Spoiler alert … you don’t need to pay 100 euros for a boat trip to see the Milos gem that is Kleftiko Beach. The numerous boat companies might want you think this, but it’s not true. Kleftiko Bay is definitely accessible by foot, and it’s not even that hard of a hike. (But if you’d like to go by boat, here are your options)
When we came to Milos we knew we wanted to see Kleftiko Bay, but we didn’t want to pay the 100 euros for a boat tour. For one, we’re not rich. And two, we know going places with BIG groups of people often takes away from the experience. However, we had read on a lot of blogs and seen on a lot of Youtube videos that Kleftiko was only accessible by boat. So … we almost shelled out the cash for a tour until we stumbled across some information that you CAN actually hike to Kleftiko Bay.
We did not pay for any tour to go to Kleftiko, and we were still swimming in the same bay, in the same coves, doing the same stuff that all the other tourists were doing.
🇬🇷 Things to Book Now for Milos ⛵️
- Rental Car 🚗 (Discover Cars, pick up at the port)
- Hotel in/near Pollonia 🏨 (Booking.com)
- Boat tour to Kleftiko Bay (MUST-DO! Leaves from Adamantas)
Ultimate Guide to Kleftiko Beach – Secret Hike
Below we hope to give you a complete guide to hiking to Kleftiko Bay! If you read the post below and decide you don’t want to risk it with your small Sedan rental car, you should definitely go with a tour. You do not want to miss Kleftiko – we consider this THE best thing to do in Milos.
Getting to the Trailhead – Kleftiko Beach Milos
The trailhead starts about 1 mile from The Monastery of St. John Siderianos. If you can get to this monastery, then you will be able to complete the hike. However, getting to the monastery is an adventure.
The road to the monastery gets quite rocky about 5 miles before. It is quite hilly. A 4×4 car or a quad would be highly ideal to get here, however, it is not required. We did this drive in our Opel Sedan Rental Car. The drive was very nerve racking, because if we got a flat-tire then we would be in a lot of trouble. There are a ton of loose rocks on the road, and since it is completely dirt for miles, we were not sure if insurance would cover us out here. There is nothing out here – no stores or shops for miles, so if you get stuck … you’re in trouble.
➡️ Read: The Best 7 Beaches in Milos ☀️
Thankfully we made it to the monastery and back in one-piece, but the drive was very nerve-racking. We saw multiple cars give the road a try and then turn around and head back because they didn’t like what they saw. We also saw other sedans make it to the monastery with no problems. It all depends on who you are.
Tip ✨ If you have a 4×4 or quad you can go past the monastery and all the way to the trailhead. We just recommend stopping at the monastery if you have a car because the road gets noticeably worse after the monastery.
🚗 We recommend to rent a car through Discover Cars. Book your rental car here!
The Hike – Hike to Kleftiko
The hike is clearly marked with a sign that says “Kleftiko”. (pictured below) It took us about 45 minutes to get down to the bay, and about 45 minutes to get back up. The hike is NOT steep, it is a very gradual downhill, and you don’t need to worry about slippery terrain on a steep incline. TIP! Follow the stacked rock piles (aka “carins”) that mark the right way for the hike all the way down to the bay!
The one thing to note is that Milos is home to a poisonous viper that, if you were bitten by, would be a huge problem. Therefore you should definitely wear close-toed shoes on this hike. There are also big rocks so you’re going to want some good, proper hiking shoes.
➡️ Read: 1 Day in Athens Itinerary 🇬🇷
It’s worth noting that the poisonous viper is VERY rare on the island, and the odds are very low that you will see one. (almost 0) Just maybe don’t stop for a picnic on your hike down the hill, in the dirt…
Once You Get to Kleftiko Beach
The hike takes you all the way down to the water on the Southern of Kleftiko Bay. From here, you can easily swim to where all the boats and catamaran tours take people. You can swim through the “bridge”, snorkel, and check out the caves. Make sure you bring goggles so you can check out the fish underwater! Kleftiko is easily one of the best beaches in Milos, and all of Greece for that matter. The place is truly stunning!
➡️ Read: Naxos or Paros – Which is Better? 🇬🇷
Hiking Back to the Monastery
The hike back to the monastery is not that hard as the incline is not that steep. Everyone should be able to do this in under an hour. You walk back to the trailhead, then back to the monastery to get your car, and hopefully your car makes it back to the pavement!
READ 👉 Top 8 Things to Do in Milos
Summary – Kleftiko Beach Milos – All You Need to Know
You can definitely hike to Kleftiko. If you want to save some money and not drop 50-150 euros for a boat tour, then this is a good option. A 4×4 or Quad would be ideal, but the road is also doable with a normal Sedan rental car. (We rented an Opel Sedan from Discover Cars and had no problems)
Just drive slowly over the rocks, and take your time. You definitely wouldn’t want to do this drive when it’s raining, as the road and rocks probably wash out.
🛌 Here are all your hotel options in Milos 🇬🇷
Regardless of what you decide, Kleftiko is definitely worth a visit. There’s no way you can come to Milos and miss Kleftiko!
💡 Also, checkout out our post on a Greece Road Trip to the North! The North of Greece is MUCH less touristy, and has some absolutely amazing sights that most have never even heard of. We recommend you head to the amazing Vikos Gorge and Meteora Monasteries 🥾
We hope this guide helped you plan your hike. Any questions? Post them in the comments below and we’d be happy to respond.
