Non-riders tour, VIP stage viewings, see two regions (the Pyrenees & Paris); four TDF stages including the final time trial and Paris finish; fully guided; full itinerary for non-riders with guided hikes and rafting to name a few. In Paris join an optional morning ‘fat tire’ ride up the Champs Elysées on race finish day; send off dinner at the Eiffel Tower’s restaurant ‘Le 58’.
TOUR INFORMATION
Spyns’ 7-day tours take you to two regions (the spectacular Pyrenees and then Paris) while letting guests experience the final four stages, including the stage 21 Paris finish. Spyns’ signature classic tours are designed for those who love the Tour de France, but strictly off two wheels. Back in 2003, we realized that while you may love the Tour de France, not everyone is Froome on a bike. And voila! We created our classic tours like a perfect dinner: we provide the menu and you simply choose what you want. Everyone enjoys breakfast, dinner, and up to 4 tour stages together, but the rest is up to you. When not enjoying the Tour from our VIP viewing areas, non-riders have a full itinerary of shopping, guided hikes, and light adventure. But everyone hops on a city bike for relaxed ride along the Paris finish racecourse when the Champs Elysees is closed to traffic. The morning ride Paris finish day has become a Spyns’ tradition. In a word…magnifique!
July 24 – Day 1 Start Pau (Pyrenees)
Meet your guides at Pau’s central train station for a 12:30 p.m. transfer to your first hotel. After check in, you’ll have have two options: option 1 will be a guided afternoon hike along the foothills near your hotel (moderate difficulty) or take option 2 and enjoy some light adventure through an activity called parapenting. Parapenting is a two-person parasail (like a parachute) jump. You and a hunky French guide run down a slope, take flight, and then fly down to the valley below. Flying time is between 10-20 minutes depending on the weather conditions. Once back at your hotel, the group will enjoy cocktails and then dinner on the hotel’s terrace with stunning views of the surrounding mountains.
July 25 – Day 2 Pyrenees
After a hearty breakfast, the non-riders will enjoy a late morning of white water rafting in the nearby “Gave” river. These are moderate rapids, suitable for most paddling abilities. Following a hot shower and lunch, relax on the hotel terrace with that perfect book or join an optional afternoon hike through the foothills near your hotel in Pierrefitte.
July 26 – Day 3 Pyrenees: Stage 18 Finish Pau
After breakfast, van transfer to Lourdes for a guided walking tour and lunch in one of the most visited city’s in France. Following lunch, take a short train ride to Pau (the region’s capital) to watch the exciting stage 18 finish from Spyns’ VIP viewing area, complete with live TV coverage and open bar. After the stage finish, bus transfer back to your hotel for a late dinner on the hotel’s spectacular terrace with breathtaking views of the mountains.
July 27 – Day 4 Pyrenees / Transfer Day: Stage 19
After gourmet breakfast (stop counting the calories!), today is another day of exciting TDF stage viewing. Van transfer back to Lourdes to enjoy the TDF’s starting village complete with team buses, pro riders warming up, and countless vendors. Then van transfer up the mountain to our VIP viewing area on the Col du Soulor (one of the final climbs of today’s race). The group will enjoy Spyns’ classic VIP stage viewing with tents, outdoor barbecue, open bar, and live TDF coverage. After the stage, we’ll have a relaxed dinner on the mountain before evening bus transfer to seaside Biarritz where the group will spend a restful night before heading up to Paris.
July 28 – Day 5 Biarritz: Stage 20 Individual Time Trial
Two options today: skip the stage and head straight to Paris or enjoy the all-day time trial in nearby Souraïde. Option 1 Skip the Stage: Had enough of the tour? No problem. Sleep in or join a morning cooking class followed by early afternoon train to Paris. A guide will accompany you to Paris and get you settled in your Paris hotel. Free evening in Paris and free night for dinner although a guide will be on hand to make dinner reservations if you’d like. Option 2 Time Trial Stage Viewing: Morning bus transfer to nearby Souraïde, a small Basque village located along the day’s time trail route. Experience the all-day individual time trial. In past Tours of France, the final time trial has often determined the race’s winner. Spyns will set up its classic VIP viewing village with unparalleled roadside access to the race course. Again we’ll provide TVs showing live tour coverage, food, and open bar. After the stage, evening train to Paris arriving just before midnight. Nicknamed the “party train,” Spyns will provide both food, drink, and often music, on this fun train trip to Paris.
July 29 – Day 6 Paris: Stage 21 Paris Finish
Spyns hosts its classic morning bike ride (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. What are fat-tires? These are thicker and slightly deflated tires perfect for riding on the cobblestone streets of Paris. This is a once-in-a-lifetime chance to bike around the Arc de Triomphe, down the Champs Elysees, and take a few pictures near the finish, all before return ride along the Seine and Eiffel Tower. After a late breakfast, watch the race from the Spyns’ VIP room with open bar, food, and unbeatable balcony views of the race course. Final send off dinner at the Eiffel Tower.
July 30 – Day 7 Paris: Departure
Sleep off the week’s excesses, enjoy a late breakfast, or get in that last bit of shopping before departure. The perfect holiday!
Days 1-3 (July 24-26)
Grand Hotel***
Pierrefitte-Nestalas, Pyrenees | Rooms – 25
Our Review : The Grand Hotel exudes a rare 1930s luxury you’d normally find more at home in New England. But we are indeed in the Pyrenees. Spyns has been coming back to this charming hotel for the past six years and we almost have the run of the place. Located in a small village just south of Lourdes, it is the best location to explore the majestic Pyrenees.
Pros : Location: With terrific views of the central Pyrenees, the hotel has an unbeatable location near famous climbs like Soulor and Aubisque. The hotel is quiet, well-appointed, and expertly managed.
Cons : The hotel is somewhat isolated, so no shopping nearby, but nonetheless a relaxing way to start your tour.
Day 4 (July 27)
Hotel Le Gamaritz***
Biarritz, Bay of Biscay (Western Pyrenees) | Rooms – 12
Our Review : This is the first time a Spyns’ group will stay in beautiful Biarritz, France’s famous Atlantic seaside getaway. Naturally we chose a hotel right in Biarritz the Gamartiz is everything we wanted and more. Located right in the heart of historic Biarritz, just a short walk from the beach, this hotel has been expertly managed by the same owners for years.
Pros : Location: centre of Biarritz just a short walk from the beach. Rooms: very comfortable and clean rooms. Breakfast: hotel has one of the better breakfast buffets in France.
Cons : Rooms can be a bit small, cramped even. Noise may be na issue as there are a few bars and restaurants nearby. Furnishings are rather standard.
Days 5-7 (July 28-30)
Hotel Saint James Albany****
202 Rue de Rivoli, 75001 Paris, France | Rooms – 200
Our Review : Paris at its best. A Spyns favorite, this Paris hotel is the best place to see and be seen during the Tour de France. Not only is the hotel right along the race course, it boats its own swimming pool and spa (rare for crowded Paris). Online reviews were mixed so our president stayed at the hotel in early 2014 and gave it a thumbs up. Moreover, the recently completed renovations have given the rooms a newer, more modern look.
Pros : Location: right on the Rue de Rivoli, a few blocks from the Louvre, Seine, and three blocks away from the Place de la Concorde and Champs Elysees. Service: You get what you pay for. One of the better breakfasts in Paris. Over the top service for over the top prices. Comfort: Some of the best and most comfortable beds in France.
Cons : While the rooms have been renovated, they still lack a certain amount of style. Bathrooms could be larger and better appointed.
This is a non-riding tour although Spyns’ guests will have the opportunity to bike the Champs Elysees the morning of the Paris finish. On July 29th (day 6 of your tour) rise early and join our traditional pre-finish ride on the Champs Elysees before the pro riders wheel into town. Following your ride around the Arc de Triomphe, under the Eiffel Tower, and through the Louvre, full buffet breakfast at your Paris hotel. Ride is suitable for all riding abilities. Distance 7 kms / 4.3 miles.
- + OVERVIEW
-
Spyns’ 7-day tours take you to two regions (the spectacular Pyrenees and then Paris) while letting guests experience the final four stages, including the stage 21 Paris finish. Spyns’ signature classic tours are designed for those who love the Tour de France, but strictly off two wheels. Back in 2003, we realized that while you may love the Tour de France, not everyone is Froome on a bike. And voila! We created our classic tours like a perfect dinner: we provide the menu and you simply choose what you want. Everyone enjoys breakfast, dinner, and up to 4 tour stages together, but the rest is up to you. When not enjoying the Tour from our VIP viewing areas, non-riders have a full itinerary of shopping, guided hikes, and light adventure. But everyone hops on a city bike for relaxed ride along the Paris finish racecourse when the Champs Elysees is closed to traffic. The morning ride Paris finish day has become a Spyns’ tradition. In a word…magnifique!
- + ITINERARY
-
July 24 – Day 1 Start Pau (Pyrenees)
Meet your guides at Pau’s central train station for a 12:30 p.m. transfer to your first hotel. After check in, you’ll have have two options: option 1 will be a guided afternoon hike along the foothills near your hotel (moderate difficulty) or take option 2 and enjoy some light adventure through an activity called parapenting. Parapenting is a two-person parasail (like a parachute) jump. You and a hunky French guide run down a slope, take flight, and then fly down to the valley below. Flying time is between 10-20 minutes depending on the weather conditions. Once back at your hotel, the group will enjoy cocktails and then dinner on the hotel’s terrace with stunning views of the surrounding mountains.
July 25 – Day 2 Pyrenees
After a hearty breakfast, the non-riders will enjoy a late morning of white water rafting in the nearby “Gave” river. These are moderate rapids, suitable for most paddling abilities. Following a hot shower and lunch, relax on the hotel terrace with that perfect book or join an optional afternoon hike through the foothills near your hotel in Pierrefitte.
July 26 – Day 3 Pyrenees: Stage 18 Finish Pau
After breakfast, van transfer to Lourdes for a guided walking tour and lunch in one of the most visited city’s in France. Following lunch, take a short train ride to Pau (the region’s capital) to watch the exciting stage 18 finish from Spyns’ VIP viewing area, complete with live TV coverage and open bar. After the stage finish, bus transfer back to your hotel for a late dinner on the hotel’s spectacular terrace with breathtaking views of the mountains.
July 27 – Day 4 Pyrenees / Transfer Day: Stage 19
After gourmet breakfast (stop counting the calories!), today is another day of exciting TDF stage viewing. Van transfer back to Lourdes to enjoy the TDF’s starting village complete with team buses, pro riders warming up, and countless vendors. Then van transfer up the mountain to our VIP viewing area on the Col du Soulor (one of the final climbs of today’s race). The group will enjoy Spyns’ classic VIP stage viewing with tents, outdoor barbecue, open bar, and live TDF coverage. After the stage, we’ll have a relaxed dinner on the mountain before evening bus transfer to seaside Biarritz where the group will spend a restful night before heading up to Paris.
July 28 – Day 5 Biarritz: Stage 20 Individual Time Trial
Two options today: skip the stage and head straight to Paris or enjoy the all-day time trial in nearby Souraïde. Option 1 Skip the Stage: Had enough of the tour? No problem. Sleep in or join a morning cooking class followed by early afternoon train to Paris. A guide will accompany you to Paris and get you settled in your Paris hotel. Free evening in Paris and free night for dinner although a guide will be on hand to make dinner reservations if you’d like. Option 2 Time Trial Stage Viewing: Morning bus transfer to nearby Souraïde, a small Basque village located along the day’s time trail route. Experience the all-day individual time trial. In past Tours of France, the final time trial has often determined the race’s winner. Spyns will set up its classic VIP viewing village with unparalleled roadside access to the race course. Again we’ll provide TVs showing live tour coverage, food, and open bar. After the stage, evening train to Paris arriving just before midnight. Nicknamed the “party train,” Spyns will provide both food, drink, and often music, on this fun train trip to Paris.
July 29 – Day 6 Paris: Stage 21 Paris Finish
Spyns hosts its classic morning bike ride (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. What are fat-tires? These are thicker and slightly deflated tires perfect for riding on the cobblestone streets of Paris. This is a once-in-a-lifetime chance to bike around the Arc de Triomphe, down the Champs Elysees, and take a few pictures near the finish, all before return ride along the Seine and Eiffel Tower. After a late breakfast, watch the race from the Spyns’ VIP room with open bar, food, and unbeatable balcony views of the race course. Final send off dinner at the Eiffel Tower.
July 30 – Day 7 Paris: Departure
Sleep off the week’s excesses, enjoy a late breakfast, or get in that last bit of shopping before departure. The perfect holiday!
- + HOTELS
-
Days 1-3 (July 24-26)
Grand Hotel***
Pierrefitte-Nestalas, Pyrenees | Rooms – 25
Our Review : The Grand Hotel exudes a rare 1930s luxury you’d normally find more at home in New England. But we are indeed in the Pyrenees. Spyns has been coming back to this charming hotel for the past six years and we almost have the run of the place. Located in a small village just south of Lourdes, it is the best location to explore the majestic Pyrenees.
Pros : Location: With terrific views of the central Pyrenees, the hotel has an unbeatable location near famous climbs like Soulor and Aubisque. The hotel is quiet, well-appointed, and expertly managed.
Cons : The hotel is somewhat isolated, so no shopping nearby, but nonetheless a relaxing way to start your tour.
Day 4 (July 27)
Hotel Le Gamaritz***
Biarritz, Bay of Biscay (Western Pyrenees) | Rooms – 12
Our Review : This is the first time a Spyns’ group will stay in beautiful Biarritz, France’s famous Atlantic seaside getaway. Naturally we chose a hotel right in Biarritz the Gamartiz is everything we wanted and more. Located right in the heart of historic Biarritz, just a short walk from the beach, this hotel has been expertly managed by the same owners for years.
Pros : Location: centre of Biarritz just a short walk from the beach. Rooms: very comfortable and clean rooms. Breakfast: hotel has one of the better breakfast buffets in France.
Cons : Rooms can be a bit small, cramped even. Noise may be na issue as there are a few bars and restaurants nearby. Furnishings are rather standard.
Days 5-7 (July 28-30)
Hotel Saint James Albany****
202 Rue de Rivoli, 75001 Paris, France | Rooms – 200
Our Review : Paris at its best. A Spyns favorite, this Paris hotel is the best place to see and be seen during the Tour de France. Not only is the hotel right along the race course, it boats its own swimming pool and spa (rare for crowded Paris). Online reviews were mixed so our president stayed at the hotel in early 2014 and gave it a thumbs up. Moreover, the recently completed renovations have given the rooms a newer, more modern look.
Pros : Location: right on the Rue de Rivoli, a few blocks from the Louvre, Seine, and three blocks away from the Place de la Concorde and Champs Elysees. Service: You get what you pay for. One of the better breakfasts in Paris. Over the top service for over the top prices. Comfort: Some of the best and most comfortable beds in France.
Cons : While the rooms have been renovated, they still lack a certain amount of style. Bathrooms could be larger and better appointed.
- + RIDING INFO
-
This is a non-riding tour although Spyns’ guests will have the opportunity to bike the Champs Elysees the morning of the Paris finish. On July 29th (day 6 of your tour) rise early and join our traditional pre-finish ride on the Champs Elysees before the pro riders wheel into town. Following your ride around the Arc de Triomphe, under the Eiffel Tower, and through the Louvre, full buffet breakfast at your Paris hotel. Ride is suitable for all riding abilities. Distance 7 kms / 4.3 miles.
