Strel Swimming Adventure Holidays Reviews 

I went on the Montenegro fjords and coves holiday last week and it was an unpleasant experience. Everyone on the trip developed symptoms of vomiting, diarrhoea or abdominal cramps likely due to poor water quality where we were swimming. I missed half of the swimming days because I was too ill and many were still experiencing symptoms 6 days later. Borut Strel was our guide showed little compassion and accepted no responsibility for these events. It is already bad enough to experience illness when you are on holiday but for this to be a direct result of swimming and then for the guide, who was also the head of the company, to be indifferent to this was astonishing. I am not generally someone who makes a fuss but the attitude of those organising the trip was staggering.

I booked this holiday as a big celebration for finishing medical school and paid £850. On the second full day of swimming we took a new route closer to the coastal villages as the conditions were too choppy on the usual route. One member of the group reported that the water smelt suspect at points. The next morning several of the group said they were too unwell to go swimming that day. The onset of my symptoms was later and I had vomiting and diarrhoea on the rocking boat, which was a very unpleasant. I was unable to get back to the hotel until the end of the day at 5pm. Over the next few days everyone experienced symptoms to some degree, and everyone except one missed a day of swimming due to illness. Members of the group are still saying they have symptoms a week later, since they have got back home. None of the boat staff who shared the food we ate on the boat had symptoms - leading me to think it was the water quality as only swimmers were affected. There is a lot of construction all over Montenegro, and it appears that infrastructure development is struggling to keep up. Montenegro is not in the EU and therefore does not have to comply with regulations about water safety. I would expect a swimming company who has operated tours in this area for many years to be aware of the areas that are safe for swimming and those that may be contaminated.

Borut Strel was a member of a WhatsApp group, where everyone updated each other. He did not even acknowledge the reports of illness. He barely mentioned it in person other than a few defensive comments about food preparation. It was almost as if he felt mentioning it would be to implicate himself. When I approached him when I was feeling well enough - he said he does not do anything to check the water quality. I believe that it is part of the role of a guide to ensure that the water we are swimming is safe. However Borut, suggested that contaminated water would be smelled better by the swimmers than from the boat, seeming to imply it was our fault for swimming along this route.

He also said it would only be a significant if it was a recurring issue, with several groups becoming unwell. He did not offer anything to the group, and a partial refund (because I missed half of the holiday) was out of the question. I could not believe the cavalier attitude and I do not understand why it needs several groups to go through this before it is taken seriously by him.

Overall, it was the attitude of the company that I found most frustrating. There are several reviews appearing more recently regarding poor customer service and this has most definitely echoes my experience. I may have accepted this as a misfortune if I felt the company expressed sincere concern and a desire to change but all I encountered was disinterest.

The swim trip in Kas Turkey was my first one and I'm glad I picked Strel Swimming as I had an amazing experience. Our guides Diane and Ryan were both friendly and welcoming. I felt safe at all times whilst swimming in crystal clear waters all along the coast. I was lucky to see Turtles along the way too. My favourite was the 5 island swim, this was exhilarating swimming in deep calm water. The boat was a great size with more than enough space for everyone, with a choice of sunbathing or relaxing in shaded area. The captain and his wife were lovely providing a wonderful lunch. This is a great holiday for a non-swimmer too, my husband came and had a relaxing and wonderful time. The other guest were great company too. Also, Kas itself blew me away as it's such a beautiful location to visit. I would definitely recommend Strel Swimming and will at some stage book another one.

The swim trip in Bozburun in Turkey was incredible - I had a really superb time. Our guides, Diane and Ryan were excellent: super friendly, enthusiastic but also responsible and trustworthy. The boat was brilliant as was the captain and his family who took great care of us and made delicious lunches. This was my first swimming holiday but I'd definitely do another one with Strel. Great value, other guests were top notch and couldn't ask for more.

5 stars all around, well done team Strel. Great swimming, super boat with lots of deck space, really healthy food and snacks. Got really strong and increased my swim distance. I will be back!

Divine, delicious, extraordinary and relaxing- Repeat! This describes the swimming in the Mediterranean, the food, our swim coaches, gulet skipper, cook, staff and the daily experience. Nothing like is for a supported swim trip!!

What a fabulous week! The gullet is very comfortable and spacious, perfect for relaxing between swims. The food is great and the crew & swim guides are absolutely amazing! Add in to that some perfect swimming in calm, turquoise seas with turtles, rays and lots of fish and you have your perfect holiday! Would definitely recommend!!

I have just returned from an 8 night Gulf of Hisaronu Gulet liveaboard swim holiday with Strel. Absolutely perfect experience to the extent that I booked my next liveaboard at a different location before leaving the boat!

Apart from enjoying twelve 2-3k swims in glorious ocean locations there was time and space for reading, sunbathing and games. The guides and crew were brilliant, the accommodation luxurious and the food divine. The independent travellers’ ‘cruise’. Divine.

I am just home from the Swim Sail Gulf of Hisaronu cruise, and I am still smiling. I have enjoyed other great Strel swim trips but this one was truly something special. Being onboard a lovely traditional Turkish gulet is such a unique experience and it offered plenty of space to relax between swims and really enjoy the scenery. We swam in crystal clear waters in picturesque coves and bays. I really enjoyed the well prepared food and felt spoiled all week by the great service from the crew. Many thanks to Borut and also to our guide Ryan, for making all aspects of the trip so wonderful.

This was a great trip, Kas is a perfect base. The hotel is small and simple, but great views from the balcony. The town has plenty of small restaurants/bars and the small streets are great for a wander. Top nougat/Turkish delight shop too.
The gulet was very comfortable with an experienced captain and good, simple local cooking from his wife.
Our guides, Ryan and Anna, were excellent. They read the dynamics of our small group, and made sure everyone got the most from their swimming. Including a bit of helpful stroke analysis.
The water is clear for swimming, nice rock formations to swim over, a few fish and occasional turtle. Flat with minimal current/wind. Air temp perfect for loafing about after.
Each day about 4-5km in 2 swims, with the options to do a bit more if that isn't enough. My usual OWS are 2-2.5 km so that was just right.
An experience I'd look forward to repeating.

My first ever Open Water Swimming trip to abroad. A friend of mine recommended Strel and Turkey and he was was right: it was an awesome experience! Sun, swim, good food and wonderful international group. Worth every euro!

Relaxing and easygoing, safe. Felt like an active holiday without stress.

This was my first time sea swimming these distances and I felt in very safe hands throughout. Our swim guides Ryan and Anna were excellent, the boat was great and the swimming sublime. Kas is a great place to explore and we had the pleasure of swimming with turtles. My one concern as a coeliac who can only eat gluten free food, is that the food on the boat was a pot luck approach ( without any info) which was tricky at times.

Wonderful trip, vessel, crew and trip leaders…can’t say enough good things about out Turkey swim trip …GO!

I had a wonderful time swimming in Loreto in May 2022. The weather was beautiful and the water was warm, calm and clear! The Strel guides took great care of us and I always felt safe swimming and exploring the waters and beaches of the islands off of Loreto. Thanks for an amazing week!

Best possible post-pandemic open water swimming experience! We felt really safe and protected by Borut and the team. Loreto and its surrounding natural, protected park is a hidden gem. Swimming sites were varied and the aquatic life was spectacular - huge schools of colorful fish, manta rays and of course, dolphins, whales and turtles. We hardly saw any other people/boats - perfect swimming conditions.

We went on an 8-day swim trip to Kas, Turkey in September 2021. Best vacation I've had. The staff was extremely competent, interesting, and fun. The hillside hotel was lovely and had a delicious fresh breakfast buffet. Days were spent on the boat, which stopped for us to swim in different, equally beautiful locations each day. It was all completely relaxed and self-paced, with swimmers of various levels all having a great time. Delicious lunches on the boat were prepared by the captain's wife. Overall, this was a delightful trip and we have already booked another!

I had never been on a swim trip before going on the Strel swim trip in Kas in September, 2021. It was the best vacation I ever had. The hotel was lovely, high up on a hill with an ocean view. Every morning our group would gather at the Turkish gulet to hear about where we would be swimming that morning. Every swim was delightful in different ways: one following a bay, another island hopping, another swimming over an ancient submerged city. Swimmers could go at their own pace. I loved swimming slowly and savoring being in the crystal-clear Mediterranean and absorbing the views. The lunches on the boat the Captain's wife prepared were extraordinary: full spreads of a variety of vegetables, fruits, seafood, meats, and rice dishes delicately seasoned and perfectly cooked. We would then relax, read, talk on the deck for an hour or so before the afternoon swim. The evenings we had to ourselves to explore the many restaurants or walk to the Roman amphitheater outside of Kas to watch the sunset. Our small group of travelers assigned to the same boat ended up liking each other so much that we often all had dinner together, including our amazing (and hilarious) Strel guide Diane. Strel made sure every detail of the trip was flawless. Almost immediately after returning from this trip, we made plans to take another Strel trip, this time signing up for a boat swim trip off the coast of Turkey. We can't wait!

What a fun way to get in shape, even while ,swimming and eating and drinking our way around Croatian islands and coast!!! Great group of people and well organized swims by Borut and his crew! I will do this again for sure!!!

I went on the Swim Sail Cruise trip in Turkey and it was an absolutely amazing experience. Before the trip I had good communication from the Strel Swimming team who promptly answered the questions I had. On the trip the boat was beautiful and extremely comfortable to stay on, the swims were idyllic, and the food was so tasty! I enjoyed relaxing in the sun in my free time as well as us stopping off at interesting points along the coast. If you enjoy swimming, I would certainly recommend Strel Swimming holidays for a well organised, care-free holiday experience.

Despite low water levels, swimming in Lake Powell immersed us in clean, calm water. With little current and nothing scary in the water, we felt free to enjoy the unique, beautiful rock formations, including dinosaur tracks! We could imagine when the land was all under water. Borut and Martin prepared delicious, healthful lunches for our mid-day breaks.

I swam at Loreto at the end of October. Strel’s first year there. Beautiful. Hats off to Borut for assembling a great crew.