Tour de France Grand Depart
VIP Spectator Tour
Tour de France VIP Spectator Tour – Grand Depart
Has travelling to the Tour de France been your dream? If so, then open your eyes and let the show begin
The rolling circus, hordes of fans, gleaming bikes, fresh legs , excited teams, breath taking Bilbao, stunning San Sebastián, beautiful art, beaches, boats, pintxos, sparkling coasts and wine – welcome to the Grand Depart in the Basque country!
Live Race Viewing
Team Presentation Ceremony
Stage 1: Bilbao to Bilbao
VIP Departure Village and VIP Finish in Bilbao
Stage 2: Vitoria-Gasteiz to San Sebastián
VIP Finish-Line Tribune in San Sebastián
Stage 3: Amorebieta-Etxano to Bayonne
VIP Relais Etape
Overview
Details
Next Departure
June 28th 2023
From
USD $4,695
Duration
7 days / 6 nights
Overview
SOLD OUT: Please note that this trip is now sold out. Join our waiting list and you’ll be notified if a space becomes available.
Join us for the Grand Depart to see the Team Presentation Ceremony and the first 3 stages of the 2023 Tour de France in the Basque Country ! Bilbao is a city full of vibrancy, that combines enchanted nooks and crannies, with a cosmopolitan atmosphere. Museums, the old quarter, the Athletic stadium and parks. The stunning coastline leads us to San Sebastián – you will fall in love with this area!
Discover the area and stages with minimal travel time! Stay in the heart of vibrant Bilbao, within walking distance of the stages and major attractions plus in stunning San Sebastián on Mont Igueldo.
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
Team Presentation
Stage 1
Bilbao > Bilbao
Stage 2
Vitoria-Gasteiz > San Sebastián
Stage 3
Amorebieta-Etxano > Bayonne
Ruth Cook, USA — 2022
Elizabeth McQuiston, USA — 2022
Cheryl Greenough, USA — 2022
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 by in the company of an ex pro.
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 – the Holy Grail - given only to teams, media & Official Tour Operators and a special 25% discount card for Official Tour de France stores.
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 | Welcome to the Basque Country! | Hotel Carlton Bilbao | ||
| 02 | Bilbao Estuary & the Team Presentation | Hotel Carlton Bilbao | ||
| 03 | Breakaway Day - The world's only underwater winery! | Hotel Carlton Bilbao | ||
| 04 | LIVE Race-Viewing: VIP Departure Village and VIP Finish in Bilbao | Hotel Carlton Bilbao | ||
| 05 | LIVE Race-Viewing: VIP Finish-Line Tribune in San Sebastián | Hotel Mercure Mont Igueldo | ||
| 06 | LIVE Race-Viewing: VIP Relais Etape | Hotel Mercure Mont Igueldo | ||
| 07 | Au Revoir |
Itinerary Detail
Day 1
Welcome to the Basque Country!
Our staff will meet you at Bilbao airport. From here we’ll have a short transfer to our hotel in the centre of this beautiful city! After checking in 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. Mid afternoon we will head to the Guggenheim, the famous museum situated on the riverside – it’s a sight to behold! You will be given free time to explore the wonderful art and exhibitions, inside and outside. Early evening the tram will transport us to the ‘Casco Viejo’, the old town of Bilbao. In this National Heritage site, you enter a network of narrow streets, steeped in history. We’ll head to Plaza Nueva and settle in for the local Pintxos and wine, just like the locals.
Day 2
Bilbao Estuary & the Team Presentation
Today we’ll explore the area from the water and enjoy a private boat ride. This full 160-minute trip will take you downstream along the famous tidal river from the capital of Biscay, where you can admire Bilbao’s emblematic monuments as you sail towards the Vizcaya transporter bridge (the Puente Colgante) Portugalete and to the open sea to Santurzi. In the afternoon we will head for the Team Presentation! This superb experience will allow you to see all the teams before their gruelling tour, get lots of photos and see every rider take the stage! It’s an amazing pre-race event with a really exciting atmosphere.
Day 3
Breakaway Day - The world's only underwater winery!
You can’t come to the Basque country without tasting wine! So we have added a twist! Some experiences must be lived and this is no ordinary wine visit. Our private shuttle will take you on the short transfer to the Basque coast where you will be met by one of the founding members, to learn more about the passion and history of the world’s only underwater winery! After a presentation, we will join the crew on 2 boats, as we sail the Plentzia bay, sampling underwater wines and learning all about the man made coral reef and winery. We’ll head back to land and enjoy a delightful lunch with more wine tasting and the opportunity to buy and take your favourite home. In the evening you will have free time to explore more of Bilbao.
Day 4
Day 5
Day 6
Day 7
Stage
Grand Depart June 28
Stage
Team Presentation
Stage
Grand Depart June 30
Stage 1
Bilbao > Bilbao
The Basque Country doesn’t lack options when it comes to offering opportunities to the puncheurs. With 3,300 metres of vertical gain and a double springboard where gaps can be created in the final 30 kilometres in the shape of the Vivero and Pike climbs, discussion about the identity of the first Yellow Jersey holder will focus on attackers with real pedigree, those capable of taking allying their instinct to their power.
Stage 2
Vitoria-Gasteiz > San Sebastián
Those familiar with the San Sebastián Classic will find themselves in familiar territory, especially when it comes to the eight-kilometre ascent of the Jaizkibel, which always plays a decisive role in the selection during that race. Beyond the summit, there’s a 20-odd kilometre drop into Saint-Sébastien.
Stage 3
Amorebieta-Etxano > Bayonne
Another phase begins as the race reaches French soil in the department of Pyrenees-Atlantiques, where the sprinters will for once be to the fore. The profile of the closing kilometres for what is the Tour’s reunion with Bayonne will give the sprinters’ teams the chance to manoeuvre their lead-out trains into position. The winner of the first sprint always gets a big lift from their success.
Stage 4
Dax > Nogaro
The stage is set for a rematch between the sprinters, but the hilly terrain of the Gers could also suit a small breakaway group. Their cooperation would have to be total to hold off the peloton, while the finish on the Nogaro motor-racing circuit will provide the stage winner with a success with a rare flavour. The peloton’s speedsters will certainly want to go head to head on the final 800-metre straight.
Tour de France
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Dates & Prices
| Date | Booking Status | Availability | Price / Per Person | Single Supplement | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | ||||||
June 28 to July 4 |
Sold Out |
Waiting List |
USD $4,695
|
USD $900 |
Waiting list | |
Waiting List
Sign up to the waiting list for this departure, to be notified if a space becomes available. Please fill out the information below:
Trip Hotels
What's Included
| What's Included | What's Not Included |
|---|---|
Accommodation and meals
 Tour de France Viewings
Transportation
Support
Merchandising
Other Activities
|
|
| What's Included |
|---|
Accommodation and meals
Tour de France Viewings
Transportation
Support
Merchandising
Other Activities
|
| What's Not Included |
|
Pick-up/Drop-off Info
Arrival
| Pickup Location | Time |
|---|---|
|
Bilbao Airport |
10:00am |
OR |
|
|
Holiday Inn Express Bilbao Airport |
10.15 |
Departure
| Drop Off Location | Time |
|---|---|
|
Bilbao Airport |
09.00am |
Tour de France VIP Spectator Tour – Grand Depart
Dreaming with your eyes wide open!
