In the press

Reviews and mentions in the media

The Sunday Times
Our Gastronomic Gulet Cruise in Turkey was chosen as one of ‘the World’s Tastiest Cruises’ by the paper’s chief travel writer Steve Bleach. November 27, 2011

“The guests on Peter Sommer Travels’ gulet cruises enjoyed the cooking so much; the company has designed a special food focused trip. The May 26 cruise will see the galley opened up to let the guests help prepare authentic dishes like stuffed aubergine and borek pastries. There will be hikes ashore to visit local markets, a chance to cook with a Turkish family and to take over a local restaurant, all in the company of an expert guide. We’re hungry already!”

USA Today
“Embark on the Gastronomic Tour of Eastern Sicily for a mouth-watering vacation”.
Nannie Kate highlights our brand new Sicily holiday in USA Today’s travel tips for vacations in Italy

National Geographic Traveller magazine (UK)
“yacht tours with a cultural flavour, led by expert guides”. Our gulet cruises in the Greek islands were picked out in Chris Deliso’s article A Classical Tale.
March/April 2011

The Travel Society Magazine
We were given a mention, with special reference to our Alexander the Great tour in Turkey, in the February newsletter of The Travel Society, a monthly online travel Magazine.

Turkey, Greece & Italy in your dreams?
Here at The Travel Society we have just received the hard-copy brochure from Peter Sommer Travels, a UK-based company that offers expert-led cultural tours and gulet cruises in these countries. They look wonderful and as we’ve been following Peter’s company for several years, it would appear they go from strength to strength. (Their ‘Alexander Tour in Turkey’, for example, has been voted one of the world’s ‘Top Ten Educational Holidays’ by National Geographic Traveller.)
The Travel Society February Newsletter, 2011

The Sunday Times
Our Cruising the Amalfi Coast gulet cruise was selected as one of the 100 best holidays of 2011.
‘Your ultimate guide to the 100 best holidays of 2011’ by Steve Bleach
January 23, 2011

“The Amalfi coast is one destination that lives up to the hype, and everyone should go at least once. Thing is, everyone does. It’s pretty crowded. Here’s how to appreciate it in a fresh way, without the hordes. The cultural specialist Peter Sommer Travels is using a swanky, hand-crafted gulet from Turkey to cruise the world’s most illustrious shoreline: it will drop in at the must-sees, including Capri and Pompeii, as well as less familiar spots such as the underwater city of Baia and the outstanding Roman frescoes of Villa Oplontis. Add and expert guide, some long, lazy swims and some longer, lazier lunches aboard, and it all sounds rather civilised.”

Current World Archaeology
The winner of our Cruising Western Lycia competition Beatrice Faulkner, writes about her experience on the Almira on their holiday of a lifetime. Read what she has to say in her article Sail away with me
January, 2011

SmartMoney Magazine the magazine of the Wall Street Journal
The Benefits of Yacht Cruising by Kristen Bellstrom.
June 16, 2010

Our gulet cruises and tours in Turkey, Greece and Italy were highlighted.

Food and Travel Magazine
Sea of Knowledge. From sunken cities to Roman temples, what could be more romantic than exploring the treasures of the past by boat? Gabriella Le Breton uncovers the best cruises for history buffs.
April 2010

Our Cruising Western Lycia gulet cruise in Turkey was featured.  Here’s a short extract. “What better way can there be to explore the myriad ancient treasures of the Lycian coast than from the deck of a traditional Turkish gulet? Peter Sommer founded his eponymous specialist travel company hoping to share his passion for the history, archaeology and culture of Turkey and Greece. Today, he works with a number of celebrated fellow archaeologists and historians who lead a wide selection of informative walking and sailing trips in the Mediterranean.”

The Times
The 50 most relaxing great escapes. Sometimes all you want to do is get away from it all. But how to choose where to go and what to do? We list the best places to chill out
March 13, 2010

Taking a gulet cruise in Turkey with a tour to Ephesus or a walk along the Lycian Way as possible options was highlighted.

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 tour in Turkey 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 Islands of Greece 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.

The Telegraph

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 in Turkey
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 in Turkey, 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 tour in Turkey highlighted.

Wanderlust
Departures ‘Best of the Rest’
February 2006 Issue 77

Our In the footsteps of Alexander the Great tour in Turkey 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”

Cruising Western Lycia Competition Winner Beatrice Faulkner Article for CWA

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

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Travel radio interviews

You can listent to a number of radio interviews we have done on various travel radio shows. You’ll hear from our expert guides about what it’s like on a gulet cruise or one of escorted tours.

Peter talking about gulet cruises in Turkey on Around the World Radio
Turkey tour radio interview 1, Turkey tour radio interview 2

Michael Metcalfe talking about gulet cruises in Greece on Around the World Radio - Greece tour radio interview 1

Heinrich Hall talking about our Sailing to Ephesus tour in Turkey on Around the World Radio - Turkey tour radio interview 3

Heinrich Hall talking about our Greek islands tours on the Travel Planners Show with Kevin and Sue McCarthy.