In the press
Reviews and mentions in the media
The Guardian
Ten new family activity holidays in Europe by Nicola Iseard, in their Family Holiday special supplement
March 6, 2010
“Bored of beach holidays? Take the children on a gulet cruise along Turkey’s south-west coast instead. Peter Sommer Travels has a new guided trip, for families, sailing from Gocek to Bodrum, along the unspoilt Carian coast. You’ll stop at quiet coves for swimming and snorkelling, and go on guided excursions to historic sites. Suitable for ages seven and over.”
Chicago Tribune
Travel Web sites, deals and other tidbits
February 14, 2010
“If you like a dose of education with your travels, Peter Sommer Travels specializes in cultural tours and gulet sailing cruises in Turkey, Greece and Sicily.”
The Epoch Times
January 2010. Myrisa Luke joined our Sailing Western Lycia cultural tour led by Nigel Spivey. Read what she has to say about this gulet cruise in Turkey
National Geographic Traveler
Our In the footsteps of Alexander the Great trip – was selected as one of the world’s ‘Top Ten Learning Retreats’ - having been shortlisted in a 2008 National Geographic book The 100 Best Worldwide Vacations to Enrich Your Life, by Pam Grout.
“Peter Sommer, a British archaeologist who in 1994 retraced Alexander’s march from Troy to the battlefield of Issus, may very well be one of the world’s best messengers in telling the great man’s story. Two years after Sommer’s epic reenactment (without the pillaging and town besieging, of course), he started a travel company to lead archeology tours to the country he had fallen head over heels for and he has now been doing it for more than ten years. Once a year, he leads (yes, he personally escorts it himself) a 19-day “In the Footsteps of Alexander the Great” trek across Turkey’s Anatolia covering the first leg of the great leader’s extraordinary 22,000-mile (35,406-kilometer) journey.”
The Telegraph
Greece 2010: Sophie Butler picks the best activity and specialist holidays
Feb 4 2010
Our three archaeologically themed gulet cruises in the Dodecanese were highlighted in the ‘Gulet Cruising’ section.
Cruise Passenger (Australia’s number one cruise publication)
February 6, 2010
“Food-loving cruise enthusiasts can rejoice – Peter Sommer Travels has introduced a delightful, new gastronomic sailing tour of Turkey this year. It involves eight days with an intimate group discovering the delicious secrets of Turkish cuisine. For a further cultural hit, Peter Sommer Travels has also added tours to Greece, Sicily and Mount Etna, combining leisurely sailing with cultural exploration of landscapes, ancient architecture, ruins and sites and traditional life.”
The Telegraph
Italy 2010: Gill Charlton’s pick of the best activity holidays
Jan 5 2010
Peter Sommer Travels included in the Cruising section with details of the different tours offered.
Fodor’s Turkey 2009
“Peter Sommer Travels is a UK-based company that provides academic, yet friendly, guided archaeological tours of Turkey on gulet cruises”
The Guardian
Europe (without the euro)
20 April 2009
“savour the offshore breezes by hiring a floating villa: the gulet, Turkey’s delightful small-group cruising schooner, is the perfect way to enjoy this concertina coastline.” Peter Sommer Travels recommended.
Dig this! by Romy Chenecey, part of The Daily Telegraph’s ‘Travel Escorted’ supplement
6 Sept 2008
“What could be more enticing than travelling to a fascinating destination in the company of your own witty, articulate lecturer who can bring to life whatever it is that you have come to see...Travelling archaeologists are a distinguished breed, happy to engage you in their subject, whether it is answering the most intricate academic question or inspiring a hearty conversation over dinner. Today, history experts such as Martin Randall, Peter Sommer, and Annabel Lawson each head their own travel companies specialising in insightful, authoritative tours.”
The Washington Post
Let’s Talk (Ancient) Turkey By K.C. Summers
July 6, 2008
“Q. My husband and I want to visit Turkey and are interested in the history and archaeology of ancient Troy and Homer’s “Iliad” and “Odyssey.” Any recommendations regarding a reputable agency to book such travel?
A. We always thought Iraq was the cradle of civilization, but, no, Turkey also claims the title, with more Greek ruins than Greece, more ancient Roman sites than Italy. The right tour guide can make all the difference in exploring them.
For a high-end but tempting tour, take a look at Peter Sommer Travels. Sommer, a British archaeologist and filmmaker, walked 2,000 miles across Turkey in 1994, following in the footsteps of Alexander the Great. Now he offers tours and “quiet cruises” for small groups, with expert guides leading the way. Many of his tours are full for this year, but “In the Footsteps of Alexander the Great,” offered next May, includes stops in Troy, Ephesus and Termessus.”
The Telegraph
Turkey 2008: Nick Trend’s pick of the best operators for activity-based holidays and cultural tours
Feb 23 2008
“Turkey has many more, and generally much better preserved, ancient sights than Greece. They include both Ephesus and Troy, but also dozens along the southern Lycian coast. Many sites here are little-visited and extremely atmospheric to explore. There is no better way to visit them than on a gulet cruise. These large, wooden motor-sailors ply the coast, stopping in bays, offering excursions ashore, and full board for a week or two with food that is usually excellent. You can visit the sites in the cool of the morning or evening, enjoy deck life, and swim off the side of the boat during the midday heat.
The number of such holidays is growing fast. Companies such as ... Peter Sommer Travels have been expanding their programmes. Peter Sommer Travels specialises in escorted archaeological tours combined with gulet cruises – one of the most popular is the two-week “In the Footsteps of Alexander the Great” tour departing in April. New for this year is a September week’s sail from Bodrum to Didyma.”
The Telegraph
Turkey 2007 by Fred Mawer
27 January 2007
“Good choice of land and boat based archaeological tours of the country, most of them led by Peter himself”
The Australian Financial Review
Feb 23 2007
“Archaeological Adventures: There’s no antidote to modern life quite like discovering ancient civilisations, and if you want four in one place, head for Turkey. BBC TV historical documentary-maker Peter Sommer leads guided tours through relics of the Greek, Roman, Ottoman, and Byzantine empires, many on his beautiful gulet Almira.”
The Travel Magazine
Autumn/Winter 2006
“Perhaps you are fed up with terra firma? If so then join Peter Sommer on a cultural sailing adventure around the Turkish Lycian coast”
Mail on Sunday
Marjorie Yue picks out some of the hottest new tour tickets around May 2005
“An unusual Turkish tour tour has been put together by Peter Sommer Travels, combining a glorious gulet cruise along the Lycian Shore with wonderful walking on the Lycian Way, the country’s first long-distance footpath of ancient trails and mule roads. Remote and breathtaking sites such as the lost city of Phellos and the wild Apollonia are among the highlights on this original itinerary.”
The Times
Guide to Turkey
12 February 2005
“holidays at sea don’t have to be all about swimming and sunbathing. Peter Sommer Travels, specialises in archaeological tours”. Annabelle Thorpe chose to highlight our then new Walking and Sailing the Lycian Shore trip”
The Independent
Ancient Ruins: 10 great sites on the Med
18 June 2006
Robert Nurden’s no. 5 was Ephesus, and to see it he chose our From Halicarnassus to Ephesus trip “a luxury 15-day archaeological tour along the west coast of Turkey in a gulet”
The Telegraph
Turkey the essentials
11 February 2006
Fred Mawer included our land and gulet based archaeological tours in this feature, with our In the Footsteps of Alexander the Great highlighted.
Wanderlust
Departures ‘Best of the Rest’
February 2006 Issue 77
Our In the footsteps of Alexander the Great trip – “Peter Sommer’s epic archaeological voyage” - was selected in this feature on ‘the trips we can’t wait to take, from the pick of this month’s brochures’.
The Good Holiday Guide
Sept/Oct 2006
“This issue takes on an almost historical theme. From our own country’s vibrant history, to archaeological adventures in Turkey…Peter Sommer tells us of ancient civilisations and his interesting adventures”
The Epoch Times on a gulet cruise in Turkey
The Lady magazine Beverley Byrne on a gulet cruise in Turkey
Jeremy Seal article on our Turkish Sailing the Lycian Shore tour
Travel radio interviews
You can listent to a couple of radio interviews we have done on Around the World Radio. Listen to Peter talking about gulet cruises in Turkey - Turkey travel radio interview 1,
Turkey travel radio interview 2
You can also listen to Michael Metcalfe talking about gulet cruises in Greece - Greece travel radio interview 1
