Archaeological vacation in Italy

Archaeological vacation in Italy

Italy has a rich cultural heritage shaped over millennia by a host of incomers: Greeks, Phoenicians, Romans, Byzantines, Arabs, Normans, Spaniards and Austrians have all left their mark on the cuisine, architecture and language. Visit these glorious destinations with stunning monuments that this shared history has given Italy.
Cultural tours of Greece

Cultural tours of Greece

Cruise in style on incredible journeys of discovery that have to be experienced to be believed. If you’re looking for a truly relaxing and invigorating holiday, discovering the ancient sites, bays, coves and harbours of Greece, then one of our many gulet cruises will be perfect for you.
Escorted Gulet tours in Turkey

Escorted Gulet tours in Turkey

Steeped in history, Turkey holds of some of the very earliest cities, like Çatalhöyϋk, stretching back 10,000 years.  Travel with us and be astonished by layers upon layers of history, peoples and cultures, from Hittite fortifications to Byzantine churches.
Latest entries
Antikythera Shipwreck Exhibition

Antikythera Shipwreck Exhibition

Have you noticed? Lately, the print and online press appeared to be dominated by a story to do with an anniversary and a ship that sank (yes, that really happened). So, here’s our own marine disaster related anniversary story (spoiler alert: it’s about a different ship). In addition to the points made in our recent...
Gulet shipyards

Gulet shipyards

If you have travelled on a Turkish gulet, perhaps even on one of our cruises, you may well have wondered where these beautiful handcrafted wooden boats come from – where they are built and maintained. Last week, I was given a very hands-on approach to answering that question. Peter Sommer, Michael Metcalfe and I spent...
Why you should visit Greece, now more than ever

Why you should visit Greece, now more than ever

Is it a good idea to visit Greece in 2012? My answer is a resounding yes – let me tell you why. Recently, I have been asked to respond to a question from Nick Easen, a columnist at BBC Travel, in regard to the realties of travelling to Greece in the present situation. This is...
New: Peter Sommer Travels in German

New: Peter Sommer Travels in German

It’s been a while since we last posted on this blog. The reason is simple enough. We’ve been very very busy. January is always a highly dynamic time for bookings (and has certainly proved to be so once again), but this year, an exciting – and at times exhausting -  element has required our attention....
Impressions of Istanbul in January

Impressions of Istanbul in January

What did you do during the first week of the New Year? Resulting from a quick and unofficial poll, common answers include dealing with tax returns, skiing holidays, spending quality time with the family, or being in bed with the flu. While all those are surely very fine options (well, except the last one), I...
Visiting the home of Father Christmas

Visiting the home of Father Christmas

It’s that time of year again: Christmas trees, presents, family gatherings, carols, candles, tinsel and snow (theoretically at least) are in season, as is the near-omnipresent image of a jolly white-bearded Father Christmas or “Santa”. In recent weeks, certain tour operators, especially in Britain, have been offering short trips to visit that character at his...
Wanderlust 2012 World Guide Awards.

Wanderlust 2012 World Guide Awards.

Quality guiding requires intense preparation, detailed local and general knowledge, great care and attention for the audience, but most importantly enthusiasm and the skill to let others share in it. It is hard work – but it has to look easy… In recognition of the role of guiding, the British travel magazine Wanderlust has just...
Miletus Museum reopened

Miletus Museum reopened

News? Isn’t Peter Sommer Travels principally about archaeology, history and ancient culture, in other words about old things? Of course we are, but since summer 2011, our cruises between Halicarnassus and Ephesus, one of the heartlands of ancient Greek culture in Anatolia have changed, subtly but significantly, as the result of something new. Year after...
New Travel Brochure

New Travel Brochure

We are absolutely delighted to unveil our new brochure. It’s always a special moment for us when the brochures come back from the printers gleaming after so much time and effort has been spent preparing them.   2011 marked my 15th year of organising and leading archaeological tours. At the beginning, Peter Sommer Travels was...
New 2012 Tours in Turkey, Greece and Italy

New 2012 Tours in Turkey, Greece and Italy

Our 2012 brochure is now with the printers. We’re looking forward to mailing it out soon. We have some wonderful new escorted tours as well as a collection of our classic favourites to tempt you for 2012. Here’s a taster of our new trips: A gulet cruise in Greece Cruising to the Cyclades  May 19...
Family Gulet Cruises: A Chance for Cultural Adventures

Family Gulet Cruises: A Chance for Cultural Adventures

Simply the best  (or why our family cruises are a perfect experience for people of all ages ) “Look, mum – I’m using all the spolia!” This, as I was told by the proud mother, is what a 9-year-old boy from the US said to his mother while playing in the Kids’ Corner of an...
Preparing an escorted tour in Greece

Preparing an escorted tour in Greece

Heinrich Hall reveals the gruelling preparations that go into an expert led Greece tour – and why he loves his job! “It was a wonderful trip through Greece; the sites were lovely, the food was outstanding and the guides were excellent”.Jim Cleary, UK Based on our guests’ feedback, we have a good idea how they...
Peter Sommer Travels - Find me on Bloggers.com