The main points
- A morning catamaran cruise from Milos to Kleftiko: 6 hours, a live guide in Greek and English, and free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure.[1]
- Boats for Kleftiko and Polyaigos leave from Adamantas, the port town in the centre of Milos, where you can walk the quay and compare what is on offer.[2]
- Kleftiko means stolen in Greek, a name it earned as a pirate hideout where loot from passing ships was hidden in its caves and coves.[3]
- Milos's sailing season runs from May through October, and the Aegean is 23-26°C (73-79°F) in July to September, described as ideal for long swims and snorkeling.[4][5]
- Polyaigos is the Aegean Sea's biggest uninhabited island, and full day cruises that pair it with Kleftiko are among the longer trips from Milos.[6][7]
| Morning catamaran | Full-day sailboat | Half-day speedboat | |
|---|---|---|---|
| From | from US$179[1] | from US$144[7] | from US$155[8] |
| Duration | 6 hours[1] | 10 hours[7] | 5 hours[8] |
| Live guide | Greek and English[1] | Greek and English[7] | English[8] |
| Rating | 4.78 from 397 reviews[1] | 4.92 from 1,913 reviews[7] | 4.93 from 648 reviews[8] |
| Cancellation | Up to 24 hours in advance[1] | Up to 24 hours in advance[7] | Up to 24 hours in advance[8] |
Sikia Cave was once completely covered, but at some point in the past, the roof collapsed. The end result is a stunning cave with an open top showing the blue Aegean sky.
Why we pick the morning Kleftiko catamaran
Check before booking
Why Kleftiko is worth a boat day
Kleftiko sits at the south west corner of Milos, where pale volcanic rock has been carved by wind and waves into arches, stacks and caves that open straight onto deep water. There is no road down to the shore and the cliffs fall almost vertically into the sea, so most visitors arrive by sea, though it is also possible to hike there on your own.[9] From the deck you look back at a wall of white rock above water so clear that the boat seems to hover over the seabed.
The name carries the history. Kleftiko means stolen in Greek, and the cove served as a pirate hideout where supplies taken from passing ships were hidden in its caves and coves.[3] The rock is layered ash and lava, riddled with tunnels, shallow caverns and swim throughs, and the water inside them often stays glassy even when the open sea is choppy. Swallows and gulls wheel around the stacks, and the colour of the water shifts from pale turquoise over sand to deep ink blue over rock as the boat moves along the coast.
Catamaran or sailboat: which suits you
A catamaran gives you a broad, stable platform, plenty of deck to spread out on, shade if there is a canopy over the cockpit, and easy steps down into the water for swimming. A monohull sailing boat heels with the wind, moves more quietly under sail, and feels smaller and more traditional. Neither is better than the other. If you get seasick or you plan to spend most of the day in the water, the catamaran is usually the easier ride. If the point of the day for you is the sailing itself, look for a monohull.
Trip lengths vary more than people expect. Full day boat trips on Milos range from 6-8 hours and can even go up to 12 depending on the sea conditions.[10] The morning catamaran cruise to Kleftiko is listed at 6 hours with a live guide in Greek and English.[1] A full day sailboat tour that adds Polyaigos is 10 hours.[7] The half day speedboat run, which takes in Sykia Cave, Kleftiko and Agathia beach, is 5 hours.[8]
Some travellers come looking for a sailing tour Milos Kleftiko style, with the sails up and the engine off. Others simply want to be in the water at the caves as early as possible. A morning catamaran is the simplest answer to the second wish, and it leaves the afternoon free for the rest of the island.
White rock stacks above clear water off Milos.
The morning catamaran cruise to Kleftiko
The Milos: Half-Day Morning Catamaran Cruise to Kleftiko is the trip we would book first. It is listed from US$179 and runs 6 hours with a live guide who speaks Greek and English.[1] On GetYourGuide it is rated 4.78 from 397 reviews.[1] You can reserve now and pay later, and free cancellation applies up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.[1]
Leaving in the morning is the practical part. The boat is out before the day heats up, the light on the west coast rock is at its best in the first half of the day, and you are back in port with time to swim somewhere else, wander the lanes of Plaka, or sit down to a late lunch. Starting times are confirmed when you check availability, and boats for this coast start from Adamantas, in the centre of the island.[2]
Who it suits: anyone on a short stay who wants the caves without giving up a whole day, families who would rather be back before the afternoon wind builds, and swimmers who want to be in the water rather than on it. If you want Polyaigos and the north coast in the same outing, look at the full day boats instead.
Polyaigos, Sikia Cave and the volcanic islets
Kleftiko is rarely the whole story. Polyaigos is the Aegean Sea's biggest uninhabited island, and it appears on the route of full day cruises from Milos.[6][7] Sikia Cave was once completely covered, but at some point in the past its roof collapsed, leaving an open top that shows the blue Aegean sky.[11] North of the island, Glaronisia is a group of three small uninhabited volcanic islets whose name means Seagull Islands, famous for hexagonal basalt columns rising straight from the sea.[12]
Each stop has its own mood. Polyaigos is bare, bright and quiet, with beaches that few people ever walk on. Sikia is a cool, shadowed room with a hole in the ceiling and water that glows green in the light. Glaronisia is a slow pass by boat to look at the columns and the seabirds wheeling above them. If you want all of it in one day, choose a full day sailing or catamaran loop; the shorter half day trips concentrate on the caves around Kleftiko.
from US$179
The half-day morning catamaran cruise to Kleftiko runs 6 hours with a live guide in Greek and English.[1]
What a day on the water looks like
Mornings begin at Adamantas, which sits in the centre of Milos and is where boat tours around the island start.[2] As you leave the bay you pass Klima, about 5 kilometres from the port of Adamas, known for its multi coloured fishing houses at the water's edge.[13] Further along sits Sarakiniko Beach, the island's most well-known shore, five kilometres from Plaka, where white rock has been scoured into smooth, moonlike curves.[14]
Then the coastline changes character. The pale pumice gives way to darker volcanic rock, the cliffs grow taller, and the anchor drops at the first swimming stop. People float, snorkel, dive off the stern or sit with their legs over the side. Lunch is usually served at anchor with the boat rocking gently, and there is a slow, sunny lull in the middle of the day before the run home.
Afternoon winds are part of the rhythm on this coast, so many boats head back with the swell behind them. You come into Adamantas in the late afternoon, sunburnt and salty, with the whole evening still ahead of you. If you have booked a morning departure, that is the trade: an early start for a free afternoon.
When to go and what the sea is like
Milos's sailing season runs from late spring through early autumn, specifically May through October.[4] Around the island, the Aegean Sea in July to September is 23-26°C (73-79°F), described as ideal temperatures for long swims and snorkeling.[5] That is warm enough to stay in for half an hour without thinking about it.
The Meltemi is the wind to know about: a strong seasonal northerly that blows from late spring to early autumn and often peaks in July and August, and which in the right conditions creates an ideal sailing breeze for experienced crews.[15] For passengers it mostly means a light windproof layer, a firm grip on your hat, and a little spray on the way home.
Late spring and early autumn are quieter on the quay and easier to book at short notice, and the sea is still swimmable. High summer brings the warmest water and the busiest harbour, so if your dates are fixed, reserve early and keep the first morning of your stay free for the boat.
Prices, alternatives and how to book
Prices for Kleftiko boat trips from Milos sit in a narrow band. A half day speedboat cruise to the caves with snorkeling is from US$155.[8] A full day Milos and Polyaigos sailboat tour is from US$144.[7] The full day Kleftiko and Polyaigos boat tour with meals is from US$185.[16] Paying more usually buys a longer day and more stops rather than a different coastline; the caves are the same caves.
Book the morning catamaran if you want Kleftiko without losing a day. Reserve now and pay later is offered on the listing, and free cancellation runs up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund, so a change of plan does not have to be expensive.[1]
Two final practical notes. Take cash for small harbour cafes and a dry bag for your phone, and remember that a morning departure means an early alarm: the boat will not wait.
How long Kleftiko boat trips last
Durations are as listed for each tour: half day speedboat[8], morning catamaran[1], Kleftiko sailboat[17] and Polyaigos sailboat[7].
Kleftiko trips compared by from-price
From-prices in US dollars for each listing.[1][7][8][17]
When to book your Kleftiko trip
Plan your Kleftiko day
Book the morning slot
Morning departures leave the afternoon open, and free cancellation runs up to 24 hours before you sail.[1]
Get to Adamantas early
Boats for Kleftiko leave from Adamantas, in the centre of Milos, so arrive with time to find the quay.[2]
Wear the right things
Deck shoes with grip, a swimsuit under your clothes, a light windproof layer and a towel cover most days.
Save energy for swimming
In July to September the sea sits at 23-26°C (73-79°F), comfortable for long snorkeling stops.[5]
Keep the afternoon free
The morning catamaran cruise is 6 hours, so keep the rest of the day light: a late lunch or an evening in Plaka.[1]
Swim the caves of Kleftiko on a morning catamaran
from US$179
