CHANNEL & DISTANCE TRAINING WEEK

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Dates: 7-13 March 2026, 14-20 March 2026
Price: from £1,560

NEW DESTINATION FOR OUR CHANNEL & DISTANCE TOURS IN 2026 – POROS, GREECE

serious training, invaluable seminars, and the opportunity to push your boundaries in a glorious setting.

channel & long distance swimming training week in POROS, SARONIC GULF, GREECE

SwimQuest co-founder John Coningham-Rolls has been guiding swimmers through long-distance challenges since his own English Channel crossing in 1998. Supporting swimmers in pursuit of their personal swimming 'quests' is at the heart of what we do, and John – along with our experienced SwimQuest team – has been at the forefront of channel and distance swim training from day one.

Our Channel and Distance Training Weeks are an ideal way to prepare for an English Channel solo or relay, or any other long-distance swim challenge. Whether you’re building towards your first big swim or adding another epic crossing to your list, these tours are designed to help you feel confident, prepared, and supported.

What to Expect

  • Essential Swim Preparation - gain the experience and stamina you need with dedicated sessions to help you prepare both physically and mentally for a channel swim or other long distance swim attempt
  • A chance to complete your qualifying swims 
  • A chance to try night swimming
  • Learn about swim feeds, nutrition, boat logistics and support 
  • Build your perfect support team and learn how to prepare them 
  • Leave with a clear understanding of training requirements - physical and mental - and where you are currently at on your journey
  • Connect with like-minded swimmers pursuing similar goals, and be introduced to the amazing community surrounding these challenges
  • The support doesn't end when you return home - we are here for you to talk through challenges, support and mentor you if you need us throughout your channel 'quest'.

talk to us

Not sure if this trip is right for you? Just give John a call – he’ll be more than happy to talk through your goals and help you decide whether a Channel and Distance tour is the right next step in your swim journey.

John 07951 727453 john@swimquest.uk.com

Why choose our Channel Training week?

Location, location, location

We choose our Channel & Distance locations very carefully to avoid endless bay swimming, and try to make swims as varied as possible, weather permitting.

Your Qualifying Swims

On this trip you will have the opportunity to complete your qualifying English Channel swim - 6 hours for a solo, 1.5 hours in, maximum of 1 hour out, plus 1 hour in (for CSPF requirements), or 2 hours (CSA) for a relay.

An incredible team 

Our long distance guides are amazing people. Not only have they completed unfathomable challenges themselves; but they are passionate and dedicated  to helping you complete yours too, and will go above and beyond to encourage you to find, and push your boundaries.

A thorough, busy itinerary 

Expect a packed six night itinerary. Alongside a challenging swim schedule, this trip involves daily seminars, distance swimming skills sessions (such as feeding from a boat), and technique advice.

SWIMQUEST CHANNEL & DISTANCE HISTORY

Freda Streeter and John Coningham-Rolls

Freda Streeter whipping John Coningham-Rolls into shape in 1998!

John ran the original Channel & Distance training tours back in 2007. Since then, SwimQuest has worked closely with Nick Adams (Channel Swimming and Piloting Federation), Freda Streeter MBE, Emma France and others, and refined these tours to ensure that guests not only return home having completed their mandatory cold water distance qualifiers, but also with a much greater awareness of the preparation and planning required to undertake a successful swim. Alongside the longer swims, the week includes valuable seminars on feeding, kit preparation and support crew selection, as well as swim training and technique sessions.

USEFUL INFORMATION:

  • Sea temperature: approx. 13-16oC (please note although we cannot guarantee the sea temperatures will be below 16oC, we have scheduled these dates carefully to give you the best chance of a qualifying swim attempt in temps between 14-16oC).
  • Daily swimming: swim duration will build gradually throughout the week, culminating in your qualifying swims.
  • Swimming ability: Designed for individuals training for, or interested in long-distance swims.

WHAT’S INCLUDED?

  • Twin or double share accommodation at the Manessis Hotel
  • A tailored, tried and tested long-distance swimming itinerary
  • Long distance seminars
  • Long distance skills sessions (e.g. feeding from the boat, preparing for a swim, night swim)
  • Breakfasts
  • A selection of snacks
  • Swim feeds (maltodextrin is provided, please talk to us if you require other feeds)
  • Safety boats as required
  • Three SwimQuest guides
  • A SwimQuest Channel & Distance cap and SwimQuest poncho
  • VAT

WHAT’S NOT INCLUDED?

  • Travel to and from Poros (guests are advised to fly into Athens, you can then share a minibus with other guests or choose to get the ferry across to Poros, see Getting There tab for details)
  • Lunches, evening meals and any alcohol purchases (we will take you to delicious local tavernas for meals)
  • Additional in resort extras
  • Sports massages (although we can help you arrange these)
  • Single room supplement (if you wish to stay in a room on your own - see ACCOMMODATION tab) subject to availability
  • Room upgrades (see ACCOMMODATION tab - subject to availability)

HOTEL MANESSIS

Tucked just below the iconic Poros clock tower, the family-run Manessis Hotel sits right at the heart of the port. Overlooking the harbour and Galata Beach, it’s a peaceful spot on the seafront promenade, surrounded by relaxed cafés and traditional fish tavernas – the kind of place where you can settle in and feel part of island life.

YOUR ACCOMMODATION OPTIONS

  • Standard Room - twin / double share allocated as standard (we will pair you with a swimmer of the same sex or simply let us know when booking who you would like to share with)
  • Sole Use room upgrade £200

PLEASE NOTE ROOM SUPPLEMENTS ARE SUBJECT TO AVAILABILITY

If you have any particular questions or preferences, please let us know and we will do our best to accommodate you.

THE ITINERARY

We typically plan two swims per day, plus a seminar, but the schedule is flexible and will evolve based on your progress throughout the week. The outline below is just a rough guide – our experienced swim guides will tailor the week to suit your individual needs. Each day, they'll offer advice and encouragement to help you make the most of your time in the water. Our main goal is to support you in reaching your own personal milestones — and more often than not, you’ll surprise yourself with what you can achieve.

SATURDAY

We will meet in the late afternoon for the mandatory safety briefing. Topics covered include: swim preparation, swim routes, feeding, prevailing weather, and safety procedures. We will then complete an acclimatisation swim in a sheltered bay. This allows the swim guides to assess your stroke and start preparing an individual plan for you for the week. Following this we will relax and have dinner, with time to discuss the week ahead. (If for any reason guests are unavoidably delayed, the briefing may be deferred to Sunday morning.)

SUNDAY

After breakfast we will jump in for our first swim (45 min to 1 hour) which will be a bay swim at Kanali. If not completed the day before, during the session the guides will be film you above and below the water. This will be a continuing theme throughout the week. Regular filming is an invaluable tool, and at the end of the tour you will receive all your films for future reference. The afternoon swim will be a slightly longer swim (up to 1.5 hours) allowing you to think about the stroke session.

MONDAY

After breakfast, we will embark on an exciting long swim to the historic Castle Island (Bourtzi). This swim is approx. 2 hours in the water (although adapted depending on your personal challenge). After a well-deserved lunch, we’ll head out once more for a bay to bay swim, east out of Kanali, towards Askeli (up to 3 hours in the water). In the evening we will host a seminar on ‘mental preparation’ for a Long Distance swim over drinks and nibbles. That evening, we will complete our night swim to give you an opportunity to try out swimming in the dark.

TUESDAY

Today we will run one long swim along Poros' beautiful southern coastline (up to 4 hours) which will enable you to experience an extended time in the water and put feed regimes into practice. The afternoon offers a chance to relax prior to a long swim the following day. We will continue with the informal seminars on topics such as swim preparation (logistics), training schedules, feeding programmes and support crews.

WEDNESDAY

An early breakfast, after which we will start the mandatory 6 hour qualifying swim (or your equivalent qualifying swim if you are training for another event or a relay).  We try to ensure you qualifying swim is as varied as possible. Your swim will be a mixture of bays and coastlines. The experience you have gained during the week will give you the best opportunity to see what you can achieve! For the solo Channel swimmers in training, it will be the mandatory six-hour qualifying swim, and for all other guests we will have agreed a time to work to as your longest swim. All of you will be supported all the way by the guides with appropriate feeds and words of encouragement.

THURSDAY

Today will be a relaxing day of recovery after the long swim on Wednesday, with a gentle recovery swim. If the weather dictates, we may use today to complete the long swim if this isn’t possible on Wednesday. The rest day will include a late breakfast and the chance to chill. We also use today to chat collectively about the long swim, continue with seminars and advice and share suggested improvements to existing training programmes. Lunch will be arranged in a local taverna, but the key to the day is to relax and enjoy your surroundings.

FRIDAY

As this is the last day, there will be a short pre-breakfast swim as you prepare for your onward journey.

getting to poros

START & FINISH TIME

This trip officially starts at 2pm, and finishes at 10am on the final day.

FLIGHTS

Athens is the nearest airport to Poros. From Athens, there are two routes to get to Poros. You can either get a ferry or hydrofoil from Piraeus Port, or you can book a private car to drive you directly to Poros.

FROM ATHENS (PIRAEUS PORT) BY FERRY

  • High-Speed Hydrofoil (Flying Dolphin) – 1 hour
  • Regular Ferry – 2.5 hours
  • Ferries depart regularly from Piraeus Port, and tickets can be booked in advance via ferry booking websites.
If you are arriving by ferry, your swim guide/s will meet you at the port in Poros and take you to the hotel.

BY PRIVATE TAXI / MINIBUS 

  • We can put you in touch with a local taxi firm who can provide a direct airport - Poros transfer for about 50€ per person. We will put you in touch with the swim group before the trip so that you can arrange to share a minibus should you wish.

WHAT DO I PACK?

  • At least three Swimming costumes
  • Wetsuit - optional (although not allowed for traditional English Channel Solo or Relay Swimmers)*
  • Two Pairs of swim goggles – one clear and one tinted
  • Tow float (required) - if you haven’t got one yet, you can purchase from our online shop here
  • Rash vest (optional) - available from our online shop here
  • Beach towel(s)
  • Small daypack/rucksack to use for your personal equipment/clothing during the day
  • Sandals/aqua shoes/flip flops – for getting wet
  • Insect repellent (lemon based non-Deet repellents are good)
  • Insect bite relief
  • Warm hat, fleece or warm jumper, tracksuit trousers/sweat pants
  • Waterproof coat/jacket
  • Waterproof watch
  • Sun hat, sun cream and glasses
  • Travel insurance
Please do not skimp on warm easy to put on clothing! This is essential as you will feel cold after long swims.

READY TO BOOK?

We’re excited about meeting you on tour. To book your trip, simply click 'Book Now' for your chosen trip below. A deposit of 30% is required to secure your place, and the final payment is due 10 weeks prior to departure. Payments can be made by debit/credit card or by bank transfer. If you are not yet ready to book and require more information, please click enquire. Once you have complete the form, Sarah (our bookings co-ordinator) will be in touch to help you with any additional requirements.

POROS |  7-13 MARCH 2026  |  BOOK NOW  |  ENQUIRE

POROS |  14-20 MARCH 2026  |  BOOK NOW  |  ENQUIRE

SwimQuest ABTOT MembersIn booking with us, you accept our terms and conditions, which can be found here. If at any point you have any questions, feel free to contact us:

Travel Insurance

As a SwimQuest guest, you are required to have in place travel insurance that covers you for all activities you will be taking part in during your trip. It is your responsibility to ensure that you are fully covered for these activities. Whatever travel policy you decide on, you will need to bring a copy of your current Certificate of Insurance to the safety briefing at the start of your SwimQuest holiday. Your swim Guides will need to take a note of your insurer, policy number and the number to call in case of an emergency claim. Please note, if you are a UK resident and eligible for free health cover via the NHS, you do not need to take our a travel insurance policy for our UK based trips. You may still wish to take out insurance to cover you for events such as trip cancellation, luggage and personal liability. If you are travelling from the US or another country, we suggest you use a travel insurance comparison site based in your own country in order to decide on a suitable policy. You can find more information on our Insurance page. Columbus Direct offers three levels of cover Bronze, Silver and Gold, with differing levels of emergency medical, cancellation and baggage so you can choose the cover to suit your needs. All levels of cover include over 150 sports and activities covered as standard including open water swimming within 12 miles of shore (you will not be swimming more than 12 miles away from the shore on SwimQuest Holidays). You will also benefit from free airport lounge access if your flight is delayed for 1hr or more*. Optional cover is available including Gadget, Winter Sports and Cruise, along with cover for many pre-existing medical conditions subject to online screening.  Columbus Direct offer single trip cover up to 85 years old and annual multi trip cover up to 74 years old. *The policyholder can register both themselves and up to four additional travelling companions for Columbus Direct’s Airport Delay service. They will then be eligible to receive free airport lounge access in the event a delay of one or more hours is announced for their flight. View terms and conditions here

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