MARKET was three simultaneous airborne landings in the south-east Netherlands followed by GARDEN, a land attack north from Belgium to link up all three landing zones and secure a Rhine crossing. The failure of this potential war-winning operation led to the war continuing into 1945. The ten days of fighting saw many dramatic actions - here is a 3-day (2 nights) tour suggestion to see the highlights. Naturally we can put together a family-specific tour, and tours of different durations.

Day One - Eindhoven (101st Airborne) & Grave (82nd Airborne)
- After a night in Canterbury, or a 40 minute train journey from London to Ashford - 35 minute Tunnel crossing in our car, then 3 hr drive from Calais.
- Pickup from Brussels - 1 hr 30 minute drive

Following the route of the ‘Garden’ ground forces (60 miles south to north), we start on the Belgian-Netherlands border and head north: visit the 101st Airborne drop-zones north of Eindhoven; the fights for the bridges at Son and Best; the 82nd Airborne’s drop-zones south of Nijmegen; the taking of the bridge at Grave. 2 nights hotel in Nijmegen.

Day Two - Nijmegen, The Island, Arnhem drop-zones (British 1st Airborne)
The 82nd Airborne fighting south-east of Nijmegen (right on the German border); the dramatic taking of the bridge over the Maas and the amphibious assault across the river; ‘The Island’ between the Maas and the Rhine; across the Rhine to the see the British airborne drop-zones west of Arnhem and the attack route into the town. 2nd night Nijmegen.

Day Three - Arnhem
Tour taking in the battles around St Elizabeth's Hospital (fighting to try to reach the men at the Bridge: a classic of close quarters street combat); the fight at the Bridge itself (the 'Bridge Too Far'); the British cemetery; the Oosterbeek Museum (superbly updated recently); the trapping & evacuation of British forces; and the view from Westerbowing over the Heaverdorp Ferry and the Polish drop-zone at Driel.
Leave early/mid-afternoon, aiming to get you to your finishing point by 6.00 p.m.

- 4 hr drive to Channel Tunnel. Back in the UK we will put you on a high-speed train to London, arriving there around 8.15 p.m.
- Drop-off in Brussels - 2 hr 30 minute drive

Check out our prices here
Do get in touch to discuss details and possible dates.

See also:
Photo Gallery: Market-Garden
World War II Tours
A suggested 3-day itinerary: the Ardennes (Battle of the Bulge)

Above: The longest bridge seized in the operation - the original bridge over the Maas at Grave
Below: Memorial marking one of the U.S. 82nd Airborne Division's drop-zones, 17 September 1944

"The Bridge Too Far" - the rebuilt bridge at Arnhem

The bridge at Nijmegen

Left: A British glider drop-zone north of Wolfheze, 7 miles from the bridge at Arnhem

Right: Groesbeek: one of the drop-zones for the US 82nd Airborne Division