Join the ultimate Serre Ponçon Swim Challenge with our hassle free package for this once in a lifetime open water 12km or 20km swim.
Swim Challenge and Hassle-Free Package Highlights:
- Fully supported point to point long distance open water swim
- Choice of accommodation to suit your budget
- Local transport and logistics organised so you can focus on your swim
- 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 - 21°C
- 300 days of sunshine per year so high probability of good weather for your swim
A rare and unique opportunity for a long distance swimming challenge at altitude. The magnificent Serre Ponçon lake is one of the largest artificial lakes in western Europe at 20km long and situated at 800m of altitude in the stunning southern French Alps.
The Serre Ponçon Swim Challenge is a premium point to point open water swimming event to swim the length of the magnificent Serre Ponçon Lake with 12km and 20km swim distances possible. You can swim either distance as a solo swim (kayak support person required) or as a team kayak swimmer duo
This package is designed for swimmers and supporters who want the independence of choosing their own swim distance and kayak support arrangements, while leaving the accommodation, local transfers and practical event logistics to us.
With 3 nights in a choice of local accommodation, local transport, local tips and insight, this hassle-free package gives you the practical support you need around the event. Your swim ticket is selected and added at checkout, according to your chosen distance or team format, so your final price reflects the exact challenge you are entering.
All you need to do is arrive prepared and focus on your swim! Have a look at the swimming routes here.
Safety:
Long distance open water swimming, especially of this distance, is an exceptional undertaking and your safety is our first priority.
Solo Swimmers:
Every swimmer, will be allocated a kayak, Restube, radio and whistle and will need to bring their own support person or hire a professional kayak support person (available at checkout). The support person will be the person giving you feeds and hydrating you during your swim and will be kayaking next to you throughout the swim to survey your safety. They are backed up by a team of professional lifeguards and first aiders on motorised boats who will be patrolling the swimmers and ready to step in at a moment's notice. For the 20km swim, you have the option to swap support person at the 12km arrival point.
Swimmers will be required to wear a Restube for the swim (provided by the organisation) and will need to come equipped with green waterproof adventure lights attached to your swim hat so that you can be seen at all times in the water. The kayak support person needs to bring a head torch, with a red light option. The motorised safety boats are also lit.
If you do not have your own kayak support person, we can arrange one locally for you, subject to availability. This is added at checkout.
Please note: kayak support is compulsory for solo swimmers. If you are not bringing your own kayaker, you must add hired kayak support to your booking.
Team Swimmers:
The team event is for teams of two who will swap between swimming and kayaking to complete either the 12km or 20km distance. The changeovers will be on specially allocated platforms or beaches at 6km, 12km and 16km to allow the kayaker and swimmers to get out of the kayak, change and then swap over. The radio and whistle should be with the person kayaking and the Restube on the person swimming. There should always be one person swimming and one person kayak supporting during the swim. The same team of professional lifeguards and first aiders will be patrolling the swimmers on motorised boats and ready to step in at a moment's notice.
Weather & Conditions:
Early July usually brings warm, sunny summer conditions to Serre-Ponçon, although mountain weather can change quickly.
The lake is generally at its calmest overnight and in the early morning, before the thermal winds begin to build. Stronger winds and occasional thunderstorms tend to develop later in the day, following a fairly predictable local pattern. This is one of the reasons the event starts before sunrise.
Except in unusual weather conditions, you can therefore expect relatively calm water at the start and during the first hours of the swim, with conditions potentially becoming more unsettled later in the day.
Water temperatures are usually around 18–21°C at this time of year, although this can vary depending on weather conditions in the preceding weeks. Wetsuits are optional when the water temperature is above 16°C.
Weather forecasts, wind conditions and lake temperature are monitored in the lead-up to the event, with the latest information communicated to participants before the start.
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 and gain an insight of its history (perfect to occupy your thoughts as you swim), test the water and get tips and advice from the experts, as well as a destination with a high probability of stable, clear and warm weather in July, everything is in your favour.
For both the 12km and 20km event, the swim start times are between 3h30 and 4h00 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 and it also times to get past the busy Baie de St Michel section of the lake before it wakes up. 20km swimmers have a maximum of 10 hours and 12km swimmers have a maximum of 6 hours to complete the swim with time barriers set up at certain points along the route.
For swimmers staying in Embrun, you can get off the train in Embrun can actually walk to your accommodation, but if you need a lift, we can arrange this for you.
MORNING:
After breakfast, we will collect you and take you to the Muséoscope du Lac, perched above the dam with one of the best panoramic views over the lake.
This immersive museum tells the human and environmental story behind Serre-Ponçon: why the dam was built after catastrophic floods, how entire villages were relocated, and how the lake now supplies water and hydroelectric power to a large part of Provence. Through models, archive films, testimonies from former villagers and a dynamic 4D film experience, you get a real sense of the scale of the project and the lives it changed.
For swimmers (and supporters), it’s a powerful way to:
understand the history of the lake you’re about to cross,
appreciate the engineering and water management behind it,
and reflect on how this reservoir now balances energy production, irrigation, flood control and tourism.
The visit lasts around 1½ hours, with audioguides available in English and several other languages, and fits perfectly into your programme giving context to your swim.
LUNCH:
After the visit we will then head to Baie St Michel where the event village will be set up. It is possible to get snacks or a restaurant lunch here or you can ask your hotel for a picnic to take with you in the morning.
AFTERNOON:
In the afternoon, you will have the opportunity to browse around the event village and go for an acclimatisation swim or dip in the lake.
You will need to attend the compulsory safety briefing and sign your safety equipment rental contract and kayak attestation here too.
After the safety briefing is finished, we'll take you back to your accommodation for an early night. We can help organise restaurant bookings for you.
We will collect you at 3h00 and take you to the start of the swim at Chadenas so you have time to set up your kayak and get organised with your swim feed system.
Both distances for both team and solo – 12 km (Chadenas to Baie St Michel) and 20 km (Chadenas to Baie des Lionnets) – start in waves between 3h30 and 4h00, when it is still dark. It’s a magical moment: still water, quiet shorelines and the silhouettes of the surrounding peaks gradually emerging as you settle into your rhythm.
For solo swimmers your kayak support person is right beside you, setting the pace, keeping you on line and handing you your feeds and drinks at regular intervals so you can stay focused on swimming. For the 20 km swimmers, there is the option for a second support person to join at the 12 km point (Baie St Michel) to take over for the final stretch, giving each kayakist time to rest and making the whole day more comfortable for everyone.
Team swimmers will be supporting each other swapping between swimmer and kayaker at scheduled changeover platforms at 6km, 12km, 16km and 20km.
The estimated arrival window for the 12 km swim at Baie St Michel is 07h00–10h00, and for the 20 km swim at Baie des Lionnets is 11h00–14h00.
Your arrival lunch will be served at the Baie St Michel event village from 8am onwards.
For 20km team and solo swimmers, we will pick you up in a boat at the end of your swim (this will be grouped in cohorts of 3 to 4 swimmers depending on timings) and take you back to the event village for the celebration lunch. You'll get to see the lake you just swam from a different perspective!
The village is open until the end of the afternoon, and there are regular transfers every hour from the Baie St Michel back to Embrun from 10h00 until 16h00
This morning, you will check out of your accommodation, and head off to the train station for your onwards journey or why not stay in the area for a bit longer and enjoy this magnificent area!
Please feel free to ask if you would like a quote for a holiday package for after your swim.
Who Will Love this Trip?
If you love open-water swimming and are looking for a genuine endurance challenge, this experience is for you.
Both the 12 km and 20 km distances are significant physical challenges and require serious preparation. Whether you are taking part solo or as a team of two, we recommend beginning your training several months in advance with a progressive, structured programme to ensure you are ready for several hours of open-water swimming.
At around 800 metres above sea level, Lac de Serre-Ponçon also provides interesting conditions for swimmers preparing for other major endurance challenges, including a Channel crossing, with a slight altitude effect compared with swimming at sea level.
This package is designed for swimmers who are already confident and prepared. It is not a learn-to-swim or coached swimming holiday; instead, it takes care of the accommodation, local transport and practical logistics around your participation, leaving you free to focus on the challenge itself.
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- Restaurant evening meals and drinks in Gap in the evenings
- Picnic or restaurant lunches (some days will include the possibility of a restaurant lunch and others will require a picnic)
- Your journey to and from Gap
- Tips for the guide
Hi Sally, one last message to say thank you for this amazing experience. Thanks for taking care of us. When you say hassle-free, you really mean it. It was absolutely amazing! We both enjoyed every single minute of our s…
We have arranged hotels in the town of Embrun, walkable distance from the train station, so you can arrive in your own time and easily walk straight to your accommodation on arrival day.
BY TRAIN / BUS:
There are direct train links to Embrun from Grenoble TGV station or Marseille TGV and there is also an overnight sleeper train from Paris to Embrun.
There is also a regular coach service which operates from Aix-en-Provence TGV directly to Gap, from where you can then get the local train from Gap to Embrun.
You can plan your train journey using the Oui SNCF website. This works from all major European cities. We can also help you with this.
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 from where you can get the train towards Embrun. Otherwise you can get the airport shuttle to the main Marseille St Charles train station and get the Briançon train from there, alighting at Embrun. Plan your journey using this website.
Please ask us about transport options when you enquire as we have become pros on getting people to this beautiful region!
Serre Ponçon Swim Challenge 12km & 20km - Hassle Free Package
Join the ultimate Serre Ponçon Swim Challenge with our hassle free package for this once in a lifetime open water 12km or 20km swim.
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