65th Anniversary
Liberation of Holland to Berlin
May 2nd - 15th, 2010
Day One - May 1st: Meet your tour manager at Toronto's Lester B Pearson Airport to board your overnight flight to Amsterdam. Dinner and breakfast will be served onboard.
Day Two - May 2nd: Upon arrival, you will be met by your coach driver and begin
your journey with a city tour of Amsterdam as well as a relaxing canal cruise. You
will then be transferred to your hotel for rest and relaxation before your "Welcome
Dinner", and the opportunity to meet your traveling companions. (D)
Day Three - May 3rd: You will begin your day with a visit to Nijmegen and the
Liberation Museum in Grosbeek and the opportunity to understand occupied Holland and the operations by Allied Forces in 1944/45. You will then attend the Commemoration Service at the Canadian Military Cemetery Grosbeek. Overnight - Rosmalen. (B,D)
Day Four - May 4th: Today, your first visit will be the scene of Operation Market Garden and the newly restored Hartenstein Hotel, HQ of the beleagured Airborne Forces, as well as the Canadian Engineers Memorial in Driel before attending the Commemoration Ceremony at Canadian Military Cemetery in Holten. There will also be an alternative today of attending the Commemoration Ceremonies at Bergen-op-Zoom and a tour of the Breskens Pocket - as both ceremonies are being held on the same day. Overnight - Rosmalen (B,D)
Day Five - May 5th: This morning you will travel to Wageningen for the Liberation Parade and Ceremonies. This will be a very busy day as after the parade you will be transferred back to your hotel to prepare for this evenings special event. You will be welcomed and entertained by your Dutch hosts with a concert as well as a Presentation Ceremony" by the Town Major in which the Liberation Medals will be presented to our Veterans or their Family Representatives. An extremely moving and memorable ceremony. Overnight - Rosmalen (B,D)
Day Six - May 6th: After breakfast, you will tour to Giethoorn, the Venice of the
Netherlands with canals through the villages instead of streets. One of the most
delightful villages in the Netherlands. You will also tour the 13th century capital
of the province of Overijssel, Zwolle where you will have time to wander the town
before checking into your hotel. Overnight - Zwolle (B,D)
Day Seven - May 7th: Today you will attend the Voorthuizen Military Tattoo as a
tribute for the Veterans. Many of the performers and bands are from Canada as
well as International Military performers and pipe bands performing music from
WWII. Overnight - Zwolle (B,D)
Day Eight - May 8: This morning will begin with a visit to Leeuwarden and
Groningen, both liberated by the 2nd Division in April 1945. Both towns will be
celebrating the 65th Anniversary Liberation of the Netherlands with local festivals
and events. Overnight - Zwolle (B,D)
Day Nine - May 9th: After breakfast, you will be attending the emotional and
historic final Parade of Apeldoorn, with Veterans on board WW2 vehicles and
this will be the highlight of your tour. Overnight - Zwolle (B,D)
Day Ten - May 10th: This morning you will visit the Commonwealth War Graves
Commission Cemetery at Rheinberg, to pay respects to those who did not return
from the Dambusters raid. You will then travel onto the Mohne Dam in the Ruhr
Valley, which was herotically breached by the Lancasters of 617 Squadron in 1943. During this fascinating day, walk on top of the dam and see where the breach was made. You will then travel to Kassel for check-in at your hotel. Overnight - Kassel (B,D)
Day Eleven - May 11th: Today you will visit Colditz, the castle and museum - the
infamous "bad boys camp", and a scene of many ingenious escape bids. Perched
above a sleepy town of the same name, Colditz has a varied history, although we
will focus on its use as an internment camp for Allied prisoners during World War
II. You will hear the story of the "Red Fox", Mike Sinclair, killed on an escape
attempt, and also the story of Douglas Bader, plus many more. Then onto Dresden, free time, and your overnight accommodations. Overnight - Dresden (B,D)
Day Twelve - May 12th: The Dresden Raids and Swiss Saxony. Uncover the
tumultuous history of the great city of Dresden. As the seat of Saxon royalty,
Dresden became arguably Germanys most beautiful city. During the war it
suffered almost complete destruction, however it has since been painstakingly
restored to its former glory. In the Swiss Saxony area you will come across the
Bastai, rising to 1000 ft above the Elbe Valley and offering spectacular views across the Regional Park area. Sandstone cliffs that have been weathered into
amazing shapes by the elements provide natural walkways and viewpoints. Overnight - Dresden (B,D)
Day Thirteen - May 13th: This morning - to Zagan for "The Great Escape". You
will cross the border to visit Zagan, the Polish camp from where "The Great
Escape" was planned. You will uncover the story of the escape and the reprisals
ordered by Hitler against the recaptured men. You will also visit the Memorial. Transfer to Berlin. Overnight - Berlin (B,D)
Day Fourteen - May 14th: Today - the "Fall of Berlin". At the Berlin War Cemetery, we pause for reflection at the graves of many Bomber crew shot down
over the city. You will also see the remains of the Anhalter Bahnhof. Once
Berlins Rail Gateways to Europe and the point from which many fled the Third
Reich, it is now poignantly preserved as a ruin. An equally poignant reminder of
the war is the Kaiser Wilhelm Gedachtniskiche, a ruin amongst the wealth of the
Ku-Damm shopping area. During the tour you will see The Brandenburg Gate,
Unter Den Linden areas, Babelplatz, The Royal Palace, The Humbold University,
The Berliner Dom, Alexanderplatz and TV Tower as well as Flakturm. Plus, you
will visit Checkpoint Charlie Museum and view the Reichstag Building. This evening will be your "Farewell Dinner". Overnight- Berlin (B,D)
Day Fifteen - May 15th: After breakfast you will be transferred to Berlin airport
for your flight back to Canada.
PRICING
-
$4230 CAD per person based on double occupancy - including airfare
- $3480 CAD per person LAND ONLY based on double occupancy
- $ 790 CAD single supplement
INCLUSIONS:
- Round trip air transportation from Toronto
- Breakfast and dinner daily
- All Entrances as per your itinerary
- Tourist First Class Hotels
- Full time experienced Tour Manager
- Luxury Coach with washroom / video / tea coffee making facilities
- Porterage
EXCLUSIONS:
- Lunches and drinks with meals
- Travel Insurance
- Air Transportation taxes ( approximately $289 )