2016 will be OBT’s 16th year of leading Tour de France bike tours. Come join us for another year of amazing riding and racing!
Have you dreamt of riding the same route as the pros in the Tour de France? Have you ever craved cycling through the mountains of Switzerland? If so, we have the perfect bicycle vacation for you!
- On our 9-day/8-night tour, you will not only ride the same epic roads as the pros–you will also witness up to 5 stages. And you will be able to get up close and personal with the pros during their Rest Day!
- We begin in Bern, Switzerland, follow the race through the Northern Alps, and then finish our tour in beautiful Paris.
- What is included? – Hotels (located in prime locations for race viewing), all breakfasts, most dinners, all luggage transfers, road support, and detailed route notes, maps and GPS courses.
- All of our hotels are 3 star. All breakfasts and most dinners are included. The food is delicious and the views stunning.
- Also included: an OBT cycling jersey, and a Tour Photo Book using photos from our tour.
See below for more details. Or…
REQUEST THE COMPLETE TOUR BROCHURE BY FILLING OUT THE FORM TO THE RIGHT!
Click HERE to return to the main TdF page.
Itinerary for our 2016 Tour de France Tour:
Day 1: July 17th – Sunday – Arrive in Bern
We will be staying a lovely hotel within a short walking distance of Bern’s old town. After picking you up from the train station we will have a very short transfer to the hotel. Our welcome dinner is this evening after a meet-and-greet reception.
Day 2: July 18th – Monday – Warm-up Ride around Bern & Stage Stage 16 Finish
Wake up in the Swiss Alps ready for a warm-up ride! We will have tools and work stands to help you build up your bikes. If you have a rental bike we will fit you to your steed. We will enjoy a warm-up ride in the surrounding area, and then head to the finishing area for the exciting stage finish. Dinner is on your own tonight.
Day 3: July 19th – Tuesday – Rest Day in Bern
A TdF Rest Day presents an unique opportunity to connect with the riders as they relax and enjoy the day. We will visit team hotels, and time our daily ride to coincide with the pros short Rest Day ride. Dinner is included tonight.
Jens at breakfast on Rest Day in Vaison La Romaine in 2013
Day 4: July 20th – Wednesday – Stage 17 Start & Transfer to Thonon-Les-Bains
We have two exciting options today. First, we can see the stage start in Bern. Second, we can see the race towards the end of the stage near Finhaut-Emosson, a remote dam at the Swiss-French border near Mt. Blanc. It is a beautiful area! We will transfer to the southern shores of Lake Geneva to our next hotel. Dinner is at the hotel in Thonon-Les Bains when we arrive.
Day 5: July 21st – Thursday – Sallanches-Megeve Time Trial
Time trials are an excellent time to have close encounters with the riders. They will be racing one by one uphill, and we’ll be there to watch. Before the time trail we’ll have a beautiful ride through the Alps to view the stage. Dinner is again at the hotel.
Day 6: July 22nd – Friday – Lake Geneva Ride
Lake Geneva is a stunning destination for a bike ride. We’ll make the most of the morning by riding in the area. Along the way we will have a special outing, then make our way back to Thonon to watch the stage on TV. Dinner is on your own tonight in Thonon.
Day 7: July 23rd – Saturday – Stage 20 Viewing & Area Riding
We are a short ride from the stage finish in Morzine. You can either ride directly to the finish area and soak in the festivities or enjoy a longer ride and see the racing excitement on the final climb – Col de Joux Plane. Our farewell dinner is at the hotel.
Day 8: July 24th – Sunday – Transfer to Paris & Final Stage Viewing
Today we transfer to Paris including a ride on a TGV. The transfer is epic, with a dramatic transition from the calmness of the shores of Lake Geneva to the bustling “City of Love”. A morning departure from Thonon will put you into the middle of the party atmosphere on the Champs Elysees in enough time to see the pros ride into town for the final stage! Train tickets are included in your tour fee. Make sure you wait for the parade of teams and podium ceremony after the stage finish. Afterwards, walk the very short distance from the Arc de Triomphe and Champs Elysees to our hotel. Our hotel is very central to all the sites in Paris – after the celebrations take an evening stroll along the Seine to the Eiffel Tower. Dinner is on your own in Paris.
Day 9: July 25th
Departure day! Transportation to the airport is easy from our hotel – the Air France shuttle and Metro stops are nearby. Or stay in Paris for a few days. Bon voyage! We hope you enjoyed your tour with Outfitter Bicycle Tours!
What is included:
- All hotel accommodations.
- Luggage transfers from hotel to hotel.
- OBT cycling jersey!
- Tour photo book, using shared photos you take during your tour.
- Meals as explained in the tour itinerary pages above. Usually this means all breakfasts, no lunches, and some dinners.
- Detailed route notes, maps, and tourist information.
- Outstanding routing instructions for all rides! This includes GPS course downloads for your GPS unit, traditional cue sheet, and written prose describing each turn and the surrounding area. These methods are then supported by a road map.
- Your personal guides, helping you with support vehicles. On road support will always be near. From greeting guests when they arrive, to handling luggage transfers, mechanical issues, etc – our guides assist guests in every way. They also set you up on your rental bikes, and can help with routing, and any other questions.
What is not included:
- Transportation to and from the start and finish locations.
- Bikes, but we have rental bikes available.
- Travel and Health Insurance.
- Admission to sightseeing venues, unless explicitly mentioned as included.
Click HERE to return to the main TdF page.
Come join us on one of the best Tour de France Tours!
