Top 5 tips for fascinating battlefield travel

With Remembrance Day almost upon us and 2015-18 marking a series of key wartime anniversaries – including the Centenary of WWI, 70 years since WWII and 50 years since Vietnam’s Battle of Long Tan, Australians’ interest in battlefield travel is growing exponentially, according to the experts at Mat McLachlan Battlefield Tours.

But how to get the most out of your battlefield pilgrimage? Leading war historian and battlefield guide Mat McLachlan provides his top five tips for ensuring a memorable, moving experience which takes in a blend of historic and iconic destinations.

1.       For travel timed to commemorate major anniversaries – it’s never too soon to plan. 

With a raft of major anniversaries coming up, culminating with the Remembrance Day Centenary in 2018 on the Western Front, unprecedented numbers of Australians, New Zealanders and British visitors are anticipated to flock to the Western Front – meaning flights, hotels and tours will be in hot demand. Some operators, including Mat McLachlan Battlefield Tours (MMBT), are already taking refundable tour registrations for major Centenary tours to avoid disappointment. Learn more about MMBT’s 2018 Remembrance Day Centenary tour on the Western Front here: http://www.battlefields.com.au/index.php/tours/77 

2.       Personal soldiers’ stories bring the battlefields to life

There’s no doubt hearing genuine stories from the frontline truly brings battlefield travel to life, which is why Mat recommends travelling with a knowledgeable historian whose real-life soldiers’ stories will add colour to the battlefields and their surrounds. Mat McLachlan Battlefield Tours’ guides can also help retrace your own fallen ancestors, identifying where their infantry units fought and pinpointing grave sites of personal significance.

3.       Combine the stories of yesterday with the sights of today for a well-rounded adventure

Whether you’re following the footsteps of the Anzacs in Gallipoli, tracing the fall of the Third Reich in Germany, discovering Australia’s involvement in the Solomon Islands during WWII or schooling up on guerrilla warfare in Vietnam, it’s valuable not only to learn about the country’s wartime history, but to experience its modern culture, cuisine, sights and sounds as part of a broader itinerary, such as Mat McLachlan’s Gallipoli trips which also visit bustling Istanbul, or Vietnam tours which include boating on scenic Halong Bay.

4.       Give yourself enough time – between two and 10 days per area is best

While the amount of time you spend touring the battlefields is entirely an individual choice, many visitors are keen to plan ahead and Mat McLachlan is often asked how long it takes to experience a particular battle zone. While one-day guided tours offer a terrific taste, longer visits provide a more immersive experience, with certain battle sites, such as the Western Front, spread over a huge area (700km). To cater for individual needs, Mat McLachlan Battlefield Tours offers four tour types: Small group Flexi-Tours are two to three day trips departing any day (even for just one passenger); Four-day Western Front Explorer Tours depart weekly between April and October; Group Tours (five to 11 nights duration) depart on set dates throughout the year to various destinations; Custom Tours allow you to choose your own dates, sites and length of travel.

5.       Guided or self-guided tours?

Battlefields, grave sites, artefacts and specific historic hot spots can be hard to find, often located off the beaten track and significant distances from the main tourist areas. Opting for a guided tour allows you to relax in the knowledge you won’t miss key sites or stories, nor have to get along with your GPS. However, for those keen to undertake a self-guided tour, Mat’s advice is to arm yourself with an excellent battlefield guide book, containing maps, plenty of images and historic context which will help add a different dimension to your battlefield experience.