The Crimean War

Sevastopol and beyond

The Charge of the Light Brigade, during the battle of Balaklava in October 1854, is one of the most famous military exploits of all time. Balaklava is just one of the many places that we visit on this superb battlefield tour to the Crimea where we study the events of the Crimean war 1854-55. The Crimean war was truly a Victorian epic, pitting the British and French armies, allied in the Crimea for the first time after many years of enmity, against the might of Russia.

Our Crimean War battlefield tour walks the battle ground over which the Light Brigade charged to immortality, climbs the hills where the British Guards fought hand-to-hand with Russians at Inkerman, and sees the Russian positions atop the River Alma. We walk around the lovely port of Balaklava, which, like Sevastopol, was a town closed to almost everybody but the Russian military up until a few years ago but is now an up and coming tourist destination. During our stay in Sevastopol, we will walk many of the city's bastions and visit the museum in the White Tower within the Malakov Bastion and the incredibly breathtaking 1854 Panorama in the Flagstaff bastion. We will see this attractive city from the water as we spend an afternoon taking a boat trip around Sevastopol harbour.

"The rumour in the camp is that someone has been blundering, and that the Light Cavalry charge was all a mistake; the truth will come out some day".

Sergeant Thomas Gowing

Day 1.

Fly London to Simferopol via Kiev. Drive to Balaklava and check into our hotel for five nights.

Day 2.

Today our Crimean War tour surveys the Allied landing beaches at Kalamita Bay and the action on the Bulganak River. At the Alma, where we have a picnic lunch, we follow the British attack on the Great Redoubt and drive down to the Alma river mouth to examine the French attack on the right flank. Before leaving the Alma battlefield we drive to the area where Lord Raglan attempted to control the battle. On our return we discuss the Allied flank march that began two days later.

Day 3.

We spend the whole of today exploring the field of Balaklava. We begin by visiting the Causeway Heights where we can view the whole Balaclava battlefield. We then drive to "Sutherland Knoll" to examine the Heavy Brigade charge and the stand made by the 93rd Highlanders. From the heights on the Sapaune Gora we admire the stunning panorama of both the North and South Valleys. It was from here that Raglan watched the fateful events of 25th October 1854. Later in the afternoon, for the highlight of our Crimea tour, we cross into the North Valley and trace the route of the Light Brigade where they made their heroic but tragic charge upon the Russian guns at the end of the valley.

Day 4.

Explore Balaklava and walk to the harbour mouth. For the more adventurous, there is an opportunity to climb up to the Genoese forts. We see traces of the railway and the engine house that was used to bring up supplies to the front. Later we see the site of the Tractir Bridge and climb the Fedoukine Heights to view the tragedy of the battle of the Chernaya, which was the final Russian attempt to relieve Sevastopol in August 1855. Continue to Sevastopol and take a boat trip around the harbour.

Day 5.

Our penultimate day in Sevastopol is spent around its bastions. Starting at Bastion Number 1 we walk to the Malakov Bastion to explore the memorial park and visit the White Tower museum. We then drive to the Vorontsov Ravine and walk up the first parallel and discuss the British attacks on the Great Redan. After lunch we visit the Black Sea Fleet Museum before driving to the Flagstaff Bastion, home of the incredibly breathtaking 1854 Panorama and where trenches and gun positions have been faithfully recreated.

Day 6.

Visit the battlefield of Inkerman. We climb up the St Clement Ravine towards the 'Barrier', explore Shell Hill, Cossack Mountain and the Home and Fore Ridges. After lunch we visit the ancient and beautiful palace of the Tartar Khans at Bakhchysaray. Continue to Simferopol to catch our flight to Kiev where we check in to our nearby airport hotel for one night.

Day 7.

Return flight to London from Kiev.