2024 Dates: 22-28 June

Price: from £1,410pp

LONG SWIMS WEEK GREECE

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. This week is an ideal opportunity to up the swimming distances and complete up to 8km / day in these beautiful azure waters. We will also be attempting a 10km circumnavigation of Mathraki Island, followed by a celebratory meal at our own private taverna!

View from the top of the hill on Mathraki island

Swim between the stunning Diapontia Islands on this 'long swims' week in Greece

If you are capable of swimming 2.5km / hour or above, and are keen to challenge yourself with some longer swim distances, then this is the week for you. Please remember that you are on holiday (!) and therefore if you want to take part in some or part of any of the swims that's fine by us. Just like our usual Mathraki weeks, there will still be plenty of time for relaxing too. Expect basic but comfortable accommodation on this quirky island, delicious home cooked food, and unbeatable Greek hospitality from our host family. For any other questions, or if you would like to chat to a member of SwimQuest staff about this long swims week, please contact the office.

USEFUL INFORMATION:

Sea temperature: approx. 18 – 22^oC
Daily swimming distance: 8km / day, broken down into two swims per day plus a 10km circumnavigation
Swimming ability: This week is tailored to swimmers who are capable of swimming 2.5km / hour plus.
Are non-swimmers welcome? Absolutely – non-swimmers are welcome to join the tour and take advantage of peaceful Mathraki, or sit on the boat with us, although please note the island is small and remote – so bring a book or three!

WHAT’S INCLUDED?

Accommodation in a beach-side hotel (click to visit hotel website)
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 dry bag and swim cap
VAT

WHAT’S NOT INCLUDED?

Travel to and from Mathraki (guests are advised to fly into Corfu airport and meet at Agios Stefanos harbour for a 4pm crossing to Mathraki on the arrival day - see getting there tab for further details)
Wetsuits and fins (if required)
Evening meals and one lunch (when we will take you to a taverna in Arillas)
Alcohol
Single room supplement (see ACCOMMODATION tab)

where do we stay?

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.

ROOM CHOICES

There are just seven rooms in the hotel. Unless you wish to opt for a sole use room supplement at £270, 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.

Psilos is a basic but comfortable twin share on the first floor, with air conditioning, and a shared balcony. There is a sea view and this room looks out to the southern side of the hotel.
Varkoysa is a basic but comfortable twin share on the first floor, with air conditioning, and a shared balcony. There is a sea view and this room looks out to the southern side of the hotel.
Diapolos (£50pp supplement) is a larger, triple room on the second floor. It contains a double bed and a comfortably sized sofa bed. Diapolos has air conditioning and sole use of a balcony. It looks out to the east, over the Diapolos islands. A great room for a couple.
Diakopos (£205pp supplement for sole use of either room, with shared bathroom) is a family apartment, with a twin share room and a double room, both separated by a corridor, but sharing a bathroom. Each room has air con and a door out onto a large front facing balcony. Ideal for a couple and two friends, or a family.
Karavi (£60pp supplement) is a triple room, with a separate double room and a sofa bed in a kitchenette. Great for a couple or a small family. Karavi has air conditioning in the double room only, and the double room has a door out onto the hotels large front-facing balcony.
Plateia (£20pp supplement) is a basic but comfortable double room on the top floor of the hotel, with air conditioning and a shared square balcony, which has a sea view.
Trachia is a basic but comfortable twin room on the top floor of the hotel, with air conditioning and a shared square balcony, which has a sea view.

GETTING TO MATHRAKI ISLAND

TOUR START / FINISH TIMES

We advise you land in Corfu around lunchtime on Saturday. 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 rather get to Agios Stefanos on your own, please meet us at Agios Stefanos harbour ON THE WEST SIDE OF Corfu for a 4pm crossing to Mathraki.
Boat transfer from Mathraki: We will get you up early on Friday morning for an 8am crossing back to Corfu, so that you can catch at 11.20am flight should you wish (this tends to be the most popular flight our of Corfu on a Friday morning). Your swim guides can arrange a taxi to meet you at the harbour to take you back to the airport.

GETTING THERE

Although remote, we have chosen Mathraki as one of our locations because it is easily accessible. We appreciate that you want to spend less time travelling and more time swimming! The easiest method of travel is to fly into Corfu, get a taxi across to Agios Stefanos harbour (on the west side of Corfu - please note there are two Agios Stefanos on Corfu) and then get the Mathraki Sea Taxi to Mathraki Island.

GETTING TO CORFU

Fly to Corfu

Flying to Corfu is a three-hour flight from the UK. Airlines such as Easyjet and Ryanair provide regular flights from a variety of UK airports. Olympic Airlines provide flights from Greece to Corfu. For a variety of flight options we would recommend www.skyscanner.co.uk or www.kayak.co.uk.

Ferry to Corfu

There are many ferries to Corfu from Italy (Bari, Brintezi and Ancona) and from mainland Greece at Igoumenitsia and Patra. Most stop at Corfu along with more local ferry services so for more information please check with Direct Ferries on www.directferries.co.uk.

GETTING FROM CORFU TO MATHRAKI

Taxis from the airport to Agios Stefanos

We would recommend booking your transfer 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, they will wait for you at the airport. 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 €70-80. 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.

Buses from the airport to Agios Stefanos

Agios Stefanos harbour

The local bus terminal is a short taxi ride from the airport where there is a regular green bus service that stops off at Agios Stefanos. The bus fare is approximately €4.00. Ensure the bus driver takes you all the way down to the little cafe by the harbour in Agios Stefanos.

Mathraki Sea Taxi (run by our hotel)

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 €40pp 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.

Local ferries

There are infrequent local ferries to Mathraki. Alexandros runs from Corfu Town and takes approximately 3-4 hours, and Pegasus runs from Agios Stefanos and takes 45 minutes. Timings vary from week to week. Please contact the office one week prior to your trip should you wish to take a local ferry, and we will check times with our local hosts.

What do I pack?

At least 2 swimming costumes
Wetsuit (optional) - our Partners at Zone3 offer a wide range of wetsuits, including the eco Yulex natural rubber range HERE and you get 20% OFF all full price Zone3 products with code : SWIMQUEST
Swim fins (optional, although useful for additional speed and for technique drills if you have some)
2 pairs of swim goggles – one clear and one tinted
Tow float (required) - if you haven’t got one yet, you can find a great range from Swim Secure HERE and receive 15% off with code: 15SwimQuest23
Towel(s)
Small daypack/rucksack to use for your personal equipment/clothing during the day (note you will receive a SwimQuest dry bag)
Sandals/aqua shoes / flip flops – for getting wet
Insect repellent
Fleece or warm jumper
Sun hat, sun cream and sunglasses
A waterproof watch (optional)
A memory stick should you wish to take your video analysis home with you immediately
Travel insurance details
Trainers / sports gear (optional - if you like to run, there is a lovely 8-10km hill loop around the island – non guided, at your own risk)

Reading suggestions:

The Magus John Fowles

On a remote Greek Island, Nicholas Urfe finds himself embroiled in the deceptions of a master trickster. As reality and illusion intertwine, Urfe is caught up in the darkest of psychological games. Fowles expertly unfolds a tale that is lush with over-powering imagery in a spellbinding exploration of human complexities. By turns disturbing, thrilling and seductive, The Magus, like Mathraki, is a feast for the mind and the senses.

My Family and Other Animals Gerald Durrell

If you haven’t read this already, this is a perfect opportunity. Just before the Second World War the Durrell family decamped to the glorious, sun-soaked island of Corfu where the youngest of the four children, ten-year-old Gerald, discovered his passion for animals: toads and tortoises, bats and butterflies, scorpions and octopuses. Through glorious silver-green olive groves and across brilliant-white beaches Gerry pursued his obsession, causing hilarity and mayhem in his ever-tolerant family.

Calling all artists!

Bring your paints! There will be sufficient downtime to have a dabble, and we are working up a nice collection of Mathraki art now, the island seems to inspire people... Samantha Mould - Mathraki

SwimQuest Swimming Holidays

Open water swimming holidays

LONG SWIMS WEEK, MATHRAKI ISLAND, GREECE