Peter Sommer Travels Traveller Reviews

It was a brief (<1 week) cruise on a gullet from Sibenik to Zadar and back. The focus was on the archaeology and history of the sites along the coast from the very well known (Zadar) to the somewhat obscure (Skradin). As usual with a tour like this the experience is made or broken by both the guide and other guests. All of our companions on the trip were great, each with a real personality, just as each of the places we stopped had its own personality.

Peter Sommers as a group seems superb. They were incredibly helpful at every step. Our tour operator in Croatia was an archaeologist who certainly knew his stuff and was able to convey both technical and non-technical information in a pleasing manner.

Everything about it excellent, our guides not only experts but considerate & warm & able to impart their knowledge with lively & engaging enthusiasm. The days’ events were varied & exciting, our driver quite wonderful, never an anxious moment on even the most demanding mountain roads, our meals carefully considered & delicious, ditto the accommodation, staying in a mountain village an interesting & unique experience.

We had taken a Peter Sommer tour to Sicily previously & had been so happy with this Company & the way we travellers were looked after & informed, we would not have considered using anyone else with whom to explore Crete. It is particularly helpful being able to deal with the people in their office personally. I have absolutely no hesitation in recommending Peter Sommer to my friends & family.

Our brilliant tour guide Paul Beston came directly from the Ancient World! He lived the part and therefore in his lectures, you were there too...it was a privilege to share his knowledge and scholarship. Every aspect of Wales linked by archeology/history/geography/economic's AND castles -were observed and covered1 Anyone who is remotely interested in life...how it all came to be...would love this tour.! Experts, in this field of culture would also be well satisfied. Nuggets of stories and information, were the glue! You do need to enjoy AND be fit enough, climbing stone steps of the castles; many of them ruins, to fully appreciate how the great and the good lived... also...going below ground to marvel at their industry and wine cellars! We tasted Welsh cakes for afternoon tea & other traditional treats! Enjoyed local beer in good hotels and pubs for lunch. During the week we stayed in two hotels The staff were extremely kind and hospitable. Nothing was too much trouble. The Angel, in Abergavenny, was very good. The Grove, Narberth, Pembrokeshire-superb!! Luxury - were the Chauffeur's who drove us around to the various sites and castles...they were always cheerful of manner and were ever present...magical! The weather was good! We look back fondly on a very 'full week' of new experiences1 It was enjoyable, exciting and fun in lots of ways....recounting all those castles ...and trying to remember.....those many names.....of men & women.....who turned the history of Wales and beyond......

This was my second tour with Peter Sommer Travels....We were confident in our booking....EXPLORING WALES... was extremely well organised as before...no grumbles at all! Exceeded expectations as on our previous tour AND we learned a lot! We will return definitely. Looking forward.....

From our guides' comprehensive elucidation of ancient times and sites that were visited to current day culture, especially modern Greek cuisine, this tour was a beautifully curated experience.

Peter Sommer Travels is a distinguished company that has years of extensive experience in the Mediterranean. The sites that were selected were many and varied. One really felt that the guides and the company had a real personal interest in ensuring that we enjoyed and appreciated what we experienced.

We chartered the Sunworld IX gulet through Peter Sommer Travels and cruised from Bodrum to Ephesus and back starting on July 6 and ending on July 13. The gullet is very special with spacious, well-designed cabins and is kept impeccably clean and polished by the attentive crew. Along the way we stopped at several archeological sights and had a very interesting and educational and humorous experiences with the archeologist that Peter Sommer Travels included with our charter. Along the way, the gulet dropped anchor at several beautiful and quiet coves for a refreshing swim or snorkel. The chef on board made us delicious Turkish meals every day while the crew kept the water, tea and lovely Turkish wines flowing! We had so much fun! It was the the trip of a lifetime that we want to repeat over and over and over again!!

Peter Sommer Travels assisted and guided our family of 8 with everything - All flights into and out of country; all transfers; a private tour guide in Istanbul; hotels both in Istanbul and Bodrum; the chartering of the Sunworld IX including all services of her very attentive crew, a tour leader and an archeologist. Peter Sommer Travels and the trip itself far exceeded our expectations with seamless preparation of the details. At the end of my week on the boat, our tour leader arranged transportation from Bodrum to Gocek for me as I was extending my stay in Turkey. He took the time to make insightful suggestions that would really enhance the extra time on my own. I am very grateful to Peter and his staff for creating this experience for me and my family. We will be back.

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This was a lectured tour of the castles and one or two other important sites in south Wales. Action packed. The historian was the very knowledgeable Paul Beston and he was very well prepared. There was lots to see, and some spectacular views. It was a comprehensive and highly enjoyable expert introduction to British History of the Roman and mediaeval period. The organisation was superb with excellent transport by chauffeur. Comfortable hotels and very good dining. You need to be reasonably fit - you are on your feet at all the sites and there are lots of narrow winding castle stairs. There was a lot to take in!

Peter Sommer does "boutique" historical tours. I started years ago with one of his first gulet tours of southern Turkey and went back a few years ago on another gulet-based tour of Lycia (Southern Turkey again). He's clearly got a very good product! He's grown and expanded, taking on other expert lecturers and a considerably expanded brochure. The "domestic" side of the tours was, and is, excellent. You need to be reasonably fit in body and intellect. Highly recommended

Exploring Sicily was beautifully planned for the seriously curios traveler. We enjoyed historical and archeological experiences, enhanced by samplings of local foods and wines. Our lecturer Tony Spawforth was a true scholar who disseminated information with wit and charm. Our Sicilian guide Lucia was professionally organized and attuned to the needs of individual travelers, and as a bonus, was historically very knowledgeable. Our accommodations were lovely and cleverly chosen. We were inspired to continue study of Sicilian history. This was the best tour we’ve ever taken.

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Peter Sommer Travels provided an experience that could not be bettered on this trip. The group was small enough to be very personalized, and great care had been taken in arranging every detail. Our tour guide was one of the best I've had on any tour, not only extremely knowledgeable but genuinely enthusiastic and able to convey that enthusiasm to others. Each day was well planned, and I felt we saw and learned about all the key sites associated with Hadrian's Wall. There were no formal lectures, but detailed information was presented at each site where it was easier to put it in context. Obviously this is an active trip, but I appreciated the tour manager's ability to ensure an excellent experience for a few on the tour (myself included) who were less physically able. For example, rather than undertaking a strenuous morning walk in the rain, we were provided an alternative and easier morning by van and gentler walk. Much thought also went into ensuring a variety of dining experiences, including some great local pubs. One had the sense that supporting the local community is important to Peter Sommer Travels. I'd looked for the "right" tour for this particular trip for several years and I am very happy with what Peter Sommer Travels provided. I hope to travel with them again in future. All the details were managed so smoothly that we were able to fully concentrate on the tour and immerse ourselves in the Hadrian's Wall experience.

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The tour included visiting important Roman British sites both on Hadrian's Wall and nearby as well as later historical sites in the area that were the successors to Roman rule. We hiked along a couple of sections of Hadrian's Wall which was great because it really put you in the shoes of Romans and local peoples back then and situated the history and the architecture in the landscape. Plus it was very pretty country to walk through. We had lovely lunches and dinners at local pubs, excellent beers, and we stayed at a former Castle. The group was a very manageable size and easy to travel with and fun to interact with. The days were very well planned and there was always a plan B for folks that might feel a walk would be too strenuous. I highly recommend this tour.

Peter Sommer Travels is top notch, I've traveled with other excellent tour operators and Peter Sommer Travels meets or exceed them in quality, service and content. Peter himself was our tour coordinator and he made sure everyone was very well taken care of, dealing with any issues seamlessly and making the whole tour feel effortless and stress free. Paul Beston was the expert tour guide and his fantastic story telling and encyclopedic knowledge of the sites and history across many hundreds of years is just amazing.

Comprehensive view of the island and its food, people, folklore, and archeology.

Maria and Michael were extremely knowledgeable and accommodating. Their knowledge of the island is extensive and they were able to adapt to changing weather conditions.

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