TOUR DE FRANCE 2013 L’ALPE D’HUEZ TO PARIS CYCLING HOLIDAY - COACH 2 Including accommodation on L’Alpe d’Huez Monday 15th to Monday 22nd July 2013 With or Without Bikes

On this tour you will follow the final week of the 2013 Tour de France from Alpe d’Huez to Paris.

For those bringing bikes, you will be able to ride the famous climbs that feature on the 2013 Route du Tour, including, Alpe d’Huez, Col de Sarenne, Col du Glandon, Col de la Croix Fry, and Col de Semnoz. Apart from riding the climbs that feature on the 2013 TDF route, you will also have the opportunity to ride the famous Col du Galibier and Col du Lautaret.

On this tour we spend 3 nights at the ski station of L’Alpe d’Huez. Having accommodation on L’Alpe d’Huez for the Tour de France is a real bonus and you will be able to enjoy the unique atmosphere that the Alpe provides during the build up to the Tour de France arrival, as well as the festivities on race day.

Monday 15th July:
We will come and collect you from Paris Charles de Gaulle airport at 09.00hrs, 12.00hrs, 15.00hrs & 18.00hrs for transport to our Paris hotel, the 3 star Hotel Ibis Paris Berthier Porte de Clichy where we spend the night on B&B basis. Please indicate on your booking form your required collection time.

We have arranged for you to keep your bike box/ bag at the hotel for the duration of the tour as the bikes will travel fully assembled in a special bike trailer.

Tuesday 16th July:
After breakfast you will be able to load your bike onto the special bike trailer. We will leave Paris and travel to the Alps, and the ski station of Alpe d’Huez, where we will spend the next 3 nights on Dinner, Bed & Breakfast basis at Hotel Belle Aurore in the centre of the resort.

Being located at Alpe d’Huez for the Tour de France is a real asset and you will be able to enjoy the unique atmosphere that the Alpe provides during the build up to the Tour de France arrival, as well as the festivities on race day.

Wednesday 17th July:
Free day on Alpe d’Huez for riding and taking in the special atmosphere that only Alpe d’Huez can provide in the build up to the arrival of the Tour de France.

For those with bikes, there are many ride options available. You can ride to the Col du Galibier and back, or you can go to the Col du Glandon. There is also the TDF race circuit loop that the riders will do on the L’Alpe d’Huez stage, taking in the newly surfaced Col de Sarenne and climb of Alpe d’Huez.

For the non-cyclists, there are numerous activities at Alpe d’Huez like walking in the mountains, the ski lift to the glacier at Pic Blanc, mountain bike hire, indoor sports centre, swimming pools, tennis). Please note that all of these activities are subject to availability and local charges will apply.

Thursday 18th July:
The long awaited stage to the famous Alpe d’Huez and its 21 hair-pinned bends finally arrives, but this stage is different to any other past editions, as this year the mountain will be climbed twice!!, giving us the opportunity to see two fantastic ascents of this iconic climb.

Our location could not be better for accessing the most popular mountain stage of the 2013 Tour de France. Waking up in Alpe d’Huez only meters from the stage route is a real privilege.

After seeing the stage we spend the night in Alpe d’Huez along with the teams, race officials etc etc…

Friday 19th July:
As the riders of the Tour de France enter the final weekend of the race, they face a massive “5 Cols” mountain stage across the Alps from Bourg d’Oisans to the ski town of Le Grand Bornand. This is a 204km stage that takes in the Col du Glandon, Col de la Madeleine, Col de Tamie, Col de l’Epine and finally the very steep Col de la Croix Fry before finishing at Le Grand Bornand. This will be a very tough stage…..

After an early breakfast we descend L’Alpe d’Huez and travel to the stage. At the moment our intention is to travel to see the stage on the final climb of the stage, the Col de la Croix Fry that comes 13km from the finish.

Those with bikes will be able to ride the final climb of the stage, the Col de la Croix Fry, whilst those without bikes will be able to walk onto the lower slopes of the climb to see the stage.

After seeing the stage, we will travel the short distance to the town of Cluses where we will spend the next 2 nights on Dinner Bed & Breakfast at the Hotel Faucigny. The town of Cluses is excellent for accessing tomorrow’s final mountain stage from Annecy to the Col du Semnoz.

Saturday 20th July:
The penultimate stage of the Tour de France is usually a Time Trial. For the 100th edition, the TDF organizers are breaking with tradition and today’s stage will be a mountain stage that starts in the picturesque town of Annecy and finishes on top of the Col du Semnoz, a very hard mountain of 1700mts mountain that towers above the town of Annecy and Lake Annecy.

Our location in Cluses is ideal for accessing the stage. Those will bikes will be able to ride to Annecy and see the stage start before climbing the Col du Semnoz to see the finish of this crucial mountain stage, and the winner of the 100th Tour de France. Those without bikes will be taken by the bus to Annecy for the stage start, after which they will be able to see the finish on the lower slopes of the Semnoz mountain.

After seeing the stage we return to our hotel in Cluses.

Sunday 21st July:
The final stage of the 100th Tour de France will start from the Chateau of Versailles, and with another break in tradition, it will start in the evening arriving at the Champs Elysees for a nighttime finish and a fireworks celebration to commemorate 100 editions of the most famous bike race in the world.

After an early breakfast we will leave Cluses and travel to Paris for the final stage and post-race firework celebrations. Since today's stage will not start until the evening we have time to travel to Paris, check in to the hotel and get to the Champs Elysees.

We can offer a variety of grandstand seats and hospitality packages on the Champs Elysees (see below for supplement prices). For further information on these package, please contact our office.

After the post-race festivities we will return to the hotel Paris Berthier Porte de Clichy.

Monday 22nd July:
After breakfast we leave Paris. We will offer transfers from the hotel to Paris Charles de Gaulle airport at the following times 07.30hrs, 11.00hrs & 14.00hrs.

COST: £1109 INCLUDES: 7 Nights Bed & Buffet Breakfast accommodation 5 Evening meals Air conditioned coach transportation throughout Coach transfers to and from Paris hotel and Paris Charles de Gaulle airport at specific times Special bike trailer for the safe keeping & transport of your bike Guided bike rides Coloured maps with Tour de France route marked Detailed suggested bike rides Detailed itinerary Services of our guides DOES NOT INCLUDE: Drinks with meals Lunches Hotel extras (telephone, drinks, laundry) SINGLE ROOM SUPPLEMENT: £289 (Based on sole occupancy of a double room) CHAMPS ELYSEES GRAND PALAIS GRANDSTAND (Grandstand seat & soft drinks): SOLD OUT CHAMPS ELYSEES ELYSEE GRANDSTAND (Grandstand seat & soft drinks): £329 CHAMPS ELYSEES TRIOMPHE PACKAGE (Grandstand seat+Cocktail buffet & drinks): SOLD OUT Twin to share: If you would like to join us as a single traveller but you want to avoid the single supplement then you can make use of our 'twin to share' option. We will pair you up with another rider (of the same sex) and you can enjoy the event without having to pay extra. Simply click on the green button and select the twin to share option.

HOW TO BOOK: Click on the green button below. Adults 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 At time of booking we require a non-refundable deposit per person plus any applicable entry fee. The balance of your travel package must be paid, at the latest, 12 weeks before departure to avoid the cancellation of your trip. IMPORTANT INFORMATION: Visas are not required to enter France. You need a passport or a National Identity Card (see the website of the Identity and Passport Service (IPS)) to enter France. As a British passport holder or National Identity Card holder you may stay as a visitor for three months. For links to important websites, click here. All other non-UK passport holders must check their own country's entry requirements for France. For details of insurance for our travel packages, please visit our insurance page. There is additional information about our other Concierge Services on our special web page.

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