In winter the Budva Riviera feels like a different place. The boat traffic is gone, the air is clear and the sea is usually calm. That’s when we take sea kayaks out for a coastal mini-expedition: a half-day loop from Budva to St Nicholas Island and back.

We start from Slovenska Plaža, paddle along the Old Town walls and continue towards the coastal caves. Depending on conditions, we pass through a tunnel-like Pigeon Cave and other low sea passages, staying close to the cliffs and hidden coves.

The second part of the route is dedicated to St Nicholas Island: the Crusaders’ church and St Sava’s shoal. We land near a small medieval chapel, have a short snack break and touch on the island’s legends. Then we follow the rocky shoreline under the so-called Lovers’ Arch and around the lighthouse at the far tip of the island, before turning back towards Budva.