Go back to soothingly simpler times in comfort via a stay at one of these eco-chic boathouse-villas, located on arguably the most stunning of all the Cyclades islands. Owner Nausika Georgiadou gives us the downlow.
Long before Milos’ chalk-white cliffs and luminous sea caves became an Instagram sensation, Nausika Georgiadou had quietly built a word-of-mouth following at Skinopi Lodge. Insiders return to her understated hideaway year after year for the less-is-more ethos and serene seaside setting. Modelled after the boxy vernacular of syrmata – the colourful boathouses burrowed into the coastline right below the lodge – the seven villas at Skinopi embody a simple, elemental way of life right at the water’s edge. Here, Georgiadou shares his local intel into where to go and what not to miss on the storied, volcanic, notably beautiful Cyclades island.
I fell in love with Milos… “When I was 15, I saw a documentary about a fishing boat sailing around Milos. The images of the cliffs and caves were so incredible, I thought this place couldn’t be real. So I came on holiday with friends to see for myself. We were supposed to stay for a couple of days and ended up staying two weeks. That was in the early 80s. I have come back every summer since then.”
The story behind Skinopi… “I bought a ruin in Trypiti village, which I gradually turned into a bed and breakfast. But my dream was always to have a seafront property. Eventually, I found a plot just above the fishing village of Skinopi. Over a decade, I bought up the surrounding plots. We launched with three villas in 2016, and added four more in 2022.”
There’s no place like Milos because… “of its volcanic nature, the island has the most varied marine landscape in Greece. The white rocks of Sarakiniko, the desert isles of Glaronisia, and the caves at Kleftiko are an absolute dream for anyone who loves the sea. Some of our guests arrive on their own boat. We have a private deck below the property where they can drop off passengers, and then moor at the marina of Adamas, a few minutes away.”
A perfect day at sea… “Milos belongs to an archipelago of three islands, along with Kimolos and Polyaigos. It’s very common for us to visit all three islands in a single day with our RIB boat, Summerwine. ( RIBs are ideal for Milos as they are stable in windy conditions and you can go inside the sea caves, which you can’t do on a sailing boat.) We might tour the sea caves, southern beaches, and sulphur mines on Milos, then continue to the desert island of Polyaigos. After a late lunch at To Kyma or To Telonion on Kimolos port, we time our return to catch the sunset on the way back to Milos. We often see dolphins on the ride home.”
A great hike nearby… “To the east of Skinopi are prehistoric obsidian mines where tools were produced before the Iron and Copper age. You can still find a lot of obsidian fragments scattered around. To the west are the ancient theatre and catacombs. This is where the statue of Venus de Milo was found. Above the archaeological site, Panagia Tourliani church at Klimatovouni is a lovely hike for gorgeous sunsets without the crowds.”
An only-in-Skinopi experience… “Everyone loves to take a morning dip from the deck before breakfast. Just before sundown, they all rush back to Skinopi, driving like crazy to catch the sunset from their deckchairs and wave at the boats gliding into the port.”
A closely-guarded secret… “Rent an SUV and explore the west of Milos, a vast nature reserve full of ancient olive trees. There are several beaches where you can be alone even in August. On the way back, have lunch at the tiny village of Empourios, which you can also reach by boat. Very few visitors make it there.”
skinopi.com
