Step back in time on a journey through Belgian history on a full-day tour to the Salient. Learn about World War I as you visit key sites (no museums) from the period including the Menin Gate Memorial.

About this activity

Free cancellation: Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund
Reserve now & pay later: Keep your travel plans flexible — book your spot and pay nothing today.
Duration 9 hours: Check availability to see starting times
Live tour guide: English

Highlighted reviews from other travelers

Judith – Australia

Day trip exceeded our expectations. Phillipe was an exceptional tour guide with a wealth of knowledge. Highly recommend.

Paul – United States

An excellent lesson in the full history of WWI with an extremely knowledgeable guide. The sites we saw were sobering and by the end of the day we had a much better understanding of why that war happened, what happened to the soldiers that fought the war and why that war was not as they hoped the last war. I would recommend the trip particularly for those who have an interest in the this period of time.

Highlights

Discover key sites of World War I incl. battlefields, bunkers, the town of Ypres
Learn historical facts about World War I from us, not from a museum.
Our stories include each country involved during your visit to Flanders Fields

Full description

Enjoy a trip of historical discovery on this full-day minibus tour that takes you through West Flanders, from Bruges to the Belgian town of Ypres. The city, nicknamed Wipers, was rebuilt according to a medieval blueprint after being completely razed to the ground in the early 1900s.
It was also here that the Germans invaded Belgium during World War I; a strategic move to attack France from the north.
You will see the remaining artifacts and places of the Ypres Salient as you discover restored trenches, stroll among war graves in Passchendale and Polygon Wood, clamber over craters and bunkers on the preserved battlefield Hill 60, and visit key war memorials.
Behold the impressive sight of the imposing Menin Gate Memorial to the missing soldiers, complete with 55,000 names, erected on the spot where the soldiers left the city for the battlefront.
As your day continues you will also see the iconic poppy fields of Flanders as you ride through the countryside in an air-conditioned mini coach, perfect for relaxing and taking in the picturesque scenery.
It is possible to visit an ancestor's grave if requested ahead and when in the Ypres Salient, and it is also possible to extend the tour for the Last Post Ceremony under the Menin Gate Memorial with transport back to your hotel in Bruges.
This must be requested well in advance as well and if it is available, it will incur a fee of €30 to be paid on the day of the tour.

Includes

Transportation in an air-conditioned mini-coach
Guide
Museum entry ticket and lunch at Hooge Crater or an alternative stop

Drinks

Not suitable for

Children under 8 years
People with mobility impairments
Wheelchair users

Meeting point

Right in front of the Grand Hotel Normandy, which is on Hoefijzerlaan nr 37. Please stand outside the hotel at 8.55 am. We will be there if not shortly after. If your hotel is more than a 10-minute walk from this pick-up location, please call the tour operator at least 24 hours before your tour to arrange an alternative pick-up time and place. Our phone lines are open from 7.30 am to 9.00 pm. Don't do this by email as the phone is always picked up, but someone is not at the office at all times to respond to emails.

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Important information

What to bring

Comfortable shoes

Not allowed

Smoking

Know before you go

No-shows will not be refunded
You can stay after your tour in Ypres for the Last Post Ceremony until 8 PM and be brought back by taxi to your hotel in Bruges (please request this when booking as only limited seats are available for this option). There is a small fee for this service (€30/person and minimum two persons with day trip booking) only to be paid on the day of the tour, preferably cash.
The mini-bus is air-conditioned and very comfortable. No smoking on board, please. However, the tour does stop frequently. It is possible to visit an ancestor's grave, but please ask in advance
You will be back in Bruges around 6:00 PM. This can vary by 15 minutes, so if you are on a time limit, keep this in mind when you book

Nearby destinations

Nearby sights

From Bruges: Great War Flanders Fields Minibus Tour w/ Lunch