Asterousia Range is the southernmost massif in Europe that stretches from Matala to Anapodaris River. The wild beauty and the remoteness of most places are the basic reasons to attract many visitors that believe that this is the place with the best beaches in Crete.
Aspes beach (Martelos) 
Between the monastery of Panagia Koudoumas and the Cape Martelos there are imposing vertical cliffs with beautiful striped formations, known as Aspes (don't confuse with the popular Aspes beach). At the base of the cliffs three small beaches with crystal blue waters and pebbles are formed, which are only accessible by boat, as there is no access by any trail.
Between the settlements Tsigounas and Platia Peramata there are several beaches with the characteristic black pebble of southern Crete. One of the most unknown and secluded is the long beach of Agios Onoufrios, in a secluded location with many greenhouses almost hanging from the cliffs.
Pikrovlychada (or Petrovlychada) beach is formed at the exit of a small steep canyon with technical descents that starts at an altitude of about 900 meters south of the village Ethia.
Dermatos beach 
Dermatos is located 64km southeast of Heraklion and 4km east of Tsoutsouras. It is formed in a small valley on the western banks of the river Anapodaris. Traces of a Minoan settlement have been found in the area.
Pourgonero beach is located at Krassas area, just 500m east of the port of Tsoutsouras, in the area where the houses of the settlement stop. It is actually the eastern part of Tsoutsouras bay, located in front of the hill Sarakinos. According to the legend, the eternal sarcophagus of King Minos, the mythical king of Crete, is burried below this place.
Tsoutsouras or Tsoutsouros (deriving from the Venetian word Zuzzuro) is located 63km south of Heraklion, at the exit of the imposing Gorge of Mindris. It is built on the site of the ancient city Inatos, which was the port of Priansos (located near Kasteliana village).
Maridaki is a seaside hamlet on the eastern side of Asterousia Mount, 65km south of Heraklion and in the west side of Tsoutsouras Bay. Despite the short distance from Tsoutsouras (2-3km), there is no direct road linking the two settlements (except a footpath). The only thing that separates Tsoutsouras and Maridaki is a very steep mountain with numerous caves and karstic formations.
The most common way to get there is to drive in the rugged dirt road that starts from the village Ahendrias and ends at the Monastery of St. Nikitas after 15km. The fascinating route runs along steep cliffs and wild sharp rocks, a characteristic landscape of the Asterousia Mountains.
