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Paths of Remembrance: Honouring Canadians

une aventure humaine et passionnée

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Arras

Albert

4 days / 3 nights

Easy

From March to november

A walking holiday to understand and remember

This short two-day trip invites you to walk in the footsteps of the Canadian soldiers who made history during the First World War. Between Arras and Albert, the hike combines nature, history and contemplation in a landscape where every hill and every white cross is a reminder of the battles of 1917. This circuit, accessible to all history buffs and keen walkers, pays tribute to the men who came from across the Atlantic to defend freedom on the soil of northern France.

Day 1 – Arras and Vimy Ridge: courage and sacrifice

The first day of your hike begins in Arras, a city of art and history, famous for its Baroque squares and underground quarries. From there, the trail leads to Vimy Ridge, an iconic site of Canadian courage. The National Memorial in Vimy, a majestic white stone monument, dominates the landscape and honors the 11,285 Canadian soldiers who fell in France. A visit to the interpretation center and the restored trenches provides a better understanding of the scale of the fighting and the bravery of the Canadian troops during the capture of the ridge in April 1917.

Day 2 – From Thiepval to Albert: shared memories

The second day of this walking tour takes you to the Somme Valley, between Thiepval and Albert, the heart of the 1916 battlefields. Along paths lined with crosses and poppies, you will discover Canadian cemeteries, memorials, and remnants of the front lines. In Thiepval, the imposing Franco-British Memorial recalls the universality of sacrifice, while in Albert, the Somme 1916 Museum offers a moving immersion into the underground galleries of the time. The day ends in an atmosphere of contemplation and gratitude.

Walking to remember

This walking tour “honouring the Canadians” is not just a hike: it is a journey of remembrance and emotion. Walking here means reconnecting with a shared history, feeling the strength of the bond between France and Canada, and appreciating the price of peace. Between wheat fields and silent monuments, hikers share a unique experience marked by respect, transmission, and humanity.

Itinerary

DAY 1 – Arrival in Arras

Arras is a charming historic city, famous for its Flemish Baroque architecture and magnificent lively squares. The Grand’Place and Place des Héros, lined with elegant arcades, offer a unique and friendly atmosphere. Visitors can explore the superb belfry, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, as well as the underground Boves, former chalk quarries that form a veritable underground labyrinth.

Night in Arras

DAY 2 – Loop around Arras

Distance to cover: 14 km (8,7 miles)

You will start the day with a private transfer to Vimy Ridge (20-minute drive). Our driver will drop you off at the new Vimy Visitor Center, where you can get all the information you need. The Canadian Memorial and Vimy Battlefield Park are remarkable. They are well laid out and invite peace. From there, you will walk for 2 to 3 hours to reach the Scarpe River and the center of Arras.

Night in Arras

DAY 3 – From Arras to Albert

Distance to cover: 14 km (8,7 miles)

After a transfer of about 40 minutes, you will arrive at Beaumont-Hamel. The Newfoundland Park and Memorial offers a striking view of the former battlefields. A young Canadian guide will accompany you through the preserved trenches for a moving and unforgettable visit.

You will then begin your walk towards the River Ancre, which you will cross before reaching the Ulster Tower, another powerful symbol of British remembrance. The climb continues to the Thiepval Memorial, inaugurated in 1932 by the Prince of Wales (the future Edward VIII). This impressive monument, dedicated to the soldiers who died in the Battle of the Somme, houses a modern and remarkably designed museum.

The hike ends with a beautiful descent into the Somme Valley. You will reach Albert by following the canal, in a peaceful setting where the sound of water, the smell of the undergrowth, and the gentleness of the Picardy countryside blend together.

Night in Albert

DAY 4 – Albert

End of stay in Albert after breakfast.

Accommodation

Standard

À partir de 420 € Suppl. indiv. 150 €

Standard accommodation:

You will stay in small, family-run 2* or 3* hotels.
The welcome is always friendly and the rooms are simple but comfortable.
We know that walking or cycling holidays require a good night's sleep between each stage, so the bedding is always of high quality.
Because we organize active holidays, we attach great importance to breakfast.
Breakfast is varied and consists of fresh, local produce.

Où vous dormez

Arras: B&B Arras centre***
Abert: Hôtel de la Basilique***

Confort

À partir de 480 € Suppl. indiv. 185 €

Comfort Accommodation

You will stay in 4* hotels.
The rooms are spacious and the hotel offers a wide range of services.
The bedding is of very good quality and the decor is tasteful.
The breakfast is varied, generous and consists of fresh, local products, both sweet and savoury.

Où vous dormez

Arras: Hôtel de l'Univers****
Albert: Le Royal Picardie****

Practical Information

Price Includes

3 nights with breakfast in standard or comfort accommodation
2 days of hiking
Luggage transfer between each stage
Transfer on days 2 and 3
Detailed explanations of your route, advice, etc.
GPX tracks and free access to our mobile phone navigation app.

Not included in the tour price:

Dinners, lunches, and drinks
Tourist taxes
Entrance fees and site visits
Return transfer to the starting point at the end of the tour
Travel insurance
Single room supplement
Solo traveller supplement

Options, Supplements and Discounts

No high season supplement.

Don’t want to use our luggage transport service?
€50 discount per person (offer cannot be combined with the “Group Traveler” discount)

Single traveler supplement: €90

Group travelers (4 or more people): 30€ discount

Departures every day

All prices, discounts, and surcharges are per person.

How to Get There

Coming by train from Paris:

High Speed Train from Paris Gare du Nord station to Arras: 50 minutes (direct train)

Coming by car:

Free public parking in Arras

How to Leave

Return to Paris by train:

Departure from Albert station.
Journey time: average journey time is ~ 2 hours – 2 hours 30 minutes.
You will need to change trains at least once in Arras, then take a High Speed Train to Paris Gare du Nord station.

Taxi:
Take a taxi to Arras, then the High Speed Train from Arras to Paris.

Collect your car at the end of the tour:

Train from Albert to Amiens: 25 minutes (direct train)
Taxi from Albert to Amiens (approximately 45 minutes)

from

€420

per person

News

Paths of Remembrance: Honouring Canadians

une aventure humaine et passionnée

A walking holiday to understand and remember

Day 1 – Arras and Vimy Ridge: courage and sacrifice

Day 2 – From Thiepval to Albert: shared memories

Walking to remember

Itinerary

DAY 1 – Arrival in Arras

DAY 2 – Loop around Arras

DAY 3 – From Arras to Albert

DAY 4 – Albert

Accommodation

Où vous dormez

Où vous dormez

Practical Information

Price Includes

Options, Supplements and Discounts

How to Get There

How to Leave

News

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