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Peter Sommer Travels Traveller Reviews

Reviews of Peter Sommer Travels










Hiking in the Footsteps of Alexander the Great
The trip was for me a dream come true! Brought up on classical literature , I had always wanted to visit the storied cities I had read so much about. Peter Sommer's Tour "Exploring Macedonia" (travel start date June 17, 2024) allowed me to do just that and in the company of perhaps the best guide I have ever had on a tour. Her name is Maria Mirtzi . A trained archaeologist and University professor she regaled us with the history, geography, ...
The trip was for me a dream come true! Brought up on classical literature , I had always wanted to visit the storied cities I had read so much about. Peter Sommer's Tour "Exploring Macedonia" (travel start date June 17, 2024) allowed me to do just that and in the company of perhaps the best guide I have ever had on a tour. Her name is Maria Mirtzi . A trained archaeologist and University professor she regaled us with the history, geography, mythology, culture, and cuisine of each locality we visited. The places came alive under her dramatic retelling-Philippi, Amphipolis, Dion, Pella, Aigai, Stageira et countless others. We were treated to fresh food family- style at most of the places visited with wine at dinner. We all agreed that water was best during the midday meal with more hiking ahead of us! Our hotels were first-rate- even "boutique" wherever we stayed. Everything was taken care of and the comfort and safety of each member of our tour group was paramount. My experience will stay with me for years to come and the countless photos I took will be a reminder of the wonders of that particular area of Greece and of its people!
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I think I already have ! Suffice to say that Maria Mirtzi was highly knowledgeable, professional, solicitous of our well-being, conscientious, accessible, and just plain very nice! Her enthusiasm for what we were seeing and what she related about what we saw was contagious and fired up our enthusiasm in turn. Her energy never flagged and neither did ours!





A splendid cruise
This was my 2nd gulet cruise with Peter Sommer Travels, since the first (in 2023) had been excellent; and now I very much want to take a third! That really says it all. On this Dodecanese cruise the gulet was splendid, the crew superb, the itinerary an excellent mix of major and more quiet minor islands and archaeological sites, the leaders/managers exceptionally knowledgeable and also very very good at bringing people happily together, the ...
This was my 2nd gulet cruise with Peter Sommer Travels, since the first (in 2023) had been excellent; and now I very much want to take a third! That really says it all. On this Dodecanese cruise the gulet was splendid, the crew superb, the itinerary an excellent mix of major and more quiet minor islands and archaeological sites, the leaders/managers exceptionally knowledgeable and also very very good at bringing people happily together, the food and wine delicious. Everything was taken care of; participants could simply relax and enjoy themselves. On a Peter Sommer cruise (I judge from the two I have taken so far) the individual participants also tend to have a number of similar interests and so to be a great group to travel with; and together on this cruise we all talked a lot, learned a lot, and laughed a lot. I'm already happily anticipating that third cruise in 2025!
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Professional, efficient, friendly, people-oriented, excellent at detail, no hassles, thoroughly knowledgeable. Group leaders/guides/managers are handpicked for knowledge and for professionalism without sacrificing the ability to mix well with everyone and to lead skillfully--and they all have a good sense of humour (probably essential when leading tours!). Everything is worked out in advance in detail; and when unpredictable problems occur (as, on this cruise, a sudden Greek government edict that we had to leave Greek waters immediately, with one third of the trip still to go), excellent solutions are speedily found and implemented. Truly impressive.





Best
My 22 year old daughter and I joined the Peter Sommer June 9 - 23, 2024 Cruising the Dodecanese tour. I can't think of a better way to see and learn about this area of the world. We were with a small group of 12, pampered by 12 crew members and guides. With a small group, there was flexibility. For instance, during the days that were very hot, we cruised during the heat of the day, and moved the walking tours to earlier or later in the day. ...
My 22 year old daughter and I joined the Peter Sommer June 9 - 23, 2024 Cruising the Dodecanese tour. I can't think of a better way to see and learn about this area of the world. We were with a small group of 12, pampered by 12 crew members and guides. With a small group, there was flexibility. For instance, during the days that were very hot, we cruised during the heat of the day, and moved the walking tours to earlier or later in the day. The food was absolutely delicious and healthy, with fresh produce, wines, and protein obtained from the local islands. There were a variety of ages on the trip, from 22 to 82, and all were well accommodated.
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Peter Sommer Travels was very responsive via email, phone calls, and text. The guides were not only experts in their fields (PhDs) but superb storytellers. Impressively, most of the other passengers were repeat customers of Peter Sommer Travels. We are planning when we can take another Peter Sommer Travels tour.





A magical sailing and walking experience along the Lycian Way accompanied by an archaeological expert
This week sailing and waking was idyllic. The boat was elegant and we were spoiled by wonderful and friendly staff. The walks were meticulously planned with the history and archaeology brought to life along the way by Peter Sommer, our archaeologist. Our faithful tour manager Cem carried snacks and picnics, and shared local insider knowledge of the area. On a personal note, he also organised a safe and efficient reunion with my luggage which ...
This week sailing and waking was idyllic. The boat was elegant and we were spoiled by wonderful and friendly staff. The walks were meticulously planned with the history and archaeology brought to life along the way by Peter Sommer, our archaeologist. Our faithful tour manager Cem carried snacks and picnics, and shared local insider knowledge of the area. On a personal note, he also organised a safe and efficient reunion with my luggage which was mislaid by the airline - a problem totally unconnected with the tour! As a pair, Peter and Cem ensured every minute of the trip was professionally organised and smoothly run. They were both delightful leaders on a trip we could not fault: crystal waters, interesting walks, fascinating archaeology, stunning scenery and a lively and fun group of people with whom to share the whole experience.
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Peter Sommer Travels were totally efficient. Emails were responded in a timely manner and communications regarding the trip was clear and thorough. The tour itself was run with professionalism and also, most importantly, with good cheer. Everything was planned and organised to an inch.





Perfect
This was our group’s second Peter Sommer trip, the perfect balance of archeology and relaxation! Having Peter Sommer as our guide was amazing, his knowledge and narration made the holiday. The crew couldn’t have been more helpful and accommodating. A very special week and looking forward to planning our next Gulet adventure.
This was our group’s second Peter Sommer trip, the perfect balance of archeology and relaxation! Having Peter Sommer as our guide was amazing, his knowledge and narration made the holiday. The crew couldn’t have been more helpful and accommodating. A very special week and looking forward to planning our next Gulet adventure.
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Couldn’t have asked for anything more.





An exceptional tour.
A very enjoyable tour. A great itinerary covering wide range of Sicilian sites, combined with expert commentary from knowledgeable guides. A great range of accomadation combined with well chosen restaurants to enjoy local cuisine and wines. The 2 guides were exceptional in terms of making our tour enjoyable.
A very enjoyable tour. A great itinerary covering wide range of Sicilian sites, combined with expert commentary from knowledgeable guides. A great range of accomadation combined with well chosen restaurants to enjoy local cuisine and wines. The 2 guides were exceptional in terms of making our tour enjoyable.
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They were well organised and helped with all aspects of the tour planning. Cannot fault the service provided





Archeology like we never learned at university
An amazing two-week walking tour of all major and some rarer archeological sites of Sicily that revealed its rich and layered history, The tour was led by an extremely knowledgeable archeologist and a native Sicilian both of whom were unfailing in their attention to the details of travel and the past and present stories of the places visited. We particularly appreciated the narration of the history as told through the writings of the ancients ...
An amazing two-week walking tour of all major and some rarer archeological sites of Sicily that revealed its rich and layered history, The tour was led by an extremely knowledgeable archeologist and a native Sicilian both of whom were unfailing in their attention to the details of travel and the past and present stories of the places visited. We particularly appreciated the narration of the history as told through the writings of the ancients who lived it and even a reenactment of the fighting techniques of the ancient Greeks!! Excellent museums, through which we were led by our guides, provided depth to the understanding of the peoples that occupied Sicily through the centuries. The tour was enhanced by a small international group of travelers and by superb local cuisine every day, not only in hotels, restaurants, vineyards and cafes but in the home of a local renowned chef! Wine and olive oil tastings and even chocolate tasting paired with Vermouth at Modica were a delight. All accommodations were outstanding and designed so that the group could stay at each at least two to three nights (with the exception of one night in the two-week journey) and use as a base from which to visit nearby sites. Before this tour, we had traveled across Europe on our own including several times to Italy, but this tour opened our eyes to a new way to travel!
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Peter Sommers Travel provided excellent information about the tour in advance particularly on the level of difficulty to be expected on the walks and hikes. They referred us to knowledgeable travel agents in the U.S. who made very good arrangements for flights and travel insurance. Their design of the tour and choice of places to visit, stay and eat were outstanding.





Another Incredible Visit to Somewhere Special with 'Team Peter Sommer'
Cruising on a gulet anytime would be a fabulous experience in itself...but the degree of personal attention and genuine concern given by the Crew for every guest's needs, questions & comfort while we were onboard was certainly outstanding and genuine and they ALL were like family as the week went on. Of particular note was our Chef who was actually a Chef's Chef! His masterful skills with each 'catch of the day' was crowd pleasing as well ...
Cruising on a gulet anytime would be a fabulous experience in itself...but the degree of personal attention and genuine concern given by the Crew for every guest's needs, questions & comfort while we were onboard was certainly outstanding and genuine and they ALL were like family as the week went on. Of particular note was our Chef who was actually a Chef's Chef! His masterful skills with each 'catch of the day' was crowd pleasing as well as his use of locally sourced Croatian ingredients to complement the various types of fish he prepared. The desserts spoke for themselves! However, our Guide, Mislav Files, was the 'straw that stirred the drink'! His warmth and congeniality was what made the cruise so special for everyone. The range & depth of his knowledge of the history of the region and all that goes with it along with his genuine passion made every day an adventure & unique in itself. Thank you 'Team Peter Sommer'!!
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Perhaps this 'End of Holiday' story will speak volumes about our Tour Operator, his company's philosophy & the people who make it happen... On the last morning of our cruise, we all said our 'good-byes' and were each taken to our points of departure. Ruthi & I were staying a few extra days in Dubrovnik and were taken to our hotel inside the walls. Upon arrival, I later discovered I had left a personal heirloom 'necklace' on the gulet. Not good. All I could think of was to call Mislav Files, our guide, and explain things, offering to do whatever it took on my end to see to its return. He said he would call the gulet captain and call me back, which he did, verifying that the crew had found it & were working on a way to get it to Dubrovnik. Wow! Later that day when my wife & I returned to the hotel, the concierge looked up at me with a little grin and said "I believe you are looking for this?" Apparently the captain and Mislav had formed a "fire brigade" & after passing through several hands and miles, it arrived at my hotel. Incredible! Not only does this tale bear witness to the exceptionally high standards held by Peter Sommer Travels and Mislav Files in particular, but also to the wonderful, proud. and warm people of Croatia...when upon meeting them in various settings during our visit, was a wonderful unexpected bonus!





Fabulous in every way!
Cruising the coast of Dalmatia: from Split to Dubrovnik was an unforgettable adventure! This was my second Peter Sommer gulet trip and I hope to have another in the future. We learned so much about the history and culture of Croatia from our amazing archaeological guide, Mislav. He, along with the captain, chef, and stewards, exceeded expectations. The gulet accommodations, the food and wine, and the guests aboard were all outstanding...
Cruising the coast of Dalmatia: from Split to Dubrovnik was an unforgettable adventure! This was my second Peter Sommer gulet trip and I hope to have another in the future. We learned so much about the history and culture of Croatia from our amazing archaeological guide, Mislav. He, along with the captain, chef, and stewards, exceeded expectations. The gulet accommodations, the food and wine, and the guests aboard were all outstanding. Visiting Croatia via a Peter Sommer gulet cruise will create a beautiful and fun experience for all guests! FIVE STARS *****
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Peter Sommer is an excellent tour operator. Every detail of the trip is well-organized from start to finish! A guest on one of his tours is guaranteed an experience of a lifetime. Highly recommend!





Cruising to Ephesus
This was our second Peter Sommers holiday and I know it won’t be our last. Having been slightly concerned that there would be an overload of archeology, we couldn’t have been more wrong and loved every moment. The whole week was perfectly balanced, with time to enjoy the boat and the sense of freedom and adventure it offered. The sites were of course amazing, but we secretly knew that they would be, and having Peter Sommers as our guide was ...
This was our second Peter Sommers holiday and I know it won’t be our last. Having been slightly concerned that there would be an overload of archeology, we couldn’t have been more wrong and loved every moment. The whole week was perfectly balanced, with time to enjoy the boat and the sense of freedom and adventure it offered. The sites were of course amazing, but we secretly knew that they would be, and having Peter Sommers as our guide was an added bonus. He has an amazing knack of judging the pace and providing just the right amount of background information. The weather was exceptionally hot for the beginning of June, but we were looked after perfectly with plentiful chances to swim and relax, and we all became addicted to the continuous supply of raisons, nuts and water designed to keep us going on site. This was a very special week indeed.
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