Last updated
16 March 2008
Milos
This Western Cycladean island appears to
offer some naturist possibilities. It is growing in popularity, however,
and with increased crowds naturists have a tendency to be crowded out. The following report reached me, which
I offer without comment:
"I just got back from a 10-day visit
to Milos (my second time there) and there were topless women everywhere.
I even saw an entire family naked playing ping-pong in the surf. I myself
went topless (by the way, I'm a woman) and when I would suntan, I was completely
nude. No one seemed to mind...especially not the beautiful man whom I met
the day before...God, I love Greece and I love Milos.... "
This is not the only report of this kind
I have received about Milos. What is it about this island..?!! Paliochori
The Captain has received various reports
about this beach but has not yet been there himself. Some of the
directions in the description which follows may therefore be a bit confused.
If anyone feels like providing an accurate re-write I would not say no!
My contributor last visited the island
in 1997 and returned in 2001. In 1997 they used the west section
of the beach through the small tunnel in the cliff, this year when they
went through the tunnel they found a recent cliff fall blocking their way.
they started to climb over it and saw that it was going to be quite easy
but felt grit and dust falling on them and looked up at the vertical cliff
above and decided to go to the other end of the beach. When they got there
they found nudists at the east end of the main beach and that there was
no need to clamber over the rocks to the east section. There are three
sections to the beach and both east and west sections are nudist as was
the east end of the large main central beach at the end of May 01.
 A correspondent describes Paliochori beach
as one of the best beaches in Greece. It is very long with 3 sections.
The northernmost section after some fallen rocks is the one where you can swim
nude. There is a bus service 6 times daily. The nudist part (now
frequented by some gays as well, the Captain is told), is at your left
after the rocks, when you stand looking at the sea. Facilities in the beach
(swimming suit part) include water sports and two or three fish taverns.
A recent correspondent rates the beach 75%.
A correspondent visited Milos for 3 days
in 1997 and stayed in Adamas. The first afternoon they looked at two beaches, Bombarda and Lagada, to the NW of the port and were very disappointed.
They were rather grim, empty and doubtful as naturist beaches. They returned
to town and hired a car for 2 days. The next morning they discovered Palochori
on the south coast and stayed there for two days.
When you reach the beach go to the west
end and walk or wade through a small tunnel on to a very pleasant pebble
beach. This is a nudist beach. There is a smell of sulphur and when you
swim out a wee bit and stand on the sandy bottom it feels quite warm. The
area is obviously volcanic. There is supposed to be a bus service to Palochori
and boats across the bay to Empourios Beach but neither had started at
the end of May. Palochori seems to be the preferred spelling in guide books.
My contributors explored a little of the island and decided that it was
worth returning sometime.
Some confusion among my contributors about
which end of this beach to go to. Recent reports say there is nudism
at both ends. One end mostly gay . The other end empty. You
don't even know it's there unless you take a walk along the cliffs and
you see it down below. It looks great. It's separated by a jutting
cliff wedge from the rest of the beach. Another contributor tells
me that at the eastern end, after a scramble over the rocks and water there
is a large section which was almost completely nude. This is a pretty
beach and you can walk back to a snack bar or further to a choice of three
nice tavernas.
A report from September 2003 said the west beach is now reached by steps from
a restaurant above, and is covered with beach umbrellas, so my contributor did
not check for naturists. The east beach is reached by clambering over
rocks and was overwhelmingly naturist. An excellent pebbly beach. A
Barefooter who visited during July 2007 says the area on the left hand side
(facing the sea) behind the rocks still remains naturist with a good mixture of
locals and tourists. During the day, though, small groups of Greeks who refuse
to take off their bathing suits, still pop up but do not seems to care a lot
for the naturists Bombarda and Lagada
Lagada is a pleasant town beach, but right in front of the Langada Beach
Hotel (formerly the Venus Village) and no chance of naturism. Bombarda, which
is a mile or so from Adamas town, appeared from the distance to be a possibility
but during my contributor's visit (Sept. 2003) was deserted except for a camper
van: his guidebook says it is an unofficial campsite. Fyriplaka
The nudist part is after the rocks on
the farthest end of the beach. Crystal clear waters and a very impressive
landscape. The road is bumpy, and an ugly factory stands 2km before the
beach - don't be misled, it is the right direction! Dressed part is
very
crowded
during the summer, there is no bus service, a beach bar with cold beverages
and sandwiches is available though. It is said to be the second most beautiful
landscape on the island after Sarakiniko, and the water really is impressive.
My (anonymous) correspondent, to whom
the Captain is very grateful for all this information, gives the beach
an 80% rating.
 A report from September 2000 described
Firiplaka as beautiful and nude (3 couples) at the western end. At
the center of the beach there is a snack bar and beach chairs and umbrellas
and a large number of fully suited visitors.
The beach was deserted at the end of
May 01 apart from a noisy pump getting sea water up to the quarry above.
There is a dusty narrow track down to the beach from the quarry. It was
quite easy to drive down and up in May but there could be problems if it
was busy. There is a small car park at the bottom above the beach.
In September 2003 my contributors found that even the (western) part after
the rock pillar was textile, and took refuge on a stony beach beyond, where
there was already one nude couple and several more joined them. As the sea is
very rocky to enter, they returned after an hour or two to find that the lovely
sandy beach occupied by textiles when I passed had become 50% naturist: some
brave soul must have started a fashion! Barefooters who visited in August 2005
spent 4 days on Fyriplaka and thought it the best nudist beach on Milos. After
the big rock almost everyone was nude every day, between 20 and 50 men and
women.
Katergo
Rather messy to get there, but worth
the scenery and the underwater beauty. Very crowded (and thus dressed)
during mid-summer, but nudism is possible between the rocks. My correspondent
rates this beach 70%.
Agios Ioannis
Three beaches on the south-western coast.
A real adventure to get there, and no help if your car breaks down: This
is the far edge of the world... But the second beach is practically nude,
while the third one is almost always free of tourists, and the best place
to go if you want to be alone with your girlfriend. The water is ok, not
the best, but the landscape is good. Most of the surrounding is wild, no
inhabitants around the area. Worth seeing if on Milos for several (>4)
days. My correspondent gave this one 75%.
A report from September 2000 describes
these beaches as the most beautiful on the island. The second and
third beaches were predominantly nude but several couples were unclothed
at the north end of the first curved beach. The ride from Adamanas,
however, is tricky and takes almost an hour, with the last half hour over
very poor roads with no protection against the sheer cliffs.
Thiafes
A very popular place, the abandoned
Sulphur Quarries. The beach is small, and not very nudist in the middle
of the summer, but in June/September it is. Very difficult to get there,
(ask for explanations several times) and the road is dangerous. Don' t try
it with your brand new cinquecento! My correspondent's rating is
65%.
Barefoot reporters who visited Thiafes during July 2007 tell me that the
beach during the high season is totally textiles-only - but, on the left side of
the beach (facing the sea) just before the beach ends, a big fallen rock and
some smaller ones build a small cove which is not totally hidden but still
provides a very good place to sunbath nude. They were able to go nude into
the water and nobody seemed to be bothered. People noticed that a
couple was swimming nude and they did not even came closer.
The road to Thiafes is indeed hard work and beware: do not even
think of trying to get to the end of the road without a 4x4 or an enduro-bike. My reporters did that, unfortunately, and had a nightmare driving
up again. Best to leave the car or the bike at the end of the dirt road above
the beach before the old fence of the sulphur mines Achivadolimni Beach
This beach is at the south end of Adamas
Bay and faces north, just west of the camp site and the road junction for
Provatas and Fyriplaka. In May 2001 Achivadolmni was deserted. It
is guite a long sandy beach and could be good in hot weather when there
is a cooling north wind. In May south facing Paleochori was best.
 A Barefooter who visited in June 2004 was very impressed. Nudism was
practised on the right side of the beach as you are looking towards the sea. The
sea was crystal clear and it was mot at all crowded.
Gerontas
At Gerontas, which is another difficult
drive, my contributors were the first to arrive at 10am but were joined
by 1pm by over ten different Greek couples who remained in bathing suits.
Provatas
In the south of the Island, well served
by bus from Adamas in the Summer. There are two lovely beaches, the first
near hotels is mostly clothed, but the other and below where the bus terminates
at the church of Aghios Nikolais is wonderful and mostly nude. The water
is unbelievably clear and calm, being sheltered from the north wind. To
get down to the beach walk by the church and down the rather steep cliff
immediately below the church and you follow a path and get to the beach.
There is a snack bar above Provatas main beach. My correspondent's
rating: 85%.
According to a report from September 2003 the bus now terminates at the hotel
above the eastern beach. Immediately below the church (labelled Aghios
Sostis) is a private residence with what looked like its own, stony, beach.
Perhaps my previous correspondent is thinking of a descent between the two which
now has a restaurant at the top: the sandy beach here was entirely textile on my
new contributor's visit (Sept. 2003). Voudia
When you reach Voudia, after you reach the entrance to the factory, continue
for a little while, until you find a small road in bad condition that will take
you to the beach. It will not be very nice while you are close to the mine site,
but as you walk down the beach there are plenty of secluded gulfs, with normally
one naked couple on each one. Find an empty one and unpack, you will be alone
all day, just take water and snacks with you. The beach is nice and sandy, with
a few rocks in the water, perfect if you want some time alone with your partner.
The only bad thing is the view of the mine on one side... Another couple of good beaches for nude
bathing are Sarakiniko and Aghios Constantinos on the north coast, but
avoid when windy!
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