What’s included
What’s not included
Additional information
Itinerary
Beautiful Bruges & Ghent
Le Shuttle to Calais and onwards to our hotel in Belgium.
Beautiful Bruges & Ghent
Today is yours to spend in beautiful Bruges, often described as one of Europe’s most picturesque cities. Explore the maze of cobbled streets and canals, admire the colourful market squares and historic buildings or just relax with a coffee and watch the world go by. Browse the city’s famous chocolate shops and lace boutiques, sample Belgian waffles or traditional frites and soak up the atmosphere before enjoying time for dinner at leisure in Bruges this evening.
Beautiful Bruges & Ghent
We head to the beautiful city of Ghent, where the rest of the day is yours to explore at leisure. Wander through the pedestrianised medieval centre and admire the impressive Gravensteen Castle, a 12th-century fortress, or stroll along the picturesque Graslei, lined with historic guildhalls beside the River Leie. Perhaps treat yourself to a canal cruise of Ghent’s waterways to admire the city’s skyline from a different perspective. With plenty of time to discover the city’s atmospheric streets, browse the shops and enjoy dinner at your leisure, there’s no rush to see the sights before we return to the hotel.
Beautiful Bruges & Ghent
We break up our return journey with an en-route visit to Dunkirk (time permitting). Forever associated with the remarkable events of 1940, the city today combines an attractive seafront with fascinating history and maritime heritage. Enjoy time to explore or relax in one of the cafés before we continue to Calais for our journey home on LeShuttle.
Ghent Medieval Core Visit
Wander the pedestrian heart of Ghent along the handsome quays of Graslei and Korenlei, where medieval guildhalls meet the River Leie. Take in the turrets of Gravensteen Castle and the slender Belfry of Ghent as street cafés and cyclists animate the cobbles.
Trace a trading city at the meeting of Scheldt and Leie, rich in Gothic towers and Flemish art. St Bavo’s safeguards the Adoration of the Mystic Lamb. This included visit leaves ample freedom to explore at your own rhythm.
Dunkirk Seafront & Operation Dynamo Sites
Visit Dunkirk’s windswept shore, walking the broad sands of Malo-les-Bains beach where the Operation Dynamo of 1940 evacuation unfolded. Scan the horizon from the Dunkirk East Mole and follow memorials that honour naval craft and ‘little ships’ that carried troops to safety.
Balance solemn history with a living seafront of fishing boats, dunes and sea-air cafés. Interpretive plaques and sea-facing villas frame a short but resonant stop; museum entries are not included during this visit.
Ghent Canal Cruise
Join a local skipper to cruise Ghent’s canals, slipping beneath low stone bridges for an intimate view of the Graslei and Korenlei. From the water, the spires of St Nicholas’ Church and the Belfry crown gables and warehouses in a photogenic medieval panorama.
Hear tales of guilds, counts and river trade on a relaxed, narrated ride of around 40–50 minutes. This experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour; availability may vary with weather and city events.
Bruges Historic Centre Visit
Explore the UNESCO-listed historic centre of Bruges, where cobbled lanes thread between stepped-gable houses to the lively Markt and stately Burg. Look up at the 13th-century Belfry of Bruges and follow mirrored waterways beside the storybook canals of Rozenhoedkaai as chocolatiers and lace ateliers scent the air.
Discover how Hanseatic trade and lace traditions forged brick-Gothic streetscapes and hushed courtyards. Carillon chimes invite you to pause for photos and reflection. This included visit offers freedom to explore without fixed admissions.
