Thomson Bike Tours Unveils 2027 Tour de France VIP Spectator Tours, From the Edinburgh Grand Départ to the Champs-Élysées

Thomson Bike Tours, the leading Official Tour Operator to the Tour de France, today announced its 2027 VIP Spectator Tours, now open for booking. Following the official route presentation in Paris, Thomson’s lineup takes fans from the race’s first-ever start in Edinburgh, Scotland to the summit of the Col du Tourmalet and the Grand Finale on the Champs-Élysées.

The 2027 Tour de France begins July 2 in Edinburgh, crossing Scotland, England and Wales before returning to France and finishing in Paris on July 25. It marks the Tour’s first visit to Great Britain since 2014, and Thomson’s spectator program is built to put guests at the center of it.

These aren’t trips for fans who are content to watch from a barricade three rows back. Thomson’s spectator program is designed for people who want to experience the race from the inside: mornings in the VIP Departure Village as riders sign on, time in the Team Paddock as teams prepare before the start, roadside lunches watching the peloton pass accompanied by a former professional and finish line views from the VIP tribune as the stage is decided.

The 2027 Thomson VIP Spectator Tours include:

• The Team Presentation at Edinburgh Castle
• Time-Trial in Toulouse from a private route-side restaurant
• Strategically chosen roadside viewing of the climb to the Col du Tourmalet
• Mountain stage finish in the Pyrenean village of Laruns
• VIP hospitality at the Finale on the Champs- Élysées

Every itinerary is led by Thomson’s dedicated spectator guides, with hand-picked hotels in the heart of each region and free time to explore the towns and landscapes the race passes through. Because the Tour has always been as much about the places it visits as the racing itself.

“The Tour de France is the pinnacle of the cycling calendar, and as passionate cyclists ourselves, we create unforgettable experiences for our guests,” said Peter Thomson, Founder of Thomson Bike Tours. “Whether they want to ride the official course on the day of the different stages, enjoy first-row access to the riders, or experience VIP hospitality, we bring our guests closer to the action. But the 2027 Tour de France will be particularly special for me. As someone born and raised in Edinburgh, the opportunity to see the Tour start in my hometown and race along the very roads I rode growing up as a young cyclist is something I could only have dreamed of. Watching the peloton travel from Scotland through England and into Wales before heading to France will make this an incredibly exciting and personal edition of the Tour, and one I can’t wait to share with our guests.”

Thomson has brought cyclists and fans to the Tour de France for more than two decades, and as a Premium Official Tour Operator, offers access to the race that simply isn’t available to the public. Many of its spectator guests return year after year.

“The atmosphere, the excitement, the in-person connection with the riders and teams — these are all things about the Tour de France that you don’t get to see on TV,” said Norma Dragani, who has joined Thomson Bike Tours for ten of their Tour de France VIP Spectator Tours. “You connect with like-minded people who are just as crazy about cycling as you are. It’s hard to fathom the effort that goes into putting the TDF together day after day. And you don’t have to be a cyclist to enjoy it.”

For fans who want to ride the race’s legendary climbs as well as watch them, Thomson also offers Cyclist Tour de France trips, where guests tackle key climbs just hours ahead of the professionals before switching into fan mode to watch the race live, with a dedicated Non-Cyclist program for partners and friends who prefer to stay off the bike.

For full itineraries, pricing, and booking, visit thomsonbiketours.com.