Peter Sommer Travels Traveller Reviews

From Wallsend to Maryport there was hardly any stopping! We learned, we explored, we walked, and we learned while we were entertained again and again. For us, Julie Siblie has been the face (or more accurately the e-voice) of Peter Sommer Travels. From our initial trepidatious inquiries about walking the entire length of Hadrian’s Wall in 2016, to our original booking in 2019, to finally being able to travel in June 2022, both she and Peter (himself!) hung in with us! 
This summer we were picked up from (and returned to) the Newcastle airport, and spent an action-packed week learning as much as we could possibly absorb about the impact of Rome on England! Paul Baston is an incredibly knowledgeable guide - and totally brought alive life in those times. His initial orientation to the wall and how Roman fortifications are set up (in Wallsend), to the final iteration of the wall’s structure later (in Maryport) were linear and easy to absorb. There were several times I had to step back and watch how his "showmanship" was impacting our group - how everyone was hanging on to his every word in anticipation of the "rest of the story!” The help and behind-the-scenes coordination of the ever-faithful Sam was much noticed and appreciated by the entire tour group. We traveled first to our charming lodgings in a medieval monastery (the Lord Crewe Arms in the small town of Blanchland), in the middle of verdant fields filled with sheep. Our room was cozy - and could hardly have been more accommodating - with tea (!!), coffee, cookies, and brownies replaced as needed - in addition to all the usual toiletries and accessories. And while there was even a fireplace in the room, we learned how to run a wall radiator! I ask myself WHY oh why did we wait ’til the end of our time there to tour the Abbey at Blanchford when it was immediately adjacent to the hotel??
 Every day the scenery was amazing - and the walks were neither too far nor too long: but walk we did! (My personal favorite was walking along and between the wall and green sheep pastures in Brampton - although the day we spent walking some 5 miles along the wall - passing the Sycamore Tree was a close second.) We spent a week touring and learning not only about Hadrian’s wall, but touring an active archeological site (with its display of single shoes!) in Vindolanda & Hexham as well as touring an incredible castle in Bamburgh (I wonder if Peter arranged for the bagpipes and dog show just for us!) - that is still occupied by its owners! The food. Oh, my goodness - I don’t know how others did it - but we could not eat every meal! Breakfast at the Lord Crewe was tasty and contented us through to dinner - but of course we had lunch as well! “If you feed them, they will be happy” - and we most certainly were! (Did I mention the Beef Suet Pudding with Sticky Toffee Sauce?)

Paul is an incredibly knowledgeable guide - and totally brought alive life in those times. His initial orientation to the wall and how Roman fortifications are set up (in Wallsend), to the final iteration of the wall’s structure later (in Maryport) were linear and easy to absorb.

This year we took a archeological holiday with Peter Sommers Tours . It was called Cruising the Carian Coast: Mediterranean to Aegean. We are very well travelled people and have a passion for history, food and culture . We often hire knowledgeable guides in every city or region we go to . We can hands down say that Peter Sommers tours were the most knowledgeable and enjoyable learning vacation we have ever been on . Peter our guide was an expert in the field and left us spell bound at every stage . We left wanting to know more! The tour was a perfect mix of archeology, beautiful site seeing in our gulet , wonderful food and lovely relaxing times swimming and exploring . We are already looking at dates to book another . I can’t say enough about Peter’s teaching style and how engaging it was . The tour allowed slower persons to participate but gave us options to see and do more if we would like Absolutely brilliant . Wish we could have jumped on the next boat and kept going

Peter Sommers Tours

A 12-day visit to the Macedonian region of North Greece to see the sites connected with Alexander the Great and his father, Phillip II. The tour was quite intensive because of the distances between sites, but travel was by comfortable coach. Hotels ranged from simple but comfortable in the more distant towns to first class elsewhere. The food, planned and arranged by our local (and learned ) guide, was outstanding. The sites were very well presented by our guides, and often had first-class museums attached so we were able to gain a very good insight into the Macedonian civilisation of the 4th century BC. Our fellow travellers were experienced and interested Peter Sommer clients and we quickly developed a warm group atmosphere. The visit to the amazing treasures of Philip II's tomb was one of the most memorable experiences of the ancient world one could have anywhere.

We have always found Peter Sommer Travel to be to be very efficient with a personal touch, and their guides in Greece are qualified international archeologists with experience of research in many of the sites, so they can speak from knowledge. They also pay great attention to the travel details, the accommodation and food.

It was a 8 day tour on a Turkish gulet, a two mast sailboat, along the south-western coast of Turkey. The goal of the tour was to visit the most interesting and important archeological sites in the area, including Ephesus.

Peter Sommers Travels did a fantastic job of organising and running the tour. The boat, the crew and the guides were all top-class. The really focused on keeping you comfortable and happy. The itinerary was well-structured and balance between visiting the sites and relaxing and enjoying the experience of sailing along the Turkish coast. Finally, the food both on the boat and the lunches we had on-shore were amazing. One of the most enjoyable and relaxing vacation, we have ever had.

The boat was lovely and comfortable, the crew pleasant and polite, the food delicious and at every meal we had an explanation of what we were eating (it was all delicious local fresh food). The landscapes were sublime, the water inviting and the visits to the ruins most interesting: the jewel on the crown. Thanks mainly to the excellent tour guide we had: Peter Sommer himself, who knows the area like the back of his hand, but not only knows it but loves it and in his presentation transmits his love and enthusiasm to bring the ruins back to life.

We strongly recommend this tour but especially recommend the Agency, because all along the preparations of the tour (three years thanks to Covid) communications were easy and we received all the possible help we required. Bravo Peter, bravo Julie for the backbone work at the office and many thanks to our local guide Ayued too and the rest of the crew. We say to travellers follow our example and take a cruise with Peter Sommers Travel.

The tour exceeded all my expectations. The logistics were beautifully arranged. We never worried about a bag or a connection or an arrival time. The site selections were fantastic- we were treated to comprehensive tour of the most important sites of Grecian, Roman and early Christian Sicily. Our guide, Professor Olivier Henry delivered unmatched lectures. His lectures were thoughtful, challenging and very entertaining. Moreover, I discovered something else about Peter Sommers tours. They are a lot of fun. Our ground man Andrea Giardini loves Sicily and this shinned with the choices or restaurants and bistros at which we ate. Lunch and dinner were always wonderful and the addition to the tour of wine tastings, olive oil tasting and a chocolate tasting was inspired. Finally, on a Peter Sommers tour you travel with others who have a profound love of history. A day on a Peter Sommers tour ends with a beautiful dinner, good wine and rich conversation of the treasures viewed during the day.

The tour operator was outstanding. We begin from the fact that Mr. Sommer and his team love history. The itinerary for the Sicily tour reflects this passion. The professionalism of the Sommer team was unmatched, from managing my booking through the pandemic lockdown to handling all the unexpected travel events that confront us in this post pandemic year. The choice of our guides also reflected the passion and professionalism of Mr. Sommer. Professor Henry (professor archeology) is brilliant and engaging scholar, or groundman Andrea Giardini, was knowledgeable with wide ranging interests ranging from the natural wonders of Sicily, to food and wine, to local customs and traditions. I felt secure on my tour. Our team was very well trained and very safety conscious. I will take another Peter Sommer tour.

We toured Northern Greece looking at sites and visiting museums linked to Alexander but not exclusively 400-300BC. We had excellent archaeological specialists guiding us and much thought had gone into both the technical content of the tour and the domestic arrangement - our hotels were very comfortable and menus were thoughtfully put together and well designed.

Peter Sommer is not a budget tour operator but the thought and care which goes into their itineraries make them good value for money

We experienced so many aspects of this fascinating region of Northern Greece. The trip was varied, well paced and brilliantly organised

It's the third time we've been with Peter Sommer, which says everything about their efficiency, friendliness and organisational skills

We spent a wonderful week hiking, walking and exploring the remains of Hadrian’s Wall from coast to coast. Our guide was brilliant- archeological, historical and linguistic information was shared in a manner of a master storyteller. The village of Blanchland was charming, the Lord Crew Arms Hotel delightful, and the food at all locations was fabulous. Guides, staff, drivers all were top notch professionals- helpful, accommodating, patient, and a joy to be around.

Extremely knowledgeable, professional, organized, personable and intent to accommodate all the travelers.

A tour of Macedonia, to follow in the footsteps of Alexander the Great, far surpassed any expectations that we had. Arranged by Peter Somer we were in the hands of professionals who knew where to go, what to see and what to eat and drink.

Top, top, top for every facet of the tour.