Peter Sommer Travels: Expert-led Cultural Tours and Gulet Cruises

Peter Sommer Travels: Expert-led Cultural Tours and Gulet Cruises Tour Operator of the Year. Expert-led archaeological & cultural tours, gulet cruises & gulet charters
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We are a 7-times winner of the UK’s Tour Operator of the Year Award, having received the Gold Award in spring 2023, 2018 and 2016 and the Silver Award in 2024, 2020, 2019 and 2017. These travel awards are given by AITO, the Association of Independent Tour Operators, the UK’s most prestigious and leading organisation for specialist tour operators. The awards are based on the highest scoring indepen

dent client feedback on the website of AITO. We design inspirational trips of a lifetime: stimulating & enlightening tours, relaxing & beautiful gulet cruises. Our carefully crafted expert-led tours in Croatia, Greece, Ireland, mainland Italy, Sicily, Turkey and the UK will take you to some of the world’s best preserved ancient sites, from Greek and Roman times & beyond. We offer a range of escorted tours: archaeology tours, food tours and walking tours for small groups, all led by expert guides. We are the specialist for cultural gulet holidays and bespoke gulet charters and offer tailor-made land based tours led by archaeologists. National Geographic Traveller magazine have rated our trips one of the world’s ‘Top Ten Learning Holidays’. A small family run firm, we take pride in our personal approach, treating our customers as guests with extra special care - before, during and after one of our gulet holidays or land-based escorted tours. In 1994, Peter Sommer walked 2,000 miles across Turkey, retracing the route of Alexander the Great, and in the process fell in love with the country, its ancient civilisations, and the Turkish people. A British archaeologist and award-winning documentary filmmaker began organising and leading archaeological tours in 1996. Since then we have created a rich and varied collection of small group escorted tours with a difference. Our cultural tours, gulet cruises and gulet charters aim to bring to life the rich heritage of these countries from profoundly ancient times to the modern era. We typically offer scheduled tours in Crete and tours in Sicily each April and May, Peloponnese tours in Greece in the late spring, gulet cruises in Croatia in June, September and October, gulet holidays in Greece from May through to October, food tours in Sicily in September/October, gulet cruises along the Amalfi Coast in June and September, and land-based tours and gulet holidays in Turkey from May through to October. Please visit our website to discover our full schedule of cultural vacations and gulet trips.

Here's a selection of recent photos while exploring the beautiful and historic island of Leros during our ongoing Cruisi...
20/06/2024

Here's a selection of recent photos while exploring the beautiful and historic island of Leros during our ongoing Cruising the Dodecanese gulet trip.

Announcing our Exploring Sicily tours for 2025! You can now book your places to join us on our amazing trips in Sicily i...
19/06/2024

Announcing our Exploring Sicily tours for 2025! You can now book your places to join us on our amazing trips in Sicily in April and May next year. We only take a maximum of 14 guests so do reserve your places soon! See https://www.petersommer.com/sicily/tours

Fancy a glorious gastronomic and cultural adventure this autumn? We currently have availability on the following two tri...
17/06/2024

Fancy a glorious gastronomic and cultural adventure this autumn? We currently have availability on the following two trips:

A Gastronomic Gulet Cruise in Croatia
and
A Gastronomic Tour of Sicily

We'd love to welcome you!

We've just had a cancellation on one of our gulet cruises in Croatia, meaning we now have one cabin available on our Cru...
14/06/2024

We've just had a cancellation on one of our gulet cruises in Croatia, meaning we now have one cabin available on our Cruising the Coast of Dalmatia: from Šibenik to Zadar 7-14 Sept. Let us know if you're interested!

We are now down to our very final cabins on both of our Cruising to the Cyclades trips this autumn, Sept 1-15 and Sept 1...
12/06/2024

We are now down to our very final cabins on both of our Cruising to the Cyclades trips this autumn, Sept 1-15 and Sept 15-29. Seize the opportunity!

Small ship Cyclades cruise and tour. An expert-led gulet cruise of the Greek islands for a maximum of 18 guests. Discover the Cyclades with Peter Sommer Travels

A few days ago, exploring the amazing ancient sanctuary of Labraunda in Turkey, with the archaeological excavation Direc...
09/06/2024

A few days ago, exploring the amazing ancient sanctuary of Labraunda in Turkey, with the archaeological excavation Director, Professor Olivier Henry.

Last week, a wonderful wine tasting near Datça during our Cruising the Carian Coast aboard a traditional gulet in Turkey...
05/06/2024

Last week, a wonderful wine tasting near Datça during our Cruising the Carian Coast aboard a traditional gulet in Turkey.

Recently. The first evening on our current Cruising to Ephesus gulet trip in Turkey. A magical few hours sailing from Bo...
05/06/2024

Recently. The first evening on our current Cruising to Ephesus gulet trip in Turkey. A magical few hours sailing from Bodrum west past the Greek island of Kos.

Earlier today, during our gulet cruise along the Carian coast of Turkey, Peter, Cem and their guests were lucky enough t...
30/05/2024

Earlier today, during our gulet cruise along the Carian coast of Turkey, Peter, Cem and their guests were lucky enough to be able to get the sails up and sail past the Greek island of Symi, on their way to a wine tasting in Datça.

Yesterday, the first day of our Exploring Hadrian's Wall tour in the beautiful north of England. Here we are approaching...
30/05/2024

Yesterday, the first day of our Exploring Hadrian's Wall tour in the beautiful north of England. Here we are approaching the gatehouse of the Roman fort at South Shields.

You can still join us on our Hadrian's Wall tour in July!

Expert-led UK tours with award-winning Peter Sommer Travels. Discover the United Kingdom on our small group archaeological, historical and cultural tours

This evening, heading back to the gulet via a revitalising dip, after exploring the remarkable 2300 year old fortificati...
29/05/2024

This evening, heading back to the gulet via a revitalising dip, after exploring the remarkable 2300 year old fortification at Loryma during our Cruising the Carian Coast, a cultural voyage on the turquoise coast of Turkey.

Find out more: https://www.petersommer.com/gulet-cruises

Peter Sommer Travels are the world's leading specialist in expert-led cultural gulet cruises. Now celebrating our 22nd a...
25/05/2024

Peter Sommer Travels are the world's leading specialist in expert-led cultural gulet cruises. Now celebrating our 22nd anniversary, we have won the UK's Tour Operator of the Year award 7 times since 2015. Do take a look at our range of scheduled cruises or land-based tours. We also create private gulet charters or land tours just for you. Please get in touch to find out more.

Yesterday, during their recce in Turkey, Peter and Cem were hiking the ancient fortifications (nearly 2,400 years old) t...
25/05/2024

Yesterday, during their recce in Turkey, Peter and Cem were hiking the ancient fortifications (nearly 2,400 years old) that once defended the magnificent site of Kaunos (in the middle ground) on the Carian Coast. The beautiful Dalyan River and glittering Mediterranean are also visible.

This morning. Peter and Cem's recce/adventure in Turkey continues. Here's Cem exploring ancient tombs on the shore of Al...
24/05/2024

This morning. Peter and Cem's recce/adventure in Turkey continues. Here's Cem exploring ancient tombs on the shore of Alagöl near the magnificent site of Kaunos. Guests on our Gastronomic Gulet Cruise went ashore here this morning, before heading to the village of Çandır for lunch.

Recently, exploring the Mani peninsula, during our wonderful Peloponnese tour in Greece
24/05/2024

Recently, exploring the Mani peninsula, during our wonderful Peloponnese tour in Greece

Peter and Cem are out in Turkey on a recce exploring new hikes for our Lycian walking gulet cruise. Here's Cem yesterday...
22/05/2024

Peter and Cem are out in Turkey on a recce exploring new hikes for our Lycian walking gulet cruise. Here's Cem yesterday, standing on an ancient watchtower, probably dating to about 300BC, on a hill southeast of Kaş, in a spectacular landscape riddled with ancient olive oil presses. You can still walk with Peter and Cem on one of our trips this October!

Expert-led walking tours with award-winning tour operator Peter Sommer Travels. Discover our range of escorted walking and hiking holidays

You can still join us for a wonderful gulet cruise in the Greek islands of the Aegean Sea, from Kos to Patmos, this autu...
21/05/2024

You can still join us for a wonderful gulet cruise in the Greek islands of the Aegean Sea, from Kos to Patmos, this autumn. Here's what a previous guest, Leslie Puth, had to say about the trip:

"A week exploring the Dodecanese Islands ranks among the best trips we have ever experienced. A perfect combination of learning about the history and culture of the islands, exploring ashore, relaxing aboard and swimming, snorkeling and kayaking. Our guides were extraordinarily knowledgeable and engaging. The crew were topnotch. Food and wine were superb. We are very enthusiastically recommending such a trip to all of our friends."

Cruise the Greek islands of the Aegean from Kos to Patmos and discover their archaeology, history and culture on this expert-led tour

Last week, during our first gulet trip of 2024! Heading off to explore from our beautiful boat during our Walking and Cr...
20/05/2024

Last week, during our first gulet trip of 2024! Heading off to explore from our beautiful boat during our Walking and Cruising Western Lycia trip.

Discover Turkey with award-winning Peter Sommer Travels. Find out about our expert-led small group escorted Turkish tours or tailor-made private tours

It's testimonial time! We think our guests often explain our trips better than we do. To explore Greece's wonderful Dode...
19/05/2024

It's testimonial time! We think our guests often explain our trips better than we do. To explore Greece's wonderful Dodecanese islands you can join either our Cruising the Dodecanese, or our Cruising the Aegean. We look forward to welcoming you!

Discover Greece with Peter Sommer Travels. Find out about our expert-led small group escorted Greek tours, gulet trips and tailor-made journeys.

We have a number of tours running at the moment, in Sicily, Istanbul, the Peloponnese and Crete. Here's a recent pic - P...
11/05/2024

We have a number of tours running at the moment, in Sicily, Istanbul, the Peloponnese and Crete. Here's a recent pic - Professor Graham Oliver with group exploring the ancient site of Lato on Crete.

Some more pix from Peter and Mislav's grand recce in Montenegro: a speedboat trip on beautiful Lake Skadar, including a ...
10/05/2024

Some more pix from Peter and Mislav's grand recce in Montenegro: a speedboat trip on beautiful Lake Skadar, including a tiny island with Ottoman fort turned prison; and an amazing lunch with carp and other fish from the lake at a restaurant adjoining the Ottoman fortress above Virpazar.

Peter and Mislav's recce in Montenegro has been continuing all week and they have been having a marvellous time. Here's ...
09/05/2024

Peter and Mislav's recce in Montenegro has been continuing all week and they have been having a marvellous time. Here's a few more pix/highlights: in front of a 1,314 year old olive tree; the hill top fortress of Stari Bar; a beach close to the Albanian border; Mislav in the old town of Ulcinj; and one of the corner bastions of old Budva.

Anyone know the name and location of this historic island gem on the Adriatic coast? Peter was there yesterday...
07/05/2024

Anyone know the name and location of this historic island gem on the Adriatic coast? Peter was there yesterday...

Peter and Mislav have left Croatia behind and are now exploring Montenegro - Peter's first time in this amazing country,...
06/05/2024

Peter and Mislav have left Croatia behind and are now exploring Montenegro - Peter's first time in this amazing country, with its beautiful coastline, stunning mountains and a plethora of historic sites. So much to see and do over the coming week! Here's a few pix in and around Kotor Bay.

Yesterday evening, inspecting a gulet and exploring the beautiful harbour town of Supetar on the island of Brač in Croat...
04/05/2024

Yesterday evening, inspecting a gulet and exploring the beautiful harbour town of Supetar on the island of Brač in Croatia.

Our gulet cruises along the gorgeous Dalmatian coast of Croatia start in just 3 weeks! We still have one cabin available on the first one if you'd like to join us.

Peter is delighted to be back out on his annual pre-season gulet inspection trip. He’s heading south from Zadar in Croat...
03/05/2024

Peter is delighted to be back out on his annual pre-season gulet inspection trip. He’s heading south from Zadar in Croatia, taking in Šibenik, Split and the island of Brač, together with Mislav, one of our tour expert guides, whom many of you have travelled with. We are looking forward to the first of our gulet cruises starting soon!

Alongside our scheduled trips, we offer expert-led land-based tours and gulet charters for private groups, large or smal...
24/04/2024

Alongside our scheduled trips, we offer expert-led land-based tours and gulet charters for private groups, large or small. We provide you with expert guides, take care of all of the arrangements and can tailor the itinerary to your wishes. What could be finer than exploring the ancient world, cultural or gastronomic wonders, by land or sea, with your family or friends? Please contact us to find out more.

Charter a bespoke gulet with an expert archaeologist guide in Turkey, Greece or Croatia with award-winning Peter Sommer Travels.

It's Testimonial Tuesday! We think our guests often explain our trips better than we do. Our Exploring Hadrian's Wall to...
23/04/2024

It's Testimonial Tuesday! We think our guests often explain our trips better than we do.

Our Exploring Hadrian's Wall tour in May/June is fully booked, but you can still join us this July (max 18 guests).

Join Professor Jim Crow, Roman archaeology expert on an escorted tour of Hadrian's Wall with award-winning Peter Sommer Travels.

Address

Chippenham House, 102 Monnow Street
Monmouth
NP253EQ

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+441600888220

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Videos

Very recently, during one of our walking gulet trips in Lycia, Turkey, we stopped for a magnificent lunch of traditional gözleme (Turkish savoury pancakes with a filling of white cheese and finely chopped leeks and various herbs) together with local pine honey and olives plus vegetables cooked over an open fire. Some of our guests say that all of our trips are like gastronomic tours!

Fancy a trip down “history lane”, with good food, beautiful landscapes and friendly company? Maria and Paul are just now travelling through Crete, taking our guests on a trip through history- with some unique elements that you’ll only get to experience if you come!!

This morning on our walking tour through #Lycia we began our ascent of Baba Dağ (Father Mountain) climbing the legendary #LycianWay to 800m on our 13km hike through pine forests and traditional mountain villages with spectacular views along the whole way. https://www.petersommer.com/tours/walking-west-lycia-turkey

Richard Bayliss and his guests have been walking a 2000 year old pathway connecting the ancient city of Phoenix with its harbour today. It’s now part of the Carian Way. You could walk this ancient road with us. With the gulet following in your footsteps- a floating hotel. No packing or unpacking to do. At the end of a good walk, all you have to do is maybe have a quick swim before dinner?

This morning, our guests on "Cruising to the Cyclades" visited the venerable Byzantine church of the Katapoliani on the island of Paros. It was a lucky moment, as there was a special service with beautiful choral singing...

Yesterday evening's Good Friday procession at the Church of Agia Marina in downtown Athens. The symbolic bier of Christ is carried through the main streets of each parish, attended by the locals in a sombre spirit of community. A unique atmosphere that is better experienced than described. https://www.petersommer.com/tours/athens-greek-easter

A video from the mysterious and evocative Iron Age promontory fort of Dún Aonghssa on the island of Inishmore or Aran in the Aran Islands off the coast of County Galway. Set upon tall cliffs towering high above the Atlantic Ocean, the site is impressive, mysterious and fascinating. It's one of many extraordinary visits on our tour of Ireland. https://www.petersommer.com/tours/exploring-ireland-tour

A glimpse of one of last year's Good Friday processions in Athens. There are many such processions all over the city; the flower-decorated bier of Christ is carried through each parish. It's fascinating to see the modern city of Athens, rubbing shoulders with its ancient past, during Holy Week when such observances are part of urban life. Join us on "Easter in Athens" for a unique experience. https://www.petersommer.com/tours/athens-greek-easter

The elements are at play this morning at the fortified medieval town of Monemvasia, just off the Peloponnese.

Crossing from the Cyclades to the Dodecanese at sunrise today.

This morning, somewhere off Turkey's Carian Coast...

Our beautiful gulet, some ancient walls and lots of little fish in the historic bay of Loryma on the very southwest corner of Turkey.

A little video recorded this morning, from a gulet travelling off Turkey's Carian Coast. The view takes in part of the Datça Peninsula and the Greek islands of Nisyros, Tilos, Chalki, Rhodes and Symi.

Always spectacular: a video of this morning's cablecar ride from the caldera of Santorini up to the island's main town, Fira.

Ways to board a gulet
Ways to board a gulet

Inspecting gulets is always a fun and interesting experience and sometimes something of an adventure, especially when you have to balance on a makeshift raft to get onboard, as Peter did recently in Fethiye in Turkey.

This morning on "Cruising to the Cyclades", near Paros.

A short video showing the morning serenity of medieval Monemvasia, our group's current abode on "Exploring the Peloponnese".

In Crete, it's occasionally worth staying up late. Just now, our host in the south of the island treated us to his music.

A bit of snorkeling during a gulet cruise, starring some fish.

Just now, having reconnoitred potential landfalls on a windy day, our tour experts are approaching our gulet off the Lycian Shore.

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Our Story

We design inspirational trips of a lifetime: stimulating & enlightening tours, relaxing & beautiful gulet cruises. Our carefully crafted expert-led tours in Croatia, Greece, Ireland, mainland Italy, Sicily, Turkey and the UK will take you to some of the world’s best-preserved ancient sites, from Greek and Roman times and many eras beyond. We offer a range of escorted tours: archaeology tours, food tours and walking tours for small groups, all led by expert guides. We are the specialist for cultural gulet holidays and bespoke gulet charters and offer tailor-made land-based tours led by archaeologists. In February 2018, we received the Tour Operator of the Year’ Gold Award from AITO. This follows the Silver Award in 2017 and Gold in 2016, when the prize was awarded for the first time. These awards are based on the highest scoring independent client feedback on the website of AITO, the Association of Independent Tour Operators, the UK’s most prestigious and leading organisation for specialist tour operators, representing more than 120 members. We have to date received more than 250 independent reviews on the website of AITO - Currently 259 ‘Excellents’ and 1 ‘Good’ - https://www.aito.com/peter-sommer-travels/reviews/1

National Geographic Traveller magazine have rated our trips one of the world’s ‘Top Ten Learning Holidays’. We have been chosen as a “100 Best Holidays” Company in 2016, 2015, 2014 and 2011 by The Sunday Times. We are a member of ABTA, AITO and ASTA. A small family-run firm, we take pride in our personal approach, treating our customers as guests with extra special care - before, during and after one of our gulet holidays or land-based escorted tours. In 1994, Peter Sommer walked 2,000 miles across Turkey, retracing the route of Alexander the Great, and in the process fell in love with the country, its ancient civilisations, and the Turkish people. A British archaeologist and award-winning documentary filmmaker, he began organising and leading archaeological tours in 1996. Since then we have created a rich and varied collection of small group escorted tours with a difference. Our cultural tours, gulet cruises and gulet charters aim to bring to life the rich heritage of these countries from profoundly ancient times to the modern era. We typically offer scheduled tours in Crete, Sicily and the Peloponnese in April, May and the autumn. We usually run gulet cruises in Croatia in June, September and October, gulet holidays in Greece from May through to October, food tours in Sicily in September/October, gulet cruises along the Amalfi Coast in June and September, and land-based tours and gulet holidays in Turkey from May through to October. During the summer months, we offer a programme of tours in the United Kingdom and Ireland, as well as cruises in the Aeolian islands and pricate charters or tailor-made tours in any of the countries we cover. Please visit our website to discover our full schedule of cultural vacations and gulet trips.

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