Jenny has returned from balmy Bozburun with tales to share from her first SwimTrek experience…
We caught up with one of our newest staff members at SwimTrek HQ, Jenny, who just came back to us after swimming along the Bozburun peninsula, south of Marmaris, guided by Scott and Bev.
Out there, where the Mediterranean and Aegean seas meet, Jenny had a few days to dive deep into one of our newest packages for Turkey – a fantastic alternative to enjoy after or before our popular Lycian Way trip.
After a day of mixed weather, Jenny was able to get out on the Aegean Coast under sunlight, soaking up shoreside swims and a full island circumnavigation. She also discovered one of the unexpected joys that comes with any SwimTrek, which is the group you’re part of and the fellow swimmers you meet from around the world – Columbia to the UK!
"[Jenny] also discovered one of the unexpected joys that comes with any SwimTrek, which is the group you’re part of and the fellow swimmers you meet from around the world..."
First Impressions Of A SwimTrek Trip
SWIMTREK: “How's life at SwimTrek been going so far and how was your first trip to Bozburun?”
JENNY: “I'm in week nine now [working at SwimTrek], so I’m still very much at the beginning of my exciting SwimTrek journey. One of the main reasons for going to Bozburun, apart from familiarising myself with our trips, was to see and experience our new hotel in reality."
"The whole experience was great - lovely group, total mixture of customers in terms of previous trips with us, nationalities, configuration of groups. There were a few couples, solo travellers, and some swimmers who met on previous a SwimTrek trip and had booked this holiday to go together."
"I think the range of SwimTrek experience was from me, with zero, to one swimmer who had been on over 10 trips with us. So yeah, it was a nice group dynamic, and everyone was really encouraging of each other and of me too, which was lovely. It's really interesting when you spend a lot of time with people, isn't it? Because you see the dynamic evolve."
"The boat is great in terms of space. People can kind of choose how they want to enjoy the experience onboard. So, there's great inside space and the deck's also really good. Swimmers could spread out and get what they wanted from their time on the boat. The covered area is where lunch was served and it's similar to the traditional gulet-style boats, which fitted in with the environment."
"There were a few couples, solo travellers, and some swimmers who met on previous SwimTrek trip and had booked this holiday to go together."
“The boat crew was super friendly and welcoming. It was a family and the lady did all the cooking and the food was delicious. What she produced out of a tiny kitchen was incredible. And on day one, the man was barbecuing whole fish for lunch (even when it rained). So, it was really wholesome and fresh."
What Made Bozburun Stand Out As A Location
SWIMTREK: “The Lycian Way trip is famous for its lunches, so how was the food on the boat between swims?”
JENNY: “Lunches on the boat were great - homecooked and freshly prepared. One day we had fresh fish and different salads. They also gave out snacks on the boat as people were coming in off the swim, including cake. Another day we had a chicken stew with potato salad. There was at least one vegetarian on my trip, and they were really pleased with the food as well. It wasn't too complicated, but it was simple, home-cooked, and very tasty. Everyone was digging in and loving the food."
SWIMTREK: “And how was the new hotel - Hotel Dinc?”
JENNY: “The hotel is right on the waterfront. There's a row of hotels, and restaurants across a road from the water a mere few steps away. On the other side there's the decking where people have breakfast and a few sun loungers are set out. You can eat and look out directly over the sea. Or, swim and then come in for breakfast."
"One older lady, who was part of the family who owned the hotel, she was really proud of making her own jams and pastries. So, we could try her different creations each morning."
"When the sun was out it was incredible sitting there, by the sea. Even when it rained, we were treated to a double rainbow. That was also where we did our acclimatisation swim, right off the decking. We swam a loop and it definitely drew the attention of people passing by, who stopped to see what we were doing."
"Inside the hotel, the rooms with sea views have balconies that are quite large and the views looking out are quite special. You're never far away from the sea at all times."
"[A local] lady, who was part of the family who owned the hotel, was really proud of making her own jams and pastries... we could try her different creations each morning."
What about the swimming!?
SWIMTREK: “So, let's not forget the swims! How was your time in the water during our Bozburun trip?”
JENNY: “I was out on the boat for two days and I did two swims and spent one morning on the support boat with one of the guides. They were mostly coastal swims, and one was around an island. They had to adapt the itinerary a little bit because of the weather on the first day. But the water was really clear, especially up near the coast."
"I saw a lot of tiny shoaling fish and some of the guests saw a few bigger ones as well. The most notable highlight was the water temperature, which made it really comfortable swimming. It was so nice and warm. On land, the surrounding area, with all its fishing villages, is quiet and most activities involved mooching around town, hiking or eating out at local restaurants."
"I think the highlight for me was the group dynamic. Everyone really gelled and it was such a lovely eclectic mix of nationalities. We had Swiss, British, Australian, Belgian, German, and Colombian swimmers. I hope I haven't forgotten anyone - everybody was similar in age from late 40s to mid 60s. People did interact comfortably and share the whole experience along with other life stories."
"I think the highlight for me was the group dynamic. Everyone really gelled and it was such a lovely eclectic mix of nationalities. We had Swiss, British, Australian, Belgian, German, and Colombian swimmers."
Want to learn more?
Seeking more knowledge about any of our trips - dates of travel, kit lists and further itinerary information - please don’t hesitate to reach out to us on info@swimtrek.com.
