Mercat Tours International

School Tour

The WWI Battlefield Experience

6 Day guided tour in the footsteps of the fallen of WWI.

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Package

Path 354.svg Experienced Mercat Tours International guide

Group 511.svg All transport to and from departure point

Group 509.svg All accommodation

Group 510.svg Dinner, breakfast and packed lunch options

Group 508.svg Free entry to all museums and sites on the itinerary

From £695 Per Person

Tour rates vary based on the type of group, time of year, and accommodation preferences. For a customised itinerary and pricing, please contact us directly.

Overview

During World War I, the battles fought around Ypres and along the Somme claimed the lives of millions of men from across the globe. Many had eagerly enlisted in the War’s opening months, unable to imagine the horrors that awaited them as the brutal realities of the Western Front emerged.

On our World War I Battlefield Experience, students step into the footsteps — and the minds — of the men and women who fought and died there. Through immersive learning, they explore not only the human stories of courage and loss, but also the War’s enduring impact on society, the landscape, and the generations who lived through its aftermath.

What To Expect

Hear stories of bravery, tragedy, luck and suffering in the very places they happened.

Visit the mighty monuments to the missing at Thiepval and the Menin Gate

Be challenged to think critically while exploring themes of resilience, sacrifice, community and strength of character

Be part of the legacy of remembrance at Last Post Ceremony at the Menin Gate, and in the sombre cemeteries of the Western Front

Come away with strengthened confidence, independence, friendships and critical skills for the future

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Menin Gate, Ypres

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Memorial to the Missing, located near Ypres

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Itinerary

We take care of all the logistics for the 6-day tours. Including travel, accommodation, and meals to ensure students and teachers can fully enjoy the history, culture, and unforgettable moments.

Day 1

Departure 
In the evening, we’ll leave school and travel overnight by coach to Dover.

Day 2

Arrival 
After taking the ferry across to Dunkirk in the morning, we’ll head to Brugge for a visit, then arrive at our accommodation later in the day.

Day 3

Ypres Salient, South 
We’ll explore key sites in the southern part of the Ypres Salient, including Messines, the Pool of Peace, the Sanctuary Wood Museum, Menin Road, Hill 60, and Black Watch Corner.

Day 4

France and the Somme Battlefields
Visit Newfoundland Park, the Ulster Tower, Thiepval, Dartmoor Cemetery, Lochnagar Crater and Vimy Ridge.

Day 5

Ypres Salient, North
Visit Essex Farm, Poelkapelle, Passchendaele, Tyne Cot, Langemark and Ypres, before attending the Menin Gate Ceremony.

Day 6

Return
Depart the accommodation and travel to Dover for the morning ferry crossing. Lunch and an evening meal at service stations en route (not included in the package). Arrive at the school in the evening.

Do You Have Questions?

MTI are fully compliant with Package Travel Regulations 2018 by using Protected Trust Services which ringfences funds securely, up until the tour date and only releases funds upon return. With this assurance in place, MTI are not ABTA/ATOL members.

The minimum number of students required is 25.  The smaller the group, the more expensive the trip becomes - but most groups average about 35 students. We have a maximum of 40 students per coach to ensure maximum comfort for all on board, however we can book you multiple coaches for larger groups. One school who travel with us take up to five coaches! 

There is one free place for an adult per ten students. Usually this means all teachers go free.

We will ask you to advise us of any specific needs within your group, including any dietary, medical and mobility needs.  We understand that not all additional support needs are physical. We ask early in the booking process to ensure these needs are factored in at all stages of your trip.

Simply submit an enquiry form online and one of our team will be in touch with a proposed itinerary and initial costings. Payment of the deposit (£100 per paying member) to secure the booking is required no later than 9 months before the departure date.

All travellers will require their own Passport and GHIC card.  Any non UK, non-Irish travellers may require an ETA and/or visas.
There are plans to introduce a new scheme, ETIAS, in the near future - if this is required we will let you know.  You can find out more about each of these documents by clicking the links above.

Please refer to the official Government website for guidance on passport requirements after Brexit. Please note this information is updated regularly.

Our tour itineraries are carefully designed to provide a comprehensive look back at the history, making the most of the group's time with us. 
 

The days are packed full of opportunities to learn, connect and engage with the stories, and our guides are always happy to be flexible to the needs of the group to ensure the tour is being pitched appropriately.  However, it is our overwhelming experience that students become absorbed by our guides' storytelling, responding meaningfully to the places we visit and the various stimuli and resources they will encounter.  This is strongly reflected in both the student and teacher evaluations and feedback, and it is regularly reported that students talk about their experience long after their return.  We recognise that it is a busy few days, and so down time is factored into each day.

Your tour pack will include a kit list, which varies depending on weather and time of year. You should bring a small overnight bag for travel, as all main luggage will be kept on the coach until you arrive at your accommodation.  If travelling on the overnight ferry, we would suggest including toiletries, essential medications, phone chargers, a change of clothes, and PJs. Check out our Packing List.

Yes.  We have risk assessments for all sites visited - will share as part of your Tour Pack when you book.

There is no specific limit. However you may need to carry all your belongings a short distance from the coach drop off point to your accommodation, so please bear this in mind!

Seats and seatbelts, toilet for emergency use/medical requirement/ AV equipment for guide/educational use during your trip. Not all coahes have USB charging ports.

We happily invite anyone on our tours to let us know of any relatives who are buried or commemorated at any of the sites on the itinerary. The information you provide will be shared with your guide, who will make efforts to research the relative(s) and gather any additional information in time for the tour. We will do our best to arrange a visit to the site(s) where the relatives are buried or commemorated. However, please note that this will depend on time, traffic, and weather conditions. We also invite schools to let us know of any former pupils who are buried or commemorated at any of these sites.

Reviews

Don’t take our word for it. Read our customer reviews

"Thanks so much for this amazing trip and for helping me understand about The Great War. Thanks for some of the stories of the soldiers who fought there. You have definitely changed me."

Dominic, Edinburgh Academy

The WWI Battlefield Experience

"Thank you greatly for what you taught me. Not only do I respect the men who died for us but I also respect you for showing us there is more to find if you look deeper."

Holly, Dunbar Grammar

The WWI Battlefield Experience

"We have learned more on this trip than all previous trips to The Western Front put together. Excellent organisation. Will recommend this ‘experience’ to others."

Mr Ian Gourlay

The WWI Battlefield Experience

Exceptional Tours.
Historic Storytelling.

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