Spectator Short Paris & Lyon

Welcome to France! We will be meeting in the lobby of our Lyon hotel at noon. This hotel will be home for two nights and is strategically located for our race activities in the next couple of days.

After we meet in the lobby, we’ll hit the ground running and will transfer to the finish of today’s stage in the beautiful town of Bourg-en-Bress. We will tour the official podium and have pictures taken individually and as a group.

According to le Tour’s director, Christian Prudhomme, “The sprinters will have needed to show real determination to get through the shock of the Tour’s stint in the Alps. They’ll be rewarded with a stage where the route avoids the hills and should facilitate their return front and centre. On the straight final kilometre, they’ll be able to get right up to maximum speed again.”

We’ll have the opportunity to be at the finish area in our Izoard VIP venue. Located near the finish line, this venue has snacks, drinks, beer,TVs and private restrooms…a great way to see the race! Champagne will be served at the end to toast the stage winner.

Tonight we’ll enjoy a welcome dinner in the hotel restaurant. In addition to meeting our fellow travel guests at dinner, we’ll go over the itinerary for the trip. Each guest will receive a gift from Custom Getaways and from Tour de France. You will also receive a discount card for 30% off official le Tour merchandise.

Good morning. We start today with a transfer to the Start Village in Moirans-en Montagne. You will love the energy of le Tour! We’ll have VIP access to the departure village with coffee, snacks, tour officials and merchandise tents. You will also be able to see the riders interviewed at the sign-in stage before they begin this important mountain stage.

After the racers depart, you will have time for lunch in town before we make our way back to Lyon. Along the way, we will stop for a winery tour and tasting. This region, located between Burgundy and the Rhone valley offers some unique wines and authentic French scenery.

Tonight you will be on your own for dinner. Outside the hotel is a local train/metro that travels into Lyon center. You’ll have many restaurants to choose from in addition to enjoying the Lyon scene.

We will get an early start this morning and take the train to Paris. After dropping our luggage at the hotel, just blocks from the Champs Elysees, we’ll walk to the river Seine for a lunch cruise.

Our cruise will start south and pass Notre Dame, Musse d’Orsay and other sights before turning around and heading north to the Eiffel Tower. We will enjoy a late lunch with drinks as we watch stage 20 on TV. It is a fun way to watch the race in an inspiring setting!

After the race ends, we will stroll up the Champs Elysees to our hotel. You can stop at a cafe for a quick bite or make a reservation at a Paris legend like Foquet’s.

You will have some free time this morning to explore Paris. Our hotel is within walking distance of the Arc de Triomph and the Champs Elysees…so many options from which to choose.

We will meet as a group around 14:00 and walk to the Grand Palais grand stands to view the finish of le Tour. Located on the Champs Elysees, this VIP venue offers soft drinks, beer and TVs to watch the race before it passes in front of us 8 times and then 8 times on the other side. Guests also receive a gift from le Tour organizers.

You’ll be on your own to stroll back to the hotel at your leisure or stop at one of the many restaurants along the Champs Elysees.

Check out of your hotel by noon or extend your stay in the City of Light. Guests are responsible for their transfers from the hotel. Custom Getaways hopes you have amazing memories of this unique experience.

We hope to see you again soon. Au Revoir!