Battlefield Tours

2016 Supportin g Contemp orary Veterans

Western Front, Gallipoli, Europe, Vietnam, The Pacific and Australia WWW.BATTLEFIELDS.COM.AU

AUSTRALIA’S BATTLEFIELD SPECIALISTS

Thank you for joining me on a very special journey to the battlefields. For more than 20 years I have been walking the ground where Australian troops fought and died, and it is always a rare privilege to explore these battlefields with fellow Australians.

And now, the memories of the courage and sacrifice of Australian troops have never been more important, as we continue to commemorate the 100-year anniversaries of the battles of the First World War. In 2016 we will participate in the centenaries of two of the most significant battles in Australia’s history – Fromelles and Pozieres.

2016 is also the 50th Anniversary of the Battle of Long Tan in Vietnam. I’m very excited to be bringing so many Australian travellers to the battlefields and look forward to sharing with you the spirit of those brave generations who gave so much in the name of Australia.

Mat McLachlan

About Mat McLachlan Battlefield Tours Mat McLachlan is a leading Australian battlefield historian, author and television presenter. His books Walking with the Anzacs and Gallipoli: The Battlefield Guide are considered the definitive guides to Australia’s most significant battlefields. Mat appears regularly on TV, including Lost in Flanders, Australia: Life on the Edge, Tony Robinson’s World War 1 and Who Do You Think You Are?, as well as being a frequent history commentator in print and on radio. In 2007 Mat founded Mat McLachlan Battlefield Tours, which has grown to become Australia’s leading specialist battlefield tour provider. The company is part of a family business that has operated in the Australian travel industry for more than 30 years.

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Mat McLachlan Battlefield Tours

Supporting Australia’s Young Veterans More than 60,000 Australian service men and women served in the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. There are now more veterans in the Australian community than at any time since the Vietnam War. Mat McLachlan Battlefield Tours has launched a program to assist these young veterans as they make the difficult change from military to civilian life.

Homes for Heroes

‘Australians Joining Forces’ will assist contemporary veterans to find work once they leave the Defence Force, and to help make their transition out of the military less stressful for them and their families.

If you would like to find out more about ‘Australians Joining Forces’ or to make a social investment or donation, please contact us.

Defence Care

What’s Included In Our Tours?

Transport

Discounts

• First Class air-conditioned touring vehicles

• 5% past passenger discount (take another tour on a future trip)

• Airport transfers (within operating hours) on first and last day of the tour (except UK, France and Germany)

• Generous second tour discount (when you add another tour on the same trip)* • Triple room discount*

Accommodation

• Single traveller – avoid the single supplement with a “match up” (refer to page 39)

• First-class hotels or best available

• Armed Forces serving personnel discount*

• Porterage in and out wherever available

Meals • Breakfast daily and lunches and dinners as per itinerary • Free time to also experience local cuisine at leisure

Staff • Qualified War Historian on all battlefield group touring days (may also act as Tour Manager on smaller groups in which case they will accompany group throughout the tour)

Inclusions • Comprehensive guided tours of all significant Australian battlefields • Help with family research and visits to ancestor grave sites and battlefields wherever possible • In-depth sightseeing and visits with Local Guides and entrance fees included • Star inclusions on each itinerary often exclusive and unique to MMBT, and at no additional cost *Ask us for details

• Experienced Tour Managers • Experienced Drivers • No tipping necessary. All tips to Historians, Tour Managers and Drivers included

Supporting Australia’s Veterans / What’s Included

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Leningrad Moscow UK France/Belgium

Gallipoli

Waterloo Germany

– Western Front – Normandy – V-Weapons – Agincourt

Italy Sicily

Stalingrad

• Anzac Day at Gallipoli 8 Nights, 19–27 April 2016

Gallipoli Greece & Crete Tobruk

Beersheba El Alamein

Turkey • Turkey Splendours 6 nights, 27 April–3 May 2016

Western Front • Anzac Day on the Western Front 9 Nights, 18–27 April 2016 • Western Front Explorer Tour 3 nights, weekly departures • Fromelles and Pozieres Centenary 11 Nights, 14–25 July 2016

Germany • Fall of the Third Reich 10 nights, 9–19 July 2016

South Africa

See the great battlefields of the world with Mat McLachlan Battlefield Tours 4

Mat McLachlan Battlefield Tours

Contents Group Tours 8 Western Front Explorer

(4 days) weekly departures April–November

10 Anzac Day at Gallipoli (8 nights) 19–27 April 2016

12 Anzac Day on the Western Front (9 nights) 18–27 April 2016

14 Gallipoli Extension Tour (5 nights) 27 April–2 May 2016

16 Turkey Splendours (6 nights) 27 April–3 May 2016

Japan

Korea

18 Gallipoli and Turkey Inspiration (10 nights) 27 April–7 May 2016

Guadalcanal • Guadalcanal & HMAS Canberra Anniversary 4 Nights, 5–9 August 2016

Iwo Jima

20 Fall of the Third Reich (10 nights) 9–19 July 2016

22 F romelles and Pozieres Centenary (11 nights) 14–25 July 2016

24 G uadalcanal and HMAS Canberra Anniversary (4 nights) 5–9 August 2016

Thai-Burma Railway Philippines

Vietnam

Guam

26 Long Tan 50th Anniversary Commemoration Tour (10 nights) 15–25 August 2016

Peleliu

Singapore

28 Long Tan Cambodia Extension Tour (3 nights) 25–28 August 2016

Borneo

29 B ullecourt Centenary 2017 (10 nights) 4–14 April 2017

Papua New Guinea

30 Passchendaele Centenary 2017 (10 nights) 6–16 October 2017

Darwin

Guadalcanal

31 Anzac Day on the Western Front Centenary 2018 (9 nights) 18–27 April 2018

32 Hamel Centenary 2018 (10 nights) 27 June–7 July 2018

32 Remembrance Day 2018 (9 nights) 4–13 November 2018

Flexi Tours Vietnam • Long Tan 50th Anniversary Commemoration 10 Nights, 15–25 August, 2016

33 Western Front (3 days) 34 V -Weapons (2 days) 34 G allipoli (2 days) 35 Waterloo (2 days) 35 Normandy D-Day (2 days) 36 Crecy and Agincourt (2 days) 36 Thailand Hellfire Pass (4 days) 37 Vietnam Long Tan (3 days) 37 Singapore (4 days) 39 Terms and conditions Contents

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Meet Your War Historians Mat McLachlan Battlefield Tours offers the best War Historians in the business. Our Historians are all published experts in their field – you will recognise their names from books, TV shows, newspaper articles and radio programs. No other tour company can match the quality of our Historians. Here are just some of them…

Mat McLachlan Mat McLachlan is a leading Australian historian, author, television presenter and entrepreneur. A journalist by trade, Mat worked for 15 years as a writer and editor before dedicating himself fulltime to his passion, Australian military history. His first book, Walking with the Anzacs, was published in 2007 and has been reprinted six times. A fully revised edition was released in 2015. His second book, Gallipoli: The Battlefield Guide, was published in 2010, with a fully-revised edition also released in 2015.

Gary McKay Gary McKay spent 30 years as an army officer after being conscripted for national service in 1968. He served in South Vietnam in 1971, as an infantry rifle platoon commander, where he was awarded the Military Cross for gallantry and severely wounded in the last major Australian battle of the Vietnam War. In 1987 Gary’s best-selling autobiography In Good Company was released, and since then he has written a further 10 books.

Roger Lee

Mat appears regularly on television as a history presenter and commentator. He produced and appeared in the 2009 ABC documentary, Lost in Flanders and hosted the 2013 seven-part National Geographic series Australia: Life on the Edge. He has recently finished filming a four-part documentary series in France with Time Team’s Tony Robinson and appears regularly on The History Channel, the ABC, Channel 7, Channel 9 and Channel 10. He is also a regular contributor to radio and print media.

In 2007 Mat founded Mat McLachlan Battlefield Tours, which has grown to become the leading battlefield tour company in Australia. The company sends thousands of Australians on battlefield tours to France, Turkey, Vietnam, Germany, the Pacific Islands and more each year.

In 2015 Mat founded ‘Australians Joining Forces’ – a private social enterprise that seeks ethical investments to support programmes specifically for contemporary Australian Defence Force (ADF) veterans transitioning from the armed forces to the civilian work place and community.

Will Davies Will Davies has been a documentary producer for over 30 years. He is the author of seven books including the bestseller Somme Mud (editor) and In the Footsteps of Private Lynch and also wrote the driving tour Villers-Bretonneux to Le Hamel. His most recent book is Beneath Hill 60, published in March 2010 and released with the feature film of the same name. Will is the historian on many of our Western Front tours.

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Mat McLachlan Battlefield Tours

Roger Lee has been Head of the Australian Army History Unit since 1996. He has played a leading role in recent efforts to exhume and identify the remains of Australian soldiers at sites including Westhoek Ridge, Messines and most recently, the mass grave at Pheasant Wood near Fromelles. In 2010 Roger published his book Fromelles. Roger is one of Australia’s most respected military historians.

Peter Hart Peter Hart has worked as a historian at the Imperial War Museum in London since 1981. He is the author of more than a dozen books about the Great War, including Defeat at Gallipoli; Passchendaele; The Somme; Aces Falling; Jutland 1916; Bloody April; 1918: A Very British Victory; Gallipoli; and Voices from the Front in 2015.

Tom Morgan Tom Morgan first learned about the Great War as a small child and became fascinated with the stories of ordinary people in those extraordinary times, and with the battlefields themselves. Tom’s Hellfire Corner website was one of the first Great War sites on the web and has received over three million individual visitors to date. Since 1999, he has become a full-time battlefield Guide.

Peter Smith Peter grew up in East Yorkshire and at 21 joined the Royal Marines, a unit he served with for 11 years. In 2004 he moved to the Somme battlefields of France with his family where he started a bed and breakfast in the historic village of Flers. He now works full time as a Great War guide and researcher, specialising in Australian tours.

Michael Peters Mike Peters is an ex British Army officer with more than 30 years of military service in the Army Air Corps.

Commissioned from the ranks, he has served on operations in Northern Ireland, the Balkans, Iraq and Afghanistan. He is a regular writer for Soldier magazine (the official magazine of the British Army) and published his first book, Glider Pilots at Arnhem, in 2009.

John Anderson John spent a lot of his younger years walking the ground of the Scottish Borders battles and the WW1 training camps where the Pal’s volunteers were honed into fighting battalions. John has spent many years visiting and researching European battlefields and the men and women who served there.

Ken Lees Using his extensive knowledge, Ken presents an informative interpretation of the characters and events of the First World War. Having visited the battlefields of the Western Front for over 15 years, his aim is to reveal and impart the history of the Great War. He strives to discover the stories of the men, appreciate their sacrifice and provide a memorable experience for visitors.

School Groups MMBT is Australia’s leading provider of school battlefield tours. Every year we send hundreds of students and cadets on tours of hallowed Australian battlefields all over the world. Your school or cadet unit could join them – speak to us about designing a customised itinerary for your group. ★ Premier’s Tours: MMBT has organised Anzac scholarship tours for the Premiers of NSW / VIC / QLD and NT. ★ The Best Historians: Mat McLachlan personally designs our customised group itineraries in consultation with the school or cadet unit. We also employ some of the world’s leading historians to accompany our school groups.

★ Life at the Front: We offer the immersive Life at the Front educational experience, where students or cadets spend a full day dressed and equipped as an Australian First World War platoon.

They will practice dressing, marching and drilling with authentic equipment on an actual First World War battlefield – we can’t send them back in time, but this is the next best thing!

A Multi–Discipline Approach: Life at the Front is a living history program covering history, geography of landscape, literature, technical education and ethics.

Tailor-Made Groups Would you like to visit a battlefield or military cemetery that is not featured in one of our regular tours? As Australia’s leading battlefield tour company, Mat McLachlan Battlefield Tours can design a customised itinerary for you to any battlefield, anywhere in the world.

Whether you are travelling on your own, as a couple or as a group of 100 people or more, we can build an itinerary that fits in with your plans, expectations and budget.

MMBT has strong relationships with airlines and hotels across the world. We can also plan other components of your holiday, including transport, accommodation and sightseeing.

WE STE R N F RO NT

GA L L IPO L I

VIETNAM

N OR M AN D Y

A N D M OR E !

School Groups

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Western Front Explorer 4 DAYS

Multiple departures, April to November

Our most popular Western Front Tour! Explore the Australian battlefields in comfort and convenience with an expert War Historian. The tour begins and ends in Paris and visits all the main battlefield sites in the Somme, Flanders and the Ypres Salient.

Day 1 Paris to Ypres

Day 2 The Ypres Salient

S TAR I N C L U S I O N S

STAR IN CL U S IONS

★ Touring of Mont St. Quentin and Ypres ★ Memorial and preserved trenches ★ In Flanders Field Museum ★ Central Ypres hotel

★ Full day touring the battlefields of the Ypres Salient ★ Hooge Crater Café ★ Wreath laying at the Menin Gate

Welcome to our Western Front tour! The tour group will assemble at our central meeting point in Paris at 8.30am for a 9.00am departure. We will leave Paris and drive north towards the Belgian border. Our first stop will be the battlefield of Mont St. Quentin, where Australian troops won a great victory in September 1918. We will visit the 2nd Division Memorial and preserved trenches on this site, before travelling to Ypres, our home for the next two nights. Between 1914 and 1918 Ypres was completely destroyed by shellfire, and came to symbolise the horror of the First World War. This afternoon we will enjoy a walking tour with our Historian around the rebuilt town, including a visit to the In Flanders Field Museum and key landmarks such as the magnificent Cloth Hall, St. George’s Chapel, St. Martin’s Cathedral, the Menin Gate and Ramparts Cemetery. This evening we will enjoy a welcome dinner. (D)

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Mat McLachlan Battlefield Tours

The Ypres Salient was a bulge in the front line that curved around Ypres for most of the war. More than a million men were killed or wounded trying to gain control of this small patch of ground.

Today we will explore the Australian battlefields in the Salient, including Polygon Wood where we will see the graves of Private Hunter and Sergeant Calder, the two Australian soldiers who featured in Mat McLachlan’s documentary Lost in Flanders.

Lunch is included at Hooge Crater café. Later we will get a taste of the devastation caused by four years of continuous artillery fire at the cratered landscape of Hill 60, before visiting Tyne Cot, the world’s largest Commonwealth war cemetery.

Our final stop today is the German Cemetery at Langemark, where we will learn about the men on the other side of the line. In the evening we will visit the Menin Gate for the moving Last Post ceremony. The Ypres fire brigade has performed this bugle ceremony every day and in all weather since 1927. Two of our passengers will be invited

to lay a wreath on behalf of the group. Our evening is free after the service to enjoy dinner in one of Ypres’ outstanding restaurants. (B, L)

”Pete Smith’s knowledge, presen and enthusias tation m way exceeded ou r expectations. ” – BERNIE, NS

W

Day 3 Ypres to the Somme

Day 4 The Somme to Paris

S TAR I N C L U S I O N S

STAR INC LU S IONS

★ Touring of the battlefields between Ypres and the Somme including Fromelles and Bullecourt ★ New museum at Fromelles ★ Picnic lunch ★ Central Somme Hotel

★ Touring of the Somme battlefields including Villers-Bretonneux, Pozieres and Mouquet Farm ★ Victoria School and Museum ★ Drop-off central Paris

Today we leave Ypres and travel south to the battlefields of the Somme. Our first stop is the battlefield of Messines, scene of a huge Allied attack in 1917 that was heralded by the explosion of 19 massive mines. We will then travel to French Flanders and the very moving 1916 battlefield of Fromelles, where Australia lost 5,533 men during its first action on the Western Front. While here we will visit the Australian Memorial Park, VC Corner Cemetery (the only all-Australian cemetery in France), the site of the recently discovered Australian mass grave at Pheasant Wood and the new Fromelles (Pheasant Wood) Cemetery, where 250 Australian and British soldiers were laid to rest in 2010. We will also visit the new Fromelles museum, opened in 2014, which tells the story of Australia’s disastrous involvement in the battle of Fromelles in 1916.

Our final stop of the day is the battlefield of Bullecourt, where Australia lost 10,000 men in two great battles in 1917, before checking in to our central Somme hotel where we will have free time to enjoy dinner. (B, L)

Today we will explore the killing fields of the Somme, where Australian troops performed magnificently in both 1916 and 1918. Our first visit is to the Australian Memorial at VillersBretonneux and the Victoria School and Museum where a sign entreats that the school children ‘Do Not Forget Australia’. We will then visit the Australian Memorial Park at Hamel before continuing to the 1916 battlefields of the Somme, including Pozieres and Mouquet Farm, scene of the most costly battle in Australia’s history. Our final stop is the imposing Thiepval Memorial, which commemorates more than 70,000 British soldiers missing from the Somme fighting. We will then farewell the battlefields and drive back to Paris, arriving at our central drop-off point at approximately 5.00pm (B) Please note that your Historian may alter the order of sites visited on each day.

YOUR TOUR INCLUDES DEPARTURE DATES 2015:

$1697*

August 4, 11, 18, 25. September 4, 11, 18, 25.

October 3, 10, 17. November 8, 22.

2016:

$1797*

April 9, 30. May 10, 17, 24, 31. June 4, 11, 18, 25. July 2, 9, 30. August 9, 16, 23, 30. September 10, 17, 24.

October 1, 8, 15, 22. November 8, 22. ★ Services of an expert WW1 Historian (and Tour Manager if group exceeds 30 passengers) ★ Central Paris pick-up and drop-off ★ All excursions, scenic drives and sightseeing as described in the itinerary ★ 3 nights’ 3 and 4-star accommodation ★ Hotel porterage ★ Breakfast daily, 2 lunches & welcome dinner ★ Extensive touring of the WW1 battlefields ★ All entrance fees as per the itinerary

W e s t e r n Fr o n t E xp l o re r

★ Travel by comfortable air conditioned touring vehicle

ENGLAND

★ All tips to your Historian, Tour Manager and Driver

Ypres (2) BELGIUM

★ Copy of Mat McLachlan’s definitive guide to the Western Front, Walking with the Anzacs ★ Souvenir cap, document wallet, luggage tag and quality MMBT day backpack ★ Detailed map showing the battlefields and key sites visited on the tour

Somme (1)

*Per person, twin share, land only. Single supplement: $597 (2015) and $647(2016).

FRANCE

Ask about our airfare deals, which offer great discounts when booked in conjunction with our tours.

Ask us about joining this tour in London or Lille!

T OUR S TAR T

TOUR END

Paris

Western Front Explorer 9

Anzac Day at Gallipoli 8 NIGHTS

19–27 April 2016

A visit to Gallipoli for Anzac Day is a life-changing experience. This tour gives you the opportunity to walk in the footsteps of the 50,000 Australians who served at Gallipoli, including the 8000 who never came home. The tour visits all the key sites on the Gallipoli peninsula – the highlight is the Dawn Service at Anzac Cove on Anzac Day.

Day 1 19 April Istanbul

Day 3 21 April Istanbul to Gallipoli

S TAR I N C L U S I O N S

STAR IN CL U S IONS

★ Arrival transfer ★ Welcome drink and dinner ★ 4-star central hotel

★ Ferry across the Dardanelles ★ Cimenlik Fort ★ 5 nights in Gallipoli

Welcome to Istanbul and our tour following in the footsteps of the original Anzacs! On arrival at Istanbul Ataturk Airport we will be met and transferred to our 4-star hotel in the heart of Istanbul’s Old Town. This evening we will come together to enjoy a welcome drink followed by dinner. (D)

Day 2 20 April Istanbul STAR I N C L U S I O N S

Day 4 22 April Anzac Sector

★ Istanbul sightseeing ★ Aya Sofia ★ Basilica Cistern

STAR IN CL U S IONS

Today we will explore Istanbul, including Topkapi Palace, the Blue Mosque and Hippodrome, and visit the Basilica Cistern and Aya Sofia. Later we will have time to wander the maze of shops in the Grand Bazaar which is one of the world’s largest and oldest markets. (B)

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Our journey in the footsteps of the Anzacs begins today, as we depart Istanbul for the five hour drive to the Gallipoli peninsula. On arrival we will enjoy free time for lunch in the port town of Eceabat before crossing the Dardanelles by ferry, and visiting Cimenlik Fort in the town of Canakkale. Later we will check into our Gallipoli hotel, home for the next five nights. Dinner tonight is at our hotel. (B, D)

Mat McLachlan Battlefield Tours

★ Gallipoli battlefields ★ Anzac Cove ★ North Beach ★ Shrapnel Gully ★ Lone Pine ★ The Nek ★ Quinn’s Post ★ Chunuk Bair Today we will visit the battlefields that were the birthplace of the Anzac legend. We will explore Anzac Cove, North Beach, Shrapnel Gully, Lone Pine, The Nek, Quinn’s Post, Chunuk

Bair and many more. The most moving part of this experience will be spending time in the cemeteries where thousands of Anzacs lie, and seeing the graves of legendary Anzacs including John Simpson, the ‘man with the donkey’. A buffet lunch is included today, as is dinner in our hotel. (B, L, D)

Day 5 23 April

Cape Helles and Suvla Bay S TA R INCL U S IONS

★ Cape Helles ★ Turkish Martyr’s Memorial ★ Krithia ★ Suvla Bay ★ Picnic lunch Today will be spent exploring a lesser-known, but no less important, chapter of the Gallipoli story, the battlefield at Cape Helles. British and French troops landed here at the same time the Australians came ashore at Anzac Cove. We will visit the beaches and cemeteries where many of them still lie. We will also pay our respects to the Turks, at the Martyr’s Memorial overlooking Morto Bay. After a picnic lunch we will visit the battlefield at Krithia where hundreds were killed during a virtually unknown murderous advance in May 1915. This afternoon we will drive north to visit the battlefields at Suvla Bay, scene of missed

opportunities and bitter disappointment during August 1915. Dinner tonight is at our hotel.

(B, L, D)

Day 6 24 April Troy STAR I N C L U S I O N S

★ Troy ★ Trojan Horse

the Australian service at Lone Pine or the New Zealand service at Chunuk Bair. Mid-afternoon we will leave the peninsula and return to our hotel in time for dinner and a relaxing evening. (B, D)

Day 8 26 April

Gallipoli to Istanbul STAR INC LU S IONS

The pace will be relaxed today to prepare for our busy day tomorrow. In the morning we will travel south to tour the ancient city of Troy, immortalised in the tales of the Trojan War and the story of the famous Trojan Horse. In the afternoon we will have time at leisure and to rest before our big day tomorrow. After dinner we will depart for the Anzac Day Dawn Service. (B, D)

★ Farewell cruise on the Bosphorus with dinner and entertainment We farewell Gallipoli this morning and return to Istanbul. This evening we will enjoy a farewell dinner cruise along the Bosphorus, the river that cuts through the heart of Istanbul and separates Europe from Asia. (B, L, D)

YOUR TOUR INCLUDES ★ Services of an expert WW1 Historian ★ All excursions, scenic drives and sightseeing as described in the itinerary ★ Anzac Day Dawn Service at Anzac Cove including boat transfer ★ Return airport transfers in Istanbul from Ataturk Airport (within operating hours) ★ 3 nights’ 4-star accommodation in Istanbul ★ 5 nights’ 3-star accommodation at Gallipoli ★ Hotel porterage ★ Sightseeing tour of Istanbul. Entrance fees included to Aya Sofia and Basilica Cistern ★ Extensive touring of the WW1 battlefields

Day 7 25 April Anzac Day

Day 9 27 April Istanbul

★ Half-day tour to Ancient Troy

STAR I N C L U S I O N S

STAR INC LU S IONS

★ Breakfast daily, 3 lunches and 7 dinners

★ Boat transfer to Gallipoli Peninsula ★ Official Dawn Service at Anzac Cove ★ Lone Pine or Chunuk Bair Service

★ Assistance with hotel check-out ★ Airport transfer

★ Welcome drink in Istanbul

An Anzac Day we will never forget! We will depart from our hotel and drive the short distance to Canakkale where we will board a boat and cruise around the southern toe of the peninsula, approaching Gallipoli in exactly the same way as the original Anzacs did in 1915.

It also enables us to leave our hotel later, and avoid road closures and traffic hold-ups. Then, as the dawn breaks over the Gallipoli peninsula, we will join thousands of fellow Australians and New Zealanders in a once-in-a-lifetime event, the Dawn Service at Anzac Cove. As the sun rises, the strains of the Last Post will echo across the valleys and ridges of Gallipoli, silent now but once the scene of so much sacrifice and tragedy.

Following the service we will walk up to Second Ridge, where you can choose to attend either

★ Travel by first-class air-conditioned coach

Sadly our tour ends today. After enjoying breakfast and checking out of our hotel, we will be transferred to Istanbul’s Ataturk Airport for our onward flight. The journey may be over but the memories will last a lifetime. (B)

”We appreci ated that the tour incorpo rated the clients perso nal requests when possib le to visit the gravesite of a relative.”

– RON, WA

★ Bosphorus farewell dinner cruise in Istanbul ★ Bottled water for each passenger each day ★ Services of a Tour Manager, Driver and experienced Local Guides ★ All tips to your Historian, Tour Manager and Driver ★ Copy of Mat McLachlan’s definitive guide book, Gallipoli – The Battlefield Guide ★ Souvenir cap, document wallet, luggage tag and quality MMBT day backpack

$3197

per person, twin share (land only). Single supplement: $947 Ask about our airfare deals, which offer great discounts when booked in conjunction with our tours. Conditions apply.

A n z a c D a y a t Gal l i p o l i

EXTEND YOUR TRIP Spend more time in Istanbul before or after your tour.

Pre and post-tour accommodation is available.

Istanbul (2)(1)

TURKEY EXTENSION TOUR This tour can be combined with the 7-day Turkey Splendours tour departing Istanbul on 27 April. Full details on pages 16/17 and deduct $100pp as a 2nd tour discount!

WESTERN FRONT EXPLORER TOUR Travel onto Europe. This tour can be combined with the Western Front Explorer Tour (pages 8/9) departing Paris on 30 April. Add a couple of nights in Istanbul and/or Paris to relax and you have a perfect extension. Deduct $50pp as a 2nd tour discount!

GALLIPOLI Eceabat Canakkale (5) TOU R STA R T

TOU R E ND

Anzac Day at Gallipoli

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Anzac Day on the Western Front 9 NIGHTS

18–27 April 2016

Australia’s most popular Anzac Day tour! Visit the key Australian battlefields in France and Belgium and pay your respects to the 45,000 Australians who were killed there. Our 9-night first-class tour visits all the key Australian battlefield sites, as well as Paris, The Champagne Region, Reims and Bruges. The highlight is the moving Anzac Day Dawn Service at Villers-Bretonneux.

Day 1 18 April Paris S TAR I N C L U S I O N S

★ 4-star central Paris hotel ★ Welcome drink and dinner Welcome to our Western Front tour! After checking in to our Paris hotel, we will come together for a welcome drink and dinner. (D)

Day 2 19 April Paris STAR I N C L U S I O N S

★ Paris sightseeing tour ★ Traditional French lunch Today will be spent exploring the sights and sounds of Paris on a guided Panoramic Tour. We will see the city’s iconic sights – the Eiffel Tower, Champs Elysées, Arc de Triomphe, Louvre and Notre Dame. After lunch we will have free time to further explore this romantic city. (B, L)

Day 3 20 April Paris to Ypres STAR I N C L U S I O N S

★ Guided tour and tasting at a Champagne house ★ Australian 2nd Division Memorial and preserved trenches ★ Central Ypres hotel Our tour in the footsteps of the Anzacs begins today. We depart Paris for Epernay, the birthplace of Champagne, and enjoy a guided tour of the cellars of a Champagne house with a tasting.

Then on to Reims where the kings of France were

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Mat McLachlan Battlefield Tours

once crowned. Next we will visit the inspiring Australian 2nd Division Memorial and the remains of trenches captured by Australian troops on the 1918 battlefield of Mont St. Quentin, before we cross the border into Belgium and arrive in Ypres, our home for the next four nights. Dinner tonight is included. (B, D)

Day 4 21 April Ypres STAR IN CL U S IONS

★ Walking tour of Ypres ★ In Flanders Fields Museum ★ Last Post Service at the Menin Gate

war. More than a million men were killed or wounded trying to gain control of this small patch of ground. Today we will explore the Australian battlefields in the Salient including the Passchendaele Museum, Polygon Wood, Tyne Cot Cemetery, Langemark German Cemetery and Hill 60. We will also enjoy lunch at Café de Dreve, where we will meet the owner, Johan Vandewalle, who discovered five Australian bodies on the battlefields in 2006 and who featured in Mat McLachlan’s documentary Lost in Flanders (B, L)

Day 6 23 April Bruges S TA R INCL U S IONS

This morning we will join our Historian for a walking tour around Ypres, visiting key sites such as the magnificent Cloth Hall, St. George’s Chapel, St. Martin’s Cathedral, the Menin Gate and Ramparts Cemetery. This afternoon is free to explore the town including the outstanding In Flanders Fields Museum, before we return to the Menin Gate for the moving Last Post ceremony. The Ypres fire brigade has performed this ceremony every day and in all weather since 1927. Two of our passengers will be invited to lay a wreath on behalf of the group. (B)

Day 5 22 April Ypres Salient

★ Tour to Bruges ★ Essex Farm Cemetery ★ Trench of Death We will spend time today exploring Bruges, one of Europe’s most charming medieval cities, with free time to wander the cobbled streets, take a cruise on one of the city’s enchanting canals, ride through the picturesque squares in a horse and cart or sample the lace boutiques, chocolate shops and cafés that make Bruges famous. On the drive back to Ypres we will stop at Essex Farm Cemetery, where in 1915 Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae composed In Flanders Fields, the most famous poem of the war. We will also visit the ominously named Trench of Death. (B)

STAR IN CL U S IONS

★ Full day touring battlefields of Ypres Salient ★ Passchendaele Museum ★ Lunch at Café de Dreve The Ypres Salient was a bulge in the front line that curved around Ypres for most of the

”The tour was outstanding in every way.”

– DOROTHY,

NSW

Day 7 24 April Ypres to the Somme STAR I N C L U S I O N S

★ Touring of the battlefields between Ypres and the Somme including Fromelles, Pheasant Wood, Vimy Ridge and Bullecourt ★ Preserved trenches ★ Central Somme hotel Today we will leave Ypres and travel south to the battlefields of the Somme. Our first stop is the battlefield of Messines, before travelling to French Flanders and the moving 1916 battlefield of Fromelles. While here we will visit the Australian Memorial Park, VC Corner Cemetery, the site of the recently discovered Australian mass grave at Pheasant Wood and the brand new Fromelles (Pheasant Wood) Cemetery, where 250 Australian and British soldiers were laid to rest in 2010. Then onto Vimy Ridge and the maze of preserved trenches on the site. Our final stop is the battlefield of Bullecourt, where Australia lost 10,000 men in two great battles in 1917. A packed lunch is included today, and we will enjoy dinner in our hotel on our arrival in the Somme. (B, L, D)

Day 8 25 April Anzac Day STAR I N C L U S I O N S

★ Anzac Day Dawn Service at VillersBretonneux ★ Breakfast with the townspeople of Hamel ★ Touring of the Somme battlefields An Anzac Day we will never forget! Our day begins with the Anzac Day Dawn Service at Villers-Bretonneux, an emotional Commemorative event we will share with thousands of fellow Australians. We will then enjoy breakfast with the townspeople of Hamel – an event that has been organised exclusively for MMBT, followed by a memorial service at the

Australian Memorial Park. We will then begin our tour of the 1916 battlefields of the Somme. Firstly the imposing Lochnagar Mine Crater followed by the village of Pozieres, scene of the most costly battle in Australia’s history. Lunch is included at a local café, and tonight our evening is free. (B, L)

Day 9 26 April The Somme to Paris STAR INC LU S IONS

★ Touring of the Somme battlefields ★ Victoria School and Museum ★ 4-star central Paris hotel ★ Farewell Seine cruise (with dinner) Our last day in the footsteps of the Anzacs will see us return to the 1916 Somme battlefields, where we will visit the maze of trenches at the Newfoundland Memorial Park and the imposing Thiepval Memorial. We will also visit Mouquet Farm before returning to Villers-Bretonneux to visit the remarkable Victoria School and Museum where a sign in the playground entreats that the students ‘Do Not Forget Australia’. We will then head to the Australian National Memorial to spend some peaceful time reading the names of the missing Australian soldiers and taking a last opportunity to pay our respects to the original Anzacs. We then farewell the battlefields and return to Paris. This evening we will enjoy a farewell dinner while cruising along the Seine River, a wonderful opportunity to see the landmarks of Paris bathed in light. (B, D)

YOUR TOUR INCLUDES ★ Services of an expert WW1 Historian ★ All excursions, scenic drives and sightseeing as described in the itinerary ★ Anzac Day Dawn Service at the Australian National Memorial, Villers Bretonneux ★ Anzac Day breakfast with the townspeople of Hamel ★ 9 nights’ 3 and 4-star accommodation ★ Hotel porterage ★ Breakfast daily, 4 lunches and 4 dinners (including a farewell Seine river cruise with dinner and entertainment) ★ Welcome drink in Paris ★ Services of a Tour Manager, Driver and experienced Local Guides ★ Extensive touring of the WW1 battlefields ★ All entrance fees as per the itinerary ★ Comfortable air-conditioned touring coach ★ All tips to your Historian, Tour Manager and Driver

Day 10 27 April Paris

★ Copy of Mat McLachlan’s definitive guide to the Western Front, Walking with the Anzacs

STAR INC LU S IONS

★ Souvenir cap, document wallet, luggage tag and quality MMBT day backpack

★ Assistance with hotel check-out Sadly our Western Front Tour ends this morning after breakfast. The journey may be over but the memories will last a lifetime. (B)

★ Detailed map showing the battlefields and key sites visited on the tour

$3997

per person, twin share (land only). Single supplement: $1147

An z a c D a y o n the Western Fro n t

Bruges

ENGLAND

EXTEND YOUR TRIP

Flanders (4) BELGIUM

GALLIPOLI EXTENSION TOUR This tour can be combined with the 6-day Gallipoli Extension tour starting in Istanbul on 27 April. Full details on pages 14/15 and deduct $50pp as a 2nd tour discount!

Somme (2) FRANCE

T OUR S TAR T

TOUR END

Spend more time in Paris before or after your tour!

Pre and post-tour accommodation is available at discounted rates.

Paris (2/1)

GALLIPOLI AND TURKEY INSPIRATION TOUR This tour can be combined with the 10-day Gallipoli and Turkey Inspiration Tour (pages 18/19) starting in Istanbul on 27 April. Deduct $100pp as a 2nd tour discount!

Anzac Day on the Western Front

13

Gallipoli Extension Tour 5 NIGHTS

27 April–2 May 2016

A visit to Gallipoli is a life-changing experience. This tour gives you the opportunity to walk in the footsteps of the 50,000 Australians who served at Gallipoli, including the 8000 who never came home. This tour visits all the key sites on the Gallipoli peninsula as standalone tour or the perfect extension to Anzac Day on the Western Front (pages 12/13).

”The tour ca tered for all ages and most levels of phys ical ability.”

– DANIEL, NS

W

Day 1 27 April Arrive Istanbul S TAR I N C L U S I O N S

★ Arrival transfer ★ Welcome drink and dinner ★ 4-star central hotel Welcome to Istanbul and our tour following in the footsteps of the original Anzacs! On arrival at Istanbul Ataturk Airport we will be met and transferred to our 4-star hotel in the heart of Istanbul’s Old Town. This evening we will come together to enjoy a welcome drink followed by dinner. (D)

Day 2 28 April Istanbul STAR I N C L U S I O N S

★ Istanbul sightseeing ★ Aya Sofia ★ Basilica Cistern ★ Free time in Grand Bazaar Today we will explore Istanbul, including Topkapi Palace, the Blue Mosque and Hippodrome, and

14

Mat McLachlan Battlefield Tours

visits to the Basilica Cistern and Aya Sofia. In the afternoon we will visit the world-famous Grand Bazaar with time to wander the maze of shops in one of the world’s largest and oldest markets.

Our Tour Manager will advise a return pickup time to the hotel. (B)

Day 3 29 April Gallipoli STAR IN CL U S IONS

★ Ferry across the Dardanelles ★ Cimenlik Fort ★ 2 nights in Gallipoli Our journey in the footsteps of the Anzacs begins today, as we depart Istanbul for the five hour drive to the Gallipoli peninsula. On arrival we will enjoy free time for lunch in the port town of Eceabat before crossing the Dardanelles by ferry, and visiting Cimenlik Fort in the town of Canakkale. Later we will check into our Gallipoli hotel, home for the next two nights. Dinner tonight is at our hotel. (B, D)

Day 4 30 Apr Anzac Sector STAR I N C L U S I O N S

★ Gallipoli battlefields ★ Anzac Cove ★ North Beach ★ Shrapnel Gully ★ Lone Pine ★ The Nek ★ Quinn’s Post ★ Chunuk Bair Today we will visit the battlefields that were the birthplace of the Anzac legend. We will explore Anzac Cove, North Beach, Shrapnel Gully, Lone Pine, The Nek, Quinn’s Post, Chunuk Bair and many more. The most moving part of this experience will be spending time in the cemeteries where thousands of Anzacs lie, and seeing the graves of legendary Anzacs including John Simpson, the ‘man with the donkey’. Dinner tonight is in our hotel. (B, D)

Day 5 1 May Istanbul After breakfast this morning we will farewell Gallipoli and return to Istanbul in the early afternoon. The rest of the day is at leisure. (B)

Day 6 2 May Istanbul STAR INC LU S IONS

★ Assistance with hotel check-out ★ Airport transfer Sadly our tour ends today. After enjoying breakfast and checking out of our hotel, we will be transferred to Istanbul’s Ataturk airport for our onward flight. (B)

YOUR TOUR INCLUDES ★ Services of an expert WW1 Historian ★ All excursions, scenic drives and sightseeing as described in the itinerary ★ Return airport transfers in Istanbul from Ataturk Airport (within operating hours) ★ 3 nights’ 4-star accommodation in Istanbul ★ 2 nights’ 3-star accommodation at Gallipoli ★ Hotel porterage ★ Sightseeing tour of Istanbul. Entrance fees to Aya Sofia and Basilica Cistern ★ Extensive touring of the WW1 battlefields

G all i p o l i E x t e n si o n To u r

★ Travel by first-class air-conditioned touring vehicle ★ Breakfast daily and 3 dinners ★ Welcome drink in Istanbul ★ Bottled water for each passenger each day

Istanbul (2)(1)

★ Services of a Tour Manager, Driver and experienced Local Guides ★ All tips to your Historian, Tour Manager and Driver ★ Copy of Mat McLachlan’s definitive guide, Gallipoli – The Battlefield Guide ★ Souvenir cap, document wallet, luggage tag and quality MMBT day backpack

GALLIPOLI

$1997

Eceabat

per person, twin share (land only). Single supplement: $347

Canakkale (2) TOU R STA R T

TOU R E ND

Gallipoli Extension Tour

15

Turkey Splendours 6 NIGHTS

27 April–3 May 2016

For a more in-depth experience of Turkey, this tour continues into the Asian side of this great country – in times gone by referred to as Asia Minor. Marvel at the archaeological sites of Ephesus filled with ancient splendour, and the curious landscapes of Pumukkale straight out of a storybook. This tour visits all the key sites as a stand-alone tour or the perfect extension to Anzac Day at Gallipoli (pages 10/11).

Day 1 27 April Istanbul to Kusadasi S TAR I N C L U S I O N S

★ Transfer and flight to Izmir ★ Welcome drink and dinner This morning we will depart our Istanbul hotel and transfer to the airport for our flight to Izmir.

On arrival we will drive to Sirince, a picturesque village in the hills above Ephesus famous for its wine production, before continuing to Kusadasi where we will check in to our hotel. This evening we will enjoy a welcome drink and dinner. (D)

Day 3 29 April Kusadasi to Pamukkale

Day 2 28 April Ephesus

STAR IN CL U S IONS

STAR I N C L U S I O N S

★ Travertine Terraces ★ Opportunity to swim in hot thermal waters

★ Spectacular Ephesus ★ Artemis Temple ★ St. John’s Basilica ★ Olive museum Today we will drive to Ephesus, one of the most important cities of Asia Minor. The well preserved

16

theatre, marble road, Celsus Library, baths, Agora, the temple of Hadrian, Augustus gate and many other buildings will show us the former importance and beauty of this city. We will also visit the Artemis Temple, which was among the Seven Wonders of the World and the St. John’s Basilica. Next we will visit a museum of olive production, and learn about the techniques used since antiquity. We will also enjoy the chance to taste the olive products. We will then return to Kusadasi and dinner tonight is at our hotel. (B, D)

Mat McLachlan Battlefield Tours

Today we will depart Kusadasi and drive past the fertile Valley of the Maeandros River to Pumukkale where hot thermal springs have created its spectacular travertine terraces – a

unique natural wonder. We will explore the ancient spa town of Hierapolis and can enjoy the unique experience of a swim in the hot thermal water of a 2,000-year-old Roman pool. Dinner is included this evening. (B, D)

Day 4 30 April Pamukkale to Konya S TA R INCL U S IONS

★ Kaklik Cave ★ Mevlana Monastery (Whirling Dervishes) ★ Visit Womens Market tasting local produce Our first stop will be Kaklik Cave to see “Pamukkale beneath the earth”, before continuing to Pisidian Antiochia, Yalvac. St. Paul visited this city on his missionary journeys and turned it in to an important centre of early Christianity. We will visit the ruins before continuing to Konya where our city tour will include fine samples of the seljuk architecture such as the Alaeddin Mosque or Karatay

Medrese. We will visit the Mevlana Monastery, centre of the famous Whirling Dervishes. We will also stop at the colourful Women’s Market in the historical city centre. Tonight dinner is included.

(B, D)

Day 5 1 May Konya to Cappadocia

the area. Then onto Uchisar, one of the most beautiful villages in the region. Finally we will see Cavusin, a natural castle, still partly inhabited.

Our tour will conclude with an exclusive tasting of the excellent local wines and a farewell dinner with delicious local specialities at Ürgüp’s most famous restaurant. (B, D)

Day 7 3 May Cappadocia to Istanbul

STAR I N C L U S I O N S

★ Silk Road ★ Moonscape of Cappadocia STAR INC LU S IONS

Today we will travel from Konya to Cappadocia along the ancient Silk Road, and visit a Caravansaray, where merchants used to stay, and stories and legends were exchanged. This afternoon we arrive in Cappadocia, a unique region where the power of volcanoes, wind, water and also mankind have created a mystic land resembling moonscape. After a busy day we will check into our hotel and enjoy dinner. (B, D)

★ Flight to Istanbul Sadly our Turkey Splendours tour ends today.

After enjoying breakfast at our hotel we will be transferred to the airport for our flight to Istanbul where the tour concludes. (B)

Day 6 2 May Cappadocia STAR I N C L U S I O N S

★ Underground city ★ Cave churches at Göreme Valley ★ Pigeon Valley ★ Cavusin castle This morning you may like to take an optional early morning hot-air-balloon flight over Cappadocia. Soaring over fairy chimneys, and dipping low to skim cave dwellings, this may be your favourite part of your Turkey trip. Celebrate a soft landing with a quick drink, and return to your hotel for breakfast.

Today we will visit some of the most important sites in this unique area. Our first visit will be to one of the impressive underground cities.

We will then continue to the UNESCO heritage Göreme Valley, where we can see some of the best preserved cave churches. At Pigeon Valley we will learn the importance of the birds for

”It is an expe rience we will reme mber forever.”

– CHERYL, NS

W

YOUR TOUR INCLUDES ★ Flights from Istanbul to Izmir and Cappadocia to Istanbul ★ All excursions, scenic drives and sightseeing as described in the itinerary ★ 6 nights’ accommodation in 3 and 4 star hotels ★ Hotel porterage

T u r k e y S p l e n do urs

★ Travel by first-class air-conditioned touring vehicle ★ Breakfast daily and dinner each night

Istanbul

★ Welcome drink in Kusadasi

Gallipoli

★ Bottled water for each passenger each day

TURKEY

★ Services of a Tour Manager, Driver and experienced Local Guides ★ All tips to your Tour Manager and Driver ★ Document wallet and luggage tag

Ephesus Izmir Kusadasi (2)

TOUR STAR T

Pamukkale (1)

Cappadocia (2) Konya (1)

$1997

per person, twin share.

Single supplement: $347 Ask about extending in Cappadocia. Return flights to Istanbul can be substituted for another date subject to availability.

TOUR END

Turkey Splendours

17

Gallipoli and Turkey Inspiration 10 NIGHTS

27 April–7 May 2016

The perfect combination of Gallipoli and Turkey. Walk in the footsteps of the 50,000 Australians who served at Gallipoli, including the 8000 who never came home. Visit all the key sites on the Gallipoli peninsula followed by an overview of the rest of Turkey’s greatest treasures, including the archaeological sites of Ephesus and the curious landscapes of Pamukkale. This tour visits all the key sites as a stand-alone tour or the perfect extension to Anzac Day on the Western Front (pages 12/13).

”We had a g reat holiday we w ould highly recommend your to to everyone.” ur – GEOFFREY , NSW

Day 1 27 April Arrive Istanbul S TAR I N C L U S I O N S

★ Arrival transfer ★ Welcome drink and dinner ★ 4-star central hotel On arrival at Istanbul Ataturk Airport we will be met and transferred to our 4-star hotel in the heart of Istanbul’s Old Town. This evening we will come together to enjoy a welcome drink followed by dinner. (D)

Day 2 28 April Istanbul

drive to the Gallipoli peninsula. On arrival we will enjoy free time for lunch in the port town of Eceabat before crossing the Dardanelles by ferry and visiting Cimenlik Fort in the town of Canakkale. Dinner tonight is at our hotel – home for the next two nights. (B, D)

Day 4 30 Apr Anzac Sector STAR IN CL U S IONS

★ Gallipoli battlefields ★ Anzac Cove ★ North Beach ★ Shrapnel Gully ★ Lone Pine ★ The Nek ★ Quinn’s Post ★ Chunuk Bair

STAR I N C L U S I O N S

★ Istanbul sightseeing ★ Aya Sofia ★ Basilica Cistern ★ Grand Bazaar Today we will explore Istanbul, including Topkapi Palace, the Blue Mosque and Hippodrome, and visits to the Basilica Cistern and Aya Sofia. In the afternoon we will spend some time wandering the maze of shops in the Grand Baazar. (B)

Day 3 29 April Istanbul to Gallipoli

Today we will visit the battlefields that were the birthplace of the Anzac legend. We will explore Anzac Cove, North Beach, Shrapnel Gully, Lone Pine, The Nek, Quinn’s Post, Chunuk Bair and many more. Dinner tonight will be in our hotel.

(B, D)

Day 5 1 May Kusadasi

Day 6 2 May Ephesus S TA R INCL U S IONS

★ Spectacular Ephesus ★ Artemis Temple ★ St. John’s Basilica ★ Olive museum Today we will drive to Ephesus, one of the most important ancient cities of Asia Minor. The well-preserved theatre, marble road, Celsus Library, baths, Agora, the temple of Hadrian, the Augustus gate and many other buildings will show us the former importance and beauty of this city. We will also visit the Artemis Temple, which was among the Seven Wonders of the World and St. John’s Basilica. Next we will visit a museum of olive production and learn about the techniques used since antiquity. We will also enjoy the chance to taste the olive products. Afterwards we will return to Kusadasi and dinner at our hotel (B, D)

Day 7 3 May Kusadasi to Pamukkale S TA R INCL U S IONS

STAR IN CL U S IONS

★ Ancient Greek city of Pergamon

★ Travertine Terraces ★ Opportunity to swim in hot thermal waters

S TAR I N C L U S I O N S

★ Ferry across the Dardanelles ★ Cimenlik Fort ★ 2 nights in Gallipoli Our journey in the footsteps of the Anzacs begins today, as we depart Istanbul for the five hour 18

Mat McLachlan Battlefield Tours

After breakfast we will farewell Gallipoli and drive to Kusadasi via the ancient Greek city of Pergamon. Dinner tonight is included. (B, D)

Today we will depart Kusadasi and drive past the fertile Valley of the Maeandros River to Pumukkale where hot thermal springs have created spectacular travertine terraces – a unique natural wonder. We will explore the ancient

Day 10 6 May Cappadocia

spa town of Hierapolis and enjoy the unique experience of a swim in the hot thermal water of a 2,000-year-old Roman pool. Dinner is included this evening. (B, D)

STAR INC LU S IONS

★ Underground city ★ Cave churches at Göreme Valley ★ Pigeon Valley ★ Cavusin Castle

Day 8 4 May Pamukkale to Konya

This morning you may like to take an optional early morning hot-air-balloon flight over Cappadocia. Soaring over fairy chimneys and dipping low to skim cave dwellings – it will certainly be unforgettable. Celebrate a soft landing with a quick drink, and return to your hotel for breakfast.

Today we will visit some of the most important sites in this unique area. Our first visit will be to one of the impressive underground cities.

We will then continue to the UNESCO heritage Göreme Valley, where we can see some of the best preserved cave churches. At Pigeon Valley we will learn the importance of birds for the area. Then onto Uchisar, one of the most beautiful villages in the region. Finally, we will see Cavusin, a natural castle, still partly inhabited.

Our tour will conclude with an exclusive tasting of the excellent local wines and a farewell dinner with delicious local specialities at Ürgüp’s most famous restaurant. (B, D)

STAR I N C L U S I O N S

★ Kaklik Cave ★ Mevlana Monastery (Whirling Dervishes) ★ Visit Womens Market tasting local produce Our first stop will be Kaklik Cave to see “Pamukkale beneath the earth”, before continuing to Pisidian Antiochia, Yalvac. St. Paul visited this city on his missionary journeys and turned it into an important centre of early Christianity. We will visit the ruins before continuing to Konya where our city tour will include fine examples of seljuk architecture such as the Alaeddin Mosque and Karatay Medrese.

We will visit the Mevlana Monastery, centre of the famous Whirling Dervishes and stop at the colourful Women’s Market in the historical city centre. Tonight dinner is included. (B, D)

Day 9 5 May Konya to Cappadocia STAR I N C L U S I O N S

Day 11 7 May Cappadocia to Istanbul

★ Silk Road ★ Moonscape of Cappadocia Today we will travel from Konya to Cappadocia along the ancient Silk Road and visit a Caravansaray, where merchants used to stay. This afternoon we arrive in Cappadocia, a unique region where the power of volcanoes, wind, water and also mankind, have created a mystic land resembling moonscape. Later today we will check into our hotel and enjoy dinner. (B, D)

STAR INC LU S IONS

★ Flight to Istanbul Sadly our tour ends today. After enjoying breakfast at our hotel we will be transferred to the airport for our flight to Istanbul where the tour concludes. (B)

YOUR TOUR INCLUDES ★ Services of an expert WW1 Historian (Gallipoli only) ★ All excursions, scenic drives and sightseeing as described in the itinerary ★ Arrival transfers in Istanbul from Ataturk Airport (within operating hours) ★ 10 nights’ 3 and 4-star accommodation ★ Hotel porterage ★ Sightseeing tour of Istanbul, including the Blue Mosque, Aya Sofia, Topkapi Palace, Basilica Cistern and the Grand Bazaar ★ Entrance fees included to Aya Sofia and Basilica Cistern ★ Extensive touring of the WW1 battlefields in Gallipoli ★ Travel by first-class air-conditioned touring vehicle ★ Breakfast daily and 9 dinners

G all i p o l i a n d Tu rke y In sp i rati o n

★ Welcome drink in Istanbul ★ Bottled water for each passenger each day

Istanbul (2)

★ Services of a Tour Manager, Driver and experienced Local Guides

Gallipoli Eceabat

★ All tips to your Historian, Tour Manager and Driver

Canakkale (2)

TURKEY

★ Copy of Mat McLachlan’s definitive guide, Gallipoli – The Battlefield Guide ★ Souvenir cap, document wallet, luggage tag and quality MMBT day backpack

Ephesus Kusadasi (2)

TOUR STAR T

Pamukkale (1)

Cappadocia (2) Konya (1)

$3797

per person, twin share.

Single supplement: $647 Ask about extending in Cappadocia. Return flights to Istanbul can be substituted for another date subject to availability.

TOUR END

Gallipoli and Turkey Inspiration

19

Fall of the Third Reich 10 NIGHTS

9–19 July 2016

This unique tour follows the rise and fall of one of the most infamous regimes of all time – Nazi Germany.

Over 11 days the tour traces one of the darkest chapters in history, from the origins of the National Socialist Party in 1920s Munich to the plunge into WW2 and the horrors of the Holocaust. The tour will also explore the collapse of this brutal empire, which culminated in the destruction of Berlin and the Nuremberg War Trials in 1946. This tour will not glorify the actions of this sinister regime, but will shed light on this terrible time by walking the ground where these world-changing events occurred.

”Thank you fo ra very moving and extraordinar y experience.”

– MARTIN, TA

S

Day 1 9 July Munich

Day 3 11 July

Dachau Concentration Camp

S TAR I N C L U S I O N S

★ Welcome drink ★ Dinner

Day 2 10 July Munich STAR I N C L U S I O N S

★ Walking tour of Munich’s Third Reich sites ★ Dinner at the Hofbräuhaus beer hall Munich was known as the birthplace of the Nazi Party, and we will spend the day exploring this famous city. Today we will enjoy a walking tour around the city’s historic sites with our Historian.

Highlights include Odeonsplatz, the central square in Munich, the beer hall where the Putsch began and the former headquarters of the Nazi Party in Munich. Tonight we will enjoy dinner at the famous Hofbräuhaus beer hall, in the room where Hitler held public meetings. (B, D)

20

Mat McLachlan Battlefield Tours

Day 5 13 July Berchtesgaden

STAR IN CL U S IONS

★ Dachau Concentration Camp Welcome to our Fall of the Third Reich tour, and a fascinating study of one of the world’s most evil empires. This evening the group will come together in our Munich hotel to enjoy a welcome drink followed by dinner, an opportunity to get to know our travelling companions and Historian. (D)

hotel and enjoy a free evening to explore Berchtesgaden (B, L)

S TA R INCL U S IONS

★ Tour of the Obersalzberg complex Today we will leave Munich and travel to Dachau, the first official concentration camp established by the Nazis. The camp was built in 1933 and over the next 12 years was mainly used to house political prisoners and prisoners of war.

An estimated 40,000 inmates died in the camp, mostly from disease and malnutrition. After this sobering visit, we will return to Munich where our afternoon and evening is free. (B)

Day 4 12 July

Munich to Berchtesgaden STAR IN CL U S IONS

★ Tour and lunch at the Eagle’s Nest This morning we farewell Munich and drive into the Bavarian Alps to the picturesque town of Berchtesgaden, the holiday retreat of the key leaders of the Nazi Party in the 1920s. On arrival we will climb a narrow alpine road to the Eagle’s Nest, Hitler’s mountaintop retreat. Here we will enjoy a guided tour and lunch in the restaurant.

In the afternoon we will check into our central

Today we will explore the exclusive compound known as the Obersalzberg, where Nazi leaders had houses and only senior Nazi Party members or visiting VIPs could access. We will visit the Documentation Centre, remains of key buildings from the former Nazi complex and the site of Hitler’s holiday house, the Berghof. We will also visit the Hotel Turken and explore the bunker system beneath it. Following this fascinating visit, we will return to Berchtesgaden in time for lunch and a free afternoon. (B)

Day 6 14 July

Berchtesgaden to Nuremberg STAR I N C L U S I O N S

★ Tour of the Nuremberg War Crimes trials rooms ★ Lunch

to plan the rounding up and transportation of Jews to extermination camps. Our evening is free in Berlin. (B)

Day 10 18 July Berlin STAR INC LU S IONS

This morning we farewell the Alps and drive onwards to, Nuremberg, the site of the huge Nazi Party rallies of the 1930s and also the site for the War Crimes trials that condemned many of the Nazi leaders to death. On arrival we will enjoy lunch, before touring the chambers where the War Crime trials were held in 1946. In the afternoon we will check into our central hotel.

Our evening is free. (B, L)

Day 7 15 July Nuremberg STAR I N C L U S I O N S

★ Walking tour of the Nazi Party Rally Grounds ★ Nuremberg Documentation Centre Today we will visit key sites associated with the Nazi Party in Nuremberg. A highlight of the day will be a walking tour around the Nazi Party Rally Grounds, including a visit to the museum on the site that details the history of the rallies. We will return to Nuremberg for a free evening. (B)

★ Walking tour of Berlin Third Reich sites ★ Farewell dinner Our final day in the footsteps of the Nazis will take in many of the key sites in Berlin associated with the Third Reich. This morning we will visit the Treptow Soviet Memorial Park, then in the afternoon set out on a walking tour of the historic centre of Berlin with highlights including the Holocaust Memorial, the Reichstag and the site of the Fueherbunker, where Hitler committed suicide in April 1945. This evening we will come together for a farewell dinner. (B, D)

Day 11 19 July Berlin Sadly our tour ends this morning after breakfast.

(B) F all of the T hird R ei c h

Berlin (3)

★ All excursions, scenic drives and sightseeing as described in the itinerary ★ 10 nights’ 3 and 4-star accommodation ★ Hotel porterage ★ Welcome drink in Munich ★ Extensive touring of Munich, Berchtesgaden, Nuremberg and Berlin ★ All entrance fees as per the itinerary ★ Travel by first-class, air-conditioned touring vehicle ★ All tips to your Historian and Driver ★ Souvenir cap, document wallet, luggage tag and quality MMBT day backpack

$4297

STAR I N C L U S I O N S

per person, twin share (land only). Single supplement: $1297

★ Sightseeing tour of Berlin ★ Dinner

Ask about our airfare deals, which offer great discounts when booked in conjunction with our tours. Conditions apply.

GERMANY

CZECH REPUBLIC

EXTEND YOUR TRIP

Nuremburg (2)

Day 9 17 July 2016 Berlin STAR I N C L U S I O N S

★ Full day of escorted touring This morning begins with a drive to the Berlin Commonwealth War Cemetery, where we will pay our respects to the Commonwealth troops, including Australians and New Zealanders, buried there. We will then visit Wannsee Villa, on the outskirts of Berlin, where a conference was held

★ Services of an expert WW2 Historian

★ Breakfast daily, 2 lunches and 4 dinners

Day 8 16 July Nuremberg to Berlin

This morning we farewell Nuremberg and drive to Berlin, the capital of both the Third Reich and modern Germany. On arrival we will check into our hotel and enjoy a sightseeing tour of the city’s key attractions including the Brandenburg Gate, the Tiergarten, Potsdamer Platz, the 1936 Olympic Stadium and more. This evening we will enjoy dinner in our hotel. (B, D)

YOUR TOUR INCLUDES

Munich (3) T O U R STA R T

Berchtesgaden (2)

CLASSICAL RHINE AND LUCERNE RIVER CRUISE This tour can be combined with a beautiful AMRAS River Cruise on the Rhine with 2 nights to relax in Lucerne at the end. Starting in Amsterdam on 25 July and finishing in Lucerne on 3 August. Details at www.amrascruises.com.au or ask our expert reservations team. Deduct $100pp as a 2nd tour discount!!

TOU R E ND

Fall of the Third Reich

21

Fromelles and Pozieres Centenary 11 NIGHTS

14–25 July 2016

Commemorate the 100th anniversary of two of the most significant battles in Australia’s history, Fromelles and Pozieres. Our centenary tour will visit all the key Australian battlefields in France and Belgium, and will attend commemorative services on both anniversaries.

Day 1 14 July Paris

Day 4 17 July Ypres

Day 6 19 July Fromelles Centenary

S TAR I N C L U S I O N S

STAR IN CL U S IONS

S TA R INCL U S IONS

★ 4-star central Paris hotel ★ Welcome drink and dinner

★ Walking tour of Ypres ★ In Flanders Fields Museum ★ Last Post Service at the Menin Gate

★ Full day on the Fromelles battlefield ★ Anniversary commemorations ★ Picnic lunch

This tour will honour the fallen Diggers of Fromelles and Pozieres. Tonight we will come together for a welcome drink and dinner (D)

Day 2 15 July Paris STAR I N C L U S I O N S

★ Paris sightseeing ★ Traditional French lunch Today we will enjoy a guided Panoramic Tour of Paris, visiting the city’s iconic sights – the Eiffel Tower, Champs Elysées, the Arc de Triomphe, the Louvre and Notre Dame. After lunch we will have free time to further explore this romantic city. (B, L)

Day 3 16 July Paris to Flanders STAR I N C L U S I O N S

★ Guided tour and tasting at a Champagne house ★ Australian 2nd Division Memorial and trenches After breakfast we will depart Paris for Epernay, the birthplace of Champagne, and enjoy a guided tour. Then on to Reims before visiting the inspiring Australian 2nd Division Memorial and the remains of trenches captured by Australian troops at Mount St. Quentin. We will then cross the border into Belgium and Flanders. (B, D)

22

Mat McLachlan Battlefield Tours

This morning we join our Historian for a walking tour around Ypres, visiting key sights such as the magnificent Cloth Hall, St. George’s Chapel, St. Martin’s Cathedral, the Menin Gate and Ramparts Cemetery. We will also visit the moving In Flanders Museum followed by a free afternoon.

This evening we will return to the Menin Gate for the moving Last Post ceremony. (B)

Day 5 18 July The Ypres Salient STAR IN CL U S IONS

★ Full day touring battlefields of Ypres Salient ★ Passchendaele Museum ★ Lunch at Café de Dreve The Ypres Salient was a bulge in the front line which curved around Ypres for most of the war.

More than a million men were killed or wounded trying to gain control of this small patch of ground. Today we will explore the battlefields in the Salient, Passchendaele Museum, Polygon Wood, Tyne Cot Cemetery, Langemark German Cemetery and Hill 60. We will also enjoy lunch at Café de Dreve, where we will meet the owner, Johan Vandewalle, who discovered five Australian bodies on the battlefields in 2006 and who featured in Mat McLachlan’s documentary Lost in Flanders (B, L)

We will drive across the French border to Fromelles, and join local people and visitors to commemorate the 100th anniversary (details of commemorative events to be advised). We will then dedicate the rest of the day to exploring the Fromelles battlefield and gaining a better understanding of this ill-fated attack that cost so many young lives. We will see the Australian Memorial Park, VC Corner Cemetery, Le Trou Aid Post Cemetery, Rue Petillon Cemetery, the site of the mass grave where soldiers lay for 90 years at Pheasant Wood and the new cemetery where they now lie. We will also visit the new Fromelles museum, which tells the story of Australia’s disastrous involvement in this battle. Later we will return to our hotel and spend the evening at leisure. A packed lunch is included today. (B, L)

Day 7 20 July Bruges S TA R INCL U S IONS

★ Tour to Bruges ★ Essex Farm Cemetery ★ Trench of Death Today we will explore Bruges, one of Europe’s most charming medieval cities. Wander the cobbled streets, take a cruise on one of the city’s enchanting canals, ride through the picturesque squares in a horse and cart or sample the lace boutiques, chocolate shops and cafés that make

Bruges famous. On the drive back to Ypres we will stop at Essex Farm Cemetery, where in 1915 Lt. Colonel John McCrae composed In Flanders Fields, the most famous poem of the war. We will also visit the ominously named Trench of Death.

(B)

visit Thiepval Memorial and explore the trenches at Newfoundland Memorial Park. This evening is free. (B, L)

Day 10 23 July Pozieres Centenary STAR INC LU S IONS

Day 8 21 July The Somme

★ Pozieres Anniversary commemorations

STAR I N C L U S I O N S

★ Touring of the battlefields between Ypres and the Somme including Messines, Vimy Ridge and Bullecourt ★ Preserved trenches Today we travel to the battlefields of the Somme.

En route we will visit the battlefield of Messines, where 19 huge mines were detonated beneath German defenders in June 1917. Crossing the border we will visit Vimy Ridge and wander the maze of preserved trenches. Our final stop is the battlefield of Bullecourt, where Australia lost 10,000 men in two great battles. We will pay our respects at the Slouch Hat Memorial and the Australian Memorial Park on the site of the German front line. A packed lunch and dinner are included today. (B, L, D)

Day 9 22 July The Somme STAR I N C L U S I O N S

★ Full day touring the Australian battlefields of the Somme ★ Victoria School Museum ★ Traditional Somme restaurant lunch We begin at the Victoria School in VillersBretonneux where we will see the sign that entreats the children to ‘Never Forget Australia’, as well as Adelaide Cemetery. Next we will travel to the imposing Australian National Memorial at Villers-Bretonneux, where the Anzac Day Service is held each year. We will also visit the Australian Memorial Park on the battlefield of Hamel. Our next stop is the huge Lochnagar Crater, blown by the British beneath the German lines on the first day of the Battle of the Somme. We will then

Today we will commemorate the 100th anniversary of the start of the Battle of Pozieres, the most costly battle in Australian military history (details of commemorative events to be advised).

We will walk the ground where more than 23,000 Australians were killed or wounded in six weeks of bitter fighting. We will also join the villagers of Pozieres in paying tribute to the Australian soldiers who fought and died in the town 100 years ago to the day. Later we will return to our hotel and a free evening. (B)

Day 11 24 July The Somme to Paris STAR INC LU S IONS

★ All excursions, scenic drives and sightseeing as described in the itinerary ★ A full day at Fromelles on the anniversary of the centenary of the battle ★ A full day at Pozieres on the anniversary of the centenary of the battle ★ Hotel porterage

We will spend our final day on the battlefields of the Somme. Later we will return to Paris and enjoy a cruise along the Seine for a farewell dinner. (B, D)

Day 12 25 July 2016 Paris Sadly our Tour ends this morning after breakfast.

The journey may be over, but the memories of the men who gave so much at Fromelles and Pozieres will last a lifetime. (B)

”Without any doubt I found this to be both awe inspiring and sobering.”

– LAWRENCE

, NSW

Bruges

ENGLAND

★ Services of an expert WW1 Historian

★ 11 nights’ 3 and 4-star accommodation

★ Somme battlefield touring ★ Seine dinner cruise

F r o m e l l e s a n d P o zi e re s Ce n te n ary

YOUR TOUR INCLUDES

★ Breakfast daily, 5 lunches, 4 dinners (including a farewell Seine river cruise with dinner and entertainment) ★ Welcome drink and dinner in Paris ★ Services of a Tour Manager, Driver and experienced Local Guides ★ Extensive touring of the WW1 battlefields ★ All entrance fees as per the itinerary ★ Travel by first-class air conditioned touring coach ★ All tips to your Historian, Tour Manager and Driver ★ Copy of Mat McLachlan’s definitive guide to the Western Front, Walking with the Anzacs ★ Souvenir cap, document wallet, luggage tag and quality MMBT day backpack ★ Detailed map showing the battlefields and key sites visited on the tour

$4647

per person, twin share (land only). Single supplement: $1347

Flanders (5) BELGIUM

Fromelles

Somme (3) FRANCE

T OUR STAR T

TOUR END

Paris (2/1)

EXTEND YOUR TRIP CLASSICAL RHINE AND LUCERNE RIVER CRUISE This tour can be combined with a beautiful AMRAS river cruise on the Rhine with 2 nights to relax in Lucerne at the end. Starting in Amsterdam on 25 July and finishing in Lucerne on 3 August. Details at www.amrascruises.com.au or ask our expert reservations team. Deduct $100pp as a 2nd tour discount!

Spend some more time in Paris before or after your tour with our pre and post-tour accommodation.

Fromelles and Pozieres Centenary

23

Guadalcanal and HMAS Canberra Anniversary 4 NIGHTS

5–9 August 2016

This exclusive 5-day tour explores the battlefields from one of the most famous conflicts of the Pacific War, the Battle of Guadalcanal. Our tour commemorates the anniversary of the Allied landings, as well as the loss of HMAS Canberra two days later.

”We had a re ally (BRILLIANT) great time, fellow tourin g party were all goo d company.”

Photo: Anthony Bransby

– KEN, WA

Day 1 5 August Arrive Honiara

Day 2 6 August

Guadalcanal Battlefields

Day 3 7 August

Guadalcanal Anniversary

STAR IN CL U S IONS

S TA R INCL U S IONS

★ Visits to the battlefields of Alligator Creek, Edson’s Ridge, the Gifu, Mount Austen and more

★ Attendance at anniversary commemoration services ★ Visit to Red Beach and the amtrac graveyard ★ Visit to Vilu outdoor museum

S TAR I N C L U S I O N S

★ Airport transfer ★ Central, first-class hotel ★ Welcome dinner Welcome to our exclusive anniversary tour! On arrival in Honiara we will be picked up from the famous WW2 Henderson Airfield and transferred to our central hotel. We will then visit the US Memorial on Hill 73, which offers panoramic views over the battlefield. This evening we will enjoy a welcome dinner, an excellent opportunity to get to know our travelling companions and Historian.

(D)

24

Mat McLachlan Battlefield Tours

Today we will explore the key battlefields from the campaign in and around Honiara. We will begin by visiting the Japanese Memorial on Hill 34 and the Japanese stronghold known as the Gifu on the slopes of Mount Austen, where relics from the fighting abound. In the afternoon we will visit Alligator Creek, scene of the first major battle on Guadalcanal, and also the famous Bloody Ridge, where a small band of marines held off a strong Japanese attack in September 1942. (B)

Today is the anniversary of the Allied landings and a significant day of ceremonies. We will first attend a commemorative service at the US Memorial, built to honour more than 7,000 men who were killed capturing the island. In the afternoon we will drive east and visit Red Beach, where Allied troops first landed on Guadalcanal, plus the "amtrac graveyard", where dozens of WW2 amphibious tractors remain in the jungle.

We will also see the amazing outdoor museum at Vilu, which features wrecks of aircraft, tanks and guns. (B)

Day 4 8 August Tulagi

Day 5 9 August

HMAS Canberra Anniversary

& Departure

STAR I N C L U S I O N S

★ Boat transfer to Tulagi Island ★ Full day touring the islands of Tulagi, Gavutu and Tanambogo

STAR INC LU S IONS

★ HMAS Canberra memorial service ★ Airport transfer Today is the anniversary of the sinking of HMAS Canberra during the naval Battle of Savo Island.

We will conduct a memorial service and lay a wreath in honour of the 193 Australian sailors killed or wounded during the battle. Early this afternoon we will be transferred to the airport for our flight back to Australia. Our journey may be over but the memories will last a lifetime. (B) Photo: Anthony Bransby

Today we man the boats. We will travel across the 20 miles of Iron Bottom Sound to the island of Tulagi. At 7.40am on August 7, 1942, US marines made the first landing of the Guadalcanal campaign at Haleta on Florida Island. We will re-enact what can be regarded as the first step taken by US forces on the long road Tokyo. The 1st Raiders and the 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines then pressed on with their Tulagi landings at Blue Beach. Later in the campaign Tulagi was an important Patrol Boat base, and this is where John F. Kennedy was originally stationed in 1943.

During our day on Tulagi we will see the site of the Resident Commissioner’s house and the fiercely fought over cricket pitch. In the afternoon we will see the smaller nearby islands of Gavutu and Tanambogo, which were also attacked by the Marines on August 7. The Japanese fiercely resisted these landings, and we will walk the ground where the Marines fought their way ashore. We will then travel on to Purvis Bay where we will see the wreck of the American landing ship LST-342, which broke in half after being hit by a Japanese torpedo in 1943. The floating front half was towed to Purvis Bay and beached. In nearby Tokyo Bay we will see the sunken wreck of the Japanese destroyer Kikutsuki. The Kikutsuki was used during the original Japanese landings on Tulagi on May 3, 1942 and was sunk the next day by planes from Admiral Fletcher’s carriers, Yorktown and Lexington, in what can be regarded as the opening shots in the Battle of the Coral Sea. Late in the afternoon we will return across Iron Bottom Sound to Guadalcanal. (B)

YOUR TOUR INCLUDES ★ Services of an expert WW2 Historian ★ 4 nights’ 4-star accommodation ★ Airport transfers ★ Extensive touring of the battlefield sites at Guadalcanal ★ All excursions, scenic drives and sightseeing as described in the itinerary ★ Full day tour to Tulagi including boat transfer ★ Anniversary commemorations at the US Memorial and HMAS Canberra Memorial

G u ad a l ca n a l an d H MAS Canb erra A nnivers ary

★ Daily breakfast, plus welcome dinner

Vilu Museum

Tulagi Island

★ Services of a Tour Manager, Driver and experienced Local Guides ★ All entrance fees as per the itinerary ★ Travel by comfortable air-conditioned touring vehicle

Alligator Creek Red Beach Honiara (4)

Edson’s Ridge US Memorial

Honiara Int. Airport (Henderson Field)

Japanese Memorial Mount Austen

SOLOMON ISLANDS

Amtrac Graveyard

★ All tips to your Historian and Driver ★ Souvenir cap, document wallet, luggage tag and quality MMBT day backpack

$2297

per person, twin share (land only). Single supplement: $697 Why not extend your holiday and see more of the Solomon Islands? Please ask us for further details.

Guadalcanal and HMAS Canberra Anniversary

25

Long Tan 50th Anniversary Commemoration 10 NIGHTS

15–25 August 2016

Walk in the footsteps of more than 50,000 Australians who served during the Vietnam War on this emotional journey to the former battlefields. Our 10-night tour takes in all the key Australian sites from the War, plus many of Vietnam’s cultural treasures, allowing you to experience all aspects of this vibrant country. This tour will appeal to both veterans and ordinary Australians who wish to explore this significant chapter in our history.

”We were tr uly informed and really be came quite enthused ab out finding m ore information about the bat tles and personal ly finding de tails of family involv ement.”

– CAROLYN,

Day 1 15 August

Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)

Day 3 17 August Cu Chi Tunnels STAR IN CL U S IONS

S TAR I N C L U S I O N S

★ Arrival transfer ★ Welcome drink and dinner Welcome to the Australian battlefields of Vietnam. We will be met at the airport and transferred to our hotel. After checking in we will enjoy a welcome dinner in a local restaurant, an opportunity to get to know our fellow travellers, Tour Manager and Historian. (D)

Day 2 16 August Saigon City Tour

★ Cu Chi Tunnels ★ Bien Duoc Memorial ★ Lunch at a floating restaurant Today we will travel to Cu Chi to visit the famous tunnels, where Australians first operated in the Iron Triangle in 1965. A battlefield brief will be given en-route and cover the 1966’s Operation Crimp involving Australia. Later we will visit the Bien Duoc memorial then enjoy lunch at a nearby floating restaurant. (B, L, D)

Day 4 18 August

Long Tan Commemoration Day

S TAR I N C L U S I O N S

★ City sightseeing tour ★ Opera House ★ War Museum ★ Reunification Palace We will meet our local guide for a short orientation tour of the city including visits to the Opera House, Post Office, War Remnants Museum and other city landmarks including the Ben Thanh Markets. We will visit the former Presidential Palace (now Reunification Palace) where we will receive a briefing on the Australian headquarters system and liaison with Vietnamese and American headquarters during the War. (B, L, D)

26

Mat McLachlan Battlefield Tours

STAR IN CL U S IONS

★ 1st Australian Logistic Support Group base site ★ 1st Australian Task Force Base ★ 50th Anniversary Memorial service at Long Tan battle site Today we travel to the seaside resort town of Vung Tau and the former site of the 1st Australian Logistic Support Group (1 ALSG). We will have an orientation tour of the town including the former 1 ALSG base area, and former Peter Badcoe Club site and the "Flags" area. After lunch we will travel to the former 1st Australian Task Force

WA

(1ATF) base at Nui Dat where our historian will give a brief on the role of the 1ATF, how operations were conducted and how the base was developed and protected. The area is still a military reserve in parts and some areas may be restricted to visitors. We will then proceed to the iconic Long Tan battle site for a battle brief and the 50th anniversary memorial service for the Battle of Long Tan. (B, L, D)

Day 5 19 August Vung Tau to Hoi An S TA R INCL U S IONS

★ Battle of Binh Ba site ★ Battle of Nui Le ★ Internal flight to Da Nang for Hoi An Today we will travel north through the former area of operations and visit the scene of the Battle of Binh Ba where the Armoured Corps won a battle honour. We will pay our respects at the 33rd Regiment North Vietnamese Army memorial before continuing north to the area of the Courtenay Rubber Plantation and the scene of the Battle of Nui Le, Australia’s last major action of the war. After stopping for lunch we will travel through the Hat Dich area to Saigon for our flight to Da Nang. On arrival we will drive south to Hoi An to check into our hotel before enjoying dinner at a local restaurant. (B, L, D)

Day 6 20 August Hoi An STAR I N C L U S I O N S

★ Orientation tour of Hoi An After breakfast we will enjoy an orientation tour of this beautiful provincial and historic town.

Between the 17th and 19th centuries, Hoi An was a prosperous trading port. Today, this World Heritage-listed ancient town boasts wellpreserved buildings. After enjoying lunch at a local restaurant we will have the afternoon free at our leisure. (B, L)

Day 7 21 August Hoi An to Hanoi STAR I N C L U S I O N S

★ Red Beach ★ Marble Mountain ★ Internal flight to Hanoi ★ Water Puppet Show Today we will depart early for a tour of Da Nang and visit the site of the former HQ of the Australian Army Training Team Vietnam. We will also visit Red Beach where the Marines came ashore in 1965, and the iconic Marble Mountain.

Later we will fly to the capital - Hanoi. After checking into our hotel we will take an afternoon cyclo ride around the Old Quarter and this evening we will attend the world famous Water Puppet Show. Lunch and dinner will be at local restaurants. (B, L, D)

Day 8 22 August Hanoi STAR I N C L U S I O N S

★ Orientation tour of Hanoi ★ Ho Chi Minh’s home ★ Temple of Literature ★ ‘Hanoi Hilton’ prison After breakfast we will enjoy a highlights tour of Hanoi, including the One Pillar Pagoda, Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum (outside), Ho Chi Minh’s home and the Temple of Literature. Lunch is at Brothers Café before we visit the Lake of the Restored Sword. We will also visit the notorious ‘Hanoi Hilton’ prison, Hoa Lo, and the Dong Xuan Market. (B, L, D)

seafood lunch. Dinner is also on board before retiring for the night in our well-equipped cabins.

(B, L, D)

Day 10 24 August

Ha Long Bay to Hanoi STAR INC LU S IONS

★ Breakfast on board ★ Cruising ★ Dong Trieu ceramic village ★ Farewell dinner This morning we will enjoy breakfast while watching the magnificent sunrise on Ha Long Bay. We will then continue exploring the islands, beach coves, caves and floating villages before returning to the port. On our way back to Hanoi we will visit Dong Trieu ceramic village. Tonight we will have a farewell dinner and a chance for a final celebration with the new friends we have made during this special tour. (B, L, D)

STAR INC LU S IONS

★ Expert Vietnam War Historians, led by Gary McKay

★ Airport transfer

★ Memorial Service for the 50th Anniversary at the iconic Long Tan battle site

Those who are not joining our extension tour to Cambodia (see page 28) will depart Hanoi for Australia after breakfast. Those joining the extension tour will be transferred to the airport for the next leg of this fascinating journey. (B) Long T an 50th A n ni v ers a ry C ommemora ti on

Hanoi (2,1)

Ha Long Bay (1)

★ All excursions, scenic drives and sightseeing as described in the itinerary ★ 10 nights’ 3 and 4-star accommodation ★ Hotel porterage ★ Services of a Tour Manager, Driver and experienced Local Guides ★ All tips to your Historian, Tour Manager and Driver ★ Travel by comfortable air-conditioned touring vehicle ★ Welcome drink in Ho Chi Minh City

LAOS

★ Breakfast daily, 9 lunches and 9 dinners ★ Bottled water for each passenger each day ★ Overnight cruise on Ha Long Bay on traditional wooden luxury junk ★ Copy of Gary McKay’s book Australia’s Battlefields in Viet Nam ★ All entrance fees are as per the itinerary

THAILAND

Hoi An (2)

★ Souvenir cap, document wallet, luggage tag and quality MMBT day backpack

$3347

STAR I N C L U S I O N S

Today we will drive three hours east to tour the magnificent Ha Long Bay, stopping at a crafts cooperative en-route. At Ha Long Bay the romance of old Vietnam still lingers, with bizarre karst islets randomly scattered and the odd redsailed junk clipping across the waters. We will board our traditional wooden luxury cruiser for a majestic cruise of Ha Long Bay and a delicious

Gary McKay spent 30 years as an army officer after being conscripted for national service in 1968. He served in South Vietnam in 1971 as an infantry rifle platoon commander where he was awarded the Military Cross for gallantry and severely wounded in the last major Australian battle of the Vietnam War. He is Australia’s most prolific author on the subject of the Vietnam War. Gary will lead your team of Historians on this tour.

YOUR TOUR INCLUDES

Day 11 25 August Hanoi

Day 9 23 August Ha Long Bay ★ Vietnamese Crafts Cooperative ★ Overnight cruise on a traditional wooden luxury junk ★ Lunch and dinner on board

YOUR HISTORIAN

per person, twin share (land only). Single supplement: $1047

CAMBODIA VIETNAM

Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) (3) T O U R STA R T

Vung Tau (1)

TOU R E ND

EXTEND YOUR TRIP CAMBODIA EXTENSION TOUR This tour can be combined with the 4-day Cambodia Extension tour starting on 25 August. See full details on page 28.

Long Tan 50th Anniversary Commemoration

27

Long Tan Cambodia Extension Tour 3 NIGHTS

25–28 August 2016

This incredible destination is designed to be added to your Long Tan 50th Anniversary Commemoration Tour (pages 26/27). The resort town of Siem Reap in north-western Cambodia is the gateway to the ruins of Angkor, the seat of the Khmer kingdom from the 9th-15th centuries. Angkor’s vast complex of intricate stone buildings includes the preserved Angkor Wat, the main temple, which is pictured on Cambodia’s flag. You will also visit Angkor Thom where giant, mysterious faces are carved into Bayon Temple. Your airfare from Hanoi is included.

Day 1 25 August Hanoi to Siem Reap S TAR I N C L U S I O N S

★ Airfare from Hanoi ★ Arrival Transfer Upon arrival in Siem Reap, we will be transfered to our hotel for check in. The remainder of the day is at leisure. Dinner will be at a local restaurant. (D)

Day 2 26 August Angkor Wat S TAR I N C L U S I O N S

★ Angkor Wat ★ Citadel of Women ★ Jungle Temple Today will start with a visit to Angkor Wat, a world heritage site with soaring towers and extraordinary bas reliefs. It is one of the most amazing man-made monuments in the world, erected in the 12th century in honour of Vishnu.

In the afternoon, we will leave for Banteay Srei where a most impressive jewel of Khmer art exists. Erected in the 10th century, this small pink sandstone temple is known as the Citadel of Women. On our return to Siem Reap, we will visit the ancient Ta Prohm Monastery where immense

branches have taken root in the stones – hence the nickname of the Jungle Temple. Lunch and dinner will be at local restaurants. (B, L, D)

Day 3 27 August Angkor Thom STAR IN CL U S IONS

★ Angkor Thom ★ Bayon Temple ★ Elephant Terrace In the morning, we will visit the Great City of Angkor Thom beginning at the south gate and the famous Bayon Temple. Dedicated to Buddhism, Bayon consists of 54 gigantic towers featuring 216 smiling faces of Avalokitesvara. We will then cross to the Elephant Terrace which, at 350 meters, was used as a giant viewing stand for public ceremonies and served as a base for the King’s grand audience hall. We will continue to the raised Terrace of the Leper King, which bears many beautifully sculptured Apsara statues. Upon our return our afternoon is at leisure. (B, L)

Day 4 28 August Siem Reap Today is free until our transfers to Siem Reap airport for our flight back to Australia. (B)

YOUR TOUR INCLUDES ★ Experianced Tour Manager and Driver ★ Airfare from Hanoi to Siem Reap

L o n g Ta n Cam b o d i a E xten si on T our

★ All excursions, scenic drives and sightseeing as described in the itinerary

Banteay Srei

★ 3 nights’ 4-star accommodation ★ Hotel porterage ★ All tips to your Tour Manager and Driver

Siem Reap

Elephant Terrace Angkor Thom Ta Prohm

CAMBODIA VIETNAM Ho Chi Minh City

★ All entrance fees as per the itinerary

CAMBODIA Siem Reap (3)

28

TOU R END

Mat McLachlan Battlefield Tours

★ Breakfast daily, 2 lunches and 2 dinners ★ Visits to the famous Angkor Wat and Bayon Temples

Angkor Wat

TOUR S TAR T

★ Travel by comfortable air-conditioned touring vehicle

$1197

per person, twin share Single supplement: $547

Bullecourt Centenary 2017 10 NIGHTS

4–14 April 2017

In April and May 1917 Australian soldiers took part in one of the bloodiest chapters of the First World War when they fought in two great battles near the French town of Bullecourt. This tour honours the more than 10,000 Australians who were killed or wounded on the 100th anniversary of the battle.

Day 1 4 April Paris

Day 6 9 April Bruges

Meet your group in Paris and enjoy a welcome drink and dinner. (D)

Day 2 5 April Paris

A change of pace as we spend the day exploring the stunning medieval city of Bruges. (B)

Day 7 10 April The Somme

Spend the day seeing the sights of Paris on a guided tour followed by free time. (B, L)

Day 3 6 April Paris to Flanders

Travel south to the Somme, visiting Messines, Fromelles and Vimy Ridge en route. (B, L, D)

Day 8 11 April Bullecourt Centenary

Our battlefield journey begins today as we drive to Flanders. We will stop in the Champagne region and enjoy a tasting en route. (B, D)

Day 4 7 April Ypres

Spend the day exploring the Bullecourt battlefield and participating in centenary commemorations. (B, D)

Day 9 12 April The Somme

Enjoy a walking tour of the restored town of Ypres, including the In Flanders Fields Museum, and attend the evening’s moving Last Post service at the Menin Gate Memorial to the Missing. (B)

Day 5 8 April Ypres Salient

Tour the battlefields of the Somme, including Pozieres, Villers-Bretonneux, Hamel, the Thiepval Memorial and much more. (B, L)

Day 10 13 April Paris

YOUR TOUR INCLUDES ★ Services of an expert WW1 Historian ★ Full day in Bullecourt to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the battle (details of commemorative events to be advised) ★ 10 nights’ 3 and 4-star accommodation ★ Hotel porterage ★ Welcome drink in Paris ★ Breakfast daily, 4 lunches and 5 dinners

Today we will visit key Australian battlefields in the Ypres Salient including Hill 60, Polygon Wood, Passchendaele and Tyne Cot, the world’s largest Commonwealth war cemetery. Lunch is included at Café de Dreve. (B, L)

Return to Paris and enjoy a farewell dinner cruise on the Seine River. (B, D)

Day 11 14 April Paris Tour ends this morning after breakfast. (B)

★ Farewell Seine river cruise with dinner and entertainment ★ Services of a Tour Manager, Driver and experienced Local Guides ★ Extensive touring of the WW1 battlefields ★ Travel by comfortable air-conditioning touring coach

Bu lle co u r t Ce nten ary 2 0 1 7

Bruges

ENGLAND Flanders (4)

BELGIUM

★ All tips to your Historian, Tour Manager and Driver ★ Copy of Mat McLachlan’s definitive guide to the Western Front, Walking with the Anzacs ★ Souvenir cap, document wallet, luggage tag and quality MMBT day backpack ★ Detailed map showing the battlefields and key sites visited on the tour

$250*

Somme (3)

per person. Register Now. Approximate price: $4500 per person

FRANCE

T OUR S TAR T

TOUR END

*Final price will be available approximately 12 months prior. Once advised if you do not wish to proceed with your booking there will be a full refund made prior to an advised date.

Paris (2/1)

Bullecourt Centenary 2017

29

Passchendaele Centenary 2017 10 NIGHTS

6–16 October 2017

In October 1917 Australian soldiers took part in an Allied attack on the Belgian town of Passchendaele.

The struggle that followed was one of the most horrific of the First World War. Thousands were killed in the futile advance, and many still lie beneath the fields of Passchendaele. This tour remembers those dark days with a centenary commemoration on the very ground where the bloody battle took place.

Day 1 6 October Paris Meet your group in Paris and enjoy a welcome drink and dinner. (D)

Day 2 7 October Paris Spend the day seeing the sights of Paris on a guided tour followed by free time. (B, L)

Day 3 8 October Flanders

Tyne Cot, the world’s largest Commonwealth war cemetery. Lunch is included at Café de Dreve.

(B, L)

Day 7 12 October

Passchendaele Centenary Spend the day exploring the Passchendaele battlefield and commemorating the 100th anniversary of this brutal battle. (B, D)

Day 8 13 October The Somme

Our battlefield journey begins today as we drive to Flanders. We will stop in the Champagne region en route and enjoy a tasting. (B, D)

Day 4 9 October Ypres

Travel to the Somme battlefields, visiting Messines, Fromelles and Vimy Ridge en route.

(B, L, D)

Day 9 14 October The Somme

Enjoy a walking tour of the restored town of Ypres and attend the evening’s moving Last Post service at the Menin Gate Memorial. (B)

Day 5 10 October Bruges

Tour the battlefields of the Somme, including Pozieres, Villers-Bretonneux, Hamel, the Thiepval Memorial and much more. (B, L)

Day 10 15 October Paris

A change of pace as we spend the day exploring the stunning medieval city of Bruges. (B)

Day 6 11 October Ypres Salient Today we will visit key battlefields in the Ypres Salient including Hill 60, Polygon Wood and visit

Return to Paris for a farewell dinner cruise. (B, D)

Day 11 16 October Paris Our tour ends this morning after breakfast. (B)

YOUR TOUR INCLUDES ★ Services of an expert WW1 Historian ★ Full day in Passchendaele to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the battle (details of commemorative events to be advised) ★ 10 nights’ 3 and 4-star accommodation ★ Hotel porterage ★ Breakfast daily, 4 lunches and 5 dinners ★ Welcome drink in Paris ★ Champagne tasting in Epernay ★ Farewell Seine river cruise with dinner and entertainment ★ Services of a Tour Manager, Driver and experienced Local Guides ★ Full day in Paris with sightseeing and free time ★ Extensive touring of the WW1 battlefields

P a s s ch e n dae l e Cen te n ary 2 0 17

★ Travel by comfortable air-conditioned coach

Bruges

ENGLAND Flanders (5)

BELGIUM

★ All tips to your Historian, Tour Manager and Driver ★ Souvenir cap, document wallet, luggage tag and quality MMBT day backpack ★ Copy of Mat McLachlan’s definitive guide to the Western Front, Walking with the Anzacs ★ Detailed map showing the battlefields and key sites visited on the tour

Somme (2) FRANCE

TOUR S TAR T

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Mat McLachlan Battlefield Tours

Paris (2/1)

$250*

per person. Register Now. Approximate price: $4500 per person *Final price will be available approximately 12 months prior. Once advised if you do not wish to proceed with your booking there will be a full refund made prior to an advised date.

Anzac Day on the Western Front 2018 9 NIGHTS

18–27 April 2018

Anzac Day 1918 marked Australia’s most important battle on the Western Front, the masterly recapture of the strategically vital village of Villers-Bretonneux. Join us in 2018 at the Australian National Memorial at Villers-Bretonneux to commemorate the 100th anniversary of this pivotal Australian action.

Day 1 18 April Paris

Day 6 23 April Bruges

Meet your group in Paris and enjoy a welcome drink and dinner. (D)

Day 2 19 April Paris

A change of pace as we spend the day exploring the stunning medieval city of Bruges. (B)

Day 7 24 April The Somme

Spend the day seeing the sights of Paris on a guided tour followed by free time. (B,L)

Day 3 20 April Flanders

Travel south to the Somme battlefields, visiting Messines, Fromelles, Vimy Ridge and Bullecourt on the way. (B, L, D)

Day 8 25 April Anzac Day

We begin our battlefield journey today as we drive to Flanders. We will stop in the Champagne region and enjoy a tasting en route. (B, D)

Day 4 21 April Ypres Enjoy a walking tour of the restored town of Ypres and attend the moving Last Post service at the Menin Gate Memorial to the Missing. (B)

Day 5 22 April Ypres Salient Visit key Australian battlefields in the Ypres Salient including Hill 60, Polygon Wood and more. (B, L)

Commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Villers-Bretonneux with an Anzac Day dawn service at the Australian National Memorial.

Later we will tour the battlefields of the Somme.

(B, L)

Day 9 26 April Paris

YOUR TOUR INCLUDES ★ Services of an expert WW1 Historian ★ Anzac Day Dawn Service at the Australian National Memorial, Villers-Bretonneux (details of commemorative events to be advised) ★ 9 nights’ 3 and 4-star accommodation ★ Hotel porterage

This morning we will continue visiting the battlefields of the Somme before returning to Paris and enjoying a farewell dinner cruise on the Seine River. (B, D)

Day 10 27 April Paris Tour ends this morning after breakfast. (B)

Bu lle co u r t Ce n te n ary 2 0 1 7

★ All excursions, scenic drives and sightseeing as described in the itinerary ★ Breakfast daily and 4 lunches and 4 dinners (including a farewell Seine river cruise with dinner and entertainment) ★ Welcome drink in Paris ★ Services of a WW1 War Historian, Tour Manager, Driver and experienced Local Guides ★ Extensive touring of the WW1 battlefields

Bruges

ENGLAND

★ Travel by comfortable air-conditioned coach ★ All tips to your Tour Manager, Historian and Driver

Flanders (4) BELGIUM

★ Copy of Mat McLachlan’s definitive guide to the Western Front, Walking with the Anzacs ★ Souvenir cap, document wallet, luggage tags and quality MMBT day backpack ★ Detailed map showing the battlefields and key sites visited on the tour

Somme (3)

$250* FRANCE

T OUR STAR T

TOUR END

Paris (2/1)

per person. Register Now. Approximate price: $4700 per person *Final price will be available approximately 12 months prior. Once advised if you do not wish to proceed with your booking there will be a full refund made prior to an advised date.

Anzac Day on the Western Front 2018

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Hamel & Remembrance Day Centenaries 2018 HAMEL C ENTENARY 10 Nights 27 June–7 July 2018

$250*pp register now The Battle of Hamel was the brainchild of Australian general John Monash. It demonstrated how tanks, infantry, artillery and aircraft could operate together to break the stalemate of trench warfare. Join us on this special tour to commemorate the 100th anniversary of that famous attack.

Day 1 Paris Meet your group in Paris and enjoy a welcome drink and dinner. (D)

Day 2 Paris Spend the day seeing the sights of Paris on a guided tour. (B, L)

Day 3 Paris to Flanders

Day 4 Ypres Enjoy a walking tour of the restored town of Ypres and attend the moving Last Post service at the Menin Gate Memorial to the Missing. (B)

Day 5 Ypres Salient Visit key Australian battlefields in the Ypres Salient including Hill 60, Polygon Wood and more. (B, L)

Day 6 Bruges A change of pace as we spend the day exploring the stunning medieval city of Bruges. (B)

Day 7 The Somme Travel south to the Somme battlefields, visiting Messines, Fromelles and Vimy Ridge on the way.

(B, L, D)

We begin our battlefield journey today as we drive to Flanders. We will stop in the Champagne region and enjoy a tasting en route. (B, D)

Day 8 Hamel Centenary Spend the day exploring the Hamel battlefield and participating in commemorative events to mark the centenary of the battle. (B)

Day 9 The Somme Tour the 1916 and 1918 battlefields of the Somme, including Pozieres, Villers-Bretonneux, the Thiepval Memorial and much more. (B, L)

Day 10 The Somme to Paris Return to Paris and enjoy a dinner cruise on the Seine River. (B, D)

Day 11 Paris Sadly our tour ends after breakfast. (B) *Approximate price: $5000 per person Final price will be available approximately 12 months prior. Once advised if you do not wish to proceed with your booking there will be a full refund made prior to an advised date.

R E M EM BRANCE D AY CENTENARY 9 Nights 4–13 November 2018

$250*pp register now The 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918 marked the end of fighting in the First World War. Join us in France to commemorate the 100th anniversary of that pivotal moment in time.

Day 1 Paris Meet your group in Paris and enjoy a welcome drink and dinner. (D)

Day 2 Paris Spend the day seeing the sights of Paris on a guided tour. (B, L)

Day 3 Flanders We begin our battlefield journey today as we drive to Flanders. We will stop in the Champagne region and enjoy a tasting en route. (B, D)

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Mat McLachlan Battlefield Tours

Day 4 Ypres Enjoy a walking tour of the restored town of Ypres and attend the moving Last Post service at the Menin Gate Memorial to the Missing. (B)

Day 5 Ypres Salient Visit key Australian battlefields in the Ypres Salient including Hill 60, Polygon Wood and more. (B, L)

Day 6 Bruges A change of pace as we spend the day exploring the stunning medieval city of Bruges. (B)

Day 7 The Somme Travel south to the Somme battlefields, visiting Messines, Fromelles, Vimy Ridge and Bullecourt on the way. (B, L, D)

Day 8 Remembrance Day Commemorate the 100th anniversary of Remembrance Day with a service at the Australian National Memorial in VillersBretonneux. Later we will tour the battlefields of the Somme. (B)

Day 9 Paris This morning we will continue visiting the battlefields of the Somme before returning to Paris and enjoying a farewell dinner cruise on the Seine River. (B, D)

Day 10 Paris Sadly our tour ends after breakfast. (B) *Approximate price: $4600 per person Final price will be available approximately 12 months prior. Once advised if you do not wish to proceed with your booking there will be a full refund made prior to an advised date.

Flexi Tours Our range of Flexi Tours offers the perfect way to see the great battlefields of the world in comfort and convenience. The tours depart every day from major cities and are designed to slot neatly into your existing itinerary. Each tour is escorted by an experienced military Guide and includes quality transport and accommodation. All these Flexi Tours can be tailor-made to suit your individual needs.

W EST ER N FRONT FLEXI TOUR

3 Days From $1797pp* Visit the Australian WW1 battlefields in northern France and Belgium.

Day 1 The Somme S TA R I N C L U S I O N S

★ Pick-up from Amiens station ★ Full day touring the Australian battlefields of the Somme ★ Victoria School and Museum ★ 4-star central Amiens accommodation Your tour begins in Amiens, in the heart of the Somme. The most convenient way to travel to Amiens is by train – it is only an hour north of Paris. You will be met by your Historian at Amiens train station at 9.30am. You will then enjoy a full day visiting the sites associated with Australian courage and sacrifice on the Somme in both 1916 and 1918. Essential sites include the village of Pozieres, Mouquet Farm, the massive 30-metre-deep Lochnagar Mine Crater, the Thiepval Memorial and the preserved trenches at the Newfoundland Memorial Park. Attention will then turn to the 1918 battles on the Somme, with a visit to Villers-Bretonneux, Victoria School, Adelaide Cemetery and the imposing Australian National Memorial. You will also visit the site of the crash of the Red Baron in 1918, the scene of the great Australian victory at Hamel and the Australian 2nd Divisional Memorial at Mont St. Quentin. Return to Amiens and check into your hotel.

Day 2 Bullecourt, Vimy Ridge

and Fromelles

Day 3 The Ypres Salient S TA R INCL U S IONS

STAR INCL U S IONS

★ Full touring of the battlefields of Bullecourt, Vimy Ridge, Fromelles and Messines ★ 4-star central Ypres accommodation ★ Attendance at Last Post Service at the Menin Gate Today you will leave the Somme and drive north, passing through the Australian battlefields of 1917 and heading towards the town of Ypres, just across the Belgian border. Essential sites today include the battlefield of Bullecourt, the magnificent Canadian memorial at Vimy Ridge, and the very moving 1916 battlefield of Fromelles. You will visit the Australian Memorial Park, VC Corner Cemetery (the only all-Australian cemetery in France) and see the site of the recently discovered Australian mass grave at Pheasant Wood. Crossing the Belgian border, you will visit the battlefields of Messines before arriving in the town of Ypres late in the afternoon. You will have time to check into your hotel and explore the town’s charming main square. This evening walk to the Menin Gate, where the names of 54,000 missing British and Commonwealth soldiers are recorded, for the moving Last Post ceremony. The Ypres fire brigade has performed this bugle ceremony every day and in all weather since the memorial opened in 1927. (B)

★ Full day touring the Australian battlefields of the Ypres Salient ★ In Flanders Fields Museum ★ Transfer to Lille train station The Ypres Salient was a bulge in the front line which curved around Ypres for most of the war.

More than a million men were killed or wounded trying to gain control of this small patch of ground. Today you will explore the Australian battlefields in the Salient, places where the Anzacs made history in 1917. Key sites visited include the In Flanders Fields Museum, Polygon Wood, Hill 60 and Tyne Cot Cemetery on the Passchendaele battlefield. Your final stop today is at the German Cemetery at Langemark, where you will learn about the men on the other side of the line. In the late afternoon your guide will drive you back across the French border to the city of Lille, where you will be dropped at the train station for a connection back to Paris or London.

(B) Note: This itinerary can also be reversed, operating from Lille to Amiens, an excellent option if you are catching the Eurostar from London. (You also have the option to extend in Ypres or Lille.) Please ask us for more details. *Per person, twin share. Single supplement available on application.

Flexi Tours

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Flexi Tours

V-W EAPO NS LAUNCH SITES FLEXI TOUR

2 Days From $997* This unique tour visits the launch sites of Hitler’s "Vengeance Weapons" in northern France.

Day 1 Arras S TAR I N C L U S I O N S

★ Full day touring the V-Weapons sites of northern France ★ 4-star Lille hotel accommodation Your tour begins in the northern French town of Arras. The easiest way to get there is by train – Arras is less than an hour from Paris. On arrival in Arras you will be met by your Historian. You will then spend the day on an exclusive tour of the V-Weapons sites in the Pas-de-Calais region, which includes Siracourt bunker, Bois Carre,

Saint Josse-aux-Bois, Maisoncelle and Wizernes.

(Please note the exact itinerary will be worked out with your Historian on the day, and visits to sites will be subject to time and distance constraints.)

At the end of this memorable day your guide will drive you to the city of Lille, where you will check in to your 4-star hotel and enjoy an evening at leisure.

Day 2 Lille This morning you will visit the La Coupole museum and bunker, Eperlecques and Mimoyecques. You are then free to return to Paris, catch the Eurostar to London or perhaps join our Western Front Explorer Tour (pages 8/9) battlefields in the Lille area. (B) * Per person, twin share. Single supplement available on request.

G ALLIPO LI FLEXI TOUR

2 Days From $1275* Walking on the hallowed ground of Gallipoli is a life-changing experience. We’ll take care of all the travel arrangements so you are free to explore the history and tragedy of Australia’s most famous battlefield. Your experienced military Guide will take you on this moving journey.

Day 1 Istanbul to Gallipoli S TAR I N C L U S I O N S

★ Hotel pick-up in Istanbul ★ Transfer to Gallipoli ★ Touring of the Anzac battlefields ★ 4-star Gallipoli hotel accommodation Welcome to your Gallipoli battlefield tour. You will be met this morning at your Istanbul hotel and transported in an air-conditioned vehicle on the five hour drive to the Gallipoli peninsula.

En route you will follow the shore of the Sea of Marmara and the Dardanelles, the historic waterway that was the principal objective of the Gallipoli campaign. On arrival at Gallipoli you

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Mat McLachlan Battlefield Tours

will have free time for lunch and then spend the afternoon exploring the Anzac sector. You will visit places made famous by courage and sacrifice including Anzac Cove, Lone Pine, Shrapnel Valley, Quinn’s Post, the Nek, Chunuk Bair and more. Your evening is free to rest and reflect on a moving day.

Day 2 Gallipoli to Istanbul STAR IN CL U S IONS

★ More touring of the Gallipoli battlefields ★ Transfer to Istanbul ★ Hotel drop-off in Istanbul This morning you will spend more time on the Gallipoli battlefields exploring the ground where the Anzac legend was forged. In the afternoon you will farewell Gallipoli and be driven back to Istanbul, where you will be dropped at your hotel.

The journey may be over but the memories will last a lifetime. (B) * Per person, twin share. Single supplement available on request.

WAT ER LO O FLEXI TOUR

2 Days From $1097* Explore the battlefield of Waterloo in Belgium, where Napoleon was defeated by the Duke of Wellington in 1815.

Day 1 Waterloo Battlefields

died there. In the evening your guide will take you to your charming 3-star hotel located right on the battlefield – each beautifully decorated room is named after a key character from the Waterloo battle. Tonight is free to enjoy dinner at your hotel or in one of the local restaurants.

Day 2 Waterloo Battlefields

S TAR I N C L U S I O N S

★ Full day touring the Waterloo battlefields with an expert guide ★ 3-star historic hotel located in the heart of the battlefields Your tour begins in the Belgian town of Waterloo, which can easily be reached on a morning train from Brussels. On arrival, you will be met by your expert Guide in a private vehicle. You will then spend the day touring the battlefields. The Butte de Lion, the Wellington Museum, the battlefield at Quatre Bras, the Napoleon Museum at Le Caillou, Hougoumont Chateau and more will be visited during this special day. At each stop your expert Guide will detail the phases of the battle and share the stories of the men who fought and

STAR INC LU S IONS

★ More touring of the Waterloo battlefields Another enthralling day spent on the battlefield.

Your Guide can customise your visits today to take in particular sites you wish to see, or allow him to take you to out-of-the way locations that many visitors miss. In the afternoon you will farewell Waterloo battlefield and your Guide will drop you at the Waterloo train station for an onward connection (B) * Per person, twin share. Single supplement available on request.

N OR M A NDY D- D AY FLEXI TOUR

2 Days From $947*

Day 2 D-Day Battlefields

Explore the landing beaches and battlefields of D-Day, the greatest amphibious landing in history.

STAR INC LU S IONS

Day 1 Normandy S TAR I N C L U S I O N S

★ Central 3-star hotel accommodation ★ Bayeux self-guided walking tour ★ Bayeux Tapestry Museum admission Your D-Day tour begins in the Norman town of Bayeux — the easiest way to get there from Paris is by train. We recommend catching a morning train to give you time to explore this gorgeous town. On arrival, you will check into your central 3-star hotel. We will supply you with a self-guided walking tour of the town’s key sites, as well as admission to the Bayeux Tapestry Museum. This 70-metre-long embroidery depicts the Norman invasion of England in 1066. After exploring the town, your evening is free to sample the delightful Norman cuisine on offer in Bayeux’s quaint restaurants.

★ Full day touring the American sector of the D-Day landing beaches with an expert Guide This morning your expert Guide will meet you at your hotel for a full day exploring the landing beaches and D-Day battlefields. Begin with a visit to the village of Sainte Mere Eglise, one of the first towns liberated by the Allies early on June 6, 1944. Leaving Sainte Mere Eglise you will drive through the famous Norman "bocage", the ancient hedged countryside that proved such an obstacle for Allied troops during the invasion. Next stop is Utah Beach, the westernmost landing beach, where casualties were relatively light during the landings. You will see the remains of German defensive positions, allied vehicles and monuments to the troops who came ashore. After lunch you will continue to Pointe du Hoc, the German gun emplacement that was captured by US Rangers who had to scale sheer cliffs to reach the position. Today the site is still pockmarked with shell craters and the

remains of German concrete pillboxes which can be explored. You will then travel to the infamous Omaha Beach, the bloodiest landing site on D-Day. This was the action famously depicted in Saving Private Ryan. Your final stop of the day is the huge American Cemetery at Colleville-surMer, which is the last resting place of more than 9000 servicemen killed in Normandy. You will then return to Bayeux where your Guide will transfer you to the train station for a connection back to Paris. (B) Please Note: This itinerary is an overview of the sites you can expect to see on our Normandy tour. Your Guide may adjust the order of visits during the tour.

If you would like to explore more of the D-Day battlefields, including the British and Canadian sectors, or customise the sites you would like to visit, please enquire about our Normandy Private Tours. Additional nights’ in Bayeux can also be booked. *Per person, twin share. Single supplement available on request.

Flexi Tours

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Flexi Tours

CR EC Y AND AGINCOURT FLEXI TO UR

2 Days From $997* A unique opportunity to explore the historic battlefields of the Hundred Years War, a bitter conflict waged between France and Britain for control of the throne.

Day 1 Battle of Crecy STAR I N C L U S I O N S

★ Pick-up from Amiens train station ★ Full day touring of the battlefield of Crecy ★ Central 3-star hotel accommodation Your tour begins in Amiens, which can be easily reached on a morning train from Paris. On arrival in Amiens you will be met by your expert Guide. The drive to the battlefield of Crecy takes you through the town of Doullens with its medieval citadel and stained-glass windows commemorating the 1918 agreement to give overall command of the Western Front to General Foch. It’s then on to Auxi-le-Chateau, a quaint archetypical French rural town, on the way to

Crecy-en-Ponthiew. At Crecy you will spend the morning exploring the battlefield and enjoying sweeping views from the Observation Tower, the site of the windmill where Edward III (The Black Prince) oversaw his victory in 1346, one of the most critical battles of the Hundred Years War. Enjoy free time for lunch in the historic town of Hesdin, and then visit the medieval town of Montreuil-Sur-Mer, the burial location of the slain French Lords from the Crecy battlefield. You will then check into your 3-star hotel situated in the heart of the town.

Day 2 Battle of Agincourt

and where General Haig set up his headquarters, just outside the town, during WW1. You will then drive to Agincourt where your Guide will take you to the Agincourt Medieval Centre then on to the Agincourt Memorial and orientation table.

The battle of Agincourt on St. Crispin’s Day, 25 October 1415, is perhaps the most famous battle of the Hundred Years War. You will have free time for a local lunch. In the afternoon return with your Guide to Amiens or onwards to Lille for train connections back to Paris. (B) *Per person, twin share. Single supplement available on request.

STAR IN CL U S IONS

★ Walking tour of historic Montreuil ★ Guided touring of the Agincourt battlefield and Medieval Centre ★ Transfer to Lille or Amiens train station Day two begins with a guided walking tour of Montreuil and its ramparts. This historic town was the setting for Victor Hugo’s Les Miserables

T HA ILAND H E LLFIRE PASS FLEXI TOUR

4 Days From $997* Day 1 Bangkok to Kanchanaburi S TAR I N C L U S I O N S

★ Transfer from Bangkok to Kanchanaburi ★ Thailand-Burma Centre ★ Allied War Cemetery ★ 4-star hotel accommodation This morning you will be met at your Bangkok hotel by your expert local guide and then taken for the three hour drive to Kanchanaburi. On arrival you’ll visit the Thailand–Burma Railway Centre, which is an interactive museum, as well as an information and research facility dedicated to presenting the history of the Thailand– Burma Railway. Later you will visit the nearby Kanchanaburi Allied War Cemetery (known locally as Don Rak). Located in the centre of town, this cemetery is the final resting place of almost 7000 POWs who lost their lives during the construction of the ‘Death Railway’.

Day 2 Kanchanaburi (Hellfire Pass)

is dedicated to those who suffered and died at Hellfire Pass and elsewhere in the Asia Pacific region during WW2. The museum explains the story of why and how the railway was built and attempts to convey the hardships and suffering endured by so many who were forced to work in extremely harsh conditions. If you are feeling energetic there is also the Memorial Walking Trail, a four km trail along the now peaceful and serene old railway track. The Trail commences at Hellfire Pass Cutting, and incorporates a number of infamous features along the track, such as Compressor Cutting, Hintok Station, both the "Pack of Cards" and Three Tier Bridges, plus the panoramic view of Kwae Noi Look-out. Next you will visit the nearby Weary Dunlop Museum before driving back to Kanchanaburi where you will visit the Chong Kai Allied War Cemetery, where almost 2000 POWs are buried. This evening is at leisure. (B)

Day 3 Kanchanaburi (Maeklong River/

Death Railway) STAR IN CL U S IONS

S TAR I N C L U S I O N S

★ Hellfire Pass and Memorial museum ★ Memorial Walking Trail ★ Weary Dunlop Museum ★ Chong Kai Allied War Cemetery Today you will visit Hellfire Pass and Memorial Museum – a joint Australian/Thai project which

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Mat McLachlan Battlefield Tours

★ Long-tail boat ride on Maeklong River ★ Death Railway train ★ Bridge on the River Kwai This morning you will enjoy a scenic long-tail boat ride along Maeklong River. You will then travel by car and board the Death Railway train to take a

historic ride through magnificent scenery, passing over the original wooden viaduct constructed

by Allied POWs. Disembarking the train you will have time to see the world-famous Bridge on the River Kwai. After this unforgettable journey you will return to your Kanchanaburi hotel. (B)

Day 4 Kanchanaburi to Bangkok S TA R INCL U S IONS

★ JEATH Museum ★ Transfer to Bangkok This morning you will visit the JEATH Museum which documents the building of the railway under harrowing conditions by the allied POWs. JEATH stands for Japan, England, America, Australia, Thailand and Holland, representing the nationalities of the POWs who were forced to work on the construction of the famous Bridge on the River Kwai. After visiting the Museum you will depart Kanchanaburi for the two to three hour drive back to Bangkok where you will be dropped at your hotel. (B) * Per person, twin share. Single supplement available on request.

VI ET NA M LO NG TAN FLEXI TOUR

3 Days From $647* Day 1 Saigon to Vung Tau S TAR I N C L U S I O N S

★ Drive from Saigon to Vung ★ 4-star hotel accommodation Your Guide will meet you in the lobby of your Saigon Hotel for the drive to Vung Tau. On arrival in Vung Tau you will check into your hotel and enjoy the remainder of your day at leisure.

Day 2 Long Tan S TAR I N C L U S I O N S

★ 1st Australian Task Force Base ★ Picnic lunch ★ Battlefield of Long Tan Today you will travel to the former Phuoc Tuy Province area and of operations for the 1st Australian Task Force (ATF) via Baria and visit the

former task force base. The area is still a military reserve in parts and some areas may be restricted to visitors. Your Guide will provide information on the operations that were conducted from the base and how it was developed and protected.

You will enjoy a picnic lunch at Nui Dat before driving to the battlefield at Long Tan and the Long Tan Cross memorial site. You will then return to your hotel in Vung Tau. (B, L)

Day 3 Vung Tau To Saigon STAR INC LU S IONS

★ Transfer to Saigon Today you will depart Vung Tau and drive back to Saigon. On arrival in Saigon you will be dropped off at your hotel. (B) * Per person, twin share. Single supplement available on request.

S I N GAPO RE F LE XI TOUR

4 days From $1797* Day 1 Arrive Singapore S TAR I N C L U S I O N S

★ Arrival transfer ★ 4-star hotel accomodation On arrival into Singapore Airport, you will be met by a representative and transferred to your hotel.

The rest of the day is at your leisure.

Day 2 Full Day Battlefields Tour S TAR I N C L U S I O N S

★ St. Andrews Cathedral ★ Old Ford Factory ★ Kranji War Cemetery ★ Sembawang Shipyard ★ Selarang Camp ★ Changi Museum Today you will explore sites associated with the bitter fighting in Singapore in 1942, and learn about the horrendous ordeal of prisoners of war who were captured there. The first stop today is St. Andrew’s Cathedral, the oldest Anglican house of worship in Singapore. Next you will head to the Old Ford Factory where Britain surrendered Singapore over to the Japanese.

Converted into a national monument, it holds reminders of the fall of Singapore and life during WW2. You’ll then visit Kranji War Cemetery to pay

respects to more than 1,100 Australian soldiers remembered in the British Commonwealth Memorial. After lunch at a local restaurant you’ll visit Sembawang Park and Sembawang Shipyard, used as a British Naval base from the 1920s until Singapore’s independence. You will also see Selarang Camp, where over 15,000 prisoners of war were held in a space designed to hold 1,200.

Our final stop for the day is Changi Museum.

The site of many prisoner-of-war camps during the Japanese Occupation, Changi has since gone down in history as a place of much pain, torture and human suffering. It is said that more Australian POWs perished under incarceration than in battle itself. Whether it is on the Death Railway or the countless labour camps in Japan and Formosa (Taiwan), the Changi WW2 trail commemorates the fight of brave men and women during battle and their internment. This evening is at leisure. (B, L)

Day 3 The Old Forts

are visible remains of some other batteries to be found on Singapore, Fort Siloso is the only restored battery open for public visitation. You will then visit Reflections at Bukit Chandu. Set amidst the lush greenery of Bukit Chandu (Opium Hill), this interpretative centre is a memorial to the last moments of the brave soldiers. Go back in time to 1942 when 1,400 soldiers of the Malay Regiment made their stand against 13,000 Japanese soldiers, choosing death over dishonour. Your final stop this morning is a visit to Labrador Nature Reserve. Besides its rich biodiversity, this headland played a significant role in the history of Singapore during WW2.

Remnants of past tunnels and a fort enable visitors to have an interactive learning experience of the military history of British rule during that era. The afternoon is at leisure to explore the sites of Singapore. (B)

Day 4 Depart Singapore S TA R INCL U S IONS

STAR INC LU S IONS

★ Fort Siloso ★ Bukit Chandu ★ Labrador Nature Reserve This morning a half-day tour of the Old Forts.

Your first stop is Fort Siloso, one of 12 coast artillery batteries which made up "Fortress Singapore" at the start of WW2. Although there

★ Departure Transfer After breakfast you will be transferred to Singapore airport for your departure flight. (B) *Per person, twin share. Single supplement available on request.

Flexi Tours

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3. McLachlan Experiences www.experiences.com.au Dedicated to recapturing the golden days of travel when travel was at a slower pace, and meeting the people and gaining an understanding of their culture was more important than a fleeting glimpse through the window of a tour bus. ME offers flexible departure dates and exciting itineraries – often with highlights available nowhere else – subject to a minimum of just two passengers. Guaranteed departures, ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD!

1300 736 584 38

Mat McLachlan Battlefield Tours

Booking Terms and Conditions Please read these booking conditions carefully, as they apply to all bookings accepted by McLachlan Tours. McLachlan Tours is not itself a transport, tour, event or accommodation provider and acts only as an agent for those service providers.

How to book: Please call our reservations line on 1300 880 340 or contact your travel agent who will request a reservation on your behalf. All requests for reservations are subject to availability.

Any special meal requests will be made on a request basis only.

McLachlan Tours cannot guarantee special meal requests nor will it assume any responsibility or liability if passengers’ special meal requests are not fulfilled.

Prices: All rates are in Australian dollars and are cash/ cheque rates. Unless noted as a ‘Guaranteed Departure’, tours are based on a minimum number of passengers travelling. In the unlikely event of variations in exchange rates, price increases from our suppliers, increased taxes or a reduction in the numbers of passengers travelling to below the minimum passenger numbers, McLachlan Tours reserves the right to pass on these increases in costs to passengers. This may occur with or without warning to the passengers. In the unlikely event that a tour fails to attract the minimum passenger numbers, the tour may be cancelled at the discretion of McLachlan Tours. McLachlan Tours may also cancel, at its discretion, any tour for operational or other reasons.

If a tour is cancelled, monies already paid by passengers will be refunded or credited towards future travel at the discretion of McLachlan Tours. McLachlan Tours will not be responsible for any other travel arrangements affected by, or any additional costs imposed because of, our cancellation. McLachlan Tours reserves the rights to correct any errors in rates quoted or calculated, or any omissions made at any time during your booking. Any verbal quote given is an indication only of the final price and is subject to confirmation in writing.

Pricing validity: Itineraries and prices in this brochure are accurate at the time of printing. Once a customer has paid in full, the price of the tour is guaranteed, subject to any tax changes or levies imposed by any government or their agencies or any airline. McLachlan Tours reserves the right to make alterations to itineraries and prices due to circumstances beyond its control.

Deposits Group tours: A non-refundable deposit of $1000 per person, per tour, is required to secure your place on each tour within 7 days of booking.

Flexi and explorer tours: A non-refundable deposit of 30%, per person, per tour, is required to secure your place on each tour. For tours that include domestic flights or permits, payment in full is required at the time of deposit. Some hotels may require pre-payment in peak seasons. You will be advised of this at time of booking. For bookings under the value of $300, full payment is required to secure your place.

Final payment: Final payment is due no later than 90 days prior to travel on your tour unless otherwise specified.

Credit cards: Credit card payments attract a merchant fee of 1.9% for Visa, MasterCard, and American Express.

Cancellations: All cancellations must be received in writing.

Days Before Departure Over 60 days

% Fee Charges Deposit

60–45 days

50%

44–0 days

100%

Domestic flights, permits and any accommodation that requires pre-payment must be paid in full at the time of deposit and are non-refundable.

Any change or substitution of a nominated passenger’s name after the final payment has been made will be deemed a cancellation, and the applicable cancellation fee will apply. The departure date is the date indicated on the McLachlan Tours’ confirmation. If a nominated passenger does not join the tour on the departure date the cancellation fee will be 100% of the total booking cost. If a nominated passenger withdraws from the tour after commencement for reasons of illness, they must obtain a medical certificate in support of any insurance claim. McLachlan Tours makes no representations or guarantees concerning reimbursement of funds paid by a nominated passenger or paid by a representative of a nominated passenger under any insurance claim.

The above mentioned cancellation fees are in addition to any that may be charged by travel agents, airlines, hotels or other tour operators.

Amendments: Amendment fees will apply to any change on an existing booking.

Refunds: To the extent permitted by law, no refund is available for cancellations after travel has commenced or in respect of any tours, accommodation, meals or any other services not utilised.

Travel documents: Travel documents will be sent to you approximately 21 days prior to departure (providing full payment has been received). If you are leaving home earlier, please advise us so that we can deliver your documents before you depart.

Guaranteed departures: Tours marked as ‘Guaranteed Departures’ are guaranteed to depart, regardless of passenger numbers. Please note that we reserve the right to withdraw this guarantee for a force majeure event including but not limited to terrorist attack, economic downturn and war.

Airport transfers: On tours that offer airport transfers as an inclusion, an airport transfer to/from your hotel will be provided during operating hours a) on the arrival and departure day of the tour, or b) on other days if you have booked pre and post-tour accommodation with McLachlan Tours for the full duration of your stay. Flight details must be provided to McLachlan Tours no later than 21 days before departure. Once transfers are booked they cannot be changed. Only one inbound and one outbound transfer will be included. In the event of flight delays outside McLachlan Tours’ control, the transfers will be deemed to be cancelled. All transfers are based on group transfers, and no refund is available for missed transfers or passengers not using the transfer service.

Airport transfers are provided as a service to passengers and it is the responsibility of the passenger to ensure that any airport transfer will allow them enough time to connect with their flights.

McLachlan Tours will not be responsible for any flight delays or cancellations caused by the late arrival or departure of an airport transfer, or for cancellation fees associated with a missed flight.

Variations: All possible effort will be made to adhere to the published touring itinerary. Occasionally circumstances beyond our control will force cancellations, changes, amendments or modifications to the itinerary and its inclusions such as particular events and services. McLachlan Tours cannot be held responsible for any omissions or modifications to the itinerary or the inclusions made as a consequence of these changes.

Pre-departure contact: You must provide a telephone number, email or address where you can be reached, if necessary, within 24 hours prior to your departure from Australia.

Not included in the price: Anything not specifically included in the tour is at your own expense. Tours sold as ‘land only’ do not include airfares.

Air travel: Air travel is subject to the conditions and limitations set out in the airline’s conditions of carriage.

McLachlan Tours has access to wholesale airfares with specific Product descriptions: Descriptions of tours, attractions and airlines which are available to passengers who book on one accommodation provided on this website are based on information of our tours. Wholesale fares will usually be cheaper than an provided by hotels and suppliers. Any facilities shown as included equivalent full retail fare, but occasional special discounted fares may change at any time. McLachlan Tours makes no representation offered by airlines may be cheaper than our wholesale fares. It is as to the standard, class or description of accommodation or the passenger’s responsibility to compare available airfares and services provided by third parties. Every effort is made to ensure to select the product that is most appropriate for their needs. the accuracy of the information provided to passengers; however, Wholesale fares apply to specific routes and dates only and are McLachlan Tours cannot be held responsible for typographical subject to availability. Airfares are subject to change at any time. errors, or errors arising from unforeseen circumstances.

Discounted airfare promotions: Advertised airfare savings Maps and photographs: Maps are shown for general are based on the difference between our wholesale airfare and information and do not necessarily reflect actual routings, locations the cheapest available retail airfare on the same airline on a or services provided. Photographs may show places in the general specific date of booking and departure. Depending on the date area visited, but not necessarily included in the tour. Many of the of booking, departure date and availability, the saving between images on our website and brochure are supplied courtesy of our wholesale fare and an equivalent retail fare may be less than tourist bureaux, hotels, tour operators and past passengers. the advertised amount.

Travel insurance: It is a condition of travel that each passenger Booking arrangements: The person making a booking is adequately covered by an appropriate travel insurance policy. will be deemed to have accepted these booking conditions Please also check the contingencies of your prospective insurance on behalf of everyone named in the booking. Only the person cover and ensure you are aware of its conditions and omissions. We making the booking is authorised to make changes to or cancel strongly advise travel insurance from time of booking to provide the booking. All communications from us will usually be sent to full cover. your travel agent. Your travel agent is responsible for forwarding Health requirements: All customers are required to familiarise payments made by you to us. themselves with any health requirements specific to countries Limitation of liability: To the extent permitted by being visited. law, McLachlan Tours excludes all liability for any loss or Passports and visas: It is the responsibility of the passenger damage whatsoever (including but not limited to physical to have a valid passport (which is valid for at least six months and psychological injury, and loss or damage to property of from your last day of travel) and all visas, permits and certificates whatever nature) that may arise in any way in connection with required for the selected tour. Ask your travel agent for further the offer or supply of goods or services through McLachlan information.

Tours or any third parties, or in connection with the supply of Baggage: On all tours passengers are limited to one suitcase such goods or services. If the law implies a condition or warranty and one piece of hand luggage per person. Where a tour includes that cannot be excluded, McLachlan Tours’ liability for a breach of the conditions or warranty will be limited as determined hotel porterage, this includes one standard suitcase per person, and only applies when the passengers are travelling as part of the by McLachlan Tours to the re-supply or payment of the cost group. Porterage is not included when passengers check in and out of re-supplying the relevant goods or services. Except where of a hotel at the start and end of a tour. All baggage and personal otherwise stated within these terms and conditions McLachlan Tours excludes liability for any loss or damage that may be effects are at all times and in all circumstances at the risk of the tour participant. Baggage insurance is recommended. Please check caused by cancellation, abandonment, alteration, amendment, modification or termination of the tour. with your airline for applicable baggage allowances.

Events beyond our control: If a tour cannot proceed due Single travel: On group tours, if you are travelling as a single passenger, you can request that we try to match you in a twin share to a force majeure event including but not limited to flood, earthquake, war or civil strife, acts of terrorism, hurricane, room with another single passenger of the same sex. Should we cyclone, industrial disturbance, strike, fire, lock out, epidemic, not be able to match you in a twin share room by the final tour failure or delays of scheduled transportation facilities, or other balance payment date, the single room supplement rate will apply.

Acts of God, or any law, order, decree, rule or regulation of any Should you be matched with another person we cannot be held responsible if the choice is not to your satisfaction? Any twin match government authority, or for any reason whether of a similar or must understand that the room must be treated as a non-smoking dissimilar nature beyond the control of McLachlan Tours, the tour may at the sole discretion of McLachlan Tours, be deferred to a room unless both parties agree otherwise (and subject to the later date and all money paid, transferred to that date, and there hotel’s policy). Single rooms may be smaller than twin rooms. The Single Supplement represents a fee passed on to us by the hotels shall be no claim for damages by either party against the other. for sole use of a room.

Destination advice: McLachlan Tours makes no representations as to the safety, conditions or other issues that Tour participation: If McLachlan Tours reasonably considers may exist at any destination. You should obtain travel advice, that a passenger is physically incapable of participating in any tour, including from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade or that a passenger may be disruptive to the safety or comfort (www.smarttraveller.gov.au). of passengers or staff it may, in the reasonable exercise of its discretion, refuse to carry that passenger on the tour. Passengers Complaints procedure: Should you have a complaint while are required to advise McLachlan Tours, at the time of booking, on the tour, you should inform your tour guide immediately. of any physical, medical or other special needs that require If the matter cannot be resolved after the tour guide’s best accommodating. McLachlan Tours does not employ medical endeavours to do so during the tour, your complaint can be personnel. Any necessary medical attention will be provided by a made in writing to McLachlan Tours. McLachlan Tours cannot local facility at the passenger’s expense. McLachlan Tours is not be held responsible for issues that were not brought to our responsible or liable for any losses or costs incurred as a result of attention during the course of a tour. medical services obtained while on tour, or for the quality of the Agent responsibility: It is the travel agents’ responsibility to care or services received. We are unable to carry children under ensure that all invoice and itinerary details and documentation the age of five years. Children under 18 years of age must be issued by McLachlan Tours are correct and that the customer accompanied by an adult. is aware of amendment and cancellation conditions and other Refusal of carriage: In the reasonable exercise of its clauses in these booking conditions. discretion, McLachlan Tours may remove a passenger from our Law of contract: This agreement shall be governed and tours if one or more of the following have occurred or if McLachlan interpreted in accordance with the laws of New South Wales, Tours reasonably believes may occur: Australia. (a) The continued presence of the passenger may endanger McLachlan Tours is a division of Travel & Living Pty Ltd. the safety, health or materially affect the comfort of other ABN 51 105 498 066. Lic No 2TA005531. passengers; McLachlan Tours (b) The conduct, age, mental or physical state of the Suite 303, 27 Belgrave Street passenger is, or reasonably seems, such as to : require special Manly NSW 2095, Australia assistance which cannot be reasonably provided; cause discomfort Phone 1300 880 340 or make the passenger objectionable to other passengers Fax (02) 9977 9102 or accompanying personnel; involve any hazard or risk to the Email info@battlefields.com.au passenger, other passengers or accompanying personnel or www.battlefields.com.au property.

Booking Terms and Conditions

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A journey of a lifetime with Mat McLachlan Battlefield Tours Imagine standing on the sacred ground where Australian soldiers fought and died, the sun cresting the horizon as the haunting strains of the Last Post fill the dawn air.

Every Australian dreams of visiting our iconic battlefields – let Mat McLachlan Battlefield Tours turn that dream into reality.

Featuring Australia Leading W’s Historiansar

No one is better qualified to book your battlefield tour than your travel agent:

Mat McLachlan Battlefield Tours Suite 303, 27 Belgrave Street, Manly NSW 2095

Phone 1300 880 340

(International: +61 2 9001 5150)

fax (02) 9977 9102 email info@battlefields.com.au www.battlefields.com.au

Mat McLachlan Battlefield Tours is the tour operator for the NSW Premier’s Anzac Scholarships, Victorian Premier’s Spirit of Anzac Prize 2011, Northern Territory Chief Minister’s Prize and Queensland Premier’s Anzac Prize.

www.facebook.com/BattlefieldTours

Mat McLachlan Battlefield Tours is a division of Travel and Living Pty Ltd and is fully accredited with the AFTA Travel Accreditation Scheme (ATAS) and is a member of the council of Australian Tour Operators (ATO) and Australian Federation of Travel Agents (AFTA).

ABN 51 105 498 066. Lic No 2TA005531.

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