Med Trails Network

New Member Alert: Welcome Antalya Bilim University!

We are thrilled to welcome the Antalya Bilim University (Department of Tourism Management) to the Med Trails Network! 🇹🇷🥾

Having an academic institution on board brings incredible value to our community.

Their expertise creates a collaborative space for scientific research, student engagement, and expert advice to support our trails, landscapes, and cultural heritage.

Together, we are joining forces to drive economic growth, preserve heritage, and help trail communities adapt to climate change.

Welcome aboard! 🌊⛰️

From May 18-21, 2026, the Med Trails Network (MTN) gathered in the historic city of Chania, Crete, for our 5th gathering! We brought together trail builders and sustainable tourism organizations from France, Palestine, Turkey, Greece, and Lebanon.
Kindly hosted by the Region of Crete, this gathering offered an immersive journey through nature and ancient heritage, from exploring the Chania Trails of Apokóronas, the site of Aptera and the archaeological Museum of Chania to sharing the rich flavors of the Cretan diet.
What did we achieve?
• Exchanging Best Practices: Triggered a dynamic of exchanges with Greek stakeholders in the hiking and sustainable tourism sectors - with Babis Fassoulas, President of the Psiloritis UNESCO Geoprak, Christoforos Baladimas, Trekking guide at Terra Petra, and Haris Papagiannakis, representing Staori Ecotourism.
A Historic Milestone: Successfully held MTN's 1st General Assembly, with 24 participants online and in person, from across the 3 shores of the Mediterranean.
* Network Growth: We are proud to announce that MT now officially counts 17 members across 9 countries!
Future Strategy: Brainstormed new models for network animation and financial
sustainability to secure our long-term impact.
A massive thank you to the Region of Crete for making this gathering possible, and to Hike Greece for beautifully organizing our regional visits. You made us feel incredibly welcome in Chania!
You want to walk this path with us? The Med Trails Network is growing. If you are an organization, trail professional, or business passionate about sustainable tourism and heritage preservation in the Mediterranean, we want you on board.
Drop us a message ([email protected]) or comment below to learn how your organization can join the movement!

Today marks a major milestone as we host the very first General Assembly of the Med Trails Network, bringing together 9 voting members from 7 countries across Europe and the Middle East.

We also had the privilege of hearing from the Palestinian Heritage Trail. They shared incredible insights on how they are increasing economic opportunities and improving livelihoods for fragile communities—a USD 2.5 million project funded by the Japan Development Fund through the World Bank.

Together, we are building paths toward sustainable tourism and community resilience. 🗺️✨

🌿 Live from the Archaeological Museum of Chania!

Today, the Med Trails Network (MTN), in collaboration with the Region of Crete, is hosting an inspiring roundtable discussion on "The Mediterranean Hiking Sector's Impact on Local Communities and Sustainable Development."

We are thrilled to bring together local Greek actors from the sustainable tourism, hiking, and mountaineering sectors to discuss the future of med trails and local communities.

Highlights from today’s session:

🏔️ Welcome Address: Opened by George Rishmawi, MTN Co-President and Director of the Palestinian Heritage Trail Association.

🇯🇴 Global Insights: A presentation by Director Ali Barqawi on the important impact of the Jordan Trail Association (JTA) on local communities.

🇬🇷 Spotlight on Crete: An in-depth look at the Cretan hiking sector presented by Fivos Tsaravopoulos (Manager of Paths of Greece) and Dimitris Michelogiannis.

🎤 Facilitator: A huge thank you to Dimitris Michelogiannis (Special Advisor to the Governor of Crete) for guiding today's discussions.

Sustainable tourism isn't just about the journey, it's about empowering the people and places that make these journeys possible. 🌍✨

The Med Trails Network isn’t just about hiking, it’s about creating lasting impact.​​
Through inclusive programs, sustainable trail development, advocacy, raising awareness, and youth engagement, MTN is building a stronger, more connected Mediterranean.​ Check our website for more info

You think hiking only benefits the hikers? Think again. ​

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Every step on the trail fuels a quiet economic engine. ​

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Our 2024 MTN Benchmark Study-conducted in partnership with the consulting firm AGEG-analyzed 48 global income-generating case studies to reveal that well-managed trails are the backbone of economic resilience for rural territories, from the Mediterranean to the world.​
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Access the full study and our performance monitoring tools here: 🔗 https://medtrailsnetwork.com/resources/

MTN 2026 Gathering: Heading to Chania!​
We are thrilled to announce that the Med Trails Network 2026 Gathering is taking place in Chania, Crete, from May 18th to 21st, 2026, hosted by the Region of Crete! ​
Over 3 days, members of the network will gather to connect in person, discuss future projects and shape the network. ​
Among the key highlights, we will: ​

May 19: Hike on Chania trails in Apokóronas and discover the historic site of Aptera.​

May 20: Organize a public roundtable at the Archaeological Museum of Chania on hiking in the Mediterranean, its impact on local populations, and sustainable regional development. ​

May 21: Hold the first MTN General Assembly to discuss network governance and future developments​

​Participants will receive the full detailed program via email. ​
We are looking forward to meeting soon!

A morning in Falougha: Making every action count.

60 Students, 3 Hours, 1 Cleaner Trail. 🌿

Looking back at April 2025, it took just three hours for 60 students on the Life Lebanon Hike to prove that a single morning can lead to a cleaner landscape.

Organized by the Lebanon Mountain Trail Association (LMTA) جمعية درب الجبل اللبنانيociation (LMTA), a co-founding member of the Med Trails Network (MTN), this activity turned a simple walk into a focused cleanup mission.

The crew scoured the Falougha hills for hunting cartridges, which were then sent to Live Love Recycle for proper processing. We finished the morning with a talk on Bird Conservation, reminding everyone that these local hills are a vital highway for migratory birds from around the world.

This activity shows that a few hours and a clear mission are all it takes to make a real impact on our mountains!