The 2026 Bali Hope Swimrun
Friday October 21
Nusa Lembongan, Bali
Join a small group for 4 days on a paradise island and take on a unique adventure race.
“Unlike anything I’d imagined. Connection, impact, challenge, support, rest - it’s the most incredible event.”
Kate Feltham, Sydney.
What Is The Bali Hope Swimrun
The Bali Hope Swimrun is a 20.6km race across the stunning Lembongan peninsula, made up of 19km of beach, road and trail running and 1.7km of open water swimming, divided into 7 run legs and 6 swim legs. You can race solo or as a team of two.
But the race is only part of the story. The event is built around a genuine mission: protecting the future of Nusa Lembongan by fundraising for grassroots recycling infrastructure and coral restoration projects that the island desperately needs.
On Day 2, you'll visit those coral restoration sites by dive boat and see the impact your fundraising is making with your own eyes.
Elite athletes and first-timers in endurance sport are equally welcome. Everyone who took part in our previous events successfully completed the course.
“Like no other event I’ve ever been a part of. Truly a unique experience.”
Ren Rukavina, Australia
Sinead and Nike from the 2023 team.
Kate & Abby on their first endurance event.
The Race in Detail
The course covers 20.6km in total across 13 legs — 7 runs and 6 swims — winding around the Lembongan peninsula with approximately 200m of elevation.
Here's how it breaks down:
Run 1: 25m → Swim 1: 100m → Run 2: 450m → Swim 2: 150m → Run 3: 7.6km → Swim 3: 500m → Run 4: 1.4km → Swim 4: 350m → Run 5: 1.2km → Swim 5: 500m → Run 6: 8.25km → Swim 6: 100m → Run 7: 25m
Total run: 19km
Total swim: 1.7km
The race can be completed solo or in pairs — male/male, female/female, or mixed. If you're coming solo and would like a partner, we'll do our best to pair you with someone of a similar experience level.
ENTRY CRITERIA
Athletes of all levels and abilities are encouraged to participant. We have both experienced and first-timers take on the race each year.
The race can be undertaken in pairs or indidvidually, offering participants the option to join solo or form teams of two (male-male, female-female, or mixed-gender pairs).
For solo participants we can help pair you up with another solo participant of a similar experience level.
EQUIPMENT AND CLOTHING
Shoes must be worn at all times throughout the race
Flotation devices and hand paddles are permitted. Pull buoys must be less than 60cm x 100cm
All teams will be provided with a Bali Hope Swimrun race vest and swim cap to wear on race day
SAFETY RULES
Pairs must maintain a 10m distance throughout the entirety of the race, both on land and in the water.
Pairs must arrive at each energy station as a pair
Teams must follow the marked course at all times.
Dedicated medical staff are positioned strategically across both islands, including aid stations and on motor transport, to promptly respond to any health concerns or support requirements.
PARTICIPANT RESPONSIBILITIES
Before commencement, a thorough race brief is conducted. It is mandatory that all participants sign the event disclaimer and attentively adhere to all rules provided.
Participants are entrusted to look out for partners and race participants
Participants are strictly advised against littering. Bins are conveniently provided at aid stations for proper disposal.
Ensure all necessary gear is sought and on-hand.
Making a big difference on Nusa Lembongan
The small archipelago of Lembongan, Ceningan, and Penida — just 30 minutes by fast boat from Bali — is a place of extraordinary natural beauty facing some very real pressures. A growing tourist population, rising plastic pollution, and the fragility of its coral reefs all threaten the long-term future of the island's ecosystem and economy.
A group of community projects on Lembongan are working to build a recycling infrastructure, raise environmental awareness among the island's next generation, and restore the coral reefs that underpin the entire marine ecosystem. Your fundraising goes directly to that work.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a swimrun?
A swimrun is an adventure race where you alternate between running and open water swimming across multiple legs — wearing the same kit throughout. No transitions, no changing. The Bali Hope Swimrun is South East Asia's original swimrun and has been welcoming first-timers alongside experienced athletes since the beginning.
Do I need a partner, or can I come solo?
Both are absolutely fine. You can race as a team of two (any combination of gender) or individually. If you're coming solo and would like to be paired up, just let us know and we'll match you with someone of a similar level.
What if I've never done a swimrun before?
The route is designed to be challenging but genuinely accessible to anyone with a reasonable level of fitness. We recommend doing a little research on swimrun-specific kit and technique before the event. Every participant in our previous events has successfully completed the course — including many who had never done an endurance event before.
Can I bring my partner or children?
Of course — partners and children are very welcome. We can organise bespoke accommodation options to suit your family. Just get in touch at tomh@bali-hope.com and we'll work something out.
Can I just do the rac😘e without the full four days?
Unfortunately not. The four days together — the team dinner, the coral restoration visit, the blessing ceremony, the shared experience of race day — are what make this event what it is. We can't offer the race as a standalone.
What equipment do I need?
Shoes must be worn throughout the entire race — on land and in the water. Flotation devices and hand paddles are permitted; pull buoys must be no larger than 60cm x 100cm. All participants are provided with a Bali Hope Swimrun race vest and swim cap to wear on race day.
What support is available during the race?
Your safety is our priority. We have dedicated medical staff positioned across both islands, including at aid stations and on motor transport, ready to respond to any health concerns at any point during the race. A thorough race briefing takes place before the start, and all participants sign an event disclaimer confirming they've understood and agreed to the rules.
What insurance do I need?
You'll need personal travel and medical insurance that covers endurance sports for the duration of your time in Bali. This should include hospitalisation, medical care, repatriation, and evacuation if needed. You'll need to provide a copy before the event and sign a waiver at race registration.
Entry Details & Conditions
By completing the application form on this website, you're confirming that you've read and accepted the conditions below. We know this kind of small print isn't the most exciting read — but it's important, so please take a few minutes to go through it.
Age requirement: All participants must be 21 years of age or older at the start of the race. If you're under 21, please get in touch and we'll consider your application individually.
Refunds & Deferral
We're not able to offer refunds, so please make sure you're fully committed before registering.
That said, life happens — and if you need to step back, we'll do our best to be flexible. Your place can be deferred to the following year at no extra cost, provided two conditions are met: you've paid at least 50% of your event fee, and the request is made more than 100 days before the event. If you haven't yet reached the 50% mark, we'll ask you to settle the balance before the deferral is confirmed.
Insurance
This is a road and ocean-based outdoor event that takes place in some of the more remote parts of Bali — and like any endurance event, it carries inherent risk. Participation is entirely voluntary and at your own risk.
Every participant must hold valid personal travel and medical insurance covering endurance sports for the full duration of their time in Bali. Your policy should include cover for trip cancellation, hospitalisation, medical care, repatriation, and emergency evacuation. You'll need to provide a copy of your insurance before the event and sign a waiver at race registration confirming it's in place.
Please note that The Bali Hope Swimrun has no control over the availability or standard of medical and repatriation services in the area, and these do not form part of your contract with us. You are also solely responsible for your own equipment and belongings throughout the event.
We will always do everything we can to run the full course as planned. However, because we operate in a unique outdoor environment, we may occasionally need to make last-minute course changes or, in rare circumstances, cancel or shorten a stage in the interest of safety. Please ensure your insurance covers all eventualities.
Medical Declaration
All participants and staff are required to complete a medical declaration before the event. This information is collected to help us understand any existing or past health conditions so we can properly assess risk and keep everyone safe.
By completing the declaration, you confirm that the information you've provided is accurate to the best of your knowledge, and you accept responsibility for any conditions that are not disclosed or not accurately described. The race organisers and medical team cannot be held liable for any claims arising from non-disclosure.
Group of smiling people in athletic gear on a beach, some kneeling and some standing, with boats and the ocean in the background, celebrating at a swim event.
Two men wearing blue t-shirts, one holding a microphone and speaking, with medals around their necks, at an event with a blue and white banner in the background.
Two men in athletic gear participating in a beach race, one running on the sand and the other emerging from the water, with a woman watching and boats anchored offshore under a partly cloudy sky.
Two men hugging after a race event, one holding a drink. The man facing the camera is smiling, wearing a white shirt with blue and black text that reads "The Bali Hope Swim Run."
Group of young girls and a woman smiling, holding colorful handmade signs and drawings, outdoors under a canopy with trees in the background.
Three athletes wearing blue shirts with 'BALI HOPE' and '2019 SWIMRUN TEAM' written on the back, sitting together indoors during a team event.
Three people smiling at the camera during sunset on a beach, wearing matching blue shirts with event details.
Two male triathlon athletes wearing race bibs and sports gear are having a conversation, with one athlete placing his hand on the other's shoulder. Other people, some wearing hats, are standing in the background on a sunny day.
Two young people smiling and sitting together at a table, wearing matching hats that say 'BALI HOPE'.
A group of people hugging after a swim race, wearing athletic gear and holding a cup, smiling and celebrating.
Group of people practicing meditation outdoors on grass, sitting cross-legged with hands in prayer position, during sunset.
A smiling couple stands on a beach at sunset, with the ocean and rocky shoreline in the background. The woman has long dark hair, a tattoo on her shoulder, and is wearing a white crop top and blue patterned sarong. The man has short dark hair, tattoos on his arm, and is wearing a black T-shirt with event text, wrapped in a light blue sarong.
Group of people standing on a grassy area near the beach, wearing matching black shirts with white text and light blue sarongs, with a thatched-roof hut and ocean in the background.
Three energetic runners, two women and one man, celebrate with raised fists after completing their race, wearing matching 'The Bali Hope Swimrun' shirts. Two other participants and a woman in sunglasses are seen in the background at an outdoor setting with greenery.
Two women hugging beneath a large tree on a sandy area surrounded by lush green plants, with coolers and bags in the background, bathed in warm sunlight.
Two runners wearing athletic gear and purple headbands run along a shaded rural street with lush green trees on both sides in the early morning.
A woman taking a photo of three people by the ocean at sunset, wearing matching black T-shirts and light blue sarongs.
Two women in athletic gear smiling, standing next to each other in a parking garage, holding skateboards, wearing white tank tops with "Astro" and "The Bali Hope" written on them.
Group of women celebrating at the finish line of a marathon, pouring water on each other, with flags and trees in the background.
Group of nine people standing together outdoors, holding a banner that reads 'The 2023 Bali Hope Swimrun', with all wearing athletic gear and smiling after a swimrun event in Bali.
Two smiling marathon runners, a woman and a man, stand side by side outdoors, wearing white tank tops with 'ASTRA' and 'The Bali Hope Swimmer' printed on them. The woman has tattoos on her arms and is holding a pair of goggles, while the man has tattoos on his arm and a slight beard. They are posing with their arms around each other, with motorcycles and a building in the background.
Two women wearing race vests walking through shallow water on a beach, surrounded by greenery and small boats in the background.
A male swimmer exiting the water during a race, wearing a white swim cap with the word 'ASTRA' and goggles, holding a yellow flotation device.
Person in water with boats anchored in the background, searching or wading in a lake or river with hills and mist in the distance.
Two female athletes in black shorts wading through shallow water on a beach, pulling a rope with a buoy, with trees and a kayak in the background.
Group of women wearing sports gear and event bibs, participating in a swim run event called The Bali Hope Swimrun, outdoors on a sunny day.
Two people crossing finish line with arms raised, celebrating, at a swim run event called Bali Hope, while spectators cheer on the side.
A woman in athletic gear and a woman with curly hair and a light blue t-shirt celebrate outdoors, with a woman pouring water over another's head.
