Belgian Highlights – 5 Days / 4 Nights

Bruges is renowned as being one of Europe's best preserved mediaeval cities.  It is compact with lots of character and charm including cobbled streets and a maze of waterways.  The half timbered houses provide the fairytale setting for our special break.

Suggested Holiday Hotels:

Our base the 3* Novotel Bruges Centrum is in the centre of the historic city of Bruges.  All rooms are reserved with private bathroom, hairdryer, satellite TV, mini bar (extra charge.)
Hotel features include restaurant, lounge bar and outdoor heated pool (subject to weather conditions). 

Suggested Tour Itinerary:

Day 1
Depart during the morning by coach and travel south, making an appropriate comfort stop en-route to Dover, arriving in time to board an early afternoon ferry crossing to Calais. From Calais we continue our journey to Bruges, arriving during the early evening at our hotel – the Novotel Bruges Centrum, where accommodation is reserved for four nights on a bed & breakfast basis. A 3-course buffet style evening meal is included this evening.

Day 2
After breakfast a local guide will meet the group at the hotel at approx. 10.30 hrs for a 2 hour guided walking tour of Bruges.  Afterwards the remainder of the day is at leisure for you to explore this beautiful city. 

Day 3
The coach will leave at approx. 10.30 hrs for the journey to Ypres.  On arrival, pre-booked entrance is included to the ‘In Flanders Fields Museum’ at 12.00 hrs. where you will have approx. two hours in the museum.  After your visit you will meet a local guide who will accompany you on an afternoon tour of the North Salient.  This will include the Passchendaele area, with a visit to the Essex Farm cemetery and the restored Dressing Station where John McCrae wrote his famous poem ‘In Flanders Fields’.  You continue your journey, visiting the frontline and the Yorkshire Trench and Dug-out, passing by the German cemetery in Langemark, to arrive at the largest British cemetery – Tyne Cot, followed by the French cemetery Saint Charles de Potyze before returning to Ypres at approx. 18.00 hrs. 
A 3-course buffet style evening meal is included at the Novotel Ypres Centrum, after which it is a short walk to the Menin Gate, to witness ‘The Last Post’. Afterwards the coach will leave for the return journey to your hotel. 

Day 4
Your excursion today takes you to the picturesque city of Ghent, where you will meet a guide for a 2 hour walking tour of the city to include the Cathedral, followed by a 40 minute canal cruise. You will then have free time in Ghent.

Day 5
After breakfast, having checked out of the hotel, the coach will then take the group to board the paddle steamer ”Lamme Goedzak”, departing at 10.00 hrs for a 35 minute one way journey from Bruges to Damme. On arrival in Damme you will have time at leisure, before boarding the coach during the early afternoon for the journey to Calais, arriving in time to board a mid/ late afternoon ferry crossing to Dover. From Dover the coach will return to Shropshire, arriving during the late evening.