During the COVID-19 pandemic, Miriam Leitko found herself unable to swim due to pool closures. However, as a dedicated lifelong swimmer, she decided to take matters into her own hands and built a lap pool at her home in Willis, Texas. Later, in 2021, when travel restrictions were lifted, she eagerly signed up for a weeklong trip to Hawaii with SwimVacation, a specialized tour operator based in Maine that focuses on open-water swimming.
Ms. Leitko, now 64 years old and having taken 12 trips with SwimVacation, described open-water swimming as “energizing” and a way for her to leave her stress behind in the ocean. Instead of the typical summer vacations centered around lakes and oceans, these tours offer organized swims in various locations such as diving among sea lions in the Galápagos, swimming between islands in the Adriatic, or exploring coral reefs in the Caribbean.
Hopper McDonough, the founder and partner of SwimVacation, shared that being in the ocean can have a transformative effect as one realizes their own insignificance. He mentioned that SwimVacation bases most of its trips on yachts, offering unique experiences in places like Turkey. The demand for their trips skyrocketed after the pandemic, leading to sold-out tours two years in advance.
Swim tour operators agree that there has been a significant growth in interest, whether it’s due to personal transformations, pursuing postponed passions, or seeking revenge travels. SwimTrek, established in 2003 and based in England, attributes this surge to the pandemic-driven outdoor movement. In fact, nearly one-third of SwimTrek’s clients are from the United States, prompting the company to expand its vacations to include destinations like Hawaii and Oregon.
The founder of SwimTrek, Simon Murie, emphasized the beauty and unpredictability of open-water swimming, where each experience is unique due to variables like sea conditions, tides, and wildlife. Strel Swimming Adventures, founded by Martin Strel and his son Borut, responded to the surge by introducing new Mexican destinations, including the Sea of Cortez. Active England, another adventure operator, has also experienced exponential growth in its swim tours since travel resumed.
Not all swim tours cater solely to hard-core swimmers. Bluetits Chill Swimmers, a group focused on wild swimming, has partnered with a travel company to offer trips to locations like Iceland, where participants can swim in hot springs, the sea, and the rift between tectonic plates. According to Sian Richardson, the group’s founder, swimming with like-minded individuals who value participation over competition is a joyous occasion.
Safety is a crucial aspect of these swim tours, with most operators sending boats to accompany open-water swimmers and carefully selecting locations to avoid dangerous currents, high winds, and busy boat traffic. Additionally, having someone else handle the planning and logistics allows swimmers to fully enjoy the experience without having to worry about the details.
Ultimately, these swim tours offer a unique opportunity to explore the beauty of open-water swimming while surrounded by stunning natural landscapes. The level of difficulty varies, but the emphasis is on the joy of being in the water and connecting with nature. As Will Cairns from Active England noted, participants often sleep deeply after a day filled with multiple swims. So, whether you’re an experienced swimmer or simply love the water, these swim tours provide a memorable and rejuvenating vacation option.
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