Walking the Ypres Salient

5 nights accommodation

Availability Sep 2026

One itinerary available

Half Board

Grades 1 details

116kg CO2 details

Non-members From

£1,279

pp

Inc flights

Members From

£1,229

pp

Inc flights

For group booking of 10 or more please click here
Explore a corner of Belgium that witnessed many of WWI’s fiercest battles. From our base in historical Ypres, the City of Peace, we’ll follow in the footsteps of those who fought in The Great War. We’ll also enjoy a guided tour of the medieval squares and canals of Ghent, one of Europe’s best kept secrets.

Accommodation

A range of handpicked hotels...
The Novotel Ypres Centre is superbly located in the historic old town, a short walk from the Menin Gate and other points of interest. All 128 rooms are contemporary in style, with air conditioning, tea and coffee making facilities, Wi-Fi, and TV. There’s also a bar and a gym.
Novotel Ieper Receptie.jpg

What You’ll Love

  • Walking the Ypres Salient 
  • Witnessing the Last Post ceremony in Ypres  
  • Learning about WWI with a local battlefields guide
  • Discovering Ghent and its medieval charm
  • Visiting the Hooge Crater Museum and In Flanders Fields Museum

What's Included

  • Return rail travel from London to Lille and transfers
  • Fully escorted travel with an HF Holidays Tour Manager
  • 5 nights' accommodation in Ypres
  • 5 breakfasts and 5 dinners
  • Visit to the Ypres Salient and Battlefields sites
  • Entrance to In Flanders Fields Museum and Hooge Crater Museum
  • Expertise of a local guide for Battlefields visits
  • Visit to Ghent with a guided tour
  • All sightseeing and entrance fees (as per itinerary)
  • All in-destination transport

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Itinerary

All our carefully-curated itineraries are designed by our experts. While we make every effort to adhere to the described itinerary, we may take alternative routes or adapt the running order for weather and/or operational reasons.

Itinerary

Meet your HF Holidays Tour Manager and fellow travellers at London St Pancras International railway station. After check-in, baggage checks, and passport control, we’ll wait in the departure lounge for our Eurostar to Lille. Once we’ve made it to Lille, there’s a coach transfer to Ypres in Belgian Flanders.  

This afternoon we’ll have time to have a wander around Ypres and get our bearings before dinner.

Our day begins with a visit to the In Flanders Fields Museum (entrance included), located in Ypres’ magnificent Cloth Hall which was destroyed during World War I and meticulously rebuilt.

In the afternoon, we’ll meet our local guide and transfer to the southern Ypres Salient. We’ll walk following the front line, taking in the Bluff, Ravine Wood, Hill 60, and the Caterpillar Crater. We’ll walk to what was known as no-man’s land taking in the landscape clearly marked by war. After dinner, we’ll watch the poignant Last Post ceremony at the Menin Gate.

Distance: 2.5 miles (4km)

This morning we’ll transfer with our guide to the northern Ypres Salient. We’ll follow a section of the old front line which remained virtually unchanged between 1915 and 1917. Here we’ll discover Klein Zwaanhof, Colne Cemetery, Caesar’s Nose, and the Yorkshire Trench and Deep Dug-Out, which contains an underground shelter which served as a headquarters for two battalions.

We’ll leave the Ypres Salient and continue by coach to Essex Farm, where John McCrae who wrote the poem In Flanders Fields is buried. We’ll then visit Tyne Cot Cemetery, the largest commonwealth cemetery in the world in terms of burials and the German Langemark Cemetery. 

Distance: 1.5 miles (2.8km)

This morning we’ll transfer with our guide to the eastern Ypres Salient where we’ll discover two of the most important wartime heritage sites: the grounds of Hooge Chateau and Bellewaarde Ridge. We’ll firstly visit the Hooge Crater Museum, which contains reconstructions of a number of wartime scenes, together with a collection of artifacts, documents, and photos. Bellewaarde Ridge held a position of strategic importance due to the panoramic view it offered over Ypres and was the scene of heavy fighting. 

Once we return to Ypres you’ll have the afternoon to explore at your leisure. 

Distance: 2 miles (3.5km)

Today we’ll take the train to Ghent, one of Belgium's most well-preserved medieval cities. A guided walking tour will show us the highlights before you have free time to explore and sightsee some more. We’ll return to Ypres for our farewell dinner.

After breakfast, we’ll take the opportunity for a final stroll around Ypres before joining our coach late morning for the transfer to Lille. Here we’ll board the Eurostar for our journey back through Northern France to London.

Daily Walk Options

Grade 1

Easier Walks

Walk at a relaxed pace, often spending time at places of interest en-route. Walking experience isn’t necessary as distances are quite short and gradients generally easy.

Accommodation

Novotel Ypres Centre - Belgium

The Novotel Ypres Centre is superbly located in the historic old town, a short walk from the Menin Gate and other points of interest. All 128 rooms are contemporary in style, with air conditioning, tea and coffee making facilities, Wi-Fi, and TV. There’s also a bar and a gym.

Food & drink

Our hotel, the Novotel Ypres Centre does not serve meals in the evening.  We will therefore have breakfast in the hotel restaurant but enjoy dinner in local restaurants in Ypres.   

Getting here

Address

Novotel Ypres Centre

Sint Jacobsstraat 15

8900 Ypres

Belgium

Tel : 00 32 (0)57 42 96 00

More Information

Vaccinations & health information EU NEW 2026

Before booking, you should check with your doctor to see whether any health precautions are needed for your trip. Health advice and requirements can change, so we recommend doing this in good time before travel.

As a general rule, travellers should ensure they are up to date with routine UK vaccinations and boosters, including, for example, MMR and diphtheria, tetanus and polio. Some countries may require you to have specific vaccinations such as Malaria, Rabies and Yellow Fever. Please check with your GP if you are unsure.

Please note that the use or possession of some common prescription or over-the-counter medicines is restricted or banned in certain countries. If you will be carrying medication, you should check with the relevant embassy or consulate before travelling. As an extra precaution, we recommend keeping medication in its original packaging, carrying a copy of your prescription, and, where possible, asking your pharmacist to provide the medication name in the language of the country you are visiting.

For further country-specific health advice, visit www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk or www.traveldoctor.co.uk. If you are travelling from outside the UK, please consult your own doctor and check local entry requirements.

 

Passport & Visa information - SHARED FOR ALL EU NEW 2026

This information is for those travelling with a full ‘British Citizen’ passport; for all other nationalities or passport holders, please check with your local consulate for advice.

Passport Requirements

This information applies to travellers holding a full British Citizen passport. Entry requirements vary by destination and can change at short notice. For most EU and worldwide destinations, passports must be valid for the entire duration of your stay. Some countries also require a minimum period of validity remaining on your passport (often up to 6 months beyond your return date), even if you are not staying that long.
We strongly recommend ensuring your passport has at least six months’ validity remaining at the time of travel to avoid any issues.

If you hold a different type of British passport or a passport issued by another country, you must check the requirements with the relevant embassy, consulate, or official government website.

Visa Requirements

Visa rules depend on your nationality, destination, length of stay, and purpose of travel, and they can change frequently. It is your responsibility to check whether you require a visa before travelling.
British passport holders should check the latest entry, passport validity and visa requirements for their destination on the UK government’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) website:
https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice

 

 

Packing list - Overseas Guided Walking

It's best to be prepared for all weather conditions. To make it easier, here is a list of items you should consider packing.   

Essentials  

  • Walking boots 
  • Waterproof jacket 
  • Waterproof trousers 
  • Insulated jacket/top 
  • Walking clothing  
  • Walking socks (plus spares)  
  • Sunhat 
  • Gloves/mitts and warm hat
  • Water bottle (minimum 2 litre capacity)  
  • Headtorch 
  • High-factor sunscreen (minimum SPF 30)  
  • Sunglasses with a dark lens 
  • Rucksack (15-30 litres)  
  • Mobile phone 
  • Personal first aid kit (containing your medication, blister plasters, etc.) 
  • Passport 
  • Visa (if applicable) 
  • Copy of your travel insurance policy 
  • UK Global Health Insurance Card (formerly known as EHIC

Recommended

  • Collapsible walking poles 
  • Swimwear and travel towel
  • Snacks
  • Dry bags
  • Rubbish bags
  • Insect repellent

Optional extras

  • Camera 
  • Sit mat
  • Flask for hot drinks 
  • Durable lunch box
  • Gaiters 
  • GPS device (excluding Bhutan, Georgia and India)

Joining Instructions (with Rail) - Ypres

Book your holiday ‘with rail’ and travel on Eurostar with the group. If you choose this option we automatically include return transfers between Lille Europe station and the hotel. The coach transfer takes approx 50 minutes.

Notes for Rail Travellers

Rail travel will be from St Pancras International Station, London to Lille Europe.  

Your group meeting point at St Pancras will be the Sir John Betjeman statue on the upper level of the station 2 hours before departure time. Here you will join the rest of your group and meet your HF Tour Manager who will guide you throughout your journey. You will then make your way to the ticket gate as a group.

A suitcase with wheels is strongly recommended as you will be responsible for carrying and lifting your luggage on all parts of the journey. All luggage will be scanned at the departure gate and needs to be clearly labelled. You will need to be responsible for your luggage and belongings at all stages of your journey so it’s advisable to have it within eyesight when travelling on the trains and be extra vigilant when moving through busy railway stations. Please refer to the website below for the latest information on luggage requirements for your journey and trip information:  https://www.eurostar.com/uk-en

Joining Instructions (without Rail) - Ypres

Alternatively, tailor your journey to suit you by booking your holiday ‘without rail’ allowing you the freedom to book your own travel.

If you choose this option, transfers are not included in the price.

You can still purchase a seat on our shared group transfer but it is your responsibility to arrive at the railway station prior to the main group. All train times are subject to change and if your arrival and / or departure time changes and no longer fits our shared group transfer, we will be unable to delay departure for you. Should this occur we will refund you the cost of the transfer and you can either make your own way to the hotel or we can book a private taxi transfer for you (at your expense). HF Holidays cannot be held responsible for your onward travel if you are unable to meet the transfer coach.

If you have made your own travel arrangements and have booked a place on the HF Holidays shared group transfer to the hotel, please meet your Tour Manager and fellow travellers at Lille Europe station by the Information Point in Hall 3, close to the Boulevard de Leeds exit.

Carbon Footprint - 116kg CO2

We see it as our responsibility to minimise our emissions, not just for this year but every year to come. Our work with sustainability experts, ecollective, has enabled us to measure our carbon footprint and create a strategy to reduce the carbon intensity of our product by 5% each year. Our ambition is to be net zero by 2040 – earlier if we can.

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Code: BRU05-LBT12

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Dates & availability

Walking the Ypres Salient

Members save an additional £50 on this booking and get a range of other exclusive benefits. You can join during booking process. Read more about membership

2026

21 Sep - 26 Sep 2026

5 nights. Trip notes

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Trusted British co-operative

We are proud to be Britain’s only walking holiday co-operative. Led by almost 40,000 members, offering hundreds of holidays across the UK and overseas, with all surplus being reinvested back into our Society.

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Flexible choice of guided walks

Experienced volunteer HF Leaders guide every walk at our UK country houses, offering up to three daily options. Making it easy to find a holiday to suit your ability, and with the flexibility to switch grades each walking day.

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Book early with confidence

Become an HF Member to benefit from our Price Pledge. Secure your first choice of holiday early, and if the cost drops after you book, we will automatically refund the difference (exc. travel agent & group bookings).

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Book with confidence

If the flights we have organised are cancelled or changed, we’ll do everything we can to find alternative transport, with minimal disruption to your holiday

If we cancel your holiday, we honour all refund requests 

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Travel with confidence

We know that peace of mind is priceless, so we’ll always go above and beyond to meet – and exceed – expectations

If the flights we have organised are cancelled or changed, we’ll do everything we can to find alternative transport, with minimal disruption to your holiday

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HF Holidays

A British heritage brand with 111 years of experience

Offering a choice of over 260 itineraries in nearly 40 countries

Run as a co-operative with 40,000-plus members

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