Battlefield Tours

There are a select number of battlefield tours that every military history enthusiast should experience. Here we list six of the finest, most reasonably priced, worldwide tours available.

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Military History Tours

Here at Military History Tours (MHT) we take great pride in what we do. We are experts in each of our chosen fields and we wish to share this knowledge with you. At MHT we encourage everyone to read and view as much as possible. But only by walking in the footsteps of those who were there can one get a real insight into what went on. You have to live the history, and MHT it is all about the experience. Naturally we take care of all local accommodation, transport, and entrances, but what sets us aside is our on-the-ground knowledge and contacts, established over many years, that enable you to really get under the surface of your chosen subject matter. MHT believes this experience is enhanced by only taking low group numbers, typically 8-12. Importantly, we do not penalise the lone traveller and MHT has very low single room supplements. MHT takes guests on trips as diverse as The Christmas Truce to Colditz Castle, from Hitler’s Eagles Nest to the location of Archduke Franz Ferdinand’s assassination in Sarajevo. MHT has a diverse and comprehensive range of 19th and 20th century trips to enable an experience of a lifetime for anyone and everyone.

TEL: 0845 8350644 EMAIL: info@militaryhistorytours.co.uk WEB: www.militaryhistorytours.co.uk

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Kirker Holidays

Kirker will be marking the Centenary of WWI with two different escorted tours and a study weekend in Oxford.

In early June, Dr Neil Faulkner will lead our tour to Turkey, which will not only explore the landing beaches of the Gallipoli campaign but will also visit ancient Troy and the fascinating city of Istanbul.

In the autumn, military historian Hugh Macdonald-Buchanan will lead two tours of the Western Front, which will include visits to Amiens, Arras, and Ypres as well as the battlefields and cemeteries associated with some of the most iconic and bitterly-fought struggles of the conflict.

Each historian will also present a series of talks on different aspects of the war during our study weekend at Oxford’s Wolfson College in July. They will be joined by biographer Peter Parker and several leading musicians who will perform two very special song recitals.

TEL: 020 7593 2284 EMAIL: travel@kirkerholidays.co.uk WEB: www.kirkerholidays.com

AVAILABLE TOURS:

• Istanbul & Gallipoli – An eight night holiday departing 3 June 2014
• An Insight into the Great War – A three night holiday at Wolfson College, Oxford. 4 July 2014
• The Western Front – Six night holidays departing on 29 September and 15 October 2014

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Battle Honours – Award Winning Battlefield Tours

We walk the ground, without doubt the best way to study a battlefield. By actually following in the footsteps of our past, we reach spots off the beaten track and quiet reflective areas inaccessible to large coach parties. Your tour will be limited to 20 participants, ensuring a quality guide to client ratio.

We guarantee personal visits and factor these into the walks. By offering an in-depth study of the ground we place any cemetery visit or fading photograph into perspective. By remembering one we remember them all. Our guides are not just guides, they are renowned authorities in their fields.

Our tours led by experts such as Clive Harris, Gary Sheffield, Gordon Corrigan, Andrew Robertshaw, and Jack Sheldon. Your guide will be GBG Badged, an author, and often both.

TEL: 01438 791020 EMAIL: enquiries@battle-honours.co.uk WEB: www.battle-honours.co.uk

AVAILABLE TOURS:

• 1/5 June 2014 – Command on the Western Front with Gary Sheffield & Clive Harris
• 22/26 June 2014 – Walking Arras with Clive Harris & Jon Nicholls
• 13/17 July 2014 - The German Army with Jack Sheldon & Mike Sheil
• 7/11 September 2014 – Mons to St Quentin with Clive Harris

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Guided Battlefield Tours

At Guided Battlefield Tours, our greatest recommendation is the number of returning guests on each tour.

Alongside our wide range of WWI and WWII tours, we are marking next year’s centenary with a number of special tours, including the Retreat from Mons and Armistice Day in Ypres. The cost of the tours includes all travel from the pickup point, bed and breakfast accommodation in 3* or 4* hotels, refreshments each day, and entry to all museums. There are no hidden costs.

We pride ourselves on providing a quality, personal experience at a reasonable price. You will be accompanied by a specialist guide along with a tour manager who will ensure your comfort and the smooth running of the tour. Your guide will be aware of any special interest which you have and we are happy to talk to you about the service of a relative.

TEL: 01633 258207 EMAIL: info@guidedbattlefieldtours.co.uk WEB: www.guidedbattlefieldtours.co.uk

AVAILABLE TOURS: 

• Retreat from Mons
• Armistice Day in Ypres

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Battleground Tours Ltd

Battleground Tours Ltd is a small, friendly, independent company specialising in tours of the battlefields of France and Belgium. All our tours are personally led by company owner Nigel Dunkerley, who has an MA in British First World War Studies. Battles are essentially about politics and people, and we tell of the human experience in the context of war, providing thought provoking content for all our tour participants. In June, July, and November we will visit the Somme to consider the events before, and including, 1 July 1916. We will explore how the British developed their fighting tactics that summer to fight the Germans successfully later in the war. Also this summer we will tour the Ypres Salient, a poignant symbol of the British contribution to the war, to tell some of the history of the men who fought and the different battles that took place there throughout the war.

TEL: 01457 337950 EMAIL: nigel@battlegroundtours.co.uk WEB: www.battlegroundtours.co.uk

AVAILABLE TOURS: The Somme 1916: 5-8 June 2014, 10-13 July 2014, 20-23 November 2014 The Ypres Salient: 31 July-3 August 2014, 3-6 September 2014

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Holts Battlefields and History Tours

Although much has changed in the world of travel since the first Holts Tour over 30 years ago, visiting places ofhistoric interest remains a most rewarding experience. Our 2014 programme is packed with the usual wide variety of tours. As always, popular regular tours such as It’s A Long Way To Tipperary, Zulu War, D-Day and Salerno, Casino, and Anzio are featured, as well as anniversary tours The Retreat from Mons, Napoleon in France 1814, Vercors & the French Resistance 1944, Arnhem 1944, and the Christmas Truce 1914. These days it is often not clear what youare getting for your money; we have always thought it important that there are no hidden costs, and so much is included inthe price that each tour represents excellent value for money. We are fully bonded with ABTA and ATOL for your protection. If you would like to receiveour 2014 Battlefields and History brochure, please telephone our office or request a brochure via our website.

TEL: 01293 865000 WEB: www.holts.co.uk

AVAILABLE TOURS: • Franco Prussian War • Trench Warfare • Normandy Breakout Battles • Irish Rebellions • Hadrian’s Wall • Women On the Western Front • Northumberland Battles • Stuarts in the West Country • Dambusters • Leige Forts • Crimean Battles • Somme Walks • Medieval Venice • Leipzig Colditz and Berlin • Richard III

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To see this feature as it appeared in issue 43 of Military History Matters, click here.