Ucango Travel & Cruise Centre's Kelly Bannam recently experienced the Western Front tour with Albatross Tours in Europe. She writes about her experience....
For me, the ideal travel experience is one where I can immerse myself in the local culture, eat some delicious food, have a fantastic adventure, and make some new friends along the way. Albatross’s ANZAC Day on the Western Front tour delivered all of this and then some.
Sombre Services and Moving Memorials
As anyone would with a tour specifically about the Western Front, I was anticipating a somewhat touching experience. But nothing could prepare me for just how deeply moving this tour was. Every single day was enjoyable, but the ANZAC Day dawn service in Villers-Bretonneux was definitely a highlight. The sombre atmosphere here really captures the tragic loss of life that occurred during the campaign on the Western Front. The night service at Menin Gate was another occasion that stands out as something I will always remember from the tour.
More Time to Explore
I think what enabled the tour to be so enriching and comprehensive is the fact that it was longer than just a couple of days. We didn’t move around too much, but we still got to see a fantastic variety of significant locations. The longer stays in each hotel ensured we got to spend real quality time in each area, which is just so important for a tour like this.
Eating and Sleeping in Comfort
After each day of exploring the French or Belgium towns and sites, it was nice to always have a comfortable hotel to come back to. The accommodation chosen was always in a great location too – right in the centre of town! All the meals during the tour were very good. The breakfasts, which were particularly satisfying, always ensured I had plenty of energy for exploring and participating in the day’s activities.
Fantastic Company
I really liked that all the other people in the tour group shared my genuine interest in the Western Front and the general history of the ANZAC soldiers. Travelling with like-minded people really made the experience more enjoyable as there was always someone keen to chat about and reflect on the things we saw and learnt each day.
Of course, our historian Richard was the key person who made the tour as memorable as it was. He was fabulous and so knowledgeable about the area and its historical events; he definitely made a huge contribution to the overall trip being so wonderful.The Itinerary
You can tell a lot of care and thought went into Albatross’s ANZAC Day on the Western Front tour itinerary. It’s full of important sites and towns, yet you never feel like you’re being rushed or missing out on anything important. It’s that this itinerary has been put together by people who are experts on the Western Front who also have a very real passion for the ANZAC history.
If you have an interest in Australia and New Zealand’s involvement on the Western Front, or if you’re just curious to learn about one of history’s most notable war campaigns, I absolutely recommend booking a spot on this tour.- See more at: http://www.albatrosstours.com.au/news/nov-2015/standing-soldiers%E2%80%99-footsteps-moving-moments-western-front#sthash.MfnL7Jla.magQ4gKP.dpuf
Source: Featured on Albatross Tours - Ucango Travel & Cruise Centre's Kelly Bannam
Photo: Australian Department of Defence (Anzac Day on The Western Front)
