Kleftiko
Best for. Travellers who want the single most beautiful stretch of coast in Milos, a swim and a snorkel among white arches and caves, reached by boat as part of a day on the water.
Best spot. A morning sailing trip or a sea kayak tour from the south of the island, dropping anchor inside the coves to swim through the arches before the afternoon boats arrive.
Know this. There is no sand, no road and no facilities here at all, so this is a place to visit by boat and swim, not a beach day. For sand and a sunbed go to Paliochori or Firiplaka.
Kleftiko is the photograph that makes people book Milos, and for once the reality outshines the picture. On the wild southwest tip of the island a cathedral of white volcanic rock rises straight from the water, carved by the sea into arches, tunnels and caves that you can swim and paddle right through, with the most luminous blue water beneath you. It was once a pirate hideout, and you can still feel why, since there is no road in and the only way to arrive is from the sea. For the discerning traveller this is the one unmissable sight on the island.
The honest read is that Kleftiko is not a beach and you should not treat it as one. There is no sand, no shade and no facility of any kind, and there is no path down the cliffs, so a car will get you nowhere near it. What it asks of you is a little planning. You come on a sailing trip, a small group boat or a guided sea kayak from the south coast, you swim and snorkel among the arches while the skipper holds the anchor, and you bring your own water, sun cover and lunch. Arrive on the first boats of the morning and the coves are still and almost private. By early afternoon the day fleet gathers and the magic thins.
If you want the quieter version, the smaller boats and the kayak tours linger longer and reach into the caves the big catamarans cannot, and a private charter buys you the coves at dawn. Watch the forecast, since the crossing is exposed and the trips do not run when the Meltemi blows hard from the north. Treat Kleftiko as the centrepiece of a day on the water rather than a place to lay a towel, and pair it with a proper sand day afterwards at Paliochori or Firiplaka on the sheltered south coast.
No club, only the sea and the caves
Kleftiko is a protected sea cave coast with no road, no sand and no club of any kind, reached only by boat. For an organised beach day with a sunbed and a kitchen, the sheltered south coast is the place. See the Milos beach clubs guide for the full run.
Photo: Spyridon Ventouris via GoogleA boat trip, not a beach club
There is no beach club, sunbed or bar at Kleftiko, and there cannot be, since the coast has no road and no sand. You come by sailing trip, small boat or sea kayak from the south of the island, swim among the arches and bring everything with you. For an organised day with a sunbed afterwards, the south coast at Paliochori and Firiplaka is the answer. Treat any boat price as to be confirmed and book the morning slot.
On the wild southwest tip, by boat
Kleftiko sits on the remote southwest tip of Milos with no road and no path down the cliffs, so the only way to reach it is from the sea. Most visitors join a full day sailing trip or a small group boat from the south coast near Adamas or Kipos, and the more adventurous take a guided sea kayak that slips into the smaller caves. The crossing takes the best part of an hour each way, which is part of why a morning departure pays off so well.
There are no facilities of any kind once you arrive, so bring water, sun protection, a hat, a mask and snorkel and a packed lunch, since the boats usually pause here to swim rather than to feed you. Wear something you can swim in easily and pack a light layer for the breeze on the way back. Check the forecast before you book, as the exposed southwest coast does not see boats when the north wind is strong.
Photo: Spyridon Ventouris via GoogleBook a beach club
Kleftiko has no club of its own and is reached only by boat. Tell us your dates and we can point you to a sunbed at an organised Milos beach such as Paliochori or Firiplaka for the rest of your day. We reply by email.
We are an independent editorial resource. Booking requests are passed to clubs and operators, and some may earn us a commission at no cost to you. Prices, availability and opening status are set by the venue and are to be confirmed at the time of booking.
Common questions about Kleftiko
Why is Kleftiko in Milos so famous?
Kleftiko is a coast of white volcanic sea caves, arches and tunnels rising from some of the clearest water in the Aegean, on the wild southwest tip of Milos. It was once a hideout for pirates, and because there is no road in it can only be reached by boat, which keeps it pristine. It is widely considered the most beautiful place on the island, and swimming and snorkelling among the arches is the reason people make the trip.
Can you get to Kleftiko by car?
No. There is no road and no path down the cliffs to Kleftiko, so a car will not get you there. The only way to reach it is from the sea, by a sailing trip, a small group boat or a guided sea kayak from the south coast of Milos. The crossing takes around an hour each way, so most people make a half day or full day of it on the water.
Is there a beach at Kleftiko?
Not in the usual sense. Kleftiko has no sand and no place to lay a towel, only white rock, caves and arches dropping into deep clear water. You swim and snorkel from the boat rather than off a beach. If you want sand, sunbeds and a full beach day, head to the sheltered south coast at Paliochori or Firiplaka instead.
When is the best time to visit Kleftiko?
Take the earliest boat of the day in June or September, when the seas are calmer and the water warm. The coves are still and close to private first thing in the morning, then the day fleet gathers and it grows busy by early afternoon. The trips do not run in a strong Meltemi, so keep an eye on the forecast and stay flexible with your dates. Conditions are typical and never guaranteed.
Do you need a guide or boat tour for Kleftiko?
Yes, in practice you do. Because there is no land access, you reach Kleftiko on an organised sailing trip, a small group boat or a guided sea kayak from the south of the island. Smaller boats and kayaks can enter caves the large catamarans cannot, and a private charter buys you the quietest hours. Bring your own water, food and snorkel, as there are no facilities at all.
