"Passes of the Pyrenees" (PoP)
Travel Info

When and where does this tour begin and end?

The tour includes a dinner, briefing, assistance in assembly of your bike if you bring your own, and a night in a hotel in Hendaye on Monday September 1st. We begin cycling from there the following morning, September 2nd. Your tour will end in the charming Mediterranean village of Banyuls sur Mer on Thuesday September 9th. Afterward, there will be a goodbye dinner and a night in a 3 star hotel with a great view of the Mediterranean before our van transports you to the Perpignan train station on September 10th.

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, the best way to transfer from CDG to the Montparnasse train station is via the express shuttle bus. Without a bicycle, you can also take a mini-van or the train/subway. More information...

Transfer from Paris to Hendaye.
The best way to transfer from Paris to the start of our tour is to take the direct train from Paris Gare Montparnasse to Hendaye: it leaves daily at 7:25 AM. Allow at least 3 hours to retrieve your luggage, clear customs and be ready to board the train. We recommend that you stay in Paris a night before your tour's departure date. It's a great opportunity to visit either Versailles or Paris; half-day tours are available directly from the airport and from most hotels.

You can visit this site for the complete TGV schedule from Paris to Hendaye.

Return from Perpignan to Paris and back to the West Coast.
There are two direct TGVs from Perpignan to CDG. The first one leaves at 7:20 AM and arrives at 12:55 PM; the second one leaves Perpignan at 12:58 PM and arrives in Paris at 18:45 PM. I recommend that you allow 3 hours after your arrival and before your scheduled flight home to allow sufficient time for transfer and check in. Check this page for a full TGV schedule from Perpignan to Paris.

Many flights leave CDG in the morning or mid-day and arrive on the West Coast on the same day. For peace of mind, I would recommend spending one night in Paris. You can spend the evening visiting Paris by night on a not-to-be-missed cruise on the Seine River and return home on Monday September 10.

Direct flights from Paris to Hendaye and Perpignan back to Paris are also available. If you fly into Biarritz and out of Perpignan*, we’ll transfer you to and from there.
*Perpignan (PDG) airport itself is very small but it has daily flights from Paris (via AirFrance) and London Stansted (via RyanAir).

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

We recommend that you plan on spending your arrival night as well as 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.