Adventure guide
Fancy some sea kayaking? Keen on Costa Rica? What about Wales? Choose your own adventure with our guide.
Swimming holidays in Greece
Mathraki felt a bit ‘unfound’, until we found it.![]()
“I’ve got a soft spot for Mathraki, an island in Greece just off Corfu. It’s tiny, with a very small population. There is one hotel run by a Greek family that we hire for pretty much the whole summer, and all in all it’s a bit of a swimmers’ paradise. Mathraki felt a bit ‘unfound’, until we found it.”
Alice Todd is the co-founder of our partner SwimQuest. She considers our Greece swimming holiday in Mathraki to be perfect for newcomers to this kind of trip. And Mathraki is certainly a swimmer’s paradise. Clear blue water, warm and calm, shallow enough that you can make out the rocks and reefs below. Island-to-island and coastal swims are languid affairs; beyond the happy conversation of your group and the gentle chug of the boat accompanying you, sometimes the only sound to be heard is the tinkling of goat bells.
Alice Todd is the co-founder of our partner SwimQuest. She considers our Greece swimming holiday in Mathraki to be perfect for newcomers to this kind of trip. And Mathraki is certainly a swimmer’s paradise. Clear blue water, warm and calm, shallow enough that you can make out the rocks and reefs below. Island-to-island and coastal swims are languid affairs; beyond the happy conversation of your group and the gentle chug of the boat accompanying you, sometimes the only sound to be heard is the tinkling of goat bells.
Swimming can be transformative. It’s not just a sport. Our trips are about building confidence and connecting with nature.![]()
These holidays are as low impact as they can get. There are hardly any vehicles on Mathraki – tourists get around largely on foot – so you cannot help but be immersed in nature as you walk down to the beach each day. You can almost hear the plants unfolding their leaves to meet the sun. And in the sea, a quick peek underwater can reveal shimmering fish, octopi, even perhaps a solitary turtle.
Our top trip
Corfu swimming holiday in Greece
Swim, relax & explore from the this charming Greek Island
From
£1548 to £1699
7 days
ex flights
Small group travel:
2026: 29 Aug, 5 Sep, 12 Sep
2027: 29 May, 26 Jun, 10 Jul, 17 Jul, 24 Jul, 28 Aug, 4 Sep
2026: 29 Aug, 5 Sep, 12 Sep
2027: 29 May, 26 Jun, 10 Jul, 17 Jul, 24 Jul, 28 Aug, 4 Sep
Mathraki
There are no deep lines of sun loungers here, no crowded beach bars playing the latest Europop, no chains of scooters whizzing around. Mathraki has a handful of yellowy-orange beaches, a couple of tavernas, and the occasional tortoise dozing in the sun. When I joined a swimming holiday here, we were met at the harbour by a rickety old minibus to take us to the hotel, and someone said “it’s like going back in time.”“Swimming can be transformative,” says Alice. “It’s not just a sport. Our trips are about building confidence and connecting with nature.”
During a week of swimming off Mathraki you’ll explore caves and placid bays, roaming the Diapontia archipelago of which the island is a part, and the eastern coastline with its strip of golden sand. Loggerhead sea turtles lay their eggs during the summer months, and during the summer you’ll often see their tracks on the beach. Plastic waste is hazardous for turtles, and where there is evidence of it on the beach or in the sea, guides will often organise voluntary clean-up sessions.
The Greek Islands are immensely popular for summer holidays, but the financial benefits of tourism aren’t always spread evenly. Our holidays create employment for local people at every stage, whether it’s piloting the support boat, or getting groups into local tavernas. Think fresh, organic, traditional food bursting with colour and flavour: Greek salads doused in olive oil, eggplant moussaka, fried feta drizzled with honey, and vast bowls of taramasalata. One day we saw a bucket of fresh caught calamari being hoisted into the kitchen, another day we saw fish being cleaned by the dock. Swimming eats up a lot of calories, so you needn’t be shy about asking for seconds.
Contact Us
Call us for a chat about our holidays. We are happy to discuss your holiday and help in any way we can. No bots, queues or awful hold music.
01273 823 700
Call us tomorrow after 9am
Calling from outside the UK
What do Greece swimming holidays involve?
Sociable small groups
On a typical swimming holiday in Greece, you’ll be part of a small group, numbering around 12 people, along with a couple of guides. Non-swimming friends and partners are welcome at a small discount, but it’s worth pointing out that on the tiny island of Mathraki there’s little to do if you’re not swimming, and the aforementioned tortoises would give the Wi-Fi a race. A few good books are pretty essential.
Small group tours where you all have a shared interest such as swimming allow for very quick bonding, especially as you’ll all be chatting as you go. Groups will also get to know each other over mezze platters in the island’s few restaurants in the evenings.
Small group tours where you all have a shared interest such as swimming allow for very quick bonding, especially as you’ll all be chatting as you go. Groups will also get to know each other over mezze platters in the island’s few restaurants in the evenings.
Accommodation
Our Greece swimming holidays offer an unparalleled range of accommodation in Mathraki. And we can say that with confidence because there is only one hotel in Mathraki, and for much of the summer, our trips have the run of it. Or the swim of it, rather. Rooms are fairly basic but perfectly comfortable, with air conditioning and en suite bathrooms, and many have sea views and balconies. Corfu is dead ahead, while to the north you’ll see the Albanian coast.
Swallows sleep in the restaurant’s light fittings, scrawny kittens scavenge for scraps, the hens wait for opportunities to root around the herb garden, and the guard dog loves racing down to the beach for her sunset swim. On the wall of the restaurant someone has ironically painted “Taka taka” – “faster, faster” – everything slows to a pleasant crawl here.
“The local hosts we work with are so welcoming, it’s like you’re walking into another family,” says Alice. Delicious homecooked meals are provided, and groups are frequently invited to join a village barbecue for some socialising with local people. The family who run the hotel will also help with manning the boat that accompanies you on swims. All told, these holidays have a big impact on the Mathraki economy – you can expect friendly smiles wherever you go.
Swallows sleep in the restaurant’s light fittings, scrawny kittens scavenge for scraps, the hens wait for opportunities to root around the herb garden, and the guard dog loves racing down to the beach for her sunset swim. On the wall of the restaurant someone has ironically painted “Taka taka” – “faster, faster” – everything slows to a pleasant crawl here.
“The local hosts we work with are so welcoming, it’s like you’re walking into another family,” says Alice. Delicious homecooked meals are provided, and groups are frequently invited to join a village barbecue for some socialising with local people. The family who run the hotel will also help with manning the boat that accompanies you on swims. All told, these holidays have a big impact on the Mathraki economy – you can expect friendly smiles wherever you go.
Swimming guides
Your group will be escorted throughout by highly skilled and experienced swimming guides. Some weeks might be accompanied by Olympic medallists, others by Guiness World Record holders. In other words, people who definitely know what they’re doing. The guides follow the groups in two boats, keeping their distance but coming in close when needed.
However, don’t for a moment think it’s going to be a week of “no, your breathing’s all wrong” or “right, everyone watch me and then try it yourself”. There is coaching available if you’d like it – excellent coaching with one-on-one time and even stroke analysis using GoPro. But if you’re not fussed, and you’re just there for a nice swim – that is absolutely fine. Your guides are there to lead the way, keep you safe, entertain with stories, and, if you like, throw in the odd pointer.
However, don’t for a moment think it’s going to be a week of “no, your breathing’s all wrong” or “right, everyone watch me and then try it yourself”. There is coaching available if you’d like it – excellent coaching with one-on-one time and even stroke analysis using GoPro. But if you’re not fussed, and you’re just there for a nice swim – that is absolutely fine. Your guides are there to lead the way, keep you safe, entertain with stories, and, if you like, throw in the odd pointer.
When to go
The best time for swimming in Greece is late spring through to early autumn (May to September). Expect gloriously sunny weather and warm (20-24°C), calm sea. And, because you’re on a small, remote island, there are few other visitors to share it with – woo! I swum Mathraki in July, and there was no need for a wetsuit.
There are different levels of swimming depending on the month you go. Some trips are focused on developing technique, so there will be seminars and morning coaching sessions in a peaceful bay before swims in the afternoons. Other holidays see you embarking on longer swims, up to 8km at a time, which will not be suited to everyone. And then there are relaxing weeks, where you’ll be swimming just 1-3km at a time, exploring the rocky islets off Mathraki, and taking your time about it.
There are different levels of swimming depending on the month you go. Some trips are focused on developing technique, so there will be seminars and morning coaching sessions in a peaceful bay before swims in the afternoons. Other holidays see you embarking on longer swims, up to 8km at a time, which will not be suited to everyone. And then there are relaxing weeks, where you’ll be swimming just 1-3km at a time, exploring the rocky islets off Mathraki, and taking your time about it.
How fit do I need to be?
You do need to be in reasonably good shape for a swim holiday in Greece, as you will typically be covering at least a few kilometres each day, potentially a lot more depending on the week you choose. Ideally, you will also be capable of swimming at least 1km non-stop, either front crawl or breaststroke. Speed isn’t an issue though; it’s a journey, not a race. Groups can take staggered starts, and your guides ensure that no one is swimming alone.
Itineraries are kept fairly flexible so as to take into account different abilities within the group and the weather conditions. But you can expect a 60-90-minute swim every morning and afternoon with plenty of time to recover inbetween.
You do not need to be proficient in open water swimming. The water is generally lovely and flat, and your guides will also provide all the necessary coaching if you need to build up a bit of confidence. If your only experience is doing laps in the pool, that is no barrier to joining a swim trip like this.
Routes can be adjusted so that those wanting a shorter swim than others can be accommodated. And of course, you’re based in the same place all week, so if you would prefer to have a rest on one day, there’s no reason you can’t sit a swim out altogether. Mathraki is a small island, but there’s always somewhere you can rustle up a cocktail.
Itineraries are kept fairly flexible so as to take into account different abilities within the group and the weather conditions. But you can expect a 60-90-minute swim every morning and afternoon with plenty of time to recover inbetween.
You do not need to be proficient in open water swimming. The water is generally lovely and flat, and your guides will also provide all the necessary coaching if you need to build up a bit of confidence. If your only experience is doing laps in the pool, that is no barrier to joining a swim trip like this.
Routes can be adjusted so that those wanting a shorter swim than others can be accommodated. And of course, you’re based in the same place all week, so if you would prefer to have a rest on one day, there’s no reason you can’t sit a swim out altogether. Mathraki is a small island, but there’s always somewhere you can rustle up a cocktail.
More Swimming articles
Our swimming holidays travel guide explores the pleasures and the practicalities of open water swimming around the world.
Our swimming holidays map and highlights dives into some of our top locations around the world.
We help you find a trip you’ll love – who knows, perhaps the first of many.
More relevant guides
