5 Amazing Ways To Experience The Tour De France In 2026

If you’re like me, the month of July means nearly a month of screen time as I’m glued to the daily drama of the Tour de France. The world’s greatest cycling race, an epic 21-day contest between some of the world’s finest athletes, doubles as a travelogue—a scenic tour of some of the most beautiful parts of the French countryside.

This year’s race is no exception, fueled by the incredible athletic performances of riders such as Tadej Pogačar (who has won the race three times), Remco Evenepoel, Jonas Vingegaard and Mathieu Van der Poel, among the 184 riders across 23 teams. The route for the 2026 Tour de France will be revealed in an official ceremony in Paris towards the end of October. But for devoted fans of the Tour, now is the time to plan for next year’s event.

Thomson: 2026 Tour de France

Thomson is at the head of the peloton for Tour de France trips, offering a variety of departures designed for cyclists to both ride and watch the world’s most fantastic cycling race. Thomson, an official tour operator for the Tour, offers four departures ahead of the 2026 race: The Grand Départ and Opening Stages in Barcelona, the Alps Mountain Stages, the Pyrenees Mountain Stages and the Race Finish in Paris.

While details have yet to be announced, consider 2025, when it offered trips such as Mont Ventoux & Alps, a seven-day trip for $8,495, with a Specialized rental bike for an additional $550. On this 2025 departure, you could climb the legendary Mont Ventoux ahead of the peloton, then watch the race unfold, live on the roadside from Thomson’s Private Hospitality Marquee. One day on the final mountain stage to La Plagne included an official ride across the Finish Line, a photo shoot on the Official Podium and the opportunity to watch the Stage Finish live from the Official VIP Lounge. There was more riding on the most challenging climb in the Alps, the Col de la Loze, and mingling with pro riders and Tour celebrities. Next year promises a similarly packed itinerary once the details are announced in October.

Trek: Tour De France Bike Tours

Trek Travel has also made a bid to take the lead in offering Tour de France Bike Tours. An Official Tour Operator of the Tour de France and Team Lidl-Trek, its rides provide access to key mountain stages and an exclusive viewing event to witness the thrilling race finale in Paris. In 2025, it provided a variety of trips, including the Tour de France Ultimate Experience: Ventoux to Alps to Paris 2025.

Priced at $11,599 per person, this eight-day trip was rated Level 3 (three to five hours a day of riding), including a choice of riding a Trek Domane SL 7 Gen 4 or a Trek Electric-Assist Domane+ SLR 7 (for an extra charge), and a choice of up to three daily routes. Accommodation was in luxury hotels, including Le Mas de Herbes Blanches, Four Seasons Hotel Megève and Le Bristol Paris. This trip also includes a behind-the-scenes event with the Lidl Trek team, Official VIP Race Access passes to the Relais Étape hospitality zone of Stage 16 for the mountaintop finish on Mont Ventoux, and a chance to ascend the Géant de Provence, Mont Ventoux.

ExperiencePlus!: Roll With Bob Roll

If you’ve been watching the Tour on Peacock, you’re likely familiar with Bob Roll, who shares commentator duties with Phil Liggett on the daily broadcast. Roll is a former professional cyclist who competed in three Tour de France races, among many other signature cycling events around the world. Roll with Bob Roll is a five-day event from ExperiencePlus! in Moab, Utah, from November 6 to 9, 2025.

Presented by Chip Chilson of Aspen Sports Performance, Roll with Bob Roll is an annual four-day gathering of athletes, trainers and health professionals. The aim is to nurture a love of cycling and unlock participants’ potential to live, ride and play for as long as possible, regardless of age, cycling ability or gender. During the second half of the event, you can meet and ride with Bob Roll. For a limited time, friends and customers of ExperiencePlus! can enjoy a 2-for-1 entry, offering the clinic for $1,995 per person instead of $2,595. Go to ExperiencePlus! for details.

DuVine: Alps Challenge Bike Tour

If you want to test your mettle, check out this ride from DuVine. The Alps Challenge Bike Tour is a six-day ride through the heart of the Alps, tackling France’s most challenging and most famous climbs, including the Alpe d’Huez, Col du Galibier, Col de la Croix de Fer, Col d’Izoard and Col de la Bonette. It’s also a chance to soak up some of the TDF lore, riding through some of the most iconic climbs and villages in Tour history. Riding Colnago V4 road bikes with Dura-Ace Di2 shifting and Vision carbon wheels and wearing custom Rapha x DuVine jersey and bibs, it’s a chance to experience the thrill of the TDF. Rated Level 4, the most challenging rides that DuVine offers, the price for 2026 is $5,995.

Butterfield & Robinson: Loire Valley Biking

Not everyone who loves watching the Tour de France is a dedicated racer. Most viewers are more likely to take a leisurely pedal than do a century ride. So why not take that ride in France, with echoes of the Tour everywhere you look? Loire Valley Biking from Butterfield & Robinson is a six-day trip rated 2, meaning 25 to 30 miles per day of riding over relatively flat terrain that “will include inclines and the occasional climb or two.” In other words, you don’t need to be Tadej Pogačar to do this ride, which includes lunch at the Château de Chambord, accommodations at châteaux such as Château du Rivau and private wine tastings. This pedal through the Loire Valley is priced at $5,995.