Familiarisation trip for CTA coach operators to Amiens – 4-6 April

CTA member Stuart Render Tourism, working in partnership with Backwaters Tours, the Somme Tourist Board and its regional partners, is offering CTA coach operator members the opportunity to discover the Amiens and Somme region of northern France on a fam trip that takes place from Thursday 4 April to Saturday 6 April.

The invitation is inclusive of all accommodation and hospitality whilst in Amiens. A complimentary coach will operate from Folkestone and Dover although operators are welcome to travel independently is preferred.

Backwaters Tours, a sister company to Kent-based Buzzlines Travel, is co-ordinating the visit. The partnership with the Somme Tourist Board is linked to Backwaters new electric-hybrid cruise boat that started operating on the northern French waterways in June 2018. The fam trip itinerary includes a cruise and lunch on the boat ‘Natalia’.

Itinerary:

Thursday 4 April

6.30am Coach departs Folkestone bus station.

7am Coach departs Dover Travelodge.

8.25am P&O crossing to Calais.

1pm Arrive Amiens.

2pm Tourism Workshop – Quai de l’Innovation, Amiens

An opportunity to meet and discuss with representatives from Hauts de France: Amiens Tourist Office, Marquenterre Park, Valloires Abbey and Gardens, Baie de Somme steam railway, the Historial Museum of the Great War and the Museum of Thiepval, Somme 1916 Museum at Albert, Sir John Monash Centre, Nausicaa, the Louvre-Lens Museum, the Domaine de Chantilly, plus the tourist offices from Arras, St Quentin, Lille and others.

Evening Dinner in the Historic Quarter of Amiens.

Overnight Amiens – hotel to be confirmed.

Friday 5 April

Morning Cruise and lunch aboard ‘Natalia’, the new concept electric-hybrid barge of Backwaters Tours (introduction for groups cruising on the Somme).

Afternoon Visit to Amiens Cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, followed by a visit by small boat to the Hortillonnages water gardens in the heart of the town.

Evening Buffet dinner in Amiens.

Overnight Amiens – hotel to be confirmed.

Saturday 6 April

9am Depart hotel for one-hour visit to hypermarket in Amiens.

11am Journey on the Baie de Somme steam train from Le Crotoy to St-Valery.

2pm Depart St-Valery.

5.25pm P&O crossing to Dover.

As capacity for this visit is fairly limited, Somme Tourist Board has applied a limit of one guest per coach operator.

If you’d like to join this trip, please register your initial interest on line by Friday 15 March at https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/JSH8TGD The registration process is being managed by Backwaters Tours.

This familiarisation trip is being organised jointly by: