Looking for somewhere different? Sailing in Montenegro could be just the thing. And now might be a good time to visit before it gets spoiled by development.
As yet the yachting infrastructure is fairly limited with just a handful of marinas, but there’s loads to see and with Croatia next door you can sail in two countries in one holiday.
There are some beautiful places to visit and a number of historic sites to explore. The town of Bar claims 30 historic sites alone!
Much of the coast is lined with mountains so for those fit enough to face the climb there are some stunning photos to be had too!
There are of course harbours along the coast for thos that aren’t fans of marinas. I remain to be convinced that a proliferation of marinas is vital to enjoy an area and I fear once the developers really get going the place could soon be over run with flashy characterless bars.
People used to visit Montenegro as part of a charter from Croatia (usually from Dubrovnik). But yachts are now available from Tivat, in northern Montenegro itself.
Tovat has its own ariport, just a few miles away, though at present the only UK flights are from Luton and Heathrow. So it’s not ideal for those UK residents further north.
The alternative solution is to fly in to Dubrovnik which is much better served from the UK. From Dubrovnik to Tivat is a transfer of about 50 miles. It takes about an hour and a half .
If you want to take a boat from Croatia and visit Montenegro from there it is possible. But it’s not a easy as it used to be as you require not one but two certified skippers on board. Sadly, this has lead to the cancellation of a couple of flotillas that used to include Montenegro.
The main limitation is simply that it is not a very large sailing area. There are a number of places to stop in the Gulf of Kotor. But further south, options are limited and you will need at least one 30 mile day if you want to avoid duplicating stops you made on the way south.
The good news is the mooring fees are a fair bit less than Croatia, though more than in Greece and Turkey. For a week it’s well worth a visit, but I think you will struggle to fill a fortnight.
For more on the different destinations to visit, use the map here. Click on the balloons and follow the links to write ups on different ports, be they marinas, harbours, or anchorages.
To get a feel of the area, take a look at the pictures on this page: Montenegro: Gallery