Milos and Kimolos by Boat: Kleftiko, Sarakiniko and the Volcanic Coast (2026)

Milos is a volcanic island, and from the water it shows. The coast changes colour every few miles: white pumice at Sarakiniko, red and ochre cliffs at Firiplaka, grey and white rock arches at Kleftiko, and painted boat houses at the waterline in Klima. Across a narrow channel lie quieter Kimolos and uninhabited, protected Polyaigos. Much of this coast is only reachable by boat. This guide covers harbours, four routes, the 2026 rules, charter basics and where to stay.

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This guide is part of our Greece by Boat series; the hub on Greece yacht charter links every island group, from Corfu in the Ionian to Santorini in the Cyclades.

Harbours and marinas: where boats leave from

Milos is reached by daily ferries from Piraeus or a flight of around 50 minutes from Athens; the airport lies about 5 km south east of Adamas.

• Adamas: the island’s main port, deep inside the great sheltered bay of Milos, where the ferries dock and the port police (limenarchio) are based. The start for Kleftiko and the south coast. The airport is a short drive away; Plaka, Trypiti and the hotels around Adamas are all within roughly 10 to 15 minutes by car.
• Pollonia: a small fishing harbour on the north east tip, where the local ferries for Kimolos leave. Best for Polyaigos and Kimolos. Allow roughly 20 minutes by car from Adamas.
• Psathi (Kimolos): the harbour of Kimolos, 10 to 25 minutes from Pollonia by the local ferry, depending on the vessel.
• Your own yacht: visiting yachts usually berth in Adamas. Since August 2024 the transit log for private pleasure boats over 7 metres has been issued digitally through the AADE e-TL application, and the cruising tax (TEPAI) is also due for these boats; check what your boat needs with the port police.

Four routes in detail

Times are estimates for a fast motor boat in calm conditions; a sailing yacht or caique takes roughly twice as long. Confirm them with your skipper.

1. Full day from Adamas: Kleftiko, Sykia and Gerakas

The classic Milos day. Run from Adamas down the west coast to Kleftiko, said to take its name from pirates who once hid here: a cluster of rock pillars, arches and caves on the south west tip, which has no road access. Expect roughly an hour by fast boat. Swim from the boat in the open water outside the marked zone (see the rules below), then continue east to Sykia, a sea cave whose roof has collapsed, letting sunlight fall into the water inside; whether a tender or kayak may enter depends on the sea state, so ask the skipper. Gerakas, a small beach under pale cliffs, is the usual afternoon swim stop. With no tavernas on this stretch, lunch is served on board. Allow seven to eight hours.

2. Full day from Adamas: the south coast, Tsigrado and Firiplaka

When Kleftiko is crowded or the swell is wrong, follow the south coast instead. Firiplaka is a long beach backed by red, white and ochre cliffs, and neighbouring Tsigrado is a tiny cove that walkers reach by rope and ladder through a gap in the rock; arriving by sea is far easier. Continue east to Paliochori for lunch at a beach taverna. Allow six to seven hours. Best for a relaxed day with a proper lunch.

3. Half day from Pollonia: Polyaigos

Polyaigos, an uninhabited island, lies just east of the channel between Milos and Kimolos and is only a short hop from Pollonia: roughly 20 to 30 minutes by fast boat. Its coves have white sand and pale water. The island is a refuge for the Mediterranean monk seal, so give any seal a wide berth. There are no facilities. Allow three to four hours. Best for swimmers and snorkellers.

4. Full day or two days: Kimolos and the north coast

From Pollonia, cross to Psathi on Kimolos for the old village of Chorio, or head for the beaches: Prassa, with white sand on the north east coast, and, by boat, the sea cave at Cape Gerakia. Lunch ashore is possible at Psathi or Prassa in season. Return along the north coast of Milos past the white pumice of Sarakiniko and Papafragas. On a calm second day, continue around the bay of Milos to Klima, a fishing village whose boat houses (syrmata) are built into the rock at the waterline. Best for a slower pace and photography.

For a volcanic coast closer to Italy, see our guide to the Aeolian Islands by boat, which covers Lipari, Panarea and Stromboli.

Rules: protected areas, Kleftiko and closures in 2026

Rules here come from the Milos port authority, Natura 2000 designations and a marine park still in approval. They can change, so confirm them with your skipper and the port police of Milos on the day.

• Kleftiko zone: a decision by the Milos port authority (2131.2/1241/2023, published in the Government Gazette on 15 November 2023) bans approaching, navigating and anchoring any vessel, motorised or not, within 25 metres of the base of the cliffs and rock islets in the Kleftiko bay area, and bans swimming in the same zone, all year round. The zone is to be marked with buoys and the ban runs until a geotechnical study is completed. We could not confirm whether it has since been amended, so check with the port police. In practice, swim in open water, not through the arches or into the caves at the cliff base.
• Sarakiniko: we found no closure, but the rocks are dangerous in a northerly swell. Two tourists died there in August 2025, and a lifeguard service started on 1 June 2026, with two lifeguards on duty from 10:00 to 18:00. From a boat, approach only in calm conditions.
• Tsigrado: walkers reach the beach by rope and ladder, with a sign at the top warning that the descent is at your own risk. We found no official closure; check locally.
• Natura 2000 and Polyaigos: according to the Ministry of Environment, Polyaigos lies within two Natura 2000 sites: GR4220006, covering Kimolos and Polyaigos, and GR4220030, a bird protection area covering Milos, Antimilos and Polyaigos. It has also been a designated landscape of special natural beauty since 2000, and in September 2025 the Central Archaeological Council declared the whole island an archaeological site. These target development; we found no published ban on visiting boats, but anchor on sand, never on seagrass, and take nothing from the seabed.
• South Aegean marine park: on 15 July 2026 the Environment Minister signed the presidential decree for the National Marine Park South Aegean 1 (Southern Cyclades), which includes Natura areas around Milos and Kimolos and treats Polyaigos as a highly protected zone for monk seal breeding. The draft went to the Council of State for legal review, and we could not confirm that it is in force. Published summaries cover a bottom trawling ban and fishing limits, not anchoring or speed rules.
• Swimming zones and speed: Greek port authorities set swimming zones off beaches and restrict motor boats within them. We could not verify the distances that apply at each Milos beach; keep to a slow speed near swimmers and buoyed areas and follow your skipper.
• Fees: we found no entry fee for private boats at Kleftiko or Polyaigos. Harbour dues and berths at Adamas are charged; check with the port police or skipper.

Types of boat and what a charter includes

• RIB: fast for Polyaigos and short runs, but exposed. Best for a half day.
• Traditional caique: slower and steadier, with a shaded deck; a natural fit for the Kleftiko route.
• Motor yacht: shade, cabins and crew; comfortable around the exposed south west tip.
• Sailing yacht or catamaran: the choice for several days between Milos, Kimolos and the wider Cyclades.

Usually included: the boat, skipper, insurance, snorkelling gear and water. Often excluded: fuel on motor boats, lunch on board or ashore, drinks, overnight berths and port dues.

Bareboat and licences: charter industry sources say a bareboat skipper in Greece needs a licence recognised by the port authorities (the ICC is accepted in practice) and a second experienced crew member on the crew list; motor boats of 30 horsepower or less can reportedly be hired without a licence. We could not confirm this on the Hellenic Coast Guard or Ministry of Maritime Affairs websites, so check with the port police before you travel.

Routes compared

Best months, winds and practical tips

June and September bring warm water, settled spells and fewer boats at Kleftiko. July and August are the hottest and busiest months, and the time of the meltemi, the strong northerly wind of the Aegean. Unlike the Ionian’s afternoon maistro, it can blow for days.

Wind and sea: the north coast, including Sarakiniko and Papafragas, and the channel to Kimolos take the brunt of a northerly. The bay of Milos and the south coast are more sheltered, which is why skippers often switch to Firiplaka and Tsigrado on windy days. Rounding the south west tip towards Kleftiko can be lumpy even when Adamas looks calm.

• What to bring: reef-safe sun cream, a hat, a light layer and water shoes.
• Seasickness: take tablets before departure, sit at the back and keep your eyes on the horizon.
• Booking timing: reserve skippered boats for July and August several months ahead; June and September are easier.
• August crowds: leave early to reach Kleftiko before the excursion boats, and save Polyaigos for late afternoon.

Where to stay near the harbours

Domes White Coast Milos

An adults only hotel of 50 suites, for guests aged 16 and over, each with its own private pool, set in a waterfront nature area at Mytakas on the north coast, with sandy beaches a few steps away. Some booking platforms still list it under its earlier name, White Coast Pool Suites. Both Adamas and Pollonia are a short drive away; ask the hotel for transfer times to the harbour you will leave from.

Best for: couples who want privacy and a short run to Polyaigos and Kimolos.

Check rates at Domes White Coast Milos

Milos Cove

A hotel of 42 rooms above its own beach at Agkali in Komia, on the north east of the island, around 9 km from the airport. It has a pool, a spa, a restaurant and villas with private pools. Pollonia is the closer harbour for boat days; ask the hotel for transfer times and its season.

Best for: families or friends who want space and a beach at the door.

Check rates at Milos Cove

White Pebble Suites, Pollonia

Twelve suites on the waterfront in Pollonia, eight of them with private plunge pools, plus an outdoor pool and spa treatments on request. The fishing harbour, where boats for Polyaigos and Kimolos leave, is a short walk away; ask the hotel about its season.

Best for: walking to the boat and dining in Pollonia’s harbourside tavernas.

Check rates at White Pebble Suites

Olea Bay Hotel, Adamas

A small hotel about 2 km south of Adamas, roughly five minutes by car from the port, with sea views from every room, some rooms with private jacuzzis, and a pool with a bar. One source lists it as adults only from age 15, which we could not confirm on an official site, so ask the hotel about its age policy and season.

Best for: a quiet base close to the Adamas departures for Kleftiko.

Check rates at Olea Bay Hotel

Combine Milos with Santorini by boat for another volcanic coast, or Paros, Antiparos and Naxos by boat for a longer cruise. Our Italy yacht charter hub covers every Italian region.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you swim at Kleftiko?

Yes, from the boat in open water, outside the 25 metre zone at the cliffs set by the port authority in 2023. Check whether it still applies.

Can you reach Kleftiko by land?

There is no road. Most visitors arrive by boat, usually from Adamas, in roughly an hour by fast boat.

Can you land on Polyaigos?

We found no published ban, but it is a Natura 2000 site and an archaeological site. Anchor on sand, take nothing and ask the skipper.

Do I need a licence to hire a boat on Milos?

For yachts, yes: a recognised licence such as the ICC, according to charter industry sources. Small motor boats up to 30 horsepower reportedly need none. Confirm with the port police.