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Asterousia Mountain Range Biosphere Reserve
Protected area in Crete island in Greece
Created by
Carla Danelutti
Journey into the heart of Western Asterousia Protected Area for a superb escape into the wilderness of the Mediterranean and discover rocky cliffs, gorges and long sandy beaches with diverse landscapes, fascinating wildlife and copious amounts of history and culture.
🏔 Between the Mountain of Stars and the Gorge of Saints Tour
On the Between the Mountain of Stars and the Gorge of Saints MEET ecotourism experience, organised and managed by the Western Asterousia Protected Area itself with support from Cretan Adventures tour agency, visitors have the opportunity to connect with the local community, experience warm Greek hospitality and immerse themselves in the stirring tales of heroism and adventure that fill the natural park.
Guests can join various activities that immerse the traveller in the nature and culture of the protected area such as a guided hike to the sacred summit of Kofinas for spectacular views and swimming in the crystal waters of Agiofarago beach.
♻️ MEET Network ecotourism model
Using the MEET Network’s model for ecotourism product development has helped the experience to find a healthy balance between relaxation in the tranquil setting of Thalori Guesthouse and wine tasting at a third-generation winery.
Through recommendations from MEET Network as part of the EU-funded DestiMED PLUS project, the protected area worked to come up with an adventurous experience for visitors that also complimented the park’s conservation efforts and gave back to everyone involved.
Sustainability reports and a more selective criteria for suppliers were introduced to support local service providers to be more sustainable, and they also decided to use more fuel-efficient vehicles to reduce the carbon footprint of the ecotourism experience.
👉 Inspire your travellers with the MEET Experiences: www.meetnetwork.org/travel-industry
📹 Video credits: Green Traveller
📸 Photo credits: Stefanakis, Green Traveller, Fondas Spinthakis
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Place
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MEET Network
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Responsible Travel
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Crete
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Greece
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Nature
Hi, this is Carla from the MEET Network Team!
The connection to the land and the people living in it is one of the main features of our MEET trips, and this is very much what happens in Asterousia. Look at what travellers say about their experience in this beautiful corner of Crete:
💬 “It’s safe to say that there are very few places that you can visit for only a short period of time and already feel at home. But taking part in this tour and forging these connections with the local people, landscapes and culture did just that! " - Melissa Novotny
Has this caught your attention? Do you think that we can work towards shaping the Mediterranean into a leading ecotourism destination? 🌿
👀 We're looking forward to reading your comments!
Hi Carla, I love to see your posts here on Travel Massive. Your promotion of these eco-tourist areas is aligned with our mission at conservationmag.org. I would love to connect to see if we could not publish some of your communications and videos.
Hi Adriaan. We are glad that you like our posts and the philosophy behind the ecotourism itineraries that we create! I'll send you a message to continue the discussion.
Looks stunning. I will definitely add Crete to my bucket list and happy to support sustainable tourism
It's indeed a beautiful place, Ric. Highly recommend visiting some hidden gems on the island. We already have part of one of our itineraries in a different part of Crete up and running with Intrepid Travel, you can check it in here: www.intrepidtravel.com/eu/greece/highlights-crete-135741