Expert-Led Gulet Cruises In Italy

”admiring her high galleon stern, sweeping decks and long bowsprit, our little group of history lovers boarded our gulet to cruise along the Amalfi Coast. By somehow contriving to be at once practical and romantic, with dolphins riding the bow wave – our holiday home, restaurant and chief mode of transport stole the show. Here was true travelling pedigree…top-drawer history tourism.” Jeremy Seal, The Sunday Telegraph

A Peter Sommer Travels Gulet Cruise in Italy is an experience second to none, a holiday that combines perfect relaxation with the thrill of exploring the ancient sites and picturesque harbours of the Italian shores. Cruise in style along the coastlines of Italy’s cultural heartlands, renowned for their beauty since the height of the Roman Empire, 2,000 years ago, on an extraordinary journey of discovery and leisure.

Cruising on a Gulet

The gulets we use on our Italian cruises have been chosen with great care, to make sure that they meet our exacting standards. We aim to offer our guests an on-board experience of superb technical quality and excellent service, which determines our selection of boats.

The crews and the services they provide are a central elements of our tours, which is why we work with highly skilled captains and the most experienced chefs, to ensure that your experience is second to none. Our al fresco meals take place in memorable settings, from remote coves to spectacularly beautiful port towns. Our chefs freshly prepare all meals served on our boats in the gulet’s galley, creating a splendid variety of the best that Italian cuisine has to offer, day by day. Those on-board meals are complemented by the local specialities we sample in carefully selected restaurants in the towns and villages we visit.

“Our second Peter Sommer Travels’ tour exceeded our expectations as did our first tour in Turkey. The Amalfi coast adventure had outstanding guides, gorgeous scenery, gourmet dining and relaxing accommodation with a helpful crew.” Jane Bokan, California, USA

Discovering Italy

Italy has a uniquely rich cultural heritage shaped over millennia by the interaction between the native inhabitants and a host of incomers: Greeks, Phoenicians, Romans, Byzantines, Arabs, Normans and Spaniards have all left their mark on the cuisine, architecture and language of the country.

Ancient wonders abound at every turn: vast theatres, magnificent temples and elegant colonnades. Ranging from the depths of prehistory right through to the modern day, the sites we visit reflect layer upon layer of civilisation. We explore these ancient worlds against the dynamic backdrop of modern Italian lifestyle, itself deeply grounded in tradition. The old juxtaposed against the new makes for a remarkable and entertaining contrast. Imagine exploring a baroque town in Italy on the local patron saint’s day: the sights, sounds and aromas of the here and now will be all around us as we delve into the rich remains of Italy’ past cultures and peoples.

A Gulet Holiday in Italy

In Italy, you can immerse yourself in the sumptuous beauty of the Bay of Naples and the Amalfi Coast, lined with some of the most evocative and famous sites in the Mediterranean, among them Pompeii and Capri. Alternatively, you can explore the natural beauty and authentic local culture of the Aeolian Islands.

Cruising the Amalfi Coast

This gulet cruise in Italy combines some of the greatest archaeological and cultural jewels of the Amalfi coast and the Bay of Naples with all the pleasures of travelling aboard a beautiful and traditional wooden boat. You’ll visit some of the best-known cultural sites in the world, such as Ischia, Amalfi, and Naples herself, famed for their beauty and history, as well as some lesser-known, but no less charming sites, for example the vast Imperial villa at Baia, and the outstanding Roman frescoes at the Villa Oplontis. Find out more

Gulets

The word ‘gulet’ (Turkish gulet – also gulette or gullet) is probably derived from the French term goulette, or schooner. They are two-masted wooden vessels, hand-built from local pine according to generations of tradition. Gulets were long used for transport and fishing in the Eastern Mediterranean, especially in Turkey. Due to our long experience with Turkish gulets, we also use Turkish-built boats of that type on our Italian cruises, never compromising on the high standards of construction and equipment we require. Lovingly hand-made from fine woods such as mahogany, pine and teak, our gulets are in a long line of continuity with traditional boat types used already in the Middle Ages, characterised by their sharp bow, broad beam and rounded aft. A gulet is a lovely thing to behold: full of style, grace and elegance, comfortable and highly individual.

Key features of a gulet cruise include an atmosphere of style and comfort, within the beautiful settings of the regions we visit and the sites we explore, the superb food, and the excellent service of our crews and guides, whose task is to make your trip an unforgettably enjoyable experience.

Apart from the sheer pleasure of travelling on a gulet, our guests have access to a variety of activities, including swimming, snorkelling and kayaking. Another key feature are our excursions ashore for those eager to explore the ancient sites and the local ambience of Italy. Our guides also introduce you to the best of authentic local cuisine by organising shore meals at carefully selected venues, ranging from traditional family-run trattorias to sophisticated restaurants that represent the height of Italian gastronomy.

During a typical day on one of our gulet cruises, you usually spend circa three hours cruising along the coastline, most commonly with motor power to make sure we reach our various fascinating destinations. Of course, if the weather permits, we also experience the glory of travelling under sail!

We have long experience in organizing scheduled gulet tours in Italy, and the combination of relaxed and pleasurable cruising, swimming in pretty coves, excellent food and archaeological exploration on superb sites makes the country a perfect destination for individual private charters. No matter how diverse the interests or ages in your group, you will find something to satisfy everyone along the shores and in the islands of Italy – and if you want us to design your very own itinerary just for you and your family or friends, we are happy to do that!

“Traveling for a month in Italy, the highlight of our trip was the Peter Sommer Travels’ gulet trip on the Amalfi Coast. A fabulous way to visit and learn about the history of the area while living and eating great food on the gulet, Deriya Deniz. Michael went above and beyond as a guide and his knowledge and enthusiasm are amazing. This being our second Peter Sommer Travels trip, I’m sure it won’t be our last.” Linda and Del Coolidge, Montana, USA

Getting In Touch

The gulet cruise calendar in Italy runs from spring until autumn – for more specific dates, please see our schedule of trips below. If you have any questions about any of our Italian gulet cruises or you’d like to enquire about creating a bespoke gulet holiday in Italy just for you please don’t hesitate to get in touch. We will be delighted to help.