Tel: +44 (0) 20 8675 6608 or call Alice on +44 7825 301443 Email: [email protected] www.swimquest.uk.com BAHAMAS INFORMATION PACK

TRIP OVERVIEW This trip is a real treat for any open water swimmer; perfectly designed for anyone looking to combine activity and a ‘get-away-from-it-all’ break in laid back luxury. We stay at New Heights: a modern, three-level villa that sits high on the pristine, remote of Great Guana . We promise to spoil you with magnificent food, panoramic ocean views, and, of course, unbeatable swimming in one of the largest coral reefs in the Northern Hemisphere.

ABOUT GREAT GUANA CAY

The Abaco are a group of islands and barrier cays in the northern Bahamas, east of southern Florida. Great Guana Cay is a remote, unspoilt island at the centre of the . With just 150 inhabitants, it is a real escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. The island is long and narrow, 7 miles (11 km) long, and situated about 8 miles from Marsh Harbour International Airport.

IS THIS FOR ME?

During the week, we will complete two swims a day. Swims will be a mixture of island-to-island crossings and stunning reef and coastal swims. You should be comfortable swimming in open water, however if you wish to swim shorter distances than our itinerary suggests, it’s fine to hop back on board once you’ve had enough. Ideally you should have some open water experience and be able to swim at least one kilometre in the sea. If you’re unsure, please don’t hesitate to contact the office for a chat. This trip is ideal for anyone looking for a luxurious week away, with a combination of swimming, wonderful food and time to relax. Throughout the week, you are more than welcome to swim both or just complete one swim a day – it is your holiday. Each swim will be escorted by a main boat and an additional tender that will have ample room for anyone wishing to watch or simply soak up some sun.

AT A GLANCE

• Places available from £2,180pp • This trip is ideal for anyone looking for a luxurious week away, with a combination of swimming, wonderful food and time to relax. • This trip runs from Saturday – Friday • Non-swimmers are welcome to join the trip and can be on the boat if they wish. A 10% discount is offered to non-swimmers.

1 Tel: +44 (0) 20 8675 6608 or call Alice on +44 7825 301443 Email: [email protected] www.swimquest.uk.com BAHAMAS INFORMATION PACK

• Max group size 12 • Water temperature in February is between 22oC and 24oC • Everything included except transport to Great Guana Cay, plus any additional items or activities you wish to participate in • You will need to fly to Marsh Harbour International airport (flights from Europe between £800-£1000) TRIP LOGISTICS & PRICING

WHAT’S INCLUDED?

• Six night’s accommodation at New Heights (various room options are available, please see accommodation details below) • All meals (from dinner on Saturday evening, to breakfast on Friday morning) excluding dinner on two of the evenings, when we will take you to local restaurants • A BBQ & bonfire night • A full guided swimming itinerary, based on two swims a day • Qualified SwimQuest guide/s • Boat cover, including a local ocean guide • Optional stroke video analysis and one-to-one swim coaching sessions • A 10L SwimQuest dry bag and a SwimQuest swim cap • VAT

The only costs that are not covered are your travel to and from Great Abaco Cay, any alcohol purchases, dinner on two of the evenings, wetsuit hire (please bring your own wetsuit if you would like to swim in one) and any additional items or activities you wish to participate in outside of the tour schedule. ACCOMMODATION

New Heights is a spacious, luxurious property accommodating a maximum of 12 SwimQuest guests. New Heights offers 360- degree ocean views from almost all rooms, and countless outdoor living spaces. The main dining area sits under a large veranda with sunset views. The dining deck wraps around to a furnished patio that joins the forty-foot long saltwater pool. In addition, the third floor loggia covers one third of the main house - the perfect spot for watching the sunset, reflecting on your swims and lounging in front of the full bar.

There are three types of room available to you:

Deluxe sole use bedrooms £2,780pp Treat yourself to a spacious single room opening up onto a private balcony with stunning views of the water. With high cleanings, French doors and screens, open the doors to the cool, coastal breeze, and listen to the waves crash against the shore. You will be allocated your own, private bathroom.

2 Tel: +44 (0) 20 8675 6608 or call Alice on +44 7825 301443 Email: [email protected] www.swimquest.uk.com BAHAMAS INFORMATION PACK

Deluxe double use bedrooms £2,680pp Ideal for couples, these rooms are spacious double rooms opening up onto a private balcony with stunning views of the water. With high cleanings, French doors and screens, open the doors to the cool, coastal breeze, and listen to the waves crash against the shore. You will be allocated your own, private bathroom.

Studio share apartment £2,180pp Unlike many other homes on Guana Cay, New Heights offers a lower-level studio space. Complete with ocean and garden views, a private entrance, patio, and french doors, the studio contains a bedroom with four large bunks. Additionally, the space has countless amenities including: a kitchen, bath, living space and sleeping area.

MEALS

Breakfasts - will be served buffet style, with hot and cold options available. You are welcome to eat your breakfast on any of the verandas, or on the terrace.

Lunches – depending on where we are swimming, lunches will be served either back at the villa, in one of the local beachside cafes or we will bring a packed lunch with us.

Dinners – aside from dinner on Monday and Wednesday evening (when we will take you to a local restaurants) dinners will be cooked and served for you at New Heights. Meals are prepared using fresh, local cuisine. We will also have a BBQ evening one night, with a beach bonfire. Bottled water, tea and coffee is provided alongside meals, however any alcohol is at your own expense.

If you have particular dietary requirements, we are happy to cater for you, please just let us know in advance. TRAVEL & TIMINGS

This trip officially begins on Saturday evening with a welcome and dinner, once all guests arrive at New Heights. The trip finishes on Friday morning, usually after an optional sunrise swim and breakfast.

As a small to the east of Great Abaco, Great Guana Cay does not have its own airport or even air strip. This island is home to only about 150 residents, and we visit to escape from the rest of the world for a week! You'll have to take a few extra steps in order to get away from it all, but in the end you'll find it to be worth the effort.

We advise booking flights through to Marsh Harbour International Airport (MHH). Frequent domestic and international services are available. We advise searching flight options via a flight engine such as www.skyscanner.net to find the cheapest fare. For European guests, it is cost effective to fly from Europe via the US and then into . Great Guana Cay is a small island without an air strip, so when you get to Marsh Harbour you will need to take a taxi (we can book this for you for $20) and then a 20 minute ferry trip to reach us. Albury's Ferries (www.alburysferry.com) operate five times a day and the fare from Marsh Harbour to Great Guana Cay costs $17. The last ferry is at 5.45pm, so you should plan your flight arrival accordingly.

3 Tel: +44 (0) 20 8675 6608 or call Alice on +44 7825 301443 Email: [email protected] www.swimquest.uk.com BAHAMAS INFORMATION PACK

ITINERARY

N.B. Please note, this is a rough guide to the week. We will adapt the week carefully for each individual and the prevailing weather. All swim activities are planned with safety as the paramount concern. Swim distances are adaptable and because of our extensive boat and safety cover we can deal with a mixture of abilities on this tour.

SATURDAY

A SwimQuest representative will meet you at Great Guana Cay Harbour and take you to New Heights. You can settle into your room, and meet your fellow guests and guides for an evening meal on the terrace and your safety briefing. Please note - the last ferry leaves Marsh Harbour at 5.45pm, so we will start the tour officially when the last guests arrive (around 7pm).

SUNDAY

On Sunday morning, we will complete an coastal swim (1-2km) along one of Great Guana Cay’s pristine white beaches. This will be an easy swim so that the guides can get an idea of everyone’s swimming ability and (if you wish) film you swimming above and below the water so that we can provide coaching advice later on in the evening. In the afternoon, we will venture south towards Scotland Cay, swimming up Scotland Cay’s sandy coastline and eventually making the crossing back towards Great Guana Cay (2-3km).

MONDAY

Its an early start for breakfast before we hop in the boat and travel to Fowls Cays National Park to swim around and along this biologically rich stretch of (3km). Keep your eyes out for turtles, rays and schools of tropical fish. In the afternoon, we will continue with an island-to-island swim, from Fowl Cays to Scotland Cay (1.5km). in the evening we will take you to a local restaurant to watch the sun set and enjoy local cuisine.

TUESDAY In the morning, we will head north to visit Crab Cay. This morning’s swim will be an island-to-island crossing, from Crab Cay to Green Turtle Cay (3km), where we will stop for lunch. In the afternoon we will complete a circumnavigation of Whale Cay. The sea of Abaco has a large population of bottlenose dolphins, so keep your eyes peeled on the way to our swim spots!

WEDNESDAY

This morning we will head out to Turtle Cay to swim along shallow reefs and admire the abundance of colourful marine life. In the afternoon, we will head back to New Heights for a few hours of relaxation before dinner out at the vibrant Nippers Bar & grill. 4 Tel: +44 (0) 20 8675 6608 or call Alice on +44 7825 301443 Email: [email protected] www.swimquest.uk.com BAHAMAS INFORMATION PACK

THURSDAY Today will be a big day, with lots of swimming! After breakfast, we head down to Elbow Cay to complete our longest swim yet along the beautiful sheltered reefs (4-5km). Keep an eye out for turtles, reef sharks and rays. In the afternoon, we will return to Man O War cay, for a relaxing reef swim, before heading back to New Heights for sundowners, a BBQ and a beach bonfire.

FRIDAY

Your guides will walk you up early and take you down to the villa’s private beach for a sunrise swim before a leisurely breakfast and departures.

TRAVEL ESSENTIALS

PASSPORTS AND VISAS

Non-residents of the Bahamas require a full passport to enter the country, which should be valid for at least six months beyond the expected length of stay. Citizens of most countries, including all E.U. member states, U.S., Canada, Australia and New Zealand do not require a visa to enter the Bahamas, however, if travelling via the U.S., you may need to obtain a visa. For further information, please visit www.bahamas.gov.bs. Please note that visa regulations are subject to change and we advise that you check your own visa requirements prior to travel.

VACCINATIONS

There are currently no essential vaccination requirements for Bahamas, however we advise you to check this information eight weeks before you travel. It is also advisable to check that you have up to date tetanus and polio. UK health authorities have classified the Bahamas as having a risk of Zika virus transmission. For more information and advice, visit the website of the National Travel Health Network and Centre website. Cases of Chikungunya virus have been confirmed in the Bahamas. You should take steps to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes. Use insect repellent and try to cover up at dawn and dusk when mosquitoes are present.

INSURANCE

As a SwimQuest guest, you are required to have in place travel insurance that covers you for all activities you will be taking part in during your trip. It is your responsibility to ensure that you are fully covered for these activities.

Whatever travel policy you decide on, you will need to bring a copy of your current Certificate of Insurance to the safety briefing at the start of your SwimQuest holiday. Your swim Guides will need to take a note of your insurer, policy number and the number to call in case of an emergency claim.

If you are looking for a travel insurance policy, we love worldnomads.com because they make choosing the right policy as painless as possible. Visit www.swimquest.uk.com/insurance to find out more

5 Tel: +44 (0) 20 8675 6608 or call Alice on +44 7825 301443 Email: [email protected] www.swimquest.uk.com BAHAMAS INFORMATION PACK

Worldnomads.com do not offer cover over 65s, however if you are over 65 and looking for insurance, please feel free to contact us and we can put you in touch with alternative providers.

PACKING

In addition to your everyday clothing and personal travel items, we would also recommend packing:

• At least two swimming costumes • A wetsuit should you wish to wear one • Two pairs of swim goggles • Swim ear plugs if you are used to wearing them • A beach / swim towel (the villa provides room towels) • Sandals, aqua shoes or flip flops which you would be happy to get wet if necessary • Warm clothes for evenings • Suncream, sunhat and sunglasses • Insect repellent • Comfortable sportswear (optional - running / stretching / yoga) FAQs

What if I can’t complete the distances? Your swim will be escorted by at least one motorised boat, you are welome to swim as much or as little as you like.

Will my guide be able to take pictures? Of course! We will send any SwimQuest photos through to you after the tour. You can take your own camera on the boat, however guides cannot be responsible for its safekeeping.

What about sharks and sea nasties?! You will most likely see sharks on this trip, however don’t panic! They are reef sharks and harmless to swimmers. Jellyfish and sea urchins ay be present, however jellyfish are not common in the Abaco Sea during the winter months. Your guides will work to reduce your chance of contact, and will assist you if you do happen to get a sting.

Will there be access to WiFi at New Heights Yes, there is WiFi at the villa.

Who are my swim guides? All our guides are qualified as Beach Lifeguards, including a First Aid at Work qualification, and have an RYA Powerboat Level 2 license to use a RIB or dinghy. For more information about our guides please visit www.swimquest.uk.com/guides.

If you have any queries please don’t hesitate to contact us. We can’t wait to meet you in the Bahamas.

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