GO Milina – Alatas

The narrow silhouette of Alatas stretches across the Pagasetic Gulf. GO Milina – Alatas is an open water swimming race held in the sea off the coastal village of Milina, in the South Pelion region of Thessaly in Greece. Organized by myathlete and GO!, the event takes place in late September along the peaceful waterfront of the village. Swimmers can select from three courses measuring 1,500, 3,000, and 8,500 meters, allowing both seasoned marathoners and shorter-distance racers to test their stroke in open water. To ensure high safety standards across every course, the use of an individual swimming tow buoy is mandatory for all participants. Swimmers must be at least 18 years old to enter, though younger athletes can also take the start line provided they present a signed declaration from a parent or guardian.

Every entrant receives an official race kit complete with an electronic timing chip, a commemorative swim cap, an event t-shirt, energy gels, and a finisher medal upon crossing the line. The premier challenge of the weekend is the 8.5-kilometer Alatas-Aquaman distance, an endurance marathon swim. This long-distance category was established to honor the memory of the pioneering Volos ultra-athlete Iason Zirganos. Zirganos was a Greek swimmer known for his successful crossing of the English Channel. On the Saturday evening before race day, swimmers, organizers, and local volunteers come together for the pre-race Pasta GO Party. Gathering as one large group to share bowls of pasta, participants review race strategies, compare notes on sighting marks, and enjoy the tranquil evening breeze of South Pelion.

Editions since the first Milina–Alatas meeting and the Alatas lap

The first GO Milina – Alatas meeting drew swimmers from all over Greece and abroad. That first meeting offered 2 km and 5 km swims, plus a special Aquaman 10K category over 10,000 metres for swimmers who wanted to test their endurance. The second edition of GO Milina – Alatas was scheduled for Sunday 14 September 2025. In 2025 the Alatas – Aquaman category went around the island of Alatas, swimming along its perimeter between rocky shores and green water. The 2025 time limits were four hours for the Alatas – Aquaman swim, one hour and thirty minutes for the 3 km and 45 minutes for the 1.5 km.

The Pagasetic Gulf: calm waters inside the Trikeri gate

The distinct atmosphere of the swim is defined by the geography of the Pagasetic Gulf. This semi-enclosed sea basin spans an area of approximately 175 square kilometers, cradled between the Greek mainland and the curving arc of the Pelion peninsula. With a maximum depth of 101 meters, it is a relatively shallow body of water. These hydrographic conditions shield the inner waters from turbulent deep-ocean currents, producing gentle conditions where swimmers can settle into an uninterrupted, rhythmic stroke. The open sea enters the gulf through a single narrow portal situated between Cape Trikeri in Magnesia and Cape Stavros in Fthiotida. This strait measures only four kilometers across, constricting maritime swells before they can reach the inner anchorages. A historic stone lighthouse stands at Trikeri, guiding vessels through the passage.

Alatas and Glaronisi: olive groves and the 1822 battle

The landmark at the heart of the event is Alatas, a low, elongated islet resting in the southeastern sector of the Pagasetic Gulf. Its long backbone is blanketed almost entirely in silver-green olive groves that slope down to meet the saltwater. The name Alatas originates from the historic salt pans that once operated along the opposite mainland coast, where local workers harvested sea salt from the shallow coastal brine. While the islet presents a serene and tranquil presence today, it preserves a proud historical heritage. In 1822, during the Greek War of Independence, a deadly battle unfolded across Alatas between Greek revolutionary fighters and Turko-Albanian forces, resulting in a momentous Greek victory.

Gliding across the surface of the channel today, swimmers trace waters that once bore witness to this pivotal struggle for Greek freedom. Just west of Alatas lies Glaronisi, a small rocky islet tucked close against the coast of the Magnesia peninsula, forming an additional geographic punctuation mark in this sheltered arm of the gulf.

Cape Trikeri and Pythou: Homeric ports and submerged wrecks

At Chondri Ammos, in a bay facing across to the coast of Euboea, researchers place one of the two historic harbors of ancient Olizon. Olizon holds a storied place in classical antiquity, recorded in the Homeric epics against Troy. Further out toward the mouth of the gulf lies Paleo Trikeri, an island situated off the end of the Pelion peninsula. Known in the ancient world as Cicynethus, it operated as a self-governing city-state of Magnesia. Northwest of Paleo Trikeri, out near the main navigational gateway of the gulf, sits the low islet of Pythou, encompassing an area of 0.176 square kilometers. Pythou is flanked at its southwestern point by the companion rocky outcrop of Psathou.

From Paou to Mikro: pebble coves and Pelion beaches

Inside Limnionas Bay, Marathias beach forms the northeastern curve of an open bay stretching 1.7 kilometers along the shoreline. The beach itself is 200 meters long and 10 meters wide, facing northwest toward the interior of the gulf. Both its shoreline and its seabed are formed of smooth pebbles that keep the water clear as you wade in. Just opposite Marathias, the small uninhabited island of Prasouda rises from the waters of Limnionas Bay, covering seven stremmata and carpeted in fragrant Mediterranean maquis shrubs. Heading north along the eastern shoreline of the gulf brings you to Paou, a quiet coastal cove where pale pebbles contrast with turquoise sea. For a transition to the Aegean side of the peninsula, a brief trip eastward leads to the beach settlement of Mikro.

Mikro features an expanse of golden sand fronting the Aegean Sea, flanked by cafes, bars, and rented sun loungers where swimmers can rest weary shoulders. A traditional coastal footpath of roughly 800 meters connects Mikro to the adjacent seaside village of Platanias. Down at the southern edge of the peninsula, Kastri sits at an altitude of 24 meters south of the Skiathos channel, looking out across the open sea. With its bright white sand, crystal-clear water, and sweeping eastward views toward the island of Skiathos, it provides an idyllic Pelion vantage point.