In the Press
Reviews and Mentions in the Media
Mail on Sunday
The 10 best boat breaks: Love the water but don’t fancy a cruise? Then, hire your own boat by Wendy Gomersall
February 11, 2018
“Peter Sommer Travels offers tailor-made private gulet charters in Turkey, Croatia, Italy and Greece. Full board and wine with dinner, guides, entrance fees and harbour fees are included, and guests can ask the captain for a turn at the wheel.”
The Times
Top 20 Tours to Book Now by Rob Ryan
February 10, 2018
Our Gastronomic Gulet Cruise In Croatia is one of the 20.
“Join Peter Sommer’s Gastronomic Gulet tour, which includes cookery classes and wine tastings at traditional Dalmatian wine cellars. There are also tours of Hvar and Diocletian’s Roman Palace.”
The Traveller
The Shipping News by Brian Johnston
January 2018
SOMMER LOVING: “British-based tour operator Peter Sommer Travels has launched two new expert-led cultural gulet (traditional Turkish sailboat) cruises for small groups. The Walking and Cruising the Dodecanese itinerary for just 12 passengers explores the Greek Islands by sail and on foot, visiting archaeological sites off the beaten track. Meanwhile, in Croatia, a Gastronomic Gulet Cruise for 12 guests focuses on the gastronomy of the Dalmatian coast and islands, with visits to local producers, cooking classes, on-shore dining and the chance to sample regional dishes and wines. The company also does small-group, expert-led tours in Italy and Turkey.”
Chicago Tribune
Track lemurs in Madagascar, celebrate Orthodox Easter in Greece and more by Phil Marty
December 20, 2017
“Athens in April: There are lots of tours to the Holy Land that are tied to sites important to Christianity and to Easter observances. Peter Sommer Travels takes a different tack with a Greece tour that begins April 2 and visits sites and celebrations in Athens that are relevant to Orthodox Easter Holy Week. The weeklong itinerary is led by archaeologists and Athens experts Heinrich Hall and Dr. Maria Girtzi. The Acropolis, the Agora and the old town of Plaka are among iconic Greek sites that will be explored, but there will also be events such as Holy Thursday observances at the monastery of Daou (Moni Penteli), where people can see a re-enactment of the crucifixion. On Holy Friday, participants will visit the church of Agios Georgios Karitzi in Athens for choral singing, and on Holy Saturday it’s possible to view the Easter celebrations of the city’s Ethiopian and Armenian communities.”
The Times
50 Best Greek Holidays for 2017 by James Ellis
January 21 2017
Our Cruising the Aegean: A Family Adventure is one of the 50.
“Cruise the Aegean – For those with slightly older children, this new family cruises with Peter Sommer Travels should be ideal for fulfilling their curiosity and bagging some kudos in history classes at school. Starting from Kos and sailing in a Turkish-style gulet with expert guides, stops will include crusader castles and the sacred island of Patmos.”
The Telegraph
The 50 best art, food and culture holidays for 2017 by Trisha Andres
Two of our gulet trips feature – at number 15 is our Walking and Cruising Southern Dalmatia in Croatia and at 23 is is our Cruising the Aegean: from Kos to Patmos
“Cruising the Aegean: Kos to Patmos – “White-built and sun-roasted, the Greek islands appear to have been lying around doing little for eternity. In truth, they’ve been kicking, and getting kicked, since the dawn of time. Take the Dodecanese. Everyone’s been through, from Minoans to Italian fascists, by way of Romans, Byzantines and Ottomans. This doesn’t make the islands any less pretty, just a lot more interesting, thus ripe for a tour aboard a gulet, the trad Turkish sailing vessel. From Kos (Greek temples, memories of Hippocrates) to the extraordinary Byzantine monastery on Patmos, the boat (18 passengers, max) sails in style via rocky Kalymnos, Leros and other islands yet. A profound past supplies the landscapes’ subtext. The food is ace and there’s luxury enough for the exacting.”
“Walking and cruising in Croatia – “This seven-day Walking and Cruising Southern Dalmatia tour run by Peter Sommer is led by Dr Helena Tomas, one of the world’s leading researchers on Aegean archaeology. It combines a gulet cruise with guided walks through small towns, ancient forts and castles and churches. Go on a walk atop a 14th-century 5km wall in Ston; meander through valleys, past sites from the Roman times to the Middle ages in Mljet; and in Hvar, explore the Stari Grad Plain, a living archaeological landscape, where farmers are using the same tracks that their ancient Greek forebears laid out when they colonised the island 100 generations ago.”
The Boston Globe
Here, there and everywhere by Necee Regis
January 13 2017
Our gulet cruises in Croatia are highlighted:
“Set sail off the coast of Croatia this year aboard a Turkish gulet, a two-masted, hand-crafted wooden vessel operated by Peter Sommer Travels. If that name sounds familiar, it should. In the spring of 1994, British archaeologist and filmmaker Peter Sommer spent four and a half months walking 2,000 miles across Turkey, retracing the route of Alexander the Great, before working on the popular BBC/PBS television documentary In the Footsteps of Alexander the Great. Today his company is an award-winning UK-based tour operator specializing in expert-led small group cultural tours, gulet cruises, and private trips in Croatia, Greece, Italy, and Turkey. Debuting this year are two new gulet trips in Croatia: Cruising the Dalmatian Coast from Sibenik to Zadar (Sept.16-Sept.23); and Walking and Cruising Southern Dalmatia (Sept.30-Oct 7). These join the popular Split to Dubrovnik cruises (June 3-10; Sept. 23-Sept. 30). Maximum guests per cruise: 10.”
Wanderlust
2017’s best learning trips
February 2017 issue
“Croatia’s coastline has long been one of Europe’s most dazzling drives, but for an alternative view, try exploring its medieval buildings, waterfalls and walled cities from the deck of a traditional Turkish-built gulet (wooden sailing boat). Peter Sommer Travels’ Cruising the Dalmatian Coast sees you set out from Šibenik in the company of archaeologist Dr Helena Tomas. Uncover the curious history of medieval city Trogir, explore the hilltop fortresses and islets of the Kornati archipelago and wander the Roman and Venetian town of Zadar, pit stopping in sun-kissed, isolated bays along the way. It should be blissful.”
The Telegraph
5 of the best cultural holidays in Croatia and 5 of the best Croatia cruise holidays by Jane Archer
January 4 2017
Our Cruising the Coast of Dalmatia: from Šibenik to Zadar features in both selections.
“Done Dubrovnik? Seen Split? Peter Sommer is showcasing Croatia’s less-visited cultural heritage on a new eight-day cruise of north Dalmatia by traditional gulet. Led by an award-winning archaeologist, Dr Helena Tomas, you visit a Croatia that, though quieter, is central to understanding the nation’s story. The first port of call is Skradin to visit Roman ruins and lovely waterfalls in the Krka National Park. Following days cruise to historic Zadar, a cats-cradle of Roman, Byzantine and Venetian Gothic that’s the colour of old ivory and drenched in brilliant Adriatic light; Nin, the medieval cradle of nascent Croatia; and the ethereally beautiful Kornati islands, created, said George Bernard Shaw, from God’s tears, stars and breath. The Unesco-listed Renaissance cathedral of Sibenik then the lovely small town of Trogir round things off. Everywhere are sparkling seascapes and opportunities to swim.”
The New York Times
Cruising Croatia by Small Ship by Elaine Glusac
March 28 2016
We’re delighted our Cruising the Coast of Dalmatia was highlighted as follows:
“The culturally focused Peter Sommer Travels, run by the archaeologist and eponymous BBC documentarian, has added a new small-ship itinerary in Croatia this fall. Guided by a university professor who specializes in art, architecture and history, the eight-day trip aboard a 12-passenger wooden gullet departs Sept. 17 from Split and travels down the Adriatic coast. The itinerary explores a Roman palace, ancient Greek colony, the region’s tallest mountain and the islands of Hvar and Korcula en route to the ancient walled city of Dubrovnik.”
The Financial Times
More big adventures on small boats
March 24 2016
We’re delighted our Cruising the Lycian Shore trip was highlighted as follows:
“Peter Sommer Travels offers expert-led tours of the Mediterranean’s classical ruins that bypass the car parks and crowds. Instead guests travel by gulet, stopping at both major and lesser-known sites. Highlights include a two-week trip along Turkey’s Lycian coast, visiting the marble-clad city of Perge, the rock-cut tombs at Myra and the fortified citadel at Xanthos.”
The Guardian
40 of the World’s Best Cruise Holidays
February 27 2016
We’re delighted our gulet cruises in Turkey were highlighted as follows:
“A leading company for brainiac-friendly archaeological cruises, mainly around Turkey, Peter Sommer has a range of gulet and cultural tours hosted by experts. Its Cruising the Carian Coast trip, led by Professor Julian Bennett, glides from the Med to the Aegean, along the coast that was historically an important interface between traders from different cultures. Starting in the resort town of Göcek on the gulf of Fethiye, passengers take in ancient Greek and Roman sites such as Knidos, Kaunos, the more remote Loryma and Lydae, and the crusader castle at Halicarnassus, accompanied by a narrative of these civilisations.”
The Sunday Times
The 100 best holidays for 2016
January 2016
We’re delighted our In the Footsteps of Alexander the Great tour in Turkey is rated one of the 100 best holidays for 2016.
The Times
The 50 best holidays in Italy.
We are very pleased Our Exploring Rome tour is chosen as one of the 50 best holidays in Italy.
January 2016
The Telegraph
The top 10 food and drink holidays in Turkey 2016.
January, 2016
Our Gastronomic Gulet Cruise is rated one of the top 10 food and drink holidays in Turkey for 2016.
The Telegraph
The top 10 cultural holidays in Turkey 2016.
January, 2016
Our In the Footsteps of Alexander the Great tour is rated one of the top 10 cultural holidays in Turkey for 2016.
The Telegraph
The top 10 cultural holidays in Greece for 2016.
January, 2016
Our tours in Greece are rated one of the top 10 cultural holidays in Greece for 2016, with particular emphasis on our Exploring the Peloponnese tour and our Cruising to the Cyclades.
Denver International Travel Examiner
Special tour of Greece’s Peloponnese Peninsula set for 2016 by Bob Schulman
November 1, 2015
We are very pleased our new archaeological and cultural tour of the Peloponnese was highlighted.
The Telegraph
10 ancient sites you must see in your lifetime. The historian and broadcaster Mary Beard reveals 10 of her favourite classical sites
07 Oct 2015
We are proud to have been cited as one of the best ways to explore such archaeological sites.
The Australian Financial Review
Villa Casale, Sicily, offers a dream date with stone-cold foxes by Luke Slattery
Aug 5, 2015
Travel article about the stunning world famous Roman mosaics in the villa of Piazza Armerina on Sicily, penned by one of Australia’s most respected travel writers who was on our Exploring Sicily tour in April 2014.
Sunday Express
10 last-minute ideas that show there’s still time to book an inspiring holiday. You may not have booked your summer getaway yet but there are plenty of choices available to you to make it a holiday to remember. By Anne Gorringe
July 29 2015
We are very pleased that we had two items cited in this top 10 list.
“Combine a cruise to the Greek Islands and Turkey with an eight-day trip with archaeological specialist Peter Sommer Travels which leaves on Saturday, August 29. Cruising the South-East Ageean: Greek Isles and Turkish shores cruise investigates the fascinating history of the area and a whole series of beautiful land and seascapes across two countries.”
“Explore Turkey’s turquoise coast by private gulet, led by archaeological specialist Peter Sommer himself on his ‘Cruising the Lycian Shore’ trip which leaves on August 29 until September 12. Range of archaeological visits included. “
The Independent
Last-minute family escapes to the sun by William Gray
July 20 2015
Our family gulet cruise is highlighted as ideal for water lovers.
The Traveller
Travel deals: New Peter Sommer Travels’ September tour of Macedonia by Julietta Jameson
Jun 26 2015
Our From the Slopes of Mount Olympus to the Shores of the Aegean tour of northern Greece was highlighted.
The Telegraph
Gourmet Italy: what to eat and drink in Sicily by Tim Jepson
03 June 2015
Our Gastronomic Tour of Sicily is highlighted as one of the best Sicilian food and wine holidays.
The West Australian
GUIDE: Single and solo travel by Gemma Nisbet
May 21, 2015
“Special-interest tours have an obvious appeal for solo travellers, whether you’re a single person hoping to meet like-minded people or are leaving your spouse at home to follow an interest they don’t share. Companies operating these kinds of trips often cater well to single travellers. For example, Peter Sommer Travels (petersommer.com) — which specialises in cultural, historical and archaeological tours and gulet cruises in Turkey, Greece, and Italy”
Chicago Tribune
Sailing on small ships gets closer to the treasures by Phil Marty
Apr 8 2015
“Cruising by gulet — traditionally small, two-masted sailing vessels — is a wonderful way to explore places like Turkey, Greece and Italy. Peter Sommer Travels specializes in such adventures and offers small-group journeys (maximum of 18 people) aboard gulets to explore the cultural and archaeological treasures of those countries. For an even more interesting experience, the company will do custom gulet charters that can be based on its regular itineraries, or you can build your own itinerary… In addition to room and board on the gulet, tours include a specialist guide and local guides.”
The Sunday Times
The 100 best holidays for 2015
Jan 2015
We’re delighted our Walking and Cruising the Carian Coast trip is rated one of the 100 best holidays for 2015, included in their ‘Journeys: Exceptional Escorted Tours’ section.
San Francisco Chronicle
Globetrotter: From Turkey trekking to the DMZ by Jeanne Cooper
January 13, 2015
Our new Walking and Cruising the Carian Coast guet trip in Turkey is highlighted.
Wanderlust magazine
The 50 best new trips for 2015
Jan 2015
Our Walking and Cruising the Carian Coast was picked as one of the 10 best new active trips for 2015 / one of the 50 best new trips for 2015.
The Telegraph
Escorted tours: April 2015. The best escorted tours departing in April 2015
Dec 30, 2014
We’re very pleased our Exploring Istanbul tour is highlighted.
The Telegraph
The top 10 food and drink holidays in Turkey. Terry Richardson offers his selection.
Dec 24, 2014
Our Gastronomic Gulet Cruise is rated one of the top 10 food and drink holidays in Turkey for 2015.
The Independent
The top 10 destinations to visit in 2015
Dec 27 2014
Our From the Slopes of Mt Olympus to the Shores of the Aegean tour was highlighted in the section on Greece.
The Telegraph
The top 10 cultural holidays in Greece for 2015. Marc Dubin offers his selection.
Dec 19, 2014
Specialising in cultural/archaeological/culinary tours of Greece (plus Turkey and Italy), Peter Sommer Travels relies on gulets (traditional Aegean motor-sail caiques) for getting around the island bits of their programme. Itineraries are sensibly scheduled for the most pleasant spring or autumn months, and are led by a roster of nearly 30 academic but amiable experts. Among eight Greek itineraries for 2015, we especially like the two-week tours “Exploring the Peloponnese”, touching on well-known and up-and-coming attractions; “Cruising to the Cyclades”, plus several less usual Dodecanese and “From the Slopes of Mt Olympus to the Shores of the Aegean”, taking in the best sites, tastes and wines of the northern mainland and Thasos.
West of the City Magazine
Sailing Through History: A Gastronomic Gulet Cruise of the Turkish Riviera by Barbara Ramsay Orr
Jan 8, 2015
Barbara, a highly regarded travel writer and Vice President of the Society of American Travel Writers (SATW) writes about one of our trips.
The Telegraph
Italy summer holidays guide: art and culture.
Dec 2014
Our gulet trip along the Amalfi Coast and land-based holidays in Sicily and Rome were highlighted.
National Geographic Traveller Magazine
The Naming Game by Pól Ó Conghaile
Sept 2014
Our escorted gulet cruises were highlighted.
USA Today
The Best Sailing Cruises by Fran Golden
5/9/14
Our gulet cruises in Turkey, Greece and Italy were selected as one of the best sailing cruises.
Sydney Morning Herald
Remains of the Day by Luke Slattery
1/6/14
Travel writer Luke Slattery came on our first ever Exploring Sicily tour in April 2014 and wrote a major feature about the trip.
Sunday Times Travel Magazine
Top 12 Turkish Delights by Katie Parla
Our gulet cruises in Turkey were chosen as the no.1 delight. “Peter Sommer Travels is tops for culture.”
Huffington Post
Five Family Adventure Holidays in Europe
7/5/14
Our family gulet cruise on the Lycian coast of Turkey was chosen as one of the five best.
The Times
Our Gastronomic tour of Sicily featured as one of the 50 best holidays in Italy.
25/1/14
The Sunday Times
Voyages of Discovery: Stand back from that all you can eat buffet and feed your mind instead on an educational cruise. Alessia Horwich picks the best.
28/7/13
The list of sights covered on a 15-day Peter Sommer cruise around Turkey’s Carian coast reads like a short course in ancient Greek architecture. Which it is, with gourmet meals, scenic walks, snorkelling stops and no homework… Dr Julian Bennett will provide the specialist information; the remote, unspoilt landscape will do the rest.
National Geographic Traveller Magazine
Our Cruising the Amalfi Coast tour was selected in the Smart Traveller column feature on ‘Archaeological Cruises’.
”With room for just 10 guests aboard its 6 cabin gulet, its bay of Naples and Amalfi Coast cruise offers top-notch history tourism in super-luxe comfort. Tick off Capri, Pompeii and Amalfi in the company of an expert historian and archaeologist and dangle your feet in the azure waters of the Med.”
May-June 2013
The National (UAE)
Top 10 beach holidays in Turkey by Robin Gauldie
May 3, 2013
We’re very pleased our gulet holidays in Turkey were highlighted.
“Into the blue: Gulet cruises come in all shapes and prices, from trips that emphasise fun activities such as sea-kayaking, snorkelling, canyoning and beach barbecues to voyages led by experts on the region’s past and present. The coast between Marmaris and Demre is the scene of one of the great Turkish holiday experiences – the classic “Blue Voyage”. With a crew of three or four, these classy, two-masted wooden schooners sail or motor along the stunning Lycian coast, pausing for swimming and picnics in pretty bays and mooring at night in harbour villages such as Kas and Kalkan. Day trips to ancient ruins, caves and canyons are included in most packages. Some boats carry their own sea-kayaks, sailboards and scuba gear. Others moor at spots where equipment can be hired for the day. Smaller gulets sleep up to eight people in two-person cabins. The largest have berths for up to 24. Luxury eight-day, expert-led cruises cost from £2,065 per person with Peter Sommer Travels”
The Sunday Times
Pompeii in one perfect day by Anthony Peregrine reveals the smart way to bring it all back to life.
March 24 2013
Anthony lists tour operators that include a visit to the site as part of a land based tour and then cites our Cruising the Amalfi Coast tour – ”Alternatively you could cruise it on a wooden gulet with the culture tour specialist Peter Sommer Travels, with expert-led excursions to the sites and a maximum of 10 guests.”
The Guardian
Exploring Turkey by horse, train, cycle and sail boat. From a riding trek along the Evliya Çelebi Way, to boarding the Dogu Express, to sailing the Ceramic Gulf, or cycling in Cappadocia, there is more than one way to explore Turkey, by Harriet O’Brien
March 22 2013
Our Cruising the Ceramic gulf gulet cruise was highlighted.
“A cruise on a traditional gulet sailing boat is one of the most captivating ways of exploring Turkey’s southern coast, sailing around long mountain-backed peninsulas and stopping at sites largely inaccessible by road. Peter Sommer Travels offers a particularly appealing and remote trip around the Ceramic gulf, off Bodrum. This is one of the most unspoilt parts of the south-west region, with seascapes of quiet coves and deep inlets, and a landscape dotted with sites of immense historical interest. There is plenty of opportunity to swim, kayak and snorkel along the way. Highlights include the wonderfully preserved remains of the marble city of Knidos, and the castle of St Peter in Bodrum, built by the Knights of Rhodes and now one of the world’s most renowned museums of underwater archaeology.”
The Sunday Times
Amazing adventures for kids of all ages by Stephen Bleach
March 10 2013
We’re thrilled our family gulet cruise in July was chosen as one of the best family adventures in 2013.
Culture in Turkey
If you want to sugar the cultural pill, you won’t get much sweeter than this: a bit of classical history and a lot of splashing. On a leisurely gulet cruise down the coast of Turkey, you’ll visit plenty of sites, including the ancient ruins at Patara, birthplace of St. Nicholas, and Simena, with a Lycian necropolis overlooked by an Ottoman castle. Dry stuff? Not when your guide is the youthful archaeologist Michael Metcalfe, a dab hand at bringing the past to life for kids. He’ll have them thrilling to bloodthirsty ancient battles and groaning at dubious classical toilet habits – and the rest of the time they can kayak, snorkel, swim, climb and hold jumping competitions from the boat into the crystal clear water.
Condé Nast Traveller
Luxury family fun: Give the kids the family holiday of a lifetime with a safari in Africa, on a handcrafted Turkish gulet or with a cruise on the Med.
April issue 2013
We are very pleased our July family gulet cruise was picked as one of the 3 best family holidays.
The Australian Financial Review
Mon March 1, 2013
We’re flattered that we were mentioned in the ‘Upper Deck Cruising: Bucket list’ feature in the AFR’s quarterly travel magazine, Sophisticated Traveller. Our Cruising to Ephesus gulet tour was also highlighted.
The Sunday Times
Greece, Turkey and the eastern Med: 25 top holidays for 2013 by Nigel Summerley, Nick Redman and Richard Green
Sun Feb 24, 2013
We are delighted our new Walking and Cruising Western Lycia tour was featured at no.9
Singapore Straits Times
A feature on educational tours by Huang Huifen
Sun Feb 17, 2013
The article talks about Peter Sommer Travels and highlights our Walking and Cruising Western Lycia tour.
The Sunday Times
Cover story: “There’s a bit of Italy for everyone – Top 25 holidays in Italy 2013” by Stanley Stewart
Sun Feb 17, 2013
We’re thrilled that our Cruising the Amalfi Coast trip is included in this list!
The Telegraph
Fifty great cultural tours for 2013. Nick Trend offers his selection of expert-led trips on themes from art and history to wine
Feb 8, 2013
We’re over the moon that two of our tours are in this list of the 50 best cultural tours for 2013. At number 16 our In the Footsteps of Alexander the Great in Turkey and at 46 our Gastronomic Tour in Sicily.
National Geographic Traveller Magazine
Our northern Dodecanse tour was selected in the Smart Traveller column.
”If you like your sailing with a little stimulation, book yourself on to this gulet cruise of the northern Dodecanese, which gives you an up-close look at the architectural pomp of ancient Greece, from the Asclepieion of Kos, to the tunnel of Eupalinos on Samos, and the medieval castle on Leros.”
March 2013
The Times
Cool for the kids: the best new family holidays for 2013 by Julia Brookes
Sat Jan 19, 2013
We’re delighted our Western Lycia gulet family tour was featured as one of the 20 best family holidays for 2013.
The Telegraph
Greece 2013: Mark Dubin picks the best holidays in Greece
Jan 19, 2013
Our new Exploring Crete and our In the Footsteps of Alexander the Great tour were highlighted in the ‘Cultural Holidays’ section.
Lonely Planet Magazine
High 5 Cruises. Forget floating hotels with shuffleboard and showtunes – here are five cruises to the world’s most beautiful corners, in a style even cruise-adverse will enjoy.
We’re delighted our Cruising the Northern Dodecanese was selected as one the five.
December 2012.
Financial Times – How to Spend it Magazine
Our new Alexander the Great tour in Greece was picked out by the Financial Times in its Travelista column by Sophy Roberts
Oct 14, 2012
Departures Magazine
Travelling to the Mediterranean by Sophy Roberts
We were delighted to be featured as the ‘culture experts’ to Turkey, Greece and Italy.
Oct 2012.
The Sunday Telegraph
‘Italy’s bay of beauty.’ Jeremy Seal combined a Roman history tour with a cruise on a Turkish gulet along the idyllic Neapolitan riviera in Italy.
Summer 2012
Celebrated travel writer, Jeremy Seal, joined our very first Cruising the Amalfi Coast trip in Sept 2011. In case you didn’t see it, here’s a few excerpts:
”We were on a new cruise taking in world-class sites such a Pompeii, along with the archaeological attractions on islands including Capri and Ischia and visits to idyllic ports, such as Amalfi and Positano…This was top-drawer history tourism….
Our chef had begun as she meant to go on. Constantly putting ashore to procure fresh ingredients, she somehow conjured an unbroken succession of exceptional meals from the cramped confines of her galley: enormous gamberoni (prawns) from Capri; Ischian courgettes, aubergines and peppers which she grilled with pancetta; tiny wild strawberries, which topped a heavenly flan; and the ricotta and prosciutto which went into the filling of a polpettone (meat loaf)…
For all this glut of pleasure, however, we were always glad to return to the gulet. By somehow contriving to be at once practical and romantic – minimising the need for the minibus transfers which dog most tour itineraries, for example, but also with dolphins riding the bow wave – our holiday home, restaurant and chief transport mode rolled into one stole the show…Here was true travelling pedigree.”
South Wales Echo
Our “Mouth-watering” gastronomic Sicily trip was chosen as one of the “Ten Great Foodie Holidays” in the South Wales Echo
August 2012.
Sydney Morning Herald
Jane Reddy in ‘The Frequent Flyer’ interviews our very own Peter Sommer. When asked about his favourite archaeological site, Peter says he would choose Didyma for its sheer power.
11-12 August 2012
The Jewish Chronicle Online
In their article about “Three Travel Treats”, our Cappadocia tour is recommended. They mention “fascinating historical sites”, “boutique hotels” and a hot air balloon ride.
2012
Sydney Morning Herald
We are pleased to see that Jeremy Seal’s article from the Sunday Telegraph about the Amalfi Coast Tour has been syndicated. He refers to our tours as “Top Drawer Tourism”, with a “Glut of Pleasure” and “True Travelling Pedigree”.
23-24 June 2012
Traveller, Easy Jet’s Inflight Magazine
Adrian Mourby writes about a Blue Cruise with our guide Serdar Akerdem. He writes: “It’s mid-morning below Bodrum Castle, and already it is hotting up. Light bounces off the sparkling waters of the harbour as the first gulets head into the clear Aegean. A stunning sight…” Peter Sommer Travels is listed as one of the providers of Blue Cruises.
June 2012
Food and Travel Magazine
“Sail the Med; Five of the best ways”.
Our Bodrum to Göcek gastronomic tour is listed as one of the five best ways to do a blue cruise! “As you sit down to lunch with local Lydaen goat herders in the “forgotten valley”, you’ll find yourself clinging to your last few precious hours in a world still filled with ancient wonder.”
May 2012
Global Village
Bob Schulman writes about Peter Sommer Travels in a lovely article in the Globe Trotter section of the Global Village Magazine. Our cruises and land tours are outlined, and they are especially impressed with our Cappadocia tour; “Perhaps you’d like to pass around some pictures of yourself in a hot-air ballon soaring over hundreds of spiralling rock “fairy chimneys.”
13 April 2012
The Guardian
In their “What’s new?” section, The Guardian mentions our Amalfi Coast and Cappadocia trips.
12 April 2012
The Telegraph
Jeremy Seal writes about his inspiring trip to Cappadocia. Peter Sommer Travels is mentioned as one of the providers of tailor made packages, and our six day cultural tour of the region is recommended.
He says: “This compact region, riddled with the rock-hewn interiors of Byzantine frescoed churches and monastery complexes, scattered dwellings and warren-like underground cities, has seen an explosion of cultural interest in recent years.”
7 April 2012
The Telegraph
Gill Charlton “Solves your travel problems”:
Chrissy Sykes asks about a small boat cruise around Turkey or Greece suitable for families with a guide to the classical sites. She says “Comfort and good food are important to us.” First on the list is: “Peter Sommer Travels has an impressive programme of one-week cruises around the Turkish Aegean and Mediterranean coastline.”
24 March 2012
Brisbane Sunday Mail
“Great Offers for our Readers’“ section
“Immerse yourself in the life of the ancient Romans with an eight-day tour through the Amalfi Coat in southern Italy”.
11 March 2012
Travel Society Website
“Some Thoughts on Greece”
Peter Sommer Travels is mentioned in connection with an article written by our staff member, Heinrich Hall, about why Greece is the place to visit (despite recent problems). They also introduce our “Cruising to the Cyclades” tour, which they say “sounds wonderful”.
March 2012
Minerva, the International Review of Ancient Art and Archaeology
We received a lovely mention in Lindsay Fulcher’s article Time Travellers focusing on the best tour companies taking travellers back to the legendary sites of antiquity. Jan/Feb issue 2012.
‘A wonderful combination of cruising along the coast of Turkey, Greece or Italy stopping every so often to explore ancient sites, means you can relax, swim and drink a gin and tonic, and satisfy your passion for the past, too. Peter Sommer is an inspirational guide who brings each site to life so vividly that the dead walk and talk again (I have this on good authority) – so that even those who are not devoted to archaeology are spellbound. Escorted trips, archaeological adventures, walking holidays and gastronomic tours can all be arranged with the minimum of fuss.”
The Telegraph
Turkey 2012: Sophie Butler picks the best activity and specialist holidays in Turkey
Feb 10 2012
Our ‘wide range of cultural, gastronomic and family tours’ were highlighted in the ‘Cultural Holidays’ section.
The Telegraph
Greece 2012: Sophie Butler picks the best activity and specialist holidays in Greece
Feb 2 2012
Our two Greece tours, including our Cruising to the Cyclades were highlighted in the ‘Cultural Holidays’ section.
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 and 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 an 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.
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 Traveller
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”
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”
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”
Travel Features
In addition to the above mentions in the press, there have also been a number of full length features about our tours. Here’s a small selection:
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
