Tour with the Pros in France, Alps to Paris: Trip 3

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1 Particulars Trip Dates: July Mt. Ventoux Extension: July Custom trips also available. Call or for details. Tour with the Pros in France, Trip 3 We join those who welcome in a new spirit of competitive bicycle racing, one in which those who compete fairly will be celebrated. One has to applaud those who have stepped forward, admitting past mistakes, and who truly want the sport to come clean. We are excited about these prospects, but for us, going to the Tour has been as much about our ride as watching the pros. Nothing can match riding on closed roads lined with thousands of fans, over hors categorie cols, joining in the festivities of the race will be a special year for the Tour de France; it is the 100th anniversary of this enigmatic race and here s hoping it marks a new era! Total Days: 7 days/ 6 nights 3 days/ 3 nights Trip Size: 16 participants Arrive/Depart: Avignon Grenoble Activity Level: Intermediate/ Challenging (your choice) km ( miles) daily van supported Only Great Explorations: Small groups, extraordinary guides, and authentic experiences. A ride you will never forget: Alpe D'Huez ahead of the pros in Paris, view the race from 2nd floor balcony overlooking the course Order off the menu at restaurants you won't find in guidebooks. We design and operate our own trips so there are only good surprises. We will see 5 stages on this trip! * in 2013, if we are running multiple trips, we will limit each group to 16 and may on occasion have more than one group at some hotels. There will be a minimum of 2 guides per 16 guests with at least one support van per group. Terrain: Variety from rolling to mountainous

2 Total Days: Itinerary 7 days/ 6 nights 3 days/ 3 nights Trip Size: 16 participants Arrive/Depart: Avignon Grenoble Activity Level: Intermediate/ Challenging (your choice) km ( miles) daily van supported Cost: Land Cost (current year): US$2950 ($3450 after Jan 1) Includes 7B/2L/5D Extension (prior to trip): US $1295 ($1495 after Jan 1) Includes 3B/3D Single Supplement: US$600 Extension: US $300 Bike Rental: Racing: US $290 Hybrid: US $210 Racing: Van Nicholas Mistral with shimano 105 or Cannondale CAAD 5 triple Mt. Ventoux Extension - July For those who wish to start their TDF experience in Provence, we will meet on July 13th, near Mt. Ventoux, which will feature on Stage 15. You can reach Avignon from Paris by the TGV train in 2h10. On this day, we will fit bikes between 4:00-6:00 pm, and, for those that wish, go for a quick loop followed by dinner at a local bistro. Next day, you will have a choice of riding up Mt. Ventoux in the morning and watching the stage finish at the summit, or alternatively cycling a route through wine villages and hill-top towns, arriving to our viewing locale late afternoon just before the peloton arrives. July 15th is a rest day for the pros, and on this day, we have options for 80 and 100 km loops that will include summiting Ventoux if you didn t the day before and a descent of the Gorges du Nesque, one of our favourite rides in France. On July 16th, we will cycle on the official route from Vaison towards Gap. DAY 1; July 16: Arriving to Grenoble: Grenoble can be accessed by train from Paris or Lyon. Bike fit will be between 4:00-6:00 pm with dinner to follow. Uriage Les Bains is our favourite place to stay in the Alps region and the Grand Hotel Uriage is a luxurious hotel ideally situated in the center of this idyllic village. Hotel: Chateau Commanderie, Eybens. DAY 2; July 17: The individual time trial is often the most thrilling stage of the Tour and this stage is located in the stunning region of Lac de Serre-Ponçon, one of the largest lakes in Western Europe. After a morning loop, we will transfer to the stage finish in Chorges, watching the top riders finish. Who will challenge Bradley Wiggins at the race of truth in 2013? Hotel: Chateau Commanderie, Eybens. DAY 3; July 18: We are in an ideal position to ride to (and up!) Alpe D Huez, ahead of the pros. With a double ascent this year, we know it will be perhaps the most exciting day in Tour history on this mountain. Compare your time with the pros, and after watching, ride (or shuttle) north over col Croix de Fer to our hotel in St. François Longchamp, a small ski village located directly on the Stage 19 route. Chateau Commanderie, Eybens DAY 4; July 19: With the stage start in Bourg D'Oisans, we will ride the official route over col du Glandon watching on the way up Glandon. After descending to La Chambre, we ll climb up to the small ski village of St. Francois Longchamp, staying at Hotel Lac Bleue with outstanding views of mountain peaks. Distance: 100 km; 3000 m DAY 5; July 20: Awaking early, we will summit Col Madeleine and then descend to Albertville and on to Annecy in time for the start and/or finish. Our hotel is literally steps from the start line and the finish is just 14 km from our hotel. We will dine at a restaurant that is renowned in the region. Distance: Le Palace de Menthon, Annecy. DAY 6; July 21: After a morning cycling loop of Lac Annecy, we will transfer to Paris by train. This year s nighttime finish will be exciting and we have suites booked above the route with private balconies. We are again staying at the same hotel as the pros and this is your opportunity again to rub elbows with your favourite riders. 4-star Tour hotel in Paris. Hybrids: Cannondale 2012 Quick CX Speed 2 compact

3 DAY 7; July 22: Departure: After breakfast we'll bid our farewell. Note: This is a preliminary itinerary which will be updated as further route information becomes public. Hotels used on the trip are representative of those we will use. Any changes made will be done with the goal of making the trip the best that we can given available services etc. On our Tour with the Pros trips, we generally try to provide options to cycle 60 km, 80 km or 100 km on each cycling day. Although anyone of moderate cycling level may enjoy this tour, it is ideally suited to those with intermediate to advanced fitness levels. By this we mean you should be able to cycle 60 km at a minimum with some hills. If you have any questions about this trip, please consult our Travel Advisors. Accommodations Chateau de la Commanderie Eybens This 3-star chateau boasts comfortable rooms, swimming pool and spa and gastronomic restaurant. Situated just outside of Grenoble, it is well positioned to access Alpe D'Huez. Visit website: Hotel Lac Bleu St. Francois Longchamp This 3-star mountain auberge is in the small ski village of St. Francois and boasts views of the col Madeleine and surrounding peaks. Hotel Palais de L'Isle Annecy This 3-star charming hotel is in the historical center, and a short walk from the start line for the Annecy stage. Hotel Paris Paris We can't divulge the name of this 4-star hotel because it is where the teams stay. It's not everyone that gets to say they get to sleep with the pros! Enough said.

4 What's Included in the Cost of Your Trip? Services of a minimum of two Great Explorations guides and support vehicle Lodging as per final itinerary All breakfasts, 2 lunches, 5 dinners Entrance fees for selected historical sites and museums Detailed map and cue sheets All baggage transportation during the tour Travelogue Pre-departure Trip Planner with tips on what to bring and general information about traveling in France All tips in hotels, restaurants etc. (excludes discretionary tips for guides) The Alps to Paris trip includes train tickets from Annecy to Paris on July 21 Please note: Final itinerary is subject to revision; any changes made are done so in an attempt to provide the best possible trip given route conditions and available services. Due to the nature of our business and exchange rates, prices are subject to change. All prices quoted are U.S. dollars but we accept payment in Canadian dollars also. Due to cancellations and waiting lists, trip availability fluctuates daily. If you have any questions or would like to confirm space on this trip before making your reservation, please contact us at info@greatexplorations.com or by telephone at

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