The following selection of images represents some of my recent travel photography on a visit to the southernmost Greek island of Crete in late September to mid-October 2023. When viewing these pictures, imagine if you can the sound of bells jingling as mountain goats pass across the mountainsides and roads, the loud noise of crickets, the smell of salt air from the Mediterranean and Libyan sea, and of the chatter of the Cretan folk with their warm hospitality as they prepare their wonderful cuisine rich in olive oil and complemented by their drink offerings of raki and retsina.

Crete is a large island of raw mountainscape, impressive gorges, incredible beaches, and picturesque villages and towns. It is divided in to four main regions: Hania, Rethymno, Iraklio, and Lasithi. Each area covers a lot of space and has just as much to offer whichever part of the island you decide to explore. Moreover, there are very many historical sites situated all across the island. Notes on the images can be found at the end of this post. It begins with pictures from the Omalos plateau, heading up to a secluded mountain hut before descending through Samaria Gorge in the Southwest.

All photos were shot using my trusted Nikon D700 camera with standard 50mm lens. When travelling to somewhere like Crete it is usually a good idea to have some kind of itinerary and a basic understanding of the Greek language as not everybody speaks English. In October the temperature averages around 26 degrees Celsius, with highs up to 30 degrees Celsius, as compared to the Summertime temperatures in excess of 40 degrees Celsius.

1. View Across The Omalos Plateau - The winds can be very strong when hiking over the hills in to the Lefka Ori (White Mountains) and clouds can be swirling all over the mountainsides in bitter cold temperatures. Kallergi mountain hut was around three-and-a-half-miles from the village of Omalos, and footpaths usually have markers every hundred yards or so in the form of red paint dashed on to rocks
2. Clouds Near Kallergi Mountain Hut - There is a number of mountain refuges in the Lefka Ori, and Kallergi makes for a good base when making a trek through Samaria Gorge, of which there are spectacular views from the top
   
3. View From The Top Of Samaria Gorge - Mount Gigolos is on the right side, and the highest peaks on the left rise to 2,453 metres. Only in Winter does it snow. In these mountains lives the elusive Kri-Kri as well as golden eagles
   
4. Omalos Plateau - You can just make out the long winding road at the bottom which finishes at the head of Samaria Gorge, reportedly the longest gorge hike in Europe at around 14 kilometres
   
5. Road In Omalos Village - The vehicles are driven on the right side of the road in Crete. Local farmers drive along this road in the mornings to leave food for the goats, which they also do on the beaten dirt track winding its way up towards the mountain refuge
   
6. Cliff Church In Agia Roumeli - This small church is visible half-way up a cliff face as you exit Samaria Gorge National Park and continue for a few more kilometres to the village of Agia Roumeli
   
7. Cliff Church Close-Up - The church is built in to a small cave and is usually open for visitors. The first part of Agia Roumeli has a rather dilapidated feel to it, with farm animals kept on either side of the dirt road
   
8. Samaria Gorge National Park Ranger - A number of park rangers are employed to ensure that visitors make it safely to the village, where it is then only possible to continue by boat. This particular man could be seen riding around the village on his motorcycle at nighttime. Many of the rangers head back to Athens as Winter approaches
   
9. Goats Near Marmara Beach - Most of the goats and sheep are fitted with bells, so there is nearly always the sound of jingling bells when you are passing through the countryside and mountains
   
10. Venetian Ruins Above Agia Roumeli - Some of the mountain trails are well marked and take you up past the soaring cliffs overlooking the Libyan Sea. Some of the ruins include a Venetian castle which is visible from the village, where the footpath begins close to the main church
    
11. Mountains In Evening Light - I believe the illuminated peak is Mount Psiristra, viewed from far below close to Samaria Gorge with its vertical cliffs
    
12. Gorge Walkers - In various places you pass beneath protective netting due to falling rocks, but there is no protection or warning in other gorges such as Aradena, where I watched and heard one or two large rocks crash in to the ground from hundreds of metres above, possibly caused by wandering goats
    
13. Samaria Warning Sign - Not only are there warning signs aplenty, but also small fire stations and drinking wells every kilometer or so
    
14. View From Samaria Gorge - Around mid-way through the gorge you approach the abandoned village of Samaria itself, as well as crossing a lively mountain stream where I noticed the horses taking visitors upwards from their base in Agia Roumeli
    
15. Chapel Of Agios Nikolaos - This quiet place is sheltered by some very large cypress trees
    
16. Church In Agia Roumeli - Situated near the main cluster of tavernas, hotels, and mini-markets
17. Mosque Of Kioutsouk Hasan - This impressive building stands beside the Venetian harbour in Hania located in the north of the island, where horses gather ready to take visitors on a tour of the old town
    
18. Lighthouse In Hania - Boats regularly pass by this building as they travel in and out of the harbour, where the Sea of Crete can be very rough compared to the Libyan Sea in the south of the island
    
19. Feline Resting Near Hania - Cats are usually present in most parts of Crete, many of them strays, along with dogs, and are usually seen chilling in the shade
    
20. Building In Hania Town - The old Venetian streets in Hania are a delight to wander aimlessly along at any time of the day, but especially in the evening
    
21. Roofless Restaurant Wall Decor In Hania - In the town of Hania you can stumble upon a number of tavernas, bars, and restaurants where the outdoor seating areas and courtyards are roofless. This particular one had some striking features on the walls, including an old bicycle in one room
    
22. Mural In Hania Town - This beautiful depiction is of the unmistakable Lefka Ori (White Mountains) which consists of seemingly endless layers of foothills and peaks when travelling south from Hania itself. The Kri-Kri stands atop a mountain peak in the top left, while a bird of prey soars on the right
    
23. Farm Vehicle Near Argyroupoli - A local farmer was cutting back the branches of a tree overhanging a lane as I made my way to the impressive mountain village of Argyroupoli
    
24. Blue Door In Argyroupoli - The village has many streets to explore, with some dilapidated buildings at the highest level
    
25. Green Door In Argyroupoli - A mixture of disused and lived-in buildings comprise this picturesque village which culminates in a series of waterfalls and springs at the lower level
26. View Of Aradena Gorge Above Marmara Beach - Shot with violet toning applied, this rugged gorge features some difficult climbs up boulders, ropes, and very tall ladders close to the road bridge right at the top
    
27. Small Boat In Loutro - This small fishing village on the south coast has some of the most colourful waters in Crete
    
28. Loutro Boat - From the turquoise waters of Loutro it is just a few miles along the coast to reach Marmara Beach
    
29. Local Man In Loutro - This particular man appears ever-present along the port of Loutro and has an air of importance about him as he oversees the boatmen and ferries coming and going daily. All of the Cretan folk are very relaxed and usually have time to talk
    
30. Marmara Beach In Evening Light - Busy by day, yet almost silent by evening, the tiny beach has smooth marble pebbles and some impressive coves. This is directly at the mouth of Aradena Gorge, and there is one taverna situated on the small cliff on one side of the beach
    
31. View From Marmara Beach - Both foreign visitors and Cretans appear to travel to the south of the island to enjoy the beaches on a day trip, and after my coastal walk from Loutro I enjoyed some drinks with a British novelist
    
32. Aradena Gorge In Late Afternoon - Crete has rugged gorges in most parts of the island, some of them remarkably lush, and the deepest ones tend to be in the South
    
33. Between The Gorge Cliffs - Most of these trails have narrow points where the space can be little more than a few metres across, and once inside these canyons it can be incredibly peaceful with just a few mountain goats passing across the rocky buttresses and cliffsides
    
34. Deep In The Gorge - Aradena Gorge features quite a lot of caves, and the cliffsides take on some colourful oranges when the sunlight reaches inside
    
35. Relaxing At Marmara Beach - Boats come and go through the daytime as visitors swim in the sea and explore the coves in this popular beauty spot
    
36. Elafonisi Beach - Situated in the far Southwest, this is one of the world's most celebrated beaches where the waters are crystal clear turquoise and blue, and pink sand washes against cream-coloured sand stretching across dunes to a small rocky headland. When bathing in the sea you will notice small fish swimming around you, and sometimes they will take a small nibble if you remain still
    
37. Feline At Moni Hrysoskalitissas Monastery - A few miles north from Elafonisi you can visit this peaceful monastery perched on a large rock beside the Mediterranean Sea
    
38. Moni Hrysoskalitissas Monastery - A small museum with important artefacts as well as secret school rooms are situated beneath the monastery
    
39. Juniper Tree At Kedrodasos Beach - A few miles East of Elafonisi beside the E4 route is a much quieter beach backed by gnarled and twisted juniper shrubs and trees, where the waters are again crystal clear and favoured by nudists
    
40. Feline At Kedrodasos Beach - Some very friendly cats will usually come to find you and lay nearby if you rest for a short while
    
41. Islands Off The South Coast - The road to Preveli passes through the impressive Kourtaliotiko Gorge where a steep stairway then leads down to the palm beach
    
42. View Looking Down To Preveli - A long river runs through the palm forest from the gorge and can be waded the entire way. Reed grasses rise quite high from the riverbank, and birds are lively on the surface
    
43. View Of Preveli From The Cliffs - Rich in colour and with a feeling of remoteness, it is possible to stay in a few hotels and tavernas just a few-hundred metres from the beach
    
44. Kitten At Moni Preveli - The Holy Monastery of Preveli is a long uphill walk from the beach, where there is a strong presence of cats relaxing beneath cactus plants and in open spaces
    
45. Cactus At The Monastery - Moni Preveli helped to hide trapped Allied soldiers from the Nazis where they could escape to Egypt during WWII and was one of many centres of resistance during the Turkish occupation
    
46. Monastery Cactus - Lots of plants adorn the inside of this peaceful monastery which cuts an impressive silhouette high above the Libyan Sea
    
47. Bells At Moni Preveli - Tucked away in a quiet corner you will find these bells fastened to a large tree
    
48. Kitten Resting - Nearby is one of the main features of Moni Preveli, around which the monastery was built, that of a spring from which the cats will go for a drink since felines don't usually like drinking still water. A metal cup also hangs from the wall by a chain
    
49. Inside The Fortezza In Rethymno - Inside the massive fortress is the Sultan Bin Ibrahim Mosque with its impressive domed roof and small prayer niche pointing up to Mecca
    
50. Walls Of The Fortress - The views across the town of Rethymno and surrounding mountains are impressive
    
51. Church Within The Fortezza - Among the ramparts of what remains in the fortress include dilapidated buildings, trees, and this small church seen in afternoon sunlight
    
52. Mountain Village Of Kritsa - Situated in the East of the island, this large village has enough streets to keep you wandering around all day, with interesting details and views at every turn
    
53. Street In Kritsa - The village has a mixture of beautifully cared for and lived in homes as well as dilapidated buildings built around a large church
    
54. Kritsa Street - At one end of the village a footpath leads up Kritsa Gorge
    
55. Old Kritsa Building - Every street is full of character, from battered derelict buildings to flower festooned homes where locals sit outside trying to sell homemade produce
    
56. Barbecue In A Kritsa Street - Between the exposed stonework of the buildings on one street, a large barbecue stands as dogs can be heard barking and cats stroll around
    
57.  Sunlit Street, Kritsa  - Colourful flowers adorn some of the buildings and cobbled streets in the picturesque village, with plentiful small shops and cafes at one end
    
58.  Far End Of Kritsa Near The Gorge  - The weathered door of one of the last few buildings before a footpath leads off to the narrow gorge beneath the mountains in Lasithi
    
59.  Building In Iraklio  - The capital of Crete features some historic buildings and a lively city centre
    
60.  Morosini Fountain, Iraklio  - This is one of the oldest and most impressive fountains in Crete, featuring four lions spouting water and surrounded by some of the best Cretan cafes and restaurants