Anna S.Canada
Carl is a wonderfully knowledgeable tour guide and very personable as well. He is very adaptable and was able to customize our tour to our interests. Highly recommend this tour and tour guide!
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Private tour in Bruges Carl O
Flanders Fields and Vimy Ridge, a military history tour, starts in Bruges
5.0
(3) reviews
-
8 hours
Private transportation
Private tour for 1-8 people
Your party size
1
Tour date
View our cancellation policiesUpgrade for total flexibility with Last-Minute Cancellation
Book with a depositSecure your tour today and pay your balance later
-
8 hours
Private transportation
Private tour for 1-8 people
Your party size
1
View our cancellation policiesUpgrade for total flexibility with Last-Minute Cancellation
Book with a depositSecure your tour today and pay your balance later
Carl O.
5.0
Guide rating
148
Reviews
Tours delivered
23 hrs
Avg. response time
After working 15 years for a multinational cy. I decided that it was time for a career change! Sharing my passion for European history combined with my local knowledge, is just what I like to do for travellers. After I managed a hotel for a decade, I took 2 years of training to become a tour guide. Now, when I give tours, I am happy like a dog in a butcher's shop. Even the COVID-19 slowdown doesn't make me regret my career shift. For these tours I own a people carrier that can sit 8 people. When travellers go for one of my guided bike tours, then my van becomes our support vehicle for the ride. When we are cruising, then I am the happiest butcher's dog in town ! I find it fascinating to see how the 2nd industrial revolution changed the world in so many more ways than how we manufacture and mass produce goods. The mechanisation triggered a fundamental social and political change. The progress in science was spectacular. Along with all the above, new weapons became available to the armies of ambitious emperors with ideas of conquering. To make your journey to Europe both an entertaining and interesting experience, that is my mission. Sharing local knowledge combined with historic information, gives travellers a unique understanding of "my" corner of Europe ! The location where I pick you up doesn't necesserily have to be the location where I drop you off after the tour. I can meet you in Brussels and drop you off in Bruges, or meet you in Bruges and drop you off at the Lille Europe station where you can catch a 1 h train to Paris or 90' to London. Smart travellers make good use of my van, it has room for luggage. Don't hesitate to use my local knowledge to improve your travel plan. guide license in Belgium ; TOERISME VLAANDEREN guide license in France ; Somme Battlefield Partner transport license VVB 1609 No restrictions
Have a question or want to customize this tour? Message Carl O.
Vimy Ridge as Symbol, full day trip from Bruges (Be)
Overview of your Bruges tour
On 25 April 1915, when the shelling died down, chlorine gas wafted across no-man's. While French troops fled in panic, the Canadians held their ground. After several days of chaotic and brutal fighting, the Ypres position remained in Allied hands. Having learned from the 1916 Battle of the Somme, the Canadian Corps used new tactics, including improved artillery techniques, to capture Vimy Ridge as part of a larger Allied spring offensive in April 1917. In order to relieve the pressure on other allied troops fighting a strategic campaign in Flanders, the Canadian Corps captured Hill 70 in August 1917. Arthur Currie proved to be a capable and innovative commander. His Corps soon advanced north to support Haig and his struggling campaign. In mid-October, Canadians relieved Australian troops near Passchendaele and were shocked by the terrible battlefield conditions. With his preparations complete, Currie launched the attack on October 16. 000 Canadians were killed or wounded before the ridge was captured.
Recent Reviews
Susan E.Canada
Carl was a wonderful guide, so knowledgeable and just a very nice man. We asked to change the itinerary, he did so without hesitation. He tailored it to our exact request. We highly recommend!
Barry H.Canada
The WW1 tour from Bruges that Carl gave our group was exceptional. We were a group of 14 Canadians, some with Grandfather's who had served in France and Belgium. Carl's knowledge of the history and geopolitics of the war is incredibly thorough. He managed to tailor the tour for us so that we got to see many of the memorials, yet without it feeling rushed. The architecture of the memorials was stunning, and Carl provided insights into some of the minute details we never would have noticed if we'd just visited them on our own. The culmination of the tour was the Vimy site. Carl had made the arrangements for our group to visit the chalk tunnel and trenches with an on site Veteran's Affairs guide. Afterwards he drove us to the Vimy memorial itself and pointed out many details the architect had incorporated into the monument. Throughout the tour Carl highlighted the immense human cost of the conflict, and the effect it had on Canadians both in Europe and at home. It was a very moving experience.
Your Bruges tour itinerary
- the Vimy Ridge Canadian Visitor Centre - Grange Tunnel, battlefield & front line trenches - The Canadian Vimy Memorial - Hill 70 or Cabaret Rouge Cy. - Essex Farm Cemetery and Dressing station - Tyne Cot Military Cemetery and Crest farm - Passchendaele Canadian Memorial - Menin Gate Memorial to the Missing - After the tour, we can drop you off at the Lille Europe station at no extra charge. Other locations are negotiable.
Want to customize this tour?
Tell your guide which places matter to you, skip what doesn't, and tailor the experience for your group's needs. Not finding what you want? Message your guide to build something unique.
Transport details
Type: Private Transportation / Category: Minivan
Mercedes Benz 8 seat Vito Tourer
What's included
Private Guide
What's not included
Food Drinks Snacks
Meeting location
Bruges, Flanders, Belgium
Bruges railway station, at the Starbucks in the underpass.
- You can request a specific meeting location (for example, your hotel) during the checkout.
Other details
Tour categories
History
Day Trip
Architecture
Tour reference number
1442750
Languages
French
Dutch
EnglishActivity level
Moderate
Accessibility
Kid Friendly
Traveller reviews
5.0
FAQs
Who is this private tour in Bruges best suited for?
This private tour is ideal for history enthusiasts, particularly those interested in military history and World War I. It's also suitable for families, as it is kid-friendly, and for travellers who want to connect with a local guide like Carl O. for deeper insights into the historical significance of sites like Vimy Ridge and Flanders Fields.
What should I bring or wear?
Can this private tour in Bruges be customized to focus on what I want to see and skip places I've already visited?
How long is the tour, and can the start time or duration be adjusted?
Where does the tour start and end?
Is transportation included?
How much walking is involved, and is it suitable for kids, seniors, or travellers with mobility concerns?
What languages is this tour offered in?
What's included in this private tour, and what should I budget for separately?
Is this a private tour? What is the maximum group size and the starting price?
AI-generated. Please confirm details with your guide
-
8 hours
Private transportation
Private tour for 1-8 people
Your party size
1
Tour date
View our cancellation policiesUpgrade for total flexibility with Last-Minute Cancellation
Book with a depositSecure your tour today and pay your balance later
-
8 hours
Private transportation
Private tour for 1-8 people
Your party size
1
Tour date
View our cancellation policiesUpgrade for total flexibility with Last-Minute Cancellation
Book with a depositSecure your tour today and pay your balance later
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Book with a deposit
If your tour is valued over $200 USD and booked at least 45 days before the tour date, you can book with a 20% deposit!
How it works
- Your credit card will be authorized only for the deposit amount.
- Funds will not be withdrawn until your tour booking is fully processed.
- The remaining balance will automatically be charged to your credit card 30 days before your tour date.