We all want to limit the impact we have on the animals we swim with, and their habitats. It isn't always obvious what course of action we can take. When it comes to choosing products, what should we look for? Are there brands we should trust before others? In this blog, we focus on picking...

There are all kinds of questions that come up when you're new to outdoor swimming. Where’s safe to do it? What do I need to take with me? Should I have support in the water? Sometimes outdoor swimming (or open water swimming/wild swimming) seems to be regarded as a new-fangled activity. As...

Cold water is addictive. Once you catch the bug, warm chlorine won’t ever feel the same again… We hear endless stories about the transformative power of cold water. It gives us ways to escape bouts of depression, strengthen the immune system, encourage creativity, improve circulation and even to...

Packing to go anywhere is always difficult. What exactly do I need? How many of each thing should I bring? Will it all fit? Will the security officer checking my carry-on judge my book and snack choices? Is that enough of a reason to not let me through? Without tooting my own horn too much, I...

Our SwimTrek guides often have plenty of incredible experiences of their own and many of them balance their adventures guiding for SwimTrek with regular jobs in their home countries. From musicians and lecturers to psychologists and midwives, there’s no end to our guides talents. Read on to find...

In 2019, I was very lucky to have a busy summer season (in the northern hemisphere) working in Greece on the Ionian Explorer, the Tremiti Islands, Croatia on the Dalmatian Coast and Oman. Here’s a snapshot of my experience in each location to give you a flavour of a day in the life of a guide! ...

After several years without a 'big swim' Senior SwimTrek Guide Telly took on the Sri Chinmoy Marathon Swim in Switzerland in August 2019, a 26km around Lake Zurich. Here she takes us through all the emotions she felt on the day and all of the aspects that made the swim so special for her!...

Every May, SwimTrek holds its annual Guides Training weekend and 2019's edition was our biggest and most ambitious to date. With 33 guides both new and old joining us in Brighton over 5 days, the SwimTrek Operations team delivered their specialist programme to produce the best possible guides...

Senior Guide Marlys has spent several years exploring and swimming the world with SwimTrek. On her first visit to the Sporades islands, she recounts a particularly memorable week making the best out of challenging weather conditions. Alonissos is a beautiful Greek island. It was my first visit to...

Nothing beats the freedom and the beauty of swimming in the open water, but if you’re landlocked or unable to get to your nearest river, lake or seaside, then an open air pool is the next best thing! We’ve picked out some of the most beautiful and interesting lidos from across the country. How...