2025 dates: 20-26 September
See also – Technique with Michael Gunning 27 September – 3 October
Price: from £1,749pp
JOIN MICHAEL GUNNING AND THE SWIMQUEST TEAM TO START OR PROGRESS YOUR OPEN WATER JOURNEY ON THE MAGICAL ISLAND OF FORMENTERA
Stunning crystal clear waters of Formentera
ABOUT MICHAEL GUNNING
Michael Gunning is an internationally recognised professional swimmer best known for participating in the 200-metre butterfly event. Over a 16-year career, Michael held eight national records, won three British titles, and competed in two World Swimming Championships. As the first openly gay and mixed-race swimmer in the UK, he is a trailblazer for multiple communities worldwide and is extremely passionate about making swimming accessible to all. We are thrilled to have Michael as our guest coach to share his expertise and infectious enthusiasm with our guests. Read more about Michael's story in the 'About Michael' tab on this page.
IS THIS WEEK FOR ME?
This week is suitable for swimmers of all abilities, with a focus on improving skills and confidence in the sea. Thanks to our small group sizes (max 14), we ensure personalized advice and stroke analysis for each participant, along with the opportunity to complete stunning open water coastal swims. The program includes video analysis sessions, pool sessions, sea sessions, seminars, and open water coastal swims, providing a varied experience and many new skills to take home.ABOUT FORMENTERA
Formentera is a small Balearic island near Ibiza, renowned for its dazzling crystal-clear waters and long stretches of beach backed by dunes and pine trees. Unlike Ibiza, Formentera retains a laid-back, tranquil atmosphere. John Coningham-Rolls has a long-standing history with Formentera, with his grandparents owning a villa (Can Rolls) since the 50s. SwimQuest continues this relationship with the island.
Many of our guests are drawn to Formentera year after year for its pristine white sand and turquoise sea. The clarity of the water is due to the Posidonia sea grass meadows on the sea floor, a key reason Formentera and Ibiza achieved UNESCO World Heritage status in 1999. SwimQuest proudly supports the Save Posidonia Project, sponsoring one square meter of Posidonia meadow for each guest who books a Formentera trip in 2024. Playa des Illetes, a favorite swim spot on our tours, also won Trip Advisor’s Best Beach in Europe award.
USEFUL INFORMATION
- Price: £1,749 based on twin share room (see 'accommodation' tab for single supplements and upgrades)
- Guest Coach: Michael Gunning, joined by two SwimQuest guides
- Focus: Open water swimming confidence and skills
- Minimum Swimming Requirement: None (please contact us if you are a complete non-swimmer)
- Average Daily Swimming: Adaptable based on ability
- Sea Temperature Range: Approx. 23-25°C
- Group Size: Up to 14 guests
- Age Range: 16+ (for family enquiries, please contact the office)
- Non-Swimmers: Absolutely welcome – enjoy beautiful Formentera
WHAT’S INCLUDED?
- Accommodation at the 4* Roca Bella hotel on the beach of Es Pujols (see accommodation tab for details)
- Jam-packed swimming itinerary
- SwimQuest guide and Guest Coach Michael Gunning
- Swim coaching and video analysis
- Both one-to-one and group technique sessions
- Breakfasts
- Lunches
- Transport to and from swim locations on the island
- Transfers from Formentera harbour to Roca Bella
- SwimQuest swim cap and gift
- VAT
WHATS NOT INCLUDED?
- Travel to and from Formentera harbour (guests are advised to fly into Ibiza, take a short taxi ride to Ibiza harbour and board one of the half hourly boats to Formentera - we will pick you up from Formentera harbour).
- Wetsuits and fins (optional)
- Evening meals
- Alcohol
- Single room supplement (see accommodation tab for details)
HOTEL ROCA BELLA
On this tour, you will stay in the friendly Hotel Roca Bella, situated on the beach of Es Pujols, moments away from crystal waters and Pujols town. Standard Rooms are allocated on a twin share basis. If you wish, you can choose sole occupancy, or upgrade to a Superior Room (only available as sole occupancy or double share), subject to availability.
STANDARD TWIN ROOM (SHARING PLACE)
£1,749pp - Standard rooms are simple but comfortable. They all have a terrace and sea view. There is the possibility to rent a fridge or to add a cot (to pay directly at the reception).
STANDARD TWIN ROOM (SOLE OCCUPANCY)
£1,949 - if you would like your own private Standard room, a sole occupancy supplement of £200 will be added to your booking.
SUPERIOR ROOM UPGRADE (DOUBLE SHARE)
£1,949pp - upgrade your double share room to a Superior for an extra £200pp (Please note: these rooms do not offer a twin share set up so it is based on double share). Superior Rooms are located in the newer building of the hotel and are recently renovated. All have a terrace with a sea view.
SUPERIOR ROOM UPGRADE (SOLE OCCUPANCY)
£2,149 - if you would like your own private Superior room, a supplement of £200 will be added to your booking. THE ITINERARY
SATURDAY ACCLIMATISATION SWIM
We will meet at 5pm for the mandatory safety briefing. Topics covered include: swimming safely in open water, swim preparation, swim routes, prevailing weather, and safety procedures. We will then complete a short acclimatisation swim in a shallow bay by the villa. This allows Michael and 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: INTRODUCTION TO THE SEA, FILMING, AND A BAY SWIM
The day is designed to be easy, allowing you to settle in after your journey. After breakfast we will head down to the water for our first sea swim - finding our comfort levels and enjoying being in the water. During the swim session the guides will film your stroke above and below the water. After lunch, Michael will give a land-based talk around his story - and his fantastic work to date on inclusion within swimming. In the afternoon, for those who feel comfortable, we will complete a short bay swim with technique tips from Michael and the team.MONDAY: THE OPEN WATER DIFFERENCE
TUESDAY: POOL SESSION & RELAXED OPEN WATER SWIM
After breakfast we will make our way to the pool for a structured swim technique session. This is a great opportunity for Michael to monitor your progress up close and give you personalised skills to work on for the afternoon session and to take away and practice at home. After lunch, we will complete a relaxed open water swim allowing you to stretch out and enjoy your new skills.WEDNESDAY: UPPING THE DISTANCE
There will be optional one-to-one technique sessions with Michael before breakfast. After breakfast, we will travel by car to a local bay, and depending on the weather, will attempt a slightly longer continuous swim. In the afternoon there will be another land based technique session.THURSDAY: INTO THE DEEP!
This is your last full day of swimming with two great seas swims. The morning swim is a coastal swim along the peninsula. With amazing shallow beaches along the way, it is the perfect way to stretch out and enjoy your new stroke. In the afternoon we will walk to Punta Prima and use the swim zone, but this time we will head out of the bay and swim back to the beach by the accommodation. The swim is a great way to see the coastline and some underwater sea life. Once back, there will be time to relax and then we will go into town for our last dinner together.FRIDAY SWIM AM: SHORT BAY SWIM
As this is the last day, there will be a short pre-breakfast sunrise bay swim as you will need to pack and prepare for your ferry back to Ibiza.TRAVEL TO FORMENTERA
TRIP START / FINISH TIMES
- We will meet at 5pm on Saturday for introductions and safety briefing. We suggest arriving in Formentera at around 3pm to give you time to check into your room and settle in before the briefing. SwimQuest head office will ask for your travel times pre tour so that our swim guides can pick you up from Formentera harbour and take you to the hotel.
- The trip finishes after a sunrise swim and breakfast on Friday morning. Check out is at 10am. Please note, your swim guides will travel back to Ibiza on Friday morning so if you are staying on the island post checkout you may need to book a taxi back to Formentera harbour - the hotel reception can help you with this.
FLY TO IBIZA
Fly to Ibiza and then jump in a taxi from the airport to Ibiza harbour to get the ferry to Formentera (please budget approx. €15-20 for this taxi journey.) Taxis are regular just outside the airport. Tell the taxi driver you are going to get a ferry to Formentera and he / she will drop you off by the Formentera ticket kiosks. For the cheapest flight options, have a look at www.skyscanner.co.uk. If you would prefer to arrive a day early, we would recommend the cheap but friendly and comfortable Hotel el Puerto in Ibiza town, close to the ferry port.
FERRY FROM IBIZA TO FORMENTERA
There are a number of ferry companies offering a regular service (approx. every 30 minutes) from Ibiza to Formentera and back. Trasmappi, Balearia and Mediterranea–Pitiusa are popular options, cost the same and take the same amount of time (approx. 30 minute crossing). There is no need to buy a ticket in advance. Hint – when you buy a return ticket, it is worth checking that your return ferry journey allows you sufficient time to get to the airport, as you cannot transfer your ticket to another ferry provider and will have to purchase an additional single fare.AN EXTRA NIGHT IN IBIZA TOWN?
RECOMMENDED IN IBIZA TOWN:
Hotel el Puerto in Ibiza town is friendly and comfortable, and just a 2 minute walk from the ferry port should you need to arrive a day early / leave a day later. Please feel free to book a room through Lourdes in their reservations team. Tell them you are booking through SwimQuest and you can claim a 10% discount.HOTEL CONTACT:
CALLE CARLOS III, Nº 24. 07800 IBIZA // Contact number: +44(20)37693446 // Website: www.ibizaelpuerto.com
WHAT DO I PACK?
- At least two Swimming costumes
- Wetsuit - optional*
- Two Pairs of swim goggles – ideally 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
- Towel(s) although the hotel provide bath towels for in-hotel use
- Small daypack/rucksack to use for your personal equipment/clothing during the day (you will receive a 10L SwimQuest dry bag you can use for this purpose if you wish)
- Sandals/aqua shoes/flip flops – for getting wet
- Insect repellent & bite relief
- Fleece or warm jumper, tracksuit trousers/sweat pants
- Waterproof
- Sun hat, sun cream and glasses
- Travel insurance
HOLIDAY READING SUGGESTIONS
There's nothing better than packing a book to suit your holiday location! Author and adventure activist Jessica Hepburn has kindly put together some suggested 'Swimspiration' for Formentera here.“SWIMMING HAS GIVEN ME SO MUCH AND I’M REALLY EXCITED TO GIVE BACK AND BE PART OF OTHER PEOPLE’S INSPIRING JOUNEYS. FROM ACHIEVING PERSONAL GOALS TO FINDING THE LOVE AGAIN IN THE WATER, I’M LOOKING FORWARD TO IGNITING SOMETHING SPECIAL IN EVERYONE!
Michael Gunning • British and Jamaican Champion
MICHAEL'S STORY
Michael Gunning is an internationally recognised professional swimmer best known for participating in the 200-metre butterfly event. He holds duel Nationality, and has set numerous national records for both Team GB and Team Jamaica in his competitive swimming career.
EARLY CAREER
Growing up in Petts Wood, he started swimming at the age of 4 and went on to join Beckenham Swimming Club at the age of 7. He broke 15 county records; 9 London region records, and qualified for his first National Championships at the age of 12 in the 200m Butterfly event. He has always had a big passion for swimming, and made his Team GB debut in the LEN European Open Water Championships in 2010. He later went onto winning medals at BUCS, the WISE Championships, the European Championships and also achieved a First-Class Honours Degree in Early Childhood Education.
TEAM JAMAICA
In 2017, Michael was caught up in the Manchester Arena bombing attack. This was a major turning point in his life and subsequently led him to represent Team Jamaica, his father’s place of birth, to help grow the sport in the Caribbean. After narrowly missing out in the Commonwealth Games Selection Team in 2018, he prioritised life outside of sport and came out publicly as gay on E! Entertainment, making him the Caribbean’s first openly gay member on a national team. Since then, he’s competed in the PAN American Games, the World University Games and two FINA World Swimming Championships, and is a trailblazer that inspires generations of athletes all around the world to be their true selves.
MEDIA CAREER
Since officially retiring from competitive swimming in 2022, Michael has launched himself into the entertainment industry appearing on Television shows such as Lorraine, Morning Live, BBC One’s Documentary ‘Tom Daley: Illegal to be Me’ and most recently BBC Children in Need. He’s a regular pundit/presenter and avid speaker and hosted the live swimming events at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games. In addition to this, he was a proud Ambassador for Pride House Birmingham, which made history for having Pride House present in all three athlete villages, and is an Ambassador for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games this Summer. As a passionate advocate for championing equality, diversity and inclusion, Michael helps provide multiple opportunities for minority and underrepresented communities around the UK, and launched Speedo UK’s Swim United Campaign to inspire, educate and remove barriers in sport.
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.INTRO TO OPEN WATER | 20-26 SEPT 2025 | BOOK NOW | ENQUIRE
In 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:
- Sarah Broadley | +44 7917 033670 | sarah@swimquest.uk.com
- Charlie Beere | +44 7563 389238 | charlotte@swimquest.uk.com
- Alice Todd | +44 7825 301443 | alice@swimquest.uk.com
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
