Day 1, Tuesday 15 July 2025

Welcome to Lyon, Welcome to France

You'll feel the excitement as soon as you hop off the plane. France is the number one tourist country on the planet and for good reason.

Amazing scenery. Unbelievable food. The best cycling roads on the globe. Oh – and the world's greatest bike race which we’ll see in a couple of days’ time.

Feel free to arrive at any time throughout the day, our hotel is located at the airport.

If you have your own bike, we’ll help you assemble it this afternoon. Hire bikes will waiting for us at the base of Alpe d’Huez tomorrow.

If you arrive earlier than today, we recommend visiting Lyon. It’s a beautiful city. Well worth a couple of extra days. We are happy to help with any extra accommodation needed.

Let’s meet in the bar at about 5pm to watch the last stage from today’s TDF. Tonight, the chef has promised a regional meal. That's French speak for using local produce to create a stunning welcoming dinner for us. Oh, there will also be champagne. When in France!!

Welcome. It’s great to have you here.

/ Accommodation: NH Lyon
/ Meals Included: Welcome Dinner

Day 2, Wednesday 16 July 2025

L’Alpe d’Huez. Starting with a Bang!!

It’s an early start. Our plan is cunning. Cunning as a fox.

It’s about a 2-hour drive from Lyon to Le Bourg d’Oisans. The town at the bottom of the most famous piece of dirt in the world. L’Alpe d’Huez.

We recognise that this is your first ride on tour. What a great way to start. The good news is that we’re staying at the top. In 2024 we found the best hotel ever. It literally is luxury which is why we must stay here for a couple of nights.

The Alpe d'Huez was first climbed in the 1952 TdF, it climbs over 1,100m vertically over 14km and has 21 legendary hairpin turns. The climb can be broken up into three stages. The first part is the steepest with gradients above 10% for the first 6 hairpins until the hamlet of La Garde. The gradient then eases a little to 8% after hairpin 6, and the turns become more spread out for the following 6kms. With only 5 hairpins left, the gradient ramps up again for 1km to 11% before easing off to 9% until you reach the Alpe d'Huez village. It's only 2km to go to the top at around 5% gradient, so you can now relax a little and enjoy the fruits of all your hard work. Well done, it's a great accomplishment and your first milestone achieved!

Team Mac – we don’t see any point in following the cyclists today. We’d like to take you to Lyon’s biggest market - Saint-Antoine Célestins. It’s right on the Saône river. We’ve also booked a short walking tour with a local guide through the old part of town. Walking makes you hungry. Let’s sit down for lunch and maybe a cheeky glass of Red. We’ll then hop in the van and drive to d’Huez where I’m sure there will be some tired cyclists looking forward to seeing us.

/ Accommodation: Grandes Rousses Hotel & Spa, L’Alpe d’Huez
/ Meals Included: Breakfast & Dinner (Lunch own arrangements)

Day 3, Thursday 17 July 2025

Col de Sarenne and d’Huez – again…

One of our favourite rides is a loop that starts at the top of d’Huez, rides over Col de Sarenne, through the world-famous balcony road and back up to our hotel. It’s spectacular. Serene even!! (Sorry).

Today is a great day to ride at your pace. We’ll have support vehicles around you at all times. Col de Sarenne is quite a technical descent. There will be almost xero traffic, but you do need to be careful. The Mont Blanc views from the top of Sarenne are staggering.

The total ride distance is only 70km which is good. It’s important to keep in mind that our hotel is also a health spa so this afternoon would be a good chance to book a massage. Also, the swimming pool is one of the best I’ve seen in France.

Team Mac – we suggest you hire e-bikes and ride d’Huez. It’s a great opportunity for you to ride the most famous 13km on the planet. If riding a bike isn’t your thing then we’ll make you walk… (just kidding) In all seriousness – we will look at a good walk on a daily basis. But not, 13km uphill.

Tonight, is own arrangements. There are logistics though so please keep an eye on the RH app.

/ Accommodation: Grandes Rousses Hotel & Spa, L’Alpe d’Huez
/ Meals Included: Breakfast (Lunch & Dinner are own arrangements)

P.S., speaking of lunch. In France it runs from about midday to 1.59 pm. If you turn up to a café or restaurant at 11.59 am or 2.01 pm, they will look at you as though you’re weird. We really want you to eat. Eating is important.

Day 4, Friday 18 July 2025

Col du Galibier

We’ll have a few different options today. The longest ride on offer is hotel to hotel. It features 2 significant climbs. We don’t expect this to be everyone’s cup of tea. We’ll talk through the options at dinner each night. By now we will have formed our own little wee riding groups.

The majority of you will be driven 30km up the valley and start your ride there. It’s a gentle 10km to the top of Col du Lautaret. There's coffee and more importantly - donuts at the top. You can chill out here for a while and re-group.

It's then only a short wee 8km (up) to Col du Galibier. It's not that difficult until you reach the last 1km which is when the shit starts to get real. Galibier is our highest point of the tour at 2642m and is the 8th highest paved road in the Alps. From the top of Galibier it’s literally all downhill to our hotel. 30km downhill.

Give or take – here are some distances. Espressos (door to door) almost 100km and over 2000vm. The sensible latte and cappo cyclists – 60km and just over 1000vm.

Team Mac – We encourage you to join us at the top of Galibier. The views are not to be missed. We need you to hand out the lollies. But wait – there’s more… At the top of Lautaret is a garden that’s recognised throughout France as being one of the best. It’s actually funded by a local university. We’ve booked a local walking guide to show you around as the cyclists pedal downhill towards the next hotel.

Late this afternoon we should all get together to watch the final hour of today’s TdF mountain stage. Who will be in yellow?

/ Accommodation: Grand Hotel, Serre Chevalier
/ Meals Included: Breakfast & Dinner

Ps, if we were going to take a punt then our guess is that the TDF will be in this area over the next couple of days. Generally speaking – mountain stages are planned for just prior to the rest day. Which is Monday. We will see but there’s a good chance.

Day 5, Saturday 19 July 2025

Italy for coffee

Team Mac - You spend the morning in Briancon – the highest city in Europe. The old town is called Cité Vauban, a UNESCO World Heritage site. We’ve booked a local guide to show you around. It’s a 2-hr walking tour so please make sure you have good shoes. This town is not flat and most of the streets are narrow and cobblestones. Afterwards, you’ll drive into Italy to catch up with everyone for lunch.

Cyclists - Today is one of those balance days. It's an important part of our job to manage fatigue. We need to get you safely to day 14.

In past years the need for a good coffee has meant a ride into Italy. The ski town of Bardonecchia isn’t far away and it’s yet again another beautiful ride.

Or, for those who have more energy……

Remember stage 11 of the 2022 TdF. When Pogacar cracked and lost over 2 mins to the eventual yellow jersey winner? Well!! Col du Granon is literally across the road from our hotel. It can only be described as a Munta. 10km and 10%. So, only a 20km ride today. In the small print – 1000VM.

This afternoon we suggest you catch the cable car which is pretty much located at the hotel front door. Have a coffee at the top. Go for a stroll.

Compulsory – late this afternoon we drive you up the valley to the magnificent thermal baths. (Speedos for boys are required. I’m not joking).

/ Accommodation: Grand Hotel - Serre Chevalier
/ Meals Included: Breakfast & Dinner (Lunch is own arrangements)

Ps, 2nd stage of TDF viewing for us. Possibly! Probably!

Day 6, Sunday 20 July 2025

Col d’Izoard

Today we ride the spectacular Col d’Izoard. In my humble opinion - this is the most scenic climb in the Alps. It is not to be missed.

The start of the climb is only 15km from our hotel. It is however quite a long 19km incline, not as scary as some of the steeper hills with an average of just over 5%.

500m from the top of d’Izoard is a fascinating building called Napoleon’s Refuge. It transpires that the man himself left a large amount of money in his will to this particular French Provence - mainly to thank the local people for their support. It was decided that the best way of using this money was to build shelters on isolated high mountain passes. The shelter has now been turned into a café. I wonder what he would say now if he knew that a few skinny cyclists wandered in every day and ask “latte please”?

For those who are keen on extra VM then simply roll over the top and down the other side. Stop when you’ve had enough. Turn around and rejoin the rest of us.

Team Mac – there’s a great walk along the valley that follows a beautiful stream. Watch out for those pesky marmots. We see this as an opportunity to work up an appetite as we’ve booked a table (lunch) at Au Plaisir Ambre. The only restaurant in Briancon to be rated highly by Michelin. Your chef is Michael Chassigneux. His dishes are inspired by his worldwide travels. Enjoy!!

/ Accommodation: Grand Hotel, Serre Chevalier
/ Meals Included: Breakfast & Dinner

Day 7, Monday 21 July 2025

Provence

We leave our Alps paradise and travel to Provence. It's roughly a 5-hour drive. Rest your legs, pull up a seat and let's watch the Russian Fly-Fishing movie. (Long story).

Lunch is in Embrun. A picturesque ancient Roman and Medieval town that retains its old centre, with beautiful old buildings, squares, narrow streets and lots of restaurants and cafes to choose from. It’s halfway on our journeys so the ideal spot for a walk & coffee.

Some of you are interested in logistics. Here’s some European transport rules we need to abide by. Our driver can only work a 12-hour shift. Driving 9 of those. He must have a 45 min rest every 3 hours. 10 hours is the compulsory rest period from turning off the engine in the evening to hitting the ignition switch in the morning. Luc (driver) also needs 2 complete rest days while we are in France. All the drivers’ stats (hours, speed etc) are monitored by an on-board computer. If we’re pulled over by the Gendarmerie, then they’ll have instant access to exactly what we’ve been up to. Which is why we behave.

Our accommodation for the next two nights is set in the heart of the charming Luberon area, the Hostellerie Notre-Dame de Lumières, Relax and enjoy unforgettable experience in this ancient convent from the 17th century. Converted into hotel and entirely renovated (with an amazing swimming pool) and only about 30km away from the mythical - Mont Ventoux.

The convent is excellent and it's the outside courtyard restaurant draws us back year after year. We'll eat dinner at the hotel. Sleep well. The Giant of Provence awaits.

/ Accommodation: Hotellerie Notre Dame de Lumieres
/ Meals Included: Breakfast & Dinner (Lunch own arrangements)

PS, it’s also a rest day for the TdF riders so there’s zero-time pressure today.

Day 8, Tuesday 22 July 2025

Mont Ventoux

We've got one day - let's make it happen.

Get set for the ride of your life. This is the big one. You'll be fit by now so no excuses! A certain rider who once claimed to have won seven Yellow Jerseys, before admitting to the world that he was indeed as high as a kite, used to vouch that Mont Ventoux is the most difficult of all the Tour de France climbs. Drugs or no drugs - Lance is right!

Standing 1,600m above the Cote du Rhone countryside, it's referred to as the Giant of Provence. It's also generally very hot and windy so we'll try and get on the road early this morning. The terrain in the Cote du Rhone region is brilliant, we'll cycle in some of the famous vineyard regions and see the premier varieties of Grenache, Syrah (Shiraz) and Viognier being grown. The landscape around Ventoux is interesting yet varied, you'll cycle up through mixed agricultural farmland, past fields of beautiful lavender and through the forests of Ventoux.

Many of us will ride all the way from our hotel to the top and back down the other side. It's 40km until you start the climb so plenty of time to warm up. Latte and Team Macchiato (e-bikes) will be dropped at the base of the great Mountain. Cappuccino cyclists and any non-riders can get a lift to Chalet Reynard (top notch hot chocolate) which sits 6km from the summit.

Today is your best chance for some retail therapy. You've just biked Mont Ventoux - now you need to buy the kit.

Team Mac - a few options. For the past two years we've hired e-bikes for the ride on Ventoux. We will certainly have our safety hat on if you choose this. A guide will ride with you. The other option involves visiting a couple of the beautiful towns that make this region famous. You haven't been to Provence unless you've seen the likes of Gordes, Goult and Vanasque.

/ Accommodation: Hotellerie Notre Dame de Lumieres
/ Meals Included: Breakfast & Dinner

Day 9, Wednesday 23 July 2025

Pyrenees

Today is purely a transfer day. (Non-ride day). We leave Provence and head for the beautiful Pyrenees. It's roughly 6 hours plus stops. There will be some tired legs after yesterday so resting today is perfectly positioned before 4 big days in the mountains.

Lunch is at the UNESCO world heritage fortified town of Carcassonne. The earliest known occupation of the site where Carcassonne now stands dates from the 6th century BC. A prehistoric hillfort (oppidum) was built on this rocky spur overlooking the valley of the Aude and the ancient routes linking the Atlantic with the Mediterranean and the Iberian Peninsula with the rest of Europe. In its present form it is an outstanding example of a medieval fortified town, with its massive defences encircling the castle and the surrounding buildings, its streets and its fine Gothic Cathedral. Carcassonne is also of exceptional importance because of the lengthy restoration campaign undertaken by Viollet-le-Duc, one of the founders of the modern science of conservation.

There’s a good chance that today’s stage of the TDF 2025 will be a key mountain stage. That’s great because out coach has a TV. And a bar. And it’s always happy hour.

Our base camp hotel for the next four nights is a small family run hotel. It isn't 5 stars; however, you will be treated like royalty and the food is amazing. (It also has a great bar). We book this hotel every year because of its location. Look up and you can see the likes of Tourmalet and Col du Soulor. If you’re scared of heights, then don’t look up.

/ Accommodation: Hotel Les Cimes
/ Meals Included: Breakfast & Dinner (Lunch is own arrangements)

Day 10, Thursday 24 July 2025

Col du Tourmalet – Tour de France

We see today as being the key TdF Pyrenees stage.

For anyone that follows cycling - if you say the words - Col de Tourmalet then you know it's going to be a special day. It is one of the most famous climbs in France with its highest point being 2128m. We will have plenty of options so please don't be worried.

Cappuccino riders - the shortest ride to the top of Tourmalet from our hotel is only 30km, (30km uphill). We will show you our home base café on the way up. There's no pressure. Find a spot to watch the race come through. You can simply turn around when you've had enough.

Latte and espresso riders - We will be encouraging you to do the 102km loop. Departing Argelès Gazost we ride towards Lourdes and on to St Marie de Campan where we'll regroup for coffee. From the café, the road heads into the sky for 17.5km. Some riders will take just over an hour, some will take up to three. Tomorrow is a rest day so feel free to push the boat out today. Give it all you’ve got!!

Team Mac - you simply will never forget the cable car to the top of Pic du Midi de Bigorre from La Mongie (altitude 2,877m). There's a café at the summit, as well as an interesting observatory, visitor centre and museum. It's then only a short drive to the top of Tourmalet where you can watch the suffering.

Tonight, after dinner we head into Lourdes to witness the evening candle lit procession. Even for those who aren't religiously minded the procession is a must as thousands and thousands of pilgrim's flock to Lourdes daily, making Lourdes 2nd only to Paris for hotel rooms in France.

/ Accommodation: Hotel Les Cimes
/ Meals Included: Breakfast & Dinner (Lunch own arrangements)

Day 11, Friday 25 July 2025

Col d’Aubisque – Another stage of the TDF

As guides we are often asked about our favourite rides. There are many to choose from however for me, Col d'Aubisque is the most beautiful. Luckily, the TDF also ride over Aubisque today. It will be an unforgettable day.

Here’s how we see it going…

After breakfast we ride the 20km up (yes – up) to Col du Soulor. It's not a challenging climb as it's broken up with typically beautiful French villages. It's then another 10km over to Col d'Aubisque. That 10km will make your eyes water – it’s that good!!

The great thing about today is that there are plenty of options for every ability. Cappuccinos may decide to get a lift up Soulor and then roll over to Aubisque. Expresso riders may decide to roll down the other side of Aubisque and then climb back up. Totally up to you.

We expect the race to come through at about 4pm. (Caravan at 2pm.) We won’t know that until about 4 weeks out, but everything usually works backwards from the best prime time TV viewing which is 5pm.

After the race, we descend 30km. Our hotel is literally less than 100 pedal strokes away. We really need you to have your wits about you as you’ll be joined by a few thousand (hundreds of thousands) cyclists and walkers. See you (safely) at the bottom.

/ Accommodation: Hotel Les Cimes
/ Meals Included: Breakfast & Dinner (Lunch is own arrangements)

Day 12, Saturday 26 July 2025

Hautacam, Tourmalet or Gavarnie?

We’ll finalise the plan when we see the race route. It’s likely that the TDF will be moving back towards Paris so we may not see them today. We’ll see.

There are a few options… Some may like to head back up Tourmalet. Especially if you missed it on Wednesday. (Also, it would be in reverse so completely different.)

There’s also Hautacam. The start of the climb is literally only 2km from our hotel. That’s plenty of time to warm up. (It’s July in France – you won’t be cold.) The actual climb is only 16km. (Yes, that’s a puppy dog.) It’s the inconsistency that makes it hard. On average you’re talking 7.4%. However, sections of it are flat as you cycle through gorgeous villages. So, if some sections are flat and the average is 7.4% then that means that other sections must be… ahhh. Not flat!!

The 3rd option is a cruise up to Gavarnie. It’s a really gentle beautiful ride up to the Pyrenees UNESCO world heritage site. We’ll bring a vehicle so you can drop your walking shoes in a bag. The walk up to Gavarnie Falls is an 8km loop. Maybe we could have a swim in the river on the way home? Making it the perfect triathlon. (Just joking!)

Anyway, let’s make a plan for today closer to the time…

/ Accommodation: Hotel Les Cimes
/ Meals Included: Breakfast and Dinner (Lunch is own arrangements)

Day 13, Sunday 27July 2025

Our last ride together is flat. I’m not even kidding. It’s a beautiful bike path that stretches 30km so if we ride it out and back, that will make it… ahhh. 60km. (Good Upper Hutt math right there.)

In all seriousness – we will have done enough mountains. Today is all about France’s terrible coffee, amazing croissants and RH fabulous chat.

Time wise – let’s work backwards. We know that we have a 2-hour drive back to Toulouse where all the bikes need to be packed into bags before dinner. Let’s look at leaving Argeles just after lunch. Our coffee ride should start at 9ish.

It’s also important that we plan for the last stage of the TDF. Normally the riders arrive on the Champs Elysees at about 5pm. The race usually finishes at about 7.30pm. We’ll make sure there’s a big screen at the hotel so we can watch the concluding stages.

It’s then time for our farewell dinner. Champagne will be poured. Stories told. Let’s celebrate the last 2 weeks. Here’s to France and the greatest sports event on planet earth.

Most importantly – we raise a glass to you. Another page in the RH book has been written. We are lucky to have such amazing clients. Cheers.

/ Accommodation: Toulouse Marriott
/ Meals Included: Breakfast and Dinner (Lunch is own arrangements)

Day 14, Monday 28 July 2025

Le end…

Our tour finishes after breakfast. For some it's time to head home, while others will take some time in Toulouse or head off to explore other parts of Europe.

Our hotel offers free shuttles to the airport so you can leave when you are ready (allow plenty of time though).

Thank you for joining us on the adventure of a lifetime.

Thank you for joining Ride Holidays.

Safe travels home.