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 the Bozburun peninsula, south of Marmaris.
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 couple of days with mixed weather, Jenny was able to get out on the Aegean Coast, 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 can still play the new girl card. One of the main reasons for going to Bozburun, apart from familiarising myself with our trips, was to review the recent change of hotel."
"The whole experience was really good - nice 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 SwimTrek trips and now always go together."
"I think the range of SwimTrek experience was from me, with zero, to one swimmer who had been on 12 trips with us. So yeah, it was a nice group dynamic. 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 what they want to do. 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 a traditional gulet-style boat, which fitted in with the environment."
"There were a few couples, solo travellers, and some swimmers who met on previous SwimTrek trips and now always go together."
“The boat crew was super friendly. It was a couple and their son was also onboard sometimes. 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. So it was really wholesome."
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. First day we had fresh fish and different salads. They also gave out snacks on the boat as people were coming in off the swim. We had cake one day, and there were nuts being passed around. The second 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. A lot of people on my trip had previously done the Lycian Way trip. 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. On the other side there's the decking where people have breakfast and a few sun loungers are set out. You can eat and go directly into 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 there were locals watching us, 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 big 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 hiking or eating out at local restaurants. In water, we had the most fun though!"
"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, Canadian, and Colombian swimmers. Everybody was similar in age from late 40s to mid 60s. People did interact comfortably and share the whole experience."
"I think the highlight from for me was the group dynamic. Everyone really gelled and it was such a lovely eclectic mix of nationalities. We had Swiss, British, Australian, Canadian, 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.
