TORONTO — June 6, 2014 marks the 70th anniversary of the D-Day landings where over 14,000 Canadians took part in the beginning of the end of the Second World War.
Canadians played a key role in helping liberate Europe with Allied Forces from Nazi Germany and 2014 is a historically significant year for Canadians, as they also honour those who fought in The Great War 100 years ago.
On the anniversary of these two notable periods in history, Trafalgar is offering a journey to the most poignant battlefields and monuments in Southern England, northern France, Belgium and the Netherlands.
On the 13-Day WWI & WWII Battlefields, Trafalgar takes travellers to important sites of the two wars, like the beaches of Normandy, Somme battlefields and Bayeux Cemetery, plus three sites that hold special significance to Canadians: Ypres Battlefields, Vimy Ridge and Groesbeek, the resting place of more than 2,000 Canadian soldiers.
“As 2014 marks the 70th anniversary of the D-Day landings of WWII, travellers from all over the world will be heading to Europe to be part of the remembrance ceremonies,” says Doug Patterson, President of Trafalgar Canada. “The brave Canadians who served in the cause of peace and freedom in the Second World War and their involvement in D-Day remains a symbol of communion and freedom and Trafalgar’s battlefields itinerary gives Canadians the opportunity to pay their respects at some of our nation’s most significant sites in Europe.”
Trafalgar is also offering savings of $125 per person ($250 per couple) on 2014 Trafalgar Europe & Britain Guided Vacations (excluding City Break, East Mediterranean and cruise itineraries) valid on 2014 Europe & Britain, At Leisure, Family Experiences and CostSaver itineraries. New bookings only and must be booked and paid in full by June 30, 2014.
The 13-day WWI & WWII Battlefields itinerary takes travellers to the wars’ most significant monuments, memorials and museums through England, France, Belgium and the Netherlands. Starting in London and ending in Amsterdam, the trip makes stops in Caen, Amiens, Paris, Lille and includes daytrips to Somme, Ypres, Portsmouth and more.
In London, clients will travel to the Imperial War Museum and learn of the stories of those whose lives were shaped by war from the First World War to the present day. They will also see the important weapons and vehicles of the 20th century including a Spitfire that saw action in the Battle of Britain. Heading south to Portsmouth, clients will visit the D-Day and the Overlord Embroidery Museum where they will see the moving tribute to the efforts and sacrifices of the Allies in defeating Nazi Germany.
Travelling by overnight ferry to France, clients will travel to the historic D-Day Normandy landing beaches, Omaha Beach and the poignant American Cemetery. They will also visit the significant Juno beach, one of the five beaches of the Allied invasion and the beach that was assigned to the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division. Later, they will visit Bayeux Cemetery and museum and see the famous Bayeux Tapestry. Canadians will get the opportunity to pay their respects to their brave countrymen when visiting Vimy Ridge and also the Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery and Memorial, containing the remains of over 2,000 Canadian soldiers who lost their lives in World War II. On an excursion to Ypres, guests will also stop in Passchendaele to visit the museum and see a replica trench, then visit Essex Farm Cemetery where Canadian John McCrae wrote his immortal poem ‘In Flanders Fields’.
Other highlights of the trip include a wine tasting at a champagne house in Lille, a special Be My Guest dinner of Dutch cuisine with a local family just outside of Amsterdam and a tour of Paris and London with a local guide.
Quote promo code PPTEUR1259 at time of booking for the discount.
For more information on these itineraries, contact your local Sales Manager or visit trafalgar.com and follow on Twitter at @TrafalgarCanada and Facebook.
