COST INCLUDES:   

• Return airfare from Toronto, ON to Paris, FR with Air France, including 1st piece of checked luggage (within airline size and weight restriction) all applicable airline, airport and security fees as of contract date
• Transportation via private motor coach(s) for the duration of your tour, including driver accommodations and tolls/parking (number and size of coach to be determined when numbers confirmed
• 2-day Paris Metro pass (Zones 1-3)
• 13 nights’ accommodation – 3 in Ypres, 2 in Dieppe, 5 in Bayeux and 3 in Paris (based on twin/double accommodations) with buffet breakfast included daily
• 1 lunch, 2 packed lunches and 5 dinners
• Visits and admission prices (where fees exist) to the following: Talbot House and Museum, In Flanders Fields Museum, Tyne Cot Cemetery, St. Julien Canadian Memoria, Last Post Ceremony, Canadian National Memorial Park at Vimy Ridge, Beaumont Hamel Newfoundland Memorial, Dieppe and the landing beaches, Canadian War Cemetery at Hautot-sur-Mer, Juno Beach Centre, Canada House, Canadian War Cemetery at Beny-Sur-Mer, Abbaye d’Ardennes – Canadian War Memorial. Arromanches 360, British Normandy Memorial and Gold Beach, Calvados tasting, Remembrance ceremonies at Sourseulles-sur-Mer and Juno Beach Centre followed by cocktail reception, Claude Monet House and Gardens,
• Professionally guided tours in Bruges, Bayeux, D-Day Beaches and Paris
• Hotel luggage handling (where available)
• Services of an Ellison Tours Tour Manager throughout the tour
• Includes all applicable taxes and service charges
• 24-hour Ellison Travel & Tours emergency contact number while on tour

 NOT INCLUDED:   

• Insurance has not been included as part of your tour package. Ellison Tours highly recommends that all travellers ensure they have Travel Insurance. These products, including Cancellation and Medical coverage, can be purchased through Ellison Tours – see insurance information below for details
• Costs associated with vaccination, testing and other entry/exit requirements for your itinerary (unless noted under included above)
• Costs associated with visa or passport processing, passport photos and other government processing fees
• Fees associated with the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS – expected to be in effect as of mid-2025, cost of €7 Euro)
• Meals other than mentioned above
• Wi-Fi services on motorcoach
• Drinks with group lunches or dinners (other than tap water on the tables) are available for purchase
• Driver and local guide gratuities: suggested total amount of gratuities for the trip is 60.00 to 80.00 Euro per person travelling on the trip (guidelines to be provided closer to departure)
• Additional taxes, fuel surcharges or service charges levied by the governments or our suppliers
• Charges by the airline for oversize/overweight luggage/musical instruments, over and above the amount listed under the price includes section above
• Any luggage fees introduced or altered prior to travel
• The tour details and airline tickets are processed in the names you provide and must match the name per the legal travel document (eg. passport). An administration fee up to $100.00 plus applicable airline charges and taxes will be charged per name change or correction

OPTIONAL

• Upgraded accommodations, accessible rooms may be available and should be requested at registration
• Deviations are allowed at an extra cost of $150.00 + other airline fees (limited number available)
• Rates for the optional activities listed above will be advised at a later date and some of these may need to be booked online by individuals pending final numbers

Day 1 – Saturday November 1 (M)
Today we begin our journey! We will depart from Toronto and land in Paris, France. An in-flight meal will be served at the discretion of the airline.

Day 2 – Sunday, November 2 (M/D)
Upon arrival, you will meet your coach and driver from Verhenne/Keolis, who will accompany you throughout the trip. Travel to Ieper and check in at the Novotel Ieper Centrum, where you will stay for three nights. After some time to purchase lunch, visit the Talbot House and Museum, a safe haven during the First World War that welcomed all without distinction of rank or status. Return to the hotel to freshen up and rest before enjoying a group dinner at the hotel or a nearby restaurant.

Day 3 – Monday, November 3 (B)
Enjoy breakfast at the hotel before starting your day with a visit to the In Flanders Fields Museum, where you will receive a poppy bracelet to explore the interactive exhibits and learn about the history of the First World War in Ypres. After some time to purchase lunch, board the coach to visit Tyne Cot Cemetery, the final resting place of nearly 12,000 casualties from the Salient, including more than 8,000 unknown soldiers. Next, stop at the St. Julien Canadian Memorial at Vancouver Corner, which commemorates the Canadian 1st Division’s actions from April 22 to 24, 1915. Return to the hotel, then enjoy dinner at a restaurant of your choice. In the evening, take part in the Last Post Ceremony at the Menin Gate, where a member of your group will have the honour of laying a wreath. This daily ceremony is a proud and moving tribute by the people of Ieper to those who fell defending their town during the Great War. After the ceremony, you will have free time to enjoy the rest of the evening before returning to the hotel on foot.

Day 4 – Tuesday, November 4 (B)
After breakfast at the hotel, board the coach for a day trip to Bruges, often referred to as the “Venice of the North,” which was liberated by the Manitoba Dragoons on September 12th, 1944. Upon arrival, meet your guide for a walking tour of this historic city. The remainder of the day is yours to explore independently at your own pace. For those interested, an optional visit to the Adagem War Museum and the Leopold Canal will be available (rate to be advised). In the evening, enjoy dinner at a restaurant of your choice before meeting the coach for the return journey to Ieper. Arrive back at the hotel to conclude the day.

Day 5 – Wednesday, November 5 (B/L/D)
After breakfast at the hotel, check out and board your coach for a visit to The Canadian National Memorial Park at Vimy Ridge, where the Canadian Corps achieved a significant victory using innovative combat techniques in this strategically important and well-defended sector. Upon arrival, take time to walk to the monument and explore the grounds of the memorial park. Student-led guided tours of the battlefield trenches and underground tunnels depart from the Education Centre every 30 minutes on a first-come, first-served basis, with each group limited to 25 persons. As pre-booked reservations are not available, it is suggested to proceed to the Education Centre and Tour Departure area a little before noon.

Board the coach and travel to Auchonvillers for a group lunch at Ocean Villas. Afterward, continue to the Beaumont-Hamel Newfoundland Memorial, where you will enjoy an independent walking tour of one of the best-preserved WWI battlefields in Europe. Here, on July 1st, 1916, the Royal Newfoundland Regiment was tragically decimated within minutes of being ordered to “go over the top.” This was one of several battles that led to the loss of a full generation of Newfoundlanders on the Western Front during World War I. Student docents are stationed at various locations to answer any questions.

The journey then continues to Dieppe (approximately 2 hours). Upon arrival, check in at the Mercure Dieppe for a two-night stay. Enjoy a group dinner at the hotel or a nearby restaurant.

Day 6 – Thursday, November 6 (B)
After breakfast at the hotel, spend the day visiting the Landing Beaches, the site of the tragic Operation Jubilee on August 19, 1942. This disastrous raid resulted in over 3,000 Canadian casualties, including 916 fatalities in a single morning of fighting. Considered one of the most controversial operations in Canadian military history, the mission has been criticized as a suicide attack with unacceptable losses. However, defenders of the raid argue that it proved a fortified port could not serve as the location for a major invasion and that the valuable intelligence gained was worth the cost.

Begin your tour at the main Landing Beaches—Red and White—where the primary thrust of the attack occurred, followed by Green Beach at Pourville, where Lieut.-Col. Charles Merritt of the South Saskatchewans earned the Victoria Cross for his bravery. Continue to Blue Beach at Puys, the most challenging landing site, where the Royal Canadian Regiment suffered devastating casualties.

Visit the Dieppe Canadian War Cemetery in Hautot-Sur-Mer, located on the outskirts of Dieppe. This cemetery is unique, with headstones placed back-to-back in long double rows, reflecting a German cemetery design. This layout remains as it was established in August 1942 while Dieppe remained under German control until its liberation by the Royal Regiment of Canada on September 1, 1944. The sacrifices here are sobering: 916 Canadians lost their lives, and 1,946 were captured and held as prisoners of war.

Return to the hotel in the evening and enjoy dinner at a restaurant of your choice.

Day 7 – Friday, November 7 (B/D)
Enjoy breakfast at the hotel before check out and board the coach for the journey to Bayeux. Upon arrival, enjoy some free time to purchase lunch before meeting your local guide for a walking tour of this charming and historic town. Following the tour, check in at the Grand Hotel du Luxembourg, where you will stay for five nights. Take some time to freshen up and relax before gathering for a group dinner at a nearby restaurant.

Day 8 – Saturday, November 8 (B)
After a buffet breakfast at the hotel, board the coach and depart Bayeux for Courseulles-sur-Mer, home to the Juno Beach Centre—Canada’s Second World War Museum and Cultural Centre. This powerful tribute honours the 45,000 Canadians who lost their lives during the war, including 5,500 during the Battle of Normandy and 359 on D-Day alone. Enjoy a guided tour of the beach and bunkers with a Canadian student guide to gain further insight into this historic site.

Next, board the coach and transfer to Courseulles-sur-Mer, where you will have time to purchase lunch at Hotel de Paris or a restaurant of your choice.

The journey continues to Bernières-sur-Mer for a visit to Canada House (formerly Queen’s Own Rifles House), one of the most iconic landmarks in Canadian military history. As one of the first houses liberated by Canadian soldiers on D-Day, June 6, 1944, Canada House stands as a powerful symbol, famously featured in many black-and-white photographs capturing the landings. Around this area, more than 100 Canadian soldiers were killed or wounded within the first minutes of the invasion (visit tentative based on operating schedule).

Afterward, stop at Beny-sur-Mer Canadian War Cemetery, the final resting place of many Canadians who fought in the Battle of Normandy. The tour also includes a visit to Abbaye d’Ardennes, a poignant Canadian War Memorial marking the site where 20 Canadian soldiers were executed.

Return to the hotel in the evening, where dinner and the remainder of the night will be at your leisure.

Day 9 – Sunday, November 9 (B)
After a buffet breakfast at the hotel, board the coach for a full day of touring the historic D-Day Beaches, including Sword Beach, St. Aubin, and Gold Beach, where pivotal events of June 6, 1944, unfolded.

Continue to Arromanches, where you will visit Arromanches 360, an immersive experience featuring the story of the 100 days of the Battle of Normandy projected on nine panoramic screens. Afterward, enjoy some free time to purchase lunch in Arromanches.

In the late afternoon, travel to Rots for a stop at Ferme Billy. Enjoy a tour of this local farm and a tasting of Calvados, the renowned apple brandy of Normandy.

Board the coach and return to Bayeux, where you will have dinner and the remainder of the evening at your leisure.

Day 10 – Monday, November 10 (B)
After breakfast at the hotel, enjoy a free day to explore at your own pace. Several suggested activities are available for those interested (rates to be advised):

• Visit the famous Bayeux Tapestry, an incredible 11th-century embroidery depicting the Norman conquest of England.
• Take a day trip to the stunning Mont Saint-Michel, a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of France’s most iconic landmarks.
• Meet your guide for a scenic drive to Bernières-sur-Mer, followed by a beach walk focusing on the natural surroundings. Continue to Courseulles-sur-Mer, where you will have some free time before returning to Bayeux. (This option is limited to a maximum of 7 participants.)

The remainder of the day is yours to relax and enjoy as you wish.

Day 11 – Tuesday, November 11 (B/pL) 
After breakfast at the hotel, pick up your packed lunch before departing for Courseulles-sur-Mer to attend the morning Remembrance Ceremony, a solemn tribute to those who served and sacrificed.

Enjoy your packed lunch before attending the afternoon Remembrance Ceremony at the Juno Beach Centre. Following the ceremony, take part in a cocktail reception to commemorate the occasion.

Board the coach and return to Bayeux, where you will have the evening to purchase dinner at a restaurant of your choice.

Day 12 – Wednesday, November 12 (B/pL/D)
After breakfast at the hotel, pick up your packed lunch and check out before boarding the coach for Giverny. Visit the beautiful home and gardens of Claude Monet, where the artist found inspiration for many of his masterpieces.

Enjoy your packed lunch in the picturesque setting of Giverny before continuing your journey to Paris. Upon arrival, check in at the Novotel Paris Centre Bercy for a three-night stay.

In the evening, gather for a group dinner at the hotel or a nearby restaurant.

Day 13 – Thursday, November 13 (B)
After breakfast at the hotel, meet your guide and set off on a guided coach tour of Paris, taking in the city’s most iconic sights.

The afternoon is yours to explore at your leisure, with a 2-day metro pass provided for Zones 1–3. You may wish to consider the following activities: stroll along the Champs Elysées, climb the Arc de Triomphe, visit Notre Dame Cathedral, or visit the Eiffel Tower. In the afternoon there will be an optional visit to the Palace of Versailles (rates to be advised).

In the evening, enjoy dinner at a restaurant of your choice.

Day 14 – Friday, November 14 (B/D)
After breakfast at the hotel, enjoy a day of independent sightseeing in Paris. You may wish to explore the following suggested activities: visit Montmartre, cruise the Seine River on the Bateaux Parisiens, or visit the Louvre or the Musée d’Orsay.

In the evening, gather with your group for a farewell dinner to celebrate the experiences and memories shared during your journey.

Day 15 – Saturday, November 15 (B/M)
Today, we say farewell to France as we board our flight to Toronto, ON. Thank you for joining us on this memorable journey!

B – Breakfast / pB – Packed Breakfast / L – Lunch / pL – Packed Lunch / D – Dinner /

M – Airline Meal / S – Snack

(denote meals included in tour cost)

*Itinerary is tentative and subject to final confirmation*

$7,839 – $7,939 (20 – 24 travellers)

$9,035 – $9,135 (15 – 19 travellers)

PAYMENT REQUIREMENTS: 

• Online Tour Registration Deadline – February 28, 2025
• Online Payment Registration Deadline – March 10, 2025
• 1st payment of $1,500 per person plus optional insurance cost is due – March 18, 2025
• 2nd payment of $3000 per person is due – May 1, 2025
• Deviation request and booking deadline – May 1, 2025
• Final payment due – August 3, 2025

CLICK HERE TO VIEW TERMS & CONDITIONS

Neil Orford, President & Co-Founder of Defining Moments

Neil is a retired History Teacher, from Dufferin County, Ontario. A winner of both the Governor General’s and Ontario Premier’s Award for History Teaching, his Digital Historian Project© won the 2015 Government of Canada History Award. He has been featured on CBC’s “The National”, TVO’s “The Agenda”, and in numerous articles across Canada. He has written for major Canadian publications and is a regular presenter at Conferences and workshops. He has worked extensively with the Juno Beach Centre and has led a Summer Institute for History teachers in Normandy. Neil is the owner and president of Defining Moments Canada, Ltd.