AUTHORISED HARLEY-DAVIDSON MOTORCYCLE TOURS AROUND EUROPE - WW1 BATTLEFIELDS - 26-30 JULY 2012

On this 5 day tour you'll be visiting Ypres, the Menin Gate and Flanders Fields before heading west and a two-night stay in the Aisne area close to Reims - where trench warfare began with the first trenches being dug here before spreading south-east to Switzerland and to the north in Belgium. Our final night is in Arras, central to the Somme and during the trip we will visit many poignant reminders of this huge conflict from battle sites, trenches, memorials & museums.

Day 1. Thursday July 26. Calais to Ypres (approx. 60 miles)
We leave Calais and head directly to the minor, scenic roads of northern France, riding east via Bergues and onto Diksmuide and The Trench of Death at Dodengang. We then make our way to Ypres where our hotel is centrally located for the WWI Museum and the Menin Gate. After an 8.00pm visit to the Menin Gate to see the moving Last Post ceremony, you will be free to eat out.

Day 2. Friday July 27. Ypres to Chamouille (approx. 135 miles)
South-west today and a visit to the Canadian memorial at Vimy Ridge, before winding our way through the Somme and on to our two night stop in Chamouille in the heart of the Chemin de Dames. Dinner with wine is included tonight.

Day 3. Saturday July 28. Chamouille & return (approx. 90 miles)
We start today off with a visit to the Cave du Dragon where there was hand to hand fighting underground. From here we make our way to between Rethondes and Compiegne where we'll visit the Clairiere de l'Armsitice where the end of the WWI was declared on November 11th 1918 with the signing of the Armistice. We return back to the hotel, where dinner with wine is included.

Day 4. Sunday July 29. Chamouille to Arras (approx. 90 miles)
This morning we start making our way north through the Somme and on to Arras. Arras, now completely rebuilt using the rubble from the buildings after suffering some of the heaviest bombardments of the war. The hotel is situated a short walk away from Arras’ historic and beautiful cobbled squares where there is plenty of choice for dinner tonight.

Day 5. Monday July 30. Arras to Calais (approx. 70 miles)
A cross country ride back to Calais for a late afternoon ferry back to the Dover.

Total mileage approx. 445

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