Swim the length of the Serre Ponçon lake on this once in a lifetime ultimate open water 12km or 20km swimming challenge
Location: Serre Ponçon Lake
Prices are per person for a swim team of 2 people (1 swimmer and 1 kayak support) sharing a room. Extra support person staying in same room can be added for a supplement.
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 brand new open water swimming event that is happening for the first time in July 2026 with 12km and 20km swim distances possible.
We are delighted to be one of the official partners of the event to be able to offer you the 'hassle free' package so you can focus on your swim whilst we manage all the logistics for you.
With 3 nights in a choice of local accommodation (with options for different budgets), local transport, local tips and insight and your swim ticket included, this is a true open water swimming challenge with just the right level of support to maximise your chances of success. All you need to do is swim! Have a look at the swimming routes here.
Long distance open water swimming, especially of this distance, is an exceptional undertaking and your safety is our first priority. Every swimmer, will be allocated a kayak, Restube, radio and whistle and will need to bering their own support person(s). 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 are required 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, ideally with a red light option. The motorised safety boats are also lit.
The lake is situated in the southern French Alps and boasts a Mediterranean climate with cooler evenings. The region records an average of 300 days of sunshine per year so there is a very high probability of perfect weather. The weather pattern of the lake is generally very stable in July with calm, flat water and clear skies at night and most of the day. Towards the end of the day as the warm air rises in the mountains, the wind picks up and the lake can become more agitated. On very hot days this can result in a heat storm at the end of the day, after your swim.
We have carefully chosen the dates to fall just outside of the main French school holiday season so the lake is quieter and to be as close to a full moon as possible for better visibility for your early start.
If you love open water swimming and are up for a challenge then this is for you. 12km and 20km open water swim are both serious challenges and should not be attempted without proper training. Whether you are thinking of doing the 12km or 20km, we recommend you start training well in advance with a properly co-ordinated training plan so you are confident your body will manage up to 10 hours of endurance swimming.
As the lake is at 800m, this swim is also a great training opportunity for Channel swimmers as there will be a light effect of altitude compared to swimming at sea level.
We have arranged a pick up and drop off transfer from the town of Chorges or Embrun (depending on your accommodation option) which is well served by a variety of train and bus links from the major airports and TGV fast train stations.
BY TRAIN / BUS:
All the accommodation options are near villages on the Gap to Briançon SNCF train line and we will advise you where to get off depending on where you are staying. There are direct train links to Gap and Briançon from Grenoble TGV station or Marseille TGV and there is also an overnight sleeper train from Paris to Gap.
There is also a regular coach service which operates from Aix-en-Provence TGV directly to Gap.
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 Briançon and your village stop. Otherwise you can get the airport shuttle to the main Marseille St Charles train station and get the Briançon train from there, alighting at your recommended stop. 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!
