Guided Classique

What is the route?

The route is between Lausanne (Switzerland) and Evian-les-Bains (France). The direction of your swim will depend on the weather conditions on the day. Your escort boat and pilot will guide you along the way.

When is the best time to swim Lake Geneva? Is the water clean?

For the past few years the warmest water temperatures in Lake Geneva have been in July and August, however this is not guaranteed and it is impossible to specify the best day for a swim attempt. Temperatures can range anywhere between 18ºC and 25ºC and the water quality has been described as ‘excellent’. The locals generally take great pride this status, with many public swimming zones along the shores of the lake.

Swim window

Typical swim windows are from Monday to Friday. The actual day of your swim will be decided based on the meteorological conditions and the priority of your reservation - several swims may be booked during the same window, and are prioritised according to who reserved first. The LGSA asks that you remain flexible and ensure that you are available to swim at any point during your swim window

Support person and feeding

You must arrange a support person to accompany your swim on the escort boat. This is key to the success of your swim as they will provide your feeds and any other personal needs you might have. Solo swimmers may bring a maximum of two support persons.

Is the Guided Classique Swim an event or a race?

A Guided Classique Swim is a private swim arranged just for you/your group to suit your needs. It is neither a mass participation event nor a race.

Can I swim as part of a relay or in a group?

Yes you can! You can swim in a group of up to four swimmers, however all swimmers must swim at the same pace and stay together throughout the swim. Alternatively you can also form a relay team.

What pace shall I put down?

You must provide us with your average time for completing one kilometre in open-water, during training or at an open-water swim event (if one time is faster then write the faster one). Remember, if swimming in a group all swimmers must swim at the same pace, at least 30 mins per km or faster, in order to complete the distance comfortably within the time limits.

Is there a time limit?

Typically swimmers complete the distance in between three and six hours. There is a maximum time limit of seven hours to complete the swim.

What if the weather is bad?

If the forecast is looking bad we will contact you in the days before your chosen date to assess the available options.

Are wetsuits allowed?

Yes! You and your team are welcome to swim with or without a wetsuit. Bear in mind that wetsuit swims/relays will be recorded under a separate classification in the LGSA records.

Are there any requirements to attempt the swim?

Yes all swimmers are required to undergo a medical examination and provide a medical certificate prior to their swim. A Guided Classique Swim is both physically and mentally demanding, and can place a great deal of stress on your body.

Where should I stay?

Where swimmers stay is down to preference, with many choosing to stay in Lausanne or Evian. For general information on the area visit our Travel and accommodation page under Resources.

How do I find other aspiring Lake Geneva swimmers?

If you would like to meet other swimmers you can find Lake Geneva swimming forums online and dedicated groups on social media. Try searching for open water swimming clubs or Facebook/other social media platforms.

Name	Nationality	Route	Date	Time (Hrs:Mins:Secs)	Observations
Jérôme Didier	France	Lausanne to Évian-les-Bains	26 June 2023	04:22:25
Steve Berger	United Kingdom	Lausanne to Évian-les-Bains	26 June 2023	04:09:42	Wetsuit
Antoine Blouin	France	Lausanne to Évian-les-Bains	26 June 2023	04:31:10	Tandem swim
Martina Duignan	Ireland	Lausanne to Évian-les-Bains	26 June 2023	04:56:17
Thibault De La Taille Dimitri Kremp Charles Renard Cyriac Parisot	France	Lausanne to Évian-les-Bains	4 July 2023	06:46:28	Wetsuit Tandem swim Support swimmer
Stephen White	United Kingdom	Lausanne to Évian-les-Bains	6 July 2023	05:19:09	Wetsuit
Andrea O’Brien	USA	Lausanne to Évian-les-Bains	26 July 2023	05:51:00
Klaas van Geijn	Netherlands	Lausanne to Évian-les-Bains	27 July 2023	05:57:50	Wetsuit
Alaa Maso	Syria	Lausanne to Évian-les-Bains	7 August 2023	03:47:43	Wetsuit
Laure Vuez	France	Lausanne to Évian-les-Bains	11 August 2023	05:35:47	Wetsuit
Emmanuel Daniere Raphaele Scarinzi	France Italy	Lausanne to Évian-les-Bains	15 August 2023	04:40:39	Tandem swim
Claudia de Carvalho Christian Serena	Switzerland	Lausanne to Évian-les-Bains	22 August 2023	04:22:42	Tandem swim
Guillaume Liegy Julien Leterrier	France	Lausanne to Évian-les-Bains	30 August 2023	04:51:20	Wetsuit Tandem swim
Lucie Kubesova Leisova	Czech Republic	Lausanne to Évian-les-Bains	1 September 2023	04:22:07
Brett Davis	Australia	Lausanne to Évian-les-Bains	4 September 2023	05:08:46

Name	Nationality	Swimmers	Route	Date	Time (Hrs:Mins:Secs)	Observations
Will Chuck Bruce Henman Oscar Emile Sanger	United Kingdom Denmark/United Kingdom	2	Lausanne to Évian-les-Bains	31 July 2023	04:44:10