Association Choir Tour to Begium 2025

The Association are planning to organise a tour to Belgium in 2025 - initial details are given below. We want to assess the interest from member choirs before proceeding. Could you please ask your choristers whether any would consider participating as individuals in such a massed choir tour?

Please respond directly to Phillip Tolley, the WAMC Executive member who is leading on the planning. Email philliptolley@colcanto.co.uk

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The Welsh Association of Male Choirs have, since 2002, arranged visits abroad under the name of the Association, for choirs who would not normally be able to tour due to their size or the administrative burden. The last tour in August 2016 was to Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia as part of our Baltics States tour, where sixty seven people enjoyed a tour which included concerts in Vilnius, Riga and Tallinn.

The original plans were for a further tour in 2022 to mark the 60th Anniversary of the Association. However, Covid disrupted our preparations, and we are only now in a position to recommence these Association Choir Tours.

The Association is proposing a 6 day/5 night tour to Belgium (Ghent). This tour would include two concerts plus the chance to take part in the Menin Gate Late Post ceremony.  The tour would also include a full day in Brussels as well as optional trips to Brugge, Ypres/Flanders Field Museum and Cemeteries, and an optional River Cruise.

The proposed date of this tour is 18 – 23 August 2025. Costs are not yet finalised as it is difficult to get an indication of prices for hotels in August 2025. They will also depend upon the number of people travelling and exchange rates.  An indicative price based on the 2016 tour numbers would be £870.00 per person (sharing double/twin). This includes executive coach travel, ferry crossing from Dover-Calais return, 5 nights B&B in 4* hotel. One evening meal on arrival and the organisation of two fully promoted concerts and the Menin Gate Ceremony. An indication of the single supplement would be around £60pppn.