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Thiepval memorial wreaths

WWI history trip to the Somme Battlefields, Northern France

A bespoke WW1 history tour of the battlefields and memorials of the Western Front taking in Thiepval and Lochnager Crater and staying at our own Moulin aux Draps residential centre near Boulogne.

  • Voyager owned
  • Key stage 2 - 4
  • Year round
  • Evening entertainment
Overview

Visit the battlefields of the Somme for your history school trip

We will create a bespoke WW1 history trip for your school group to encompass the important historical sites and memorials of the first World War in and around the Somme. Most modern history curricula includes the impact and significance of the First World War and our battlefields and memorials school trips are the best way to bring the subject to life. 

Due to the importance of all students understanding  the impact and history of the First World War, many school groups include a day exploring the Somme as part of an Opal Coast cross-curricular tour or include this tour on our French language immersion programme.

The Western Front battle sites in and around the Somme, such as Thiepval and Lochnager Crater, can be arranged as a short trip staying at our own residential centre or combined with a visit to Ypres in Belgium to make a more comprehensive World War 1 battlefields history trip.

We can tailor your itinerary to your unique learning requirements, please contact us for a bespoke quote.

 

Itinerary

This is just an example of one of our history tours, please contact our specialists to create a bespoke itinerary for your teaching objectives.

Day 1

  • Board your coach and depart school for trip to Folkestone
  • Eurotunnel crossing to Calais
  • Visit a local bakery for a fun demonstration and the chance to sample some tasty pastries
  • Visit the beautiful seaside town of Boulogne-Sur-Mer 
  • Arrive at Moulin aux Draps residential centre
  • Evening meal and evening entertainment with our resident animateur

Day 2

  • Thiepval Memorial
  • Newfoundland Memorial Park
  • Lochnagar Crater
  • Evening meal and evening entertainment with our resident animateur

Day 3

  • Fun and adventure at Rando-Rail 
  • Cap Blanc Nez
  • Dover Patrol WWI Monument
  • Return Eurotunnel crossing
  • Arrive back at school
Location

Stay at Voyager's own Moulin aux Draps residential centre

Located less than an hour from Calais and within very easy reach of the stunning Opal Coastline, Boulogne-sur-Mer, Le Touquet, Arras and the WWI battlefields, our Moulin aux Draps centre is the perfect destination for schools looking for an affordable/short French language immersion school trip. The language centre is exclusively for the use of school groups meaning there are few distractions for students.

Our local French staff have considerable experience in looking after British school trips and catering for the needs of British teachers and pupils. The centre is contained within 22 acres of car-free French countryside, giving students plenty of space to run around and let off steam. Supervision is easy as the grounds are within view of the main building and teachers can relax in the evenings as the Voyager team will deliver a programme of evening entertainment for your students.

Click here for more information about this residential centre owned by Voyager School Travel.

Excursions
Rando Rail France
Rando-Rail
Thiepval Memorial to the missing
Thiepval Memorial
Lochnagar Crater
Lochnagar Crater
Boulangerie
Bakery workshop
Boulogne
Boulogne-sur-Mer
Delville Wood Cemetery
Delville Wood Cemetery
Musee Somme 1916
Somme 1916 Museum
Beaumont Hamel Newfoundland Memorial
Beaumont-Hamel Newfoundland Memorial
Etaples Cemetery
Étaples Military Cemetery
Museum of Resistance Boundes
Musée de la Résistance
Pozieres Memorial
Pozières Memorial
Vimy Memorial
Vimy Ridge Memorial
Goats cheese farm
Goat's cheese farm
Rando Rail France

Rando-Rail

Immerse yourselves in the French countryside as you pedal your way along a 10 km-long disused railway track in a 4-person kart! This fun outdoor activity is sure to be a hit among your students, especially if you’re travelling in the summer.

Thiepval Memorial to the missing

© David Nicholls

Thiepval Memorial

The largest British war memorial in the world is known as the "Memorial to the Missing". A moving tribute to the 72,000+ servicemen who died in the Battles of the Somme in WWI.

Lochnagar Crater

Lochnagar Crater

The massive carter was created by the explosion of a mine during the WWI Battle of the Somme. The site has since been preserved to act as a war memorial dedicated to the fallen soldiers.

Boulangerie

© Monica Arellano-Ongpin

Bakery workshop

At a local boulangerie, a baker will perform a baking demonstration for your group in French. Students will walk away with a croissant and a pain au chocolat each!

Boulogne

© openroads.com

Boulogne-sur-Mer

Spend the afternoon in this historic port city wandering the charming streets, sampling the local seafood and spending some time on the sandy beach. Be sure to stop by the impressive cathedral.

Delville Wood Cemetery

Delville Wood Cemetery

This First World War Commonwealth cemetery is notable due to the fact that more than half of the 5,500 buried remain unidentified. The South African National Memorial also faces the site.

Musee Somme 1916

Somme 1916 Museum

Want your students to get a greater understanding of the lives of soldiers during WWI? This museum, where the exhibits are housed in tunnels 10 metres underground, is your best choice.

Beaumont Hamel Newfoundland Memorial

Beaumont-Hamel Newfoundland Memorial

This WWI memorial is on the site where the British Army suffered their worst ever casualties in a single day. A bronze Caribou monument stands as the emblem of the Royal Newfoundland Regiment.

Etaples Cemetery

Étaples Military Cemetery

Étaples Military Cemetery is a Commonwealth War Graves Commission cemetery in Étaples, near Boulogne on the north-west coast of France. The cemetery commemorates over 11,500 lives lost in WWI and WWII.

Museum of Resistance Boundes

Musée de la Résistance

The Museum of Resistance in Bondues is housed in a 19th-century fort that was occupied by German troops in WWI & WWII. Students will learn about the lives of the fighters of the French resistance and how they worked with the British Intelligence Service.

Pozieres Memorial

Pozières Memorial

The village of Pozières was completely destroyed in the WWI Battle of the Somme. This memorial commemorates the more than 14,000 casualties of the battle and is a stark visual reminder of the scale of the loss of life for students.

Vimy Memorial

© Timothy Shawn Hack

Vimy Ridge Memorial

The striking Canadian National Vimy Memorial is dedicated to the memory of the Canadian servicemen who lost their lives in WWI—particularly in the Battle of Vimy Ridge.

Goats cheese farm

Goat's cheese farm

Visit a local goat's cheese farm to meet the goats, find out how cheese is made and try some for yourself!

Included

Our Somme WW1 battlefields school trips include:

  • Board and lodging as specified in your itinerary
  • A detailed itinerary with pre-booked excursions
  • Your choice of return travel; coach travel, with ferry crossing, applicable tolls and taxes included, or return flights and overseas transfers
  • Free teacher to student ratio approx 1:8 (coach trips) / approx 1:10 (air groups)
  • 24-hour emergency support
  • Comprehensive travel insurance
  • Assistance with inspection visits

Extras to budget for:

  • School to airport transfers and meals en route (if required)
  • Visa charges and supplements for small parties, single rooms and additional adults
  • Local tourist taxes which can only be paid in cash to the hotel
  • Entrances other than those specified in your itinerary
  • Hotel damage deposits

 

Resources

Ready-made resources to get your trip off the ground

These ready-made trip resources are designed to reduce your admin and help speed up the process of planning, promoting and getting approval for your trip:

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