tour battle of the bulge

White Cross Battlefield Tours

World War Guided Battlefield Tours – My guided tours cover the historical locations, associated with World War 2, in Belgium, Czech republic, France, Germany, Holland, Luxembourg and Poland

The Battle of the Bulge Tour

On the 16th of December 1944, Adolf Hitler launched his last (major) Western offensive, to try and win the war in the West – codenamed “Wacht am Rhein” (Watch on the Rhine).  This later became widely known as “The Battle of the Bulge” 

Therefore -yet another German lightning strike, through the rugged and seemingly impenetrable, heavily forested Belgian Ardennes, during the coldest winter since records began, against  ill-prepared, battle weary, resting American troops, who held a very thin defensive line, on the Belgian/German border…

After a massive artillery barrage at 5.30 a.m, the huge German armored columns, with supporting Grenadiers (Infantry), pressed forward and attacked, therefore rapidly overwhelming the shocked, exhausted and unprepared American 99th Infantry soldiers, in their freezing cold foxholes, on the Belgian/German border

Later, this became widely and famously known as “The Battle of the Bulge”, because of the “bulge” it caused on the allied situation maps

I will show you where these huge shells landed, amongst the American front line positions, on the edge of the forest

FOR THE ULTIMATE WW2 GUIDED BATTLEFIELD TOUR EXPERIENCE !

 the “battle of the bulge” was not just about bastogne , many many more, belgian & luxembourg towns and villages, were fought over and devastated , minimum tour duration: 2 days  (3 day tours also available), minimum number of persons:  2, the northern shoulder tour.

I specialize in particular, in the Northern Shoulder of the “Bulge”. This is the area on the German/Belgian border, near the villages of Krinkelt, Rocherath, Hellanthal & Hollerath, where it all began, on the 16th of December 1944.

It’s where the U.S  99th Infantry Division earned their Baptism of Fire

I find this area the most fascinating, because it’s hardly changed at all, since those terrible days, in Winter 1944 & 45.  I know this area intimately, having hiked many miles, over many years, in all weathers, to further my research. 

It’s a beautiful, very peaceful area with thick pine forests, deep ridges and fast flowing streams. The nature is wonderful & we will be alone during your tour. Far away from the traffic and commercial chaos of Bastogne, where all the coaches go.

  This area still has so much of the original battlefield evidence. It does require some hiking along forest trails, but the effort is very rewarding. There are many blown German bunkers deep in the forest, masses of foxholes, gun pits, M.G nests, clearly defined trench systems, artillery crators, aid stations, command posts, American field graves, memorials, rebuilt churches, “Dragon’s Teeth” of the Westwall,  & even shrapnel & barbed wire still on the forest floor !

This Battlefield Tour could also be combined with my “Hell of The Hurtgen Forest Tour”, as the “Northern Shoulder” is only 25 minutes drive from the edge of The Hurtgenwald

Below Photo:  U.S marked mortar tube lids, used by the 99th Infantry Division, (Battle Babies), on the very first day of the “Bulge”. I found many of these, just lying on the forest floor, in September 2019

Below photo: STOUMONT :  The family of a veteran: David Fleming & his sister Sherry, standing outside the St Edouard Sanitorium, Stoumont, Ardennes, in May 2018.

Their uncle – Staff Sergeant Alton “Buster” Fleming, was one of just 4 American Sherman tanks from the 740th Tank Battalion, that assaulted the German S.S held building, in Stoumont-

-during fierce battles in late December 1944, whilst hundreds of Belgian civilians, sheltered terrified in the building’s basement

SPECIALIZING IN GUIDED, BATTLE OF THE BULGE TOURS, FOR VETERAN’S FAMILIES (& GENERAL PUBLIC), IN THE ARDENNES 

JOACHIM PEIPER – We can follow some of the original, narrow route, through the Ardennes, taken by  fanatical  S.S Colonel Joachim Peiper’s massive 25km long armoured column, (Kampfgruppe Peiper), at the beginning of the “Battle of the Bulge”.

NORTHERN SHOULDER – All the way from the “Northern shoulder”of the “Bulge”, near Losheim in Germany, to the quaint Ardennes villages, of Cheneux, Stoumont and La Gleize, in Belgium, where the German advance was dramatically halted by U.S forces.

HOCKERLINIE – A fine example of “Dragon’s Teeth” (anti-tank defences), of the Westwall “Siegfried Line”, on the Belgian/German border, bomb crators from the initial German heavy artillery barrage, aid station, U.S & German command posts, blown bunkers, trenches and a large quantity of untouched  foxholes

Northern Shoulder – 99th Infantry areas of combat – Below: Michael & Sandra Brown, from Arlington, Texas, on tour with me in December 2018. Here they are standing in an American G.I’s foxhole (99th Infantry Division). Sandra is a very successful author and Michael is a former T.V presenter

FOXHOLES & TRENCHES (NORTHERN SHOULDER)

LOSHEIMERGRABEN – The brave Battle for the strategic and vital Losheimergraben Crossroads, featuring an outline of the battle and a look at a temporary American command post, memorial to the 99th Infantry and American mortar positions in the forest 

VITAL CROSSROADS – Plus the original customs houses, where 99th Infantry American soldiers, took up their positions and bravely held back the initial German advance

ROLLBAHN B – A look at a Corduroy Road (American constructed supply road from Murringen) & “Creepy Corner” -a section of the dense and dark forest, that claimed many lives, on the Belgian/German border and where missing in action’s – PVT Alphonse Sito’s body was discovered, decades later

BATTLEFIELD EVIDENCE

10th ARMORED DIVISION – BASTOGNE –  Photo below, shows me guiding the family of a 10th Armored veteran, (CCB tanker) around Bastogne and showing them U.S foxholes, in late early November 2018. 

It was a very satisfying moment, when I found this fired M1 garand rifle bullet, on the edge of a G.I’s foxhole, near Marvie, as I was looking for a piece of shrapnel for them.

This spent bullet was just lying here, 74 years after it was fired. Therefore ,a great piece of history for the family, to take back to the United States!

LANZERATH – The peaceful little village of Lanzerath, on the Belgian/German border and the heroic story about the young American officer – Lt Lyle Bouck and how he and a handful of  soldiers, from the “Schirmbusch” forest, halted Peiper’s advance, for almost 18 hours, before being finally overwhelmed and captured, after their positions were over-ran, by fanatical Falschirmjaeger (Luftwaffe) German infantry

BUCHOLZ – A very sudden, brave and bitter battle at the former Bucholz Bahnhof (Railway station), against PEIPER’S rapidly advancing German grenadiers, along the former railway line

SS ATROCITIES

HONSFELD – The capture and subsequent Waffen S.S execution of unarmed American  G.I’s at Honsfeld and the memorial to the victims. Besides the random executions.

ATROCITIES – The S.S even stole the boots from the corpses. The German armor crushed the bodies, as they turned the corner and headed towards Bullingen. Civilians were also murdered here

MALMEDY MASSACRE

BULLINGEN – Bullingen Church and the location in Bullingen of the former American fuel dump, captured by Peiper’s men, during his push through the Ardennes. Bullingen Church was heavily damaged during the battle by artillery and there was fierce combat, between the gravestones, hand to hand combat in the houses and running battles in and around the church

BAUGNEZ – the infamous “Malmedy Massacre” near the Baugnez Crossroads, by members of the Waffen SS -including the actual location of the field, great monument & excellent museum. I will tell you all about the terrible atrocity that occurred here on December the 17th, 1944, that resulted in the execution of 84 unarmed American soldiers

WERETH – The Wereth massacre Memorial (11 American coloured soldiers captured and murdered by the WAFFEN  S.S here)

ORIGINAL TANKS & HALF-TRACKS !

LIGNEUVILLE – The Battle at Ligneuville and yet another S.S atrocity. The execution of 8 more unarmed captured American soldiers, behind the Hotel Du Moulin, by Peiper’s fanatical S.S soldiers

BEAUTIFUL STAVELOT & THE RIVER AMBLEVE – The heavy battles for the vital town of Stavelot and the Ambleve bridge.

The 3 blown bridges at Trois Ponts, plus a look at The Petit Spai Bridge over the Ambleve River, which collapsed, as the first German armoured vehicle attempted to cross it

KAMPGRUPPE KNITTEL & STAVELOT CIVILIAN MASSACRES

Knittel – s.s commander gustav knittel’s temporary command post, on the western edge of stavelot. his s.s kampfgruppe attacked the eastern side of stavelot, to try and dislodge american troops in all the houses, cross the ambleve and reach and re-inforce a stranded kampfgruppe peiper.

Schnelle Gruppe Knittel – Gustav Knittel’s  Kampfgruppe S.S, committed atrocious executions, of  138 innocent civilians, (men, women and children were randomly massacred by angry young S.S troopers) on this side of Stavelot (In Renardmont, Parfondruy and Ster) and in the town of Stavelot itself

LEGAYE HOUSE MASSACRE – The tragic civilian massacre at the Legaye House, by the S.S

END OF THE GERMAN ADVANCE – The Battles for Stoumont, Stoumont station, Rahier and Cheneux (82nd Airborne) & the vital halting, of a column of  3 of PEIPER’S  Panther Tanks, near Stoumont Station, which ended the advance, including a look at Joachim Peiper’s command posts, along the route & where Peiper’s column were strafed near Cheneux

SANITORIUM –  A visit to the huge St Edouard Sanitorium, where a hugely important and decisive battle occurred  (740th Tank Batallion against Peiper’s S.S), as both sides fought desperately, to take control of this battle ravaged, strategic building, which commanded views over the battlefield

TROIS PONTS – The S.S massacre of Belgian civilians at Trois Ponts

DOLLINGER’S KING TIGER TANK – The huge, battle damaged, 68 ton King Tiger Tank, at La Gleize and the wonderful La Gleize museum, packed full of original artefacts, found on the surrounding Battlefield

CIVILIAN TRAGEDY – Below: The Legaye House, Stavelot – Tragic scene of just one of the many cruel, civilian massacres by the S.S in and around Stavelot

KRINKELT & ROCHERATH – The ferocious 3 day battle for the twin villages of Krinkelt and Rocherath. Lots of battle evidence here, including shell crators, German & American (99th Infantry) trenches, foxholes, command posts, aid-station.

FIELD GRAVES – Locations of field graves and memorials, where American & German soldiers have been found, decades after the war.

HASSELPATH Memorial, The Krinkelterwald  & Rupenvenn areas. Command posts, foxholes, trenches, aid-station, artillery crators

BASTOGNE & EASY COMPANY (506th P.I.R of 101st Airborne)

HEINTZ BARRACKS  (Bastogne Barracks & Brigadier General Anthony McAuliffe’s Headquarters during the siege) & the excellent 101st Airborne Museum nearby

ENCIRCLEMENT – The German encirclement of Bastogne and the Sherman tank turret memorials, on all the major approach roads, marking the defensive positions

TASK FORCES – Locations of the 3 Task Forces defensive/blocking positions, of the 10th Armored Division. (Task Force Cherry, Task Force Desobry & Task Force O’Hara)

OTHER IMPORTANT VILLAGES – The villages of Bizory, Bourcy, Champs, Foy, Neffe, Noville, Longvilly, Longchamps, Mageret, Marvie, Mont, Wardin etc (These strategic villages all encountered heavy fighting & shelling)

SCREAMING EAGLES – Several superb monuments to the 101st Airborne – Bastogne

GENERAL McCAULIFFE -McCauliffe Square and the battle scarred Sherman Tank -Bastogne

HOTEL LEBRUN -Location of the former Hotel Lebrun (10th Armored)

10th ARMORED – Bastogne Church and the location of  the former aid-station, for the 10th Armored (where Belgian nurse – Renee Lemaire was tragically killed by a direct hit on the building) & 101st Airborne Airborne’s aid station, in the Seminary

ASSENOIS – The battle scarred Belgian Pillbox  on the Assenois road -Bastogne, where the encirclement was broken

C47’S – Parachute re-supply drop-zone location, outside Bastogne (C 47 drop zone)

RENEE LEMAIRE -Belgian Nurse -Renee Lemaire’s grave and the Bastogne Civillian Cemetery, where so many American soldiers were temporarily buried

RECOGNE – The Recogne German Military Cemetery & former site and memorial of the American Cemetery nearby

BAND OF BROTHERS -at FOY – Easy Company’s (101st Airborne)- “Screaming Eagles” foxholes, in the Bois Jaques woods, near the village of Foy & the attack on Foy, by Richard Winters men, of the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment

AIRBORNE MUSEUM – Bastogne – Excellent museum, dedicated to the 101st Airborne. So many original artefacts on display, here on 3 floors and a fantastic simulation, of the devastating Christmas Eve bombardment, by the Luftwaffe

SCHUMAN’S ECK – An Abundance of untouched foxholes, shell crators and trenches, outside Bastogne, where a fierce battle occurred at Schuman’s Eck.

MARDASSON MEMORIAL- The huge and impressive Mardasson Memorial, situated on the former Battlefield and museum (optional)

“HEARTBREAK CROSSROADS” & HASSELPATH

WAHLERSCHEID – The terrible Wahlerscheid Crossroads battle –  “Heartbreak Crossroads” (99th Infantry and U.S 2nd Infantry Division). Lots of trenches, bunker ruins, M.G nests  and battlefield evidence can be seen here

MILITARY CEMETERIES

HENRI-CHAPPELLE American Military Cemetery – with it’s immaculately tended graves of the fallen, including Medal of Honour recipients and the grave of Brigadier General Frederick W Castle. 7,992 American soldiers are buried here, who fell in Europe during WW2. The rows and rows of beautiful white headstones stretch out over 57 acres, in this beautiful and peaceful location.

HOUFALLIZE – A Heavily bombed and destroyed Ardennes town, on route to Bastogne, which was vitally important for the German advance

CAULDRON OF LA GLEIZE  – For the more adventurous, we can hike the first part, of  S.S Colonel – Joachim Peiper and his 800 men’s arduous escape route, from the cauldron of the besieged village of La Gleize, during Christmas 1944. (3 hour duration approx.) A very tough hike, because of the steep terrain, but well worth the effort ! (OPTIONAL)

CUSTOMER PHOTOS

Rick & Rachel from near Perth, Australia – standing next to “Dragon’s Teeth” of “The Westwall”, on the Belgian/German border, during a July 2017 tour…..

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Bastogne and Battle of the Bulge tour

Take a day to soak in a deeper understanding of one of the most critical battles of World War II — the Battle of the Bulge. With your private guide, you’ll visit major sites near Liège that reveal the story of the leaders, the soldiers and the casualties of Germany’s last major offensive.

You’ll stop first at the Battle of the Ardennes museum in La Roche, which delves into the daily lives of the soldiers as well as the battle itself. Then you can walk the streets of Bastogne, a town that a US division held against severe odds. In town, the Bastogne War Museum tells the most comprehensive story of the Battle of the Bulge.

Near Bastogne, you’ll visit the Mardasson Memorial, which commemorates Americans who were killed in the battle. The Peace Woods, planted on part of the battlefield, also pay tribute to the battle’s civilian casualties and surviving veterans.

You’ll spend the day exploring battle sites, museums and memorials related to the Battle of the Bulge, the last major German offensive in World War II. Your driver and guide will pick you up in Liège and take you outside the city to several places that were important in this struggle that ultimately ended the war, plus a number of museums and memorials on the subject.

South of Liège is La Roche-en-Ardenne, a small municipality that was nearly destroyed before being liberated in January 1945. The Battle of the Ardennes Museum began as a hobby for a local father and son, who by 1993 had gathered so many items relating to the battle that they decided to open their collection to the public. The museum’s exhibits display equipment, weapons, uniforms and other items used by the soldiers in the conflict, arranged in dioramas depicting their daily lives.

You’ll spend the remainder of the day in and around Bastogne, a town that played a crucial role against the German offensive. Bastogne was under siege by German troops for several weeks while the United States’ 101st Airborne Division held the line, until General Patton’s Third U.S. Army arrived to relieve the town.

The Bastogne War Museum, just northeast of the town, is the most comprehensive museum on the Battle of the Bulge. The star-shaped building houses multimedia installations that tell the story of the battle through the eyes of four key guide characters, based on real people and events. On the same grounds as the museum is the colonnaded Mardasson Memorial, a monument — also star-shaped — to the American soldiers killed and wounded in the battle.

North of Bastogne is the Bois de la Paix or Peace Woods, a collection of 4,000 trees planted for the 50th anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge. The trees are dedicated to American veterans, Belgian combatants and all civilians and military personnel who died in the offensive. Some of the trees are specifically named for veterans who returned to the site for the anniversary in 1994 and chose trees to bear their names.

The grove is planted on part of the battlefield — you can still see the foxholes dug by the so-called Easy Company, later the subject of the book and TV series Band of Brothers . From the air, the trees form the shape of the UNICEF emblem: a mother and child.

If you have specific interests, there are many other smaller monuments in the area that you can visit, all dedicated to different companies and regiments. We can arrange your tour to visit the sites that are important to you.

Start planning your tailor-made trip by contacting one of our Belgium specialists

• 617-223-4521 617-223-4356
• Make an inquiry

Photos of Bastogne and Battle of the Bulge tour

Experience it for yourself

You can enjoy this activity as part of the suggested tours below, or we can weave it into a trip shaped entirely around you.

Grand tour of Belgium & Luxembourg

10 days from $5,845pp

Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg self-drive tour

9 days from $3,780pp

Battle of the Bulge Tour: “A Truly Authentic Experience in December”

This bucket list WWII tour covers the 101st Airborne Division’s epic eight-day defense of Bastogne. The Battle of the Bulge was one of the most epic and decisive battles of World War II. In the largest American land battle of the war, the U.S. Army stopped Hitler’s well-equipped force of a half-million Germans and his final offensive in Western Europe. The victory would affect the lives of millions. 

As you travel from Brussels to the Ardennes, Malmedy, Bastogne, Diekirch and areas that defined the fierce struggle, you’ll get a detailed view of the soldiers, many of them untested in combat, and the Germans who opposed them.

As guests George and Cheryl Holt said about the tour, “A truly authentic experience in December awaits the travelers!”

Book your spot on the Battle of the Bulge Tour >

Tour Highlights

• Brussels: Lecture on the Ardennes Campaign and what was at stake for Axis and Allied leaders in the winter of 1944.
• Malmedy: Cross the same spot Peiper did more than 75 years ago and follow the exact route his armored column took through Lanzerath.
• St. Vith: Start the day with a visit to St. Vith, then travel to Wallerode and its monument to a lone American officer who villagers recall carried on his own single-handed war against the Germans for weeks.
• Bastogne: Begin in Bastogne with a special visit to the barracks that served as Troy Middleton’s headquarters; Mardasson Memorial; retrace the 16-mile defensive perimeter around the town.
• Bastogne: Start at the village of Mande St. Etienne, where the troopers of the 101st arrived after their breakneck drive from Reims, then travel to the fields outside of Hemroulle where, on Christmas Day, the troopers of the 327th Glider Infantry Regiment were forced to hunker down in their foxholes while enemy tanks passed directly overhead.
• Diekirch/Luxembourg City: Visit the location of the 5th Infantry Division’s nighttime crossing of the Sauer River, National Military Museum, and American and German cemeteries.
• Foy-Notre-Dame: See the very spot where the German’s farthest westward advance was halted

What Guests Say

“We were part of a small, post Covid tour and it was absolutely fabulous! Our leader was Chris Anderson who has been with many of the veterans previously on his tour. His personal first hand knowledge of events made this tour very special indeed. A highlight for us was being at Dick Winter’s foxhole in the Ardennes. No matter how much knowledge (or lack thereof) you have beforehand, this tour provides much more!” – George and Cheryl Holt

“You could not ask for a truer patriot then Len Fullenkamp to lead you through any of the Ambrose WW2 tours. Len is the real thing and I can guarantee that he will lead you to the place you are looking for in your journey in like.” – Mike Rueb

“Ambrose Historical Tours made this trip of a lifetime an experience that I will treasure greatly. This was a First-Class operation with an EXCELLENT driver, tour manager and tour historian. Each day’s itinerary was exciting, memorable and educational…so much so that I didn’t sleep much each night as I was still processing what I had seen that day, while looking forward to what I was going to see the next day. Simply cannot thank y’all and our tour group enough for making the Battle of the Bulge Tour my greatest adventure.” – Barry Eggleston

“The candlelight ceremony at the Luxembourg U.S. Army burial site is very, very special.” – Paul Cassavechia

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• Tours 8-day 80th ANNIVERSARY BULGE TOUR 9-day BAND OF BROTHERS TOUR 11-day BAND OF BROTHERS TOUR 12-day D-DAY ANNIVERSARY TOUR 12-day D-DAY LUXURY TOUR 6-day BEACHES OF NORMANDY TOUR 6-day AMERICAN NORMANDY TOUR 11-day WAR IN POLAND TOUR 11-day THIRD REICH TOUR 10-day BRITAIN AT WAR TOUR 11-day ITALIAN CAMPAIGN TOUR 12-day WORLD WAR I TOUR

8-day 80th ANNIVERSARY BULGE TOUR

• Average 4-6 miles walk a day
• Some uneven terrain
• Medium to long travel times
• Moderate pace
• Battle of the Bulge Anniversary commemorations
• Bastogne Barracks
• Foxholes of Bois Jacques
• Foy, Malmedy, La Gleize

Bastogne War Museum

Luxembourg american cemetery, christmas market in luxembourg city.

• Diekirch National Museum of Military History

Join the celebration of the 80th Anniversary of the bloodiest battle for the American forces in World War II. On this extended exploration of the Battle of the Bulge you can see where exactly the encircled 101st Airborne Division courageously held the line in the siege of Bastogne during one of the coldest winters of all time in 1944. Visit the soldiers’ foxholes, the finest museums, General Patton’s grave, and other off the beaten track sites! Explore the stunning cities of Bastogne and Luxembourg City during Christmas season! You get to experience how Bastogne citizens commemorate their American liberators with the “throwing of the nuts” ceremony and how they remember all those brave soldiers who helped them take their country back.

Detailed Highlights and Itinerary

Passengers are greeted at the Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris, France and transferred to their hotel in Bastogne, Belgium, followed by an orientation dinner where you get to know your fellow passengers. We start our tour by exploring the war sites in and around Bastogne. The Bastogne War Museum gives us an interactive context of the causes, events and consequences of World War II, with a particular emphasis on the Battle of the Bulge. Nearby, the impressive Mardasson Monument pays tribute to the Allied soldiers who died or got wounded during this period. We visit sites such as the Bastogne Barracks, the Patton Monument, the town of Foy, the foxholes of Bois Jacques. We spend a whole day by exploring the northern arc of the Bulge by following the advance and demise of Colonel Joachim Peiper’s battlegroup to Malmedy and La Gleize and paying witness to the atrocities committed by SS troops.

Mardasson Monument

101st airborne monument

King Tiger tank in La Gleize

Malmedy Massacre Memorial

Bastogne Main Square

Long Tom gun at Bastogne Barracks

Sherman tank in the Bastogne Barracks

Foxholes covered in snow at Bois Jacques

Siegfried line in winter

We participate in the official celebrations of the 80th Anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge including military parades, wreath-laying ceremonies and other celebratory events. They all have one thing in common; bringing together veterans, Belgian and American service members, students and visitors. Eventually, the “throwing of the nuts” from the balcony of the town hall brings the commemoration to a heartfelt close. On this special occasion, Bastogne is filled with reenactors, WW2 military vehicles and tanks rolling through the streets during the military vehicle parade. We cross borders to Luxembourg to pay our respect to the fallen soldiers, among them many 101st paratroopers and General S. Patton at the Luxembourg American Cemetery.

General Patton's Grave

Bastogne City Hall, throwing of the Nuts!

Military parade

Reenactors dressed in uniforms

Tanks at the vehicle restoration center

Military parade on the main street of Bastogne

Reenactors with a Jeep

Tank movements at the Bastogne Barracks

On the last leg of our journey, we visit one of the world’s smallest countries, the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. Our visit would not be complete without a stop at the Diekirch National Military History Museum with the world’s largest collection of World War II items. On a walking tour in the center of Luxembourg City, we pass by landmarks such as the Ducal Palace, the Notre-Dame Cathedral or the Old Town, and we get to experience the heart of this vibrant capital. Before traveling to Paris, the festive Christmas market serves as the perfect end to a highly memorable tour. The next morning, after saying goodbye, the Passengers are brought to Charles de Gaulle Airport for their return flights.

National Museum of Military History Diekirch

M45 Quadmount in the Diekirch Museum

Greetings to Adolf

Inside the Diekirch Museum

Ducal palace in Luxembourg City

Luxembourg City old town

Notre-Dame Cathedral

Walking tour in Luxembourg city

Dates and prices, 80th anniversary bulge tour.

• Day 8: Departure

80th ANNIVERSARY OVERLORD TOUR

• Day 11: Departure

BAND OF BROTHERS TOUR

• Day 9: Departure

D-DAY ANNIVERSARY TOUR

• Day 12: Departure

D-DAY LUXURY TOUR

Beaches of normandy tour.

• Day 6: Departure

AMERICAN NORMANDY TOUR

War in poland tour, third reich tour, britain at war tour.

• Day 10: Departure

ITALIAN CAMPAIGN TOUR

World war i tour, 80th anniversary d-day tour, 80th anniversary gold tour, 80th anniversary silver tour, hotels, motorcoach, guides and other services.

Relax after a long flight and ease your mind knowing that your Tour Director will meet you at the airport on the first day of the tour, avoiding extra navigating and expensive taxi fares. With our all-inclusive tour package, we handle all the details of your tour, so you can focus on experiencing this trip of a lifetime. Sit back and let us wine and dine you as you explore history with our carefully planned itinerary, with all breakfasts, dinners and entrance fees included. You will sleep soundly each night at 4-star accommodations. Breakfasts are delicious and authentic, while the two-three course dinners are mix of buffet and limited menu dining options which offer a chance to taste some of the local wines or beers as well. This tour includes a 24/7 Tour Director and several local guides. Our dynamic, knowledgeable Tour Directors are with you from your arrival at the airport to departure on the final day. They proactively smooth the way for your entire tour experience. Our handpicked, trusted local guides are fluent in English and expert historians, who deliver their impressive wealth of knowledge, anecdotes, and local insights with skill that shows their years of research and experience.

Hotel lounge area

Hotel in Bastogne

Dining area in the hotel

Hotel room in Bastogne

Local Guide at the Bastogne barracks

Stories from Peace Woods

Local guide in Bastogne

Restaurant interior in Bastogne

Restaurant in Bastogne

Ardennes quiche

Restaurant street view

They always address topics onsite so that you get to experience history where it happened as they guide both popular destinations and obscure locations only the locals would know. Do not worry about availability, wait times, or ticket costs as all museum and site admissions are pre-arranged and included in the cost of our all-inclusive tours. On this tour you ride in style in our motorcoaches complete with climate control, video entertainment and extra leg room. Our skilled, professional drivers maximize your tour time by navigating the busiest highways and tightest country lanes, giving you more time at sites and less time subjected to the inflexible scheduling, delays and crowded areas that accompany public transport. For those who want to stay connected, Wi-fi is available at all our hotels and on all of our buses.

Beaches of Normandy Tours Band of Brothers Tours 48 Rue de Thouays, 50480 Sainte-Marie-du-Mont, Normandy, France

Phone: +1 855-473-1999 Monday - Friday, 10am - 6pm ET e-mail: [email protected]

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The Battle Of The Bulge

The ardennes offensive 1944-45.

Military History and Battlefield Tours

11th - 15th December 2024 (5 Days)

Expert Historian : Major Gordon Corrigan MBE FRHistS

Tour price: £2,195

click here to book

Your Holiday Essentials

11th - 15th December 2024 (5 Days)

Return Standard Premier Eurostar travel between London and Brussels (optional), four-star hotels, expert historian and tour manager, entrance fees and meals as indicated.

Activity Level : 2

Standard price: : £1,975

Incl. travel from UK: £2,195 Room sole occupancy supplement: £195 Non-refundable deposit: £400

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Tour Introduction

This tour brings to life the decisions of commanders under extreme pressure and the experiences of soldiers and civilians in desperate circumstances. How did American infantrymen halt Waffen SS armour at Elsenborn Ridge? Why did Kampfgruppe Peiper turn Baugnez into a killing field for POWs? What were the consequences of the fall of St. Vith and how did American and British troops halt the German tide? Why did the airborne Band of Brothers prevail in Bastogne and what happened to the civilians in this cauldron? While looking for answers, we will reflect also on the cost of Hitler’s last gamble at American, British, and German cemeteries. The tour is timed to coincide with the annual ‘Nuts’ weekend when we expect there to be plenty of reenactors recreating camps, defensive positions and providing demonstrations of skirmishes alongside working period vehicles, all of which will contribute to a truly atmospheric tour.

In the summer of 1944, the Allied momentum appeared unstoppable as troops broke out of Normandy, captured Paris, and raced through Belgium. In early autumn, however, the advance lost steam when logistical lines snapped and Operation Market Garden failed. Allied troops prepared for a hard slog at the Siegfried Line. Meanwhile, Hitler, under pressure on two fronts, decided on a last gamble in the west. On 16 December 1944, he launched a major counteroffensive through the Ardennes, a forested area thinly held by exhausted American veterans and green troops. Hitler wanted to capture the crucial logistical hub of Antwerp and tear apart the seam between American and British forces. The Führer hoped that, combined, this would make the Western Front collapse, thus dramatically changing the course of the war at a time when all seemed lost for Nazi Germany.

• Explore a wealth of extant trenches and dugouts
• Follow the Kampfgruppe Peiper Trail to Le Gleize
• See the Malmedy Massacre site
• Enjoy the spectacle of uniformed reenactors and period vehicles
• Discuss Patton’s relief force at Assenois
• Explore the Bastogne War Museum and Mardasson Memorial
• Visit American, British and German cemeteries

What's Included

• Return Standard Premier Eurostar from London (optional)
• 4 Star Hotels
• Expert historian throughout providing a daily variety of talks, presentations and Q&A
• Dedicated Tour Manager
• Dinner parties hosted by your expert historian and tour manager
• The company of like-minded travelers
• Helpful and friendly travel advice
• Meals as indicated in the itinerary
• Two drinks i,e wine or beer at each dinner and a welcome drink on first evening
• Entrance fees for sites included in itinerary
• Tour information booklet
• Modern, comfortable, air-conditioned coach
• All taxes and gratuities

Day 1 – The Ultimate Price Eurostar from London to Brussels. Drive to the Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery on the northern shoulder of the Bulge to discuss the main German effort there and how American forces managed to block it. Check-in to our hotel in Spa for two nights. (D)

Day 2 – The Waffen SS Unleashed Follow the trajectory of the Sixth Panzer Army’s Waffen SS spearheads, discuss the massacre of American POWs at Baugnez, and analyse the destruction of Kampfgruppe Peiper at Stoumont and La Gleize. (B,D)

Day 3 – Into the Breach Reconnoitre the massive gap that opened up when von Manteuffel’s Fifth Panzer Army surrounded the 106th Infantry Division and captured St. Vith. Picnic lunch. Take a closer look at how American troops threw up dams in places like Parker’s Crossroads and British troops joined the fight to push in the Bulge’s nose. Check-in to our hotel in La Roche en Ardennes for two nights. (B,L,D)

Day 4 – Those Who Hold Bastogne This weekend, Bastogne is sure to be hosting a myriad of re-enactment events, some of which we will incorporate in to our itinerary. Starting at the Mardasson Memorial we discuss the Bastogne siege and visit sites like the iconic Band of Brothers’ Bois Jacques to explain why the Germans failed to capture this crucial Belgian crossroads. After lunch, we walk the streets of Bastogne and then drive southward to Assenois to learn more about how Patton’s Third Army finally came to the rescue. (B,D)

Day 5 – Retracing the Bulge We visit the Bastogne War Museum and retrace our steps through the Ardennes with a look at unique artefacts, rare photographs, wonderful films and vivid dioramas that detail the campaign from mid-December 1944 to the elimination of the Bulge by late January 1945. After lunch, we return to Brussels and the Eurostar to London.(B)

Recommended Reading List

• Ardennes 1944: Hitler's Last Gamble
• Snow and Steel: Battle of the Bulge 1944-45
• The Unknown Dead: Civilians in the Battle of the Bulge
• Those Who Hold Bastogne

Major Gordon Corrigan MBE FRHistS

Gordon Corrigan was commissioned from the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in 1962 and was an officer of the permanent cadre of the Sixth Gurkha Rifles and then the Royal Gurkha Rifles before leaving the army in 1998. He served mainly in the Far East but also in Cyprus, Berlin, Belize and N Ireland. His last posting was as Commanding Officer of the Gurkha Centre, training recruits for the Brigade of Gurkhas and running courses for the Brigade. He is now a professional historian. He is the author of Sepoys in the Trenches, The Indian Corps on the Western Front 1914 – 1915, (Spellmount, 1999); Wellington, A Military Life, (Hambledon & London, 2001); Mud, Blood and Poppycock: Britain and the First World War (Cassell & Co, 2003); Loos 1915, The Unwanted Battle (Spellmount, 2006); Blood, Sweat and Arrogance – And The Myths of Churchill’s War (Weidenfeld & Nicolson, 2006); The Second World War – A Military History (Atlantic Books 2010); A Great and Glorious Adventure – A Military History of the Hundred Years War (Atlantic Books 2013) and Waterloo – A New History of the Battle and its Armies (Atlantic Books 2014) as well as numerous eBooks. His television appearances include The Gurkhas, Napoleon’s Waterloo and Battlefield Detectives, and so far he has presented five series on various aspects of military history. He has conducted military history study tours in France, Belgium, Germany, Italy, Holland, Spain, Portugal, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Egypt, Libya and Tunisia and is a regular lecturer on expedition ships with and Silver Sea and on rail journeys in Europe and Central Asia with GW Travel. He has lectured in the United States and Canada and is an honorary research fellow of the Universities of Birmingham and Kent, a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society, a Member of the British Commission for Military History, and a Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Farriers. He is married to an Anglo-Saxon and medieval historian and his interests include horses, long lunches and the Times crossword, not necessarily in that order.

Visit his website here for lectures on Military History.

Photo Gallery

• The monument to the assault on Bastogne
• The bridge at the Stavelot
• Our group with a 'captured' Tiger tank
• Group entering the Henri Chapelle US cemetery, one of the largest in Europe
• Dugouts looking out of Jack's Wood
• At Stavelot
• A Sherman tank in Bastogne
• A look at the 1st Infantry Memorial

Tour Reviews

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Battle of the Bulge Guided Tours

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Battle of the Bulge Guided Tours, Bastogne

Battle of the Bulge Guided Tours

This is the standard 1 day bastogne tour, this tour runs from 9 am until 5:30 pm        private tour.

This Battle of the Bulge tour gives you a general overview on the Battle for Bastogne. The German Lines of Attack and the American Lines of Defense.  Reg shows you the actual battlefields , foxholes , bullet holes which still remain today. We visit the sites of the 101 st Airborne Division and follow Patton’s trail into the city hereby using lots of original photo’s and personal accounts that were given to me by the veterans themselves.  We visit the woods where Easy Company  of the 506 PIR was dug in , talk about Team Cherry , Team Desobry and Team O’Hara, and others … This  tour highlights the men who fought for our freedom. Those brave men who paid the highest price for freedom … We will walk in their footsteps!

Neffe – Bizory

Team Cherry & 501 PIR meet with General Bayerlein

Halt Station

The German Breakthrough on 21 Dec 1944 . Band of Brothers Memorial.

Bois Jacques -Jack Woods

501 PIR attack and Easy Company 506 PIR lines overlooking Foy

The battles in Foy & civilian accounts.

           LUNCH

Clochimont – assenois.

Patton’s 4 th Armored Div , CCR under Lt Col Abrams breaks the German encirclement …..

Kessler Farm where Germans delivered the ultimatum to surrender and received McAuliffe’s brief reply!

Hemroulle –Rolle Castle – Champs

The German breakthrough on 25 Dec 1944 . Bed linen stories. US HQ.

Native American Memorial. ‘Dear IRS, Come and get me!’

Recogne – Foy

German Cemetery and Temporary American Cemetery

         END OF DAY 

Guide to Battle of the Bulge Tour in Bastogne

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Battle of the Bulge was Hitler’s last offense, his last attempt at dominating Europe. The fate of the war was decided along this front. This battle was documented intensely in the popular HBO series “Band of Brothers” due to its importance. Any traveler visiting Belgium, or any traveler visiting WW2 sites in Europe, should make a point to visit Bastogne, Belgium. Here’s how to make your own Battle of the Bulge tour.

Main Stops on a Battle of the Bulge Tour

There are two main stops on any Battle of the Bulge tour: the Bastogne War Museum and the Bois Jacques Foxholes.

Bastogne War Museum

The Bastogne War Museum is the signature museum covering the Battle of the Bulge and Belgium in WW2 in the region. The museum begins with how the war began and how the war got to the pivotal moment that was the Battle of the Bulge.

You follow–via an audio guide–four people throughout the museum and hear their stories from WW2. The people include a young Belgium boy, a Belgium school teacher who carries coded messages for the resistance, a German military officer, and an American Soldier in Belgium.

The audio guides are automatic, meaning they sense where you are in the museum and tell you the story accordingly. While this seemed like a cool feature at first, I would prefer a system where I indicate what to listen to and when. I quickly became annoyed because I couldn’t control the audio system. I would walk into a room and listen to the audio guide. Then, I’d start walking around the room to read the signs. However, the audio system would sense me walking around the room and start picking up the next audio story or replay the one I had just listened to.

Tip: I suggest listening to all the audio guides in a room first, then taking off your headphones to focus on reading the signs.

Nonetheless, this museum is excellent. It is a must on any Battle of the Bulge tour. The museum’s signage explained the facts concisely and easily. The audio guide’s personal narratives helped add emotion in a war that’s easy to focus on numbers and tactics. The museum carried an excellent balance of history and storytelling.

Know Before You Go: Bastogne War museum

How much does a ticket cost?

Adult tickets cost 20 euros each, as of August 2022. The audio guides are included in the price of a ticket and come in several languages. Tickets also include entry to the Bois Jacques Foxholes.

How much time do I need at the museum?

I suggest scheduling two hours to tour this museum, plus an additional 30 minutes to walk around the memorial located to the side of the museum.

Tell me more about the memorial.

There is no ticket control at the memorial, so you could opt to only visit that if you are on a budget. It was under scaffolding in August 2022 and I’m unsure of when the repairs will be complete. You can walk around and on top of the memorial. I recommend walking on top of the memorial for its beautiful views of the Belgium countryside.

Is there a restaurant at the museum?

Bring a snack and water with you inside the exhibit, if you think you’ll need it, because there are no cafes once you’re inside the exhibit. There are plenty of restrooms inside the exhibits.

There is a café outside the exhibit inside of the museum but, as per usual with museum cafes, it’s more expensive than buying elsewhere. They serve pre-made sandwiches and salads, a couple of dessert options, and beverages.

Where do I park?

The parking lot is located immediately in front of the museum and costs 5 euros per vehicle. It’s large, so there’s plenty of parking availability. You pay the parking fee inside the museum at the same time you pay for your museum ticket.

When should I visit?

The first time I visited this museum, a Saturday in May 2021, there was no line at the museum and maybe five other groups in the museum with me. The second time I visited this museum, a Friday in August 2022, I waited 30 minutes in line to buy tickets because there were numerous groups. The museum didn’t feel packed on this visit, but it certainly felt full.

Perhaps it’s a hit or miss of when the museum is full or empty. Or perhaps my first visit is a remnant of low-tourism during COVID times in Europe.

I guess the museum will be busy during the summer season and less busy during winter.

Be sure to check the museum’s website for holiday closings and seasonal hours.

Can I pre-order tickets?

If you don’t want to wait in line, you can buy your ticket online at the museum’s website.

Bois Jacques Foxholes: Band of Brothers’ Location

These foxholes are where Easy Company, 2nd Battalion, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division built their battle positions. Yes, that’s the same company from Band of Brothers!

They’re still in pretty good condition and you can obviously see where the boundaries of their patrol base were. You can see the town of Foy off in the near distance and the great opening between trees where the troops cheered at the arrival of clear skies and supplies.

There is an equal sense of sorrow and pride as you wander the foxholes. The Soldiers’ lives at Bois Jacques included so much hunger, cold, fear, and pain in this defense. There was also a lot of heroism, brotherhood, and pride in successfully defending Bastogne and, ultimately, bringing the war in Europe to an end.

While the Bastogne War Museum is interactive, the Bois Jacques Foxholes are a site for contemplation and remembrance. These foxholes are a must for any Battle of the Bulge tour.

The Bois Jacques foxholes have recently undergone a transition. The foxholes were completely open for my first two visits–in May 2021 and December 2021.

However, in my last visit in August 2022, the area is now gated, there’s a paved parking area, and there are signs for an interactive experience. While it’s unfortunate in some ways that the foxholes are no longer an open space, the increased funding to preserve the history of this area is undoubtedly beneficial for the long term. Additionally, the land now has smooth dirt paths that make the site more accessible to wheelchairs. Since I don’t have experience with a wheelchair, I can’t say for sure that the site is more accessible, but that was the intent of smoothing the pathways.

You technically need a ticket to visit the Bois Jacques Foxholes now, which you scan at the entrance. However, in my visit in August 2022, anyone could enter freely as long as they entered through the gate. I don’t this free entrance will last for much longer, though, since the museum system introduced a ticket system for the Bois Jacques foxholes. Plus, as a Belgium tourist exclaimed when I told him he doesn’t actually need his ticket to enter, “Free? In Belgium? Impossible!”

Know Before You Go: Bois Jacques Foxholes

The ticket is included in the cost of the Bastogne War Museum. At the time of writing this, you can not purchase a Bois Jacques Foxholes ticket separately.

At the time of my latest visit, you could enter the gated park without a ticket. Tickets are a new requirement for the park, so I believe this is why the entrance was free during my last visit. I believe tickets will be enforced in the future.

Do I need the app?

Short answer–no. It will add to the experience though.

The app is free to download and will make your visit to Bois Jacques Foxholes more interactive. Although downloading the app is free, you need the QR Code on your Bois Jacques ticket to access the interactive platform.

Unfortunately, I did not have cell service during my last visit and could not download the app while I was at the site. I recommend downloading the app while at the Bastogne War Museum and connected to their WiFi.

How much time do I need at the foxholes?

I suggest scheduling approximately 30 minutes for your visit to the Bois Jacques Foxholes, whether you want to utilize the interactive app experience or just walk around the foxholes. If you’d like to walk the entire perimeter of the defense, schedule more time.

There is a small paved parking area immediately in front of the entrance to the foxholes. However, it is the quintessential small and tight European parking lot. If the lot runs out of space, or your vehicle won’t fit, you can park on the side of the road.

Parking is free.

Is there a restaurant at the site?

There are no facilities at the Bois Jacques Foxholes. No café, restaurant, or restrooms.

Please respect the historical site and ensure you pack out any trash you bring along and use the restroom before visiting the site.

Summer is the busier season, but even my visit in August 2022 wasn’t crowded.

If you visit during winter, you’ll get a more realistic experience to when Easy Company was at Bois Jacques. It was -15 degrees Celsisus (5 degrees Fahrenheit) when Easy Company was there. I visited in December 2021 and it was significantly warmer than what the Soldiers experienced in 1944/45, but still added to the experience. There were only a few other small groups visiting at this time, as well.

Additional Battle of the Bulge Tour Sites

Bastogne War Museum and the Bois Jacques Foxholes are the main sites on a Battle of the Bulge tour. However, there are a couple more key sites in the region that you can add onto your itinerary.

Malmedy Massacre Memorial

The 1st SS Panzer Division came across a company of U.S. troops from the 7th Armored Division during the Battle of the Bulge on December 17, 1944. Their Commander realized their efforts against a significantly greater force (in terms of manpower) was useless and surrendered.

The Nazi troops searched all the Soldiers. A few of the American Soldiers tried to flee and the order was given to shoot. The Nazi military proceeded to massacre the Soldiers. Some fled. 43 men survived. 84 died.

Now there’s a memorial, about 100m from where the actual massacre took place, commemorating those Soldiers who died.

If you have additional time on your Battle of the Bulge tour, and are greatly interested in WW2 history, you may appreciate a quick stop at this memorial to commemorate the lives lost.

Luxembourg American Military Cemetery

When you enter the grounds, two pillars stand tall. One displays the movements for the Battle of the Bulge. The other one has the 371 Soldiers missing in action inscribed. Twenty three bronze rosettes are by some of the names, indicating they were found and properly buried.

In total, 5,070 Service Members rest at the Luxembourg American Cemetery. Most of them died during the Battle of the Bulge.

The cemetery is also the final resting ground for General Patton. He is the only four-start General laid to rest at a American Battle Monuments Commission ceremony. He requested to be laid to rest next to his Soldiers. General Patton was initially laid in a plot like every other Soldier’s, per his request. However, the increased traffic to his resting place caused significant damage to the cemetery grounds so he was later moved to the front of the cemetery.

Ensure to check the website for the most updated hours as the hours change by season and holidays.

Where to Sleep and Eat in Bastogne, Belgium

Bastogne is the most famous town in Europe, and it is definitely a town.

There’s one main square in the town, exactly where the four main roads meet. The majority of restaurants are on this square, or near it. Most of the restaurants on the square turn into pubs at night. There is free parking in the square.

I’ve eaten at an Italian restaurant in the town square called Giorgi three times now and they haven’t disappointed me. Their pizzas remind me of pizza in Naples, Italy and they have a flexible and interesting assortment of pastas.

Definitely try Belgium beers while you’re visiting. Belgium beer is the best in Europe! I love the Cherry Choufe.

My friends and I stayed at this AirBnB in Bastogne . The couple who owns it are lovely and super helpful. There’s also parking immediately in front of the apartment. The apartment is located by a park and near the town square, which is convenient for food and drinks.

DIY Battle of the Bulge Tour

You could make an entire an entire week out of your Battle of the Bulge tour if you wanted. If you are short on time, or only want a general visit for your Battle of the Bulge tour, this is what you need to see.

Let me know what other Battle of the Bulge sites you want to visit or comment below if you have any questions!

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Touring the Battle of the Bulge

There is much to see when touring the Battle of the Bulge, though 75 years on, some of it may be hard to find.

By Kevin M. Hymel

The Battle of the Bulge lasted an entire month, and was fought over almost the entire Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and half of Belgium, yet finding all of the battlefields and historic sights is a bit more difficult than locating the D-day beaches. While there are plaques, statues, and a few museums dedicated to the campaign, they are all privately funded and are not complementary of one another in the way they might be under a national park-type system. 

There are places to visit for every division that fought in the Ardennes campaign, but they are too numerous to mention. To fully experience the Ardennes Offensive , there are two routes to take through Belgium. The northern route takes one through the battlefields of German Lt. Col. Joachim Peiper’s armored spearhead as well as the defeat of the American 106th Infantry Division outside St. Vith. The southern route reveals the defense of Bastogne and its relief.

How to Get Around Brussels

To get to Belgium and the Bulge sites, it is best to fly into Brussels. If not on a specific tour, a car rental is needed since there is no public transportation to most of the sites. From the airport, the location of Peiper’s initial attack near Losheimergrab on Route N 632 is a 150-kilometer drive. It will take most of a day to get there. Turn south onto N 626, and west on N 658 to reach Honsfeld. This is where Peiper’s men killed 19 American POWs and stripped the dead of their shoes. From there, continue north to Büllingen, to see the spot where Peiper’s men killed an additional 50 POWs. Piper was setting a pattern for the brutality of his attacks. It culminated at Stavelot, 25 kilometers east of Büllingen, where his men gunned down 150 POWs, killing 86 in the infamous Malmedy Massacre. A large memorial stands at Stavelot, across from the field where the massacre took place, and it contains the names of all the Americans killed. There is also a museum down the street from the massacre sight which includes a restaurant. Continuing west to Trois Points, one can see where Piper shouted, “The damned engineers!” when the bridge over the Lienne creek blew up just as he was about to cross it. There is a memorial on the bridge to the men of the 51st Engineer Combat Battalion, who blew up the bridge. From Trois Ponts, travel north about five kilometers to La Gleize and visit the museum, the only place in Europe where one can see a Königstiger (King Tiger) tank on display. Inside the museum are dioramas, historic photos, and both German and American equipment. There is so much equipment, in fact, that it seems the owner simply went into his front yard after the battle and scooped up armfuls of the debris. The museum is the best place to either begin or end a tour.

Visiting St. Vith

St. Vith, where the Germans pushed back the 7th Armored Division and captured most of the 106th Infantry Division, can be reached by heading south on E 421 about three kilometers east of Stavelot. There is no museum for this part of the campaign, only memorials and woods still filled with the litter of combat. St. Vith has been rebuilt from the rubble. After the Germans captured the town, it was repeatedly bombed by the Allies. In the center of town a simple memorial remembers the 106th on the site of the division headquarters. Heading east and then north along N 626 brings visitors to memorials for the combat engineers who defended the area, as well as Lieutenant Eric Fisher Wood, who fought a one-man battle against the Germans after his division was overrun. Turning east at the town of Meyerode, another memorial can be seen. This one is to the 333rd Artillery Battalion, a black unit captured by the Germans, who killed 11 of it’s members—the Wereth 11.

From there, continue east and turn south at Andler onto N 26. About a kilometer south is the area where the 422nd Regiment of the 106th surrendered to the Germans. The road, packed with German vehicles in 1944, came under heavy American fire before the surrender. Further south is where the 423rd Regiment surrendered. The woods are still littered with the debris of war, and visitors are encouraged not to touch anything for fear that some of the ordnance could be dangerous. Upon reaching the town of Bleialf, drive southwest to Brandscheid and turn left onto the Schnee Eifel. All along this road, in the woods, is where the 106th was spread out on December 16, 1944. The end of the tour is where the Battle of the Bulge began.

Bastogne & The Mardasson Memorial

The southern part of the Bulge is the easiest to follow. Any tour should start in the town of Bastogne, the strategic crossroads where the 101st Airborne Division made its famous stand against Adolf Hitler’s onslaught. Alongside every one of the seven roads leading into the town sits a Sherman tank turret, most with battle scars. In the town’s square, now called McAuliffe Square, is a bust of General Anthony McAuliffe and a Sherman tank with the insignia of the 11th Armored Division. Also within the square are some excellent restaurants and a visitor’s center. In the northern section of Bastogne, up the Rue de Neufchateau, the Mardasson Memorial is the best place to get acclimated with the campaign. The memorial towers three stories on top of a hill that gives an excellent view of Bastogne and the surrounding area. Each of the memorial’s five points explains a different element of the siege of Bastogne. As of 2014, the museum there has been under construction after being hit by lightning. Near the Mardasson stands the final victory marker, which some call a Patton marker, representing the last area to be liberated from the Germans. The marker, numbered 1,147, is the last—the first being at Utah Beach—and subsequent markers stretch along every kilometer through France and Belgium in memory of General George S. Patton’s sweep through Europe. After the liberation of Bastogne, Patton’s Third Army was no longer an army of liberation but of invasion as it entered Germany.

Easy Company’s Location in the Bois Jac forest

While Bastogne was the focal point of the 101st Airborne Division’s action, the towns around Bastogne saw most of the fighting. Unfortunately, there are few, if any, markers to explain their significance. Noville saw some of the first fighting when Task Force Desobry of the 10th Armored Division fought off an attack, providing time for elements of the 101st to get into position. There is a small memorial near the town’s church in memory of civilians killed by the attacking Germans, who had found pictures of the townspeople celebrating the arrival of the Americans. The Germans picked out the people in the photographs and killed them. Also north of Bastogne is the Bois Jac forest, where Easy Company, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, of Band of Brothers fame, defended Bastogne and attacked Foy after the siege was lifted. A memorial to those killed in Easy Company stands on the road near the unit’s foxholes. The climax of the Bastogne campaign came when Patton’s 4th Armored Division linked up with the 101st south of Bastogne the day after Christmas, 1944. The best way to follow this action is to take roadway N 4 south about three miles, passing Assenois, to the intersection with signs for Sibret. It was here that Lt. Col. Creighton Abrams decided to attack directly into Bastogne instead of proceeding to Sibret to guard the division’s left flank. A small black memorial within a larger memorial to World War I marks the spot. Driving north on N 4, the town of Assenois, where the Germans made their last serious stand against the 4th Armored comes into view. Upon entering the town a memorial honoring Sergeant Jimmy Hendrix can be found on the first left. Hendrix earned the Medal of Honor for capturing two German anti-tank guns and saving a soldier from a burning halftrack. Continuing out of Assenois and driving north approximately one kilometer, visitors come to a German bunker on the right side of the road. It was here, after shelling the concrete bunker, that tankers from the 4th linked up with paratroopers of the 101st, lifting the 10-day siege.

Houffalize Today

A tour of Belgium would not be complete without a trip to Houffalize, approximately eight kilometers north of Noville. This is where the northern and southern forces of 12th Army Group met on January 16, 1944. A German Panther tank stands in the town’s center. While the relief of Bastogne represented the relief of the Bulge, Houffalize is the end of the entire campaign. The Battle of the Bulge tour takes at least four days to complete. Accommodations in the small towns are comfortable and affordable, the local cuisine is simple and filling, the beer always good and the people friendly. Despite this, the serious historian will be a mess. The battlefields are muddy and not always easy to access, rain is the norm, and the temperatures are cooler than the rest of Western Europe. After trekking around the woods all day, the food, drinks, and rooms seem even better.

Join The Conversation

2 thoughts on “ touring the battle of the bulge ”.

The Museum is top drawer and worth several hours…make the time. There is much to see and the storyboards are very well done. Houffalize is another matter. We hit there on a very hot stretch of weather and could not find any AC…a dangerous condition for one of our tourists. Plus it sits in a bowl.

I was stationed in Germany for 14+yrs total, four tours, an visited there in the late 70s before it really became popular. I went there with a friend two maps, one a WWII battle map an a current ToPo map plus a few history books, an found lots of things not on the tours of today. We had no guides an for the most part were on our own. To me that’s the way to do it. I have also done the Hurtzenger forest an Verdun the same way. It also helped being really good at map reading. If I could afford to If love to do it again!!

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Keeping History Alive!

Bob has tailored several Battle of the Bulge tours.

Each tour is unique, following the original trails of the US and German troops. At this moment you can choose the following tours:

Battle Tour Weekends Grandmenil tour: A horrified Christmas. The Joachim Peiper highlight tour: In the footsteps of the Leibstandarte Erezée-La Roche: Holding the Line! The Hellish Places Tour (Not available at this moment. I am working on a new your for this one) Bastogne: Highlight tour A Cold Day in Hell A touristic tour with host Eveline (coming soon!)

© Grandmenil.co m

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Battle of the Bulge

Tour Overview

Walk in the footsteps of American soldiers who battled against Hitler’s “Last Gamble.” Guests who book the December 2024 tour will commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Bulge with two extra touring days that incorporate ceremonies and festivities around Bastogne, and will experience the region in a similar state to how the American GIs found it in that harrowing winter of 1944–1945. This tour is based out of Clervaux, Luxembourg, situating guests in the ideal location to explore the surrounding areas where the Battle of the Bulge took place. Stops include Lanzerath, Elsenborn Ridge, Malmedy, La Gleize, Bastogne, the Luxembourg American Cemetery, and more.

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Book early and save $1,000 per couple!

Tour Inclusions

• Tour with best-selling author John McManus, PhD
• Daily touring with Shane Taylor, who portrayed Eugene “Doc” Roe on Band of Brothers
• Expert Battle of the Bulge guides Roland Gaul and Edwin Popken
• Full-time WWII Museum logistical tour manager
• Video oral history presentations from the Museum’s Collection
• VIP access to sites not offered on other tours
• Personal listening devices on all included touring
• Hand-selected accommodations
• 5 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 4 dinners, and 2 evening receptions
• Wine, beer, soft drinks, coffee, water, and tea at all included meals
• Private, first-class, air-conditioned motor coach transportation with bottled water
• Round-trip airport transfers (on scheduled group arrival and departure days)
• Included gratuities to guides, drivers, porters, and servers during included meals
• Informative map book to be used throughout your journey
• Personalized luggage tags and name badge

Download the Brochure

Download the official Battle of the Bulge brochure for a full listing of inclusions, accommodations, and other useful information.

Tour Itinerary

Destination Map

Optional Three-Night Pre-Tour Itinerary: Battle of the Hürtgen Forest

Day 1 – Sunday, December 8, 2024:

Arrivals in brussels and transfer to aachen.

Upon arrival at Brussels International Airport (BRU), guests are warmly welcomed by Museum staff. Depart for Aachen, Germany, with an independent lunch along the way. This evening, enjoy a welcome dinner with the group.

Accommodations: Parkhotel Quellenhof Aachen (D)

Day 2 – Monday, December 9, 2024

Hill 400, ochsenkopf, vossenack.

The Hürtgen Forest, thick with dense woods and rolling hills, stood between the Americans and the industrial Ruhr Valley in Germany. The Battle of the Hürtgen Forest lasted from September 19, 1944, to February 10, 1945. The campaign left numerous units in shambles as casualties mounted for both veteran and replacement soldiers. Today’s touring visits the sector near Vossenack and Schmidt, two towns that changed hands multiple times. The front line of the battle once ran through the center of Vossenack’s church. From Hill 400, the site of an impressive assault by the US 2nd Ranger Battalion, gain a commanding view over the terrain that stalled the Allied advance.

Accommodations: Parkhotel Quellenhof Aachen (B, L)

Day 3 – Tuesday, December 10, 2024

Vogelsang ordensburg.

On a commanding hill in the Hürtgen Forest, the Nazis built a dominating concrete structure known as Vogelsang Ordensburg (Order Castle). Distinct from the Medieval Castles that dot western Germany, this complex was meant to demonstrate the Party’s domination over nature. Completed in 1936, Vogelsang was a training center for future Nazi Party bureaucrats. With training in racial ideology, the graduates of this center would carry out Nazi policy throughout the occupied territories. The complex closed in 1939. It was used as a training center for the Belgian military after the war, and today it is an International Place dedicated to peace and refuting the Nazi ideas that were once promoted inside.

Day 3 – Wednesday, December 11, 2024

Henri-chapelle american cemetery.

This morning, visit the Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery, the final resting place of 7,987 Americans, most of whom lost their lives during the advance of forces into Germany. Continue to the border town of Monschau for an independent lunch before joining the main tour in Clervaux, Luxembourg, for a welcome dinner.

Accommodations: Hotel Le Clervaux (B, R, D)

Full Tour Itinerary

Day 1 – Wednesday, December 11, 2024

Arrivals in brussels & transfer to clervaux.

Upon arrival at Brussels International Airport (BRU), guests are warmly welcomed by Museum staff. Depart for Clervaux, Luxembourg, with a lunch stop along the way. This evening, enjoy a welcome dinner with the group.

Accommodations: Hotel Le Clervaux (L, R, D)

Day 2 – Thursday, December 12, 2024

Northern shoulder.

The first full day of touring explores the “Northern Shoulder” of the Bulge, where the outnumbered Americans on the Elsenborn Ridge offered unexpected resistance in the first days of the German attack. Visit the little village of Lanzerath, Belgium, where a small American platoon under the command of 20-year-old Lieutenant Lyle Bouck held back 500 German paratroopers for an entire day. Continue to the “twin villages” of Rocherath and Krinkelt, where superior German armor failed to break through the American positions. Enjoy a group lunch and finish the day with a tour of Camp Elsenborn.

Accommodations: Hotel Le Clervaux (B)

Day 3 – Friday, December 13, 2024

106th sector & st. vith.

On December 11, 1944, the 106th Infantry Division entered the Ardennes, taking up positions in Belgium and across the border into Germany. The 106th had only arrived in England three weeks prior, and expected to hold the line along the German border in a quiet sector until spring 1945. On December 16, chaos enveloped the division. The German offensive sped past their positions and surrounded two of the three regiments. The surrender of the 422nd and 423rd Regiments on December 19 was the largest military surrender in Europe during World War II. The scattered forces included the 333rd Field Artillery Battalion, a segregated unit. The Germans murdered 11 of these soldiers outside of a farmhouse near Wereth, Belgium. The 424th Regiment regrouped and defended the crucial crossroads town of St. Vith.

Accommodations: Hotel Le Clervaux (B, L, D)

Day 4 – Saturday, December 14, 2024

Visit Bastogne during the festive “Nuts Weekend.” Starting at the Our River Bridge in Dasburg on the German/Luxembourgish border, follow the route of the German 5th Panzer Army on its way to Bastogne. See the memorial to Renée Lemaire, a Belgian nurse who worked tirelessly at an American aid station in Bastogne. On Christmas Eve, the Germans bombed the aid station, and Lemaire died while evacuating wounded soldiers from the burning building. In the Bois Jacques, visit the foxholes used by Easy Company during their heroic defense of Bastogne.

Day 5 – Sunday, December 15, 2024

28th infantry division sites and schuman’s eck.

After brutal fighting in the Hürtgen Forest, the 28th Division arrived in Luxembourg in November 1944 to rebuild its forces. The German 5th Panzer offensive poured into the thinly held front lines, but the men of the 28th mounted a dramatic “hold at all costs” defense that delayed the German thrust to Bastogne. In towns such as Hosingen, Dahl, Wiltz, and Diekirch, the men of the 28th delayed the German timetable. The 28th engaged in one of the largest individual battles of the German offensive near Café Schumann. A memorial trail leads to numerous foxholes and reminders of the battle.

Day 6 – Monday, December 16, 2024

80th anniversary of the battle of the bulge.

On the 80th anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge, attend the commemorative events in the Ardennes. The citizens of Belgium and Luxembourg have not forgotten the sacrifice of the Allied soldiers in what became the largest land battle fought by the US Army.

Accommodations: Hotel Le Clervaux (B, L, R, D)

Day 7 – Tuesday, December 17, 2024

Luxembourg city.

Luxembourg City served as the headquarters for General George S. Patton’s Third Army after they turned north in response to the German assault. Visit the La Fondation Jean-Pierre Pescatore—home of the chapel where Patton prayed for clear weather on December 23, 1944. Returning north, visit the National Military Museum of Luxembourg, which was founded by Roland Gaul and a community of local collectors.

Accommodations: Hotel Le Clervaux (B, D)

Day 8 – Wednesday, December 18, 2024

Peiper’s route.

SS-Standartenführer Joachim Peiper, commander of the lead elements of the 1st SS Panzer Division, and his men were at the tip of the German counterattack. On December 17, 1944, Peiper’s unit shot 84 US prisoners in cold blood near Malmedy—a crime that strengthened American resolve during the battle. The victims were machine-gunned in an open field, with a few survivors managing to escape to tell the tale of the massacre. After hearing the news, other American units knew that surrender was not an option, even if outnumbered or surrounded. Today, the tour will follow the path of Peiper’s attack, and travelers will hear the heroic stories of American GIs whose actions blunted, and eventually halted, the main German thrust in the north. Other sites visited include Stavelot, Trois-Ponts, and La Gleize.

Accommodations: Sheraton Brussels Airport Hotel (B, L)

Day 9 – Thursday, December 19, 2024

Independent departure flights from Brussels International Airport (BRU).

Program Pricing

Price per person based on double occupancy

$6,995 $6,495

Price per person based on single occupancy

$9,296 $8,796

OPTIONAL THREE-NIGHT PRE-TOUR EXTENSION PROGRAM

Battle of the Hürtgen Forest

December 8–11, 2024

$2,327* per person double occupancy, $3,087 single occupancy

*$199 taxes and fees per person are included in the pre-tour pricing

FEATURED GUESTS

Shane taylor.

 Eugene “Doc” Roe, Band of Brothers , 2001

Shane’s first ever screen appearance came as a teenager playing a page boy in Franco Zeffirelli’s Hamlet , starring Mel Gibson. It was an event that would stay with him and influence his future course of action. Shane is best remembered for his role as Easy Company medic Eugene “Doc” Roe in Steven Spielberg’s Emmy Award–winning series Band of Brothers for HBO. Further credits include Osman in The Day of The Triffids for the BBC alongside Dougray Scott and Vanessa Redgrave; a season regular as Craig Hanson alongside Sullivan Stapleton and Philip Winchester in Strike Back Vengeance for HBO-Cinemax; opposite Gabriel Byrne and Michael Gambon as Andy Stafford in Quirke ; and as Captain Thomas Preston in the History Channel’s miniseries Sons Of Liberty , starring Ben Barnes, Henry Thomas, and Dean Norris. Shane also played Ben Kingsley’s son, Miklos Horthy Jr., in the war film Walking with the Enemy and most recently played Turner onboard the USS Arkansas in the feature film Hunter Killer starring Gerard Butler, Michael Nyqvist, and Gary Oldman. Shane is also an active voice artist, with his main body of work being in commercials, animation, and video games.

John C. McManus, PhD

Alamo in the Ardennes

John C. McManus, PhD, is a Curators’ Distinguished Professor of US military history at the Missouri University of Science and Technology and a leading historian of World War II. His critically acclaimed books include September Hope , The Americans at D-Day , and The Dead and Those About to Die . McManus is completing a major three-volume history of the US Army in the Pacific/Asia theater during World War II with the first two books, Fire & Fortitude and Island Infernos , receiving major acclaim. In his 2008 book Alamo in the Ardennes , McManus reveals that the original German battle plan allowed only two days for the capture of Bastogne. Standing in the way of the Germans were a smattering of Luxembourg towns (including the tour’s home base of Clervaux) and the battle-weary 28th Infantry Division. Had the Germans achieved their objective on time, Hitler would have gained a vital foothold in his quest to split the Allied armies in two. For five days the 28th held at all costs, bearing the full fury of the Nazi onslaught, making the Germans pay for every icy inch of ground they gained.

Roland Gaul

Born in Diekirch, Luxembourg, Roland Gaul has collected Battle of the Bulge artifacts since childhood. Growing up with the remains of one of history’s largest land battles in his backyard, Roland developed a keen interest in military history at a young age. A graduate of the Diekirch “Lycée Classique,” Roland continued his studies at the Royal Military Academy (ERM) in Brussels, Belgium. In 1982, he founded the Diekirch Historical Society and the Diekirch Historical Museum, which became the National Museum of Military History in 1993.A scholar, lecturer, historian, consultant, and author of several books, including the field guide Battle of the Bulge in Luxembourg, Roland has led many tours in the Ardennes over his 25 years as a guide for international audiences. He has also served as a consultant on many Battle of the Bulge films and documentaries.

Edwin Popken

For more than 25 years, Edwin Popken has studied World War II and visited the battlefields throughout Europe, both well-known and lesser-known. His main interests are the operations in Northwest Europe between September 1944 and March 1945. A regular guide on the Museum’s Easy Company: From England to the Eagle’s Nest tours, Popken has escorted guests from all across the United States to sites of Operation Market-Garden, the Hürtgen Forest, and the Battle of the Bulge. Popken holds a Master’s degree in military history from the University of Birmingham, United Kingdom, and is a member of the International Guild of Battlefield Guides with guild badge number 93.

Parkhotel Quellenhof Aachen

Aachen, Germany

Located a short walk from the Aachen Cathedral, the Parkhotel Quellenhof Aachen provides air-conditioned rooms with Wi-Fi internet. All rooms include satellite TV, a min-bar, and a free bottle of mineral water. Regional cuisine is served in La Brasserie restaurant. Guests can enjoy a variety of drinks and snacks in the tea lounge with fireplace or in the Elephant Bar.

Le Clervaux Boutique & Design Hotel

A Trip Advisor 2017 Travelers Choice property located in the center of Clervaux, in the heart of the Luxembourg Ardennes, Le Clervaux Boutique & Design Hotel provides its guests the highest level of service in a stylish, boutique environment.

This all-suite property offers multiple dining venues, a spacious spa with numerous treatment options, as well as a fitness room, a swimming pool, and a sauna. Guests may take advantage of a wide range of cultural and recreational activities, including golf and cycling.

The 22 large, uniquely designed rooms offer handcrafted queen beds with comfort mattresses, spa-style baths with exclusive Fairtrade bath products, bathrobes and slippers, flat-screen TVs, iPhone docking stations, and complimentary WiFi.

Sheraton Brussels Airport

Offering access to Brussels Airport’s terminals, this contemporary hotel features vibrant artwork and soundproof windows. The sophisticated rooms are equipped with free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs, and desks. There’s a sleek restaurant and a lobby lounge, as well as a 24/7 fitness center. The Sheraton Airport Brussels offers convenient access to the city center through the train station underneath the airport.

“This was one of the best tours I have taken—and that includes many over decades. It was focused on the WWII sites and our guide Roland Gaul was incredible—so knowledgeable and often had anecdotal stories about his youth. His passion for the area and the tour sites was exemplary. A wonderful, kind and thoughtful man. Shane Taylor, from “Band of Brothers” was terrific too. We enjoyed getting to know him along with his many stories about the production of the series.”

Chicago, IL

“This was my first history tour with the National WWII Museum. Having been on other tours, you guys are definitely the best.”

—William D. , Elgin, TX

“Roland Gaul had a wealth of knowledge and was readily available for questions.​​​​​”

—Nancy F.​​​​​​​ , Flintstone, GA

“The hotel was outstanding with prime location in the heart of the village, wonderful amenities, and excellent dining options. I would definitely recommend staying there again.”

—Jim H.​​​​​ , Chevy Chase, MD

“A wonderful experience that I would recommend to anyone who is interested in history.” 

—Ryan M​​​​​​​. , Gilbert, AZ

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Hendersonville WWII veteran Cottrell to tell story of meeting an enemy decades later

On Dec. 17, 1944, the second day of the Battle of the Bulge, American P-47 pilot Ed Cottrell's engine was shot up by a German Messerschmitt. In the same battle on the same day, German pilot Karl-Heinz Bosse's Messerschmidt 109 was shot down.

Lt. Col. Cottrell (Ret.) of Hendersonville, now 102, steered to his base and expertly managed a dead-stick landing. Bosse, now 99, ejected and parachuted down but was seriously injured and hospitalized. Seventy-nine years later in December 2023, at the site near Bonn, Germany, where Bosse's plane had crashed, these two pilots and former enemies had a four-hour visit all these years later, sharing their stories with the help of a translator.

On April 13, Cottrell will tell the story of meeting his former enemy — two pilots whose historic mission was to destroy each other's planes — and perhaps lives. Cottrell will tell the story of how these former adversaries developed a quick friendship, ending their meeting “forever friends,” he said.

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More: 'Freedom Isn't Free' plane is a patriotic tribute to all who have served

Transylvania Board of Commissioners Chairman Jason Chappell will introduce Lt. Col. Ed Cottrell. Cottrell will be honored with the presentation of a United States flag flown over the North Caorlina Capitol, by Rep. Mike Clampitt, along with a tribute from the citizens of North Carolina.

Brevard Mayor Maureen Copelof will unveil a new painting depicting Cottrell's encounter with two ME-109 pilots During the Battle of the Bulge. The painting, titled, "Waiting for the Bullets" was commissioned by Valor Studios: https://www.valorstudios.com/products/waiting-for-the-bullets-by-gareth-hector. Attendees may bid on a print of this painting in a silent auction which will close at 12:30 p.m. Proceeds will go to the Veterans History Museum of the Carolinas to support its mission of honoring veterans, educating the public and preserving history.

Attendees will be invited to talk with Cottrell and have photos taken with him and the painting. He will be available to sign a copy of the museum's book "We Shall Come Home Victorious," which tells his complete story. Light refreshments will be served. The public is invited to this free program, which will be at 11 a.m. April 13 at Grace Brevard Church, 55 E. Jordan St., Brevard.

New exhibits are now on display at the museum, which is open 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday and located at 21 E. Main St. beside the courthouse. The exhibits tell veterans’ stories from all of America’s conflicts since World War II. For more information or to schedule a group tour, call 828-884-2141 or visit www.theveteransmuseum.org.

Janis Allen is the communications director for the Veterans History Museum of the Carolinas