Panzers in The Ardennes

Panzers in The Ardennes

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Panzers in The Ardennes

5 Days Starting and ending in Belgium

Visiting: Houffalize, Manhay, Diekirch, Bastogne, Le Brûly

Tour operator:

Leger Holidays

Tour code:

bpn

Guide Type:

Fully Guided

Physical rating:

Low

Age range:

0-99

Special diets catered:

Vegetarians

Tour operated in:

English

This tour is no longer available

Tour Overview

Now a remarkable outdoor museum of tanks, battle sites and memorials, The Ardennes is the largest single WW2 battlefield in Western Europe. Join us on this fascinating tour as we focus on armoured warfare in the Battle of the Bulge in 1944, and also take a look at the German Blitzkrieg in The Ardennes in 1940.

Highlights

  • Now a remarkable outdoor museum of tanks, battle sites and memorials, The Ardennes is the largest single WW2 battlefield in Western Europe

  • Join us on this fascinating tour as we focus on armoured warfare in the Battle of the Bulge in 1944, and also take a look at the German Blitzkrieg in The Ardennes in 1940

  • Visit the War Museum and see an original Panther Tank used in the Battle of the Bulge

Itinerary

Expand All

Day 1 : Arrive In Belgium

Location: Houffalize

Accommodation: Hotel

Accommodation Name: 3-star Hotel Vayamundo

Local departure by coach, then to Belgium for a four-night stay.

Day 2 : Malmedy & Manhay 44 Museum

Location: Houffalize, Manhay

Accommodation: Hotel

Accommodation Name: 3-star Hotel Vayamundo

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

We start today at the Ardennes American Cemetery near Liège. There are more than 5,000 burials here from the fighting in the Ardennes in 1944/45, including GIs who fought in tank units. From here, we look at German armoured forces and see a King Tiger Tank at La Gleize, one of only a handful left in the world.


After lunch, we see an American M4 Sherman at Vielsam and at Manhay we visit the War Museum and see an original Panther Tank used in the Battle of the Bulge.


We then end at Houffalize to see the newly restored Panther Tank, which fought in the town in 1944.

Day 3 : Bastogne And Diekirch

Location: Diekirch, Bastogne

Accommodation: Hotel

Accommodation Name: 3-star Hotel Vayamundo

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner


Today we journey to Recogne to visit the German War Cemetery, where we will see the graves of German tank crews including Knight’s Cross recipients.


In Bastogne, we visit Bastogne Barracks for a tour of the many tanks exhibited here, as well as the tank workshops and displays relating to the 1944 battles in the area.


After lunch, we visit some of the Sherman Tank turrets which now circle the town of Bastogne, marking the old defensive perimeter from 1944/45.


We then cross into Luxembourg and visit the superb Diekirch War Museum which has a remarkable collection of armoured vehicles - perhaps the best in the Ardennes. We then travel back via Troisvierges and see a Pak43 88mm anti-tank gun.

Day 4 Ardennes Blitzkrieg 1940

Location: Le Brûly

Accommodation: Hotel

Accommodation Name: 3-star Hotel Vayamundo

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Today we look at the German Blitzkrieg in the West, following the route of German Panzers as they came down through the Ardennes in May 1940. We will take some of the routes they used down into northern France, and look at the battlefield around Stonne, one of the biggest armoured engagements. Here we see a Char B tank as well as a selection of other memorials.


After lunchtime in Sedan, we look at the Meuse River crossings by German Panzer formations, before crossing back into Belgium to visit the Hitler bunker at Bruly. This concrete bunker was used by Hitler as a headquarters during the Battle of France, and is now a WW2 museum.

Day 5 : Return Home

Location: Houffalize

Meals Included: Breakfast

Return home.

What's Included

  • Accommodation

    As detailed in the itinerary

  • Additional Services

    Travel from a wide range of convenient joining points across the UK is included within your coach holiday price; some carry a supplement. Please contact us for our full list of joining points.

  • Airport Transfers at Destination

    This trip includes coach travel from/to a local UK joining point

  • Fully Guided

  • International Travel

  • Meals

    As detailed in the itinerary

  • Transport

    Comfortable, air-conditioned motorcoach

What's Not Included

Accommodation

You will stay for four nights at the 3-star Hotel Vayamundo in Houffalize in the Ourthe Valley. Situated amongst pine forest, the hotel offers a restaurant, bar and indoor swimming pool.

The hotel provides the ideal place to unwind after a day of touring the battlefields.

Check out our Q&As

  • Will I know the names and details of all the accommodation before I depart?

    Yes

  • What is the fitness level required to do this tour?

    Low

  • Are all the relevant entry visa’s included in the price of the tour?

    No

  • Are the local guides on the tour English speaking?

    Yes

  • Is the tour coach air conditioned?

    Yes

  • Is there a supplement for solo travellers?

    Some tours carry a supplement for solo travellers, please ask for details if the Single price is not shown

  • What type of coach will be used?

    You will travel on either our Luxuria Coach or our Silver Service Coach

  • Will there be an escort accompanying this tour?

    Fully escorted by our experienced drivers/crews. And in most towns and cities we either include or offer optional sightseeing tours with expert local guides to help you get the most from your visits.

  • Is there any free time to explore places during the tour?

    As detailed in the itinerary

  • Is there a limit to luggage that can be brought on the tour?

    On Leger Coach Holidays, your allowance is one medium sized suitcase per person, which should weigh no more than 20kg when full.

  • How long has the tour company been trading?

    40 years

  • Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?

    Sole use of your own room on all Single Traveller holidays: means you still get your privacy and time out from the group.

  • Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?

    Yes

  • Battlefield Tours - Will it be possible to visit a particular cemetery whilst on the tour?

    Please contact us and we will check to see whether you can visit a particular cemetery on any of our Battlefield Tours, if we are not able to fit it into our itinerary then you could take some time out of the tour and do this independently by taxi or public transport.

  • What policies are in place for Covid-19?

    Please contact us for latest Covid-19 policies

Reviews of this operator

Gary White (Google Reviewer)  

Just got back from a...

27-May-2024

Just got back from a holiday with leger holidays to callea spain which my wife done as a surprise for my 60th and wedding anniversary together my wife and i had a great time the coach journey there was excellent regular stops for toilet breaks and a stretch. Our two drivers Geoff and katrina were brilliant serving regular drinks and making the trip pleasant all the people on the coach were pleasant the hotel in spain was so nice the best we've stayed in lovely staff lovely bar the guy at the bar was great really friendly nice room. Overall our journey there and our return journey was brill the only thing that was not good at all was the ibis hotel on the return journey the room was horrible not a nice breakfast not polite French staff. Not really interested in trying to speak some english if i was leger should try and use a different hotel. Once again a big thank you to Geoff and katrina well done guys for making our holiday lovely. Hope to see you on another holiday soon

Will (Google Reviewer)  

I went on the 4...

05-Jan-2024

I went on the 4 countries trip and swiss glacier express and overall it was a great trip. The coach I was on was silver service, it was tidy had nice seats and other accessories such as charging points and headsets which was very handy. The drivers Alex and Dave were fantastic, very kind, funny and respectful throughout the whole trip and a pleasure to talk to. The excursions were very pleasant and all ran very smoothly. The hotels were decent and offered a good service. I overall very much recommend leger holidays.

Sally Matson  

Excellent customer service

10-Jan-2023

Booked our ‘Christmas in Austria & Scenic Trains of the Tyrol’ through George on the customer Helpline. Nothing was too much trouble, everything clearly & patiently explained. He even had permission to log in on his day off to finalise the sale! A charming and helpful young person and a credit to the company.

Euan Donald (Google Reviewer)  

Been on two tours now...

10-Oct-2023

Been on two tours now the “D Day beaches” and “ All Quiet on the Western Front” tour of the Somme and Ypres. Both four days in total, two travelling and two on the site of the various battles. This is outstanding value for money, picked up from Carlisle , Cumbria and literally looked after all the way through the tours. The coaches are great and the accommodation spot on . The guides are very knowledgeable ( Mark Hope brilliant guy)and the bus drivers professional . Absolutely fantastic .

Remon Wanis (Google Reviewer)  

We have been working with...

05-Aug-2024

We have been working with them for nearly a year now as Sussex Airports Taxis, and they offer the best customer service ever. All their customers are always happy when they return from their holidays. We look forward to continuing our partnership for many more years to come.

William Olley (Google Reviewer)  

I recently went on a...

21-Aug-2024

I recently went on a coach holiday with this company. Everything was on time but there can be traffic hold ups with jams and roadworks! The coach was comfortable and the driver stopped for rest periods. The hotel was a 3 star close to a spectacular beach and was adequate. The catering was excellent! I went on the excursions included in the package and visited some lovely places.

Gordon Price (Google Reviewer)  

just returned from Italian holiday....

21-Jul-2024

just returned from Italian holiday. It was great spoilt a little by the high temperature even Ledger can't control that. The only real thing to spoil the trip was one of the hotels. The Krystall hotel in Diano Marina was terrible the room was dire with cracks in shower bogged up shower fittings noe control for AC end so on. The food was very poor, limited choice luke warm food on cold plates. After 4 evening meals (3 or four courses) we were only able to remember 2 we enjoyed. Breakfast was poor no bread except for hard rolls. No fresh fruit if you liked cake for breakfast you were good. If this is a 3 star hotel Italian standards have fallen which I don't think they have. Ledger brochure states "some of Europes most fascinating unique hotels" for Luxuria trips. This hotel should be removed from your list at once. The holiday was other wise good I cannot praise your coach crew too to much they were excellent. A highlight of the trip was the return trip through the swiss alps. It was superb and deserves mention in your holiday iteniary description.

Hilary Jackson (Google Reviewer)  

I recently went on a...

12-Jun-2024

I recently went on a 4 night tour to Scarborough. Driver was great hotel superb. My criticism is too many destinations crammed into day excursion. Example visit to Flamborough head stop for 1 hour it was teeming nobody got off coach but even if fine pointless. Then on to Bridlington coach Park 1.5 ml from centre. Most people are hard pressed to get to center & back in 1.5 hours pointless. Incidentally if Leger paid a permit they could alight us in the resort. Very bad logistics. On to Whitby with a decent stop should have taken us there & bypassed the other stops. I will not go with them again. I will source a better holiday with excursions to one place only.

aled blackshaw (Google Reviewer)  

just returned from a solos...

25-Mar-2024

just returned from a solos break to valkenburg and rhine valley i enjoyed the break overall although both journeys were considerably longer than expected due to several picks ups. I could have done without the 3 countries meeting point excursion to be honest and the lunch on rhine cruise was very basic. The drivers/couriers were efficient and good humoured and provided free lunch vouchers on the ferry which were much appreciated. I probably would book another break with leger but to somewhere a lot closer to home.

laura young (Google Reviewer)  

We booked a holiday to...

09-Aug-2024

We booked a holiday to Edinburgh with some excursions. In the travel agents we booked the excursion to sterling which we didn’t do as they went to Loch Lomond instead. The drivers Mike and Heidi were not very polite at times. Moaning that they weren’t allowed to sell alcohol to passengers and then trying to on the sly. Mike quote “if I leave this and £3 appears then great” They read off Google for facts and read like they couldn’t be bothered. Which there was very little facts passed along. We did an excursion to glassglow which was 20 mins away from our hotel. We left at 13:00 meaning we only got around 3 hours there. The trip was lots of people in their 70s meaning they walk slow, some with mobility issues. So not a lot of time there. The Edinburgh tattoo was fantastic but again we left the hotel at 13:00 meaning less time there. When we asked about why we left late they just huffed and said because of legal hours for drivers. While I appreciate this and they need a break there were two drivers. Meaning one could drive the night before and the other the next day meaning we are not left sat around the hotel untill 13:00 each day with very little to do in this area of eaglesham. This was my first trip with ledger and I am very dissatisfied and disappointed at this mainly due to the drivers. The trip was far from cheap and there was no value for money I feel.

Book with Confidence

  • Low Deposit

    Leger Holidays requires a minimum deposit of 20% or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 75 days before departure.

  • Cancellation Policy

    We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of leger holidays charges.

    Up to 56 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.

    At 55 days before tour starts: Forfeit 50% of booking price.

    At 42 days before tour starts: Forfeit 75% of booking price.

    At 21 days before tour starts: Forfeit 90% of booking price.

    At 14 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.