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Top Group Trips for Wild Swimming in Beautiful Places

You don’t need to go the full Wim Hof to enjoy a splash in the wild. Book yourself onto one of these small-group trips instead and you’ll doggy-paddle in paradise.
Richard Collett
12 May 2023
Wild swimming isn’t all about sub-zero waters – there are plenty of beautiful swimming spots that won’t make your teeth chatter. Instead, take the plunge, be it in ocean, lake or jungle waterfall, and book a place on one of these Culture Trip adventures.
1 . Snorkel with sharks and sea lions in the Galápagos Islands

Wild sea swimming? Check. Snorkelling with sea lions? Check. Close encounters with giant tortoises? Check. This five-day Galápagos Islands tour is guaranteed to stun even the most worldly of travellers. The adventure kicks off quickly; first is snorkelling with white-tipped reef sharks in the Itabaca Channel. Next, you’re off sailing to an uninhabited island – accompanied by a professional naturalist – to snorkel with penguins. You’ll then be following in the footsteps of Charles Darwin as your journey ends on the lava trails and beaches of San Cristobal, spotting rare birdlife and strolling alongside endemic iguanas.

From£1624
Next available from26 Aug 2023
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2 . Kayak and cave swim off the Dalmatian coast of Croatia

Travel from Split to Dubrovnik, with many island-hopping adventures in between, on the eight-day jolly in Croatia. Settle into Split with a sea kayaking excursion on the open ocean, where you can cool off with a swim in the Adriatic. Visit Roman ruins, Diocletian’s Palace and local bars before speeding off to the islands of Hvar, Vis and Korcula, for wine tasting and sea swimming. This small-group trip ends in Dubrovnik, a medieval port city known as the Pearl of the Adriatic. Explore the Unesco World Heritage-listed old town on foot, before finishing with a swim beneath the city walls in the old harbor.

From£1546
Next available from21 Aug 2023
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3 . Island hop through the Aegean Sea

This eight-day trips around the Cyclades transports you across the Aegean Sea. With the wind in your sails, you’ll depart from Athens after a day exploring archaeological sites. First up is the island of Milos, where you’ll wander along white-sand beaches and slip into the rhythm of Greek island life. Then it’s onto the ancient landmarks and idyllic beaches of Naxos, where you’ll join an authentic Greek cooking class. Your last port of call is Santorini – a whitewashed island formed from an underwater volcano – where there will be plenty of opportunities for a dip in the ocean.

From£1462
Next available from9 Jul 2023
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4 . Snorkel with sea turtles and swim beneath waterfalls in Bali

Whether you like jungle treks, beach days or underwater activities, our 12-day Bali itinerary has something for you. We’ll pack a picnic with us as we hike to the Banyumala Twin waterfalls, nestled amid dense tropical rainforest, with a large rock pool ideal for cooling off. After exploring Bali’s unique culture and hiking up Mount Batur you’ll get the chance to dip in a spring-fed pool at Tirta Gangga gardens, before we hop on a speedboat to the Gili Islands. Here you’ll have the chance to snorkel with sea turtles and check out the eery underwater statues off Gili Meno, while there’s plenty of spare time at our luxurious beach retreat to swim in the ocean, or in one of the hotel’s two pools.

From£1239
Next available from17 Jun 2023
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5 . Enjoy the crystalline waters of Paraty Bay in Brazil

The last four days of our samba adventure in Brazil are spent in Rio de Janeiro, so you’ll have plenty of time to enjoy the waters at Ipanema and Copacabana beach – our hotel is just round the corner – but wild swimmer will adore our little post-Sao Paulo excursion to the old cobblestone town of Paraty and its stunning blend of forest, beach and waters. We’ll spend a day on a boat out in Paraty Bay, snorkelling and swimming in the area’s crystalline waters, and stopping off at a beach for a group barbecue – now that’s how to wild swim Brazilian style.

From£2192
Next available from20 Oct 2023
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Gethin Morgan contributed additional reporting to this article.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel – and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Bespoke Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Bespoke Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm – and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.