Head Office 27 Sir William Pickering Drive PO Box 21-247, Christchurch 8013 New Zealand Tel: + 64 3 3653910 Fax: + 64 3 3655755 DX: WX 10078 www.innovative-travel.com Email: tours@innovativetravel.co.nz 25 June 2015 Somme/Flanders commemorative tour & CroisiEurope river cruise 100 YEAR ANNIVERSARY 09 23 September 2016 (15 days) An opportunity for New Zealanders to take a Journey of Remembrance to honour their ancestors who bravely fought on the World War I Western Front. From Belgium to France, take a special commemorative river cruise and visit the battlefields of Flanders and The Somme from the ship. At Longueval, attend the 100th anniversary commemorations of the Battle of the Somme the Anzacs first major action on the Western Front before continuing to Ypres (Ieper), Messines & Passchendaele. The Innovative Travel Company invites you on a commemorative journey which also includes many cultural highlights of Belgium and France Antwerp, the diamond centre of the world ; the medieval canal-crossed Bruges and Reims, the capital of Champagne. SPECIAL TOUR HOSTS Roy & Dawn Ferguson Roy is a career diplomat passionate about New Zealand military history. He hosted the Gallipoli Anzac 2015 tour to Turkey and has visited the Western Front on many occasions. In his capacity as former NZ Ambassador, Roy has participated in Anzac Days in many parts of the world. Accompanied by his fluent French-speaking wife Dawn, he will share his knowledge of the Somme and Passchendaele in the context of WWI following on from the Gallipoli campaign.
Fri 9 Christchurch or Auckland Dubai Depart Christchurch or Auckland on your flight to Dubai. Sat 10 Dubai Brussels (WR) Arrive to Dubai and connect to your flight to Brussels. Welcome to Belgium. You will be met and transferred to your centrally located hotel, your base for 2 nights. This evening is a tour introduction and welcome reception for the group to meet fellow tour participants. 6-7 p.m. Sun 11 Brussels (B) After breakfast, see some of the highlights of Brussels, visit the Royal Army Museum and sample local cheeses & beer on a walking tour. Mon 12 Brussels Antwerp Ostend (cruise starts) (B,D) Today visit the historic city Antwerp famous for the Baroque masterpieces by Peter Paul Rubens at the Cathedral of Our Lady and known as the world centre of the diamond industry and trade. 6 p.m. Continue to Ostend to embark the CroisiEurope 7 day Great War commemorative cruise. Tonight join the welcome cocktail on board. Tue 13 Ostend Bruges (B,L,D) This morning cruise to Bruges and take a guided tour of the town. Crossed by canals, the Venice of the North is one of the best preserved medieval towns of Europe. Visit ends with a trip along the town s canals on board little motor boats. After dinner tonight, an evening of entertainment will be held on board. Wed 14 Bruges Kortrijk : Messines Passchendaele (B,L,D) Morning of cruising. This afternoon visit Messines; the capture of this strategically important village by New Zealand soldiers was one of the most successful offensives of WWI. See the memorial to Samuel Frickleton, VC, the statue of the New Zealand soldier and St.-Nicholas Church with its Peace Carillon formed of bells donated from all over the world, including New Zealand. Continue to the Messines Ridge British Cemetery; see the NZ Memorial & Obelisk, part of the NZ Memorial Park with views of the battlefields. Visit Passchendaele 1917 Memorial Museum, its restored trench system and Memorial Poppy Garden before continuing to Bellevue Spur where the Gravenstafel NZ Memorial is located. The attack on Bellevue Spur marks the blackest day in NZ military history with over 2,700 casualties in just 4 hours. Last stop today will be at Buttes New British Cemetery at Polygon Wood, where impressive NZ and Australian Memorials are located. Return on board in Kortrijk for dinner followed by an evening of music and dancing. Thu 15 Kortrijk : Longueval Ypres (B,L,D) This morning attend the 100 th anniversary commemorations of the Battle of the Somme at Longueval.
The area around Longueval was captured by the New Zealand Division during the First Battle of the Somme. From there, the successful attack on Flers was launched with tanks used in battle for the first time. Visit Caterpillar Valley Cemetery and its NZ Memorial. Return to Ypres and take advantage of free time to walk atop the town s historic ramparts following the river, visit the medieval Cloth Hall & Bell Tower or the high-tech experience-oriented In Flanders Fields Museum. Tonight attend the Last Post ceremony before returning on board in Kortrijk. Today s itinerary is subject to change depending on the final programme by the New Zealand Government and local organisations. Fri 16 Kortrijk Comines : Poperinge (B,L,D) This morning visit Poperinge, one of the rare towns to have remained under allied control throughout the war. Continue to the military cemetery and visitor centre at Lijssenthoek; from 1915 to 1920, the town hosted the largest evacuation hospital in the Salient of Ypres battle zone. Afternoon free and evening of entertainment on board while cruising to Comines. Sat 17 Comines Lille: Arras (B,L,D) This morning visit Arras where New Zealand Tunnellers created a large underground military system used to hide troops and supplies in the preparation of a surprise offensive in which soldiers would emerge to attack in front of enemy lines. See the New Zealand Memorial and visit the Wellington Quarry Museum. After descending 20 meters below ground in a glass elevator you will be able to see sections of the original underground system. Afternoon of cruising to Lille. Gala dinner and evening on board. Sun 18 Lille (Cruise ends) (B,L,D) 9 a.m. After breakfast on board, disembark in Lille and drive to Le Quesnoy. The liberation of this fortified town was the last major action of the New Zealand Division on the Western Front. Under the leadership of Second- Lieutenant Leslie Averill, MC, soldiers climbed the ramparts of the Vauban fortress, where a commemorative plaque is now located. Numerous links to New Zealand can be found across the town, from street names to the Garden of Remembrance and the Maori Giant in the City Hall. Visit the town s communal cemetery which contains the graves of 50 New Zealanders who died liberating the town, just 7 days before the end of the war.
After lunch, continue to Fromelles. Visit the Battle of Fromelles Museum, the Australian Park & the Cobbers Memorial as well as the V.C. Corner Cemetery, exclusively dedicated to Australian soldiers. A major diversionary offensive was launched on the village of Fromelles to prevent the Germans from moving troops to the Battle of the Somme. The offensive was a disaster in which the Australians suffered over 5,000 casualties in just one night. The bloody Battle of Fromelles is described as the worst 24 hours of the Australian military history. Return to Lille for dinner and overnight at the hotel. Mon 19 Lille Reims (B) Today drive to the Champagne region. Visit Hautvillers the birth place of Champagne and continue to the Vernezay lighthouse Champagne Museum. At the end of the visit you will sample local Champagne. Check in at your hotel in Reims; this afternoon is time free to visit the Tau Palace and the city centre of Reims with its 800 years old Gothic Notre-Dame Cathedral, a Unesco World Heritage site. Tue 20 Reims Paris (B,D) After breakfast, drive to Paris en-route stopping at the Marfaux British Cemetery where a memorial to ten soldiers of the New Zealand Cyclist Battalion is located. Visit the Great War Meaux Museum and continue to Paris. Upon arrival check into your centrally located hotel; evening is at leisure and a farewell dinner is included tonight. Wed 21 Paris Dubai (B) Leisurely morning; check out of the hotel and visit the Invalides Palace or see some of the highlights of Paris en-route to the airport for your evening flight to Dubai. OPTIONS TO EXTEND YOUR JOURNEY IN ANY OF THE MANY ANCIENT KINGDOMS DESTINATIONS: Egypt, Jordan, Israel, Greece, Oman, Morocco, etc. Thu 22 Dubai Christchurch or Auckland Connect to your flight homewards. Fri 23 Christchurch or Auckland Welcome home.
Itinerary maybe subject to change. All commemorative services are subject to final authority of the New Zealand Government. The order of schedule, timings and inclusions are subject to change at any time and will be confirmed when final information is available. Final visits to cemeteries is subject to local conditions and accessibility on day of visit. TOUR INCLUSIONS: Flights: Economy class ex Auckland or Christchurch to Brussels / Paris to Christchurch or Auckland. Upgrade to business class available on request. Private bus transportation for all transfers, sightseeing and touring as per the above itinerary Five nights' accommodation in French 3-4 star hotels as follows: - Two nights Brussels - One night Lille - One night Reims - One night Paris 7 day CroisiEurope WWI Commemorative cruise including all meals from dinner on first day to breakfast on last day Buffet Breakfast daily, One Lunch, Two Dinners Professional Tour Manager / Guide assistance for all services City tours in Brussels and Paris Entrances and admissions as follows: Royal Army Museum, Passchendaele 1917 Memorial Museum, In Flanders Field Museum, Lissenthoek visitors centre, Wellington Quarry Museum, Battle of Fromelles Museum, Vernezay lighthouse Champagne Museum, Meaux War Museum, Invalides Palace Special features: Welcome Reception in Brussels Walking cheese & beer tasting tour in Brussels Antwerp the centre of the diamond industry and trade Canal boat ride in Bruges Attendance to the official 100 th anniversary commemorations of the Battle of the Somme Champagne Tasting in Reims area Gratuities for Driver and Tour Manager Porterage of one suitcase per person at hotels Local taxes EXCLUSIONS: x Personal Expenses x Full Insurance (compulsory) x Departure and airport taxes x Early check ins / Late check out x Meals not specified x Mini bar x Tour extensions
General information: The tour is subject to the normal tour conditions and operational procedures as listed on the Ancient Kingdoms Holidays brochure. Please ask for your copy. Remember that traditional customs, infra-structure and daily manners will differ from country to country. Please be patient if you think things are happening at a different pace than you are used to and respect the differences in culture. Acknowledgements: The Innovative Travel Company greatly acknowledges the Alexander Turnbull Library for the use of its images throughout this itinerary. Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand must be obtained before any re-use of any image. We greatly acknowledge the photographic contribution of Clelie Mascaret, Curtis Foreman and Nathan Reynolds. Tour conditions: Due to the interest in attending these important commemorations, early registration is essential to secure your place on this unique tour. A non-refundable deposit of NZ$1,000 is required upon registration. The signed registration form must be sent to The Innovative Travel Company along with the deposit. Registration is not guaranteed until acknowledgement is provided by the company. After registration cancellation fees apply see registration form for details. An interim payment of NZ$ 2,000 is required by 18 th March 2016. Full payment will be required by 05 th May 2016. Your itinerary has been prepared in 2015 and final hotel selection maybe subject to change prior to departure. The order of schedules, timings and inclusions are subject to change at any time due to local conditions. The price is subject to a minimum of 18 participants, if less than 18 travel, a surcharge will apply. The final tour price may also be subject to currency fluctuations. A copy of your travel insurance policy and passport copy must be supplied to The Innovative Travel Company, prior to the final documentation being released. Hotel check-in/out times are normally IN: 2pm / OUT: 12noon. The only way to guarantee an early check-in or late check-out is to pre-book the night before (early check-in) or night after (late check-out). Otherwise early check-in and late check-out are subject to availability when you are there. Hotel Rooms: As a policy Innovative Travel request non-smoking rooms for all guests. These rooms are requested and are subject to availability. Rooms on the tour are run-of-house and room sizes/styles may vary. Travel Advisory Information can change at any time and we suggest clients refer to The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Travel Trade Advisory website at www.safetravel.govt.nz prior to departure for the latest up to date information and general advice regarding the countries you are visiting.