A Family Gulet Cruise in Montenegro

By Rhonda Carrier

We’re in the shimmering Bay of Kotor, diving, swimming, snorkelling, paddle-boarding and kayaking from our boat, a traditional wooden Turkish gulet aboard which we’ve been weaving our way between the inlet’s smattering of rocky islets, sprinkled with old convents, domed churches, and the occasional luxury hotel (Mamula Island and the iconic Aman Sveti Stefan, which was indefinitely closed at the time of writing).

‘At one point we even got the chance to help the captain catch fish from the bay for our lunch, while as we moored in the fishing village of Bigova to eat at a local taverna, local kids playing in the water dangled from our ropes.'

A boutique cruise like this, on a boat sleeping just 12 guests in total, plus four crew, is to my mind the best way of seeing the highlights of Montenegro’s northern coastline. Over the course of a week-long cruise we have plenty of time to chill onboard as the boat putters between its various stop-off points, to get active in the various bays in which we drop anchor, and to explore ashore – it's the perfect blend of relaxation, sportiness and culture.

My personal favourite spot is probably bewitching Perast, which has just one main street but 17 old Venetian palazzi and 16 churches, many of them now enigmatic ruins. For kids, Herceg Novi wins out with its old Spanish fortress, Kanli Kula – it has an amphitheatre to rampage around, complete with glorious bay views.

You’ll also get chance to roam around Kotor’s UNESCO-listed walled Old Town (busy but also fairytale-like); some kids relish the challenge of climbing the 1,350 steps up to its hilltop fortress and cable car serving the Lovćen National Park with its hiking, zip-lining, cycling/e-biking, and Alpine Coaster, a 40km/h two-person ride down the mountains, with spectacular Bay of Kotor vistas.

We loved the adventure of living on the boat for a week; our one reservation would be that it can get very hot in the cabins, as the air-conditioning generally can’t be kept on the whole time. So the best time for a Montenegro gulet cruise with kids is early or late in the season – perhaps May half term or October.

Clearly, for peace of mind you also want your children to competent swimmers, and with very young kids you might feel you have to spend too much time keeping watch on them to fully appreciate this type of holiday. But this is a great recommendation for a holiday with teens, albeit one not guaranteed to have any other kids onboard. For that, you’d want to look into us booking you a private charter with family or friends.

Kids in Bigova Harbour

Some meals are enjoyed sociably on the boat; at one point we even got the chance to help the captain catch fish from the bay for our lunch. The food is a Mediterranean mix with a strong leaning towards delicious, freshly prepared Turkish recipes, as most of the crew on our sailing, including the chef, are from Turkey. 

At other mealtimes, you can dine in local tavernas – we spent a delightful evening feasting on super-local seafood in the fishing village of Bigova, where local kids playing in the water dangled from our ropes as the crew fixed our moorings.

Still relatively under the radar, Montenegro is a lovely alternative to Greece or Croatia, with oodles of natural beauty, thrilling outdoors activities, and fascinating history and culture. And these are all within easy reach of one another, since Montenegro is only half the size of Wales.

This means you can explore the sun-drenched Adriatic coastline, either on a gulet cruise or via a stay at a classic beach resort with further water sports – or both – then head off into the mountains.

We savour a stay at the Chedi in the contemporary Luštica Bay development, which is also set to get Montenegro's first golf course as well as a further clutch of luxury hotels. The development has a kids’ club (beneath but not officially part of the Chedi), local activities including biking, diving, sailing and other water sports, a lighthouse with jazzy projections on it by night, and a string of waterside bars and restaurants with alfresco terraces for dining out under the stars. The Chedi itself runs the likes of yoga and fitness sessions and also has a tempting spa.

It’s not far from Tivat airport, which has direct seasonal flights from the UK, and from Tivat’s Porto Montenegro – the luxury marina resort from which your gulet will depart, lined by superyachts and great for people-watching. Its Maritime Heritage Museum is a good place for all ages to immerse themselves in some of Montenegro’s turbulent history, with some huge submarines outdoors.

After the coast, or before it, head into Montenegro’s rugged mountains with their epic landscapes of glacial lakes, rivers and lush forests, where activities can include white-water rafting, off-road safaris, walking, cycling, zip-wiring, orienteering and more, as well as winery visits. 

Among the top spots are Lake Skadar in the national park of the same name, where you might spot endangered otters and Dalmatian pelicans; Biogradska Gora National Park, home to one of Europe's oldest forests; Kolasin ski resort (also fab for hiking in summer) and the nearby Komovi Mountains; and the Tara River Gorge (one of the deepest on Earth) and  wild Durmitor Mountains in the UNESCO-listed Durmitor National Park.

Our family travel experts can tailor-make you a family adventure in Montenegro; we have partnerships with operators running Montenegro family activity holidays blending coast and countryside, and we can add a family gulet cruise onto either end of your stay. We can also add a stay in a luxury Montenegro family hotel such as the Chedi Luštica Bay. UK to Montenegro flights will also be included.

Call us now on 020 3633 0653 or fill in an enquiry form, or see our other adventure cruises for families.