TOUR 2 TDF 8-DAY PREMIERE PYRENEES-PARIS TOUR

Day 1 (July 18): Meet your Spyns’ guides at Toulouse train station. One (1)-hour transfer to spectacular Carcassonne, one of France’s most visited and most recognizable villages. This fortress city has ruins that date back to Roman times and in 2022 it will host two (2) Tour de France stages. Upon arrival, check in to the Hotel de l’Octroi***. This boutique hotel & spa is nestled right at the foot of Carcassonne’s  fortified old town. Once checked in, the group will split into riders and non-riders. Riders: striking north, the riders will enjoy a 59 km (36.6 mile) loop ride north of the walled city. Bike through rolling hills, valleys, and picture-perfect French villages. Non-riders: following check in, enjoy a guided walking tour of medieval Carcassonne to learn about its rich history.  The first settlements in Carcassonne date back to 3500 BC and the city boast ruins from the Romans, Visigoths, and Cathars. Later, the group will enjoy dinner on a terrace overlooking the walled city and, time permitting, a pre-dinner swing through the TDF village, set up in preparation for tomorrow’s stage start. Overnight at Hotel Octroi***.

Day 2 (July 19) Stage 16 Start: The group will enjoy a morning at the Tour de France village before watching the stage 16 start from Spyns’ private viewing area. Stage starts are an excellent opportunity to see the moving city of vendors, pro riders, and media that make up the Tour.  Riders: following the stage start, riders will strike out on the longest all-day ride of the tour: 112 kms (69.4 miles) along canals, through small French villages, and then into the Pyrenees. Non-riders: following the stage start, van transfer south to the nearby foothills for a parapente flight. Parapenting is a two-person parasail flight. You and a professional pilot/guide run down the side of a mountain with a parachute wing in tow. Thanks to the parasail, you glide like eagles for 15-30 minutes before expertly landing below. Both riders and non-riders will meet for lunch in the village of Saverdun (restaurant la Guinguette) before biking or transferring by van to our home for the night, the Domaine de la Terrasse*** in Carbonne.  Dinner on the terrace of the domain’s excellent restaurant.

Day 3 (July 20) Stage 17 mid-route viewing: No riding nor activities this morning as the group will enjoy stage 17 from our mid-route viewing area in the village of La Barthe (1 hour van transfer). Over the years, Spyns’ clients have consistently preferred seeing the Tour in small French villages away from large crowds and the village of La Barthe (population 1233) promises to be the perfect setting. Following the stage viewing, riders have two options: ride from La Barthe to Lourdes for a distance of 55.4 kms (34.4 miles) or transfer with the non-riders directly to Lourdes. Once there, riders can then do a second century ride to conquer the twin peaks of Col Aubisque  and Col Soulor. Distance 109 kms (67.6 miles). Non-riders: enjoy the stage mid-route then van transfer to Lourdes. Once checked in to the hotel, choose your adventure: a walking tour of the city and cathedral or an afternoon of rafting. Late dinner at a riverside bistro. Overnight in Lourdes at the Grand Hotel Moderne****.

Day 4 (July 21) Stage 18 start and finish: All guests will see the stage 18 start from Lourdes and then break into separate groups, riders and non-riders. Riders: will do a fast-paced ride along a dedicated bike path/greenway south towards the village of Argeles. Time permitting, they can then conquer the same peak as the pro-riders: Hautacam. Distance 41.2 kms (25.6 miles). Non-riders will transfer by van to our VIP viewing area at the base of Hautacam.  Once there, guests can relax at Spyns viewing camp with live Tour coverage, open bar, and catered lunch. Or you can join a rigorous pre-lunch hike up Hautacam, led by hunky French guide. After the stage, short walk to a traditional French restaurant for delectable dinner and local entertainment. Second night in Lourdes at the Grand Hotel Moderne****.      

Day 5 (July 22) Stage 19 start: Today is a day of options for the Spyns’ guests. Option 1: Early departure to see the TDF village and stage start in Castelnau (population 800). Option 2: Skip the stage to spend the entire day in Bordeaux.

Option 1: See the stage 19 start in Castlenau. Morning van transfer to Castlenau (travel time 1 hour) via Tarbes. Non-riders will travel directly to Spyns’ VIP stage viewing area in Castelnau (population 800), enjoy the TDF village, watch the pro riders depart and then head to Bordeaux, arriving shortly after lunch. Once in Bordeaux, choose your adventure: a bike tour of beautiful Bordeaux or a cooking class. Riders will be dropped off in Tarbes, the Pyrenees’ second-largest city after Pau. They will then enjoy a fast-paced ride through rolling hills to our stage viewing area in Castelnau 45.8 kms (28.4 miles). After the stage start, van transfer to Bordeaux to join the non-riders for a city bike tour or cooking class. Early evening departure traveling east to Perigueux, in Dordogne. Dinner and overnight in Perigueux at the Hotel Mercure****.   

Option 2: Take a day off the Tour, sleep in, and enjoy a late-morning departure for beautiful Bordeaux.  Bordeaux is the wine-growing jewel of Aquitaine and one of the most beautiful cities in France. Arrival in Bordeaux just in time for a wine tasting, lunch, and then choose your own adventure. Do both a bike tour and cooking class or just explore the city on your own. Early evening departure traveling east to Perigueux in Dordogne. Dinner and overnight in Perigueux at the Hotel Mercure****.        

Day 6 (July 23) Stage 20 Time Trial: Another day of options: Option 1: Skip the stage and head straight to Paris. Option 2: See the final individual time trial in medieval Rocamadour (population 700).

Option 1: Mid-morning departure for the train station followed by a high-speed (TGV) train to Paris. Travel time is four-five (4-5) hours. A Spyns’ guide will travel with you to expertly manage your arrival, shuttle to hotel, and check in. Once in Paris, enjoy an afternoon Seine river cruise, followed by an early evening bistro dinner. The other group will arrive in Paris around midnight.  

Option 2: Morning van departure, destination the medieval village of Rocamadour (population 700). The final stage before Paris will be an individual time trial. Your stage viewing area for the day will be a hotel right on the final climb of the time trial. Spyns has privatised a hotel terrace overlooking the racecourse. Like our other stage viewing areas, there will be WIFI, buffet lunch, open bar, and live (English) tour coverage. Both riders and non-riders will have the option to join an optional guided loop ride (23.2 kms / 14.4 miles) through the rolling hills along the Dordogne river and/or a walking tour of medieval Rocamadour. Following the stage, early evening bullet-train departure for Paris. Sandwiches and drinks provided on train to Paris. Caution: very long day and midnight arrival in Paris.  Two (2) nights at the fabulous Westin Paris****, right on the race course.       

Day 7 (July 24) Stage 21 Paris Finish: Spyns hosts its classic sunrise bike ride (fully guided and suitable for all abilities) on the Champs Elysees. Enjoy a fat-tire spin on the Tour de France race course when downtown Paris is closed to traffic. This is your once-in-a-lifetime chance to see the Paris finish line, bike around the Arc de Triomphe, ride down the Champs Elysees, whisk along the Seine River, and takes lots of pictures next to the Eiffel Tower. Following your ride, gourmet breakfast back at the hotel. Then watch the afternoon finish from our VIP room. No one does the Paris finish like Spyns. We privatise a presidential suite along the final leg of the racecourse. In addition to live Tour coverage, and open bar, there is a wraparound balcony with room for your 50 best friends. Enjoy eight (8) tour laps and a final victory lap, champagne glass in hand. Following the finish, send off dinner at the Eiffel Tower! Magnifique! Final night at the Westin Hotel****.

Day 8 (July 25) Departure: Sleep in, enjoy a final gourmet breakfast, say goodbye to your Spyns’ guides and fellow travelers.  Then it’s off to the airport or train station for the next leg of your journey. The perfect holiday!