Cruising to the Cyclades Traveller Reviews

This our third tour with Peter Sommer Travels. Based on the two prior tours we expected the Cruise to the Cyclades to be a superb experience. We were NOT disappointed. If we were in the group of Americans favored by the Republican Congressional majority and the Trumpster we would spend our gains, in part, by cruising with Peter Sommer three or four times a year. The huge variety of available tours; something to satisfy almost any interested traveler, is a major part of the attraction. The small groups of people is far superior to the experience we have had with other cruising companies whose boats held 100 or more people. The details of what is visited and what the guest is shown are obviously carefully planned. Until one experiences a trip with Peter Sommer one doesn't realize the wonder experience you have with two guides continually available to teach, describe, and help the guest. The Turkish gulets are a superb choice as a mode of travel. We regret the worsening geopolitical situation may sharply reduce the availability of this mode of travel. I would advise someone who thinks that they know a lot about travel accommodations offered by cruises of any size to hold back on a review of such accommodations until they have lived on a gulet for 10-14 days. And, in addition, no raving about other cruise cuisine until they eat on a gulet staffed with a cook measuring up to the Peter Sommer Travel standards. We look forward to land travel with the company in the future as we have no reason to suspect that there will be any diminution in the cuisine to we will be given. North American residents should understand or realize that dealing with Peter Sommer Travel in the Midlands of England is as convenient and as personalized as dealing with a travel company or agents within a few miles of their home. Peter and his staff have gone out of their way on multiple occasions to make our trips more enjoyable. Working out the details of booking and payment has been much more tolerable with the Company than almost any of the other companies with which we have dealt. It's time to stop. Obviously, we would rank Peter Sommer Travel as our number one choice for any additional tours we might take in the future that involve the lands and seas upon which they offer tours. If only the pound would drop to parity with the dollar!! Thanks for this opportunity to offer our opinions. Del B. Coolidge, M.D.

I think I covered that in my long-winded diatribe.

I very much enjoyed my cruise in the Cyclades. Our guides Heinrich and Maria knew the archaeology and geography of the islands very well and were gifted story tellers, dramatizing each location. The ship’s crew were great, professional and friendly, and the cook quite amazing. Days began gently with a wonderful breakfast on board, and frequently ended with long evenings on deck again, eating local specialties (sweets and liqueurs), trading stories, myths and lamentable jokes. I loved passing small islands just visible on the horizon and then the slow approach to harbour, each island interesting in a different way. We visited tiny unique local museums, and also learned a lot about island industries: pumice and marble quarries, winemaking, and sponge fishing. The expected highlights were the sacred peace of Delos and the wonders of Akrotiri and the caldera of Santorini with whitewashed villages spread high along the cliff-tops like snow. The surprises for me were climbing down into the volcanic crater at Nisyros, walking inside a restored Roman Villa at Kos, the hospitality in small monasteries of aged nuns and priests, on Naxos seeing the sunset through the never-finished temple and finally the crossing to Bodrum Museum in Turkey, to see there the Uluburun, a salvaged 14th century BC boat. Maria and Heinrich were wonderful guides, magnificent in the couple of medical emergencies we had, and great at creating a cohesive group of happy tourists. Thank you.

Peter SommerTravels, highly professional, well organised: small group travel.

Our two weeks aboard the Aegean Clipper made this Greek island vacation one of the best times we ever had. There is interest and beauty in every direction on these islands and at sea. Each meal was a delight and a wonder. Our guides narration was great throughout, at turns thoughtful and funny. Both guides were approachable, well organized, and plainly concerned that we get the most from our experience. So many events stand out, hiking in the hills on Naxos, the ancient cathedrals, swimming in the blue water, museums full of the most ancient works. We loved it.

Peter Sommer Travels was our choice due to the serious archeology chops of the company and its guides. What a delight then to find the guides as adept at booking a gourmet meal and arranging for us to make it there as to discussing the finer points of spolia. The tour operator was generous, covering many admissions fees and other expenses that we had expected to pay ourselves. While not inexpensive, they provide wonderful value for the money in every way. We are happy and recommend them.

I’ve long dreamed of a trip to Greece centered on visiting islands but was daunted by the amount of research and planning this would entail. Then I happened upon the website of Peter Sommer Travels and knew I had found the perfect fit. Just the right size ship, just enough tour members to feel like a big family, an itinerary of places seen before and places totally new, a program including history, art, local culture and food, swimming, and relaxation, expert guides, food and transportation provided. Now, having returned from the trip I can say it was everything that was promised and I highly recommend it. Our ship and crew were wonderful, the tour members were interesting people and great company, our guides were excellent organizers and communicators, and also friendly, humorous, and considerate companions, the food was marvelous, watching islands all around us as we made our way among them, and seeing our destinations get larger and larger as we approached was unforgettable, each island became an individual as we learned what was special about it, and to be traveling the same sea routes as the ancient seafarers is a memory to treasure.

This is an excellent company to travel with. The itinerary, the guides, the ship and its crew, the food, the activities, the fellow passengers, all were simply the best.

The holiday far exceeded our expectations , not only in regard to sites visited , but also in regard to friendliness of the crew , the delicious meals on board and the experience of eating local food at various small restaurants. Our tour guides looked after , educated and entertained us beautifully. The experience of travelling onboard a Gulat was just magical and very nice being a small number of visitors when visiting islands and sites.

Peter Sommer Travel were extremely professional , friendly , responsive and helpful to deal with. Really felt we were receiving personal treatment. Couldn't fault the experience in any way.

A fortnight on a gulet with 16 passengers and two archaeologists, exploring ancient Greek sites. But more, walking through centuries old Greek villages, eating ashore as well as on board so we tasted food from different islands, swimming in the clear warm water of the Aegean, learning about the history of a country whose philosophy and literature have been such a huge part of our own culture. This was our third trip with Peter Sommer Travels and we are planning another. What more can I say?

Peter Sommer runs a a highly professional organization. From his brochure to drop off at the airport to fly home his attention to detail and his consideration for his clients is superb. The archaeologists he uses as guides are erudite but highly personable and have an ability to turn a pile of stones into a recreation of the lives of the people who lived there over two millennia ago.

We were part of a group that sailed round the Cyclades with Peter Sommers in Septembe What a wonderful experience! The two tour leaders who were archeologists enthralled us with the history of the Islands. Maria was very entertaining and informative as she acted out the Greek Mythological tales Henrich was amazingly adept at being able to inform us about the previous history of all the Islands. The food was bountiful. On the boat the meals were wholesome and delicious.. We were treated to wonderful meals on the the Islands that let us sample each Islands speciality. There was free time on each of the Islands that allowed for shopping, exploring or sitting round watching island life sipping a drink! The acomodation on the gullet was more than adequare with rooms being serviced everyday. They're was ample deck space to loung reading or talking. . The staff on the Gulet were lovely and attentive.

Peter Sommers in all contacts were professional and informative. They updated us regulary and made sure we had the pre tour information in time. Very eAsy to deal with.

Led by two experienced archaeologists, this was both educational and highly informative, as well as very enjoyable. The Cyclades islands has a history extending to the Neolithic, Bronze Age, archaic, Greek and Roman eras with many remarkably well preserved sites to visit. Travel between the islands by Turkish gullet was relaxing and efficient.

Everything went as we expected, with our guides Heinrich and Maria very good communicators and organisers.

My wife and I spent two weeks cruising through the Greek Cyclades Island chain, visiting archaeological site, villages and small museums. We traveled on a Turkish "gulet" (a typical Turkish coastal yacht which in this case accommodated 13 travelers besides us). We were accompanied by Peter Sommer Travel guides Heinrich Hall and Maria Girtzi, both archaeologists, highly educated, communicative, funny and expert in Greek and regional history, archaeology, Greek mythology and, to make them even more valuable, in local restaurants in the small towns of the islands we visited. This was our third trip with Peter Sommer Travel (two earlier were along the Turkish coast). Peter Sommer Travel s emphasizes visiting and understanding the archaological treasures of this part of the world, and that is the intellectual, stimulating part of these journeys. But one cannot avoid the lure of lolling about a beautiful boat, swimming in perfect water after a hard afternoon of walking through Greek and Roman ruins, and the excellent, simple food and local wine served on board the boat, punctuated with trips to island tavernas where, say, the cook is renowned for her zucchini fritters or roast goat or whatever. You get to forgive yourself for being such a sybarite because you also get the intellectual stimulation of learning about history, art and culture from real academics, in the best sense of that word, rather than your average tour guide. These trips attract fellow travlers who are congenial, engaged and engaging, excellent company and fun.

See above. Well run, reasonably priced, excellent guides, efficient, flexible, professional.

I have visited the Cyclades in the past , but have never had the luxury of two very experienced guides to bring the history of these islands to life. Every day was a new experience with stunning scenery combined with archaeological treasures to be found at a site or in a museum. There were times each day , however , when we could simply chill out and read a book , or go for a swim in the blue waters of the Aegean which added a balance to the whole holiday . Several meals were organised in Tavernas on shore and our guides made sure that we were served the very best of Greek Cuisine. Add to this , good company , good weather and a fantastic skipper and crew who went out of their way to provide some memorable meals on board , and you have the making of an unforgettable holiday

This was the first time that I have booked a holiday with Peter Sommer Travel , but from the first date of my inquiry the booking was dealt with in a very professional manner - full information regarding all their holidays were received promptly and additional information was provide by the guides , if required. In addition all the guests were provided with back up material on the trip . A couple of itinerary changes were made during the holiday as a result of the weather , but these were carried out seamlessly by the Skipper and guides and it was apparent that the safety and comfort of the travellers was of paramount importance