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Yes, many boat tours offer trips that include the Sarakiniko area on Milos Island, providing access to the unique white rock formations in deep water, though Kleftiko and Poliegos are more common destinations for full boat tours. Visitors can find private or small-group tours on sites like Tripadvisor and GetYourGuide that will take you past and potentially to the rocks around Sarakiniko to explore the deep, clear waters, caves, and lunar-like landscape.
How to Find Boat Rides
Booking Sites: Check platforms like GetYourGuide, Tripadvisor, and Viator for a variety of tours.
Tour Types: Options range from private luxury cruises to small group tours, with many including other highlights like Kleftiko and Poliegos.
Itinerary: Tours often include stops for swimming and snorkeling in the crystal clear waters around the unique rock formations, some with guided commentary.
What to Expect at Sarakiniko
Unique Landscape: Sarakiniko is known for its white, volcanic, moon-like rocks and deep, clear waters perfect for swimming and exploring caves.
Diving & Snorkeling: The deep water near the rocks is excellent for diving and snorkeling, with some tours providing equipment.
Safety Note: Be aware of sea anemones in some areas near the rocks, which can cause painful skin reactions.
We Explored Hidden Sea Caves in Greece ....

The rock formations at Sarakiniko Beach are known as pumice, a lightweight, porous volcanic rock that has been sculpted by wind and waves into a distinctive "moon-like" landscape. There isn't a single, famous rock, but rather a landscape of smooth, white volcanic rock formations, caves, and natural arches.
Key characteristics of Sarakiniko's rocks:
Volcanic Origin: The rocks are formed from volcanic material, specifically pumice and other extrusive volcanic rocks mixed with sandstone and mudstone.
Lunar Landscape: The erosion by winds and waves has created a unique, undulating landscape with features that resemble the surface of the moon.
Smooth but Sharp: Although the rocks appear smooth, they are actually very sharp due to the abrasive pumice, so it's best to wear shoes to protect your feet.
Varied Features: The formations include unique arches, caves, and shallow pools that are perfect for swimming.

The rock formations at Sarakiniko Beach are known as pumice, a lightweight, porous volcanic rock that has been sculpted by wind and waves into a distinctive "moon-like" landscape. There isn't a single, famous rock, but rather a landscape of smooth, white volcanic rock formations, caves, and natural arches. Key characteristics of Sarakiniko rocks: Volcanic Origin: The rocks are formed from volcanic material, specifically pumice and other extrusive volcanic rocks mixed with sandstone and mudstone. Lunar Landscape: The erosion by winds and waves has created a unique, undulating landscape with features that resemble the surface of the moon. Smooth but Sharp: Although the rocks appear smooth, they are actually very sharp due to the abrasive pumice, so it's best to wear shoes to protect your feet. Varied Features: The formations include unique arches, caves, and shallow pools that are perfect for swimming.

Pumice is a porous, lightweight volcanic rock formed from gas-filled lava that cools and solidifies rapidly. The rocks at Sarakiniko Beach, on the volcanic island of Milos, are indeed formed from volcanic materials, which include pumice, tuff, and other deposits from a series of eruptions. However, while some sources describe the formations as primarily pumice, geologists offer a more nuanced explanation that includes a mixture of materials.
How pumice becomes lightweight and porous
Pumice's signature porous texture is created during explosive volcanic eruptions when highly pressurized, gas-rich magma is ejected.
As the magma rapidly rises to the surface, the pressure drops dramatically, causing dissolved gases—like water vapor and carbon dioxide—to rapidly exsolve and form bubbles, similar to opening a can of soda.
The cooling happens so quickly that the viscous lava solidifies around the gas bubbles, trapping them and leaving behind a rock filled with air pockets.
This process results in a rock with extremely high porosity (64–85% by volume), giving it a very low density. In fact, many pumice samples are less dense than water and can float.
Sarakiniko's geology: A more complex picture
While pumice is a key component, calling the entire landscape "pumice" is a simplification. Geologists explain that the formations are made of a more complex combination of volcanic deposits, known as tuff, that were laid down over millions of years.
Compositional nuance
The formations consist of volcanic tuff, which is a mix of volcanic ash and pumice, along with other layers of mudstone and sandstone.
Studies have found different strata within the rocks, some of which contain rich fossil layers from ancient sea bottoms, showing a more complex history than just a single, massive pumice deposit.
The famous lunar-like appearance is the result of wind and waves constantly eroding the layered volcanic tuff, not just pure pumice.
Confirmation by scientific research
The Earth and Planetary Image Archive features a photo of Sarakiniko Beach and attributes its moon-like landscape to wind and wave-sculpted volcanic rock forms and contrasting fossil layers.
In 2024, the Hellenic Space Center co-hosted a workshop on Milos where international experts discussed the site's importance as a geological analog for planetary exploration. The discussion highlighted the specific interaction of volcanic activity and erosion that created the landscape, emphasizing the diversity of volcanic formations present on the island, including tuff.
Research published in academic journals confirms that Milos has multiple geological layers, with alternating deposits of diatomaceous (fossil-rich) sediments and volcaniclastic material.
Conclusion
The geological understanding of Sarakiniko Beach is that its "moon-like" formations are the result of volcanic activity, specifically the deposition of volcanic tuff (which contains pumice), followed by extensive erosion from wind and water. While pumice contributes to the rock's porous and lightweight nature, the full picture involves a mix of volcanic ash, pumice, and sedimentary layers, which is a universally accepted geological explanation.