably the most iconic memorial in the Ypres Salient set in a beautiful memorial garden.
Stop 4
The second largest German cemetery in the area, with 44,000 burials Langemark has a very different atmosphere to the British and Commonwealth cemeteries. Its design was heavily influenced by the Nazis of WW2, some of which is in evidence today . The mass grave in the centre of the cemetery is of mind blowing proportions. This site is one of the 'must see' sites in the area. Prior to your tour why not purchase a copy of the book, Studentenfriedhof to Soldatenfriedhof, written in English it gives you a fascinating insight into the history of the cemetery and is the go to history of the cemetery.
Stop 5
A visit to the preserved dressing station bunkers to learn of the wounded evacuation process and the memorial to Lt Col John McCrae to hear the story of the In Flanders Fields Poem and its influence on remembrance today. We will also visit the grave of Valentine Strudwick killed at the age of 15 and learn the story of underage soldiers in the Great War.
Stop 6
A visit to the world class Passchendaele museum, including replica British and German trenches, underground replica dugout experience and its new Battle of Passchendaele immersive room. The museum focuses on the Battle of Passchendaele and its combatants. Always a popular stop on the tour, the museum is being updated ready for 2025. A fabulous visit.
Stop 7
Named 'The Murder Hill' by British Soldiers we walk over its hallowed preserved battlefield, bunkers and mine craters. Hill 60 is today an official war grave as the remains of many soldiers and tunnellers lay concealed beneath its surface. The story of the terrible fighting at Hill 60 is legendary, with its terrible casualty rate and very compact battlefield men where often separated here by only a few meters of ground. We discuss here the fighting of 1915 and 1917, the underground war and also the fighting on the hill once again in WW2
Stop 8
The story of the battle of Messines Ridge and the war underground at the site of the awe inspiring Caterpillar crater. Of the 19 massive underground mines blown by the British and Commonwealth tunnellers on June 7th 1917, the Caterpillar Crater is the best preserved of them all. Breathtaking in its scale and beauty it is in complete contrast to the horrors that took place there during the Great War.
What’s included
- Guide is also the driver
- Lunch
Meeting and pickup
Wait at the front entrance to Ypres Rail station by 9.45 am. I will be parked in a black mini bus marked Ypres Battlefield Tours in orange letters.
Before you go
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Cancellation policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Check the policy for your selected date and option before booking.
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