MONMOUTH, United Kingdom – Uncover the story of the ancient civilizations that made their mark on Turkey’s southwest coast during a new gulet cruise that highlights the history, culture and food of the region with Peter Sommer Travels in 2024. On the Turkish Odyssey cruise, visit hidden archaeological sites, a colourful market and a traditional carpet-maker, and savour wine, honey, olive oil and more produced in villages along the way. Travelling one of the most beautiful coasts in the Mediterranean by handcrafted gulet, there will also be ample time to swim, snorkel, kayak or simply relax on deck. The 15-day Turkish Odyssey cruise departs Sept. 15, 2024, and costs £5,125 per person based on double occupancy. For more information, call 855-443-3027 or visit https://www.petersommer.com/tours/caria-turkey-food.
“On our newest gulet cruise, you’ll reap the rewards of our decades of research, exploration and personal connections in Turkey,” said Peter Sommer, founder of Peter Sommer Travels. “Our intimate knowledge of the region includes familiarity with both world-famous and lesser-known ancient sites, and friendships with some of its finest artisans and food and wine producers. Rather than just going there, join us for an unforgettable experience as we truly get to know the archaeology and gastronomy of this spectacular coast.”
The Turkish Odyssey begins in Bodrum and ends in Göcek, cruising around the Datça and Bozburun Peninsulas and into the Gulf of Fethiye. Travelling along this wonderful turquoise coast, guests stay aboard a wooden gulet handcrafted in Turkey, anchoring in scenic inlets and bays each night, and disembarking each day to explore villages and archaeological sites and enjoy local delicacies.
With superbly rich fields, hillsides and waters offering the freshest ingredients, this region of Turkey has become famed for its food and wine. In Etrim, prepare a lunch of classic Turkish dishes and see how Turkish carpets are traditionally made. Shop a market with all manner of produce from the surrounding countryside in Milas. Tour the vineyards and sample a variety of vintages at two wineries, one in the pretty hills east of Bodrum and one in Datça, where wine has been at the heart of the economy for more than 2,000 years. And learn about olive production in both the past and present at a historic mill in the tiny village of Bayir.
The region is also home to inspiring archaeological sites of the ancient world, some of them so well hidden they’re a revelation even to professionals in the field. At Stratonikeia, discover an enormous city that’s being excavated to reveal a history going back more than 4,000 years, with remarkable Greek and Roman buildings from gymnasiums to latrines. Walk along terraces festooned with temples and a magnificent view across the Aegean Sea in the Greek and Roman city of Knidos. Gaze into the azure waters of the Serçe Limani inlet and learn about the underwater excavation of a 1,000-year-old shipwreck filled with a delicate cargo of glass. Drive among ancient pyramidal stones whose purpose remains a mystery in the remote citadel of Phoenix. Explore the walls and towers of the magnificent 2,300-year-old fortress of Loryma, dramatically set overlooking the sea. And view vast tombs cut into the rocks, opulent public buildings, a theatre, an antique church and a castle high above a harbour between two rocky outcrops at Kaunos.
Finally, food and archaeology converge at the settlement of Lydae. A track from the inlet of Ağlımanı offers views over turquoise waters then crests a ridge to reveal monumental tombs, tumbled statues and columns, and the scatter of ancient buildings. There, break bread and enjoy tea and honey with a goatherder who lives with his family among the ruins, tending his animals and beehives, and gathering wild herbs like sage, oregano and thyme.
The Turkish Odyssey cruise includes all accommodations and meals, excursions with expert guides, entrance fees and tips on land, airport transfers on the first and last day, and more. Maximum of 14 guests.
Peter Sommer Travels
Peter Sommer Travels specializes in archaeological and cultural tours and gulet cruises in Croatia, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Turkey and the United Kingdom. The company was founded in 2002 by British archaeologist and documentary filmmaker Peter Sommer, who walked 2,000 miles across Turkey from Troy, retracing the route of Alexander the Great. It has won U.K. Tour Operator of the Year awards six times since it began in 2016, receiving gold awards in 2016, 2018 and 2023 and silver awards in 2017, 2019 and 2020. A small family-run company, Peter Sommer Travels takes pride in its personal and professional touch, leading groups of 10 to 18 guests guided by experts, archaeologists and historians noted for their knowledge, communication skills and enthusiasm. For more information, visit https://www.petersommer.com.
This piece was prepared online by Panuruji Kenta, Publisher, SEVENSEAS Media