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Itinerary

Tuesday, July 9th: Lourdes
Arrival day
Accommodation: Hotel ALBA ****
Meals included: Dinner

Welcome to Lourdes, and the start of your Tour de France experience!

At leisure in Lourdes

Set against the stunning backdrop of the Pyrenees, the mountain town of Lourdes looks like something taken from a storybook.

• Top of your list should be the spectacular Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes, also known as the Grotto of the Apparitions in reference to the apparition of the Virgin Mary to a young French girl in the 1800s. Lourdes attracts some six million pilgrims per year, who come to bathe in the grotto’s waters, said to have healing powers. The sanctuary is open daily from 6am – 1am, and there is a nightly candlelit procession at 9pm.
• Keeping watch over the city is Château Fort de Lourdes (open daily 10am – 7pm), a 1,000 year old castle that now houses an interesting museum dedicated to local history.
• Take the cable car (open 9am – 7pm) or brave the three hour walk up to Pic du Jer, to enjoy spectacular views of the city and the surrounding mountains.

5pm: Welcome briefing and bike fitting at the hotel, followed by a short cycle route around the city to stretch our legs and warm up for the coming week! 

In the evening, we’ll enjoy dinner together at the hotel.

Wednesday, July 10th: Lourdes
Route: 104.5km/65 miles
Elevation: +2310m/+7578ft
Accommodation: Hotel ALBA ****
Meals included: Breakfast and dinner

Our first serious ride of the tour includes the epic climbs up to Col de Soulor and Col Aubisque, along one of the most spectacular roads in the Pyrenees. We’ll enjoy a thrilling descent along switchback roads, passing through picturesque mountain villages and folowing the course of the sparkling Ouzom river through the valley of the same name before heading back to Lourdes.

Tonight, we’ll enjoy a delicious dinner together at our hotel.

Thursday, 11th July: Lourdes
Route: 101.6km/63.1 miles
Elevation: +2142m/+7029ft
Accommodation: Hotel ALBA ****
Meals included: Breakfast and dinner

On today’s route, we’ll begin with a relaxed cycle through the gave de Gavarnie river valley before tackling the mighty climb up to Tourmalet. Situated 2115m above sea level, the Tourmalet mountain pass is a classic Tour de France challenge that the pros will face in just a few days. After taking a breat to admire the spectacular views, we’ll enjoy a sweeping descent back down into Lourdes.

In the evening, we’ll enjoy dinner at the hotel with the group.

Friday, 12th July: Lourdes
Route: 91km/56.6 miles
Elevation: +881m/+2891ft
Tour de France: Stage 13 Agen > Pau
Accommodation: Hotel ALBA ****
Meals included: Breakfast and dinner

Today, we’ll enjoy a fairly easy ride along the Ousse river valley towards the charming city of Pau, situated at the foot of the Pyrenees. In Pau, we can soak up the Tour de France atmosphere, watching the exciting finish of today’s flat sprint stage, before taking as stroll along the Boulevard des Pyrénées to admire the contrast of palm trees against the snowy mountain peaks.

After the stage finish, we’ll cycle back to Lourdes and enjoy dinner together at our hotel.

Saturday, 13th July: Lourdes
Route: 127.8km/79.4 miles
Elevation: +2461m/+8074ft
Tour de France: Stage 14 Pau > Saint Lary Soulan Pla D’Adet
Accommodation: Hotel ALBA ****
Meals included: Breakfast and dinner

Today we’ll cycle part of today’s stage, through Bagneres de Bigorre and along the the Hourquette d’Ancizan, a beautiful winding path through the mountains, with a narrow descent to the town of Sant Lary.

Depending on time, we can squeeze in part of the climb up to Plat d’Adet, but we recommend being back in Sant Lary in time to watch the pro cyclists in today’s stage. After the peloton has passed by, we’ll head back to Lourdes either by bike via the Col d’Aspin, or by van, in time for dinner at the hotel.

Sunday, 14th July: Lourdes
Route: 81km/50.3miles
Elevation: +1260m/+4035ft
Tour de France: Stage 15 Loudenvielle > Plateau de Beille
Accommodation: Hotel ALBA ****
Meals included: Breakfast and dinner

This morning, we’ll travel by van to Loundeville, the start of today’s tour stage. Here, we’ll have the opportunity to see all the pro riders and teams in action!

After watching the peloton set off, we’ll enjoy a final ride back to Lourdes via col d’Aspin for a vinal dinner together as a group.

Today is Bastille Day, so we can expect an exciting fireworks display tonight!

Monday, July 15th: End of tour
Departure day

After breakfast, our tour comes to an end! We hope that you’ve had a wonderful experience with us at the Tour de France. 

Gratuities

Gratuities for our guides are much appreciated to thank them for exceptional service, support, and expertise. The industry standard for each individual guest is 7.5-10% tip of the trip price at the end of the tour. Unless you want to tip separately, guides will divide tips among themselves. Local currency is preferred.

Hotels

Hotel Alba

WHAT TO BRING

Biking Clothing & Gear

• Biking culotte
• Breathable, synthetic tops (short- and long-sleeved)
• Biking shoes
• Biking gloves and full-finger, wind-resistant gloves
• Helmets are mandatory! If you are not bringing your own, please make sure that you have requested one from our Bike Spain Tours team.
• Wind & rain jacket
• Fleece jacket or warm vest/jacket
• Sunglasses

Other clothing

• Hat
• Sweater/jacket for cool evenings
• Walking shorts
• Comfortable walking shoes
• Evening wear

Optional Items

• Books about the area
• Camera
• GPS

Don’t Forget!

• Photocopies of your important documents
• Travel Insurance Certificate
• Airline tickets/Boarding Passes
• Passport/Visa (if required)
• Sunscreen and lip balm
• Required medications and their prescriptions
• Personal items and toiletries

What to Leave at Home

• Expensive electronic items
• Expensive jewelry & family heirlooms
• Other valuables

CYCLING SAFETY

On a Bike Spain vacation, understanding and abiding by the rules of bicycling safety are the most important part of each day.

You are probably familiar with some common safety guidelines. Below are those that we follow at Bike Spain, and we ask that you follow them while traveling with us:

• It is required that you wear a helmet at all times when on your bike
• Obey all traffic signs
• Always yield the right-of-way to pedestrians
• Ride on the same side of the road as the direction of moving traffic
• Use the appropriate hand signals when stopping, slowing down, and turning
• Ride in a single-file line, leaving at least 2 bike lengths between you and the rider ahead of you
• Maintain a safe distance between you and the edge of the road
• Communicate with other riders – let them know when there are bumps, rocks, cars, or other hazards on the road
• Be ready for vehicles to pass you on the left
• Use both the rear and front brakes simultaneously—NEVER use the front brake alone
• When going downhill, pump both the front and rear brakes simultaneously, and increase the distance between you and the rider ahead of you
• Always maintain a speed that is comfortable for you
• Use caution when crossing over railroad tracks, cattle crossings, gravel patches, slippery or sandy roads, descending steeply, or when encountering a situation that is potentially dangerous or uncomfortable for you
• Always get off your bike and walk if you feel uncomfortable riding
• Gear up and gear down appropriately to maintain a safe and comfortable riding speed
• When admiring the view or taking a photo, always stop first and then look or snap
• Above all, have fun and enjoy your ride!