Mykonos Secluded Bays Sea Kayaking Tour

Panormos Beach: the starting point

Panormos is a deep, sandy bay on the north coast of Mykonos, about 15 minutes by car or taxi from Mykonos Town. It is wider and calmer in character than the famous south-coast beaches, with low hills of granite and scrub on both sides and the open Aegean to the north. Buses to the north coast are limited, so most visitors arrive by taxi, rental car or scooter.

Your kayaking tour starts here at 10:00. The guide hands out kayaks, paddles and life vests, then gives a short lesson on getting in, steering and paddling together if you share a double kayak. You practise in the shallow water of the bay before heading out along the shore. No previous experience is needed, but you should be comfortable in the water.

Paddling the north coast

The north coast of Mykonos is the island's wild side: granite boulders, small coves and clear water, with almost no buildings between Panormos and Agios Sostis. Seabirds nest on the rocks, and the shoreline is covered with thyme, sage and capers that scent the air on warm mornings.

The route follows the coast for about five kilometres at an easy pace, with regular pauses to rest, take in the view and listen to your guide talk about the island's nature. The north coast faces the meltemi, the strong summer wind of the Aegean, so the guide checks the forecast every day; on windy days the tour may be shortened or cancelled for safety. Mornings in June and September are usually the calmest.

Agios Sostis and the secluded bays

Agios Sostis is one of the last undeveloped beaches on Mykonos: a crescent of golden sand with no sunbeds or beach bars, watched over by a tiny white chapel on the hill above. On either side, small coves cut into the rocks are reachable only on foot over the hills or from the sea.

Arriving by kayak is the best way to enjoy them. You glide into bays where the water is so clear you can see the sandy bottom several metres below, and land on a quiet beach for a break. Is a Mykonos kayaking tour worth it? For many guests this moment, on an empty beach in the heart of the Cyclades, is the highlight of their stay on the island.

Snorkelling and wild herbs

The protected waters along this coast are rich in marine life. With the snorkelling gear provided, you can float above rocks and seagrass where shoals of bream, snappers and grey mullet move in silver flashes, and you may spot octopus, sea urchins and colourful wrasse among the stones.

After snorkelling, the guide serves local snacks and bottled water on the shore and shows you some of the wild herbs that grow on the northern side of the island, explaining how islanders use them in cooking and traditional remedies. Then you paddle back to Panormos Beach, where the tour ends about two hours after it began, with your action-camera photos sent to you afterwards.