Tour de France Grand Départ
VIP Spectator Tour

2025 Tour de France VIP Spectator Tour – Grand Départ

The Tour de France in Spring Classics Territory

This trip offers a hat trick of VIP viewings of a Start, a Finish  and a mid View  plus the Team Presentation in Northern France. We also visit Bruges, the iconic Roubaix Velodrome and the famous Flanders Museum 

Overview

Details

Next Departure

July 2nd 2025

From

USD $3,995

Duration

6 days / 5 nights

Overview

Join us for the 2025 Tour de France Grand Depart experience, where you’ll witness the Team Presentation and enjoy 3 VIP viewings of the race in Lille and surrounding areas: a VIP Start, Mid-Race, and Finish. This exclusive adventure also takes you to Bruges in Belgium, visit the iconic Roubaix Velodrome, and dive into cycling history at the Flanders Museum. With unparalleled access and unforgettable views, this is the ultimate way to experience the Tour de France in an incredible setting among passionate fans and the spirit of cycling!

Discover the area and stages with minimal travel time! Stay in a centrally located Hotel in Lille for the duration of the trip.

Official Premium Tour Operator – Thomson Bike Tours is one of only 3  Official Tour Operators awarded “Premium” status to the Tour de France. Our partnership with the race organizers allows us to provide the ultimate insider Tour de France experience, complete with exclusive VIP hospitality and unprecedented race viewing opportunities.

Live Race Viewing

Team Presentation in Lille

Team Presentation in Lille

Stage 1

Lille > Lille

Stage 2

Lauwin-Planque > Boulogne-sur-Mer


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Tour de France VIP Spectator Tour - Alps
With any tour, there are apprehensions. Will it be fun, will they go the extra mile for us, will it be worth the cost? Thomson ...

Bob Crumley, USA — 2023

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Tour de France VIP Spectator Tour - Alps & Paris
Every aspect of this trip was well thought out and coordinated. The hotels, venues, meals, etc. were all first rate. Most importantly, the variety of ...

Jason Erbecker, USA — 2023

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The trip exceeded all expectations. The group was outstanding, staff exceptional & the tour activities were exciting. I was exhilarated & exhausted at the end ...

Marti Kranzberg, USA — 2017

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Exclusive VIP Access

You can’t get closer to the race without joining a World Tour team

Insider Access

Meet the riders and Tour celebrities before the race start at the Departure Village and mix and mingle in the team area with Team Paddock access — a Spectator favorite!

Relais-Etape VIP

A great view of the race and more. Start with an aperitif at the bar and a seated lunch before watching the peloton race from a prime roadside location.

Izoard VIP Tribune

The Izoard VIP Tribune, situated opposite the Finish Line, offers VIP hospitality and unparalleled viewing of the stage finish.

A Passionate Team

Our passionate and knowledgable Spectator team are dedicated to providing you with a truly exceptional time at major Pro Tour bike races. The infectious personality of our team add an extra dimension to an unrivalled VIP experience. Simply the most fun you can have at a bike race.

ASO Premium Status

As the number one Official Premium Tour de France Tour Operater we can offer the ultimate in race access and exclusive goodies, such as the Tour de France Roadbook – in digital form - given only to teams, media & Official Tour Operators, plus branded Thomson socks, backpack and lanyard.

Break Away

Our guide has relationships with the commentators, teams and an extensive network of insider contacts, that means on the rest days you will be treated to a backstage pass experience

Itinerary

Day Headline Description Hotel
01 Bienvenue en France Hotel Barrière Lille
02 Flanders Museum and the Team Presentation Hotel Barrière Lille
03 Bruges Hotel Barrière Lille
04 LIVE Race Viewing! VIP Departure Village & VIP Finish Line Viewing in Lille Hotel Barrière Lille
05 LIVE Race Viewing! VIP Relais Etape Hotel Barrière Lille
06 AuRevoir
Daily Averages
Itinerary View Itinerary View
Map View Map View
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Itinerary Detail

Day 1


Bienvenue en France

Our staff will meet you at Lille Europe TGV Station. From here we’ll have a short walk to our luxury Hotel situated in the city! We’ll have lunch where you’ll get a chance to meet your fellow Tour de France fans. Then it’s a short orientation meeting where we’ll run through the plans for the upcoming week. In the afternoon you will have free time to explore Lille.  Lille delights everyone with its Flemish heritage, visible in every corner. You will be astonished by the beauty of the Old Town with the lively streets and many buildings listed as Historical Monuments. There will be a real buzz as the Tour de France is in town!

Day 2


Flanders Museum and the Team Presentation

In the morning we will head over to Oudenaarde, which hosts the finish of the Tour of Flanders and is home to the famous Flanders Museum.  Explaining bikes through the ages, how they were used in the war, the tour through the decades – its a must for cycling fans and has an excellent gift shop! We’ll head back to Lille after lunch and mid afternoon we will head to see the Teams arrive  before the  Presentation. Excited, nervous and ready for the month ahead.  We’ll also visit the Fan Village full of all exciting stands and sponsors. We’ll choose a spot to watch the presentation or watch them cycle by as they head to the stage. Everyone is so excited and happy! This year’s winner will be there!

Day 3


Bruges

Today we head into Belgium to visit its most stunning city – Bruges. This is Belgium’s most perfectly preserved medieval town, and it’s jaw-dropping, beautiful architecture attracts more than two million visitors a year. With its wealth of interesting old buildings and canals, Bruges still retains a distinct medieval air. Take a walk through the narrow streets or a boat trip on the canal and fall under its spell, charmed by the atmosphere of what many consider the most delightful city of Flanders. On the way back we’ll swing by Roubaix so you can see the famous velodrome, before we head back to Lille in the afternoon and the buzzing atmosphere as it prepares to host the start and finish tomorrow!

Day 4


LIVE Race Viewing! VIP Departure Village & VIP Finish Line Viewing in Lille

As an Official Tour Operator, we have secured a visit of the ‘Team Paddock’ and Departure Village stage start. The Departure Village allows you to see sponsors and gain VIP entry, perhaps even meeting past winners of the race. Then (Covid allowing) it’s onto our favourite – the paddock is where all the cyclists and teams congregate pre-race. The area offers fantastic opportunities to get up-close to the riders and Tour celebrities, as well as getting a first-hand view of the inner workings of the Tour de France. This is the place to get those all-important autographs and pictures with the Tour celebrities and riders. Then in a double VIP experience day, we’ll head to the finish!  The Izoard is a 3-tiered viewing area on the finish line area,  with complimentary appetizers, drinks and official TDF photos. There’s live coverage of the race as we await the riders and take advantage of the free bar, canapes and entertainment, until we see them with our own eyes! After the gruelling 185km who will be in yellow?!

Day 5


LIVE Race Viewing! VIP Relais Etape

Situated in a key location on the course  this exclusive area offers a 3 course meal, a free bar, live viewing  and commentary, plus entertainment! Even better news is they LOVE Thomson Spectators and spoil us rotten. Be showered with Tour de France hospitality and enjoy a chilled exciting  atmosphere, photo booths, VR games, sit at  dedicated tables and enjoy the race, before it passes by LIVE!  The premium roadside location  will offer amazing opportunities to get some great stress free shots of the riders as they ride past us on the course. Then it’s back to the live viewing to see who will win today’s stage. A fabulous gift rounds up the day. We’ll have a farewell dinner in the Hotel that evening.

Day 6


AuRevoir

After all that excitement it’s time to say goodbye. The Hotel is around the corner from Lille Europe TGV station and you can take trains to Paris or to your next destination – or why not book yourself a few extra days vacation in this fashionable city? The Hotel can also organise taxis to Lille airport. We hope to see you back in the future. Join us on a Thomson Spectator Trip to the Spring Classics, La Vuelta or the Tour Down Under.

Stage

Grand Depart


Stage

Team Presentation in Lille


Stage

Grand Depart


Stage 1

Lille > Lille


Stage 2

Lauwin-Planque > Boulogne-sur-Mer


Stage 3

Valenciennes > Dunkirk


Tour de France


Dates & Prices Illustration

Dates & Prices

Date Booking Status Availability Price / Per Person Single Supplement
2025
July 2 to July 7
Taking Bookings
Places Available
USD $3,995
USD $950
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    Trip Hotels

    Hotel Barrière Lille


    What's Included

    What's Included What's Not Included
      Accommodation and meals arrow
    • 6 days / 5 nights fully accompanied trip
    • All accommodations
    • All breakfasts
    • All but 1 dinner
    • 2 lunches
    • Tour de France Viewings arrow
    • Team Presentation
    • Stage 1: Entry to the VIP Departure Village in Lille
    • Stage 1: Entry to the VIP Izoard Tribune on the Finish Line in Lille
    • Stage 2: Entry to the VIP Relais Etape
    • Transportation arrow
    • Meet at Lille Europe TGV
    • All transportation during the trip (coach, metro)
    • Support arrow
    • Services of our experienced guides
    • Merchandising arrow
    • Tour de France Gift
    • Tour de France Roadbook in digital form
    • Digital Discount code for use in Official Tour de France online store
    • Thomson Bike Tours T Shirt, Small Backpack, Socks & Lanyard
    • Other Activities arrow
    • Flanders Museum
    • Visit to Bruges
    • Airfare
    • Travel Insurance
    • Additional hotel expenses i.e. phone charges, mini-bar, gratuities
    • Staff gratuities
    What's Included
      Accommodation and meals arrow
    • 6 days / 5 nights fully accompanied trip
    • All accommodations
    • All breakfasts
    • All but 1 dinner
    • 2 lunches
    • Tour de France Viewings arrow
    • Team Presentation
    • Stage 1: Entry to the VIP Departure Village in Lille
    • Stage 1: Entry to the VIP Izoard Tribune on the Finish Line in Lille
    • Stage 2: Entry to the VIP Relais Etape
    • Transportation arrow
    • Meet at Lille Europe TGV
    • All transportation during the trip (coach, metro)
    • Support arrow
    • Services of our experienced guides
    • Merchandising arrow
    • Tour de France Gift
    • Tour de France Roadbook in digital form
    • Digital Discount code for use in Official Tour de France online store
    • Thomson Bike Tours T Shirt, Small Backpack, Socks & Lanyard
    • Other Activities arrow
    • Flanders Museum
    • Visit to Bruges
    What's Not Included
    • Airfare
    • Travel Insurance
    • Additional hotel expenses i.e. phone charges, mini-bar, gratuities
    • Staff gratuities

    Travel details - airport departures

    Pick-up/Drop-off Info

    Arrival

    Pickup Location Time

    Lille Europe TGV Station (direct trains from downtown Paris or CDG station)

    View website arrow

    11:30am

    OR

    Hotel Lille Barrière

    View website arrow

    12.00am

    Departure

    Drop Off Location Time

    Hotel Lille Barrière

    View website arrow

    09:00am



    2025 Tour de France VIP Spectator Tour – Grand Départ

    Dreaming with your eyes wide open!


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