Follow in the footsteps of Heroes
on the In The Footsteps®
Battle of Dunkirk Anniversary Tour
26 — 30 May 2023
5-Days / 4-Nights
Join our tour commemorating the 83rd Anniversary of the Battle of Dunkirk and attend some of the events
commemorating this epic battle.
Operation DYNAMO took place between 27 May and 4 June 1940 and was the evacuation of large numbers of
Belgian, British, and French troops who were cut off and surrounded by the German Blitzkrieg during the
six-week Battle of France. Also known as the 'Miracle of Dunkirk', it saw the evacuation of
338,226 Allied soldiers by a hastily assembled fleet of over 800 vessels, many of which were the
'small ships', in just 8-days.
The BEF lost 68,000 soldiers during the disastrous French Campaign of 1940; it abandoned nearly all its
tanks, vehicles, and equipment, and in his speech 'We shall fight on the beaches' on 4 June
Winston Churchill told the country that "We must be very careful not to assign to this deliverance
the attributes of a victory. Wars are not won by evacuations."
Discover the incredible story behind the evacuation and pay tribute to all the allied soldiers, sailors
and airmen involved in the operation and who created 'The Dunkirk Spirit', a symbol of hope and
resistance.
5-Days / 4-Nights Tour
Friday, 26 May 2023
You meet your Battlefield Historian at the Stop 24 Folkestone Services at 10:30 hrs before travelling to
Dunkirk via the DFDS Dover to Dunkirk ferry. Our scheduled departure is 12:00 hrs and we are due to
arrive in Dunkirk at 17:00 hrs. From the ferry port we head into Dunkirk where we check into our tour
hotel.
The evening is spent at your leisure either in your hotel or local area.
Saturday, 27 May 2023 *
Your Battlefield Historian will meet you in the reception of your tour hotel at 09:00 hrs. Today, we
concentrate on the withdrawal of the British Expeditionary Force as it is pushed back by the German
Blitzkrieg. We begin at Le Paradis where 97 British soldiers from the 2nd Battalion, the Royal Norfolk
Regiment were machine-gunned after surrendering by members of the SS Division Totenkopf. We then head to
Hazebrouck, Hondeghem and Cassel to look at the actions carried out by the retreating BEF before
finishing the day at the site of the Wormhout massacre.
The evening is spent at your leisure either in your hotel or local area.
Sunday, 28 May 2023 *
Your Battlefield Historian will meet you in the reception of your tour hotel at 09:00 hrs. Today will be
spend at an event(s) commemorating the 83rd Anniversary of the Battle of Dunkirk and include visiting
Dunkirk’s harbour to see the small ships. You will return to your hotel at approximately 17:30
hrs.
The evening is spent at your leisure either in your hotel or local area.
* These days may be changed around depending upon the commemorative events taking place.
Monday, 29 May 2023
Your Battlefield Historian will meet you in the reception of your tour hotel at 09:00 hrs. Today is spent
exploring the Dunkirk Perimeter. We begin exploring the locations in and around Dunkirk associated with
the evacuation at the East Mole. During the day we will explore Malo-les-Bains, Zuydcoote and De Panne
where we will walk along the beach, see the remains of the shipwrecks and memorials associated with the
battle. During the day we will also visit the Fort des Dunes Museum.
The evening is spent at your leisure either in your hotel or local area.
Tuesday, 30 May 2023
Your Battlefield Historian will meet you at the reception of your tour hotel at approximately 09:00 hrs.
This morning, you will visit the Dunkirk War Museum before going to the Dunkirk Evacuation memorial
overlooking the beach. From there we head to the CWGC Section of Dunkirk Town Cemetery and Memorial
where we will end our tour.
We begin our journey back to the UK after lunch, when we head to the ferry port to catch the return
sailing at 16:00 hrs. We are due to arrive back at the Stop 24 Folkestone Services for 17:30 hrs.
This itinerary is not set in stone and may be changed, as required, to facilitate attendance at the commemoration or for operational reasons.
The cost of your tour
The cost for our 5-days / 4-nights In The Footsteps® Battle of Dunkirk Anniversary Tour is:
Standard twin or double room (depending upon availablilty) in one of our 3-Star partner hotels
- Two people sharing a double or twin room — £1,100.00 GBP per person.
- Single occupancy in a standard twin room — £1,250.00 GBP per person.
A deposit of £300.00 GBP is payable in order to book your tour. The final balance is due 8 weeks
prior to your tour (2 April 2023).
Price per person based upon a minimum of 4 people and there will be a maximum of 8 per tour vehicle.
Please
note the tour will not go ahead if the minimum number do not book.
If you prefer a private tour, please email enquiries@inthefootsteps.com for a no obligation
quotation.
Booking indicates your acceptance of our Tour Terms and Conditions
What your tour includes
- In-tour land travel only.
- 5-days escorted tour of the battlefields with one of our expert Battlefield Guides.
- 4-nights accommodation at one of our partner hotels, breakfast included.
- Comprehensive touring of all the major battlefield sites, including many of the less frequently visited out-of-the-way sites.
- All museum admission fees specified in the itinerary.
- The opportunity to visit specific cemeteries and graves within tour area (as agreed prior to your tour).
- The opportunity to discuss your battlefield travel plans with our expert team.
What your tour does not include
- Lunches and evening meals.
- Drinks.
- Travel Insurance.
- Personal expenses.
- Gratuities.
Accommodation
Your accommodation for your tour will in one of our partner hotels.
You will be told in which hotel you will be accommodated prior to booking your tour, please make
sure you are happy with it as changes may not be possible after booking.
Battlefield Historian
Your Battlefield Historian is an established member of our team and is experienced in leading tours to
the battlefields of the Second World War.
The Battlefield Historian will meet you daily at your hotel reception prior to departure.
Financial Protection
Your money is safe. We are members ot the TTA and all monies paid to us are held in a trust account and cannot be drawn down by us until the tour is over.
Why travel with In The Footsteps?
- We have over 18 years experience in designing and operating Private Battlefield Tours, Battlefield Studies and Staff Rides.
- Our team of Battlefield Historians are selected for their experience, depth of knowledge, enthusiasm and ability to tell the story in an entertaining and engaging way. The majority are accredited members of the prestigious Guild of Battlefield Guides, which means they endeavour to maintain high levels of good practice commensurate with the Guild's ethos.
- We operate a full booking, planning and design service.
- Office is open 24-hours a day whilst the tour is operating.
- Combined Employers and Public Liability Insurance (a copy can be supplied upon request).
Enquire About Your In The Footsteps® Battle of Dunkirk Anniversary Tour Today
If you are interested in this tour please contact us on enquiries@inthefootsteps.com or click on the button
below which will take you to our Enquiry Form. Either way, please ensure that you tell us which tour you
are interested in and how many people there are in your party. We endeavour to answer all enquiries
within 24-hours.
Return to previous page
Page last updated: 29 April 2022