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 millennia, 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.

With its unique historical texture and strategic importance, Çanakkale is a city that has hosted the heroic epics of the Turkish nation. The Hellespont Swim is an unforgettable event that continues to keep the meaning of the Çanakkale Naval Victory alive and pass it on to the younger generations.

The Swim celebrates Victory Day on the 30 August which commemorates the Turkish victory in the Battle of Dumlupınar, which was the last battle in the Greco-Turkish War, on 30 August 1922. Following the battle, Greek military presence ended. Victory Day has been celebrated as an official national holiday since 1926.

Entry into the Hellespont Europe to Asia Swim is €495​

What’s included

• Entry into the Swim Race
• Race bag, official swim hat, race chip timing, and race number tattoo
• Boat transfers from Canakkale to the race start at Eceabat Beach
• Commemorative T-shirt
• Amazing finishers medal
• Awards for the top 3 in each race category
• Pre race boat tour of the swim route
• Race Village entertainment and amenities

Pre-Race Medical (Compulsory)

All swimmers must be over 14 years old on the date of the event and must complete the medical forms required before the deadline date of 31 July 2026

To participate in the race, all swimmers must:

• Provide a signed, stamped and dated medical report completed by a registered doctor
• Complete an online Swimmer health declaration

Medical forms must be completed and submitted online between 1 January 2026 and 31 July 2026. Please note that the Hellespont medical reports must be completed, other medical documents will not be accepted.

After you have completed your booking, we will send instructions of how to upload the Medical Report. The Swimmers Health Declaration can be completed online

You can find the Medical Report here Hellespont Medical Form.

To upload your documents, please follow this link.

Important

There may be a fee for your doctor’s review and signature. In some cases, this may need to be arranged privately, as not all medical practitioners are authorised to sign off the declaration. It is your responsibility to book and pay for your medical appointment in good time to ensure your form is completed and submitted before the deadline.

Swimmers under 18 years old must also complete a notarised consent form giving approval to take part in the competition. The link to download and upload these forms is available after registration. You can also find the Notary forms here Hellespont Notary Form.

The Hellespont and Dardanelles crossing is a mass start event. Safety support at this event consists of a flotilla of boats and kayaks arranged by the event organiser.

Race Equipment

It is compulsory to wear the swim hats provided by event organisers. It is also compulsory to wear tow floats, you can bring your own or purchase them at race village. Swimmers are not allowed to wear wetsuits, fins, snorkels, MP3 players or similar, smart watches or smart bands during the race. Buoyancy shorts can be used but this will mean swimmers are not able to be considered for the race classification results and podium places. If rash vests or material suits to cover the body wish to be worn, it's necessary to let us know in advance of the event, so approval from the race organisers can be agreed.

On Race Day there will be a bag drop zone in operation. Swimmers can leave their bags here marked with their race number. Bags can only be retrieved by the swimmer on presentation of their race tattoo number which will match the bag race number. All bags must be retrieved by 11:30am, after the race.

There are several options for travelling to Çanakkale.

Private Transfer from Istanbul to Çanakkale

If you would like to arrange a private transfer you can be arrange this through various online providers. You can also book directly with info@swiminturkey.com

Flights between Istanbul to Çanakkale

Turkish Airlines operates direct flights between Istanbul (IST) and Çanakkale (CKZ) with a journey time of just over an hour. However, other flights between Istanbul and Çanakkale usually include a stopover in Ankara with a total journey time of 3-6 hours.

Public Transport from Istanbul to Çanakkale

There are various public bus services which run from Istanbul to Çanakkale with a journey time of approximately six hours. For bookings, timetables, and further information, please visit Bus Ticket Line.

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.

The event organisers rely on suitable weather conditions to carry out the swim safely. To complete the swim in the most favourable conditions, there are two 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 or the 1 September.

Please keep this in mind when booking your return travel from Turkey.

In the event of bad weather and the swim being cancelled, and no contingency options available, in these circumstances no refund is available.

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 let us know in advance of the event.

The total distance of the Hellespont swim is approximately 5km, however, the swim is current assisted, which makes it equivalent to swimming approximately 3.5km to 4km. Swimmers should be capable of swimming in choppy waters and currents prior to the start of the race.

There is a time limit of one hour and forty-five minutes to complete the course. The race organisers will endeavour to ensure swimmers complete the course as the straits will be reopened to shipping traffic after two hours. 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 for safety reasons.

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

2025 – General Classification Men
2025 – General Classification Women
2024 – General Classification Men
2024 – General Classification Women
2024 – Paralympic Classification
2023 – General Classification Men
2023 – General Classification Women