FAQs

how much does it cost?

For 2027 attempts the fees will be as follows:

Initial Enduroman Booking Fee : £400
Once your entry has been accepted, you then pay the full Enduroman Fee = £5,100

The payment schedule for the Enduroman fee is as follows:

The first instalment of the Enduroman fee, £2,550, is to be paid within 2 weeks of the date your contract is issued. This instalment secures your slot and is non-refundable and non-transferable, except in the event where all Channel swimming between England and France is prohibited by the relevant authorities.

The second instalment of the Enduroman fee, £2,550, is to be paid by 31st January in the year of your attempt.

If prompt payment is a problem then please inform Enduroman as soon as possible. An alternative payment schedule can be organised if reasonable notice is given.

As well as the Enduroman fees you also need to take a separate contract and pay the Boat pilot fees. Boat pilot fee, approx £4,500** (2025 prices)

The boat pilot fee is payable in two instalments, one due at the start of the year of your attempt and the other immediately before your swim. Your boat pilot will contact you separately with full details of his payment schedule. The channel crossing fee will vary depending on whether you are solo/relay and wetsuit/non wetsuit. 

**IMPORTANT: When paying for your channel swim and Enduroman you must pay the full amount in GBP and you must cover any bank charges that may apply.

Total cost of Arch 2 Arc attempt = £10,000 (plus your own expenses)

Will I get a place?

The A2A is massively over subscribed and because of this a lot of applicants are waiting for a slot. However, the best way to get a slot is to come to the Lanzarote camp or Ultra so we can get to know you. It will also help you assess where you are on your journey to the A2A start line.

WHAT'S INCLUDED IN THE ENDUROMAN ENTRY FEE?

From the time your application is accepted you have access to the Enduroman race director and team. This includes specific training advice and contact via phone, Zoom, email and WhatsApp throughout your preparation to discuss any aspect of the challenge or its logistics.

Liaison between the authorities, boat pilot, police, highways and Channel swimming governing bodies.

An Enduroman official observer will accompany you throughout your entire Arch2Arc attempt. Their role is to oversee your challenge and safety, assist with navigating the road route and liaising with your support crew.

Enduroman will also provide official timing and a live GPS tracker for your attempt, together with photos and progress updates on social media.

Your personal # finisher medal and trophy (which is posted after your successful attempt with your official times).

what are the rules?

Please see the Arch to Arc rules here

What is the cancellation policy?

If you fail to secure your slot before any of the payment deadlines, we reserve the right to offer your slot to another athlete or team. Under these circumstances you would lose any fees already paid to us.

Your booking is non transferable. If you cancel or if for any other reason (including injury) you declare you are unable to start your Arch2Arch attempt, any fees and deposit you have already paid are non-refundable.

If your A2A is aborted during the actual attempt due to injury, illness or because it is felt that you are unfit to continue, all fees (Enduroman and the boat pilot) are non-refundable.

If your attempt is cancelled due to being blown out*, Enduroman will endeavour to offer you an alternative slot later in the same season, or, if that is not possible, potentially during the following year, if additional slots become available. Should no suitable slot be available, or if you are unable to accept an alternative due to other commitments, the following process will apply:

• You will receive a 50% refund, excluding the non-refundable booking fee.
• You will be offered a full-price prime Arch2Arc slot two seasons later, with the booking fee waived for that allocation.

If the weather forecast changes after completion of or during the run, so delaying the swim start, the athlete may extend the recovery period in Dover until the last day of the contracted swim window to wait for an opportunity to swim. If a swim is not possible during the window, then the event is terminated. The same process as a blowout will apply.

*Blown out refers to a situation in which no suitable or safe sea-swimming conditions are available to permit the athlete’s Arch2Arc swim to proceed and therefore the challenge cannot take place. In 2025, for example, one athlete out of 12 was blown out, but we were able to offer him another slot later in the season (he completed the event).

WHAT ADDITIONAL COSTS ARE THERE TO CONSIDER?

Administration fees for relevant Channel swimming governing body (£120-400).

Travel and administration costs between the UK and Paris.

Vehicle hire if not using your own vehicle as support vehicle. 

(Enduroman recommend a minibus for relays or a 5 door estate for solos).

Fuel for the support vehicle during your attempt (London to Paris return).

Ferry or Euro Tunnel crossing fees for the support vehicle.

Food for your team throughout the challenge.

Accommodation for you and your crew before and after your attempt (near London/ Paris), as required.

Accommodation for you, your crew and the Enduroman Official in Dover/ Folkestone and Calais during your attempt, as required. We recommend Dover or Folkestone as the most convenient loation before and during event.

DO I NEED A SUPPORT CREW?

Yes, solo athletes will need a support crew during each of the stages. Our experience is that having 2 crews works well - one for the run and bike stages and a separate one for the swim stage. During the swim stage the run/bike crew can rest and take the support vehicle across to France. 

Ideally the run/bike crew should consist of a driver and a support person. Due to limited space on the boat, the swim crew is limited to a maximum of 2 people.

Relay teams can usually provide support for each other but may wish to consider extra help depending on the size of the team and needs of the athletes.

IMPORTANT: For safety reasons, there must be an English speaking person as part of your crew - this is particularly important for the boat.

Professional support crew can be provided for a fee if required.

WHAT ABOUT A SUPPORT VEHICLE?

Athletes will need to provide their own support vehicle for the run and bike stages of their attempt. We recommend using a 5 door estate or similar for solo attempts and a minibus for relay attempts. The Enduroman team member overseeing the challenge attempt travels in the front passenger seat of the support vehicle with the support crew.

If you need to hire a support vehicle for your attempt, ensure with the hire company that it can be taken into Paris. There is usually no difficulty hiring a vehicle that can be taken across to France, but travelling into Paris in a UK hire vehicle is complicated by new anti-pollution laws. 

If you have any questions on the suitability of your vehicle or hiring a vehicle then please contact Enduroman, we will be happy to discuss any concerns you may have.

WHAT ABOUT the routes?

Before your attempt, you will be supplied with the official GPX files for the run and bike routes. Below are some essential points you need to know for the beginning and end of your attempt.

The first 10 miles out of London, the athlete will mainly be on their own; the reason for this is the roads are very busy, and the support vehicle will not be able to keep stopping until they are out of London. A support runner or cyclist is permitted for this section or you can use a watch or another device for navigation. 

For the final leg into Paris, the cyclist MUST stay with the support vehicle. This is because Paris is extremely busy, and the last section of the route may change due to road works and closures. The GPX file you will be given will take you this point and not the Arc De Triomphe.

The athlete must carry their phone for both these sections.

IMPORTANT - YOU MUST HAVE THE FOLLOWING IN PLACE BEFORE DRIVING IN LONDON OR PARIS.

SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS FOR DRIVING IN LONDON

Congestion Charge

https://tfl.gov.uk/modes/driving/congestion-charge - £15.00 to £17.50 a day

Where it operates:

Central London only - check a postcode or location

Charging times: 

07:00-18:00 Mon-Fri

12:00-18:00 Sat-Sun and bank holidays

Emission Zone

Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) £12.50 a day

Where it operates:

Covers the area up to, but not including, the North Circular Road (A406) and South Circular Road (A205) - check a postcode or location

Charging times:

24 hours a day, 7 days a week, every day of the year.

A charging day runs from midnight to midnight. You can pay by midnight on the third charging day after you travel or up to 90 days in advance.

SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS FOR DRIVING IN FRANCE

The support vehicle must be adapted for driving on French roads in the usual way - GB sticker, headlight converters, high viz vest, warning triangle and spare bulbs.

You now also need to obtain an anti-pollution sticker to drive your vehicle into Paris. This has to be done online and is mailed to you, so aim to do this several weeks before your attempt. The online link is here.

electronic travel authorisation (ETA)

Non-UK residents must fill an ETA form.

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/apply-for-an-electronic-travel-authorisation-eta

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/check-when-you-can-get-an-electronic-travel-authorisation-eta

what about INSURANCE?

You should have your own medical and travel Insurance in place for your challenge for you and your crew.

Support

We have an Enduroman Facebook Group (search Enduroman Events and ask to be accepted) where you can ask questions and post updates. You can also email us at any time.

WEBSITES

www.channelswimming.net - website with information on wetsuit swims across the Channel. As well as outlining the CSPS rules for a wetsuit swim the site contains detailed information on training, tides, weather and navigation written by Mike Oram. Scroll down the site's home page to a link to a "standard information pack" for more information and other useful links, including a link to a swimmer chat site.

www.cspf.co.uk - website for the Channel Swimming & Piloting Federation (non wetsuit swims).