Greek Cyclades
Itinerary and Map
Day One
After exploring the Greek Islands via the ferry service you will have time to check into your rooms and freshen up before we meet at 6pm at the hotel on Schinoússa for drinks and a pre-trip briefing where we discuss in detail the weekly plan.
Day Two
A relaxed start this morning with an acclimatisation swim held in the fabulous Tsigouri beach. Following this we hold a swim coaching session. After lunch at the local beach side Taverna, we swim to the uninhabited island of Fidousa, with its startling sheer cliffs. The early evening is given over to a session on video analysis.
Day Three
Our first significant crossing as you head out to the island of Iraklia finishing in the beautiful Mourto bay. Following an onboard lunch in the bay, we then head back to Schinoússa and walk across its arid land before swimming out to Kato Koufoníssi for our second crossing of the day.
Day Four
Today we leave Schinoússa and transfer you to your new accommodation on the island of Koufoníssi. However in true SwimTrek style you have to swim part of the way there first! We make our way out to the tall and foreboding island of Keros a proven highlight of the trip, where we spend the morning swimming below its sheer cliffs. After a good lunch on the boat we spend the afternoon swimming along its stunning northern coastline which is near where Luc Besson shot the iconic film “The Big Blue.”
Day Five
Up early to start the crossing from Náxos to Koufoníssi under the summit of Mt Zeus which you will climb later in the week. A great swim as dolphins and turtles have been spotted previously on this crossing, and in the afternoon you have time for a rest or a walk to the north end of Koufoníssi where a lagoon with caves awaits.
Day Six
Another day of great swims—coastal or crossings, bays or reefs, it’s a great way to finish your swimming odyssey. Whether it be the fascinating coastline of Kato Koufoníssi with its underwater outcrops or the small huddle of islands by Keros this is the essence of remote location swimming at its finest.
Day Seven
We depart Koufoníssi on the early ferry to Naxos. After storing our main bags, we meet the local bus which takes us to the start of the Mt Zeus walk (4km in distance with 400m elevation). A stunning view awaits as you will see all your swims at an altitude of 1,000m! Once back from the walk to the port of Naxos the tour ends.
Caveat
For obvious safety reasons we rely on decent weather conditions when carrying out any swims. As a consequence, open water swimming does require an inherent degree of on-trip flexibility, so required changes in the planned itinerary will not be uncommon and will undoubtedly add to the uniqueness of each tour.
Swimming Caveat 2010
Swimming in the sea is a fantastic experience, but you need to be aware of certain marine life such as jellyfish, sea urchins and coral. These could be present during a swim, so in all cases we will work on minimising their occurrence. In the event you are stung by jellyfish, in most cases you can normally carry on swimming. However, if you do have a problem, we can assess/treat the affected area immediately on the escort boat. If this area continues to cause discomfort and/or becomes infected during or after the tour, you should seek medical attention immediately explaining the nature of the cause. Please ensure you contact us prior to booking if you suffer from Anaphylaxis.
