The sea caves
Kleftiko is a bay of white rock, arches and sea caves on the south-west coast of Milos, with no road in. This Kleftiko caves Milos boat guide sorts the nine boats by what happens at the caves: a dinghy inside, a swim or snorkel from the boat, or the view from the deck, and the same for Sykia Cave. Boat days from $140 per person.
Quick answer
The short answer. No listing says the boat itself goes inside a cave. On a Kleftiko caves Milos boat day you get inside by dinghy on two trips, or by swimming and snorkelling from the boat on four more; the rest give you a swim stop in the bay. Only one trip takes its dinghy into Sykia Cave: the $179 sightseeing sailboat, for up to 10 guests and rated 5.0. For a dinghy through the Kleftiko caves there is also the $168 guided day cruise, rated 5.0 across 889 reviews.
The bay
White rock, arches and caves, reached only by sea.
Kleftiko sits on the south-west coast of Milos, where no road goes. One listing calls it the pirates’ shelter; another sends you exploring its white rocks and numerous caves. It is the Milos Kleftiko caves turquoise water boat view that fills the listings’ photos: pale rock, arches, sea stacks and cave mouths at the waterline.
The Kleftiko caves Milos boat stop is the long one of the day. It lasts two hours on four trips, 105 minutes on the half-day catamaran and 45 minutes on the full-day open-bar sailboat. On several boats lunch is served in the bay itself.
Boat by boat
What each listing says happens at Kleftiko and at Sykia Cave, and how long the stop lasts.
| Trip | At Kleftiko | At Sykia Cave | Time at Kleftiko |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sightseeing sailboat, $179 | Dinghy through all the Kleftiko caves | Inside by dinghy, 75 minutes | 2 hours |
| Guided day cruise, $168 | Dinghy through the caves, cracks and tunnels, then a swim | Optional, depending on the weather | Not given |
| Semi-private sailing day, $146 | Swim inside the sea caves | Passes by | 2 hours, with lunch |
| Polyaigos sailboat, $140 | Snorkel around the caves, lunch in the bay | Passes by | Not given |
| Full-day open-bar sailboat, $202 | Swim through hidden caves | Passes by | 45 minutes |
| Our top pick, $201 | Snorkel in the pirate caves | Photo stop, 15 minutes | 2 hours, with lunch |
| Morning catamaran, $174 | Swim and snorkel stop; caves not said | Boat continues to the cave; entry not said | 2 hours |
| Half-day catamaran, $179 | Swim and snorkel in the bay | Photo stop, 15 minutes | 105 minutes |
| Polyaigos circuit with meals, $179 | Photos of the cliffs over dessert | Seen from the boat | Not given |
| Self-drive boat, $252 a boat | At your own pace; how is not said | Not mentioned | 4 to 8 hours of hire |
Going inside
The dinghy is the only way in that keeps you dry.
No Kleftiko Milos sea caves boat listing on this site says the boat itself goes inside a cave. Two trips carry a dinghy and take you in on it. If going inside is the point of your Milos Kleftiko caves boat trip, these are the two to compare.
The $179 sightseeing sailboat is limited to 10 participants. Its listing promises all the Kleftiko caves in a dinghy during a two-hour stop, with lunch in the bay. Nicki from the United States: «the caves and rocks were stunning».
On the $168 guided day cruise, the guide takes you on his dinghy through the caves, cracks and tunnels of the bay, and then you swim and snorkel. Conor from the United Kingdom: «Me and my partner really enjoyed the trips through the caves on the dingy and learning about the history of the Kleftiko.»
In the frame
What a Milos Kleftiko sea caves boat view looks like, in four frames from the trips’ own photos. On a Kleftiko caves Milos boat tour turquoise water and white rock fill most of the view.
Seen from a Milos Kleftiko caves boat turquoise water runs right up to a wide white overhang, with two small dark openings at its base.
From inside a rock tunnel, an arched opening frames open blue sea and a sunlit rock face on the right.
Looking up from inside a cave, the rock ceiling ends in a wide opening of blue sky above white cliffs and green shrubs.
Seen from high above, a white rock arch curves over a cove of shallow turquoise water, with shrubs on the cliff top.
Sykia Cave
The sightseeing sailboat goes in; the rest take the photo.
Eight of the nine boats mention Sykia Cave. Its roof has collapsed, so a natural skylight lights it from above. Only the $179 sightseeing sailboat goes inside: its dinghy passes under a rock passage into the cave, where the listing describes a salt lake with a small beach. The stop lasts 75 minutes.
On the guided day cruise Sykia is optional and depends on the weather; the other choice is the beach of Agios Ioannis. Our top pick and the half-day catamaran stop for 15 minutes of photos, and four more boats pass by. The morning catamaran’s listing says the boat continues to the cave, and does not say that you go in.
Every boat, current fare
Group boats are priced per person and include lunch; the self-drive boat is priced per boat, for up to five people.
| Trip | Price | Price is for | Length | What the price covers | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Polyaigos sailboat | $140 | per person | 10 h | Lunch and drinks | 4.9 · 2,134 |
| Semi-private sailing day | $146 | per person | 8 h | Food, drinks, snorkel gear, photos | 4.8 · 970 |
| Guided day cruise | $168 | per person | 9.5 h | Meals, unlimited drinks, dinghy | 5.0 · 889 |
| Morning catamaran | $174 | per person | 6 h | Lunch, house wine, drinks | 4.8 · 435 |
| Sightseeing sailboat | $179 | per person | 8 h | Tapas, lunch, open bar, dinghy | 5.0 · 263 |
| Half-day catamaran | $179 | per person | 5 h | Breakfast, lunch, fruit, soft drinks, beer, wine, snorkel gear | 4.9 · 230 |
| Polyaigos circuit with meals | $179 | per person | 10 h | Breakfast, lunch, open bar | 4.8 · 334 |
| Our top pick | $201 | per person | 8.5 h | Breakfast, lunch, fruit, soft drinks, beer, wine, snorkel gear | 4.8 · 358 |
| Full-day open-bar sailboat | $202 | per person | 9 h | Breakfast, lunch, open bar | 4.7 · 247 |
| Self-drive boat | $252 | per boat, up to 5 | 4 to 8 h | Boat, full tank, briefing; fuel extra | 4.7 · 85 |
In the water
Swim in on four trips; snorkel gear is in the price on three boats.
Four more trips put you in the caves without a dinghy. The $146 semi-private sailing day says you swim inside sea caves during two hours at Kleftiko, with snorkelling gear in the price. The $202 full-day sailboat says you swim through hidden caves, though its stop is 45 minutes. On the $140 Polyaigos sailboat you snorkel around the caves and have lunch in the bay.
On our $201 top pick, the Kleftiko caves Milos boat swim stop lasts two hours: you snorkel in the pirate caves, with gear and swimming noodles on board. The half-day catamaran gives 105 minutes to swim and snorkel, with gear provided, and the morning catamaran stops two hours; neither listing says you go into a cave.
Before you book
Inside Sykia: the sightseeing sailboat only. The rest give you the Kleftiko caves Milos boat view from the deck and a swim.
Four boats, our top pick among them, ask for each passenger’s passport or ID details: three in advance, one when you book.
The sightseeing sailboat asks you to arrive 30 minutes before departure; late guests are not admitted.
The $67 kayak trip paddles into caves between Fyriplaka and Gerakas. If you want a Kleftiko caves tour by kayak, this is not one.
No licence needed for over-18s, $252 a boat for up to five, from Agia Kiriaki beach. Fuel, food and drinks are on you.
All 14 listings offer free cancellation; check the deadline before you pay.
Wind
The crew sets the route on the day.
Wind can reshape a Kleftiko caves Milos boat day. With strong northern winds, the guided day cruise may start from Provatas and the sightseeing sailboat from Palaiochori, and the morning catamaran may finish at Agia Kyriaki, with the ride back to Adamas at the operator’s expense. One listing says the captain may modify the route; another that the day may be rescheduled.
No listing promises a particular sea. What happens to the price if weather cancels a trip is not in the listings, so check the booking page.
Our verdict
To go inside Sykia and the Kleftiko caves, book the $179 sightseeing sailboat: a dinghy into both, 10 guests at most, rated 5.0 across 263 reviews. For a dinghy through Kleftiko on a bigger day, the $168 guided day cruise, rated 5.0 across 889. To swim into the caves, the $146 semi-private day. Our top pick, at $201, snorkels the caves and stops at Sykia for photos.
Book direct
Our top pick, the two dinghy trips and the swim-inside sailing day. All four are priced per person.
★ 4.8 · 358 reviews
★ 5.0 · 263 reviews
★ 5.0 · 889 reviews
★ 4.8 · 970 reviews
Common questions
Not the boat itself: no listing says so. Two trips take you in by dinghy: the $179 sightseeing sailboat and the $168 guided day cruise. On four more you swim or snorkel in or around the caves from the boat.
On one trip. The $179 sightseeing sailboat takes its dinghy under a rock passage into the cave, to a salt lake with a small beach. On the guided day cruise Sykia is optional, depending on the weather. The other boats pass by or stop for photos.
Yes, where the listing says so: you swim inside sea caves on the $146 semi-private day and through hidden caves on the $202 full-day sailboat. You snorkel around them on the $140 Polyaigos sailboat and on our $201 top pick.
On three boats: our $201 top pick, the $146 semi-private day and the $179 half-day catamaran. The $67 kayak trip hands out snorkel masks. The other listings do not say.
Two hours on four trips: our top pick, the semi-private day, the morning catamaran and the sightseeing sailboat. The half-day catamaran stays 105 minutes, the full-day open-bar sailboat 45. The other listings give no time.
The route can change. With strong northern winds the guided day cruise may start from Provatas and the sightseeing sailboat from Palaiochori. Listings say the route may be modified or the day rescheduled; what happens to the price is not stated.
Your options
Planning a Milos Greece Kleftiko caves boat day from Adamas? Start from what you want at the caves. A Kleftiko caves Milos boat day with a dinghy means the sightseeing sailboat or the guided day cruise; a swim inside means the semi-private day; a snorkel and the view from the deck suit any of the group boats. Lunch is on board on all eight, so the choice comes down to the caves and the hours.
Go deeper
Where each boat stops to swim, and for how long.
GuideThe coast past Kleftiko: Sykia, Gerakas and the stops on the way.
GuideThe sailing days to Kleftiko and Polyaigos, compared.
GuideChoosing by boat, hours, budget and the stops you want.
Milos: Kleftiko Cruise with Meal, Drinks and Photos at Sykia
★ 4.8 · 358 reviews · 8.5 hours