Source: asterousiatrails.com
The first information event for the promotion of “Asterousia Trails”, the new network of hiking trails that aspires to highlight Asterousia as an important destination for nature and experiential tourism in Crete, was successfully held on Tuesday, May 5, 2026 in Asimi.
The event highlighted the strong interest of the local community in the project, as representatives of the local government, cultural associations, mountaineering and nature clubs, rescue groups, businesses and residents of the area participated, in a discussion that went beyond the narrow boundaries of hiking and touched on the future of Asterousia as a whole.
The Mayor of Gortyna, Michalis Kokolakis, referred to the importance of the project for the area, noting that it is a comprehensive intervention that includes the creation and promotion of 11 hiking trails, with modern signage, mapping and information and promotion actions, aiming at the protection of nature and the gentle development of Asterousia.
Subsequently, Ms. Amalia Tavladoraki, executive of the Heraklion Development Agency, conveyed the message of the President of TEDA and the Asterousia Protection Association, Theono Vrentzou, on the importance of the inclusion, from 2020, of Asterousia in the UNESCO “Man and the Biosphere” (MAB) program. As it was emphasized, Asterousia is not just a protected area, but a living example of the balance between man, the natural environment and sustainable development.
The event continued with a detailed presentation of the project by Dr. Chryssa Pagalou, General Manager of ETAM S.A. and Coordinator of the Rural Tourism Cluster epaithros+, who presented the overall vision behind “Asterousia Trails”. As she explained, this is a project that is not limited to the creation of trails, but seeks to form a comprehensive network of experiences of nature, culture and local life.
Source: asterousiatrails.com
In an interview with “Nea Kriti”, she emphasized that “the goal of the program is to promote environmental tourism through the promotion of places of rare beauty and biodiversity”. However, she emphasized that the project is part of the new philosophy of sustainable development of protected areas, where the protection of nature is directly linked to the strengthening of local communities.
During the presentation of the project, she analyzed its individual actions, which include cleaning and improving the passability of the trails, modern signage and mapping, small-scale technical interventions, production of maps and information material, as well as the creation of a website, a mobile phone application and an organized presence on social media.
At the same time, she referred to the importance of informing and educating the public, through actions such as thematic events, experiential workshops on the environment and hiking safety, as well as photography competitions that will contribute to the promotion of the landscape and cultural identity of Asterousia.
As she explains to Cretalive, this is a nationwide effort that aims not only to highlight environmental tourism, natural diversity and the protection of Natura areas, but also to protect and promote the cultural heritage of the place while at the same time informing local businesses about how they can benefit from this project.
For his part, architect-planner Giorgis Petrakis presented the network’s design philosophy, pointing out that a modern trail network is not just routes on a map, but an integrated system of alternative tourism that connects safety, experiential experience and sustainable development.
The event concluded with an open discussion, during which issues were raised regarding the maintenance of the network, visitor safety, accident management and the need to connect hiking trails with other forms of alternative tourism, such as climbing and nature activities.
See more about the project and explore the “Asterousia Trails” trails here.