Cruising to Ephesus Traveller Reviews

This was our second cruise with Peter Sommer Travels. We did the Carian Coast cruise last year and liked it so much we came back this fall for Cruising to Ephesus. I have a feeling we will be doing another cruise with Peter next year as well. The boat is fantastic, a lovely wooden sailboat with 8 to 12 other passengers makes for very comfortable accommodations . The food was great and the highlight each day was the interesting tours of ancient sites.

Transfers were smooth. The boat was ship-shape. The on-shore archaeological tours were well organized and timed to avoid any crowds so at most sites we had the place to ourselves. The food on-board was well made and the on-shore restaurant visits were authentic Turkish fare.

Cruising to Ephesus was our second trip with Peter Sommer Travels and we are planning a third trip in 2025. Fantastic would sum up the trip in one word. Starting your day on a beautiful, graceful gulet where you are served delicious food. The tours of the sites were spectacular. Peter Sommer is a brilliant guide. Peter is energetic and his love and enthusiasm for the history of the area was captivating. There was plenty of time, also, to swim in the Mediterranean or just relax on the boat as we cruised to the next fascinating site. Our cultural guide El Han was extremely knowledgeable about Turkish history and very personable. The crew on board the Sultan A were accommodating and friendly. We really enjoyed both of the trips were have taken and are looking forward to another trip next year.

Peter Sommer Travels creates fantastic tours. Peter Sommer Travels has everything very well planned and their staff ensures that transfers to and from the airport and the gulet go smoothly. Tickets or permits to museums and sites are taken care of and even the meals provided at restaurants were delicious and there was not waiting around. There was plenty of time to swim or relax on the boat. All has been well thought out and contingency plans when weather or other events might interfere with the schedule. We have taken two tours with Peter Sommer Travles, both on board beautiful wooden gulets. The tours are well organized, the accommodations on board are comfortable, the crews have been friendly and accommodating. The food has been delicious. Our guides were knowledgeable, personable, and considerate. We are planning another trip with Peter Sommer Travels in 2025.

Tour name was Cruising to Ephesus and went from Bodrum to Ephesus (and back) via a small Turkish gulet, accommodating 14 people max (10 on our tour) with 2 guides and a crew of 4 attending to our eating, drinking, swimming and boating needs. Many of the sites we visited were "off the beaten path" (Prienne, Miletus to name just two) so we had them mostly to ourselves. (Ephesus, the featured site, was visited later in day to minimize crowds but was definitely packed with other visitors.) Our main guide, Filip Budic, an archeologist with a PhD, did a terrific job introducing things and guiding us onsite--he was also a wonderfully entertaining host and presence throughout the trip--Filip really made the tour for me. All the travel arrangements were seamlessly managed by our second guide, Turkish travel manager İlhan Varlık, so all went perfectly on land. The gulet cruising experience was perfect. A great way to reach sites and an utterly enjoyable way to travel. Crew attended to all our (many) needs with friendliness and panache. The gulet aspect allowed time to anchor in little coves for the night and also anchor to swim, kayak, and boat. The gulet was very well-appointed with many places to sit, socialize, or read. Utterly unlike the usual large "cruise ship experience", all in ways we loved.

Peter Sommer office staff were extremely friendly and helpful in answering our pre-trip and pre-booking questions. All arrangements for the tour went off perfectly without a hitch. The guides were terrific, both in terms of knowledge and personalibility. I'd definitely recommend a Peter Sommer gulet tour, without hesitation or reservation, and look forward to taking another tour with this company

My wife and I and two friends recently completed the "Cruising to Ephesus" trip. It was magnificent. The gulet was lovely and comfortable, the crew was capable and endlessly helpful, and the visits to archeological sites made this among the most interesting and satisfying vacations we had ever experienced.

It was easy to tell that Peter Sommer and his team have been doing this for a long time and refining their operations continuously. They had thought through every detail.

Our gullet cruise from Bodrum to Ephesus was superb in everyway, it was a wonderful experience never to be forgotten. This was a very well planned and organised tour of the highest quality. The gulet was magnificent, very comfortable and in top condition. The crew worked very hard to make the trip safe and carefree, we appreciate their attention to detail, willingness to help guests, and their politeness and good humour. The preparation and service of three substantial meals a day was at five-star level. It was also a great introduction to Turkish cuisine, and we will take some recipes home to try. Our guide, Peter Sommer, took us to amazing ancient sites, museums and cultural experiences, his knowledge, professionalism and courtesy made our trip extra special. As an archaeological tour, it offered in-depth visits to spectacular sites in the area. Our Turkish guide was also very interesting to talk to and to listen to his stories about his country. The investment in this tour was well worth the experience, the stylish way of travel, meeting people from around the world, and experiencing the Aegean Sea first hand.

Peter Sommer Travels offers specialist archaeology and culinary tours, our tour via gulet along the Turkish coast was very well organised and ran according to plan. The guides, gulet, crew, transfers, site visits, meals and swimming stops were all exceeded expectations. They are a very professional operator.

A beautiful cruise along the Turkish cruise with expert-led visits to archaeological sites.

Everything was very well organized.

Just come back from an archeological tour of coastal turkey on a Gület.

Peter sommer Travels

Gulet from Bodrum to Kusadasi with stops at ancient cities, swimming daily and wonderful Turkish food.

Peter Sommerhimself was our guide. Very knowledgeable, professional and personable. Very well organized. Attracts travelers interested in learning about and experiencing historical sites while providing a pleasant experience on the Gulet.

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.

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