We’ve been running our Walking and Cruising the Lycian Shore 2-week trip since 2005 and our 1-week Walking and Cruising the Carian Coast since 2015. Brand new for 2026 is this 2-week Walking and Cruising the Carian Coast: Extended Edition.
Peter says: “Cem (our Turkish guide extraordinaire, whom I’ve been working with for the last 30 years) and I will be doing a recce later this autumn to hike a short list of trail sections that we have in our sights, in order to fill in the itinerary days that are currently tbc and perhaps modify the other planned itinerary days as we finesse this brand new trip that we are hugely excited about.”
A fantastic walking and hiking tour that combines a cruise along this beautiful and undeveloped coast with walks along the Carian Trail, one of Turkey’s most spectacular footpaths. With its herb-lined paths, atmospheric ruins and hills swathed in pine and olive, this epic hiking route, some 500 miles long, will give you a real sense of remote, undiscovered Turkey. You’ll follow some of its very best stretches, averaging about 5-6 miles walking a day with a traditional gulet ever present offshore, providing elegant transport, dining and accommodation.
Aboard our traditional and stylish Turkish gulet, our ever changing horizon is a wild, remote and mountainous landscape cut into long peninsulas, deep inlets, and secluded coves, perfect places for swimming, snorkelling or kayaking.
On foot we will be able to discover many remote archaeological sites and wonders, like the ghost village of Karamaka, abandoned by its Greek inhabitants during the exchange of populations in 1923; and Loryma, one of the most romantic and picturesque areas on the Turkish coast. From shepherds’ trails to forest tracks, goat paths to ancient roads, we’ll be walking back through time with beautiful views at every turn.
You’ll come across seemingly lost Byzantine churches in dramatic settings, Ottoman cisterns in forgotten valleys, and a myriad of ancient tombs. This stretch of coast has been a vital and strategic thoroughfare throughout history and the wealth of archaeological sites is testament to its importance. You’ll explore beautifully preserved Knidos, a monumental marbled city arranged around a double harbour, one of the greatest archaeological gems on Turkey’s southwest coast. You’ll also encounter a great many sites like Lydae and Phoenix that have yet to be properly studied, yet to receive any excavation or detailed survey. More often than not we’ll be the only people exploring the historic ruins on our journey.
This tour weaves together a cornucopia of simple pleasures: magnificent sites, quiet coves, wondrous hikes and glorious swims. As with all our gulet cruises in Turkey, delicious Turkish food is a key component. We’ll enjoy beautiful lunches and dinners freshly prepared on-board by the gulet’s cook, delicious picnics amongst ancient ruins and sumptuous meals at traditional local restaurants.
From rocky coastal paths and wooded paths cushioned with pine needles to stepped roads cut into the bedrock by ancient hands, this is a trip packed full of fascinating antiquities, superb swim stops and breath-taking panoramas.
Our Tours receive an average rating of 5 out of 5 from 360 reviews, according to AITO reviews.
Day 1: Your gulet awaits you in the harbour of historic Bodrum, about 40 minutes from Bodrum airport. Home to an impressive Crusader castle and the site of the ancient Mausoleum of Halicarnassus it is a truly appropriate place to begin.
Day 2: An easy first day with plenty of time for swimming, relaxing and admiring the scenery of sea, hills and islands.
Day 3: We explore the little known ancient hilltop city of Theangela. From its magnificent defences, housing a giant cistern there are spectacular views in all directions. We walk down to a picturesque and rustic village for a locally prepared lunch.
Day 4: Our first voyage takes us to a beautiful bay to the south of Bodrum, where we head ashore and hike through splendid landscapes, ancient ruins and magnificent seascapes aplenty, to the spectacular Greek and Roman city of Knidos. Set at the tip of a long and sinewy peninsula, with a double harbour offering shelter to ships plying north and south, Knidos made its mark on Greek history and grew rich from its stunning natural position, and we’ll see the results in the grand and ordered city rising in tier upon opulent tier. Decades of excavation have freed a beautifully planned city from the soil, allowing us to wander through its streets and along terraces festooned with temples. We re-join our gulet, anchored in the Knidos’s eastern harbour, like many a classical predecessor, with the ancient city all around us.
Day 5: We head east through the necropolis of Knidos, one of the most extensive of antiquity, stretching some 7km beyond the city gates. Hiking along the hills, with gorgeous views out towards several of Greece’s Dodecanese islands, we reach the famed Lion tomb of Knidos, perched atop a small headland jutting out to sea. Excavated by Sir Charles Newton in 1858, the colossal marble lion that once graced the apex of the tomb is now one of the highlights of the British Museum. In the afternoon we cruise east for splendid swimming opportunities.
Day 6: tbc
Day 7: tbc
Day 8: Heading inland we climb to a magnificent monumental tomb then hike up into the hills to explore the ancient city of Hydas. Amid trees on rocky outcrops stand its great fortifications, with vast vistas in all directions and towers, cisterns and a church perched on high.
Day 9: We go ashore in a remote bay and walk up to the seemingly lost village of Karamaka, occupied by Greeks until the extraordinary population swap of Christians and Moslems between Greece and Turkey following the First World War. On a hill gazing out to sea and the island of Symi, stand the ruins of windmill, churches and houses. We then hike through wild and beautiful terrain to the ancient harbour of Loryma, a very strategic bay in ancient times, ringed with ruins, where we overnight.
Day 10: This morning we head a short way inland to Phoenix, from an idyllic narrow cove whose waters once covered the shipwreck of a Byzantine vessel filled with glass, revealed in a ground-breaking American excavation. More vessels remain in the sea’s grip beneath. Phoenix itself is a wild and remote citadel city, with beautiful landscapes and grand vistas all around, almost untouched by archaeologists. We hike from Phoenix along roads cut into the bedrock over 2,000 years ago, discovering remarkable pyramidal stones and all manner of ancient ruins as well as abandoned modern houses that utilised ancient inscriptions, statue bases and doorways within their walls. In the afternoon, we cruise north to relax and swim in a delightful bay.
Day 11: In the morning we hike through pine clad hills and past an ancient standing stone to the ancient city of Amos perched on a rocky headland, with wondrous views all around. Ongoing archaeological excavations are revealing Amos, with it lovely little theatre and impressive fortifications, to have been considerably larger than originally thought. In the afternoon we cruise east to the beautiful inlet of Ağlımanı, a perfect place to unwind and swim.
Day 12: We head east and take a flat-bottomed river boat up the reed-walled Dalyan River. Our route twists and turns through narrow waterways. We'll see some of the finest rock cut tombs in Asia Minor, stunning temple type facades carved into cliffs. We'll also hike through pine clad hills, off the beaten track, to discover some of the best-preserved fortifications from the 4th century BC, most likely built by Mausolus, who gives his name to one of the seven ancient wonders of the world. We'll trek beside giant towers, curtain walls and gateways, built out of vast carved blocks of stone, with grand views over the ancient city of Kaunos (once protected by these grand defences) and out across the meandering river to the glittering Mediterranean.
Day 13: We hike up an ancient track, with part of the original road surfacing visible in places, to crest a ridge crowned with monumental tombs. These majestic mausolea, look out towards the Mediterranean Sea and also look over the isolated ancient settlement of Lydae, its ruins a diffusion of sculpture and inscriptions in the bowl of a valley silent but for the occasional tinkle of goat bells. Two thousand years ago, a city flourished here, now it lies beautifully desolate at the hand of earthquakes, leaving mounds of sculpted rubble, a scatter of ancient buildings and, strewn between, a profusion of ancient sculptures and inscriptions, columns and capitals, lying as if they’d never before been found. We hike past olive presses and a profusion of tombs, down a splendid track to a picturesque bay, popularly referred to as Cleopatra’s, which lies on one side of a narrow isthmus that was completely walled off probably some 1,500 years ago. Here we re-join our gulet and enjoy a final swim before heading to our final port of call, the lovely little town of Göcek.
Day 14: A day of total leisure aboard our elegant gulet in the Bay of Fethiye, with plenty of time for swimming, relaxing and admiring the scenery of sea and mountains.
Day 15: Transfer from your gulet to Dalaman airport, about 30 minutes away.
I would like to book, what else do I need to know?
For information not covered below please refer to our FAQ’s or contact us directly on [email protected]
Arrival and Departure Information
Arrival Airport – Bodrum (Milas)
Departure Airport – Dalaman
Arrival Location – Bodrum Harbour (approx. 40 mins from airport)
Departure Location – Gocek Marina (approx. 30 mins from airport)
Embarkation and departure is planned for approx.17:00. You are more than welcome to arrive earlier to drop off your bags, but please be aware that the crew will be busy cleaning and tidying making everything ready for your group so you will not be able to settle into your cabin.
If your travel plans or flights do not allow you to arrive before 17:00 we recommend arriving the day before the tour starts. This would also allow time to relax, recover from any jet lag and arrive at the boat on time for embarkation and departure.
If you arrive at the gulet after 17:00, we will do our best to enable you to join the tour at a later time and place.
Please Note: Departure time is subject to change depending on weather, harbour, or other conditions.
Disembarkation is around 09:00. We will arrange local transfers on the first and last day of the tour.
Further information about the Walking
Unlike our standard gulet cruises, there is a significant amount of hiking on our Walking and Cruising the Carian Coast tour. We believe that’s a key part of its appeal. The walks we do are for the most part sections of the Carian Trail, widely regarded as one of the best hiking trails in the world for its combination of stunning vistas, scenery, and the archaeological sites that litter the way.
Please be aware that the terrain is often uneven, rocky, and rugged, and a number of the paths are carpeted with loose stones underfoot and there are occasions when the landscape we are passing through can have some prickly vegetation. You do need to be fit with a good sense of balance. There are some long stretches of uphill and downhill hiking. It’s certainly not a walk in the park, but ropes and crampons aren’t required! You do need to be used to hiking off the beaten track.
The trip is designed to ease you in gently. Across the week, the average distance is about 5-6 miles a day (approx 3 hours), but it’s not really the distance that you need to bear in mind, but the terrain. We take all the hikes at a leisurely pace, with some wonderful sites and great swims thrown in for good measure. Of course the beauty of being on the gulet, means that it’s perfectly possible for guests to skip a day’s walk if they so wish, and simply relax on the boat. If you fancy putting your feet up and resting for a day, that is perfectly possible. So if you wish to lie back and read a book or have an extra swim, you can.
Booking Flights: If you are staying in or connecting via Istanbul then the easiest way to get to and from the gulet is to fly. There are a number of airlines that offer domestic flights in Turkey. The cheapest way to book flights is directly with the airline online.
Please note:Â Flights are subject to change. Please contact the airline for exact details.
If you prefer to book with a travel agent, we are happy to recommend specialists in a number of countries around the world, please contact our office for more details.
Travel Insurance: We consider adequate travel insurance to be essential. You should ensure that you take out a suitable policy, to make sure that your trip is properly covered. Please be advised some insurers may require you to take out a policy within 15-20 days of booking your holiday to receive all of their insurance benefits.
Visas: You must check to see if you require a visa to enter Turkey. Visas are easily obtained online at eVisaand must be purchased before you travel.
Istanbul: If you are planning to stay in Istanbul before or after your gulet tour we would be happy to help with suggestions and information and things to see and do. Please get in touch.
Custom Tours: If you are thinking of extending your trip to Turkey to include visits to Cappadocia, Istanbul or further afield, please contact our office for further information.
Suggested Books: If you’d like to read about Caria in advance of the trip, do take a look at our Carian Turkey: Book Suggestions
Tour Includes:
October 2026 – Cruising aboard the 8-cabin gulet Sunworld IX
Full board accommodation with water, tea and coffee and wine with dinner
Airport transfers on the first and last day of the tour
Travel by private minibus
Harbour fees and crew services
All entrance fees and tips on land
The services of your expert tour leaders throughout the entire trip
WiFi (coverage permitting)
Not included:
Flights and airport taxes
Visas
Travel insurance
Gratuities on the gulet. It is customary to tip the crew at the end of a tour (we recommend a minimum of 20Euro per day per guest)
Tips for guides
Peter Sommer
Peter studied Ancient History and Archaeology at Birmingham University before completing a Masters on the archaeology of Central Asia. He has taught at Birmingham University and Istanbul’s Bogaziçi Üniversitesi (Bosphorus University). In 1994 he walked 2,000 miles across Turkey, retracing the route of Alexander the Great, and fell deeply in love with the country. For this epic journey he received The Explorers Club of America Young Expeditioners’ award. Two years into a PhD. at University College London, he was seduced into television to work on In the Footsteps of Alexander the Great (BBC/PBS).
An award-winning documentary producer, he filmed around the world for acclaimed series like Millennium: A thousand years of history (BBC/CNN), Commanding Heights: the Battle for the World Economy (PBS/BBC), and Tales from the Green Valley (BBC).
Peter created and led his first archaeological tour in 1995 and founded Peter Sommer Travels, specialising in expert-led archaeological and cultural tours for small groups in 2002.
What previous guests have to say about Peter:
"Peter, you are meant to be a historian and tour guide! You have a natural gift to tell stories to help us visual the past. It is also your passion and enthusiasm for history that I admired too. You were always engaging, thoughtful and quite organized. Thank you for being such a great tour guide!...the tour we took with Peter Sommer as our tour guide and his fellow expert Cem was exceptional and so much fun! Peter’s historical knowledge, passion and story telling has a way of bringing pieces of history to life as we toured different ruins. The traditional homemade food, the places you explore, swimming in secluded bays with each day being unique from the day before is a tour for anyone who wants a historical and delicious adventure. My husband and I can’t wait for our next tour!" Kelly Lussenden
"I loved the talks by Peter before, during and after each trip to land to view a new site. They were informative, intelligent, nuanced, and engaging. One of the best guides I have come across. His knowledge of the history and archaeology of the area was immense.This tour was probably the best we have ever been on. From the beautiful waters of that wild, lonely section of the Turkish south coast east of Bodrum, to the experience of visiting the amazing ancient sites of Knidos, Loryma, Kaunos and Lydae, and their interpretation for us by Peter. Perhaps my favourite moment was his description as we all sat inside the ruins of the grand tomb that had supported the great marble Lion of Knidos after a morning's walk in the sun. The lion is no longer there of course - it now sits in the Great Court of the British Museum - but Peter's description of the lion, its history, its significance and rediscovery in the 1800's, its transport down to the coast and to England had us spellbound. Of many travels on every continent over many years, both self-guided and guided this was one of the very best experiences I have had." Ian Close
"Peter's combination of warmth, knowledge and professionalism was outstanding. A highlight of the tour was listening to and watching Peter eliciting details from ruins and hillsides with a passion that brought ancient temples and agoras and olive groves alive. I truly appreciated the generosity of his sharing a very personal love for the history of the places we visited. He made every question seem worthwhile and never flagged in his willingness to share both his historical knowledge and his personal adventures. Peter has not lost any of the passion that first inspired him to trace the footsteps of Alexander the Great. In dynamic and engaging style, he elicits accounts of daily life of over 2 millennia ago out of the rocks of worn hillsides or the carvings on fallen pillars. Watching his hand outline the contours of earthquake-ravaged city walls, they almost stand tall again. As he swivels to identify the boundaries of an ancient town — the temple, agora, city gateways almost come alive with bustling crowds." Georgina Frampton
"Peter's ability to communicate 3,000 years of history in an exciting storytelling manner that a layperson such as myself could understand and find fascinating and fun was thrilling. Peter is incredibly congenial, intelligent, knowledgeable and has a great ability to turn what could be a dry recitation of history into an engaging story that anyone can understand. ...simply brilliant. Finding enough superlative words to describe the tour is a challenge - the tour was a fantastic experience and perfect blend of sightseeing, education, relaxation, fabulous food and an immersion into Turkish culture and history. Tour organization and planning was flawless. Peter and his fellow guide Cem are exceptionally knowledgeable, gracious and welcoming. I felt the trip surpassed the descriptions in the marketing materials and was one of the most positive travel experiences I’ve had in recent years. The whole package was above and beyond my expectations." Rachel Feldman
"Peter did a wonderful job! He was knowledgeable, personable, enthusiastic, and engaged with the tour members. I can't compliment him enough! It was a terrific learning experience." Bill Skelton
"Peter was wonderful. He enthusiastically delivered historical knowledge which helped bring ancient sites to life for us. Overall, an amazing trip, exceeding our expectations. We plan to book again on another tour. My wife and I count the two weeks of our tour as one of our most memorable travel experiences." Steve Patrick
"The highlight of our trip were the archeological tours with our excellent archeologist, Peter Sommer! He really brought these sites to life with his knowledge and enthusiasm. He added so much to the experience." Susan Mitchell
"I loved the talks that Peter gave. It's wonderful to have someone who not only has an impressive grasp of the history and archaeology of the place but can impart so interestingly. Outstanding! So much so that I've taken a book out of the library on ancient civilizations and am signing up for a course on reading the Iliad! I cried when our trip was over. The beautiful Turquoise Coast mimicked the excitement of learning about the past and wanting to learn more. I yearn for another such trip." Sarajane Milder
"It was such a pleasure to be guided by Peter on our trip. He could, and often did, bring just a dusty hole in the ground to life. Enthusiastic, deep historical knowledge, logistically perfect and very personable and patient. Peter is a top class guide. This tour exceeded our expectations in every way. The guides and crew were excellent, the boat was beautiful, comfortable and a great way to travel, the food was to die for and the ancient sites that we visited and often had nearly to ourselves were fascinating. We will definitely go with Peter Sommer Travels again in the future." Ed Tompkins
"Peter was great. His preparation and knowledge was outstanding. Could not have found anyone better. The favorite part of the trip for me was the enthusiasm and professionalism of Peter and his fellow tour guide, Cem. They truly were the best tour guides we have ever had the pleasure of travelling with. The archeological visits were truly memorable. A perfect mix of archeological and gastronomic experiences, while cruising the turquoise waters of the Turkish coast, led my two outstanding guides that one could easily become friends with. What more could you ask for?" John Mitchell
"Our archeological expert guide, Peter, was one of the highlights of our trip. I was delighted to have Peter personally guide us on this tour. He was so knowledgeable and energetic, but also very engaging, personable and charming. His interest and knowledge in the sites we visited, paired with careful attention to details and the specific needs of their guests made it a perfect trip! This Gulet cruise was all we had hoped for!" Lorraine Patterson
Peter has been working with Cem since 1995, longer than anyone else in Peter Sommer Travels, longer even than Peter has been married! After graduating with a degree in Tourism Management, Cem moved to Bodrum and worked for several decades at a Turkish travel company, dealing with everything from car rentals to hotel management, gulet cruises to private itineraries.
Aware of his brilliant logistical and organisational skills, in 1996 Peter recommended Cem as a fixer (location manager) for the BBC TV series In the Footsteps of Alexander the Great. Since then, Cem has gone on to work on a wide range of high-class documentaries, working alongside presenters including Anthony Bourdain, Bear Grylls, Joanna Lumley, Sam Neill, and Jeremy Clarkson and the Top Gear team. In 2009, Cem acquired his professional guiding qualification and ever since has accompanied a great many of our trips in Turkey. We are delighted that our guests have the chance to travel with Cem.
"The Lycian Shore was my 3rd Peter Sommer tour, and my husband's 2nd. What a wonderful company to travel with! Knowledgeable and engaging guides; beautiful itineraries; and always fabulous food and company. Cem was an added bonus! Cem's familiarity with the local, the national and the ins and outs of travel were invaluable. Appreciated his selection of Turkish wines! Delightful to be with and a great sense of humor." Lenore and Robert Davis
"Our week with Peter Sommer Travels and our Turkish guide, Cem Yucesoy, was a wonderful experience. Cem is such a charming, experienced guide, used to all sorts of passengers. We felt we were in very experienced hands - much camaraderie, and many great stories! Highly recommend." Carlie and Jonathan Skan
"This was our first trip with Peter Sommer Travels and our first gulet experience. It will stay with us for ever. We loved it all! Every day was full of highlights. Cem our guide and tour manager was a complete delight - a real joy, always there to help with anything and very good fun. Great company! Absolutely fantastic. We had the best time we’ve had in years and will go back next year." Christine and Michael Turnbull
"Cem was the organiser and Mr Fix-it of the tour, which he did so seamlessly that it looked easy. Nothing went wrong that we knew of, and if it had I'm sure that Cem would have sorted it out before we even knew there was a problem. Cem was the silent, masterful organiser of everything on the boat. I loved watching him watching everything going on around him - a quiet word to one of the crew here, a small adjustment there. The food was magnificent and the service impeccable. This tour was probably the best we have ever been on. I've thought hard about this, but I can't find anything to fault. Of many travels on every continent over many years, both self-guided and guided this was one of the very best experiences I have had." Ian Close
"Meeting Cem and hearing his stories was one of the highlights of the tour. After spending a week together with Cem, and my new friends it felt like we were a family! Cem was exceptional, an expert, and so much fun! For me it was such a special experience with all that is included: the food (lots of food!), the gulet itself was spectacular, the wonderful crew and, of course, our amazing tour guide and fixer!" Kelly Lussenden
"The whole package was above and beyond my expectations. Cem is incredibly congenial, intelligent, knowledgeable and shared much interesting information and a layer of expertise about Turkish culture, traditions, food, wine and history. He's a true delight to be around. This tour was a fantastic experience and a perfect blend of sightseeing, education, relaxation, fabulous food and an immersion into Turkish culture and history. Tour organization and planning was flawless. Our tour leader and Çem Yücesoy, our Turkish guide, were exceptionally knowledgeable, gracious and welcoming. Finding enough superlative words to describe the tour is a challenge. I felt the trip surpassed the descriptions in the marketing materials and was one of the most positive travel experiences I’ve had in recent years." Rachel Feldman
Our Walking and Cruising the Carian journey is designed for guests who enjoy hiking on trails that are off the beaten track. Daily walks typically range between 5–6 miles (8–10km), and are for the most part sections of the Carian Trail, widely regarded as one of the best hiking trails in the world for its combination of stunning vistas, scenery, and the archaeological sites that litter the way. Surfaces are typically rocky, broken and uneven in places, so you do need to be fit with a good sense of balance, but the pace is unhurried, with plenty of time to enjoy the scenery, archaeology, and expert commentary.
The tour is rated 5 out of 5 on our intensity scale, meaning it is classed as intensive, our highest, most challenging rating. You can find out more by visiting the fitness levels page on our website.
What is life like aboard the gulet?
Your home for the week is a beautiful traditional Turkish gulet, offering comfort, character, and a wonderfully relaxed atmosphere. All cabins are en‑suite and there are generous deck spaces for dining, reading, or simply watching the coastline drift by. Meals are freshly prepared on board, featuring superb traditional Turkish dishes and local produce. The gulet travels with us along the Carian coast, meeting us at the end of each day’s walk — so you can enjoy the pleasure of walking in breathtaking scenery, discovering ancient ruins by day and then returning to the serenity of the sea and our beautiful boat each evening.
Will there be opportunities to swim?
Absolutely, yes — and they are one of the great pleasures of this journey. Depending on the day’s schedule, the gulet will anchor in a quiet bay or cove in the morning or afternoon, giving you time for a refreshing swim in crystal‑clear turquoise waters before or after a hike. On some days, according to where we overnight, you can also choose to swim first thing in the morning before breakfast. As well as cabin towels, swimming towels are also provided, together with floats, kayaks and paddle boards ladders.
Who leads this tour?
Your expert guides are archaeologists and historians, together with certified local guides, with long experience of working in Turkey. Their knowledge of Caria from the ancient Carian civilisation through the classical world of Greece and Rome, through the Byzantine, medieval and Ottoman periods together with the region’s living traditions brings the sites and landscapes vividly to life. Please click on the tour experts’ names under the tour dates to read full bios and testimonials.
What kind of archaeological sites will we visit?
Caria is one of Turkey’s most evocative historical landscapes, and this tour brings you to a rich variety of sites — some famous, others wonderfully remote and barely studied. Expect to explore hilltop forts, provincial towns and once prosperous ports together with a wide variety of other ruins from fortifications to aqueducts, ancient roads to Roman baths, magnificent tombs and Byzantine churches, and much else besides. Many of the historic locations are accessible only on foot and little visited, offering a rare chance to encounter antiquity in its most authentic and unspoilt setting.
What should I bring for the walks?
We recommend lightweight walking boots or sturdy trail shoes, a small daypack, sun hat, sunscreen, and comfortable clothing suitable for warm Mediterranean weather. Hiking poles can be useful if you are used to them. You’ll only need to carry water and personal items during the walks (your guides will bring suitable local snacks and arrange lunches where necessary) — everything else stays safely aboard the gulet. A detailed packing list and infopack will be sent to you well before departure.
Hiking on the Carian Trail, one of the world's most renowned walking routes
Archaeological wonders: well known and off the beaten track
The turquoise coast of Turkey: beautiful and perfect for swimming
Testimonials
This was a well organised and exciting trip delving into the history of the area. The gulet was very spacious and comfortable and the food nutritious, delicious and well cooked. The walking was quite challenging for me but manageable and at a steady pace. The views were stunning. A very interesting trip accessible for a complete amateur with no knowledge of archaeology due to the dynamic presentation. Our tour leader was very interesting, recounting the history of the sites visited in a very accessible manner. The tour manager was excellent and it was all very enjoyable. Very well organised from beginning to end. I really recommend this trip.
Val Bale - Walking and Cruising the Carian Coast
Wonderful holiday in a remote part of southern Turkey walking the Carian trail and staying on a Turkish gulet. We felt privileged to explore this trail with an excellent tour guide and local guide. I think we only met three other walkers. The food on the gulet was exceptionally nutritious and well presented and the crew were wonderfully adaptive and responsive to clients needs.
Bill Castleden - Walking and Cruising the Carian Coast
Excellent gulet trip in South West Turkey. The holiday provided a highly enjoyable means of exploring a relatively deserted coastline, based on a comfortable gulet with excellent food and swimming opportunities but with the added interest of hikes of 3-4 hours a day, including visits to archaeological and historical sites. Peter Sommer Travels has been a consistently excellent provider of cultural tours for small groups - I have now been on 5 holidays with them, either cruising or cruising/walking in South West Turkey or the Dodecanese, and have greatly enjoyed them all.
Our light tours include easy walks on mostly flat ground, often in towns or cities. Short stretches on tracks or paths may include some steps and uneven terrain. Each walk in a day is typically of short duration and distance, usually below 3km/2 miles or 2 hours, each specific site tour likewise tends to be under 2 hours.
Moderate:
On moderate itineraries, key site tours can be of up to 5 hours’ duration. Walks are rarely over 2 hours in duration and 5km/3 miles in distance. Walking is mostly limited to flat terrain or towns, but some stretches may be on relatively steep slopes and narrow paths.
Intermediate:
Our intermediate tours include stretches of walking on narrow tracks, across rough terrain or on steep slopes. Distances rarely exceed 5km/3 miles, but some walks may last over 2 hours. On city tours, entire mornings or afternoons are spent on foot (5 hours, including breaks). Site tours last up to 5 hours.
Energetic:
On energetic tours, we cover distances up to approx. 8km/5 miles per day, including walks on rocky and rugged ground, sometimes off the beaten track, including some challenging tracks, paths requiring a good sense of balance, and long uphill or downhill stretches. Average walking/hiking duration is generally below 4 hours per day.
Intensive:
Our most intensive walking and hiking tours or cruises include some strenuous walks on rough ground or across rugged terrain, ascents or descents on steep slopes (mostly on pathways), narrow tracks and other challenges. The longest walks have a duration of up to 6 hours, covering maximum distances of approx. 16km/10 miles.
