Hellespont Europe to Asia Swim

This historic body of water is referred to as the Hellespont in Greek, historically in Turkish it was named the Dardanelles and in modern day Turkey it is known as the Strait of Çanakkale. It has been a natural barrier for invading armies for millenia, used by both King Xeres I of Persia in 480BC and Alexander the Great.

In ancient mythology, Hero, a priestess of Aphrodite, lived on the European side of the Hellespont in a high tower by the sea. Leander, a young man from the Asian side, swam every night, guided by the lamp which his mistress lit at the top of the tower, in order to spend the night with his beloved Hero. It was one stormy night when Hero’s lamped burned out that Leander lost his way and drowned in the strait.

The poet Lord Byron, inspired by Leander's nightly conjugal powers, swam the Hellespont, along with Lieutenant Ekenhead, on their second attempt in 1810. They became the first known persons since Leander to achieve this feat.

All swimmers need to be over 14 years old and must complete medical forms required before the race starts. The Hellespont and Dardanelles crossing is a mass start event. Boat support on this trip includes a flotilla of small boats arranged by the event organiser. You can wear a wetsuit but wearing one will make you ineligible for any race awards. Participants are not permitted to wear smart watches or smart bands during the race. Compulsory swim hats and official timing chips will be supplied ahead of the race starting. It is compulsory to supply the race organisers with a signed medical form from a doctor/medical practitioner prior to the race. This form will be forwarded to all participants after they have completed their booking. It is also available via this link Hellespont Medical Form. Please complete these forms and bring them with you to the event. You won’t be able to take part in the race without completing these forms with the necessary signatures.​

There are several options for travelling to Canakkale. The easiest option is to fly into Istanbul Airport and then book a transfer directly to your accommodation in Canakkale. You can also fly in to Sabiha Gokcen Airport and arrange a transfer. For further information, please contact with us via​ info@swiminturkey.com​

The Hellespont is a major strait dividing Europe and Asia. As a natural body of open water, it is affected by local weather conditions, which can vary considerably from one day to the next. In order to complete the swim in the most favourable conditions, there are two different options for when the race may take place. The preferred option is to conduct the race on 30 August however, in the unlikely event that swimming conditions are so unfavourable that the race time is changed, the Race Organisers will try to reschedule to 31 August. Please keep this in mind when booking your return travel from Turkey.

On 28 August, the event committee will meet and will make a decision about when the race will take place. If neither of the above options are suitable, the Race Organisers will endeavour to organise an alternative coastal swim. If you do not wish to take part in the re-scheduled event, no refunds will be offered.

Swimming in the sea is a fantastic experience, however you should be aware that certain marine life such as sea lice, jellyfish, sea urchins and coral could be present during the swims. In all cases we will work on reducing your contact with these creatures, however if you suffer from anaphylaxis, please consult the office prior to booking.

The total distance of the Hellespont swim is approximately 4½km, however, the swim is current-assisted, which makes it equivalent to swimming approximately 3-3½ km. Swimmers should be capable of swimming in choppy waters and currents prior to the start of the race.

There is a time limit of 2 hours to complete the race. For safety reasons, any swimmers who do not complete the race before this time will be removed from the water and escorted back to land by the Turkish Coast Guard.

Month Water Temperature*Air Temperature*
August 23-25°C / 73-77°F29-32°C / 84-90°F

*Please note that these temperatures are indicative and should be used as a guide only.

For safety reasons, the event organisers rely on decent weather conditions in order to carry out the swim. In the event of bad weather and the swim being cancelled, there are no additional alternative times or days available after August 31st.