Peter Sommer Travels Traveller Reviews

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Couldn’t have asked for anything more.

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.

They were well organised and helped with all aspects of the tour planning. Cannot fault the service provided

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!

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.

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'!!

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!

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 *****

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!

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.

Peter Sommers Travel

"Exploring the Peloponnese" was an extraordinary tour in every respect and sets a high bar for the way we will seek to travel from now on. It was a truly immersive, in-depth learning experience that was edifying and intellectually stimulating, while also fun, convivial, scenically magnificent, and quite satisfying to the tastebuds. It was our first Peter Sommer tour, and now we are absolutely hooked!

Peter Sommer is a first rate tour operator. There is no commercialism or swag or stops made to sell you things -- just a comprehensive, focused, and substantive tour designed to illuminate the history and art of the region and to make it all enjoyable, fun, and authentic. Our two guides, Nota and Michael, were outstanding in their brilliance, their expertise, and their ability to impart their passion for the art and history to all of us, making it come alive. They did it with a smile, with warmth, and with great senses of humor. They have the organization of the tour down to a science, and we truly appreciated that our days were ordered to avoid the crowds. There was also a kind of suspense building progression built into the itinerary; the narrative is all tied together in dramatic conclusion. Alas, we were sad to reach the end, even after fifteen very full days of touring. The Peloponnese is a lovely and fascinating region of Greece, with so much to see and experience.

This was our 2nd tour with Peter Somers Travel, and as before, we thoroughly enjoyed this new experience. We visited wonderfully varied sites, were told fascinating and often eye-popping stories, and looked forward to every day's adventures and fabulous lunch and dinner stops with great anticipation. Our bus transport was comfortable and well organized and our accommodation was excellent with delicious breakfasts and often wonderful dinners on site. A gastronomic tour as well as an archeological delight!

Our guides were both hugely knowledgeable, entertaining, enthusiastic and thoughtful and our group gelled well under their watch.