Sacred Ground Tours
Sacred Ground Tours
5
About
Western Front Day Tours for singles, couples and small groups. Run by the only Australian guide operating in France or Belgium.
Arras, Hauts-de-France, France

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Tours and Tickets by Sacred Ground Tours
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(41 reviews)
(2 reviews)
(5 reviews)

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

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5.0
5.0 of 5 bubbles138 reviews
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137
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David and Jane K
1 contribution
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2023 • Couples
We did two days of personalised tours with Phil to areas that our relatives had been involved in. Phil's knowledge of the whole Australian history was very impressive and gave us the background we needed to understand the region we visited He had done background reading on our relatives and was able to take us to the specific regions they fought in.
We highly recommend these trips to any Australian travellers - it is life changing experience.
Written 22 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Emp58
Ashburton, Australia56 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2023 • Solo
I did the Out in the Somme & Fromelles - Ypres tours. It was a fantastic experience & I learnt so much. The tour can include visits to sites important to people on the tour. Phil the guide is fantastic & very helpful. Highly recommended.
Written 21 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Passport379172
1 contribution
5.0 of 5 bubbles
A must do Tour for any Australians wanting to visit sites where Australians have fought. If you have a relative who fought there, let Phil know and he will personalise your experience. Phil is clearly passionate about sharing his knowledge, which is extensive. A great small group Tour. Awesome day.
Written 6 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Mark C
Sydney, Australia117 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2023 • Couples
We were after a personal WWI tour and due to a tight travel schedule, Sacred Ground Tours were recommended to us. Phil was excellent, he made the day special and was accommodating to our specific visit requests. I would use this company if I am after some bespoke and personal.
Written 24 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Paul F
1 contribution
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2023 • Couples
The two day Sacred Ground Tour of the World War I battlefields in France and Belgium (backed up with an additional three days in the beautiful town of Arras) was the highlight of our recent holiday in Europe.

The tour is led by Phil Hora, a charismatic tour guide with a wealth of knowledge of World War I, delivered with an insightful Australian perspective. The two-day tour had a balanced itinerary, visiting Canadian, Newfoundland, British, New Zealand, French, German and Australian memorials/cemeteries. We visited such well-known memorials as Villers-Bretonneux, Thiepval, Vimy Ridge, Fromelles , Poziers, Passchendaele, Le Hamel, and VC Corner. However, the highlight for my wife and I was visiting the graves of three great uncles who were killed during the Great War. Phil had researched our great uncles and was able to provide information on their war service. He then seamlessly incorporated visits to Doullens (Extension No.1) and Hooge Crater, as well as the memorial wall at Villers-Bretonneux, into the tour so we could pay our respects to the fallen uncles. The fitting finale to this wonderful tour was a visit to Ypres to witness a moving Last Post service at Menin Gate.

Sacred Ground Tours is a truly wonderful and worthwhile experience.

Written 11 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you Paul, always very sad to see three brothers lost from the same family, very glad we were able to pay our respects...
Written 12 September 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

James S
Brisbane, Australia8 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
I would give this tour a 6 out 5 if I could. Phil is a brilliant guide and as an Australian tourist, the tour felt more like travelling with an old mate. Phil is extremely knowledgeable but also very passionate about what he does. We were even able to trace some of the footsteps of my wife's great, great Uncle who fought in WW1. If you want an immersive, entertaining and informative tour of the Western Front, then Phil is your man. Thanks for making our visit to the Somme an unforgettable experience.
Written 10 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for the very kind words, much appreciated...
Written 12 September 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Shona R
Australia3 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2023 • Couples
Phil Hora is so knowledgeable- we learnt so much abt the NZ and Australian participation in WW1 and visited my g grandfathers memorial.
Ask Phil about his and Adrianne’s Air B & B in Arras fantastic!
Written 4 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you, very much appreciated...
Written 12 September 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

James M
2 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2023 • Solo
This was the best tour imaginable and Phil tailored the tour to my family’s story. Phil is so knowledgeable and passionate about the Australian perspective on the Somme. I cannot thank Phil enough or recommend highly enough!
Written 24 June 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for the very kind review James, we had a great day out...
Written 25 June 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

827neridas
Newcastle, Australia2 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
This tour was to honour the memory of my grandfather and the many men who fought alongside him and to all those who never came home. To be there with fellow Australians and to have Phil (a very passionate Aussie and advocate for our boys) as our tour guide was very special. Phil’s knowledge is extensive and the many questions from all participants was never a problem. Wonderful bistros chosen for our dining requirements on both days. We had an incredible experience, one we will never forget. Perfect small group option for touring this area. Cannot recommend enough, you will not be disappointed.
Written 19 June 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Very glad we could make your grandfather's story coma alive, thank you...
Written 12 September 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

fozwanderer
Mansfield, Australia179 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2023
You can't get a better tour of the WWI Western Front battlefields than with Phil Hora's Sacred Ground Tours. We did the full 3 day exploration and every moment was magic. On arrival at Arras station Phil picked us up in his comfortable van and took us to his B&B directly opposite his own apartment. It's a super location, 30 seconds walk to the restaurant-filled Place des Heros and 1 minute from a little supermarket and a bakery for fresh morning croissants. Phil gave excellent restaurant recommendations. The tour focused on Australian contributions to the war but there was plenty of opportunity to see French, British, Canadian, Newfoundland, US and German memorials and sites. Stopping at a farm lane intersection Phil pointed out a set of live shells unearthed by ploughing and now ready for collection and disposal. His depth of local knowledge helped us find hidden bunkers as well as more visible remnants of the war. In advance Phil had done thorough research on the relatives' graves and memorials we wished to visit and slotted them into the itinerary seamlessly. He explained what action had happened on the day of their deaths and suggested how they most likely would have been involved. Phil had a wealth of stories and sometimes that led to book and film recommendations for us to follow up. We were amazed that after 3 days we had covered 600 km but there was so much that Phil showed us and talked about we never noticed the distance travelled. At the end Phil dropped us at Arras station and even escorted us to the right train carriage. Bravo, Phil!
Written 19 May 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
What a memorable three day we had, thank you..
Written 12 September 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

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SACRED GROUND TOURS (Arras) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go