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OUR EXPERT TOUR GUIDES

Peter Sommer

Peter studied Ancient History and Archaeology at Birmingham University before completing a Masters on the archaeology of Central Asia. He has taught at Birmingham University and Istanbul’s Bogazici University. Two years into a PhD. at University College London, he was seduced into television to work on In the Footsteps of Alexander the Great (BBC/PBS).

An award winning documentary producer, he has shot around the world for acclaimed series like Millennium: A thousand years of history (BBC/CNN), Commanding Heights: the Battle for the World Economy (PBS/BBC), and his most recent, Tales from the Green Valley, shown on BBC2 in autumn 2005.

Dr. Michael Metcalfe

Like Peter, Michael studied for his PhD. at University College London, however Michael took the trouble to actually finish his - focusing on the ancient Greek cities of western Turkey!

Michael is Assistant Professor in Ancient History at The Mediterranean Center for Arts and Sciences in Sicily. He speaks Greek, Italian, and serviceable Turkish. Michael has led gulet tours for us previously, and received rapturous praise. Not only is he ‘enthusiastic, charming, and knowledgeable’, he is also a natural born organiser. We are delighted to welcome him back.

Jeremy Seal
Peter first met Jeremy on the gulet Almira when he took part in our very first Sailing the Lycian Shore tour back in 1997. You can read his piece about this gulet cruise for The Sunday Times).

Jeremy is an award-winning travel writer and author of Turkey-based travelogues A Fez of the Heart, and Santa: A Life. Other books include The Snakebite Survivors’ Club, and The Wreck at Sharpose Point. He is a regular contributor to the travel pages of the Sunday Times, Sunday Telegraph, Conde Nast Traveller, and numerous other publications. He has presented TV documentaries and is a regular on radio programmes like Radio 4’s ‘Excess Baggage’.  He has tutored on numerous residential courses in creative travel writing, and is a charming and witty host with an extensive knowledge of the Turkish coastline.

Dr. Nigel Spivey

Peter had the good fortune of directing Nigel a few years back in a documentary about Britain’s ancient monuments. We are absolutely delighted that he is able to lead a trip for us this year.

Nigel is a Fellow of Emmanuel College, Cambridge University, where he teaches Classical Art and Archaeology. His books include The Ancient Olympics, Greek Art, and Panorama of the Classical World. A renowned TV presenter, his credits include How Art Made the World (BBC), Kings and Queens, and Heroes of World War II. He’s also an experienced tour lecturer. His knowledge and passion make him an ideal guide in bringing Turkey’s past to life.

Dr. Jennifer Tobin

Peter met Jennifer digging at the ancient city of Issus back in 1994 at the end of his Alexander walk. We are delighted after all these years that she has joined our team.

Jennifer is Associate Professor of Classics at the University of Illinois at Chicago. She has dug in Turkey, Israel, and Greece, speaks Greek and Turkish, and published widely on everything from Roman architecture in Syria to Alexander the Great as a builder. A renowned tour leader, noted for her passion and enthusiasm, she has been leading trips in Turkey since 1993 for companies and institutions such as the Smithsonian. This is the first time she will be leading a trip for a British company.