Travel with Guelph Museums and Frederick Travel on a group tour of Italy, France, Belgium, and Netherlands, commemorating the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War. This tour explores the impacts of the First and Second World Wars on the ground in Europe and at home in Canada – from the Italian Campaign to the Liberation of Holland.  This journey also reflects on the contemporary resonance of Lt. Col. John McCrae and his poem “In Flanders Fields.”

Depart: April 23, 2025
Return: May 7, 2025
Cost: $8985 CDN per person based on twin/double occupancy

This tour includes moderate physical activity, including walking on uneven ground through cemeteries and on cobblestone sidewalks.

Tour includes:

• Return air transportation (tax included)
• English-speaking tour guides
• 14 nights’ accommodation
• Daily breakfast, 5 lunches, 9 dinners
• First and Second World War landmarks and historic site entry fees
• Museum entry fees
• Private bus transportation in a modern coach
• Interpretation by Guelph Museums curator Dawn Owen and former curator and McCrae expert Bev Dietrich
• Exclusive music and theatre performances by Mike Ford and Murray Foster

To register:

Contact Scott Allen at Frederick Travel [email protected], 519-745-1860 extension 303, or 1-800-578-8958. https://www.worldwide.on.ca/guelph2025

Listen to an audio sneak-preview from Mike & Murray, our Liberation Tour troubadours, giving a sampling from 4 or their larger performances on next spring’s tour. 

Itinerary

Day 1- Thursday, April 24:

• Arrival at Rome
• Transfer to Cassino
• Welcome dinner

Day 2 – Friday, April 25:

• Italian Liberation Day
• Cassino/Montecassino/Liri Valley
• Cassino War Cemetery and Memorial
• Montecassino Abbey
• Kingsmill Bridge

Day 3 – Saturday, April 26:

• Cassino/Campobasso/Ortona
• Canada Town
• Moro River Canadian War Cemetery
• La Montanara performance

Day 4 – Sunday, April 27:

• Ortona/Ravenna/Bologna
• Commonwealth Graves Cemetery

Day 5 – Monday, April 28:

• Bologna/Paris/Caen
• Juno Beach Centre

Day 6 – Tuesday, April 29:

• Caen/Dieppe/Arras
• Bény-Sur-Mer Canadian War Cemetery
• Dieppe Memorial 19 août 1942

Day 7 – Wednesday, April 30:

• Arras/Wimereux/Boulogne-Sur-Mer
• Lt. Col. John McCrae graveside commemoration
• Walking tour of Boulogne-Sur-Mer

Day 8 – Thursday, May 1:

• Arras/Somme
• Canadian National Vimy Memorial
• Beaumont-Hamel Newfoundland Memorial

Day 9 – Friday, May 2:

• Arras/Ieper
• Langemark German Cemetery
• Brooding Soldier
• Talbot House
• Sons of ’17 performance
• Menin Gate

Day 10 – Saturday, May 3:

• Ieper
• Essex Field Dressing Station
• In Flanders Fields Museum
• McCrae In The Mirror performance

Day 11 – Sunday, May 4:

• Ieper/Utrecht
• Memorial Museum Passchendaele
• Tyne Cot Cemetery
• Ghent city tour

Day 12 – Monday, May 5:

• Liberation of Holland Day
• Utrecht/Groesbeek
• Canadian War Cemetery of Groesbeek
• Freedom Museum
• Lived, Felt Dawn, Saw Sunset Glow performance

Day 13 – Tuesday, May 6:

• Utrecht/Amsterdam
• Free day of exploration in Amsterdam
• Farewell dinner

Day 14 – Wednesday, May 7:

• Utrecht/Toronto
• Mid-day departure

Testimonials from previous tours

“Emotional trip. Proud to be present to appreciate and honour the work of Lt. Col. McCrae”

“This trip will be remembered by all of us, forever.”

“With a heart full of thanks for the trip of a lifetime.”

“Thanks for an incredible experience. It has changed all of us.”

“Wonderful tour with thoughtful organization of itinerary.”

“Thanks a million for bringing history to life.”