Travel Info

When and where does this tour begin and end?

This a private custom tour for your own group of friends. You can choose any dates you would like between the end of May and the last week of September. But our schedule fills up early, so contact us soon to reserve your chosen dates. Your tour begins at your Grenoble Hotel. It ends on the morning of the last day as we bring you to the Annecy train station.

How can I travel from the West Coast of the US for the tour?

West Coast to Paris
Most flights leave the US in the afternoon or evening and arrive the next day in the morning, usually between 7:30 and 11:30 AM. Most people use the TGV (bullet train) to travel within France and it's easier if you're transporting your bike, as domestic airlines may charge you more for the extra luggage.

Paris Transfers (Airport to Train Stations/Hotels)
If you bring your own bicycle, you may want to look for an express shuttle bus or a taxi. Without a bicycle, you can also take a mini-van or the train/subway. More information....

Transfer from Paris to Grenoble
The best way to transfer from Paris to the start of our tour is to take the direct TGV train from Paris-Gare-de-Lyon to Grenoble. You may want to take one of these two daily trains:

TGV 6911 departure 10.24 arrival Grenoble 13:17
or
TGV 6919 departure 14:30 arrival Grenoble 17:29

You may find more information on this website...

Transfer from Annecy to Paris
The best way to return to Paris from the end of our tour is to take the following daily direct TGV train from Annecy to Paris-Gare-de-Lyon:
TGV 6968 Annecy departure 9:38 arrival Paris-Gare-de-Lyon 13:25 (earlier departure available via taxi)

You may find more information on this website...

Transfer from Annecy to Avignon (for the Mt Ventoux Tour)
If you would like to combine the Mt Ventoux Tour with your Alps Tour, you could take a train from Annecy to Valence, and change in Valence for a train to Avignon. We will send a detailed train schedule to participants when those are available.

When do I need to plan to leave and return from the West Coast?

We recommend that you plan on spending your arrival night in Paris or Grenoble and that you plan to spend the night before your departure in Paris. This way you avoid possible problems in case you miss a train, and this will allow you to visit Paris. Because we pick you up for this tour in the morning of September 14, you will want to spend the night of September 13 in Grenoble. Grenoble is a nice city with walking streets. You should be back to Paris Gare-de-Lyon on September 23 at13:25, and may need to stay in Paris that evening.