Western Front Explorer

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Overview

Delve into World War I history on a deeply moving exploration of the Somme battlefields. Visit the Memorial Museum Passchendaele 1917, Tyne Cot Cemetery and Polygon Wood battlefield. And discover culture and cuisine in beautiful cities from Amsterdam to Bruges.

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive Amsterdam, Embark Ship

Welcome to Amsterdam. We’ll meet you on arrival and transfer you to your ship. Settle into your suite before getting to know your fellow travellers and APT Cruise Director at a welcome reception. Savour fresh locally sourced oysters with regional sparkling wine. After your first dinner on board, you may like to explore the city at your own pace.

Meals: Dinner
Accommodation: 14 Nights, APT Solara

Day 2: Amsterdam

Set out on your chosen activity. Afterwards, enjoy a free afternoon to explore more of Amsterdam on your own.

Freedom of Choice – Glass-Top Boat Canal Cruise

A peaceful way to see the best of Amsterdam, step aboard a glass-top boat and glide through the city’s iconic maze of World Heritage-listed canals, admiring the unique architecture along the way.

Freedom of Choice – Culinary Discovery

Discover the culinary favourites of The Netherlands. See and taste a variety of Dutch delicacies as you visit local producers. 

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 3: Arnhem

Select the activity that appeals to you today.

Freedom of Choice – Airborne Museum

In Arnhem, history buffs will love the Airborne Museum, viewing a depiction of the Battle of Arnhem in which the Allied Forces attempted to form a bridgehead on the northern banks of the Rhine River in September 1944.

Freedom of Choice – Arnhem City Tour

Discover the unique highlights of Arnhem on a guided city tour, including the Sabelspoort city gate, Mandela bridge and Eusebius Church.

Freedom of Choice – Dutch Language Lesson

Stay on board and partake in a fun Dutch language lesson.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 4: Nijmegen

Set out on your chosen activity.

Freedom of Choice – Kroller-Muller Museum

Visit the Kroller-Muller Museum and see its sculptural art collection, including pieces by Claude Monet and Pablo Picasso.

Freedom of Choice – Huis Doorn

Visit the residence of the last German Emperor Wilheim II, Huis Doorn. After the German defeat in World War I, Wilheim II fled to the neutral Netherlands, where he lived on this estate in the Utrecht province from 1920 to 1941.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 5: Maastricht

Tour Maastricht, renowned for its maze of tunnel caves, Roman history and historic architecture. Then, a Signature Experience awaits.

Signature Experience – Lunch at Château Neercanne

Savour lunch at Château Neercanne, which commands impressive vistas across the Jeker Valley from its terraces.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 6: Antwerp

Today you’ll arrive in Antwerp. You might like to spend today visiting the Battlefields of Fromelles, including the Flanders Field Museum, Pheasant Wood Cemetery and the VC Corner Australian Cemetery. Alternatively, enjoy a day at leisure to relax and explore Antwerp.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 7: Antwerp

Continue exploring Antwerp today. As the second largest city in Belgium, Antwerp is renowned for its vibrant culinary scene. Embark on a culinary walk to indulge in Belgium’s renowned waffles and chocolates. Discover firsthand why these delectable treats are celebrated as some of the world’s finest.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 8: Ghent

Set out on your chosen sightseeing activity today.

Freedom of Choice – Flanders Fields Battlefields

Visit the Memorial Museum Passchendaele 1917, Tyne Cot Cemetery – the largest British Commonwealth war cemetery in the world – and the Polygon Wood battlefield.

Freedom of Choice – Ghent Guided Discovery

Join a local guide for a tour of Ghent, stopping by a number of the city’s best loved attractions, including the Korenlei, the Graslei and the Castle of the Counts. You’ll also enjoy a cruise on the canal.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 9: Ghent, Bruges

Continue to Bruges, the capital of the province of West Flanders in the Flemish region of Belgium. Often called the ‘Venice of the North’, this spellbinding city enchants with its medieval history, striking architecture, cobblestone streets and picturesque canals. As one of the best-preserved examples of a medieval European settlement, the city’s historic centre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Enjoy a full day to soak up the historic wonders of Bruges, including the Markt and 13th-century belfry.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 10: Ghent, Somme Battlefields

Embark on a deeply moving exploration of the Somme battlefields, including the 1st and 2nd Australian Division Memorials. Visit the Thiepval Memorial, also known as the Memorial to the Missing of the Somme. As the largest World War I Commonwealth Memorial in the world, it honours the 72,337 British and South African forces who lost their lives in the Battles of the Somme between 1915 and 1918, with no known grave. Continue to the Sir John Monash Centre, situated on the grounds of the Villers-Bretonneux Military Cemetery, for an immersive journey into the stories of Australian soldiers who served on the Western Front during World War I.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 11: Veere, Delta Works

Cruise into the Zeeland region, home to one of the world’s most complex modern engineering projects, the Delta Works. This incredible series of flood protection systems took more than 30 years to complete.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 12: Kinderdijk

Visit the World Heritage-listed Kinderdijk, known for having the country’s greatest concentration of 18th-century windmills.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 13: Rotterdam

After your morning activity, perhaps head off and explore Rotterdam on your own. Later, enjoy dinner on board your ship.

Freedom of Choice – The Hague

Enjoy a guided exploration of The Hague and see its incredible architecture, including the Dutch parliament building and the Peace Palace.

Freedom of Choice – Guided Discovery of Gouda

Delve into the history of Gouda on a guided walking tour. Pass many of the city’s most iconic sights and enjoy a cheese tasting.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 14: Amsterdam

Visit the Keukenhof Gardens, encompassing more than 70 acres of renowned gardens and parklands. Relish the chance to admire the spectacular display of bulb flowers in bloom, including colourful tulips.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 15: Disembark Ship, Depart Amsterdam

Today, your incredible journey draws to an end. Bid farewell to your fellow travellers, disembark your ship and be transferred to the airport.

Meals: Breakfast

Trip Inclusions

Château Neercanne

Savour a delectable lunch at Château Neercanne, located near Maastricht in the Netherlands. On this sensational Signature Experience, take in the impressive vistas across the Jeker Valley from the hotel's terraces.

Battlefields of Fromelles

Visit the WWI Battlefields of Fromelles in northern France, including the Pheasant Wood Cemetery and the VC Corner Australian Cemetery.

Flanders Fields Battlefields

Set out on a captivating journey to the Flanders Fields battlefields in Belgium. Visit the Memorial Museum Passchendaele 1917, Tyne Cot Cemetery – the largest British Commonwealth war cemetery in the world – and the Polygon Wood battlefield.

Somme Battlefields and Sir John Monash Centre

Embark on a deeply moving exploration of the Somme battlefields in France, including the 1st and 2nd Australian Division Memorials. Visit the Thiepval Memorial, also known as the Memorial to the Missing of the Somme. Continue to the Sir John Monash Centre, situated on the grounds of the Villers-Bretonneux Military Cemetery, for an immersive journey into the stories of Australian soldiers who served on the Western Front during World War I.

Keukenhof Gardens

Visit the Keukenhof Gardens in Amsterdam, encompassing more than 70 acres of renowned gardens and parklands. Relish the chance to admire the spectacular display of bulb flowers in bloom, including colourful tulips.

Trip Dates:

07 Apr 2027

Room Type:

Twin Share

Solo (Own Room)

Wednesday

07 Apr 2027

Amsterdam

Wednesday

21 Apr 2027

Amsterdam

Retail Price: $15,695

Our Price

AUD $11,295

Save $4,400

Twin Share (Per Person)

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