World War II Tour to France, Holland and Belgium The Allies breached Hitler's "Atlantic Wall" on the beaches of France on June 6, 1944. After the Battle for Normandy, American and British tanks pushed German troops back across France with great momentum; by September, they stood at the door to the West Wall. As Allied Leaders planned exactly how and when to cross the Rhine, G.I.s comforted each other with the words: "End the War in '44."
After the Allies' failure to capture the bridge at Arnhem in Operation Market Garden, American forces pinned their hopes on winning the Battle of the Hürtgen Forest near Aachen. The Hürtgen Forest became an American bloodbath. By December 1944, G.I.s settled into their foxholes in the Ardennes and hoped to recuperate as Christmas approached. On December 16th, three German Armies unleashed a storm of artillery on the American "Ghost Front". The Battle of the Bulge had begun: "Stay alive in '45!"
This tour focuses on the Airborne Memorials, drop zones and museums in Holland and the Hürtgen Forest Battlefield in Germany. Includes a full-day excursion in the Ardennes to visit Battle of the Bulge sites and the ruins of the Bridge at Remagen. The tour starts at Paris CDG Airport and continues to Calais, France, Belgium, Holland and Rhine River, Germany. The tour concludes at Frankfurt Airport.
Program Details
Duration
11 Days/10 Nights
Location
Holland, Belgium & Germany
Season
September 14 - 24
Program Type
Culture & History
Nearest City
Paris, France
Physical Condition Required
Fair
Destination(s)
Arnhem, Netherlands Hürtgen Forest, Germany
Minimum Age Limit
10
Guest Capacity
30
Rates
$3,695.00 - $3,995.00per personCurrency Converter (Rates shown are in US Dollars. Rates and terms are subject to change.)
Additional Rate Info
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Program Itinerary
Day 1: IN FLIGHT to Paris Depart the US today for Paris CDG airport.
Day 2: PAS-DE-CALAIS - Hitler's Secret Weapons Arrival this morning at Paris CDG Airport, France. Start with a detailed explanation of the D-Day landings in Normandy on the bus ride from the airport. Tour of the German V2 Rocket Base at "La Couple." This massive underground bunker was the Third Reich's response to the Allied bombing destruction of Peenemuende. Late afternoon transfer to the hotel, the 18th Century Chateau de Cocove. Welcome dinner tonight at the hotel. Overnight Chateau Cocove.
Day 3: PAS-DE-CALAIS - The Atlantic Wall This morning, visit the Second World War Museum in Calais. The impressive museum is located in the enormous German communications bunker for the Pas-de-Calais, in the middle of the city. Lunch in Calais and transfer back to Chateau de Cocove for free time to relax. Dinner. Overnight Chateau Cocove.
Day 4: EINDHOVEN - Market Garden (The Plan) Breakfast. Transfer into Belgium to the Lommel German War Cemetery. The Lommel Cemetery is the largest outside Germany. Next, head into Holland and see Joe’s Bridge at the Dutch border, the first bridge captured for Market Garden on September 10, 1944 and launch pad for all ground forces in the Operation. Continue to Eindhoven/Best for lunch. Afternoon visit to the Wings of Liberation Museum Park. Hotel check-in and dinner. Overnight Eindhoven/Best.
Day 5: NIJMEGEN - Market Garden (Airborne Operations) Breakfast. This morning, tour the area of the 101st Airborne Division paratroopers. You will see drop zones of the 101st at Son before continuing north along "Hell's Highway" to Henkenshage Castle (General Maxwell Taylor’s Headquarters) in St. Oedenrode. Lunch. Afternoon transfer via Veghel/Grave to Groesbeek Heights. In this area, Alpventures® focuses on 82nd Airborne Division drop zones and operations in and around Nijmegen. A highlight is a visit to the National Liberation Museum this afternoon and finishing at Nijmegen Bridge near the town center. Overnight Nijmegen.
Day 6: ARNHEM - Market Garden (Arnhem Bridge) Breakfast. This morning after breakfast, continue up to Oosterbeek to visit the Airborne Museum at Hartenstein Castle. Transfer to Arnhem for lunch. Afternoon walk via John Frost's command post to the Arnhem Bridge. Transfer south to Geulzicht Castle for hotel check-in and dinner. Overnight Geulzicht Castle.
Day 7: ARDENNES - Battle of the Bulge Breakfast. Today there is a full-day excursion into the northern Ardennes. Visit Battle of the Bulge sites, including the infamous "Malmedy Crossroads" at Baugnez, Belgium. This afternoon, have lunch and on the Battlefield in Poteau and visit the Ardennes '44 Museum. Here (weather permitting), you have a Battlefield Tour in a preserved World War II Halftrack. Transfer back to Kasteel Geulzicht. Dinner. Overnight Geulzicht Castle.
Day 8: SCHMIDT - Hürtgen Forest Breakfast. Hotel check out. Transfer over the border into Germany to the town of Schmidt in the Hürtgen Forest. Full-day tour of the Hürtgen Forest, including American memorials, battlefields (foxholes, bunkers) and cemeteries. Sites will include the areas of Vossenack and Schmidt/Dueren. Late afternoon transfer to Vossenack/Hürtgenwald for hotel check-in and dinner. Overnight Vossenack/Hürtgenwald.
Day 9: SCHMIDT - Ordensburg Volgelsang Breakfast. Morning guided tour of the recently opened Ordensburg Vogelsang, a former Nazi leadership training center. Free time for lunch at Vogelsang. Afternoon return to Schmidt for free time in town or at the hotel. Dinner on your own tonight. Overnight Vossenack/Hürtgenwald.
Day 10: RHINE RIVER - Remagen Bridge The last stop on the tour will be the Rhine River. Morning transfer to Remagen, to visit the Memorial Museum, located in the former bridge towers. Free time at the museum and lunch in town. Afternoon transfer south and check-in the an 800-year-old castle hotel overlooking the Rhine River. Dinner. Overnight Rheinfels Castle.
Day 11: RHINE RIVER - Tour Conclusion This morning, transfer to Koblenz for a Rhine River Cruise with lunch at your leisure on board. Afternoon free time at the castle or in town. A special Farewell Dinner will be held tonight at the castle. Overnight Rheinfels Castle.
Day 12: IN FLIGHT from Frankfurt Depart the castle for Frankfurt Airport to return home.
This Package Includes
10 Nights in 3 and 4-Star Hotels
6 Dinners and Daily Breakfasts
All Transfers by Deluxe Motor Coach
Welcome Evening at 18th Century Chateau
V2 Rocket Base at St. Omer, France
World War II Museum in Calais
UTAH Beach with American Memorials
Lommel War Cemetery and Joe’s Bridge
Operation Market-Garden Sites in Holland
Eindhoven, Nijmegen and Arnhem
Wings of Liberation Museum Park
Groesbeek Heights and Grave Museum
Two Nights in Historic Geulzicht Castle
Ardennes '44 Museum and Halftrack Ride
Battlefield Tour of the Hürtgen Forest
Remagen Bridge Memorial Museum
Enjoy a Rhine River Cruise to St. Goar
Farewell Evening in a Rhine River Castle!
Reservation Policy
A (USD) $400 deposit per person is required to book this tour. You can book online, by phone or by mail. Payment in full is due 90 days prior to tour departure and must be paid in US Dollars by certified bank check.
Cancellation Policy
Although tour cancellations are not anticipated; Alpventures reserves the right to cancel tours for any reason, prior to tour departure date, in which case the entire payment will be refunded without further obligation on Alpventures part. A full refund will be granted up to 30 days prior to tour departure. A cancellation fee of 20% of the tour price will be charged for cancellations between 30 and 20 days prior to departure date and 40% between 20 and 10 days prior to departure. No refunds will be honored within 10 days of tour departure date.
COMPLIMENTARY VISITOR GUIDES
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