SERRE PONCON

2025 dates: Wednesday 2 – Sunday 6 July, 2025 (4 night trip, all-inclusive)
Prices: Solo £3,410pp, 2-person relay £2,776pp,  3-person relay  £2,546pp,  4-person relay  £2,432pp

CONQUER 20KM LAKE SERRE-PONÇON - ONE OF THE LARGEST MAN-MADE LAKES IN WESTERN EUROPE AS A SOLO OR RELAY

Conquer the 20km length of Serre Poncon

Lake Serre-Ponçon is one of largest man-made lakes in Western Europe, stretching 20km in length. This unique swim trip offers the opportunity to swim the full length of the lake, either as a solo swimmer or in a relay team of up to 4, fully supported by your own boat, SwimQuest Guides and local sauveteur.
PLEASE NOTE - AS THIS IS SUCH AN UNUSUAL AND SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGE, WE HAVE INCLUDED AS MANY DETAILS AS POSSIBLE IN OUR PACKAGE TO ENSURE YOUR EXPERIENCE IS STRAIGHT FORWARD AND STRESS FREE. 

IS THIS FOR ME?

This trip is designed to help you complete your epic swim challenge, it is not designed to be a ‘relax and explore trip’. 20km is a (very!) big distance, so our guides will feed you, brief you, encourage you and do everything they can to help you achieve your goal. You will have two guides looking after you for your swim, a SwimQuest guide and a local sauveteur - both in your own personal support boat. In addition, there will be a staff member providing roadside assistance and a SwimQuest cook to ensure you are well fed! Whether you decide on a solo or a relay, you will need to prepare yourself for your swim and come trained and ready to complete this challenge. We accept wetsuit and non-wetsuit swimmers. In July the water temperature is likely to be around 18oC. If you are at all unsure, feel free to call the office for some help and training advice.

SOLO OR RELAY?

We offer solo swims, two-person relays (we advise one, or 1.5 hour each in rotation), three-person relays (one hour each in rotation) or four-person relays (one hour each in rotation). Relay teams all sit on the escort boat with the relay swim guide when not swimming.

 AT A GLANCE 

  • This trip runs from Wednesday – Sunday (4 nights). You can book one of two slots for your swim, Friday or Saturday. First come first served. 
  • Non-swimmers are welcome to join the trip. Soloists are permitted one supporter on the support boat (unfortunately there is not enough space for relay teams to take supporters)
  • Group size max. 8 swims (these may include relay teams)
  • Water temperature approx. 18oC
  • Everything included except transport to Gap
  • Easily accessible via train or from Marseille airport (see 'getting there' tab for details)

WHAT’S INCLUDED?

  • 4 night’s accommodation at the beautiful Château de Picomtal based on a twin or double room share (single supplement applies if you would like a room to yourself, and discounts for up to four in a room are applicable - see ACCOMMODATION tab for details)
  • 4 evening meals, 4 breakfasts, 3 lunches, plus swim feeds (we supply maxim / CNP, jelly sweets and bananas for your swim – please let us know if you would prefer to bring your own swim feeds)
  • A dedicated safety boat for your personal swim, staffed with both a saveuteur (local lifeguard) and a SwimQuest guide
  • Additional safety boat circulating on the lake during your swim
  • Ground support team available during your swim
  • A pre-swim visit of the lake and acclimatisation day (Thursday)
  • Presentation by a local long distance swimmer who has completed 20km, 30km and 40km swims on the Serre Ponçon lake and who has also swum the Channel.
  • Transfers from Gap to your accommodation
  • Local transport to and from swims and to Embrun town on your free day
  • Visit of the Museoscope - interactive exhibition of the history of the lake
  • A medal for finishers
  • A SwimQuest swimming hat and poncho towel robe
  • VAT

WHAT'S NOT INCLUDED?

  • Travel to and from Gap (we can help you organise this - see GETTING THERE tab for details)
  • Wetsuit (optional, you may swim skins if acclimatised and used to doing so)
  • Safety lights and swimming buoy
  • Spending money for any additional purchases / activities outside of the tour schedule

Highlights:

  • Only 20km inland lake swim challenge available in Europe
  • Fully supported open water swim
  • Dedicated safety boat, coach and rescuer for each swim team
  • Exceptional accommodation in chateau renovated in its original style
  • Swim at altitude for optimal training for a long distance sea-level Channel swim
  • Stunning mountain scenery at every stroke
  • Average water temperature around 18°C - 19°C
  • 300 days of sunshine per year so high probability of good weather for your swim

Safety:

Long distance open water swimming, especially of this distance, is an exceptional undertaking and your safety is our first priority. Every swim team, whether you are solo or in a relay of four, will have its own safety boat dedicated to the team following the swimmer at all times during the challenge. Onboard will be a SwimQuest guide and a professional local rescuer 'sauveteur'. Your team will also feed and hydrate you throughout your swim. In addition there is also a spare safety boat and ground support team on and around the lake, ready to intervene. They will also take care of stocking up supplies on the team boats, shift changes and toilet breaks for your dedicated support staff so they never have to leave your side.

Weather & Conditions:

The lake is situated in the southern French Alps and boasts a Mediterranean climate with cooler evenings. The region records an average of 300 days of sunshine per year so there is a very high probability of perfect weather. The weather pattern of the lake is generally very stable in July with calm, flat water and clear skies at night and most of the day. Towards the end of the day as the warm air rises in the mountains, the wind picks up and the lake can become more agitated. On very hot days this can result in a heat storm at the end of the day, after your swim. We have carefully chosen the dates to fall outside of the main French school holiday season so the lake is quieter and to be as close to a full moon as possible for better visibility for your early start.

Château de Picomtal

If you are going to complete a swim challenge as epic as this - you may as well stay in a castle! With origins dating back to the 13th century, nestled between the lake and mountains, and just 5 minutes drive from the picturesque town of Embrun (which you can explore on your non-swim day) this is an ideal base for our swimming adventure. Please indicate your room preference when booking.

ROOMS AND PRICING

Prices:

Prices are per person and are based on 2 people sharing a room.
  • Solo swimmer: £3,410pp
  • Relay of 2: £2,776pp
  • Relay of 3: £2,546pp
  • Relay of 4: £2,432pp
Discounts are available for more than two people sharing a room:
  • 3 people sharing a room: discount of £145 pp
  • 4 people sharing a room: discount of £216 pp
NEED YOUR OWN ROOM?
A Single supplement of £215 is applicable if you would like your own, private room.

SOLE USE / DOUBLE SHARE ROOMS

LOUISE XVI

This bright suite is the largest in the castle. With a 19th century style, toile de Jouy on the walls, and a French ceiling, the master bedroom opens onto the forest to the east, as well as the garden to the south via the Louisiana-influenced veranda. To complete the suite, an adjoining 14th century tower has an office facing the former arrow slit of the preserved tower, as well as an additional bed. This suite can accommodate up to 3 people.

The room of the Unknown Illustrous ("l'illustre inconnu" in French).

This room will immerse you in the Renaissance atmosphere, with its imposing fireplace topped with the painting of the Illustrious Unknown, its French ceiling, and its famous four-poster bed. The large window opens to the east onto the calm forest and courtyard views. This room can accommodate up to 2 people.

ACCOUCHEMENTS ROOM

This bright room faces west in a Directoire atmosphere. The central bedroom of the castle where ladies of the castle gave birth. The new mother could ring a bell located on the landing from her bed to announce the birth of her child. The large window opens onto the square and the forest. This room can accommodate up to 2 people.
This large bedroom with a French ceiling opens onto the square and the forest to the west. Looking out the window toward the north, the view is breathtaking over Lake Serre-Ponçon. You can see Morgon peak, a popular hike in the region and this room's namesake, at the beginning and end of the season from this room.
This room can accommodate up to 2 people.
This small, intimate room with a French ceiling opens onto the square and the forest to the west. Looking out the window to the north is a beautiful view over Lake Serre-Ponçon. This room has a reduced-mobility accessible shower instead of a bath. This room can accommodate up to 2 people.

TWIN SHARE ROOMS

BONIFACE SUITE

This bright suite is located partly in the 13th century round watchtower. The round master bedroom with Louis Philippe style furniture and 19th century larch parquet flooring opens onto the garden and the square. The veranda area, with a single bed, opens onto the garden and provides a pleasant feeling of being inside and outside at the same time. This suite can accommodate up to 3 people.

triple / quad share ROOMS

Mont Guillaume SUITE

This family suite on the second floor offers a view to the north of Lake Serre-Ponçon and the Mont Guillaume mountain. The adjoining 16th century tower to the east has two additional small beds. This suite can accommodate up to 4 people (depending on bed requirements, there is one double and two single beds).
This family suite on the second floor offers a view to the north of Lake Serre-Ponçon and the peak of the Chabrière mountain. The adjoining 16th century tower, to the west, has two additional small beds. This suite can accommodate up to 4 people.

THE ANNEX

This townhouse style apartment, built in the 18th century, is located in an extension of the castle. It has independent access via the east courtyard, a semi-private courtyard which can be used by our Annex guests to eat outside or store sports equipment (bikes, etc.). On the ground floor, the apartment has a kitchen area equipped with a fridge and freezer, an induction stove, a coffee machine, a sink, and enough plates, glasses and cutlery to suit 4 people. This kitchen area is located in a small living room with a table and a convertible sofa bed. Upstairs is the bedroom along with the bathroom with shower. It can accommodate up to 4 people.

ITINERARY

N.B. Your itinerary for the trip is designed to help you complete your 20km swimming challenge. This being said, nature can be unpredictable. Your guides will do their utmost to ensure that you complete your swim during the trip, however timings may be flexed in order to make this happen. If the weather dictates that it is not safe to complete your swim during the weekend, the guides will do their best to offer an alternative window before you leave. This however cannot be guaranteed.
This swim is a once in a lifetime challenge and we have crafted the itinerary to optimise your chances of success. With a day of acclimatisation to visit the lake, test the water and get tips and advice from the experts, carefully calculated provision for food and hydration, your personal swim Guide and local sauveteur, small group numbers, as well as a destination with a high probability of stable, clear and warm weather in July, everything is in your favour. There will be two swim departures, one on the Friday morning and one on the Saturday morning, with non-swimmers having a rest day on their non-swim day. It is possible to co-ordinate with another team and split your swim over two days but both teams need to agree for this to be possible. The swim start time is 4am in the morning to allow enough time to complete the swim in optimal calm conditions before the end of the day when the wind is likely to pick up. This also gives us time to get past the busy Baie de St Michel section of the lake before it wakes up. You have a maximum of 15 hours to complete your swim. After 15 hours we will collect you in the safety boat and take you to the nearest exit point. On your non-swim day, there will be the option to visit the village of Embrun and the 'plan d'eau' for a warm up or cool down swim or you can just chill out at the chateau. On your final day, we have organised a visit to the museoscope which is an interactive exhibition to discover the story of the lake, which is really interesting.
Day 1 Arrival
We will collect you from Gap train station at 5pm and take you to the chateau where you can check in, unpack, relax and get to know the other swimmers on the trip.
Dinner will be served around 7pm and we recommend an early night to get that rest in!
Day 2 Acclimatisation day
After breakfast, the chateau owners will give you a tour of the chateau.
After the historical tour, local long distance open water and Channel swimmer, Alex Dupont will give a presentation on swimming the Serre Ponçon lake. He has completed the 20km challenge as well as a 30km and 40km challenge on the lake and knows it intimately. He will share his experience and explain what milestones to look out for and tick off as you swim, the challenges you might encounter and give you tips and suggestions to optimise your swim. We will then go through the finer detail of the organisation and timings so that you can prepare mentally for your challenge. Lunch will be in the chateau. After lunch we will go for a drive around the lake so you can visit the launch site and exit site and see the milestones to look out for so they are familiar to you when you do your swim. There will be an opportunity to go for a short acclimatisation swim this afternoon to test the water and get a feel for the lake. Dinner will be around 6pm to allow the Friday swimmers to get off to bed early.
Day 3 (Swim Day 1)
Swimmers: For the swim teams swimming today, this is your big day. We will give you an early wake up call so you are ready to sett off for your swim at 4am. Night swimming is a very special and privileged experience with the lake beautifully calm, like glass, and the silence of the night enveloping you as you slide in off the pontoon. Your rescuer and coach will be following behind you as you swim and they will feed and hydrate you every 30 minutes (unless you prefer a different régime). Then you have the full day ahead of you to enjoy the swim. Non-swimmers: You can have a more reasonable wake up time and breakfast. We will organise a transfer to Embrun late morning. Embrun is a pretty village and definitely worth a visit. There is also the plan d'eau which is a part of the main lake sectioned off for swimming and activities so you can go for a warm up swim there or just sunbathe by the water. You are welcome to join this trip and wander around the village and plan d'eau or stay at the chateau. Lunch will be a picnic lunch to either take with you or eat at the chateau. We will bring you back to the chateau at the end of the afternoon so you have time to relax and unwind before an early dinner ahead of your big day tomorrow. The other swimmers will be heading back at different times as they finish their swims so you'll be able to hear their news as they come in. All: Dinner will be early again at around 6pm for tomorrow's swim team to prepare and get an early night and for today's swimmers to stock up after their energy expenditure. Later arrivals will be able to eat later.
Day 4 (Swim Day 2)
Today is exactly the same as the previous day with the teams swapped round.
Day 5 Visit and return home
This morning, you will check out of the chateau, and we'll head off to the Museoscope for an interactive visit to discover the story behind the magnificent lake you have just swum the length of. We will make sure you are in Gap for 1pm so you can organise your onwards journey.

WHAT DO I PACK?

  • LAKE ANNECY SWIMQUESTAt least 2 swimming costumes
  • Wetsuit (please advise SwimQuest office if you intend to swim wetsuit free) - 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
  • 2 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
  • 2 swim night lights (green, one flashing, one static) + safety pins to attach
  • Rash vest (optional) - available from our online shop here
  • 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
  • Fleece or warm jumper
  • Woolly hat, warm clothes for post-swim
  • Waterproof jacket or poncho
  • Sun hat, sun cream and sunglasses
  • A waterproof watch (optional)
  • Travel insurance details
  • Trainers / sports gear (optional)
  • Any additional food you may require for your swim feeds (SwimQuest provide standard Maxim feeds, bananas, jelly babies however if you use specific feeds then please do bring them).

TRIP START / FINISH TIMES

  • The trip starts at 5pm on the first day when the team will meet you in gap and transfer you to your accommodation.
  • We will deliver you back to Gap for 1pm. 

GETTING TO GAP

We have arranged a pick up and drop off transfer from the town of Gap which is well served by a variety of train and bus links from the major airports and TGV fast train services.

BY TRAIN / BUS: 

Gap has a local SNCF train station. There are direct train links to Gap from Grenoble TGV station or Marseille TGV and  there is also an overnight sleeper train from Paris to Gap. There is also a regular coach service which operates from Aix-en-Provence TGV directly to Gap. You can plan your train journey using the Oui SNCF website. This works from all major European cities.

BY PLANE:

The nearest airport is Marseilles (MRS). From Marseille airport there is a regular coach service directly to Gap every two and a half hours.  Plan your journey using this website. Please feel free to ask us about transport options when you enquire. We are working alongside the local company Undiscovered Mountains to run this trip, who are pros at getting people to this beautiful region!

READY TO BOOK?

We’re excited about meeting you and helping you achieve this incredible swim challenge. For this trip, a 25% deposit will be taken at the time of booking - with the final balance due 10 weeks prior to departure.

Name*



Date of Birth*



Email*



Phone Number*



Address*



Chosen Tour Date*

Swim Choice*



Who Are Your Relay Teammates?



Do You Have a Preferred Swim Slot?

Accommodation Choice*



Any Dietary Requirements?

1K Swimming Time



Your Swimming Experience

Swimming PoolLakeRiverSeaOpen Water RacesI Prefer Front CrawlI Prefer Breaststroke

Where Did You Hear About Us?


Newsletter

Please Confirm You Have Read The Terms & Conditions

I confirm I have read the terms & conditions

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: Sarah Broadley | +44 7917 033670 | sarah@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