8 days in the heart of the Cyclades, including 6 days of sea kayaking around the volcanic island of Milos and across to Kimolos, with 5 nights camping and 2 nights in a hotel in Pollonia.
Milos: a sea kayaking expedition in the heart of the Aegean
Milos is an island shaped by volcanism. White cliffs, red and yellow rock, sea caves, translucent coves and abandoned mines follow one another along an exceptionally varied coastline. Sea kayaking lets us discover these landscapes at close range and reach places that are difficult to appreciate from land.
Over six days, we travel around Milos with an excursion to neighbouring Kimolos. Sarakiniko, Mandrakia, Klima, Cape Vani, Sikia, Kleftiko, Tsigrado and Thiorichia form an itinerary where geology, history and sea kayaking are constantly intertwined.
Each evening, we camp on beaches and in secluded coves, close to the route we are paddling. The kayaks carry the equipment required for the journey: every day, our camp travels with us and we discover a new place to spend the night.
👉 Small group of 4 to 8 participants, accompanied by a French state-certified sea kayaking instructor.
Trip at a glance
Greece · Milos & Kimolos · Cyclades
Available on request
We are currently considering a departure for late October 2027. If this period interests you, contact us so that we can register your interest. Other dates can also be considered for an existing group.
- Duration
- 8 days / 7 nights
- Kayaking days
- 6 days
- Accommodation
- 5 camping nights + 2 nights in a 2★ hotel
- Technical level
- Level 3
- Daily paddling
- Around 5 hours · approx. 20 km
- Group size
- 4 to 8 participants
- Price
- €1,500 per person
The itinerary, distances and camping locations are indicative. They may be changed according to the weather, wind, sea conditions, the group’s level and safety considerations. The aim is to maintain the overall logic of a journey around Milos while choosing the best paddling conditions each day.
Why this journey is unique
- A spectacular volcanic island: Milos brings together white cliffs, multicoloured rock, arches, sea caves and landscapes shaped by thousands of years of geological activity.
- A genuine self-supported journey: for 6 days, we carry the camping equipment in the kayaks and move to a new camp each evening.
- Iconic places approached from the sea: Sarakiniko, Sikia, Kleftiko, Tsigrado and the abandoned sulphur mines of Thiorichia take on an entirely different dimension from a kayak.
- An excursion to Kimolos: the trip is not limited to the coastline of Milos and begins with a crossing towards the neighbouring island.
- A more committing journey with professional guidance: Level 3 requires solid previous experience, good physical fitness and the ability to paddle on several consecutive days.
Geology best explored at water level
In Milos, the rock can change almost from one headland to the next. The pale formations of Sarakiniko give the coast an almost lunar appearance, while other areas combine ochres, dark volcanic rock and cliffs in much warmer colours. Sea caves are everywhere, and some coves only truly reveal themselves when approached from the water.
The kayak therefore becomes much more than a means of transport. It allows us to slip through rocky passages, explore the hidden lagoons of Kleftiko, enter caves along the western coast and land on isolated beaches for a picnic or an overnight camp.
The journey also crosses the human history of the island: fishing villages, abandoned mines, industrial remains and ancient heritage remind us that Milos is much more than a spectacular natural landscape.
Want to know more?
The Road Book provides details about the itinerary, personal equipment, camping organisation and meals.
Camping: a new camp every evening
Unlike our catamaran-based journeys, Milos is a self-supported sea kayaking trip with the equipment carried in the kayaks. For five nights, we pitch our tents in coves or on beaches selected according to our progress and the conditions.
Space inside the kayaks is limited, so everyone travels with the essentials. Travel clothes and items that are not required during the kayaking journey can be left in storage in Pollonia during the six days on the water.
Accommodation
- 5 nights camping in tents during the sea kayaking journey.
- 2 nights in a 2-star hotel in Pollonia: one night before setting out by kayak and one night after returning.
- Tents and collective camping equipment are provided; each participant brings their own sleeping bag and sleeping mat.
Meals during the kayaking journey
Cooking is part of camp life. Lunches are taken as picnics during the kayaking days. In the evening, we prepare a hot meal together, with simple and varied food using fresh and local ingredients whenever possible.
Breakfasts are also organised at camp during the journey. In Pollonia, breakfast is included with the hotel nights; some meals before setting out and after returning from the kayaking journey remain at your own expense.
Camping equipment provided
- 2- or 3-person tents.
- Stoves and cooking equipment.
- Dry bags for carrying personal belongings inside the kayaks.
Six days around Milos and Kimolos
Indicative itinerary. The guide may change the direction of travel, stages and camping locations according to the weather, wind, sea conditions, the group’s condition and any safety considerations.
- Day 1 — Arrival in Milos · Pollonia
Arrival on the island and check-in at our 2-star hotel in Pollonia, a village on the north-eastern coast of Milos. This first evening gives us time to settle in before beginning the kayaking journey. Night in the hotel. - Day 2 — Pollonia → Kimolos
Preparation of the equipment and loading the kayaks. After a free lunch, we launch and begin the journey towards Kimolos. First paddle, setting up camp and our first night under canvas.
- Day 3 — North coast · Sarakiniko · Mandrakia
We continue towards Milos and follow the northern coast. The brilliant white landscape of Sarakiniko provides one of the strongest contrasts of the journey. Further on, Mandrakia and its colourful fishermen’s houses reflect the island’s long relationship with the sea. Overnight camp in a cove according to conditions. - Day 4 — Klima · Gulf of Adamas · Cape Vani · Triades
This day combines heritage and paddling: we pass Klima, cross the Gulf of Adamas and continue towards Cape Vani. Caves, abandoned mines and historic remains punctuate the coastline before a night in the Triades area.
- Day 5 — West coast · Sikia · Kleftiko
The western coast contains a remarkable concentration of sea caves. After exploring several of them by kayak, we stop for a picnic around the great collapsed sea cave of Sikia before reaching Kleftiko and its spectacular rock arches. Overnight camp in a cove suited to the conditions. - Day 6 — Kleftiko · south coast · Tsigrado · Thiorichia
We continue through the maze of Kleftiko before following the southern coast, where volcanic formations display an extraordinary variety of colours. After a possible stop at Tsigrado, we reach the abandoned sulphur mine area of Thiorichia for our fifth and final camping night.
- Day 7 — Return to Pollonia · Plaka
Our final kayaking day takes us back to Pollonia, where we collect the belongings left at the hotel. After six days on the water and five nights camping, we return to the comfort of our 2-star hotel. Depending on timing and the group’s energy, the evening may offer an opportunity to visit Plaka and the area around the ancient theatre. - Day 8 — Departure from Milos
Breakfast at the hotel, then the trip ends. Participants continue their travels or return to Athens according to their own transport arrangements.
🧭 Pace & distances: expect around 20 km per day, generally around 5 hours of kayaking including breaks. The length of each stage varies according to the wind, sea conditions and the location selected for the overnight camp.
A typical day on a self-supported journey
After breakfast at camp, we pack everything away and divide our belongings between the dry bags. A briefing covers the weather and the day’s stage. We spend several hours paddling, with time to enter sea caves, swim or snorkel when conditions allow. Lunch is a picnic on a beach or in a sheltered cove. In the late afternoon, we choose our camping area, pitch the tents and prepare dinner.
Kayaks, equipment & logistics
There is currently no suitable local fleet for the way we organise this trip, so Voyage Kayak brings its own kayaks to Milos. This allows us to offer different volumes and types of boat according to each participant’s size and experience.
- Single sea kayaks: DAG Ysak; Zegul Reval Low Volume, Medium Volume and High Volume; P&H Scorpio Medium Volume and High Volume; TRAK 2.0.
- Tandem sea kayak: DAG Biwok, available according to the needs and composition of the group.
- Paddles: Werner and Aqua Bound paddles in different lengths and blade sizes; Greenland-style paddles are also available according to individual preferences.
- Equipment provided: PFD, spraydeck, dry bags and group safety equipment, as well as tents, stoves and cooking equipment.
Personal equipment
Each participant brings a sleeping bag, sleeping mat, clothing suitable for paddling and camping, full sun protection, footwear that can be used in the water and a headtorch. The Road Book provides the detailed packing list before departure.
Is this trip right for you?
- You have solid previous sea kayaking experience and want to move on to a more committing expedition-style journey.
- You can manage 6 consecutive days of kayaking, around 5 hours and approximately 20 km per day.
- You enjoy camping and outdoor life, with simple comfort and a camp that must be set up and packed away each day.
- You are comfortable travelling light and understand that personal belongings are limited by the storage space available in the kayak.
- You are comfortable with an itinerary that remains highly adaptable to weather and wind.
- You are looking above all for immersion in an exceptional environment rather than a hotel-based holiday.
Participation is subject to prior approval of our paddling-level questionnaire.
Dates, price & organisation
Available on request
The late October 2027 departure is currently under consideration. Contact us now if this period interests you: this helps us assess demand and build the group.
The price includes: 2 nights in a 2-star hotel in Pollonia in a double room with breakfast; 5 nights camping; guiding during the 6 kayaking days by a French state-certified sea kayaking instructor; sea kayaking equipment; collective camping equipment; meals during the kayaking journey.
Meals: breakfast is included at the hotel after both nights in Pollonia. During the kayaking journey, breakfasts, picnic lunches and hot dinners are organised by Voyage Kayak. Dinner on Day 1, lunch on Day 2 and dinner on Day 7 are at your own expense.
Not included: transport to reach Milos and onward travel from the island, the free meals listed above, cancellation / assistance / repatriation insurance, alcoholic drinks, tips, personal expenses and additional nights.
Access: Milos can be reached via Athens, either by domestic flight or ferry. We can advise you on the most suitable connection for the trip, but transport to Milos is not included.
How to get to Milos
To reach Milos, you first need to travel to Athens. There are many flight options to the Greek capital from France and from major European airports.
From Athens, there are two main ways to continue to Milos:
- By air: domestic flights connect Athens and Milos, including services operated by Olympic Air. As a rough guide, expect around €100 return depending on the season, when you book and availability.
- By ferry: ferries leave from the port of Piraeus, which is easy to reach from Athens Airport by public transport. Several companies serve Milos depending on the season.
There is no need to worry about organising the connection on your own: before the trip, we provide the information you need to choose schedules and connections that work with the programme. We can also advise you on the best combination between your international flight and your flight or ferry to Milos.
Useful information
Arrival in Milos
The trip begins in Milos on Day 1 with check-in in Pollonia. We recommend choosing tickets that leave a comfortable margin in case schedules change on connections to the Cyclades.
End of the trip
The trip finishes after breakfast on Day 8. Transport from Milos is arranged individually.
Level
The trip is rated Level 3. Solid previous sea kayaking experience and good physical fitness are required to complete six consecutive paddling days with a loaded kayak. Participation is subject to approval of our paddling-level questionnaire.
Weather & adapting the route
An island circumnavigation is particularly dependent on wind and sea conditions. The direction of travel, crossings, stages and camping locations may therefore be changed. Each day, the guide chooses the most suitable option in order to preserve both safety and the quality of the journey.
FAQ — Essential information
How long is the trip?
The trip lasts 8 days / 7 nights, including 6 days of sea kayaking. It includes 5 nights camping in tents and 2 nights in a 2-star hotel in Pollonia.
What level is required?
The trip is rated Level 3. Solid previous sea kayaking experience and good physical fitness are required to complete six consecutive paddling days with a loaded kayak. Participation is subject to prior approval of our paddling-level questionnaire.
How long and how far do we paddle each day?
Expect around 20 km per day, generally around 5 hours of kayaking including breaks. Distances may vary according to the wind, sea conditions and the camping location selected for the night.
Where do we sleep during the trip?
The nights before and after the kayaking journey are spent in a 2-star hotel in Pollonia. During the six kayaking days, we spend five nights camping in tents on beaches or in coves selected according to the route and conditions.
What camping equipment is provided?
Voyage Kayak provides tents, stoves, cooking equipment and dry bags used to carry personal belongings in the kayaks. Each participant brings their own sleeping bag and sleeping mat.
How are meals organised?
During the kayaking journey, lunches are taken as picnics and hot dinners are prepared together. Breakfasts at camp are also organised by Voyage Kayak. Dinner on Day 1, lunch on Day 2 and dinner on Day 7 are at your own expense.
Is the circumnavigation of Milos guaranteed in the direction shown?
No. The programme is indicative. The direction of travel, stages, crossings and camping locations may be adapted according to the weather, wind, sea conditions, the group’s level and safety considerations.
Which kayaks are used in Milos?
Voyage Kayak uses its own fleet, including DAG Ysak, Zegul Reval, P&H Scorpio and TRAK 2.0 single kayaks, plus a DAG Biwok tandem when required. The choice of kayak depends on body size, experience and the composition of the group.
Is there a departure planned for 2027?
A departure is currently being considered for late October 2027. The exact dates have not yet been fixed. If this period interests you, contact us so that we can register your interest and keep you informed as the project develops.
What is the price and what does it include?
The price is €1,500 per person. It includes 2 nights in a 2-star hotel in Pollonia with breakfast, 5 nights camping, guiding during the 6 kayaking days, sea kayaking equipment, collective camping equipment and meals during the kayaking journey. Transport to and from Milos is not included.
Interested in the proposed late October 2027 departure?
Request the Milos Road Book or contact us so that we can register your interest in the trip.