Battlefields of the Royal Regina Rifles: Tour Itinerary
Day 1 – 4 July…Depart Canada for Paris from Toronto.
Day 2 – 5 July …We arrive in Paris, collect our vans and then drive to Normandy. Depending on jet lag we will visit the airborne landing areas on the way. We will be staying at the Moulin Morin Inn near Bayeux.
Day 3 – 6 July … After a visit to the Mulberry harbour at Arromanches, Juno Beach is our destination today. We will focus on the Regina Rifles’ landing at Courseulles, but will visit all the Canadian landing beaches, and the Juno Beach Centre.
Day 4 – 7 July … We will look at the crucial Regina Rifle battle for Bretteville l’Orgeuilleuse in detail and then visit the Beny-sur-Mer cemetery. We will also see the site of a possible 7th Brigade memorial at Secqueville.
Day 5 – 8 July …Today we will look at the American experience on the beaches as we visit Pointe du Hoc and Omaha Beach as well as the impressive American Cemetery.
Day 6 – 9 July …Today we will visit the Memorial Museum in Caen and also look at the battles of Operation Charnwood that saw the Regina Rifles capture the Abbaye d’Ardenne. Following that we will look the role of the Regina Rifles in Operation Atlantic and their fight for Vaucelles.
Day 7 – 10 July … This will be a free day in Bayeux to see the famous tapestry or one of the many museums.
Day 8– 11 July … We will look at the Totalize battlefield and then examine the Rifles’ part in Operation Tractable before touring the Falaise Gap. We will end the day with a visit to to Bretteville-sur-Laize cemetery.
Day 9 – 12 July … We will leave Lower Normandy and look at the Seine River crossings before ending our day in the seaport of Dieppe. Our hotel will be the Mercure.
Day 10 – 13 July …Today we will look at the part the Rifles played in reducing the massive bunkers around Calais. We will visit the Calais war cemetery and stop off in this city for the night. Our hotel will be the Mercure
Day 11 - 14 July … We will depart France and head for Bruges, in Belgium. On the way we will stop at the Vimy Memorial. Our hotel in Bruges will be the t’Putje.
Day 12 - 15 July … A free day today in the amazing and beautiful city of Bruges
Day 13 – 16 July... Today we will look at the bitter battles for the Leopold Canal, and the clearing of the Breskens Pocket. At the end of the day we will visit Adegam cemetery and the impressive Canada Museum in Maldegam.
Day 14 – 17 July... We leave Bruges and head for Arnhem. On the way we will stop at the Bergen-op-Zoom cemetery. Our hotel in Arnhem will be the Best Western Haarhuis.
Day 15 – 18 July... Operation Veritable and the clearing of the flooded ground on the northern flank that earned the nickname “Water Rats” for the 3rd Division will the morning’s subject. In the afternoon we will tour Moyland Wood.
Day 16 – 19 July... The crossing of the Rhine, the Rifles battle for Emmerich and the Groesbeek cemetery will be our subjects today. We will also visit the Liberation museum in Groesbeek.
Day 17 – 20 July... We will look at the famous Battle of Arnhem, visiting the drop zones, the Airborne Cemetery and the Museum in Oosterbeek as well as the famous bridge site.
Day 18 – 21 July... After crossing the Rhine we will look at the Regina Rifle assault on Zutphen and Deventer. Following a visit to Holten Cemetery we will then move to Groningen, our base for the rest of our stay in the Netherlands. Our hotel in the Mercure.
Day 19 – 22 July... Today we will examine the Rifles battles North of Groningen on the approach to Delfzijl; then enter Germany and look at the crossing of the Ems River and the assault on Leer.
Day 20– 23 July... Our last day on the battlefields will see us in Aurich, Germany where the war ended for the Regina Rifles. On our way back to Groningen we will stop at the Westerbork Transit Camp museum.
Day 21 – 24 July... Today we will drive to Amsterdam where we will have the rest of the day to explore this amazing city. Our hotel is the Ibis at the train station.
Day 22 – 25 July... A full day to tour the many museums and canals of Amsterdam is on order today. Our final dinner together will be in this city liberated by Canadians.
Day 23 – 26 July... We depart early for the airport from the hotel. Those of you staying on will find easy train, car rental, or air connections at the airport
Tour Price from
Toronto
$5,800 – (per
person, Double occupancy)
(single supplement: $600 – limited availability)
Price subject to change.
Price includes:
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return air travel to Europe
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breakfast daily
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all travel by 9 passenger van
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local sightseeing
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accommodation as shown in the itinerary
lservices
of historian/guides:
l related materials including articles, maps and air photographs
l final banquet
Not Included:
l travel to point of departure
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travel insurance
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lunches and dinners
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items of a personal nature such as beverages
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admissions to museums and other attractions.
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supplemental guided tours.
Note:
limited single room availability – “first come, first
served”