• Cathedrale Notre-Dame d’Amiens - This year marks the 800th anniversary of Amiens Cathedral, the largest Gothic cathedral in the world. As you travel to Villers-Bretonneux, your guide will share insights about the cathedral and the city of Amiens, from the Middle Ages to the present. Enjoy the charming rolling landscape of the Somme while learning about the local French economy and culture.

• Villers-Bretonneux Military Cemetery - At the Australian Memorial site, your guide will discuss Australia’s significant role in WW1, particularly on the Western Front, and the details of the Allies’ counter-attack in April 1918. Australian troops showed remarkable courage in this battle but also faced heavy losses. Time will be given to pay respects at the graves of the “Diggers.” A short walk away is the “Sir John Monash Centre,” where you will have an hour to explore.

• Sir John Monash Centre - The “Sir John Monash Centre” narrates Australia’s Western Front story through the voices of those who served. This state-of-the-art multimedia center presents the Australian Western Front experience through interactive media installations and immersive experiences. Visitors will gain a deeper understanding of the journey of ordinary Australians, told through letters, diaries, and life-size images, connecting with the places they fought and died. A visit to the Sir John Monash Centre promises to be a moving experience that leaves a lasting impression.

• Australian Corps Memorial - The “Australian National Memorial” is located at the heart of the Villers-Bretonneux CWGC cemetery. It was inaugurated on July 22, 1922, by King George VI and is the last memorial of the Great War to be erected. The names of 10,729 Australian servicemen are engraved on its walls. Every year, on April 25, thousands gather at this site at dawn to commemorate “ANZAC Day.”

• Chipilly - The tour continues to the Somme valley and the village of Chipilly, where there will be a brief stop to admire the “58th British Division Memorial.” This magnificent stone monument, depicting a soldier comforting his wounded horse, was inaugurated in 1922. Created by French sculptor Henri Gauquié, it honors the men of the 58th Division and the thousands of horses that lost their lives during the Great War.

• Chipilly - From the “Camp Cesar viewpoint,” enjoy a fantastic panoramic view of the Somme valley, which lent its name to the famous “Battle of the Somme” in 1916. On the way to Albert, the guide will discuss the beginning of the battle, the reasons for its planning, and the various nations involved.

• Basilique Notre-Dame de Brebieres - The “Basilica Notre Dame de Brebières,” built in the Neo-Byzantine style at the end of the 19th century, is one of the most significant edifices in Picardy due to its unique architecture. Completely destroyed during the Great War, it was reconstructed identically by the son of the original architect, Edmond Duthoit. Its dome, covered with gold sheets, bears the statue of the Virgin Mary holding baby Jesus. The guide will share the story associated with this statue during WW1.

• Le Hygge Restaurant Brasserie - An hour will be taken for lunch.

• Lochnagar Crater - Located in the sector of the 1916 Battle of the Somme, “Lochnagar Crater” was created by a large mine placed beneath the German front lines on the first day of the battle. It was one of 19 mines placed beneath the German lines from the British section of the Somme front to aid the infantry advance. This impressive site is 70 feet deep and 330 feet wide, making it the largest crater in the Somme.

• 1st Australian Division Memorial - Australian official historian Charles Bean remarked that Pozières “is more densely sown with Australian sacrifice than any other place on earth.” Pozières is sadly well-known to Australians, with nearly 7,000 men losing their lives here. At the “1st Australian Memorial” site, the guide will recount the harrowing battle that took place between July 23 and September 3, 1916.

• Windmill Memorial - Established in the 1930s as an Australian memorial at the suggestion of Australia’s official war historian, Charles Bean, the Windmill site at Pozières commemorates the 23,000 casualties, some of whom died in the surrounding countryside. Opposite this site stands the “Tank Memorial,” providing an opportunity to discuss the role of tanks on the Western Front and modern warfare.

• Pozieres - “Mouquet Farm”

• Memorial de Thiepval - The “Memorial of the Missing” is the largest British War Memorial in the world. This imposing monument overlooks the surrounding rolling countryside. The names of over 72,000 soldiers who are either missing or whose bodies were found but not identified are engraved on its walls. Here, the guide will discuss military tactics and the concept of being “missing,” and what it meant for the families of those soldiers.

• Ulster Memorial Tower & Thiepval Wood - The Ulster Tower is Northern Ireland’s national war memorial. It was one of the first memorials erected on the Western Front and commemorates the men of the 36th Division and all those from Ulster who served in the First World War. The memorial was officially opened on November 19, 1921. From the top of the hill, in the opposite field, traces of the Battle of the Somme frontlines and the remains of a German machine gun post can still be seen.

• Beaumont-Hamel Newfoundland Memorial - The Newfoundland Memorial Park is the largest battlefield site in the Somme and a memorial dedicated to all Newfoundlanders who served during the First World War. The Battle of the Somme was the regiment’s first major engagement, where they suffered staggering losses on July 1, 1916. The land, purchased in 1921 by the women of Newfoundland and their government, has become a symbol of sacrifice and a source of identity for the island.

• All Fees and Taxes

• Lunch

This tour vividly brings the Australian narrative on the Somme to life through engaging storytelling, extensive knowledge, and a genuine passion for remembrance. Conducted with warmth and attention to visitors’ comfort, it provides a meaningful and unforgettable experience of walking in the footsteps of Australian soldiers.

Although this is not a custom-designed tour and follows a predetermined itinerary as outlined in the tour details, there is the flexibility to include a visit to a relative’s grave in a CWGC cemetery if it conveniently aligns with the route.

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.