From Ios: RIB Boat Trip to Sikinos Island and Winery Tour

The best part of this outing is that you get two very different Greek island experiences in one day: a fast, salty ride from Mylopotas Bay and a slow look at Sikinos villages, churches, old farm tools, and a hilltop winery. It is a useful choice if you want more than another day on Ios beach.

I especially like the small group limit of 12 and the mix of stops. You visit the Panagia Pantanassa church, a folklore museum in an old olive oil press, the unusual Episcopi monument, and Manali Winery. The main caution is timing. One past booking reported a long wait for the return transport, so do not expect every minute of the seven-hour schedule to run like clockwork.

Key points at a glance

• Fast crossing from Mylopotas: Ride to Sikinos in a luxury twin-engine RIB rather than spending the day on a larger ferry.
• A proper look at Hora and Kastro: See Panagia Pantanassa and a small folklore museum filled with agricultural and household objects.
• One-hour walk to Episcopi: Wear real walking shoes for the route to the Roman burial monument turned Orthodox church.
• A local coffee stop: Break up the sightseeing at a traditional coffee shop.
• Wine with a Cycladic view: Taste wine at Manali Winery, with an optional cheese and local-food platter.
• English-speaking small group: The trip is limited to 12 people and includes a guide, bus transport, and wine tasting.

Why Sikinos makes a good day away from Ios

Ios is famous for beaches, nightlife, and whitewashed lanes. Sikinos offers a quieter counterpoint. The island visit is not built around a long beach stop or a packed list of photo points. Instead, it takes you through religious sites, rural objects, an ancient monument, and a winery.

That makes this a good pick if you want to see how a smaller Cycladic island feels away from the main holiday circuit. The guided format also matters. You do not need to work out the island bus, find Episcopi Temple, or piece together the order of the sights yourself.

The day begins at Meltemi Watersports, at the end of Mylopotas Beach in front of FarOut Beach Club. You should arrive 15 minutes early. Mylopotas is easy to reach by car or taxi, but hotel transport is not included, so allow time to get there on your own.

The RIB ride from Mylopotas Bay

The crossing is part of the attraction. You board a luxury twin-engine RIB at Mylopotas and head toward Sikinos, arriving near Hora on the island’s southeast side. A RIB gives the trip a more active feel than a standard ferry, with open views and a close-to-the-water ride.

That said, a speedboat is more exposed to sun, spray, and wind. Pregnant women should not book this experience, and anyone who dislikes rough water should keep the conditions in mind. The operator may change or cancel the route if strong winds or bad weather affect the crossing.

The boat is also why you should pack light. Large bags and luggage are not allowed. Bring only what you need for a day outside: water, sunscreen, sunglasses, a hat, and comfortable walking shoes.

Hora and Panagia Pantanassa Church

The first part of the island visit takes you to Hora, Sikinos’s settlement on the southeast side of the island. At its central square, you visit Panagia Pantanassa Church.

This is a useful opening stop because it gives you a sense of the village before the day turns more rural. The church offers a chance to step inside and see the interior, rather than simply photographing another white building from outside. Your guide can also give the visit some context and point out details you might otherwise pass by.

Keep your expectations in proportion. This is not a long church-focused tour, and the exact amount of time inside is not stated. Think of it as one part of a wider seven-hour route, not the entire point of the excursion.

Kastro’s folklore collection in an old olive press

The route continues to Kastro, where the Folklore Museum occupies an old olive oil press. This setting is one of the more distinctive details of the day. Instead of placing local objects in a modern display room, the museum uses a building tied to everyday island work.

Inside, you see a private collection of old agricultural tools, household utensils, and equipment once used in the processing of olive oil. These objects help explain the practical side of island life: how food was produced, how homes were managed, and how much work went into ordinary tasks before modern equipment.

I like this stop because it gives the trip a human scale. Churches and ancient ruins can feel grand, but old tools show you how people actually lived. The museum will appeal most to you if you enjoy small collections and local customs rather than polished major attractions.

A coffee break with a local feel

The itinerary includes a stop at a traditional coffee shop. It is a modest detail, but it helps pace the day. After the village and museum visits, you get time to sit down before the walk to Episcopi Temple.

Meals and drinks are not included, so budget separately for anything you order. The coffee-shop stop is also a chance to meet local people, although the exact menu and length of the break can vary.

Do not treat this as a full lunch stop unless you confirm the arrangement before departure. One past booking was surprised that lunch was not part of the price and did not realize that eating at the winery was optional. If you want the Cycladic cheese and local-food platter later, ask your guide how to arrange it and what it costs.

The walk to Episcopi Temple

The visit to Episcopi Temple is the most active part of the day. You follow a hiking trail that takes about one hour to reach the site. Comfortable shoes are not a suggestion here. Sandals may be fine for the beach, but they are a poor match for a walking route over uneven ground.

Episcopi began as an ancient Roman burial monument and was later converted into an Orthodox Christian church dedicated to the Virgin Mary. Around it, you can see Byzantine chapels, ancient ruins, wall stones, and fragments of marble sculpture.

The appeal is the layering of the site. You are not visiting one isolated building with a single story. The route brings together Roman remains, Christian use, later chapels, and scattered pieces of older stonework. The guide helps connect those elements, which is especially useful when ruins are not labeled in detail.

The walk also means this outing is not suitable for everyone. The tour data does not provide a grade or accessibility information, so anyone with mobility concerns should ask the operator before booking. You should also carry sunscreen and a hat because the excursion includes outdoor walking.

Manali Winery and the final sea view

The last major stop is Manali Winery, an organic vineyard with a terrace looking across the sea and Cycladic islands. Here you learn about the wine-making process and take part in a wine tasting, which is included in the tour price.

The setting is a strong finish. After churches, old stonework, and a walking trail, the terrace gives you time to sit, taste, and look outward. The winery is not only a tasting room. Its location makes the stop a chance to slow down before the return trip.

You can optionally order a platter of Cycladic cheese and traditional delicacies with your wine. This is not included, so consider it an extra rather than part of the basic $104 price.

The tasting has one important qualification. One past booking found that the wine was served without much explanation and that glasses were not rinsed between pours. That may have been an isolated service problem, but it is worth setting expectations correctly. The tasting fee is covered, yet this should not be confused with a formal wine education session.

What the $104 price includes

At $104 per person, this is not the cheapest way to spend a day around Ios. The price covers several separate services: the RIB crossing, the Sikinos bus transfer, the English-speaking guide, and the wine-tasting fee.

That package can represent fair value if you want convenience. You do not have to arrange a boat, local transport, museum visit, temple route, and winery visit on your own. The guide also keeps the day moving and provides the structure that makes several scattered sights work as one trip.

The value is less clear if you mainly want a boat ride or a long lunch. Meals, drinks, hotel transfers, personal expenses, and the optional winery platter are extra. You are paying for a guided cultural outing with transport, not an all-inclusive day.

The strongest value comes from the combination of places. A standalone boat trip would not give you the museum, Episcopi walk, or wine tasting. A self-guided island visit might cost less, but it could be harder to coordinate, especially with a small island schedule and a fixed return boat.

Timing, delays, and the return to Ios

The listed duration is seven hours, with the planned return to Ios at about 5:30 p.m. The order is designed to move from the port and village sights through the museum and temple walk, then to the winery before returning to meet the boat captain.

You should leave some flexibility in your own plans that evening. A past booking reported that the sightseeing portion ended around 3 p.m., followed by a long wait for the shuttle and boat, with the group returning later than expected. That does not prove every departure will run late, but it is a useful warning.

I would not schedule a tight dinner reservation, ferry connection, or airport transfer after this outing. Strong winds can also change or cancel the cruise itinerary. If conditions make the planned route unsafe, an alternative date or full refund is offered.

Who will enjoy this Sikinos trip

I would recommend the outing to you if you:

• Want to visit a quieter neighboring island without arranging all the transport yourself
• Enjoy churches, small museums, ruins, and local traditions
• Are comfortable with an hour-long walk
• Like the idea of combining sightseeing with a winery stop
• Prefer a small group to a large coach tour
• Want an English-speaking guide to explain the sights

You may want to skip it if you want a relaxed beach day, dislike speedboats, need strict timing, or cannot manage the walking section. It is also not suitable for pregnant women.

The tour is especially useful during a longer stay on Ios. If you only have one day on the island, you may prefer to stay close to Mylopotas and Chora. If you have several days, Sikinos gives you a change of pace without requiring an overnight stay.

Practical advice before you book

Arrive at Meltemi Watersports 15 minutes before departure. The meeting point is at the end of Mylopotas Beach, in front of FarOut Beach Club.

Wear walking shoes from the start. You will need them for the trail to Episcopi Temple, and changing footwear during a small-group boat trip is more trouble than it is worth.

Pack a small day bag only. Large bags and luggage are not allowed. Bring sunglasses, a sun hat, sunscreen, and anything you personally need for seven hours outdoors.

Ask about lunch before leaving. The winery platter is optional, and meals and drinks are not included. This simple question can prevent an unpleasant surprise at the end of the day.

The tour has free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure, and you can reserve now and pay later. The language is English, and the group is limited to 12 participants.

Should you book the Sikinos RIB and winery tour?

Book it if you want a well-organized introduction to Sikinos, with a fast boat crossing, village sights, a local museum, an unusual ancient monument, and wine by the sea. The small group and the guide, Robby was singled out by name in one particularly positive booking, are important parts of the experience.

Do not book it expecting a luxury food tour or a tightly timed private excursion. Lunch is extra, the wine presentation may be fairly simple, and the return can be delayed. For an active visitor who values variety and does not mind a little schedule uncertainty, the $104 price is reasonable. For a beach-focused holidaymaker or anyone with a strict evening plan, staying on Ios may be the wiser choice.

FAQ

How long is the Sikinos boat and winery tour?

The stated duration is seven hours. The planned return to Ios is around 5:30 p.m., though weather and transport timing can affect the schedule.

Where does the tour depart from?

It departs from Meltemi Watersports at the end of Mylopotas Beach, in front of FarOut Beach Club.

How early should I arrive?

You should be at the meeting point 15 minutes before departure.

Is hotel pickup included?

No. Hotel transfer is not included. Mylopotas Beach is easy to reach by car or taxi.

What transport is used during the tour?

The crossing between Ios and Sikinos is by luxury twin-engine RIB. A bus transfer is used for the guided visits on Sikinos.

Is wine tasting included in the price?

Yes. The wine-tasting fee at Manali Winery is included.

Is lunch included?

No. Meals and drinks are not included. A Cycladic cheese and traditional-food platter at the winery is available as an optional extra.

How much walking is involved?

The visit to Episcopi Temple includes a hiking trail that takes about one hour. Comfortable walking shoes are recommended.

What language is the tour conducted in?

The live tour guide conducts the experience in English.

Can the trip be canceled because of weather?

Yes. Bad weather or strong winds can cause the itinerary to change or the cruise to be canceled. In that case, an alternative date or a full refund is offered.