Day 1: Following your home taxi collection, you will join our luxury tour coach as we head to Kent for our short sea crossing to France. Upon our arrival, we continue our journey, crossing the border into Belgium and arriving late afternoon at the Le Bois de Bruges Hotel for the next four nights, on a bed & breakfast basis.
Day 2: This morning after a leisurely breakfast we make our way to Belgium’s capital city - Brussels. Upon our arrival we will be met by a local guide who will at first join us on board our coach for a tour of the greater Brussels and Expo park, before we finish the tour on foot. The rest of the day you are free to explore this great city at your own pace. As the centre of European culture and institutions, Brussels has much more to offer than most people imagine. Apart from its famous chocolates and beers, there are almost 90 museums, beautiful parks, architecture, bars and much more. The medieval Grand-Place is indeed grand, with many 17th-century buildings and daily flower markets. Reopened in 2006, the Atomium, Brussels “Eiffel Tower” provides great views, both inside and out, and architecture fans should visit the Musée Horta, home of Belgian master architect Victor Horta.
Day 3: Today is a free day to explore Bruges. Known as the ‘Venice’ of the north, Bruges is one of Europe’s best-preserved medieval cities and is Belgium’s most visited town. There are stunning buildings which grace the centre, including the Gothic clock, town halls and medieval belfry that dominate the main square. Add this to the myriad of canals, cobbled streets and shops selling the famous Belgian chocolate on almost every corner, there is plenty to see and do! Remember to take a stroll to the charming and romantic ‘Lake of Love’. To see the city from a different perspective, why not take a canal boat or horse-drawn carriage ride.
Day 4: This morning we head to Veurne. A charming town situated in the province of West Flanders near the French border. Several Renaissance-style buildings, mostly built using the local light-coloured brick, adorn Veurne’s central market square, which make it one of Belgium's finest market squares. Among these are the city hall (Landhuis) and belfry, which was recognized by UNESCO as World Heritage Site in 1999. The interior of the town hall contains a museum that does not focus on battlefields or military activities, but on the lives of soldiers, residents, doctors, nurses in the so-called Belgian sector, the last piece of Belgium that was not occupied during the First World War by German troops.
This afternoon we take a relaxing drive along the Flemish coast to Ostend, the indisputable ‘Queen’ of Belgium’s seaside resorts. The city of Ostend gained its resort-town popularity from two Belgian kings, Leopold I and II, who faithfully spent every summer here. Be sure to make the most of your visit with a stroll along the promenade, where you can admire the royal monuments, and take in the military and maritime history which runs deep in this old harbour town.
Day 5: Sadly this morning we depart our hotel and head to Ypres. Once a bustling centre of industry, ranking alongside Bruges and Ghent, it's now impossible to reference Ypres (Ieper in Dutch) without acknowledging the huge role it played in WWI. After its almost total annihilation, the town was rebuilt to its former glory to serve as a memorial to those who lost their lives there in the Great War. Its restored Lakenhalle is one of Belgium's most spectacular buildings. Later, we head back to France where we make our crossing to Kent. Upon our arrival, we make our way back to Norfolk where our door to door taxi service will be waiting to return you home.
Holiday Information:
4 Nights Bed & Breakfast
Price: £811pp
Single Supplement: £346 (Will be allocated a twin or double room for sole occupancy, depending on availability)
Insurance: TBC (Insurance not currently available)
Tour Reference: EUR1866
This tour will be undertaken in one of our Platinum luxury executive coaches. You will have extended leg room, airline style seats with adjustable headrests and USB charging points, along with all the facilities present on our executive touring vehicles.
Deposit Required: £70pp
Balance Due: 10 weeks prior to departure