Somme Battlefields Tour from Paris: WW1 Sites & Lochnagar Crater

Walk the preserved trenches where the 1916 Somme battle unfolded

A private WW1 tour departing from Arras covers the major Somme battlefields of 1916 and 1918 with a live expert guide, private transport, and museum access. The tour includes the Lochnagar crater blown on July 1st 1916, the Thiepval Memorial, Beaumont-Hamel's original trenches, the Somme 1916 underground museum in Albert, and the Australian memorial at Villers-Bretonneux. A lunch stop in Albert breaks the day. The tour runs 8 hours and returns to Arras train station.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Beaumont-Hamel Newfoundland Memorial1h
2. Thiepval Memorial30m
3. Lochnagar Crater30m
4. Somme 1916 Museum1h 30m · entry included

Visit major Somme battle sites

• Start outside Arras train station
• Visit Lochnagar mine crater
• See the Gibraltar bunker site
• Explore Thiepval memorial
• Tour Beaumont-Hamel preserved battlefield
• Lunch stop at Albert
• Visit Somme 1916 underground museum
• See German cemetery at Proyart
• Visit Villers-Bretonneux Australian memorial
• Discover Sir John Monash centre
• Drive back to Arras

The experience

The Lochnagar mine crater anchors this tour: a massive underground mine detonated on the opening day of the Somme offensive, July 1st 1916, leaving a crater so large it shaped the battlefield for years. From there you move through the preserved trenches at Beaumont-Hamel, where the original earthworks still stand, and on to the Thiepval Memorial, which bears the names of 72,000 soldiers with no known grave. The guide, a WW1 expert fluent in English or French, walks you through each site and explains what unfolded there.

The Somme 1916 Museum sits in an original tunnel beneath Albert, a unique underground space that recreates scenes from the battle itself. After lunch in Albert, the tour shifts to the 1918 counter-offensive: the Australian War Memorial at Villers-Bretonneux, which commemorates 11,000 Australians missing in France, and the Sir John Monash Centre with its immersive exhibition space. You also visit the German cemetery at Proyart, where 4,600 soldiers rest, and the Gibraltar bunker site. Private transport collects you from just outside Arras train station and returns you there at the end of the day.

What’s included

• Private transportation from Arras train station.
• a private WW1 expert guide in English or French.
• access to all battlefield sites.
• entry to the Somme 1916 Museum and the Sir John Monash Centre.

Before you book

Days and timesMonday to SaturdayDeparts at 09:00

Book up to18h before

AgesAdult (18 and older) · Youth (8 to 17 years) · Child (4 to 7 years) · Infant (under 4)

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and French

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Terres de Mémoire

Is this one for you?The 8-hour day fills most of a daylight window, so plan it as your main activity if you're traveling from Paris. Families with infants can bring a pram or stroller, and the tour suits all fitness levels, though you'll spend several hours on your feet at outdoor sites and in the museum tunnel.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English and French.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (8 to 17 years); Child (4 to 7 years); Infant (under 4).

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What is the Lochnagar crater and why does it matter to the Somme story?

The Lochnagar crater is a massive underground mine that was detonated on July 1st 1916, the opening day of the Battle of the Somme. The explosion was so large it left a permanent crater that shaped the battlefield itself and remains one of the most visible scars of the offensive.

Can I see the actual trenches where soldiers fought in 1916?

Yes. Beaumont-Hamel preserves the original battlefield with its trenches still intact from the 1916 battle, so you walk through the actual earthworks and understand the ground as soldiers saw it.

What's inside the Somme 1916 Museum?

The museum occupies an original tunnel beneath Albert and displays scenes and artifacts from the battle itself, offering a unique underground perspective on the 1916 offensive that you cannot find elsewhere.

Does the tour cover both the 1916 and 1918 battles?

Yes. The morning focuses on the 1916 battle sites (Lochnagar, Thiepval, Beaumont-Hamel), and after lunch the tour moves to the 1918 counter-offensive sites, including Villers-Bretonneux and the Sir John Monash Centre.

Is lunch included, and where do we eat?

Lunch is not included in the tour price, but a stop in Albert gives you time to eat. The town has restaurants and cafés within walking distance of the museum.

How do I get to Arras from Paris?

Arras is one hour by train from Paris. The tour starts and finishes just outside Arras train station, so you can take a morning train from Paris and join the tour when you arrive.