What is included in the price of the tour?

All tours include transportation, lunch and museum or site admission, (where applicable) and the services of your own private guide for the day.

How long are the tours?

Full day tours are typically about 9.5 hours in length, but the In Flanders Fields Tour is about 13 hours. Note that tour time may be reduced in winter months due to site closures and shorter daylight hours.

Do you do half-day tours?

We do not offer half-day tours, however if you are unable to do a full day tour, you can contact us to arrange a custom private tour that fits your travel schedule.

Who are your guides?

Currently there is only one guide, Faye, who operates the tours, (plus she does the marketing, web design, accounting, research, etc.). You can learn more on our “About” page.

How many people will be on the tour?

We can accommodate up to 8 people per tour. This is the maximum amount of people our guide is permitted to transport in one vehicle. (See our Group Tours section if you have more than 8 people in your group)

What kind of vehicle is used for the transportation?

For tours of 1 - 3 people we will travel in a sedan or small SUV/crossover. For tours of 4 - 8 people we will travel in a passenger van or mini-bus. Vehicles are late model and are equipped with air-conditioning and at least 1 USB port, bring your cable to recharge your electronic devices.

Where is the pick up point for the tour?

We will pick you up at any accommodation in Arras and / or at the Arras train station.

Do you pick up and drop-off in other cities or towns than Arras?

Private custom day tours can be booked from almost any starting point within an hour’s drive from Arras. Please note that we do not pick up or drop off in Paris, we recommend that you take the high-speed train (TGV) between Paris and Arras, which takes less than an hour and is far quicker than travelling by vehicle from Paris.

Do you offer reduced rates for children?

Sorry but we do not offer reduced rates for children on our tours since a child takes the same space in a vehicle as an adult and the age of our clients has little impact on the costs of operating a tour.

How can I book a tour?

You can book any of our published tours directly on our website, through our contact us page or via email to info@livingmemorytours.com. Custom and private tours can be booked by email and will be invoiced through Paypal.

Why can’t I book your tours on Viator or other online travel sites?

While Viator and other online travel sites certainly have their value in the travel industry, these sites charge tour operators hefty commissions for their distribution. Living Memory Tours can’t afford their commission rates nor do we want our customers to pay an inflated price so that we can maintain our profit margin. Plus our ability to communicate with our customers through these channels is limited and our goal is to make your tour experience as personal as possible, so we prefer to have direct contact with our customers or with their human travel planners.

How do I pay for a tour? When is payment due?

You can pay by major credit card, (Visa, MC, AMEX) or PayPal. Payment is due at the time of booking.

Is paying online secure?

Yes. Living Memory Tours’ sites have SSL certificates and we use secure merchant service providers that encrypts your credit card data. We can’t even see your credit card number, only the method that you used to pay.

What happens if I have to cancel a tour?

Payment will be refunded in full if you cancel at least 21 days prior to the tour. Cancellations within 21 days will forfeit the payment. We recommend you purchase trip cancellation insurance before travelling.

How much walking is required on tour?

Some tours have more walking than others, the most strenuous being Vimy Ridge & The Somme tour where we typically walk at least 10,000 steps.

Can you accommodate people with limited mobility?

Yes to a point. You must be able to get in and out of a vehicle, unfortunately we cannot accommodate people who are fully wheelchair bound. Some sites, especially cemeteries, are difficult to visit with a walker or wheelchair but we we will always do our best to accommodate. If you will be bringing a walker or folding wheelchair, please let us know when booking.

What kind of lunch is included?

Lunch is typically in a restaurant or bakery with a 2 course “prix fixe” or “formule” menu of 2 courses (appetizer + main or main + dessert) plus one beverage per person.

I have special dietary requirements, can you accommodate?

Most dietary requirements can be accommodated such as gluten-free and vegetarian, but your choice will be more limited. Note that vegan is much harder to accommodate in France as they love their dairy and eggs. Please ensure to note any dietary requirements when you book so that we can be sure to select the best restaurant for your tour.

Can I bring snacks on tour?

You are more than welcome to bring your own snacks along however we ask that you not consume food in the tour vehicle unless you are obligated due to medical reasons, (diabetic, etc.). Most memorial sites have designated picinic areas with bins for refuse and we appreciate you waiting until we stop to consume any snacks you have brought along.

I am travelling alone, can I still book a tour?

Yes there is a single supplement fee of 50€ for solo travellers.

Why is there a single supplement fee?

Unlike other operators who require a minimum number of people to operate a tour, Living Memory Tours will run the tour you have booked even if you are the only person on tour.

Do you refund the single supplement fee if there are other people booked on the same tour?

No, the single supplement fee is non-refundable even if other people book on the tour. We also won’t cancel your tour if we have a request for a more lucrative tour on the same date where you are the only person booked. It’s a guarantee.

I have a relative who served with the Canadian Corps in the Great War, can I visit the areas where he was?

Yes you can, but you may not be able to do so in just a one day tour, or a custom private tour may be a better option for you. Contact us with the information you have and we will do some research and propose the best tour option for you.

My relative was killed in the war, can I visit his grave?

Yes, if your relative has a known grave, he will be buried in one of the thousands of Commonwealth War Graves cemeteries along the western front. If his body was not found or his grave was lost, he will be commemorated on one of the Commonwealth War Graves Memorials. We are happy to find out for you, or you can look up his place of burial or commemoration at www.cwgc.org. Note that those who died in the hospitals along the coast will be buried in cemeteries near the hospital where he died and not near the battlefields and if that is the case then a private custom tour will be your best option to visit the cemetery.

What is the difference between a private tour and a custom tour?

For a small surcharge you can make any of the published itineraries private so that it will only be you and your travelling companions on the tour and no one else will be able to join the tour. Just choose the “Private Tour’ option when booking online. Custom tours are private tours with a custom itinerary built just for you. Typically these are for travellers who require any or all of the following:

• need to be picked up / dropped off outside of Arras
• wish to trace the steps of a relative(s) who fought in the war
• visit a cemetery or memorial that is outside of the normal tour routes
• prefer an à la carte tour

Do you offer WW2 tours to Normandy?

Due to the distance between the Western Front, Dieppe and the landing beaches of Normandy and our current limited knowledge of the WW2 battlefields, we do not typically offer tours to these areas. But we have certainly been there and may be able to offer some advice based on our experience. We will be happy to recommend guides in Normandy who offer Canadian-focused tours and can take you beyond the landing beaches, just ask.

I have more than 8 people in my group, can you accommodate?

es but this would be priced differently as we would have to hire a coach and driver according to the size of your group. Please contact us with your group’s details and place you wish to visit and we will be happy to provide you with a quote.

I have a group and a motor coach already arranged, I just need a guide, can you assist?

We do offer step-on guide rates for groups that need a battlefield guide for a pre-planned day-tour itinerary. We do not offer tour management services.

Do you offer travel agents a commission?

We offer travel agents and travel industry partners a discount of 10% off the published rates for bookings of 2 or more people. We do not pay commissions after the fact.

Do you sell your tours through third party booking agencies and OTA’’s such as Viator?

Due to high commission rates of OTA’s and other third party sites, Living Memory Tours does not sell through third parties. We simply cannot afford their commission rates nor do we want our customers paying an inflated price.