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8 days trip/strenuous

 « Le Tour de France » is a staged cycling competition that has fed the imaginations of millions of cycling lovers since 1903. Henri Desgrange, a journalist from L’Auto newspaper never imagined, when he created the tour to increase newspaper sales, that it would become the world’s biggest contemporary cycling race! A 3000km route across France, crossing its towns, countryside, mountains and its mountain passes before finishing at the Champs Elysées. For more than a month, from the beginning of July, the French roads selected for the event are bustling with thousands of spectators, not counting the 78 international TV channels broadcasting to millions of viewers in 170 countries! This tour remains the most prestigious cycling race in the world. So, ‘get in the saddle’ for the most legendary stages of this great circuit! Let your dreams become a reality, which you will never forget!!

Note: As part of our “customized tours”, this itinerary can be subject to personal adaptation depending on your wishes and desires! (tour extension, combination with others services, additional transportation, extra activities); just give us a call or contact us by email (for personalized services). We take great pleasure in sharing our knowledge of this magnificent country with you!!!

Your fitness:  you train regularly, you are in good shape and are used to riding over 100 kilometres in a day.
Distance: 100 to 120 kms per day depending on the incline
Duration: 8 days.
Leader: Marc LATIL, 46, has worked for 15 years as a Mountain Leader, taking his clients on discoveries in Asia (Nepal, China), the Pacific (New Zealand), Western US and in Colorado Plateau’s National Parks. He has lived in California (L.A.) for two years and he is now focusing on the Alps and Provence, his region of origin. Like the rest of our team he is passionate about this area and wishes to share its beauty and diversity with you!   
Staff and Accommodation: – We provide a bus and driver to transport your luggage between hotels. This bus will be our support vehicle. Linked by cell phone, our driver will be available at all times. You will only carry what you need for the day. The rest of your luggage will be carried by our support vehicle. In the morning, the driver will drop your luggage off at the accommodation, then, he will wait for the group, usually at the bottom of the last difficult stage of the day. He will be at the group’s disposal for any physical or mechanical problem.

Arrival / Departure

We will meet you on day 1 at Grenoble Train Station at 1pm. The driver of the support vehicle will be at the Station’s main exit.
On day 8 we will drop you off at Avignon Train Station

How to get to the meeting point:

For your journey in France, look at:
www.voyages.sncf.fr (national train transport company)
Parking: In most cases, you can leave your car in free parking lots close to the train stations or meeting points. 

Taking the train with your bike:

If you come by train to the meeting point, we strongly recommend that you put your bike in a protective cover! That way, it will be considered as normal luggage by train staff. Standard cover size is:  120X90 cm .

Day by day:

	Jour 1 (Transfer from Geneva  International Airport to Grenoble optional). Meet at Grenoble train station in the afternoon. Settle in at your hotel. Check all your gear for the following day! If we have time, there is the possibility of riding up a pass above Grenoble, towards the “Vercors” or “Chartreuse” mountain range. Hotel in Grenoble.   Jour 2 The first incredible day. After a short transfer to “La Mure”, we start climbing “Ornon Pass” (4483 ft) from here we can check out our last target of the day: The ascent to Alpe d’Huez! Down to “le Bourg d’Oisans” and then up to l’Alpe d’huez. Just imagine the public along the roadside, shouting your name!!! 60 miles/ 96 kms.  Hotel in “l’Alpe d’Huez” ski resort.
	Jour 3 Down the valley, back to le “Bourg d’Oisans”, and up to “Glandon ” (6310ft) and “Croix de Fer” pass (6780 ft) that will bring us into “Maurienne Valley” Down to “Saint-Jean-de-Marienne” where we reach our accommodation. 80 miles/128 kms. Jour 4 Today we cross the boarder between the Northern and Southern Alps. The first pass of the day is “Telegraph pass” (5136 ft), then we continue to “Galibier pass” one of the mythical passes of the “Tour de France”. Incredible view of “la Meige” summit (13064 ft) and the “Ecrins” mountain range. Then, descend to Briançon by the “Lautaret Pass” (6750 ft). Sightseeing in this fortified city with its famous “Vauban” castle! 80 miles / 128 kms. Hotel in Briançon.
	Jour 5 There are two major passes in our plan for today!! From “Briançon” up to the “Izoard pass” (9377 ft), down to “Guillestre”and up to the “Vars pass” (6917 ft) and finally, down to “Barcelonnette” with its famous Mexican houses. 100 miles / 160 kms. Hotel in “Barcelonnette”. Jour 6 Today’s stage brings us near to “Provence”. By the end of the day, we will be seeing olive trees instead of pine trees! From “Barcelonnette”, taking the “Cayolle pass” (7630 ft), the landscape changes totally as we enter the “Daluis gorges”. This narrow valley will remind you of parts of the “Colorado plateau” with its sandstone colours!! Arriving in “Saint-André-les-Alpes”, we take a one hour transfer by the historic “Napoléon road” to “les Mées”. 115 miles / 185 kms. Hotel in “les Mées”.
	Jour 7 Last but not least!! After one of the most picturesque trips of the tour, passing through Provencal lavender fields, we will “charge” the majestic “Mont Ventoux”!! (6039 ft). Cycling professionals often say that this stage is “a windy climbing road to a bare summit”!! But it’s worth the effort, at the top you are rewarded with an incredible view of Provence from the Mediterranean Sea to the “Rhone and Durance Valley”!!! Then descend to “Malaucene” and a short transfer to Avignon! Sightseeing in the “Popes’ city”. 115 miles / 185 kms. Hotel in Avignon. Jour 8 After breakfast, transfer to Avignon train station. (Transfer to Nice International Airport optional). Price : 2590 $

The price includes:
 With the normal itinerary the following services are included:
- Full board with:
- Lunch: picnics or supplies.
- Hotels: Dinner and full breakfast.
      – Guiding, over every stage of the tour, by a local expert, who will share his knowledge of the regional wildlife and culture.
      – Accommodation (double bedroom) in delightful hotels (three star hotels).
      – Luggage transport between hotels. The vehicle will be our support. Linked with cell phone, the driver is available at any time if need be. You will only carry what you need for the day. The rest of your belongings will be carried in our support vehicle. In the morning, the driver will take your luggage to the next accommodation stop. Then, he will come back to wait for the group, usually at the bottom of the last difficult stage of the day. He will be at the group’s disposal for any physical or mechanic problem.

The price doesn’t include:
-Basic medical and assistance insurance
-Your journey to the first meeting point
– Drinks in mountain refuges
– Extra journeys made in the event of bad weather affecting the itinerary
– Lunch on Days 1 and 8.
– All personal expenses
– Anything not detailed in the above section

 

More information on this trip, please contact us

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