A Kleftiko boat tour Milos visitors book sails to the white rock arches and sea caves on the south-west coast, an old pirate hideout reached only from the water. It sits beside the other Greece tours on this site.
Here we cover the departure ports, the boat types, the swim stops and meals on board, plus what to pack for a Kleftiko boat tour Milos trip.
What is a Kleftiko boat tour Milos visitors book?
A Kleftiko boat tour Milos visitors book is a sea trip to Kleftiko, on the island’s west side. Trips start at a Milos port and last from 3.5 hours to 8 hours. The group can be shared, semi-private or private.
Milos lies at the south-western end of the Cyclades. Local companies run daily departures to Kleftiko. Each Kleftiko boat tour Milos company sells has its own start time, length and group size.
Zefiros and Delfinia call their short trips half-day tours. Delfinia lists 3.5 hours, and Zefiros runs two 4-hour trips each day. The longer sailings fill the day, and the listings show 5 hours, 5.5 hours, 7 hours and 8 hours. Pick the length that fits your plans.
Group size differs between operators. Polco takes up to 12 passengers on its Kleftiko cruises, and it lists ages 2 and up. Zefiros plans for up to 118 people on one boat. Read the group size before you book a Kleftiko boat tour Milos listing.
Listings also sell semi-private cruises, with morning and sunset options on one yacht tour. A sailboat cruise adds a private option. The sailboat cruise and the yacht tour both run in English and Greek. Polco says its crew speak English, Spanish, French and Italian.
Booking notice differs too. The sailboat cruise needs 2 hours of notice, the yacht tour 4 hours and the semi-private sailing tour 10 hours. Check the notice time before you plan a Kleftiko boat tour Milos day.
Where on Milos do the boats leave from?
A Kleftiko boat tour Milos companies run leaves from Adamas, Pollonia or Agia Kyriaki. Adamas is the harbour town where the ferries land. Pollonia is the second harbour of the island, and Agia Kyriaki is a port on the south coast.
Adamas is the start for the Polco Kleftiko cruises, which leave at 10:00. Guests meet at the Polco location 30 minutes before departure. Polco says its departure time is strict, and late guests are not admitted on board.
The Polco boats lie no more than 100 to 200 metres from the ferry pier. So a Kleftiko boat tour Milos skippers start at Adamas is a short walk from the ferry. Arriving by plane means a taxi ride of about 10 minutes to the port.
Three other listings for a Kleftiko boat tour Milos also name Adamas as the start. They are a semi-private sailing day trip, a semi-private sailboat tour and a catamaran cruise.
Pollonia, also called Apollonia, is a seaside village in the north-east of Milos. One listed sailboat cruise to Kleftiko Bay starts there. The booking page shows a pickup option for that cruise, and the catamaran cruise from Adamas shows the same option.
Agia Kyriaki has a beach with sunbeds and umbrellas, and tavernas stand at the port. Zefiros sends its half-day trips from there at 10:00 and at 15:00, and each trip runs for 4 hours.
One visitor booked a private tour and drove from the hotel to the port, where the skipper waited. The drive took longer than planned, so plan the road before any Kleftiko boat tour Milos departure.
What will you see at the Kleftiko sea caves and rock arches?
A Kleftiko boat tour Milos visitors book shows tall gray and white rocks rising from the sea. Caves and arches are cut into them. The water is clear and turquoise, which suits swimming and snorkeling.
The rocks are of volcanic origin. Strong wind and waves have shaped them over thousands of years into three small bays. Because of that shape, the place has a second name, Meteora of the Sea. The clear water also lets swimmers watch the marine life of the Aegean Sea.
Wind and sea carved caves and pits into the rocks over the centuries. On a Kleftiko boat tour Milos crews run, you reach these caves by small boat or by swimming. Polco’s catamaran anchors in front of the caves during the stop.
Rock arches are the other draw. On a Kleftiko boat tour Milos swimmers can float around the rocks and under the arches, as one traveller did. That traveller wrote that the white rocks make a strong contrast with the blue sea and sky.
Do not expect a sandy beach at Kleftiko. Huge rocks fill the view, and sand is scarce. Greeka calls the area a great complex of sea caves.
One Kleftiko boat tour Milos offers takes guests into the caves by dinghy and stops for pictures. The operator’s photo gallery names a Blue cave in Kleftiko. Another tour adds a snorkeling tour inside the sea caves.
How much time do you get to swim and snorkel at Kleftiko?
Time at Kleftiko depends on the cruise. A west Milos catamaran cruise anchors for about two hours. A cruise around Milos and Poliegos stops for about one hour. Check stop times before you pick a Kleftiko boat tour Milos operators sell.
On the west Milos cruise, Kleftiko is the longest stop of the day. The two stops before it last about 20 minutes and about one hour. This Kleftiko boat tour Milos plan keeps the biggest block of time for the rocks and caves. Guests snorkel, swim and try stand-up paddling there, and the equipment is on board.
A Kleftiko boat tour Milos operators build around the whole island gives less time at the rocks. The Milos and Poliegos cruise is one example. The boat stops for about one hour. Polco says that gives time to swim and snorkel through the caves and try a stand-up paddleboard.
Shorter options exist, and every Kleftiko boat tour Milos lists has its own length. One sailboat cruise lasts 5.5 hours in total. It lists swimming, snorkeling and paddleboarding in turquoise waters. A small-group yacht tour lasts 5 hours in total and has morning and sunset options. Ask how long the boat stays at Kleftiko.
Snorkeling gear is ready on board. Polco gives guests masks and flippers, adds tips on what to do, and then lets them swim and explore. Guests can bring their own mask and flippers too. One reviewer on Greeka urged visitors to pack a snorkeling mask.
A Kleftiko boat tour Milos crew like Polco also films the day with an underwater GoPro. The photos and videos arrive at the end of the cruise.
Which other stops does a Kleftiko boat tour Milos route add?
A Kleftiko boat tour Milos route adds stops beyond the bay. Longer trips add Polyaigos island, and shorter ones add coves such as Sykia, Kalogries and Gerakas Bay. Each tour lists its own stops, so check the list before you book.
The longest cruises pair Kleftiko with Polyaigos. One catamaran cruise lasts 9 to 10.5 hours, and a full-day sailboat tour lasts 9 hours. Polyaigos is an uninhabited island, 6.2 kilometres from Milos. A Kleftiko boat tour Milos visitors book with Polyaigos on the list fills a full day.
Other trips add stops along the Milos coast. One catamaran route adds Sykia and Klima, with a morning or sunset departure. A half-day morning cruise adds the remote beach of Kalogries on the wild west side. A Kleftiko boat tour Milos yacht cruise of five hours lists Sarakiniko and Polyaigos.
Half-day trips are shorter still. One operator runs two four-hour trips a day, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. Each Kleftiko boat tour Milos trip of that kind adds a second swim at Gerakas Bay.
Not every stop is a swim stop. One traveller who hired a skipper sailed east past rock formations and the abandoned sulfur mines at Thiorichio. The skipper of that Kleftiko boat tour Milos trip then turned west along the southern shore to Kleftiko.
Can you reach Kleftiko by land, or only by sea?
Yes, you can reach Kleftiko by land on foot. The popular way in is still a Kleftiko boat tour Milos visitors book from the sea. The trail starts after a long dirt road and ends on bare rock.
Sources disagree. Two call Kleftiko accessible only by sea or boat, and one adds that the hike is risky. One hiker first joined a full-day Kleftiko boat tour Milos offers from Adamas port, then returned to walk it.
The trail start is far from the port. From Adamas, an asphalt road reaches the Agia Marina church. A dirt road then runs roughly 10 kilometres to the Monastery of St John Siderianos. The next 2 kilometres are rough, so leave a regular car in the monastery car park and walk on.
The trail starts smooth, and white paint marks the rocks. After about half an hour, the bay appears below, with boats of all sorts in it. That is the bay a Kleftiko boat tour Milos route enters from the sea. The hiker needed 50 minutes to an hour, photo stops included, and 45 minutes back.
- A sign at the trail start says hunting is allowed in the area.
- Carry plenty of water, because drinking water is not available there.
- Wear closed hiking shoes, because Milos has snakes, including a red viper with a poisonous bite.
- Do not walk alone, because the area is remote and help is not close by.
- Expect no shade, since Kleftiko has a rock, not a real beach.
The hiker rates the boat as the more relaxed option, with swimming, snorkelling and sunbathing on board. With only two or three days, the hiker recommends a Kleftiko boat tour Milos offers, since you see more beaches.
Sailboat, catamaran or speedboat: which Kleftiko boat tour Milos format fits you?
A Kleftiko boat tour Milos visitors book comes in three formats: sailboat, catamaran or speedboat. Sailboats and catamarans run slow days with small groups and swim stops. Speedboat trips are shorter, at about four hours, so they suit a short stay.
A sailboat keeps the group small. One Kleftiko boat tour Milos operator runs a 46-foot monohull for 10 guests and two crew. The crew opens the sails when the weather allows. Its crew speaks English, Spanish and Portuguese. Another operator lists large shaded areas with hammocks on its sailboat. The sailboat days listed run eight or nine hours.
A catamaran adds space and calm. One operator says catamarans do not tilt while sailing, and they have fewer steps. Its 41-foot catamaran has large shaded areas and deck cushions for up to 12 guests. One half-day catamaran trip lasts about five hours. For a steady deck, book a Kleftiko boat tour Milos operators run on a catamaran.
A speedboat suits a short stay. One operator’s 500-horsepower motorboat runs a four-hour Kleftiko boat tour Milos trip for only 6 guests. That operator says motorboats show more in less time, with four hours enough to swim too. Another operator runs two four-hour trips a day on a boat for up to 118 guests.
Time decides the choice. With one free morning, take the speedboat, which fits a morning or afternoon slot. With a full day free, take the sailboat or the catamaran. Group size follows the boat, from 6 guests up to 118. Ask which boat the operator uses before you book your Kleftiko boat tour Milos.
What food and drinks come on board?
A full-day Kleftiko boat tour Milos operators run on a sailboat or catamaran includes a homemade lunch, snacks and drinks. One four-hour motorboat trip serves snacks and drinks, and guests can bring their own food. The menus change from boat to boat.
The lunch is homemade. One operator says all meals are made fresh daily from local ingredients, and the menu changes a little by boat. Its menu for sailboats and the 41-foot catamaran names a Greek salad, stuffed tomatoes and moussaka. Its large catamarans serve a Greek salad, pasta salad and grilled chicken, with panna cotta for dessert.
Drinks are on board too. One full-day operator pours water, orange juice, Coca-Cola, beer and wine from an open bar. Another lists soft drinks, beer, wine and Greek spirits. The 46-foot monohull serves Greek white dry wine with the meal. Check the drinks list before you book a Kleftiko boat tour Milos.
A full day brings more than one meal. One operator serves a snack breakfast, lunch and an afternoon snack of fruit and filter coffee. It cooks on board with ingredients bought daily at the local market. On another route, a meal and ice-cold beers wait on the boat after the swim at Kleftiko.
The short trip has lighter food: breads with spreads, cheese and olives. The drinks are water, iced tea, iced coffee and raki. Its snacks have vegetarian options. Two operators list vegetarian and vegan lunch options. Tell the operator about any allergies when you reserve your Kleftiko boat tour Milos trip.
How do the meltemi winds and the season shape a Kleftiko boat tour Milos day?
The meltemi, a strong north wind, blows over the Aegean from about late spring to mid-September. It is strongest in July and August, when a Kleftiko boat tour Milos day can change route or be cancelled. June and late September offer calmer seas.
Timing matters on a Kleftiko boat tour Milos day, because the meltemi has a daily rhythm. One sailing site says it starts in the early afternoon and dies down in the evening. Wikipedia adds that it can reach force 7 to 8 and comes up in clear weather without warning.
One Milos operator runs half-day trips in the morning and in the afternoon. The slot you pick meets the wind at a different hour. Ask which slot suits the forecast.
One Milos sailing company says it changes the route before it cancels. In strong north wind it sails the sheltered south side, which still reaches Kleftiko and its caves. If weather moves the departure point, it runs free transfers from Adamas port. A south-coast operator says strong south wind can trigger a cancellation instead.
Plan a backup day for your Kleftiko boat tour Milos trip. Travel sites advise booking early in your stay, because the meltemi can force itinerary changes or cancellations. One yacht cruise page says the trip can be rescheduled or fully refunded after weather disruption.
Which questions come up before a Kleftiko boat tour Milos trip?
Can children join a Kleftiko boat tour Milos trip?
Yes, on family-friendly boats. One half-day operator calls its trip designed for guests of all ages. One Milos sailing company says its boats carry lifejackets of all sizes and floating devices. A sailboat cruise page counts a child as age 9 and younger. Check the age rules of your own boat before you book.
Can you take a Kleftiko boat tour Milos trip if you get seasick?
It depends on the boat and the sea. A travel site says no boat type can guarantee against seasickness. Comfort depends on the vessel, the route and the sea state. Ask the operator about the boat and the forecast. One private full-day listing says the trip is not recommended for guests who get seasick easily.
What do you bring on the boat?
For a Kleftiko boat tour Milos day, one company lists a swimsuit, towel, sunscreen, hat, glasses and a phone. No passport is needed on board. Snorkel gear is on the boat, but you can bring your own. Early or late in the season, add a windproof jacket. A private listing says to wear shoes that come off easily.
Can non-swimmers join a Kleftiko boat tour Milos trip?
Yes, on a boat that carries lifejackets. One Milos sailing company supplies lifejackets and floating devices. Its stops include beaches where you can walk into the water. It adds that you never have to swim, since its boats have hammocks and shade. A private listing says nobody supervises swimmers.
Does the tour pick you up from your hotel?
It depends on the tour. One sailboat cruise page lists pickup available. One Milos sailing company says hotel transfers come only with a private cruise package. Its boats sit 100 to 200 metres from the Adamas ferry pier. It asks guests to arrive 30 minutes before departure. Ask about pickup before you book a Kleftiko boat tour Milos day.