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Modern color photograph of a wetland area bathed in cool blue light.

2024 Battlefield Tour

In the Footsteps of Titans: Salonika and the Great War

Friday, Sept. 13 – Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024

 

Venture into the crossroads of mythology and modernity with the National WWI Museum and Memorial as we explore the cultural and historical significance of the Salonika Front. From the dense forests and mountain landscapes of beautiful Greece, we will trace the forgotten trench lines of some of the war’s most remote battlefields and discover the global stories of this lesser-known theater rich in geopolitical importance as the “cradle of democracy.” The tour begins and ends in Thessaloniki (SKG) with five nights of lodging in the scenic Grecian countryside.

Please note:

 

This tour traverses rugged terrain and includes locations with steep and unpaved grounds. Unlike previous battlefield tours, much of this battlefield is inaccessible by vehicle. Participants MUST be able to walk a minimum of 6 miles without assistance and be able to carry their own equipment needed for hiking.

Planned Itinerary

(May be subject to change)

 

Starting in Thessaloniki, the group’s first introduction to the campaign will be the Salonika (Lembet Road) Military Cemetery, containing personnel from all nations. The group will travel north to study Birdcage Line, constructed by the British Army in 1916, and end the day at the Doiran Memorial.

Overnight Doiran – Dinner included

Northbound from Doiran, the group will explore the furthest extent of the French Army’s advance in 1915, passing through Gradsko and Krivolak. Stopping at the Demir Kapija tunnel on the way back to Doiran, the group will study the Dec. 1915 retreat before finishing the day at Lake Doiran.

Overnight Doiran – Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner included

Most of the day’s travels will be on flat ground and near the group’s hotel in Doiran, examining key points of action in the Battles of Doiran like La Tortue, Hill 340, the Hilt and the Petit Couronné.

Overnight Doiran – Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner included

A full day’s hike to Devil’s Eye and its views over Pip Ridge, the scene of the final decisive battle of Salonika in Sept. 1918. En route to the site, the group will pass through the Bulgarian reserve positions, artillery and command bunkers, as well as the T Line bunkers and an isolated British Divisional Memorial.

Overnight Doiran – Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner included

Trekking through the Struma Valley, the group will explore the various actions at Tumbitza Farm, specifically the 27th Division attacks, as well as the British battery positions at Triada (Dragos) and the Bulgarian positions at Palio Castro. For the final evening, the group will return to Thessaloniki.

Overnight Thessaloniki – Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner included

Transfer to Thessaloniki Airport for departures.

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Modern wide angle photograph taken from the top of a grassy hill or bluff with old stone trench structures in it. In the foreground, a person wearing a sun hat gestures toward a lake stretching away in the distance.

Tour Pricing

Price per person (you'll share a hotel room): $2300
Price per person (you'll have your own room): $2600

$500 deposit (per person) due by April 19, 2024

Account in full due by June 30, 2024

Costs include:
  • Pick-up and drop-off at Thessaloniki Airport (SKG)
  • Bus, driver and guides throughout tour
  • 5 nights accommodation (includes all meals)
  • Small group size
It does not include:
  • Flights to and from Greece
  • Incidentals
Travel Insurance

Traveler is responsible for securing their own optional travel insurance.

Flight

We encourage scheduling your arrival the day before the tour begins to avoid any risk of a delayed flight.

 

 

Ready to register?     Registration   

The British Memorial to the Missing near Lake Doiran.

Bulgarian artillery position between Grand Couronné and Pip Ridge.

Frequently Asked Questions

Please note: Modifications may occur due to current global travel restrictions.

 

All participants should meet at the designated meeting place and time, provided with your tour information. It is recommended to arrive in the destination city the day before the tour, giving you ample time to meet at the gathering place.

Once you receive the green light to purchase your airfare, please forward your arrival time and flight number to the Museum and Memorial's Learning Coordinator at travel@theworldwar.org. This will assist guides in roll call before starting the tour.

Please see the itinerary sent by the guides. The itinerary is loose, allowing flexibility in visiting additional sites.

Please see the itinerary sent by the guides. Breakfast, WiFi and laundry services are generally available.

Breakfasts and at least one group dinner are covered under your registration. Lunches and other dinners are not included, unless otherwise specified. Please notify us immediately if you have any special dietary requirements. For most destinations, lunches will be approximately €15-€20 and dinners approximately €35.

Participants will travel by coach (bus) between cities and will walk around most sites.

The bus will have A/C and heating, a refrigerator, a restroom and complimentary water.

  • Comfortable outdoor wear (e.g. T-shirts, jeans, shorts.) Avoid wearing clothing with large, loud logos.
  • Sweater or lightweight fleece
  • Appropriate footwear (e.g. walking shoes). A change of footwear is also advised.
  • Waterproof outer layers (light jacket)
  • Hat and sunscreen

  • Passport
  • Medicine (in your carry on!)*
  • Camera or phone
  • Toiletries
  • Night clothes
  • Socks and underwear
  • Satchel/day pack
  • Electricity adapters for destination countries
  • Portable power bank (if you have one)
  • Waterproof jacket (and trousers if you have them)
  • Sturdy shoes
  • Large plastic bag for worn clothes

* Note on medicine: should be kept in its original packing, and kept in your carry-on along with a copy of any doctor's prescription. Please consult with State Department travel information to ensure that your prescriptions are not prohibited in the destination countries. Most over-the-counter medicines can be obtained abroad, though they may have different names than those in the U.S. One of the guides, where possible, will accompany you to a pharmacy (widely available) to assist with replacements, if needed.

Unfortunately, due to the size and schedule of the coach, you will not be able to be dropped off at your hotel by bus. If you need assistance returning to your hotel:

  • See if your hotel has a shuttle service—communicate when and where you’ll need to be picked up.
  • If a shuttle is unavailable, the guides can assist you in finding a taxi.
  • If you’d prefer to use public transportation, the guides can assist you in getting the correct ticket/line.

Battle Honours hosts nearly 60 tours yearly and has been in the battlefield touring business for 15 years—many of the guides are former military or police. They have thoroughly assessed any potential risks that may occur during the tour—you will not be visiting any areas that may compromise your safety. Security is both their specialty and priority—you will be in very capable hands. To secure your money and passport, we recommend investing in a wearable money belt/pouch.

We recommend bringing at least €200 in local currency, but how much you bring is truly a personal preference. Please make sure to notify your banks that you will be out of the country if you plan on taking your debit/credit/bank cards.

  • VISA is most readily accepted; American Express/Discover are not accepted at most places.
  • Cards issued by a smaller, regional bank that don’t have backing from larger institutions will not likely be accepted.
  • ATMs are accessible everywhere for cash withdrawal—withdrawal fees/exchange rates may apply.

You will need to contact your service provider to arrange an international plan (plans vary by provider.) To avoid roaming charges, we recommend turning off apps needing WiFi data before departure. Set your phone to “Airplane Mode” before boarding your overseas flight.

Yes! The guides cater the tour itinerary to these requests. Send the name, rank, and any key military/occupational identification of your WWI ancestor to Clive Harris and Mike Sheil approximately two months before departure, to give ample time for research.

Yes, please do! These really help bring your ancestor’s story come to life on the battlefield. Please let the guides know what items you’ll be bringing before packing them.

Participants can expect to walk multiple miles each day across uneven, unpaved terrain. Please make sure you have comfortable, sturdy walking shoes. Battlefield maps will be provided by guides on-site and via email to the participants.

Generally, weather will be warm to mild, and potentially rainy. Feel free to pack a light jacket for the evening and a day pack that includes snacks as you travel off the beaten path.

Questions about mobility and accessibility, or any other questions? Contact travel@theworldwar.org or 816.888.8153.

Serbian Mausoleum in Lembet Road Allied Military Cemetery.

British artillery position on La Tortue.

 

About Clive Harris

Raised in Hertfordshire, Clive developed a lifelong fascination with history. He spent seven years with the Royal Corps of Signals, serving operationally overseas with the 1st Armoured Division in BAOR — an Infantry attachment with the Royal Green Jackets, in Cyprus, Germany and France — and finally taking an instructor’s post in the Signals Wing of the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. On leaving the army he joined his local Constabulary, serving 11 years in their Force Operations Room as a specialist communications officer and control room manager. In 1998, he began working as a speaker, writer, researcher and battlefield guide and since then has guided groups to the Somme, Ypres, Arras, Mons, Cambrai, The Hindenburg Line, Verdun, and Gallipoli for the Great War, as well as Normandy, Arnhem, The Italian Campaign, and of course the London Blitz for the Second World War. Clive is a Badged Member of the Guild of Battlefield Guides (No33) and also a member of the British Commission for Military History.

About Mike St Maur Sheil

Mike is the award-winning curator of Fields of Battle, Lands of Peace 1914-1918. After studying Geography at Oxford, in the early 1970s Mike began his career as a photojournalist covering “the Troubles” in Northern Ireland. Here he became associated with the New York picture agency, Black Star, and over thirty years later he is still in the fortunate position of being paid to do what he loves doing — taking photographs. Mike has visited over 60 countries around the world, working for a wide range of clients such as ABC-TV, BBC, Anti-Slavery International, British Red Cross, European Commission, National Geographic, The New York Times, Shell, Time and Time Life.

Images courtesy of Mike St Maur Sheil / Fields of Battle 1418

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