From Halicarnassus to Ephesus Traveller Reviews

A small group of experienced travelers joined with Peter who is an expert and engaging archaeologist to enjoy relaxation and mental stimulation on a a Turkish gulet based tour. Peter is an excellent tour guide who puts incredible attention into the detailed needs of his guests The food and wine on the boat were superb. The crew were highly motivated and endearing. There was an excellent mix of downtime and and enjoyment with daily archaeological site visits. The group had time to to socialise and swap their experiences and knowledge. The vibe was good-humoured, collaborative and thoughtful of the needs of each other.

Peter and his team are miles ahead of the usual "packages" and superficial subject matter knowledge guides. Peter's admin team are switched on, prompt and able to to respond to individual needs.

My husband and I took a two-week cruise with Peter Sommer Travel beginning September 18 and returning October 3. In the intimate setting of a Turkish gulet, we swept up the Turkish coast (ancient Caria), visiting seldom-visited spots, culminating with the much-visited Ephesus.The focus of the tour was classical archaeology and we had a first-rate practicing archaeologist on board to explain in considerable detail the history of the various sites. Not only did he open our eyes to the history of this coast, but I left feeling that I understood some of the challenges facing archaeologists today. Of course there was ample time for more relaxing-type fun as well. We were wined and dined in style three times per day, consistently regaled with several different fresh vegetables from the region to accompany splendid main courses. The other travelers were loads of fun and the regional guide, a native Turk, ensured that everything went like clock-work from the land transport, restaurants on land, to making available swimming and hiking equipment. It is truly a luxury, when traveling as far afield as Turkey, to be able to ignore all the details and simply enjoy the sights! This is the second Peter Sommer tour we've taken (in a row). I'm sure another one is in our future!

Peter Sommer Travel excursions are unique in their focus, I believe. Learning in an appropriate cultural context is central to Peter Sommer's vision of a good holiday. They employ highly qualified archaeologists who are also capable of explaining in lay persons' terms the beauty and historical import of the ruins and sites they select. Both tours we have been on have provided a perfect blend of walking/site-seeing and more relaxed fun. Peter Sommer Tours pays close attention to getting the logistics of travel perfect. The experience of the traveler is one of pure and seamless enjoyment and I have rarely eaten so well. They highlight regional specialties and local produce. The company also pays close heed to sustainable and responsible travel. Both of our trips (both to Turkey) have been absolutely memorable. Bravo Peter Sommer Travel!

We went on a 2-week tour with Peter Sommer Travels along the Carian shore on a gulet with a dozen or so other guests. Our meals were generally on board, provided by the crew, and we motored along the coast. Each day we had two or three chances to swim in the Aegean capped by a visit on shore to an archaeological site led by a guide and an expert of Caria.

This was our second trip with Peter Sommer Travels, and this tour was as good as the last. They took great care in preparing us for the trip, and we all felt like royalty on board the boat. Yet, we also learned much about the region we were touring (in this case the Carian coast) with knowledgeable and approachable guides, an impressive library of books on the geography and history of the region on board, and maps of each site we visited. With each trip we have taken our enthusiasm for the history and for the region has grown.

Two weeks cruising on a gulet with an expert archaeologist and also a local expert guide with a small group; great cruising, fabulous walks to ancient sites and museums, and great sailing and food - an amazing experience.

Peter Sommer travels are the best company I've travelled with - and keep going back. Their tours are boutique, first class archaeology, great food, great sailing and interesting traveling companions - and going to some of the best places on the planet for unique experiences.

This trip was a two week tour of various archaeological sites on the west coat of Turkey and spiced up by traveling on a sailboat (though we motored all but one or two days.) We departed out of Bodrum, on the southwest corner of Turkey, and would generally sail between harbors in the morning or afternoon with land trips to the sites for the balance of the day. I'll paraphrase 'Cem', our wonderful guide, for the daily update: "Breakfast is at 8AM, so you can swim a bit before if you wish, and there will be a brief time to swim afterwards while the crew cleans up. Then we sail to XXX where we will have time for another quick swim, then Lunch, then we will be off on the Minibus to YYY. Today, make sure you were good shoes and long pants. And we'll be back in time for Dinner at 8PM." The swimming was amazing - the water reminds me of Lake Tahoe but the extra buoyancy provided by the salt water made the experience very relaxing! Our Archaeological guide was fantastic - very knowledgable and would answer any and all questions! Each site visit seemed to build on the last one in terms of knowledge gained and experiences. Thought at about 2/3 of the way through the trip my brain was certainly full! Food was served family style and was fantastic as were the guests. There were only 11 guests total (+ 2 guides + 4 crew) so it a much more personal experience that a typical cruise. We were originally concerned with Security but we had no issues at all. I have a few co-workers from Turkey and they said it would be like California in terms of appropriate clothing and we had no issues there. Highly recommended.

Very professional. Great pre-trip documentation and excellent staff.