Reims and Verdun

Reims and Verdun

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Reims and Verdun

5 Days Starting in reims and ending in 51100 Reims, France

Visiting: Reims, Chemin des Dames, Verdun, Montfaucon-d'Argonne, Champagne

Tour operator:

Leger Holidays

Tour code:

5fbrv

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

On this fascinating new battlefield tour we look at the ground fought over by the British, French and German Armies in Reims, combining with a visit to Verdun – an iconic WW1 site. Highlights of the tour include the ‘Caverne du Dragon’, an underground quarry where the French and Germans fought, the remarkable private collection of militaria at the Romagne War Museum, and the trenches at Main de Massiges.

Highlights

  • On this fascinating new battlefield tour we look at the ground fought over by the British, French and German Armies in Reims, combining with a visit to Verdun – an iconic WW1 site

  • Highlight of the tour include the ‘Caverne du Dragon’, an underground quarry where the French and Germans fought

  • Another highlights are the remarkable private collection of militaria at the Romagne War Museum, and the trenches at Main de Massiges.

Itinerary

Expand All

Day 1 : Arrive In Reims

Location: Reims

Accommodation: Hotel

Accommodation Name: Novotel Reims Tinqueux or Mercure Reims Parc des Exposition

Local departure by coach, then to our hotel in Reims for a four-night stay.

Day 2 : Aisne 1914 – Chemin Des Dames

Location: Chemin des Dames, Reims

Accommodation: Hotel

Accommodation Name: Novotel Reims Tinqueux or Mercure Reims Parc des Exposition

Meals Included: Breakfast

We start this morning just outside Reims, on the spot where the French Army used tanks for the first time in April 1917 as part of the attack on the Chemin des Dames. We’ll see the memorial and life-sized models of French tanks, before looking at the ‘Old Contemptibles’ in the fighting here in 1914 – the men of the British Army. We see the church and British graves at Soupir and Vendresse, and the memorial at Cerny. Here, we come onto the Chemin des Dames, the high ground above Reims, and visit the French cemetery and memorial chapel. After lunch in Soissons, where you can visit the Soissons Memorial to the Missing which commemorates British soldiers who fell in 1918, we discover the memorials and bunkers of the Moulin de Laffaux, a major French battle site throughout the war. We then go beneath the battlefield into the ‘Caverne du Dragon’ – the Dragon’s Cave. This is where the French and Germans fought each other in a quarry deep underground. We continue across the Chemin des Dames back to Reims.

Day 3 : Verdun – The Mincing Machine

Location: Verdun

Accommodation: Hotel

Accommodation Name: Novotel Reims Tinqueux or Mercure Reims Parc des Exposition

Meals Included: Breakfast

Today we head for Verdun; a battle of 300 days, it was the longest of the war and called the ‘Mincing Machine’ by the soldiers due to the way it drew in and destroyed so many French regiments. We start at the impressive Memorial Museum at Fleury, with its many displays, artefacts and the ‘lost village’ of Fleury close by. We then visit the Ossuary and French Cemetery at Douaumont, before taking lunch in Verdun. In the afternoon we explore two of the iconic forts, which featured so heavily in the battle – Fort Douaumont and Fort Vaux. Inside you can walk the corridors, admire the gun turrets and museums, and see the massive shell craters on the roof caused by heavy guns from both sides.

Day 4 : Champagne – Argonne

Location: Montfaucon-d'Argonne, Champagne

Accommodation: Hotel

Accommodation Name: Novotel Reims Tinqueux or Mercure Reims Parc des Exposition

Meals Included: Breakfast

Today we’ll explore the battlefields east of Reims, starting in the Argonne sector with a visit to the American Memorial at Montfaucon, before paying our respects at the Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery – the largest US War Cemetery in Europe with more than 14,000 graves. We take an included lunch at the Romagne War Museum, viewing the incredible private collection of militaria. In the afternoon, we explore the Champagne battlefields with a visit to the trenches at Main de Massiges: here a whole trench system has been reconstructed on a hillside alongside original mine craters with sandbags, duckboards and firing positions. You can walk the trenches, go in the dugouts and see the dressing station. Our day ends at the Navarin Farm Memorial to the American and French soldiers of the Champagne; we’ll learn of the story of a former British Colonel, who having been court martialled served as a Stretcher Bearer here in the French Foreign legion.

Day 5 : Return Home

Location: Reims

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 Novotel Reims Tinqueux or Mercure Reims Parc des Exposition.

Check out our Q&As

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

    Yes

  • What type of coach will be used?

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

  • Is the tour coach air conditioned?

    Yes

  • 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

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

    Low

  • 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.

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

    As detailed in the itinerary

  • 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

  • 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.

  • 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.

Suzanne Maylin (Google Reviewer)  

Having returned from a fabulous...

24-Sep-2024

Having returned from a fabulous tour of Austria with excellent tour guides/ drivers, it's disappointing to say the least that I'm left chasing a return for an excursion that was cancelled. I called Leger 5 days ago and am still waiting in a call back. Leger if you want to retain customers you need step up on service. Good training , good service costs very little, and once embedded in a company produces more income. I don't suppose anyone from Leger will respond to this, but who knows

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.

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.