Alexander The Great: Pt. One Traveller Reviews

It was a small-group tour of archaeological and historic sites in western Turkey.

Very well organized, great local guides, main tour guide was very knowledgable of the historical contexts and subject matter. Nice accommodations, great food. Enjoyable group. I would highly recommend this tour and this tour operator.

In the Footsteps of Alexander was exceptionally well organized, enjoyable and historically enlightening. Both Peter Sommer as our educational guide and our many guest lecturers delivered the facts on the fascinating history and archeology of relating to Alexander as well as local history such as Gallipoli during WW1. Local food and wines were thoroughly explored and enjoyed and the hotels were all very special in 'flavour' and comfortable.

This was my fourth trip with Peter Sommer Travels and as usual it was well organized in every detail; dining, communication, transportation and accommodations are all excellent. Our comfort is always considered and I appreciate the reference materials that are recommended ahead of a trip. A highlight of this trip was the very Turkish picnic at the site of Alexanders second battle in Asia Minor.

The tour was led by Peter Sommer, whose unrivalled personal and professional knowledge of the area and its history was complemented by special experts of the highest quality in Istanbul, Gallipoli, Troy and Smyrna. On top of this our guide, Cem, ensured that the logistics ran smoothly; that our accommodation, was the best available, with an emphasis on character; and that we ate and drank plentiful and delicious local fare.

The organisation was faultless, and while on tour great care was taken to accommodate our personal needs and interests.

My husband an I went on a small group tour, In the Footsteps of Alexander the Great, with Peter Sommer. It surpassed our expectations on all levels. Peter is such a passionate and knowledgeable archeologist and a consummate story teller. He brought Alexander the Great to life along with many other historical charters and incidents. The itinerary from Istanbul to Bodrum was scenic, historical and fascinating. On a practical level, the accommodation was excellent - a series of unique hotels, each with its own character, which added to the whole experience. The food was consistently outstanding as both Peter and Jem (the fixer) are very aware of the importance of delicious fresh food. The organisation was excellent, the small group (13) got on very well and I would recommend this tour to anyone with a reasonable fitness level and an interest in Alexander the Great. It was definitely the highlight of our holiday and we plan to do another Peter Sommer trip in 2016.

Peter Sommer was and is totally professional from the first email I sent. Questions were answered promptly, all the administration was handled efficiently and it was a pleasure to deal with Peter Sommer Travel.

The Footsteps of Alexander - part 1 was a wonderful, stimulating experience; more than just a holiday! Peter transported us from modern Turkey to ancient Asia Minor, travelling with Alexander's entourage, visually his strategies and battles, and of course his triumphs. It was wonderful and I can't wait for part 2!

The combined team of Peter and Cem (logistics) provided a very smooth operation with warm welcomes everywhere. As a solo traveller, I was made to feel welcome and really enjoyed the company of the fellow travellers.

My spouse and I chose a Peter Sommer tour because of the subject and because they take small groups. Everything went smoothly allowing us more time to see the sites. The food was fantastic, especially the fish and veggies. In any case they always arranged an alternative to meat for me. We were also happy with the range of hotels, all comfortable and most family owned. We have both lived and worked in non English speaking countries and traveled a lot, but neither of us had been on an organized tour before. This was such a great experience I plan to go on another.

I think this was a unique tour in that Peter Sommer, the tour company owner, led the tour himself and furthermore had walked the route years ago. I have been to many archeological sites without a real comprehension of the context. It was a treat to have someone with such extensive knowledge who could answer our questions, and even better, read from Herodotus! He was genuinely passionate about the archeology and history, loves Turkey, and is a great storyteller to boot. The Turkish guide, Cem, was incredibly competent and a lot of fun.

This tour was amazing! The itinerary, accommodations and food were fabulous. There is no way we could have seen and learned so much on our own or with any other tour. Peter was incredibly knowledgeable, informative, enthusiastic and FUN. Cem was such an amazing "fixer," we wanted to bring him home with us. Definitely signing up for more Peter Sommers tours!

This tour operator was excellent!

We travelled in Turkey with Peter in late April and early May 2013 - in the footsteps of Alexander the Great. Peter's seemingly limitless knowledge of Alexander and his conquests, combined with the delights of Turkey - food, weather, history etc, made for a wonderful holiday which we are eager to repeat as soon as we can.

Peter Sommer combines the best aspects of what you might seek in a tour guide. He is warm and friendly and, as an archeologist, he has a vast knowledge of the ancient world and an infectious enthusiasm for relating that. And the tour was incredibly well-organised. We could not recommend Peter and his company (Peter Sommer Travels) highly enough. If you are looking to travel with a small group of like-minded people and experience the best of small group travel, you should look no further than Peter Sommer Travels.

We travelled on the "In the Footsteps of Alexander the Great" trip. A three week itinerary retracing Alexander the Great's footsteps across Asia Minor. We visited extraordinary sites each day. Peter regaled us with stories filled with history and myth at every stop. We also enjoyed lovely accommodations and delicious food. All of the guides were excellent; knowledgable, good natured and quick to meet the needs of the guests.

Peter Sommer Travels runs small group, expert-led archaeological and cultural tours specializing in Turkey, Greece and Italy with a focus on the ruins of the ancient world and the daily pleasures of the modern.

Three weeks touring Turkey and the archaeological sites visited by Alexander. Superbly planned - spacious transport, delicious meals and always with very comfortable accommodation. The group dynamics were excellent and I am still in contact with some fellow travellers. In fact next year some of us are meeting to share another tour with peter Sommers Travel.

Peter Sommers had such an in depth knowledge of the History and the local Culture - he could refer to the original ancient Greek texts and yet still explain the subtleties of modern Turkish politics. He stimulated and maintained our interest during the three weeks together and despite the huge distances we travelled.