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grand tour experiences

Get up close to the pros, ride their legendary roads and experience life like a local...

Enjoy the best of both worlds: exceptional riding on the Tour de France's iconic climbs, time to immerse yourself in the local culture and the excitement of seeing the pros in action. With quality accommodation and a comfortable home base, you can enjoy a more relaxed, immersive cycling experience – spending your days on spectacular mountain roads and your evenings discovering the local cafés, restaurants and bars, without the daily rush of following the race.
FULLY SUPPORTED
All our tours are fully supported, with Velo Tours riders on the road and support vans stocked with food and water. If you need a break or want to finish riding for the day, our support team is always there to help.
General Information
Locations: France
The Tour de France travels across the country over 21 stages and two rest days. Rather than following the race from town to town, we settle into carefully selected locations for several nights, within easy reach of the stages and iconic mountain climbs. It's the best of both worlds: exceptional cycling, quality accommodation and time to enjoy the local culture, with the added excitement of experiencing the race up close.
Tour duration: 10 - 12 days
Our Tour de France tours are based in the French Pyrenees and Alps, timed to coincide with the race as it passes through each region. Over 10–12 days, you'll enjoy exceptional riding on the region's iconic climbs, experience 2–3 stages of the race up close and have time to immerse yourself in the local culture. When the race route allows, we also offer an extended Grand Tour of 18–20 days, combining both regions into one unforgettable cycling holiday.
Time of Year: July
Our Tour de France tours run from early to late July, timed to coincide with the race as it passes through the mountains. Each year, the tour sequence varies depending on whether the race reaches the Alps or Pyrenees first. We don't travel to Paris, but our tours generally finish in time for you to make your own way there and experience the excitement of the race finale if you wish.

Where do we stay?

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Villas
Our Pyrenees Tour is a home-base style holiday, beginning in the charming mountain town of Bagnères-de-Luchon. Settle into a beautifully restored 17th-century villa in the heart of town for a full week, with no need to move accommodation. Enjoy the relaxed local atmosphere, catch up with our friends at Billy's Bar and immerse yourself in French mountain life. We also spend time at a quality four-star cycling hotel in Lourdes, ideally located for exploring some of the region's other iconic climbs.
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Chalets
Like our Pyrenees tours, our Alps experience is centred around a week-long stay in one location, giving you time to settle in, enjoy the local atmosphere and ride the region's iconic climbs. Our accommodation is in modern ski chalets in the heart of town, offering a comfortable place to unwind after a big day on the bike. Catch the Tour de France stages on TV, or relax together on the deck with a cold beer or glass of rosé while soaking up the mountain atmosphere.
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3-4 Star Hotels
As the Tour de France and Giro d'Italia follow a different route each year, our itineraries sometimes include stays of two to three nights in other locations to experience the race along the way. Wherever possible, we choose our favourite family-run hotels, complemented by quality three- and four-star accommodation selected for its cyclist-friendly facilities and central location. This gives you the freedom to explore each town at your own pace and enjoy the local cafés, restaurants and culture.

our GRAND tour experiences

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Italy | 12 days
group enquiries only >>>
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Pyrenees, FRANCE | 10 days
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Alps, FRANCE | 10 days