Best Kleftiko Boat Tour in Milos: What to Expect on the Water

• Top choice Kleftiko & Polyaigos from US$185 Duration10 hours^[1]Rated4.82 from 282 reviews^[1]GuideEnglish^[1]RouteSarakiniko, Poliegos, KleftikoFree cancellation24 hours^[1] Check availability
• Guided day cruise from US$152 Duration9.5 hours^[6]Rated4.96 from 781 reviews^[6]GuideEnglish, French, Greek^[6]RouteKlima, Agathia, KleftikoFree cancellation24 hours^[6] See this tour
• Milos & Polyaigos sail from US$144 Duration10 hours^[5]Rated4.92 from 1,913 reviews^[5]GuideGreek, English^[5]RouteSarakiniko, Glaronisia, KleftikoFree cancellation24 hours^[5] See this tour

Why Kleftiko is worth a day on the water

Kleftiko sits at the south-western end of Milos, a jumble of white rock stacks, arches and sea caves that only makes full sense from the water. The name means 'stolen' in Greek, and the story is that pirates used the caves and coves here as a hideout, taking supplies from passing ships and hiding them in the rock.^[11] Cruising in, the cliffs rise sheer from a sea that shifts from turquoise to deep blue within a few boat lengths. Swimming through the arches, with sunlight bouncing off the white stone and no beach to stand on, is the part most people remember long after the ferry home.

The best Kleftiko boat tour for you comes down to how much time you want on the water and how many swim stops you can fit into a single day. Full-day boat trips range from 6-8 hours long and can even go up to 12 depending on the sea conditions.^[12] Half-day cruises cover the headline coastline in a tighter window, which suits families and anyone with an evening plan back in Plaka or Pollonia. Either way, plan for wind, sun and a lot of time in the water, and bring a dry bag so your phone survives the swim stops.

Which Kleftiko boat tour suits you best

Start with the tour booked from this site: Milos Boat Tour, Kleftiko and Polyaigos Swimming With Meals. It runs 10 hours and starts from US$185, and it is rated 4.82 from 282 reviews.^[1] The live guide speaks English.^[1] Across the day the boat works around Klima, Arkoudes, Sarakiniko Beach, Glaronisia, Pollonia, Poliegos, Thiorichia Beach, Gerakas Beach, Kleftiko Caves, Sykia Cave and Vani Beach.^[1] As the name suggests, meals are part of this trip, and it is the longest version of the route on offer here.

Shorter and cheaper alternatives are easy to find. The guided day cruise to Kleftiko takes 9.5 hours and starts from US$152, rated 4.96 from 781 reviews, with a live guide in English, French and Greek.^[6] The full-day sailboat tour to Milos and Polyaigos spends 10 hours on the water from US$144 and is rated 4.92 from 1,913 reviews.^[5] If you would rather not spend a whole day aboard, the half-day speedboat cruise to Kleftiko with snorkeling runs 5 hours from US$155.^[7] A full day is not automatically better: a half day on a fast boat still puts you in the water at Kleftiko, and you are back in time for a late lunch.

White rock arches and sea caves at Kleftiko, seen from the water.

What you actually see along the route

Leaving Adamantas, the first set piece is Sarakiniko Beach, the most well-known shore on Milos and just five kilometres from Plaka.^[13] Its smooth white rock has the look of a frozen moonscape, and from the deck you see why photographers crowd it at sunrise. Further north, Glaronisia is a group of three small uninhabited volcanic islets off the north coast of Milos, and the name means Seagull Islands.^[3] They are famous for hexagonal basalt columns rising straight from the sea, which look man-made until you get close and see the salt staining and the seabirds.

Sikia Cave was once completely covered, until its roof collapsed and left an open top showing the blue Aegean sky.^[2] Boats slip inside when the swell allows, and the echo of the engine against the walls is part of the experience. Then comes Polyaigos, the Aegean Sea's biggest uninhabited island, which is only accessible by boat.^[4] On the way back you pass Klima, about 5 kilometres from the port of Adamas, with its multi-coloured fishing houses sitting right at the waterline.^[14] It is a good moment to put the camera down and watch the island slide past.

Seasons, sea temperature and the Meltemi

Milos's sailing season runs from late spring through early autumn, specifically May through October.^[8] In July to September the Aegean around Milos is 23-26°C (73-79°F), described as ideal temperatures for long swims and snorkeling.^[9] That is warm enough to stay in the water for half an hour without a wetsuit, and clear enough to watch fish move over the rock below you. Early and late in the season the water feels cooler on entry, so a rash vest or a shorty wetsuit earns its place in the bag.

Wind matters as much as sun. The Meltemi is a strong seasonal northerly wind that blows from late spring to early autumn, and it often peaks in July and August.^[15] In the right conditions it creates an ideal sailing breeze for experienced crews, which for passengers usually means a brisk return leg and a little spray over the bow. Captains know this coast well and pick the sheltered side of the island for swim stops when it pipes up. Bring a light windproof layer even in high summer, and if you are prone to seasickness take tablets before you board rather than after.

What a Kleftiko cruise costs

Boat trips to Kleftiko Milos come in several shapes, and prices track boat type and time on the water. The full-day sailboat tour to Milos and Polyaigos starts from US$144.^[5] The guided day cruise to Kleftiko starts from US$152.^[6] The half-day speedboat cruise to Kleftiko with snorkeling starts from US$155.^[7] The Kleftiko and Polyaigos boat tour with meals starts from US$185.^[1] All of these are from-prices for one person, so the exact figure depends on the date and the boat you pick.

Booking terms are friendlier than those price tags suggest. The Kleftiko and Polyaigos tour lets you reserve now and pay later, and you can cancel free up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.^[1] The guided day cruise to Kleftiko carries the same terms, and so does the half-day speedboat cruise.^[6][7] In practice that means you can hold a place on a summer date well ahead and still change your mind if the forecast turns. Compare what each boat serves and lends out before you decide, since a cheaper ticket sometimes means fewer hours in the water.

Practical planning for your day aboard

Boat tours around Milos start from Adamantas, which sits in the centre of the island, and you can walk along the port and see the options for yourself once you arrive.^[10] Starting times for the tours here are not fixed in advance, so check availability to see starting times when you book.^[1] A full day on the water eats most of the daylight, and you will come back salty, hungry and ready for a long dinner in Plaka or Pollonia. Leave the evening free and do not plan a tight connection on the same day you fly or take a ferry out.

Pack as if for a beach day with weather attached: swimwear under your clothes, a towel, reef-safe sun cream, a hat, sunglasses and a light jacket. Water shoes help on pebbly landings and in the caves, and a dry bag keeps a phone alive through the swim stops. Take cash or a card for drinks in port, charge your camera the night before, and if you are prone to seasickness take medication an hour before boarding. The swim stops are the part people talk about afterwards, so leave the phone in the bag and just float.

Kleftiko without a boat, and other ways to see it

You do not need a boat tour to reach Kleftiko. While most visitors experience Kleftiko from the sea, it is also possible to organise your own hike to Kleftiko Beach.^[16] The walk is long, exposed and best started early, with plenty of water, proper shoes and an offline map, because there is no shade and nothing to buy at the end. If you are not confident on rough ground, or you want the caves and arches seen from sea level, a cruise is the easier answer.

On the water there are other ways to do it. A kayaking tour on Milos starts from a kiosk at Fyriplaka beach and paddles east along the volcanic coastline to Tsigrado and Gerakas beach.^[17] Cruises run on sailboats, catamarans and speedboats, in shared or private groups, and confident sailors can hire a boat with or without a skipper for the day.^[18] Whichever route you take, the stretch of coast between Adamantas and Kleftiko is the reason people come back to Milos, and the late afternoon light does most of the work for you.

How to pick your cruise

1. Match the length to your day

   Full-day trips range from 6-8 hours long and can go up to 12 depending on the sea conditions; half-day cruises are shorter.^[12]

2. Start from Adamantas

   Boat tours around Milos start from Adamantas, in the centre of the island, so walk the port and compare boats.^[10]

3. Check the booking terms

   The Kleftiko and Polyaigos tour lets you reserve now and pay later, with free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance.^[1]

4. Plan around the wind

   The Meltemi blows from late spring to early autumn and often peaks in July and August.^[15]

5. Pack for water and sun

   Swimwear, a towel, sun cream, a hat and a light windproof layer; water shoes help on pebble landings.

Common questions