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LGSA Guided Swims

Choose your adventure. Select a swim below to explore routes, requirements, results and more.

13 KM

Guided Classique

Lausanne → Évian-les-Bains
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7 KM

Guided Nyvoirienne

Nyon → Yvoire
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70 KM

Signature

Chillon Castle → Geneva
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6.2 KM

Escape Léman

Open Water → Évian-les-Bains
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Guided Swim

Guided Classique

The International Swim across Lake Geneva

13km between Lausanne and Évian-les-Bains. This border-busting adventure traverses Lake Geneva at its widest point — a must for serious open-water swimmers and an ideal setting for a swimming holiday. Swim solo, in relay or as a group.

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Entry Includes

🚤
Escort boat, pilot & lifeguard
🏅
Commemorative souvenir
🧢
Swim hat

Swim Route

Classique Route Map

How to Attempt

  1. Choose your dates — Book as early as possible (no later than 31st March). Bookings cover the entire swim window; specific days cannot be selected.
  2. Secure your dates — Agree on T&Cs and pay a non-refundable deposit.
  3. Complete paperwork — Swimmer Information form, LGSA Medical and Self-Assessment Swim forms (after 1 Jan, at least 2 weeks before window start).
  4. Meet deadlines — Deposit upon booking; balance within 90 days or before 30 April. Registration may be cancelled if incomplete by 31 March.
  5. Late applications — Possible by arrangement only. Speak with the LGSA Secretary first.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the route?
Lausanne (Switzerland) to Évian-les-Bains (France). Direction depends on weather. Your escort boat guides you.
When is the best time to swim?
Warmest water is typically July–August (18°C–25°C). Water quality is rated 'excellent'.
Is there a time limit?
Typical completion: 3–6 hours. Maximum limit: 7 hours.
Are wetsuits allowed?
Yes. Wetsuit swims are recorded under a separate classification.
Can I swim in a relay or group?
Yes. Groups of up to 4 swimmers (must swim same pace) or relay teams.
Is it a race or event?
No — it's a private guided swim arranged for you/your group.

Recent Successful Solo Swims

NameNationalityDateTimeNotes
Henri DhonteFrance15 Jul 202503:32:50Wetsuit
Luc GarciaFrance24 Jul 202506:48:00Wetsuit
Benoît DelahayeFrance28 Jul 202504:38:55Wetsuit
Anthony MacdonaldUnited Kingdom5 Aug 202504:37:56
Nicolas TarlierFrance11 Aug 202506:08:41
Vicky StewartSwitzerland13 Aug 202506:52:00
Carole MauprivezFrance18 Aug 202505:43:00
David GirardineSwitzerland19 Aug 202511:23:172-way, Wetsuit
Philippe LavilleFrance25 Aug 202505:16:00Wetsuit
Ting LimFrance3 Sep 202504:55:00
Edwina HarrisonAustralia5 Sep 202506:36:33
Diego SwineBelgium19 Sep 202504:40:47Wetsuit
Guided Swim

Guided Nyvoirienne

The International Swim across the Petit Lac

7km between Nyon and Yvoire. A border-busting adventure over a shorter distance — swim across the Petit Lac between the beautiful town of Nyon (Switzerland) and the medieval village Yvoire (France). Solo, relay, or group.

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Entry Includes

🚤
Escort boat, pilot & lifeguard
🏅
Commemorative souvenir
🧢
Swim hat

Swim Route

Nyvoirienne Route Map

How to Attempt

  1. Choose your dates — Book early (no later than 31st March). Full swim window only.
  2. Secure your dates — T&Cs agreement and non-refundable deposit.
  3. Complete paperwork — Swimmer Information, Medical and Self-Assessment forms required.
  4. Meet deadlines — Deposit upon booking; balance within 90 days or before 30 April.
  5. Late applications — By arrangement only. Contact the LGSA Secretary.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the route?
Nyon (Switzerland) to Nernier or Yvoire (France), depending on distance and conditions.
Is there a time limit?
Typical: 1.5–3.5 hours. Maximum: 4.5 hours.
Are wetsuits allowed?
Yes. Wetsuit swims recorded separately.
Can I swim in a relay or group?
Yes. Up to 4 swimmers (same pace) or relay teams.
Best time to swim?
Warmest water July–August, 18°C–25°C. Water quality 'excellent'.

Recent Successful Solo Swims

NameNationalityDateTimeNotes
Philippe GallandSwitzerland7 Aug 202501:56:56Wetsuit
Maria KolosanovaRussia27 Aug 202503:24:21
Maikel Van Der VeldenGermany10 Sep 202502:19:29Wetsuit
Esteban PetiteSwitzerland13 Sep 202502:33:55Wetsuit
Steven FeldUSA3 Jul 202302:38:55
Vicki StewartSwitzerland / UK22 Jul 202403:31:36
Laura BurnsUSA30 Aug 202403:57:48
Daniel F. Forero SánchezColombia30 Aug 202402:05:12Wetsuit
Ultimate Challenge

The Signature

The Ultimate Trophy Swim Across Lake Geneva

~70km from Chillon Castle to Bains des Pâquis, Geneva — twice the length of the English Channel. Made entirely of fresh alpine water. Considered one of the toughest open-water swims in the world. Average duration: 28 hours.

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Swim Route

Signature Route Map

Self-Assessment Requirements

Solo attempt: Two swims over two consecutive days — 10 hours (day 1) and 7 hours (day 2) in water ≤18°C, without exiting, no wetsuit or buoyancy aids. Completed within 18 months of your swim window.

Relay attempt: Two 2-hour swims on the same day in water ≤18°C, same conditions. Team leader uploads all forms.

Training Considerations

📏
Distance — 70km+, over 2× the English Channel
🌡️
Cold — Temps can drop to ≤18°C at night
🤢
Nausea — Seasickness prevention essential
🌙
Night swimming — Near-complete darkness likely

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the requirements?
Certified self-assessment swim: 10-hour + 7-hour swims on consecutive days (solo) or two 2-hour swims same day (relay), in water ≤18°C without wetsuit.
How long does it take?
Maximum 36 hours. Average ~28 hours (~2.5 km/h).
Is the water clean?
Water quality 'excellent'. Temps 18°C–25°C, but can change abruptly.
Do people not make it?
Some don't, due to fatigue, hypothermia, or conditions. As Churchill said — success is going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm.
Do you provide support crew?
No — support crew is your responsibility. Essential to have a reliable crew who knows your habits.

Gallery

Signature gallery 1 Signature gallery 2 Signature gallery 3 Signature gallery 4
Adventure Event

Escape Léman

The Ultimate Lake Geneva Adventure
⏸ On hold until further notice

An adventure swim combining excitement, iconic sailing, and multiple distances. Board one of Lake Geneva's iconic lateen sailing vessels, cruise across the lake, then swim 6.2km, 1.5km, 750m, or 200m back to Évian-les-Bains.

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Entry Includes

⛵
Transport on iconic lateen boats
🛟
Professional water safety team
🧢
Event swim hat & medal

Swim Distances

6.2km

Start at the Franco-Swiss border. The full adventure.

1.5km

Popular open-water challenge or Classique warm-down.

750m

Sprint to finish — great for triathletes.

200m

Perfect introduction to open-water swimming.

Swim Route

Escape Léman Route

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it a race?
No — it's an adventure swim celebrating your achievement. Not timed competitively.
Will there be feed stations?
Yes, every ~2km for the 6.2km distance only (water, energy bars, gels).
Can I bring my own kayaker?
Yes, but they integrate into the safety team. Personal feeding kayakers allowed additionally.
Can I wear a tow-float?
Mandatory for 6.2km and all skins swimmers. Optional for wetsuited 1.5km/750m/200m.
Is there a cut-off time?
6.2km: 36 min/km cut-off. Last swimmers finish around 1pm. This is a hard stop.

About the Barques du Léman

Meet the largest lateen sailing boats in the world! The original Savoie was built in 1896. The current replica "Savoie 513" honours its ancestor. The Neptune dates from 1904 and was gifted by the State of Geneva for its preservation. Step aboard and let your lacustrine adventure begin!

Barque 1 Barque 2 Barque 3 Barque 4