Somme Battlefields from Paris: Australian Memorial & Amiens

Walk the preserved trenches and stand before the names of 72,000 fallen

This day trip from Paris takes small groups (maximum 8 people) to the Somme battlefields with an English-speaking guide, visiting five major memorials, the Lochnagar Crater, preserved trenches at Beaumont-Hamel, and Amiens Cathedral. Transport by air-conditioned minivan, skip-the-line entry, and the guide are included; lunch is on your own at a local restaurant with a private artifact collection. The tour runs 11 hours and operates in all weather.

Step-by-step itinerary

Visit Somme battlefields and Amiens Cathedral

• Visit Thiepval Memorial
• See Lochnagar Crater
• Walk in Beaumont-Hamel trenches
• Visit Pozieres Memorial
• Pay respects at Australian National Memorial
• Explore Sir John Monash Center
• Lunch at Le Tommy restaurant
• Visit Amiens Cathedral

The Experience

The Lochnagar Crater sits 30 meters deep and 100 meters wide, blown into the earth on July 1st, 1916—the first day of the Battle of the Somme. You'll stand at its edge and walk the still-scarred ground where the bloodiest battles of World War I were fought. The Thiepval Memorial rises nearby, carved with the names of more than 72,000 British and South African soldiers who died with no known grave. At Beaumont-Hamel, the largest preserved Somme battlefield site, you can still walk in the actual trenches and see the landscape as soldiers saw it a century ago.

The guide walks you through the personal stories of the Great War at the Sir John Monash Centre, where video testimonials and interactive displays show how individual soldiers endured the trenches. You'll visit the Australian National Memorial in Villers-Bretonneux, which commemorates 10,738 Australian servicemen with no known grave who died on the Western Front, and pay respects at Pozieres. Around midday, you have an hour to eat lunch at Le Tommy, a local restaurant run by Dominique, a figure known for his knowledge of Somme history; he serves straightforward meals at reasonable prices and keeps a private collection of battlefield artifacts you can explore. Lunch cost is separate.

The day closes at Amiens Cathedral, the largest cathedral in France, built in the 13th century. The minivan is air-conditioned, the group stays under eight people, and entry to all sites is arranged in advance so you skip the lines. The tour runs regardless of weather, so dress for the conditions.

What’s included

Air-conditioned minivan transport from Paris, English-speaking guide for the full day, skip-the-line entry to all battlefield sites and memorials, and a visit to Amiens Cathedral.

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearby

Operated by Blue Fox Travel - Blue Bike Tours - Paris

Is this one for you?Choose this if you want a guide walking you through preserved trenches and five major memorials in one day from Paris, rather than exploring the Somme independently.

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Top questions

What exactly is the Lochnagar Crater and why is it so large?

The Lochnagar Crater was blown into the earth on July 1st, 1916, the opening day of the Battle of the Somme. It measures 30 meters deep and 100 meters wide, created by the detonation of a massive mine beneath German lines.

Can I actually walk inside the trenches at Beaumont-Hamel?

Yes. Beaumont-Hamel is the largest Somme battlefield site that has been preserved, and you can walk in the actual trenches that still scar the landscape.

What is the Sir John Monash Centre and what will I see there?

The Sir John Monash Centre uses video testimonies and interactive displays to tell the personal stories of soldiers who lived through the Great War. It helps you understand the individual experiences behind the battles and memorials you visit.

Is lunch included, and where do we eat?

Lunch is not included in the tour price. You have about an hour of free time to eat at Le Tommy, a local restaurant owned by Dominique, who serves classic meals at reasonable prices and maintains a private collection of Somme artifacts you can view.

How many people travel on this tour, and is a guide included?

Groups are kept to a maximum of 8 people, and an English-speaking guide leads the entire day, explaining the history and significance of each site.

What is the Thiepval Memorial, and why does it matter?

The Thiepval Memorial stands at one of the Somme's largest battle sites and bears the names of more than 72,000 British and South African soldiers who died in the war and have no known grave.