"VIP Premium Alps and Arrival" Package

July 19th to July 28th

Possibly our best trip to the Tour de France ever!

If ever a trip was to be described in superlatives, this would be it. Incredible Tour Experience with behind the scenes access, the Alps, final Time Trial and arrival in Paris, the best hotels in each region and great staff to guest ratio, only begin to describe our most popular Tour experience for 2008. Pre-registrations have been numerous and availability is limited!

This trip will allow you to see the Tour from the inside. When we mean VIP access, we mean visit of the Press rooms, Technical Zones, visits guided by a representative of the Tour de France organization, visit of the Riders Zone, meeting personalities that have marked the Tour (former Tour winners, personalities, etc...).

Of course this trip take place over the stage of Alpe d'Huez, so in addition to having VIP access to a stage start and finish, you will also be able to...

Ride the final part of stage # 17 which finishes at Alpe d'Huez on closed roads, just before the Yellow Jersey and Peloton...

... This experience will include sag-wagon by our own accredited, on-course vans, being escorted by an official Tour de France vehicle over the final 20km, crossing of the actual finish line and pictures of yourself on the official Tour de France Podium. Of course other daily rides are planned as well.

You've dreamed of it; Can you stand not to be part of it?

Please read below for day by day description of the trip.

This trip is open to cyclist as well as those who prefer not to ride and restricted to 20 people to preserve its exclusive character.

- July 19th -

Hotel location: Chateau Arnoux St Auban

Our first hotel kicks off the trip in a terrific way. Set just West of Digne les Bains, it is in a perfect location for tomorrow's stage. Upon arriving at this "Relais Chateaux" property, we will check in and those riding will assemble bikes, our mechanic will be on hand to assist those who need a bit of help. Time allowing, we will take short ride to make sure everything is in proper working condition.

It will then be time to get together over a welcome toast, do proper introductions and go over the next few day's fun and action... of course a gourmet dinner will follow!

- July 20th -

Hotel location: Col du Lautaret

Tour Stage 15  /   Digne les Bains  - Prato Nevoso  /  216km (134 miles)

This is our first day on the Tour, and we kick things off in a terrific way as we will be treated to the "start Village" in Digne-les-Bains. This village should open around 10:00am or so, so we will have a bit of time before driving over this morning. Our cycling will be schedule for after the stage departure.

In Digne, we will be greeted by a person from ASO who will show us around the area and explain how things work. Thanks to our passes, we will access the rider's area, meet some of the racers, see them warm-up, meet Directeurs Sportif, personalities, possible visit of team bus, etc.

Tour starts are often a favorite part of our trips as the interaction with the riders/teams is unparalleled.

Once the peloton is off, we will do our own ride and rally our next hotel located in the heart of the Alps on the col du Lautaret. We should arrive in time to catch the arrival on TV and see who crosses the line first in the mountain top finish of Pratonevoso.

Pratonevoso

- July 21st -

Tour Stage: Rest Day

Galibier from Lautaret Side

Today marks the second and final rest day on the 2008 Tour de France. From our hotel we have access to many great climbs of the Alps. Most notably the col d'Izoard. Sestriere and the col du Galibier are well within reach. We're only 2 days out from our big stage ride up Alpe d'Huez, and our hotel is in an ideal location to try the col de Granon as well. This climb is often sited for being very similar to that of Alpe d'Huez, so those who wish to get a glimpse of the famous climb is like, will be able to try their legs on the col de Granon!

This is also a very good day to experience some of the amenities our hotel has to offer and

those who wish will also be able to visit nearby Briancon; the highest city in the EEC.

Because of its location, Briancon is rich in history. Louis the XIVth decided to build fortifications in the late 17th Century and much of the efforts are still visible today!

Col de Granon

Briancon

Briancon

Izoard from Briancon

Sestriere

Today and tomorrow's stage are quite possibly the 2 most important stages in this year's Tour.... and we'll have exclusive access to both!

The pro peloton will be going over a "short" stage which features two monstrous climbs; the col de la Lombarde and col de la Bonette. The arrival will take place after the steep24k downhill of the later climb.

We will be there to see who crosses the finish line first as we will have passes to access the exclusive VIP Izoard hospitality area overlooking the finish line.
Here hostesses will serve drinks and snacks while watching the live broadcast on Big Screen and TV. After seeing the stage finish from this exclusive viewing area champagne will be served to celebrate the stage winner.
The Izoard bus is among the more exclusive areas at stage finishes and you should expect to see/meet plenty of Tour celebrities.
 

Of course, we have rides planned and we'll ride from our hotel to the arrival of the stage! Two options are available. Riding over the famous col d'Izoard followed by col de Vars, or skipping the Izoard and riding the col de Vars "only".

Col de Vars

Col de la Lombarde

Col de la Bonette

Today's stage will finish with the climb to Alpe d'Huez, which is most likely the world's most famous cycling climb. A win on Alpe d'Huez is every cyclist's dream. in addition this is the final "high mountain" stage of the 2008 Tour and two other monuments of cycling - col du Galibier and col de la Croix de Fer - are also featured today. Of course we'll be in Alpe d'Huez to witness history in the making.

Who will be first to cross the finish line today? Will Cadel Evans or Levi Leipheimer create a surprise? Will it be an Italian specialist: Cunego or Simoni? Will it be a Spanish climber: Contador or Valverde?

The answer is... YOU!!!

If you've ever had the dream of riding a Tour de France stage along roads filled with spectators and raise your arms to the sky as you cross the finish-line, today is the day it comes true... and it happens on Alpe d'Huez!!!

Those who wish to ride on this trip will be able to ride about 130km on course today going over the Col de la Croix de Fer and up Alpe d'Huez. Another option is to ride from the hotel over the col du Lautaret, approx 65km

Custom Getaways vehicles with on-course accreditation will be accompanying you and providing an extra lift if necessary, and an official Tour de France vehicle will escort us over the final few kms of the course and you will cross the finish line on closed roads just a couple of hours or so before the Peloton.

Once this ride of a lifetime is complete, the dream will continue; you will be invited to climb the official podium where we will take souvenir pictures. Those not riding will be driven over the final kms, will enjoy the excitement of the climb, climb the podium, etc.

What a day! But it's not over...

We'll be directly overlooking the finish line to see how the pros stack up as we will have special access to the "Bulle Mangeas". Daniel Mangeas is the French commentator for the Tour de France ("La voix du Tour").

But that's not all... once the stage is over, we will evacuate the top of the mountain by Helicopter to get to our hotel in Grenoble.

This is an incredible day on the Tour and one that we are already looking forward to!

Schleck & Cunego on AdH - 2006

Alpe d'Huez profile

- July 24th -

After the past few days spent in the Alps, the Tour will head out of the mountain range on a couple of transition stages.

We'll be leaving the Alps ourselves to work our way to the heart of the Burgundy region ; Beaune. Beaune is one of France's most interesting cities: its famous basilica, hospice, bell tower and ramparts are part of its heritage.

The past few days were all about the climbs, so we thought we would schedule the perfect ride to get ride of some of the lactic acid buildup. We will ride a great bike trail from just North of Macon to beautiful Beaune. On the way we will stop for a nice picnic lunch and should be able to catch the end of the stage on TV.

Those not riding will be able to stop along the way - parallel to the cycling route - in places such as Cluny and its basilica.

Our excellent hotel is located in the center of Beaune. Once a private residence, it features a magnificent tower and a most beautiful stone staircase. An ancient artesian well and Renaissance medallions sculpted into rock can be found in the hotel square.

We will be spending the next couple of evenings here, so there will be time to experience this wonderful city, it's world renowned wines and culinary delights.

- July 25th -

Hotel location: Beaune

Tour Stage 19  /   Roanne  -  Montlucon  /  163km (101 miles)

If July 23rd was an amazing day on the Tour, this will be amazing day in Burgundy. We will start our day with an early hot-air balloon ride over the region's vineyards and landmarks.

The balloon flight itself lasts about 1h30mn  while the entire excursion takes about three hours. This includes the preparation and inflation of the balloon in the open air and afterwards, the traditional balloonist landing toast – very important!

We will have a mid to late morning ride and the morning flight plan allowing, we will plan on stopping for lunch at producer's domain.

The afternoon will be spent at leisure in Beaune visiting or relaxing.

We will then gather for dinner which will be set in a beautiful vaulted wine cellar. A great way to spend our last evening in the wine capital of Burgundy!

- July 26th -

Tour Stage 20  /  Cerilly  - Saint Amand Montrond  /  53km (34 miles)

Either way, bikes, will need to be boxed and brought up to our hotel in Paris during the day as Paris will be in lock-down mode for the Tour de France final stage starting this evening.

- July 27th -

Hotel location: Paris

Tour Stage 21  /   Etampes  - Paris Champs-Elysees   /  143km (89 miles)

This is what every professional cyclist aspires to; the arrival of the Tour de France on the Champs-Elysees!

Who will be wearing yellow on the Champs Elysees tonight? We will find out today as we watch the arrival from our viewing suites overlooking the Champs-Elysees avenue. We will be able to watch the start of the race on TV as it enters Paris while celebrating and catching the mood of the immense crowd below.

Once the Tour festivities are over, we will get ready for a great dining experience. This year again we will be renting an entire boat for our dinner-cruise along the Seine river. Great food and unbelievable sight-seeing of Paris by night will end our “sensory overloaded day”!!!

Our 4 Star hotel is located within walking distance of the Champs Elysees, our viewing suites and the dinner cruise.

- July 28th -

Tour...  not until next year!

Goodbyes and transfer to Paris CDG airport or....... Option to Visit Paris for a few days (read about this option below)