ANZAC Day on the Western Front 2012
Number of days: 10 Days
Departs from: Paris
Avg distance travelled / day: 94 kms
Ramparts Cemetery, Ypres
Tour Reviews for ANZAC Commemorative Tours
My wife and I returned from our Western Front Tour that culminated with the Anzac Day Dawn Service on the 25th and the following day 26th April 2008 Anzac Memorial Service both at Villers_Bretonneux. I would like you to know just how professionally our tour was conducted. We believe that our Tour Leader was exemplary in his knowledge of the battlefields we visited and the way in which he cared and conducted the tour for all who participated. Our tour leader was joined by an Army Historian in Roger Lee, who has an encyclopedic mind in all things Army and what happened on the Western front and no doubt beyond that. They were formidable as a team and made the Great War come alive before our very eyes in what was an altogether unforgettable and moving experience.
M & G D from VIC
Overall we felt that the tour (ANZAC Day on the Western Front)was very good value, extremely well carried out and offering sound and excellent knowledge in all aspects - this tour far exceeded our expectations.
B & N R
The highlights of this tour was standing in the field somewhere near Villers where my grandfather had been wounded in 1918. The flexibility of the tour manager and bus driver to go out of their way to help me find my special place was wonderful! This trip was more than I imagined and was a wonderful journey for me. I could never have understood what really happened without the knowledge of Dr Richard Reid. He was patient, informative and very interested in helping all on the bus find their information. Funny at times and emotional in his story telling. Thank you for a wonderful trip.
R. P.
The war historian was absolutely excellent for this tour and brought the whole ANZAC experience to life in a wonderful way, that was understandable. This tour was the highlight of our 6 weeks away. Getting to and from the ANZAC Day service easily was great too.
M.B.
A most enjoyable and enlightening ANZAC tour giving a detailed insight into this phase of our history. The ANZAC Day Dawn Service was a highlight.
F.A.
Thank you for organizing such a wonderful tour and ensuring that we were able visit the Dernancourt War Cemetery and visit the grave of Bernice’s uncle, which we did. We placed an Australian flag and poppies on the grave, took photos and video taped the visit.
Overall, we felt the tours were excellent and value for its cost was reasonable. Our tour guide was outstanding. His military knowledge, the information that he provided and his presentation was excellent. At all times we felt safe and were kept fully informed. His leadership was outstanding.
Our hotels were of a very high standard as was our coach and driver.
This was our 11th overseas tour we have done and regard this tour as being outstanding – everything went perfectly. We are telling all our friends about this tour. We are delighted to be able to endorse it.
Once again, thanks to Albatross for such a wonderful and memorable experience.
N & B R from NSW
We recently undertook your ANZAC Day on the Western Front tour and judged it the very best tour we [as veteran travellers] have ever experienced.
A large part of this credit must go to Historian Dr. Richard Reid but most especially to your Tour Manager Alan Forbes! He was just outstanding..nothing was too much for him,his extensive knowledge so well complemented that of Richard, their team work was perfect.
In addition when we [foolishly] left behind valuables at our Ypres hotel. Alan took it upon himself to take a train back from Amiens, in his own time, in the evening to collect our valuables. This kind of service is just extraordinary!
Furthermore,when Alan was aware that we had hoped our tour would take us near the grave of a Great uncle and when this was not the case he organized a local car driver out of Amiens and accompanied us back some 40-50k into France and found the particular cemetery and grave.[again in the evening in his own time] We cannot say enough thanks to this excellent member of your organization. We are considering a further tour to the battlefields and we will attempt to join one where Alan is the Tour Manager.
Thank you for the tour of a lifetime... and special thanks to Alan!
Peter and Sandra
Just to let you know that we really enjoyed the "All Quiet on the Western Front" Tour. The selection of hotels was very good. The coach was very comfortable and the driver amazing maneuvering the huge coach down cobbled narOrganisation for the Dawn Service went like clockwork. A truly wonderful experience.
We just wanted to thank you very much for all your hard work and thoroughness with our bookings. It made our travels very enjoyable.
B & B D
The tour was everything I expected. I did a tour to Gallipoli in 2010 and was impressed with Albatross then. My opinion is unchanged. Both Alan and Richard did their best to give everyone a wonderful experience.
Pauline
I really enjoyed the tour. Allan our tour manager was always good with making sure all was explained about each day. He gave us great personal knowledge about dining out, shopping and added valuable insight to our tour guide. Richard brought the tour to life providing much more than just information. He was thought provoking and gave us all an insight to the real meaning of it all - the everyday people who found themselves here fighting this war. Our bus driver Marcus is to be commended for driving us around this difficult landscape and country roads. I think you would be hard pressed to find any better combination. You are lucky to have such a great team. I will be recommending this tour to friends and family. Thank you.
Bonita
The highlight of the tour was having Dr Richard Reid as the historian on our coach. Richard's knowledge of the Western Front and and Australian history was a delight to behold. It was given in such a humorous and interesting way that it all came alive to us all in great detail.
Edward
This was an fantastic tour with Richard Reid and Alan Forbes making it so wonderful with their expert input. Everything that we saw was presented in such a way by Richard that we felt like we were there when it occurred. When I am planning on another tour I will be in contact with you.
Tom
This was my second tour with Albatross and Richard. I cannot speak highly enough of his good humour and knowledge. His patience with a bunch of Australians as we covered the undulating countryside, recalling many poignant moments in Australian military history made the tour such a memorable experience. Alan's organisational skills were unsurpassed and was greatly appreciated.
Ken
Historian Richard Reid was fantastic. His knowledge of each cemetery and or related battles was unbelieveable and coupled with stories about individual soldiers added a very moving and personal note to each site. All the locations we visited were worthwhile. Choice and location of the hotels and the balance of touring and free time was great.
David
Excellent tour! Richard Reid is amazingly knowledgeable and personable and really made the tour. The flexibility with the private visits were handled well and the included food was great.
Yvonne
I really enjoyed the tour. It was well balanced in terms of free and planned time. Richard Reid was extroardinary. Allan's experience and knowledge both in the battlefields and in managing the group was excellent. All in all a great experience.
Leanne
On the anniversary of our most unforgettable tours of Gallipoli and the Western Front warmest regards to all for all that you did for us. We will never forget the tour and your kindness in 2009.
C & M B, Bradford VIC
Come share our love of Europe
Number of days: 10 Days
Departs from: Paris
Avg distance travelled / day: 94 kms
Ramparts Cemetery, Ypres
My wife and I returned from our Western Front Tour that culminated with the Anzac Day Dawn Service on the 25th and the following day 26th April 2008 Anzac Memorial Service both at Villers_Bretonneux. I would like you to know just how professionally our tour was conducted. We believe that our Tour Leader was exemplary in his knowledge of the battlefields we visited and the way in which he cared and conducted the tour for all who participated. Our tour leader was joined by an Army Historian in Roger Lee, who has an encyclopedic mind in all things Army and what happened on the Western front and no doubt beyond that. They were formidable as a team and made the Great War come alive before our very eyes in what was an altogether unforgettable and moving experience.
M & G D from VIC
Overall we felt that the tour (ANZAC Day on the Western Front)was very good value, extremely well carried out and offering sound and excellent knowledge in all aspects - this tour far exceeded our expectations.
B & N R
The highlights of this tour was standing in the field somewhere near Villers where my grandfather had been wounded in 1918. The flexibility of the tour manager and bus driver to go out of their way to help me find my special place was wonderful! This trip was more than I imagined and was a wonderful journey for me. I could never have understood what really happened without the knowledge of Dr Richard Reid. He was patient, informative and very interested in helping all on the bus find their information. Funny at times and emotional in his story telling. Thank you for a wonderful trip.
R. P.
The war historian was absolutely excellent for this tour and brought the whole ANZAC experience to life in a wonderful way, that was understandable. This tour was the highlight of our 6 weeks away. Getting to and from the ANZAC Day service easily was great too.
M.B.
A most enjoyable and enlightening ANZAC tour giving a detailed insight into this phase of our history. The ANZAC Day Dawn Service was a highlight.
F.A.
Thank you for organizing such a wonderful tour and ensuring that we were able visit the Dernancourt War Cemetery and visit the grave of Bernice’s uncle, which we did. We placed an Australian flag and poppies on the grave, took photos and video taped the visit.
Overall, we felt the tours were excellent and value for its cost was reasonable. Our tour guide was outstanding. His military knowledge, the information that he provided and his presentation was excellent. At all times we felt safe and were kept fully informed. His leadership was outstanding.
Our hotels were of a very high standard as was our coach and driver.
This was our 11th overseas tour we have done and regard this tour as being outstanding – everything went perfectly. We are telling all our friends about this tour. We are delighted to be able to endorse it.
Once again, thanks to Albatross for such a wonderful and memorable experience.
N & B R from NSW
We recently undertook your ANZAC Day on the Western Front tour and judged it the very best tour we [as veteran travellers] have ever experienced.
A large part of this credit must go to Historian Dr. Richard Reid but most especially to your Tour Manager Alan Forbes! He was just outstanding..nothing was too much for him,his extensive knowledge so well complemented that of Richard, their team work was perfect.
In addition when we [foolishly] left behind valuables at our Ypres hotel. Alan took it upon himself to take a train back from Amiens, in his own time, in the evening to collect our valuables. This kind of service is just extraordinary!
Furthermore,when Alan was aware that we had hoped our tour would take us near the grave of a Great uncle and when this was not the case he organized a local car driver out of Amiens and accompanied us back some 40-50k into France and found the particular cemetery and grave.[again in the evening in his own time] We cannot say enough thanks to this excellent member of your organization. We are considering a further tour to the battlefields and we will attempt to join one where Alan is the Tour Manager.
Thank you for the tour of a lifetime... and special thanks to Alan!
Peter and Sandra
Just to let you know that we really enjoyed the "All Quiet on the Western Front" Tour. The selection of hotels was very good. The coach was very comfortable and the driver amazing maneuvering the huge coach down cobbled narOrganisation for the Dawn Service went like clockwork. A truly wonderful experience.
We just wanted to thank you very much for all your hard work and thoroughness with our bookings. It made our travels very enjoyable.
B & B D
The tour was everything I expected. I did a tour to Gallipoli in 2010 and was impressed with Albatross then. My opinion is unchanged. Both Alan and Richard did their best to give everyone a wonderful experience.
Pauline
I really enjoyed the tour. Allan our tour manager was always good with making sure all was explained about each day. He gave us great personal knowledge about dining out, shopping and added valuable insight to our tour guide. Richard brought the tour to life providing much more than just information. He was thought provoking and gave us all an insight to the real meaning of it all - the everyday people who found themselves here fighting this war. Our bus driver Marcus is to be commended for driving us around this difficult landscape and country roads. I think you would be hard pressed to find any better combination. You are lucky to have such a great team. I will be recommending this tour to friends and family. Thank you.
Bonita
The highlight of the tour was having Dr Richard Reid as the historian on our coach. Richard's knowledge of the Western Front and and Australian history was a delight to behold. It was given in such a humorous and interesting way that it all came alive to us all in great detail.
Edward
This was an fantastic tour with Richard Reid and Alan Forbes making it so wonderful with their expert input. Everything that we saw was presented in such a way by Richard that we felt like we were there when it occurred. When I am planning on another tour I will be in contact with you.
Tom
This was my second tour with Albatross and Richard. I cannot speak highly enough of his good humour and knowledge. His patience with a bunch of Australians as we covered the undulating countryside, recalling many poignant moments in Australian military history made the tour such a memorable experience. Alan's organisational skills were unsurpassed and was greatly appreciated.
Ken
Historian Richard Reid was fantastic. His knowledge of each cemetery and or related battles was unbelieveable and coupled with stories about individual soldiers added a very moving and personal note to each site. All the locations we visited were worthwhile. Choice and location of the hotels and the balance of touring and free time was great.
David
Excellent tour! Richard Reid is amazingly knowledgeable and personable and really made the tour. The flexibility with the private visits were handled well and the included food was great.
Yvonne
I really enjoyed the tour. It was well balanced in terms of free and planned time. Richard Reid was extroardinary. Allan's experience and knowledge both in the battlefields and in managing the group was excellent. All in all a great experience.
Leanne
On the anniversary of our most unforgettable tours of Gallipoli and the Western Front warmest regards to all for all that you did for us. We will never forget the tour and your kindness in 2009.
C & M B, Bradford VIC
Come share our love of Europe
