Mat McLachlan is one of Australia’s leading war historians and battlefield guides. He has spent more than a decade exploring Australian battlefields around the world, and is the author of the highly successful Walking with the Anzacs, the definitive guide to the Australian battlefields of the Western Front. Mat also produced and appeared in the First World documentary Lost in Flanders, which aired on the ABC in April 2009. His second book, Gallipoli – The Battlefield Guide, was released in 2010 and is the most comprehensive guide to the Australian battlefields of Gallipoli yet published.
The principals of Mat McLachlan Battlefield Tours have more than 30 years travel industry experience including the operation of large and small group tours, retail travel agencies and the marketing of major travel operations in Australia and globally. Identifying a gap in the market, Mat McLachlan Battlefield Tours was established specifically to cater for the growing numbers of Australians interested in walking in the footsteps of the Anzacs.
| What is the STANDARD OF ACCOMMODATION AND COACHES? |
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Unless specifically noted, all Mat McLachlan Battlefield Tours are ‘First–Class’ standard, meaning we use extremely comfortable modern coaches with air-conditioning and toilet, and 3- or 4-star hotels. Our battlefield tours are designed to offer an extremely comfortable travel experience for a great price.
The difference with a Mat McLachlan Battlefield Tour is the quality of the historians who guide our tours. We don't just settle for someone who has a passing knowledge of the battlefields. Our war historians don't just know about the battlefields — it's part of their lives. Our historians are hand-picked by Mat McLachlan and are some of the world's most respected battlefield authors and guides. All our historians are published authorities on war history, and millions of people all over the world have read their books and articles. If you are considering booking a tour with another company, ask them for the qualifications of their guide, and you'll immediately see the difference (also ask them if their tour guide carries a copy of Mat McLachlan's guidebook - you'll be surprised how many rely on it!). When you take a Mat McLachlan Battlefield Tour, you know that you are travelling with the best guides in the business.
Every battlefield tour is individually designed by Mat McLachlan, and many of them are escorted by him. You'll visit special sites on the battlefields that may not be known to other tour operators, in the company of like-minded travellers. Mat's tours are all about the experience of the common Aussie soldier, and include quotes and anecdotes to bring to life the experiences of the Anzacs on the very ground you are treading.
| CAN MAT MCLACHLAN BATTLEFIELD TOURS BOOK MY AIRFARES AND OTHER TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS? |
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Absolutely! Mat McLachlan Battlefield Tours is part of a fully licensed travel organisation that has won numerous industry awards and is staffed by many of Australia’s most credible professional travel consultants. Our years of experience and depth of knowledge ensure your travel arrangements are in good hands. We are happy to arrange your airfares, accommodation, and any other travel arrangements you may need before or after your tour. We have close working relationships all other operators such as Scenic Tours, Globus, Insight Vacations and Trafalgar Tours, plus all cruise lines, river cruises, rail and car hire companies, and have been a major supplier to these companies for decades. We’ll concentrate on the arrangements so you can concentrate on the tour.
| WHY DON’T THE TOUR PRICES INCLUDE AIRFARES? |
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Two good reasons: Firstly, Mat McLachlan Battlefield Tours attracts customers from all over Australia, so for the sake of your flexibility we don’t insist of departure from any particular Australian airport. Secondly, many of our customers join a battlefield tour as part of a longer holiday. By listing the tour price without airfares, you have the flexibility to simply add a battlefield tour (or two!) to your itinerary. If you need us to arrange your airfare, no problem! We have access to some of the most competitive discounted airfares in Australia and many of our passengers entrust their entire arrangements to Mat McLachlan Battlefield Tours.
| CAN IT BE GUARANTEED THAT THE NOMINATED EXPERT WILL BE ON MY TRIP? |
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Mat McLachlan Battlefield Tours does everything it can to ensure the advertised escort accompanies each tour, but of course there may be reasons such as illness, or other matters outside our control, which prevent an individual from travelling. You can be sure though that it will take a serious problem to prevent that specialist joining you. In that event we will endeavour to find a substitute — in addition to Mat himself, Mat McLachlan Battlefield Tours uses the services of some of the world’s most respected battlefield historians.
100%. Mat McLachlan Battlefield Tours is part of a long established travel company that is fully licensed and any funds you pay us are protected by the Travel Compensation Fund. The company is a full member of the Australia Federation of Travel Agents, and is accredited by The International Air Transport Association and the International Cruise Council of Australasia.
If you have any other questions at all, please give us a call. Our friendly expert staff are looking forward to hearing from you, and ensuring that your battlefield tour is an enjoyable and rewarding experience.
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Frequently Asked Questions
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