The apiaries
The name is the plural of miġbħa, an apiary - a reminder of the beekeeping landscape that once characterised Selmun.
Malta · Kayaking
St Paul's Islands
St Paul's Islands
From Mistra via Mġiebaħ
A north-east coast paddle from Mistra to the quieter water of Mġiebaħ, then out beneath the limestone cliffs to St Paul's Islands before returning to the bay.
This route links two very different corners of Selmun: the tucked-away bay of Mġiebaħ and the exposed limestone of St Paul's Islands.
Mistra is the launch point and the hinge of the route. Paddle north-west first towards Mġiebaħ, where the coastline feels quieter and more enclosed, before turning back past Mistra and following the shore towards the islands.
The second half opens up beneath Rdum il-Bież. St Paul's Islands sit just offshore, low and bare against the horizon, with the statue of the apostle marking the higher part of the island.
It is not a huge-distance paddle, but the route packs in sheltered bays, exposed headlands, a short open-water crossing and one of Malta's most recognisable offshore landmarks.
Why this route stands out
Mġiebaħ gives the route its quiet coastal half; St Paul's Islands give it the sense of destination.
Place names
Names written into the coast
Mġiebaħ, Selmunett and Tal-Barba Marku carry traces of farming, family names and a story of escape at sea.
The older island name
Historic maps used forms of Salomone and Salomonetto for the Selmun area and the islands. In Maltese, the smaller form became Selmunett.
A corsair story
One traditional name recalls Marco di Maria, who in 1576 is said to have escaped pursuing corsairs through the shallow channel by the islands, where the larger vessel ran aground.
Kayak profile
- Distance
- 10.1 km · 6.25 mi
- Time
- Allow 3–4 hours with stops
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Exposure
- Sheltered bays · cliff coast · short open crossing
- Key stops
- Il-Blata l-Bajda · Għajn Ħadid · Mġiebaħ · St Paul's Islands
- Best conditions
- Light wind · low swell · good visibility
The route
Selmun and beyond
Launch from Mistra, pass the pale shore platform of Il-Blata l-Bajda, then continue along the Selmun coast to Għajn Ħadid and Mġiebaħ before heading out to St Paul's Islands and returning to Mistra.
Mistra > Il-Blata l-Bajda > Għajn Ħadid > Mġiebaħ > St Paul's Islands > Mistra
The main sections of the recorded route.
10.1 km · coastal loop
01
LaunchMistra
02
Shore platformIl-Blata l-Bajda
03
Selmun coastGħajn Ħadid
04
Bay stopMġiebaħ
05
Island stopSt Paul's Islands
06
ReturnMistra
Exploring the coast of Selmun and beyond.
Start beneath the Selmun coast
Launch from Mistra towards Il-Blata l-Bajda, where motocross and dirt bikes cut across the exposed slopes above. Beyond, Rdum il-Bież gives the Selmun coast its most dramatic cliff line.
Follow the broken shoreline
Continue along Selmun towards Għajn Ħadid, staying close enough to read the coast while giving exposed rocks and any rebound room.
Continue into the quieter bay
Paddle on towards Mġiebaħ, where the coast becomes more enclosed and the route reaches its first real bay stop.
Turn towards the offshore landmark
Leave Mġiebaħ and follow the coast back past Mistra towards the more exposed water beneath Rdum il-Bież, then commit to the crossing towards St Paul's Islands.
Land and explore
Beach the kayak when conditions allow, secure it above the wash and take time to explore the island before returning to the water.
Cross back to the launch
Leave Selmunett behind and paddle back towards Mistra, finishing inside the shelter of the bay.
Practical guide
Plan for two coastlines and one exposed crossing
Mistra and Mġiebaħ can feel protected while the water off Rdum il-Bież and around the islands is doing something very different.
Choose a topic
Launch & access
Mistra gives the route a simple launch and a natural midpoint.
10.1 km loop
- Launch from Mistra clear of swimmers, moorings and boats.
- Do the Mġiebaħ leg first if that is your planned route order.
- Use the return to Mistra as a deliberate conditions check before the island leg.
- Treat the Wikiloc track as a route reference, not a line that must be followed regardless of sea state.
Sea conditions
The exposed section matters more than the sheltered launch.
Wind + swell + boats
- Check the forecast for the coast beyond Mistra, not only conditions inside the bay.
- Expect more wind and rebound beneath the cliffs around Rdum il-Bież.
- Assess the crossing to St Paul's Islands before leaving the mainland coast.
- Give fishing craft and other boats a wide, predictable berth.
- If the island leg looks marginal, Mġiebaħ still makes a worthwhile shorter paddle.
The advantage of this route is that Mistra gives you a natural decision point before the crossing.
When to go
Choose the sea state first, then the season.
Earlier is better
- Early starts often mean lighter winds and less boat activity.
- Allow time to stop at Mġiebaħ and on the islands without rushing the return.
- Spring and autumn can be excellent on settled days.
- In summer, factor in heat, glare and heavier recreational traffic.
- Keep enough daylight in reserve for the final paddle back into Mistra.
What to bring
Pack for open water even though much of the route hugs the coast.
Water-ready kit
- Properly fitted buoyancy aid or life jacket.
- Water, food, sun protection and suitable footwear for a rocky landing.
- Dry bag or waterproof phone case secured to the kayak.
- Whistle and basic first-aid kit.
- Navigation backup and a charged phone.
- Mask and snorkel if conditions and time allow.
Route photo log
The paddle in photographs
From Mistra through Il-Blata l-Bajda and Għajn Ħadid to Mġiebaħ, following the coast in route order.
Video log
The route in motion
Mistra → Rdum il-Bież → Il-Blata l-Bajda → Għajn Ħadid → Mġiebaħ.
MistraLeaving Mistra
Rdum il-BieżFirst view of Bież and St Paul’s Islands
Il-Blata l-BajdaAlong Il-Blata l-Bajda
Il-Blata l-BajdaThe natural arch
Il-Blata l-BajdaBeyond Il-Blata l-Bajda
Għajn ĦadidApproaching Għajn Ħadid Beach
Għajn ĦadidLanding at Għajn Ħadid Beach
Għajn ĦadidMore of Għajn Ħadid
MġiebaħMġiebaħ Bay
MġiebaħLanding at Mġiebaħ Bay
On the land
Leave the kayak for a while
The island stop is worth more than a quick beaching. Once the kayak is secure, Selmunett becomes a short walk through a small but surprisingly layered piece of Maltese history.
From the water, the statue is the landmark. On foot, the island feels rougher, quieter and much more exposed than it first appears.
Tradition links these islands with St Paul’s shipwreck in around AD 60, although the exact location of the wreck is not archaeologically certain. The association is what gave the islands their modern identity and eventually their most recognisable monument.
There are no facilities here. The reward is simply the island itself: weathered limestone, low vegetation, open views towards Selmun and St Paul’s Bay, and a sense of separation from the mainland despite how close it is.
The statue of St Paul
The stone statue was erected in 1844 and inaugurated and blessed on 21 September 1845. Sculptors Sigismondo Dimech and Salvatore Dimech show Paul with a book in one hand and the other raised above the sea.
A tower turned farmhouse
The island also holds the remains of a Lascaris-period tower that was later adapted as a farmhouse. A farmer, Vincenzo Borg, lived here until shortly before the Second World War; the abandoned structure survives only as a ruin.
Walk the limestone ridge
Follow the rough ground beyond the landing and take in the narrow shape of Selmunett. A shallow saddle can visually split it into two islets, which is why the name is often written in the plural as St Paul’s Islands.
One island or two?
St Paul's Island is joined across a very shallow isthmus. When the sea level rises enough to cover that low connection, the land splits into two: the larger western part remains St Paul's Island, while the smaller eastern part is known as Quartz Island. It is also why you will often see the name written in the plural as St Paul's Islands.
Island photo log
St Paul’s Island on foot
The landmarks, trail, ruins, Quartz Island and views back towards the Selmun coast.
From the kayak
Two bays, one island and a route that keeps changing character.
The appeal here is the contrast. Mġiebaħ feels tucked away beneath Selmun, while the second half turns towards open cliffs and an offshore destination.
That makes Mistra more than a launch point. Passing it again between the two halves gives you a useful moment to decide whether the sea still suits the island crossing.
St Paul's Islands are close enough to feel attainable but far enough offshore to change the mood of the paddle. Once you land and look back towards the Maltese coast, the route feels much bigger than the distance suggests.
For a relatively compact north-coast route, it feels unusually complete: bay paddling, limestone cliffs, open water and an island landing all fit into the same loop.
Final take
Use Mistra as the doorway to both Selmun and the islands.
This route works because it is more than an out-and-back: Mġiebaħ, the cliff coast and St Paul's Islands each give the paddle a different sense of place.
Route context & further reading
The recorded route and historical context for the coast around Mistra, Selmun and St Paul's Islands.