tourism

Southern Crete Launches Asterousia Trails Hiking Network

Monday, 22 June 2026/Source: Tornos News/1 min read

Local authorities in southern Crete are developing a new hiking network called "Asterousia Trails" in the Asterousia mountain range, which runs along the southern coast between Heraklion and Lassithi prefectures. The project aims to open up the largely undiscovered interior of southern Crete to visitors by creating and signposting dedicated walking routes through the rugged landscape. The Asterousia mountains offer dramatic scenery, traditional villages, Byzantine churches, and gorges leading down to remote beaches on the Libyan Sea. The initiative is designed to extend tourism beyond coastal resorts and distribute visitor activity into less-visited inland areas. Hikers interested in exploring the network should check with local municipalities or tourism offices in the villages of Pyrgos, Sternes, or Ano Viannos for route maps, trail conditions, and access points before setting out.

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