Kleftiko Beach

January 7, 2023

Kleftiko beach - ultimate guide to Milos' famous pirate beach

Kleftiko beach is one of the most famous destinations on Milos island in the Greek Cyclades. This pristine area is located on the south west coast of the rugged and romantic island of Milos. It encompasses endless coves of turquoise waters, discovered on unique sailing experiences absolutely full of adventure. If you search for Milos, Kleftiko beach will probably be among the first images you see pop up – tall white limestone cliffs towering over translucent turquoise water scattered with caves, tunnels and sea bridges. It’s an incredible area for snorkelling, cliff diving, sailing and rib boat adventures. 

This guide includes every detail you need to plan a perfect day trip to this incredible coastline, including how to get there, what to consider when choosing the best tour and what you will need to bring with you.

Looking to extend your trip in the Cyclades? We have a unique 10 day Greek island hopping itinerary, as well as detailed guides to Milos island, Paros island and Sifnos island.

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View from a boat over a white village on the edge of the water sitting under rolling terraced hills on Milos

In this article

Couple embracing at dusk in front of colourful town

Travel For Working People

Thanks for visiting! We're Bec & Michael and we are two hard working lovers of travel! We hope our words inspire you to travel the world without having to toss out your career!

Where is Kleftiko beach

Kleftiko beach is located on Milos, Greece. Kleftiko refers to a bay on the remote southwest coastline. The Aegean Sea here is crystal clear, with sheer limestone cliffs, sea caves and rock arches scattered about an area that was famously used by pirates to hide out. The cove is secluded, with no towns or services located nearby. There are no roads leading directly to the coastline here, meaning that access is typically by boat. In summer you’ll experience large numbers of catamarans and sailing boats flocking to this popular spot. However if you visit in the shoulder seasons you’ll get to experience the beauty of Kleftiko beach in a much more peaceful way.

How to get to Kleftiko beach

Getting to Kleftiko beach takes a little planning, but it is so worth it! There are a couple of different ways you can reach Kleftiko which we go into detail about below. 

On foot

You can reach Kleftiko beach by foot, and there is detailed information in this blog about how to do that. If you have quite some time on Milos and you’re planning a full day out there then walking out would be a great idea. Note that you won’t be able to access a lot of the other caves and cliffs in the area if you choose to walk to Kleftiko. There are also no amenities out there so make sure you bring plenty of water and some food. 

By Boat

By far the most popular way to reach Kleftiko beach is by boat. You have multiple options when it comes to getting there by boat. You can go on a group tour, a private tour or even hire your own boat. We’ll run you through each of these options below, including what you should consider when making your choice. 

Group tour 

There are plenty of group tours to take to Kleftiko. Full day sailing or catamaran trips depart from Adamas, the port town of Milos, whereas half day tours will usually start from the remote south coast of the island. Full day tours will typically spend a few hours cruising around Kleftiko beach itself, as well as making plenty of other stops along the way. Whereas a half day tour will usually have Kleftiko as the main (or only) stop for the day with some quick stops for photo opportunities  along the way. 

The price between half day and full day tours aren’t that much different, surprisingly. Expect to pay between €100 and €170 depending on the tour operator you choose. In the end, the price will depend on what you want on the day. We have included a list of considerations below that you should keep in mind when choosing what tour is right for you.

How to pick your tour

 
Consider how big of a group you want to go with

Operators like Polco Sailing offer small group tours with only 10 people on board. This is the tour we ended up choosing. All other passengers on board were in their late twenties / early thirties, and a lot were on their honeymoon (just to give you a bit of a feel for the atmosphere). If you’re looking for more of a party boat or you’re traveling in a large group, then consider taking one of the larger group options like this one that can take up to 26 people. 

Whether it’s all inclusive (food and drink included)

For a half day tour this may not be as important, but especially for those choosing full day tours you will want to make sure that food is included. We had unlimited alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages with Polco Sailing included in the price. You can expect that any food provided on board will be delicious and fresh, regardless of what tour operator you go with. If you have dietary requirements make sure you check with the operator that they can provide what you need (honestly, most will! so you shouldn’t have trouble here). 

Half day or full day

There’s not a huge price difference between the two really so this will come down to how much time you can afford to spend on a boat tour. If you’re only on Milos for a couple of days you will probably only want to do a half day tour to Kleftiko beach so that you can fit in plenty of other activities. You will need to consider that a half day tour will likely only stop at Kleftiko bay.  Whereas a full day tour will include other stops along the coastline and plenty of dinghy (rib boat) excursions into spectacular caves and spots where you can cliff dive.  

Where they take you

This kind of goes hand in hand with whether you choose a half day or full day tour. Obviously a full day tour will take you to more locations along the coastline and you will have more time to explore the spots you do stop at. A popular spot to visit nearby to Kleftiko is Sykia Cave, a big open roof cave with a beach, but each operator will probably take you to their own little hidden gems. The key spots of each tour will usually be listed in the details on Get Your Guide (or your chosen tour booking site), so try to find a tour that covers your must see locations.

What gear they provide

Depending on what activities you would like to do, you will want to check whether the tour operator you’re choosing provides the gear such as snorkelling gear, flotation devices, go pros, SUP’s and kayaks. Also be sure to check whether the gear is included in the price or an additional fee. 

Flexibility in the schedule

With Polco Sailing we were able to avoid crowds the entire day as they adjusted our schedule according to the number of boats that were already at a spot. We thought this was fantastic, obviously, and we didn’t miss out on anything at all. This information won’t necessarily be obvious when booking through Get Your Guide, so you’re best off emailing the tour operator to check. 

Whether you want to visit for sunset

Most half and full day tours will come back to port before sunset. However, there are a couple of options for sunset tours like this one that still take you out to Kleftiko beach and provide all food, drinks and gear for the trip. 

Private tour 

Private speedboat tours are another option for those looking for a little more privacy. We only saw one or two speedboats out when we were visiting, but maybe it becomes a more popular option during summer when the group tours get super busy. Expect to pay a premium for this option, typically between €1300 to €1700 for up to four people for a half day. The plus side to choosing this option is total flexibility without the responsibility of chartering your own boat.  

Hire your own boat (even without a license!) 

When we visited Milos, we loved our organised tour to Kleftiko beach so much that we decided to hire our own boat for another half day. We picked up our boat from Rent Boat Milos and paid €180 (plus €25 for gas) for 5 hours. You don’t need a boat license, but having some experience will be useful. You will be given some time to practice at the beach and will be shown how to anchor before heading off. 

Flexibility, privacy and ultimate privacy

We would highly recommend Rent Boat Milos. They reached out to us the day before our hire and let us know that the weather was going to be better in the afternoon. We had initially hired the boat for the morning, and they offered to change the hours if we preferred. Having this service and flexibility was incredible, and it goes without saying that the weather we ended up having was absolutely perfect. They are located in Provatas Beach on the south side of the island. This makes it a perfect location to explore the remote southern beaches including Kleftiko. During summer when the Meltemi winds are blowing from the north, you will be mostly protected on the south of the island.

White limestone cliffs towering over turquoise water on Milos island

Because we’d spent the whole day around the southwest coast around Kleftiko beach the day before, we decided to head east from Provatas Beach. Rent Boat Milos gave us fantastic tips on where to stop and where to skip, put pins into our google maps for exactly where to anchor, and gave us a good idea of timelines between stops so that we wouldn’t miss anything during our hire time. For those looking to head to Kleftiko for the day, you will already be so close to the famous coves and caves. 

We loved being on our own timeline and having the flexibility to stop wherever we wanted, rather than being restricted to designated tour stops. We had so much privacy, and for most of our stops we were the only ones there. During summer, August especially, you won’t have the same level of privacy. So if this is important to you, aim for the shoulder season when the weather is still perfect but the crowds won’t be around.

Bring everything you need for the day 

The boat we hired had a cooler box on the boat, so make sure you pack food and drinks to take with you. The boat we had for the afternoon also had a canopy that we could pull up for shade, but we advise that you still bring sun protection with you. 

There are some downsides to hiring your own boat. Namely, you can’t just sit back and relax like you do on an organised tour. You will need to do some planning on where to go and when, how long it’s going to take you, and have an understanding of where you can anchor. Without a guide you also may not know the best spots. However, Rent Boat Milos will certainly be able to help with this, and you can also just keep an eye out for where all of the other boats are pulling in. 

Another downside is that you won’t have a small dinghy to be able to reach some of the caves that you will be able to see on an organised tour. We got to see some really impressive blue caves (the ones that glow blue in the dark) on our group tour, and it would be a shame to miss this.

How to book a Kleftiko beach tour

Our biggest piece of advice is to book ahead online. We visited in June and booked several months in advance and still missed out on our first choice for a tour. Planning ahead a bit is the best way to ensure a spot on your preferred date, time and tour. The best way to find and reserve a boat tour is to head to Get Your Guide. If you decide to go with Polco Sailing then you can book directly on their website, but a lot of other providers don’t have dedicated websites. 

In case you’ve decided to take a tour last minute, then you can head to the port in Adamas where you’ll find all of the tour operators advertising their offers. If no one is at the dock then you’ll find their offices in town, otherwise they’ll often leave a number to call on their signs. 

Booking your own boat

Booking a private boat hire will require you to contact the provider directly. You can then negotiate on time and date depending on their availability. We hired a boat with Rent Boat Milos in June and we had great flexibility with them. However, if you’re visiting in summer we suggest that you book well ahead of time to avoid disappointment. Most private boat companies are located on the south coast (not in Adamas) so don’t expect to see them in the port and book last minute like you can for an organised tour.   

How much time is needed at Kleftiko beach?

You can spend an ENTIRE day exploring Kleftiko and the surrounding coastline. There is seriously so much to see. Between the excursions to caves on a dingy, cliff jumping and snorkeling around the incredible pirate caves you still need some time to eat delicious food and sunbathe on board the boat! 

In the end, the amount of time you should spend at Kleftiko will depend on how many days you’re spending on Milos. We suggest at a minimum that you spend 3 or 4 full days on Milos. If you manage this much time, then definitely consider a full day trip. If you’re taking a boat tour, then the whole day will be scheduled. You will need to pay attention at all of the stops during the day and make sure that you’re back at the boat at the time requested. 

The length of time you will have at Kleftiko beach itself will depend on the tour you’ve chosen. Some will only stay for an hour or so, which is time enough to explore one side of the bay at least. The rest of the coastline in this area is just as stunning though, so don’t think that Kleftiko is the only sight worth spending time at!

What is there to do at Kleftiko beach?

Cliff jumping 

This is such fun! You’ll want to only go to areas where your boat tour takes you for this. If you’ve hired your own boat, or have walked, take note of where organised tours are cliff jumping and head to the same spots. On our tour, they took us out in a dinghy to a great cliff jumping spot and even had go pros to record us. The jump was only a few metres, but if you’re an adrenaline junkie you can always ask them to take you somewhere with higher spots. 

Snorkelling and swimming  

If you’re a swimmer, getting in the water for a snorkel is a must! The bay that Kleftiko is in is packed with caves and coves with endless opportunities for exploring. Make sure your tour company has snorkel gear that you can use. If you’re hiring your own boat, then rent some snorkelling gear from Adamas beforehand. For those that aren’t strong swimmers, chances are if you’re on a tour they will have pool noodles you can use. If you have a waterproof phone cover or a go pro remember to bring it with you! Snapping photos of the interesting rock formations and the beautiful fish in the bay will keep you occupied the entire time. 

Cave exploring 

Kleftiko bay has plenty of beautiful white limestone caves to explore. In fact this part of the coastline is actually a network of interconnecting caves and sea caves. Enjoy these from the boat, or even better from the water if you’re a swimmer. Kleftiko bay is not the only area to explore caves however. A few miles away you’ll find Sykia cave, a huge cave with no ceiling where you’ll find a pretty little pebble beach. A lot of tours will take you here on a dinghy (rib boat) and it’s not reachable by foot at all. We also got to visit astonishing blue caves, where the water literally glows in pitch black caves due to light illuminating the water from the entrance. 

Relax and unwind 

One of the best parts about going on an organised boat tour is that you can spend as much (or as little) time just soaking up the sun. There aren’t too many places on shore to lounge, but most boats will have space for you to throw your towel out. Otherwise grab a pool noodle and spend some time floating around in between food and drink breaks, bliss! 

The vast open top cavern of Sykia cave

Best time to visit Kleftiko beach

We visited Milos in the first week of June and were told by countless locals that it was the best time to visit the island. The season had officially started, so mostly all tourism providers and restaurants had already opened up. Come July and August, everywhere in the Greek islands gets super crowded (like everywhere in Europe during summer) and the best thing about Milos is how peaceful and quiet it is. Crowds would ruin the best part of your experience on Milos in our opinion.

Summer Meltemi winds

The weather we had in June was absolutely perfect for swimming and staying outdoors all day. The Meltemi (strong, dry northerly winds) will sometimes start in June, and we only had a few days where we experienced them. The Meltemi winds are a strong, dry northerly wind that is typically more of an issue between July and August across all of the Aegean. Be aware that on days with strong winds, tours will be cancelled due to rough waters. Avoiding the summer is the best way to ensure your tour goes ahead as planned. But if you can’t avoid the worst months of the Meltemi winds, then make sure you’re staying on the island for at least a few days. Also book your tour for your first full day, so that if it gets cancelled you’ll have another day or two to choose from.   

Perfect late Spring destination

A late summer holiday in September would also be perfect in Milos. The winds will have died down, the crowds dispersed, the water still warm. Most tour operators and facilities are open between May and October on Milos. Outside of these months, you will find it more difficult to find accommodation, open restaurants and running tours. 

Technically Kleftiko is accessible all year round. However without tour operators in the winter, you will need to access the beach by foot. We provide a good resource further up in this blog under ‘How to get to Kleftiko’. 

Impressive white sandstone cliffs at Kleftiko and Sykia

What to wear and bring to Kleftiko

If you’re visiting Kleftiko beach between June and October, you will definitely want to go for a swim (winds permitting), so make sure you bring a swimsuit! Other must haves for your day trip include: 

  • Towel and swimmers 
  • Sunscreen (though your boat will probably have some on board also)
  • Sunglasses, hat and cover up (there will be a shady area on the boat, but it shifts depending on the time of day) 
  • Snorkel gear and Go Pro (your tour provider might have these on board also, but check ahead of time and bring your own if they aren’t provided)
  • If you’re not a strong swimmer, consider bringing a pool noodle (again this might be provided by the tour operator, so check before buying your own) 
Temps do drop in the evening 

If you’re planning a full day tour, or a half day tour during the second half of the day, bring a light sweater as the temperatures do drop at dusk. Don’t worry, even in the shoulder seasons the water is still very, very warm and you will have no issue spending some time in the sun. If you’re hiring your own boat, don’t forget to also bring snacks and a water bottle too.

Other places to visit on Milos island

Sarakiniko Beach

First up is the iconic volcanic rock landscape of Sarakiniko. We had high hopes for this before going to Milos, to the point we were concerned it wouldn’t live up to the hype of Instagram. But in our opinion, social media hadn’t given us a false sense of the place. Sarakiniko is absolutely stunning, best experienced at sunset (though the colour of the water will be brightest in the middle of the day). On calm days when the water is still you can also cliff jump here. Be sure to explore away from the crowds. When we arrived we headed west and didn’t even have time to explore the eastern section. You could easily spend half a day here, especially if you’re going for a swim. There are no facilities at Sarakiniko so bring lunch along with you if you’re planning on sticking around for a while.

A woman standing on the edge of a moonscape like cliff edge

Mytakas Beach

Mytakas is a small, quiet beach located on the north side. This beach is best for avoiding crowds, with lots of space to spread out and plenty of trees for shade. It was quite rough when we went due to the northerly Meltemi, so keep in mind that there will likely be waves if you are visiting during the summer season. There is a very small seasonal cantina, which was closed in early June. Prepare for no amenities if you are visiting out of season.

Trypiti

This beautiful town is totally underrated in our opinion. It was dead quiet while we strolled through the narrow streets on our first day in Milos. There are iconic white windmills, a gorgeous big church and due to its location the town is packed full of restaurants with panoramic views over the ocean. It’s located really close to Klima and Plaka, so visiting these three towns in one afternoon is definitely possible.

Plaka 

We wished we had gone to Plaka earlier than we did during our trip. We came here on our last night and the atmosphere was just incredible. You have probably seen that one of the best spots on the island for sunset is the church here, the Church of Panagia Korfiatissa. It’s a stunning location, but be warned it’s busy. It was probably one of the most crowded places we came across on the island. The town is a beautiful white washed village with panoramic views and winding alleyways absolutely chock full of charming little boutiques.  

Klima

This totally unique fishing village is probably the most famous village on the island. The charming strip of colourful houses is one of the smallest settlements on Milos and is incredibly photogenic. It is particularly popular for sunset, so expect crowds. You only need a short amount of time here as Klima is not very big at all. You can swim here, and there are a few restaurants however you will want to book ahead if you’re visiting during peak season in July and August.

Left: Colourful fishing village of Klima, Right: Beautiful mountain top restaurant in Trypiti

More guides on Milos and the Cyclades

We have a detailed guide for everything to see and do on Milos including a thorough cost breakdown, suggestions for where to eat and drink, the best boat tours, incredible beaches and so much more! We also have a 10 day Greek island hopping guide that includes the beautiful island of Milos as well as nearby Sifnos and Paros. 

Where to stay on Milos

Milos has plenty of unique accommodation experiences, from the windmills in Trypiti to the boat houses in Klima. It is worth considering whether such accommodation will be suitable if you are visiting in the peak of summer heat (think about having no air conditioning in 30 degree weather). During the low seasons however, these quiet villages would offer a peaceful and private getaway. 

We stayed in Pollonia at Korina’s Rooms and would highly recommend it. There was parking for our ATV, the room was spacious with a small balcony and the aircon was nice and cold. Korina has just recently renovated the rooms and you could tell she poured a lot of love into it. Pollonia is located a bit out of the way, but we loved staying here. It has everything you could need including a beautiful sandy beach and some of the best restaurants on the island without being very crowded. 

If we were to go back, we would probably opt to stay in Plaka. We loved the atmosphere here and really wished we had spent more time in this village.

How to get around Milos

ATV

The best way to get around in our opinion is by ATV. An ATV will be €30-€70 (depending on when you visit and how many cc’s you want). We hired ours at Apollonas Sunshine for €65 a day for a 550cc and would definitely recommend this company. We organised for them to bring the ATV to our accommodation and even when we were delayed several hours they were quick to get it to us. They will also pick it up from your accommodation as well. Rates include helmets, which you should ALWAYS wear – you’re in an open vehicle after all and bitumen isn’t kind to unprotected skulls. 

Traffic on the island is fairly good and locals are obviously used to driving around ATV’s and scooters. Like anywhere, the taxi drivers can be a bit aggressive so just keep slightly to the right if you are being tailgated and they should go around you. Be sure to book early if you’re planning on hiring an ATV. We went in the low season and still had limited choice due to a lot being booked out already.

A man standing on a parked quad bike overlooking a coastal landscape
Scooter  / car

You can also rent a car or a scooter. A scooter will cost between €20-€30 a day, and you should be able to pick up a basic rental car for around €65 a day. If renting a car, consider that it will be more difficult to find parking. Especially if you are visiting during the high season. We went in low season and even with an ATV we had difficulty finding a park during the day at a couple of spots, especially at Adamas (the port town). At other spots around the island, the parking bays are narrow and small with limited access for cars, but having a scooter or ATV won’t be a problem. 

Something to consider if you are renting a scooter is that you will be limited in terms of accessing some of the tracks. Most of the roads are fine, but there are tracks leading down to more remote beaches that can’t be accessed on a scooter. We also had a storage box on the ATV, which most scooters did not seem to have. When you’re out exploring all day, it’s useful to have a box for your towels and drink bottles so you don’t have to have a big backpack on the whole time.  

Budget tip

Renting an ATV or car will be cheaper in the low season. Renting during the low season will save you €10 a day when hiring a 125cc scooter or €15 a day for a 150cc ATV.  

Scooter
LowMediumHigh
20€ - 40€25€ – 55€35€ - 70€
ATV
LowMediumHigh
30€ - 55€45€ – 80€55€ - 90€

For example, an automobile company on Milos breaks down the seasons as follows:  

Low Season: 01/01-14/06 & 01/10-31/12

Medium Season 1: 15/06-30/06

Medium Season 2: 01/07-31/07 & 01/09-30/09

High Season: 01/08-31/08

When we went in early June, it was considered low season. It is really worth considering planning your trip during this time if you’re looking to save money. The weather is beautiful and warm at this time of year, without being stiflingly hot, and all tourism operators are already running. So you won’t miss out on anything, and you’ll get it all for much cheaper.

Bus

There are also a few bus routes around the island. Timetables for 2022 and 2023 can be found here. All bus tickets are issued on the bus, and are €1.80 per person each way. There are four routes that cover the majority of main sightseeing points. You will need to plan ahead and factor in the times in between scheduled buses as there can be up to two hours before the next one will arrive.

How to get to Milos

Milos is part of the Cyclades islands group, close to Sifnos, Serifos and Paros. In fact we visited both Sifnos and Paros on the same trip as Milos. Sifnos is less than an hour ferry away, and Paros is under 2 hours away. 

If Milos is going to be your first destination, then the easiest way to arrive will be by ferry. Ferries leave Athens (Piraeus) and take about 3 hours on a faster ferry, costing around €75 one way. We booked all of our ferry’s on Ferryhopper and used the app to check in and for our boarding passes. It’s a really easy app to use, so we’d suggest downloading it before your trip, but you can always go through your email as well. 

You can also take a 40 minute flight from Athens to Milos for around the same price as the ferry. There will usually be multiple flights a day, with all operators offering flights for under €100. We consider taking the ferry as the better option, only as it’s such a short haul flight and a ferry will be much more environmentally friendly. 

Make time for Athens

However you decide to get there, you’ll likely be leaving from Athens. Make sure you leave yourself a day to explore this ancient city that most people skip over on their way to the islands. We were surprised at how young and vibrant Athens was. It has incredible nightlife, and plenty of trendy suburbs littered with cocktail bars and boutique shops. Pair this with some of the most outstanding historical landmarks and you will not run out of things to do in a 24 hour stopover. 

We would also strongly suggest leaving yourself a night in Athens on your return to allow for any delays coming back from the islands (they really do get delayed a lot).

Be prepared

Be prepared for delays with all ferries around the Cyclades. You may have booked the fast ferry, but if conditions on the day don’t allow for it they will revert to the slower ferry. This happened on our first ferry from Piraeus to Milos. It was supposed to take 3 hours but ended up taking twice that because of the weather. Even with this delay, we were lucky compared to some horror stories from other people we met while traveling including cancellations and long overnight journeys on small boats in terrible weather. If you’re flying in and out of Athens, we suggest spending the night there on both sides of your trip to allow for any delays with ferries (or your flight!).  

Even if you don’t get motion sickness normally, we would urge you to consider stocking up on travel sickness medication before you go. One couple we met had such bad weather on one of their ferries that the entire boat was sick. Bec is seasoned when it comes to motion sickness, so we had plenty of Kwells on hand and avoided getting sick on any of our ferries. Just ask your pharmacist for a non-drowsy option! 

Thanks for stopping by!

We hope we’ve inspired you to plan a trip to the beautiful Kleftiko caves and beach on Milos, an island for adventurers and romantics. Milos is gaining in popularity and it’s easy to understand why. The endless coves of turquoise water to discover and unique sailing experiences to remote coastlines make Milos an unforgettable destination.

Before you head to Milos, check out our detailed guide to the island here, as well as our guide to Sarakiniko Beach. We have also prepared comprehensive guides to Sifnos and Paros, as well as the ultimate 10 day Greek island hopping itinerary.

If you have any questions, please let us know, and please subscribe! 

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Detailed guides for Milos, Sifnos & PAros

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