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Mathraki - Long Swims

  • Multiple dates
  • Mathraki Island, Greece
  • From £1,599pp
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Some places make you want to swim further. Mathraki is one of them. One of Europe's most remote and unspoiled islands, Mathraki sits in the Diapontia archipelago off the north-west coast of Corfu - a scattering of islands in some of the clearest, most inviting water you'll ever swim in.
Duration
6 Nights
Distance per day
7-10km
Water temperature
18-25°C
Max. group size
12
Ability level
Intermediate, Advanced, Challenger
Swim type
Open Water, Sea
Non-swimming Partners
Welcome - 10% Discount
Technique coaching
Included

This special week is designed for those who want to swim more than your usual Relax & Explore trip. With up to 8km of swimming each day, including island hops, coastal explorations and open-water crossings, return home feeling both strong and rested. We ask that you can maintain a speed of 2.5km / hour or faster for this trip.

 

Mathraki is a very remote island in Greece and an incredible location for swimming. The Diapontia Islands (off the north west coast of Corfu) provide fantastic opportunities for inter island swims, island hops, circumnavigation and coastal exploration.

Highlights

10km Mathraki Circumnavigation

Embark on a 10km circumnavigation of Mathraki Island itself, followed by a well-earned celebratory meal at our own private taverna. You'll have earned every bite.

A swim to Trachia island

Trachia is a small island off the North coast of Mathraki. A beautiful, otherworldly swim, especially when the sea is flat. Keep an eye out for Mathraki’s turtle as you near Kodragas harbour!

Our home for the week

We stay at the lovely, family run Hotel Paradise. This is the only hotel on the island and it’s not unusual for us to have the hotel (and the island!) to ourselves. Our local hosts provide fantastic home-cooked food and local knowledge.

Explore caves and coves

The Diapolos Islands are ripe for exploring. Swim i and around the caves and coves of Diapolos before swimming out to Karavi - 'tooth rock'.

Itinerary

Day 1

Arrival and Acclimatisation

The boat transfers to Mathraki leave Agios Stefanos (West) at 4pm. Your guides and our local host Giorgos will meet you at the harbour and boat you across to Mathraki, ready to begin our adventure. After a warm welcome and safety briefing, we’ll head out for our acclimatisation swim in the hotel bay, the perfect way to get comfortable in the water before a well-deserved sundowner and dinner together at the hotel taverna.
Day 2

Trachia Island Exploration

This morning, we'll boat over to Trachia, a small island off Mathraki's north coast said to have provided the stone for many of the island's buildings. For those who fancy it, we will complete a full circumnavigation, followed by a swim back towards Kodragas harbour, and onward to finish at the main island harbour (4km). After lunch back at the hotel, we'll head out for a gentle afternoon coastal swim along the yellow-sands of Paradise Bay (2.5-3km)
Day 3

Plateia and the West Coast

We'll start the day by a swim out from our hotel bay, round the sourthern coastline of the island, and out towards Plateia Island, an islet off Mathraki's west coast. Looping the island, we turn back and swim into shore (4-5km). After lunch, we'll explore Mathraki's dramatic west coast, with its tiny pebble beaches and striking white rocks (3km). Don't forget, you can swim as much or as little as you like! The boat is there for rests if you need it.
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Accommodation

Hotel Paradise
    Free Wifi Restaurant Bar

In Mathraki we stay at the family run Hotel Paradise. As Hotel Paradise is the only hotel on the island, it’s not unusual for us to have the hotel (and the island!) to ourselves. Our local hosts Giorgos, Giannis and Nora provide fantastic home-cooked food and local knowledge, and look forward to welcoming you.

Rooms
There are just seven rooms in the hotel. Unless you wish to opt for a sole use room supplement at £340, rooms are allocated on a twin / double share basis. Please indicate your room choice on the booking form when booking. Rooms are subject to availability.
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What's included

Included
  • Accommodation at Hotel Paradise (the only hotel on Mathraki)
  • Swimming, assisted by safety boats where required and always escorted by swim guide/s
  • Breakfasts
  • Traditional home-cooked lunches (except lunch on one day when we will eat in Arillas)
  • Safety boats
  • Swim guides
  • SwimQuest poncho and swim hat
  • VAT
  • ABTOT Financial Protection
Not included
  • Travel to and from Mathraki (see 'Getting there' for details)
  • Wetsuits and fins (optional)
  • Evening meals
  • Lunch on one day (when we will take you to a taverna in Arillas)
  • Alcohol, soft drinks, ice cream
  • Single room supplement or room upgrades

Getting there

Getting to Mathraki
Trip begins 5pm Saturday
Fly to Corfu

Fly to Corfu airport (IBZ). For help finding flight information and prices, you may wish to try a flight search engine such as Skyscanner or Kayak. 

 

We advise you land in Corfu around lunchtime on Saturday.

Taxi to Agios Stefanos harbour

We arrange a taxi to pick up the group at 2.15pm from Hotel Bretagne (a short 5 min walk up the road from the airport). You are welcome to opt into this group taxi which will take you all to Agios Stefanos harbour ready for your boat transfer to Mathraki at 4pm. 

 

If you would like to book your own transfer we recommend booking through Corfu Holiday Taxis. Dimitris and his team will look after you and are familiar with SwimQuest and how to get to Agios Stefanos Harbour for your downward journey to Mathraki. Simply email info@corfuholidaytaxi.com, use the website www.corfuholidaytaxi.com or call 0030 6972767803. Tell them you are going to Mathraki with the swimmers.

 

Alternatively, come out of arrivals and you will see the taxi rank in front of you. An airport taxi to Agios Stefanos harbour is approximately €70-110. Make sure the taxi driver knows which Agios Stefanos harbour you need (emphasise ‘West’ and that you’re heading onto Mathraki). The taxi journey takes approximately 50 minutes.

Boat transfer to Mathraki

To circumvent all local ferry times (which an be extremely unpredictable) our hoteliers on Mathraki Island offer a sea taxi service from Agios Stefanos harbour. This will run at 4pm on your arrival day, and 8am on the departure day, and costs €55pp for the return journey. Should you wish to get across to the island outside of these times, it is possible to book a private transfer for €120 each way.

Departures

We advise booking a flight for 11.30am or later on the Friday morning. Transfers off the island will run early, around 7.30 – 8am.

Trip ends 8am Friday

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