PARIS MARATHON

APRIL 2025

Interested or have questions? Complete the contact form at the bottom of the page or email team@activeodysseys.com

TRAIN. TRAVEL. TRIUMPH.

Overview

There aren’t many bucket lists that don’t have Paris on them.  This trip is for runners, companions, couples, friends and family alike.

MARATHON

60,000 runners from 150 different countries can’t be wrong.  Our Parisian friends know how to showcase their city.  Starting and finishing in the shadow of the iconic Arc de Triomphe, the course provides a mostly flat 26.2 miles of incomparable awesomeness with en route highlights rivalling any marathon in the world, including the Champs Élysées, the Louvre, the Musée d’Orsay, Nôtre Dame and, of course, the big old Eiffel Tower.  Pro tip – don’t get so caught up in the views around you that you miss a water stop.

Itinerary

  • Day 1 (Thursday) - Arrive in Paris by your own means (be sure to book an OVERNIGHT flight departing on on Wednesday if coming from the U.S.) and transfer to your 4-star hotel (help with how to get there will be provided).  Meet the Active Odysseys team and the rest of the runners and companions.  Start exploring the wonders of this unrivalled historic city on a leisurely orientation walk with our Tour Director, who will be with our group for the duration of the trip.  Tonight, we will meet for a welcome reception and an overview of the upcoming adventures.

  • Day 2 (Friday) - Opt to join a morning shake-out run.  After breakfast, our Tour Director will guide us on a private coach tour of the city, sharing the untold stories behind some of its most fascinating and awe-inspiring sights. Then we will head over together to the expo to collect our bibs. Leave the expo at your leisure and use the rest of the day to fall in love even more with la vie Parisienne.

  • Day 3 (Saturday) - Opt to join a morning shake-out run.  After breakfast, we will have a free day to explore the wonders of the City of Lights.  Our Tour Director will provide unrivaled local knowledge and suggestions to ensure that we can see, eat (and possibly buy) the very best that Paris has to offer - at the best price. Or, if you prefer, you can choose to stick with the group for the day visiting some local highlights. Tonight, the itinerary includes a 3-course dinner in an authentic local restaurant. Then get some sleep…

  • Day 4 (Sunday) - Race Day! Non-running companions will be given the best advice on where to shake their cowbells.  After triumphing in your race, the Active Odysseys team will help you get back safely to the hotel. Opt to swap stories with the rest of the group in a post-race celebration near the hotel before enjoying your last, so well-deserved, Parisian meal (you will be given some well-priced suggestions and make reservations).

  • Day 5 (Monday) - You did it!  Wear your medal with pride as you make your own way to the airport or on to more adventures in Europe (please ask if you need help with any additional travel plans). 

What’s included:

  • Guaranteed race entry (at additional cost).

  • Four nights' accommodation at a centrally-located, 4-star hotel.

  • Daily breakfast at the hotel.

  • All hotel taxes.

  • Full-time local Tour Director and support of on-site Active Odysseys staff, including founder Chris Montgomery.

  • Welcome reception on arrival day.

  • Private guided sightseeing coach tour of the city.

  • Transport to the expo for number pickup.

  • Transport to the race start line and from the finish line.

  • 3-course pre-race dinner on Saturday evening in a local restaurant.

  • Initial coaching consultation with certified coach Chris Montgomery (runner-guests only).

  • 8 optional bi-weekly, virtual group-coaching sessions in the lead up to the race (runner-guests only).

what’s not included:

Anything not mentioned above, but specifically:

  • Flights - guests are responsible for arranging their own flights. 

  • Travel Insurance - guests are strongly encouraged to take out their own international travel insurance.

  • Travel Documentation - guests are responsible for ensuring they possess a valid passport and any additional documentation needed for the trip.

  • Transport between Paris airport (CDG) and the hotel. Please request this additional service (for arrival and / or departure) if needed.

  • Tour Director gratuities - while tips are at your own discretion and are not mandatory, they are an industry-standard component of a Tour Director’s income in Europe, much like for workers in the service industry in the U.S.  A customary tip for a “job well done” by our Tour Director for the entire Paris trip would be $60 per person.  She will be worth every cent!

  • Any extra hotel nights or services not listed above - please let us know if you want any help extending your stay.

This video from the 2023 race might get some dust in both of your eyes at the same time…

QUESTIONS?