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 Selmun route built around two bays and an island
This route links quiet Mġiebaħ with the exposed limestone of St Paul's Islands.
Mistra is the launch and hinge of the route. Paddle first towards quieter Mġiebaħ, then return past Mistra and follow the coast beneath Rdum il-Bież towards the islands.
The loop combines sheltered bays, exposed headlands, a short open-water crossing and one of Malta's most recognisable offshore landmarks.
Kayak profile
- Start
- Mistra Bay · Malta
- Route type
- Coastal loop + island stop
- 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
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.
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 > Mġiebaħ > St Paul's Islands > Back
Mistra > Il-Blata l-Bajda > Għajn Ħadid > Mġiebaħ > St Paul's Islands > Mistra
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
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
Plan 01
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.
Plan 02
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.
Plan 03
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.
Plan 04
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 dominates. On foot, the island feels rougher, quieter and more exposed.
Tradition links the islands with St Paul’s shipwreck around AD 60, although the exact wreck site remains uncertain. That association shaped their modern identity and monument.
There are no facilities - only weathered limestone, low vegetation and open views towards Selmun and St Paul’s Bay.
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.
Route context & further reading
Geographical and historical context for the coast around Mistra, Selmun and St Paul's Islands.