Ferry from Paros to Kimolos.

Kimolos is the small, quiet neighbour of Milos, with a harbour at Psathi, a whitewashed main village on the hill above it, and a coastline of pale volcanic rock and uncrowded beaches. Going from Paros means crossing from the central Cyclades to the western chain, trading the busy port of Parikia for one of the most low-key islands in the group.

The crossing itself is the uncertain part. Our route data lists Blue Star Ferries and Seajets on Paros to Kimolos, but Ferryhopper has no route page for it and our dated timetable sample has no direct sailing, so we cannot tell you which days a boat runs, how long it takes or what it costs. We have deliberately not repeated the generic time and fare in our older record.

What makes the trip easy anyway is Milos. Paros to Milos runs on 3 to 7 days a week all year, and Milos to Kimolos is a short hop of 45 minutes to 1 hour on conventional ships, with a 25-minute high-speed run added in summer, according to our Milos to Kimolos page. Sifnos is the other stepping stone: Paros to Sifnos takes from about 55 minutes on a fast boat, and Sifnos to Kimolos 20 minutes on the high-speed boat we sampled.

So search the direct option first, then compare the two-leg routes. Book your room on Kimolos once the boats are confirmed; the island has a limited number of places to stay and they can fill up in August.

The western Cyclades take the full force of the meltemi, the north wind that blows hardest in July and August. High-speed boats and small vessels on the short Milos and Sifnos hops are the first to be delayed or held in port by the port authority, while the larger Blue Star ships usually keep sailing. If your boat is cancelled, the operator will rebook or refund you. Because you are likely to be making a connection, a disruption on either leg can cost you a day, so keep your first night on Kimolos flexible.