Private tour in Ypres Claude V
5.0
(14) reviews
11 hours
1
11 hours
1
Claude V.
4.9
Guide rating
128
Reviews
Tours delivered
4 hrs
Avg. response time
Hi, my name is Claude, I was born and raised in Flanders Fields. The Great War became a passion when in 1981, Nelly and I purchased a bar and restaurant just opposite Ploegsteert Memorial to Missing. We still meet people coming from all over the world at our place. I started doing research with Ted Smith and Tony Spagnoly in the eighties, and then with many other authors and historians. I am now a specialized battlefield guide in the plains of Flanders in Belgium and the Somme area in France. Below you will find my standard tours but I can also build a custom tour, you provide the information and I'll do the rest. I like to talk about history of course but also about all what makes our daily life in France and Belgium. I am flexible, provide a high standard service, can bring a walker or a wheelchair to make your tour more comfortable. I am using digital maps and old pictures of the places you will visit. For the tours I use a Mercedes Vito Tourer fully equipped and fully insured for tour purposes. Guide license "GL70/2007.03 delivered by the "Commisariat Général au Tourisme. Transport license TLAB251 300/1. (mandatory in Europe) Official guide of the "Tourist Office of Comines-Warneton" Member of the Scientific Committee of the "Plugsreet 14-18 Interpretative Centre" Member of the "Royal British Legion" Somme Branch Member of the "Western Front Association"
Have a question or want to customize this tour? Message Claude V.
Leaving your hotel in Ieper (Ypres) or Lille around 08:30. Driving towards Vimy, (1h30) visiting the Grange Tunnels and the Canadian and German trenches. Going to the Memorial. Visit of the Visitor Centre. Driving towards the Ypres area (1h). Lunch. Going to Tyne Cot Cemetery and Memorial, the largest CWGC cemetery in the world. The Crest Farm Memorial in Passendale. Visiting the memorial of the Brooding Soldier in Sint Juliaan, 1st gas attack. Driving towards Ypres and Essex Farm Dressing Station where Dr John McRae wrote the poem in Flanders Fields. Spending some time in Ypres and attending the Last Post ceremony at the Menin Gate. approximately 20:20 leaving Ypres towards your hotel in Lille I can create a customized tour for you in case you have special requests
May 2026 private tour with Claude with my family. Extremely knowledgeable, full day full of many stops (a lot of which we would not have reached were we traveling on our own) and just a pleasure to tour with. On-time, organized, fast responder to messages. Kept us on schedule but never rushed. Very well-spoken about the history, area, and monuments we were seeing. Poignant tour, would recommend to anyone interested.
Visiting Vimy Ridge was an incredibly moving experience. As a Canadian, it was powerful to stand on the ground where such a defining part of our history took place. The tour was informative and respectful, offering a deep appreciation for the sacrifices made. Highly recommend to any Canadian visiting France.
Exceeded every expectation. Claude was a perfect guide - knowledgeable and personable while honouring the sacrifices commemorated along the way. An unforgettable experience - highly recommend!
Excellent tour, excellent service, Claude was on time, was very knowledgeable, and an excellent driver. Definitely would recommend and use him again for further tours.
WWI is pretty much a forgotten war for the united States. My wife and I had a very a limited knowledge of it until 2 weeks ago. The education and understanding we received during our day long tour with Claude of Vemy Ridge, Flanders Field, and the Canadian involvement and sacrifice during that war has been immensely increased. We spent a wonderful day visiting WWI Canadian monuments, museums, cemeteries and actual trench lines/tunnels used by the Canadian forces during the Vmey Ridge campaign.
Claude was an excellent guide!!! So knowledgeable and personable and fun to spend the day with. He anticipated our every need and maintained timely communication with us. Highly recommended!!!
-Ieper Vimy is an 1h00 drive, -Back from Vimy to Flanders is an hour. Passendale, St Juliaan, Essex Farm and Ypres are all 15 minutes, or less, away from eachother. -After the Last Post a 45 minutes back to Lille Please contact me for a customized 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.
We use a Mercedes Vito, fully insured, air conditioned and equiped for battlefield tours.
Ypres, Flanders, Belgium
at your hotel or train station in Bruges.
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11 hours
1
11 hours
1
If your tour is valued over $200 USD and booked at least 45 days before the tour date, you can book with a deposit!
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