best Behind the scenes Eiffel Tower tour?
 

I'd like to take my DH on a tour Behind the Scenes of the Eiffel Tower, while we're in Paris next month.
There are several different companies that offer these tours.

Can anyone tell me which is the best? or what their experience was?

I haven't done this but would like to so I'd be interested in your experience when you return.

I think there is only 1 company but it gets promoted on several sites. My wife and I did it in June 2009. I had been up the tower several times over the years but my wife is not keen on heights so she hadn't.

The tour was great. 20 people with a knowledgeable and bilingual guide. Half the people were French and the majority of them were native Parisians. So not your typical bunch of tourists.

You start underground where the French army used to control the communication equipment. There is storage and kitchens down here too for the restaurants above.

Next you go below one of the legs and see the amazing setup that powers 2 of the elevators... still the original system put in over 120 years ago.

You then skip the lines and ascend. I think the tour has changed as we saw the level that's actually below the 1st level and the tour ended on the first itself. I believe it ends now on the second. Even my wife who isn't into either heights or technical stuff enjoyed the tour immensely.

So by all means book it... it only runs Wednesday and Saturday and places are limited to 20 I believe.

Rob

Well, thank you very much.
I have seen several web sites, one is "Isango" and one is "Paris Vision" - and the prices for those two plus others seems to be very slightly different.

Anybody else care to weigh in?

Isango is not a tour company, but rather a booking agency. I do believe that ParisAmsterdam's info is correct on this tour. It may sold by different agencies, but they are selling the same tour.

Paris Vision certainly offers a better price.

I looked the other day for what I think is the 'real' website for booking the tour but I can't find it. If I do I'll post it... but I'm 99% sure the other agencies such as Paris Vision etc are booking agents.

This is the link from the Eiffel Tower web site.

http://www.cultival.fr/en/visites/le...la-tour-eiffel

I found this by clicking on "Preparing your visit"/"booking a guided tour".

Oh, that's great. Thanks to all.