TORONTO, Oct. 30, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- On Remembrance Day, Insight Vacations (www.insightvacations.com), the leader in premium and luxury escorted journeys, pays tribute to Canada's heroes - the men and women who have served, and continue to serve Canada during times of war, conflict and peace. Canada remembers the more than 1,500,000 Canadians who have served throughout our nation's history.
Two years into the "war to end all wars" saw some of World War One's bloodiest battles, including the battles of the Somme and Verdun, which produced a casualty toll of almost two million soldiers. 2016 will mark the 100th anniversary of these two battles and to commemorate this centennial event, Insight Vacations has released a special one-time departure that mirrors their popular Canadian Battlefields of Europe itinerary, with a special focus on the 100th anniversary. Returning for a third year, military historian Dr. Jody Perrun, guest lecturer at University of Winnipeg and Royal Military College, will lead Canadians on Insight Vacations' Canadian Battlefields of Europe: A Journey of Remembrance itinerary, providing an in-depth journey tracing Canada's participation in the "Great War" that will allow guests to pay homage to our contribution. This will be Dr. Perrun's first time hosting three consecutive Expert Hosted Collection journeys with Insight Vacations.
"We are thrilled to offer this special one-time departure that will commemorate the 100th anniversary of the battles of the Somme and Verdun, providing Canadians with the opportunity to pay homage to the brave men who paid the ultimate sacrifice," said Cris David, president, Insight Vacations Canada. "Our past Battlefields journeys were well received by guests who thoroughly enjoyed Dr. Perrun's vast knowledge of Canada's military history and we couldn't be more pleased to have him return in 2016 to help guide this special interest itinerary."
Departing Canada on May 26th, this special 15-day departure starts in Paris. From Paris guests travel to Beny-Sur-Mer to visit the Canadian War Cemetery. Guests then continue onto Bernieres-sur-Mer to walk along the beach before visiting Canada's remarkable Juno Beach Centre at Courseulles-sur-Mer where the Third Canadian Division landed on D-Day, June 6th 1944. In Ypres, where poison gas was first introduced in warfare, guests visit the Flanders Field Museum, tour the Tyne Cot Cemetery, St. Julien Memorial and the town of Passchendaele - the site of the great battle in which more than 4,000 Canadians died and where Canada's reputation as the best offensive fighting force on the Western Front was cemented. Guests also visit the Essex Farm bunker where Guelph native, Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, composed the now famous "In Flanders Fields" poem. After paying respects at the Vimy Ridge battlefield, where the legendary battle was waged, guests commemorate the 100th anniversary of the battle of the Somme by visiting the site where more than 24,000 Canadian soldiers paid the ultimate sacrifice. The insightful look into the battle of the Somme, which lasted more than four and a half months, begins with the Newfoundland Memorial at Beaumont-Hamel, where Dr. Perrun will recite how the brave members of the Newfoundland Regiment were virtually wiped out on July 1st, 1916. In Verdun, site of the heroic French stand in WW1, travellers pay homage to the more than 1,600,000 men that perished during the 10-month battle in 1916. Guests will later travel to Compiegne, the site where the Armistice was signed on November 11th, 1918 to end the horror of World War One before returning to Paris for a Champagne Celebration Dinner.
Two other special departures will be available for guests looking to learn more about Canada's storied military past. Departing Canada on May 11th, the alternate 15-day Canadian Battlefields of Europe: A Journey of Remembrance itinerary will lead guests to the Netherlands, Belgium and Northern France with Dr. Perrun. While the Eastern Europe Jewish Heritage of World War II, departing Canada on June 12th, will explore key sites of European Jewish life, Second World War Nazi genocide, and Post-war Memorialization.
For more information, please contact your local Sales Manager, visit www.insightvacations.com, or contact an Insight Specialist at the National Sales Centre at 1-800-387-8490.
About Insight Vacations For more than 38 years, Insight Vacations (www.insightvacations.com) has been designing the world's finest escorted travel itineraries. As the experts in Europe, Insight offers over 100 journeys across the continent, covering more of Europe than any other operator. Insight Vacations also offers the same legendary high standards and carefully curated itineraries in North America, South America, India, Bhutan, Nepal, Morocco, Egypt and Israel.
Luxury Gold by Insight Vacations is an exclusive collection of unique journeys that elevate travel beyond the ordinary at every moment. Guests travelling with Luxury Gold stay at the finest hotels, dine on the epicurean regional cuisine at featured Michelin-starred restaurants and enjoy an unmatched collection of once-in-a-lifetime experiences and sightseeing.
All Insight itineraries are expertly designed for smaller groups of average 28 guests with a maximum of just 40. Each tour includes the services of an experienced Tour Director who acts as 'travelling concierge,' and Signature Experiences that provide a unique and revealing look into the history and culture of each destination. The authentic flavours of each country are celebrated through included Signature Dining experiences, Insight hotels are handpicked for their high quality and desirable central or scenic locations and the Insight Wi-Fi equipped motorcoach is specially customised to provide Business Class legroom. With the perfect balance of guided and independent exploration Insight has reimagined vacations to truly escape from the ordinary.
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IVCANS-2016-Groups-Canadian Battlefields Of Europe II http://hugin.info/160135/R/1963091/716225.pdf
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