The Great War: The Battle of the Somme

The tour is classified as ‘Full-on!’, the most challenging level in the catalogue. The stages cover 51 km on Day 2, 45 or 67 km on Day 3, and a 52 km loop on Day 4. However, the terrain is a major advantage: the Somme valley and the Artois plains are generally flat. The difficulty rating is due to the length of the stages and a few occasional climbs (Thiepval Hill, Lorette Hill). An electric bike (€250 for 3 days) allows you to tackle these sections with ease. If you are a regular cyclist capable of covering 50 km a day on flat terrain with a few hills, this tour is well within your reach.

Both tours start in the same way: Amiens, the Somme Valley, Albert, the battlefields of Thiepval and Beaumont-Hamel, then Arras with Vimy and Notre-Dame de Lorette. The difference lies in what comes next. “The Battle of the Somme” ends in Arras after 5 days and 3 days of cycling, from €685. “The Western Front” continues towards French Flanders, crosses the Belgian border, visits Ypres and its memorials (including the Last Post ceremony), and ends in Bruges, over 8 days and 6 days of cycling, from €1,300. If you have a long weekend or a short week and wish to focus on the Somme and Artois, this tour is the right choice. If you have a full week and want to experience the entire Western Front all the way to Belgium, the full tour is the way to go.

The tour focuses on the most iconic sites of the Battle of the Somme and Artois. Day 2: the Australian National Memorial at Villers-Bretonneux, the Franco-Australian Museum at the Victoria School, the Battle of Le Hamel, and Albert with its underground Somme 1916 Museum. Day 3: Thiepval Hill and the memorial to British soldiers (1 July 1916, the bloodiest day in British military history), the Belfast Tower dedicated to the Irish Ulster Battalion, Beaumont-Hamel Park and the Newfoundland Memorial, the cemeteries at Fricourt (German), Longueval (South African and New Zealand memorials) and Pozières (Australian and Canadian), then arrival in Arras with its belfry and Vauban citadel (UNESCO World Heritage Site). Day 4: Vimy Ridge and the impressive Canadian monument, Lorette Hill and the largest French military cemetery (40,000 soldiers). Three days, six nationalities represented, the most significant memorial sites of the Western Front.

Day 1: arrival in Amiens, visit to Notre-Dame Cathedral (the largest in France, a UNESCO World Heritage Site), a stroll through the hortillonnages and along the canal. Jules Verne wrote most of his novels here.
Day 2: departure along the Somme, the Australian sector at Villers-Bretonneux, the Franco-Australian Museum, the Hamel battlefield, views of the river, and arrival in Albert, the epicentre of the Battle of the Somme, with its underground Somme 1916 Museum.
Day 3: the busiest day of the trip, taking in Thiepval, the Belfast Tower, Beaumont-Hamel, Fricourt, Longueval and Pozières, followed by a 20-km drive through the countryside to Arras, a magnificent Flemish Baroque town with its Place des Héros and café terraces.
Day 4: a loop northwards from Arras, Vimy Ridge and the Canadian Memorial, Lorette Hill and its cemetery of 40,000 soldiers, returning via small country roads along the Scarpe. Four days of remembrance and heritage, poppies and belfries.

Yes, these are the two most memorable highlights of the trip. Thiepval (Day 3) is the memorial dedicated to British soldiers who fell during the Battle of the Somme. The offensive of 1 July 1916 resulted in 20,000 British casualties in a single day, making it the bloodiest day in the British military’s history. The monument, visible from afar across the countryside, bears the names of over 72,000 soldiers whose bodies were never recovered. Vimy (Day 4) is the site of the battle of 17 April 1917, where Canadian troops lost more than 11,000 soldiers. The impressive monument built on the heights overlooks the entire Artois plain. These two sites, cycled through in the silence of the countryside, offer an emotional intensity that few places in the world can match.

The itinerary is designed with this in mind. Day 1 is entirely free to explore Amiens. On Day 2, the 51 km stage along the Somme allows time for the Australian Memorial and the Somme 1916 Museum in Albert.
Day 3 offers a short (45 km) or long (67 km) option: by choosing the standard route, you’ll have time to reflect at Thiepval, Beaumont-Hamel and Pozières without rushing. And Day 4 is a 52 km loop from Arras, leaving you free in the evening to visit the Wellington Quarries, an impressive underground site where the 1917 battle was prepared. You’ll stay two nights in Arras, which means you won’t have to unpack and leaves you time to explore the town.

Absolutely. Arras is one of the most beautiful towns in northern France. Its Flemish Baroque architecture, a legacy of its commercial prosperity, has remained remarkably intact despite the war. The Grand’Place and the Place des Héros, lined with arcaded houses, are among the most beautiful in France. The belfry and the Vauban citadel are listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. And the Wellington Quarries, located beneath the city, offer a unique underground experience exploring the preparations for the Battle of Arras in 1917. In the evening, the café terraces on the Place des Héros provide a welcome moment of relaxation after a day packed with emotion and walking. Two nights allow you to fully enjoy this remarkable city.

Picardy and Artois offer hearty, welcoming cuisine. Amiens is renowned for its ficelles picardes (gratinated crêpes), its hortillonnages which provide fresh vegetables, and its brasserie fare. The Somme Valley offers local produce in the villages you pass through. And Arras is the gateway to northern French cuisine: the brasseries serve regional specialities accompanied by local beers. The friendly atmosphere of the cafés on the Place des Héros is the perfect way to round off each day.

Normandie Rando transfers your luggage between each stage during the 3 days of cycling. You spend two nights in Arras (Days 3 and 4), which simplifies logistics as only two luggage transfers are required (Amiens to Albert, Albert to Arras). GPX tracks and a mobile navigation app guide you from stage to stage. Each hire bike comes with a helmet, a full repair kit, lights and a lock. Detailed route instructions and advice from the team round off the package.

Both cities are very well connected to Paris. Paris Gare du Nord to Amiens: 1 hour 10 minutes to 1 hour 40 minutes, with several trains daily. Your hotel is in the city centre, near the cathedral. Free public parking is available if you’re travelling by car. On the return journey, Arras to Paris Gare du Nord: around 50 minutes for the fastest trains, generally 1 hour 15 minutes to 1 hour 20 minutes.
If you need to collect your car in Amiens, a direct Arras–Amiens train takes 45 minutes. A taxi is also an option (around 1 hour 30 minutes). Both stations are close to Paris and close to your hotels, making getting there and back very straightforward.

The price includes 4 nights’ accommodation with breakfast (hotel, guesthouse and high-quality B&B), luggage transfer between each stage, GPX tracks, access to the mobile navigation app and detailed route descriptions with tips. On a per-night basis, this works out at around €171 per person all-inclusive: accommodation, breakfast, luggage logistics and guidance. For a 5-day trip taking in the Somme battlefields, memorials to six nations, Vimy, Notre-Dame de Lorette and two UNESCO-listed sites (Amiens Cathedral, Arras Belfry), this is a reasonable budget.

The Standard package includes Le Prieuré in Amiens (3-star), a guesthouse in the Méaulte/Albert countryside, and a B&B in the centre of Arras (3-star). The Comfort package upgrades to 4-star accommodation: the Mercure Cathédrale in Amiens (opposite the cathedral), the Hôtel Royal Picardie in Albert, and the Hôtel de l’Univers in Arras. The €100 difference is spread over 4 nights, amounting to an extra €25 per night. On an emotionally intense trip, staying in a 4-star hotel opposite Amiens Cathedral or in the heart of Arras directly contributes to the quality of your rest and well-being throughout the journey.

No. The rate is the same from March to October, with no surcharge. Departures are scheduled for Sundays (€50 surcharge for any other day). For groups of four or more, a discount of €40 per person applies. If you prefer to carry your own luggage, a discount of €70 per person is available (cannot be combined with the group discount). Bicycle hire is available at €210 (hybrid bike) or €250 (electric bike) for 3 days, with delivery to Amiens and collection in Arras.

The tour runs from March to October. Spring (April–May) brings fields of poppies blooming across the former battlefields, a poignant symbol immortalised in the poem ‘In Flanders Fields’. Early summer (June–July) coincides with the anniversary of the Battle of the Somme (1 July 1916), with commemorations taking place on site.

Autumn (September–October) bathes the memorials in golden light and brings a contemplative atmosphere to the Picardy countryside. Whatever the season, Amiens Cathedral and the city of Arras offer a rich urban setting that complements the commemorative experience.

Fill in a quote request directly on the tour page. The Normandie Rando team will contact you to tailor your tour: choice of accommodation, type of bike (hybrid or e-bike), departure dates and any optional extras (extra night in Arras, short or long route on Day 3, etc.). You can also call 02 31 65 74 08 for a personalised consultation. The quote request is free and non-binding. This is the most accessible way to explore the battlefields of the Somme and Artois by bike, between two of the most beautiful towns in northern France.