MONMOUTH, United Kingdom – Thirty years ago, archaeologist Peter Sommer set off on his 2,000-mile trek across Turkey, retracing Alexander the Great’s route through the region’s breathtaking landscapes and ancient sites. The journey inspired Sommer to begin leading archaeological tours to the country and eventually start his own travel company. In this anniversary year, Peter Sommer Travels is offering four walking tours in Turkey, two of which will be led by Sommer himself. For more information about Peter Sommer Travels’ tours in Turkey and other countries, call 855-443-3027 or visit https://www.petersommer.com.
“My trek across Turkey 30 years ago ended up being the start of my lifelong passion for the country, and for travel and exploration,” said Sommer. “Apart from one family holiday at a Spanish resort, I’d never been abroad, though I had studied Alexander’s life and empire. I expected my journey to be an adventure, and it was, filled with incredible views of the land and sea, and the stunningly well-preserved remains of cities from centuries gone by. But the Turkish people proved to be the greatest revelation, welcoming me, a young foreigner, into their homes and sharing their meals with me. These chance encounters, and the entire experience, were life-changing and led to the birth of my travel company.”
In 1993, Sommer finished a master’s degree in ancient history and archaeology and yearned to leave the library and its dusty books behind for a more hands-on experience. Having studied Alexander and his military campaigns and marvelled at Victorian travellers’ photographs of Turkey’s remote valleys, mountain passes and ancient cities, Sommer settled on retracing the Turkish portion of the longest military expedition ever undertaken on foot.
Planning for the trek took nearly a year, as Sommer researched the route, pored over maps, sought sponsorships for hiking boots, tents and other equipment, and wrote to would-be patrons for support. Sir Ranulph Fiennes, named “the world’s greatest living explorer” by the Guinness Book of Records, and Michael Wood, the British historian and broadcaster, ended up backing the journey.
After arriving in Istanbul on March 21, 1994, Sommer started his trek from Troy, where Alexander first set foot in Asia, three days later. Over the next 4 1/2 months, Sommer took in the myriad wonders of Turkey, from the ruins of Sardis, a truly Anatolian capital, to the monumental remains of the great cities of Ionia like Ephesus and Miletus, the rugged region of Caria, the mysterious ancient sites of Lycia and Gordion, known for the legendary cutting of the Gordion knot, ending just north of the Syrian border at Issus, the location of Alexander’s second epic battle against the Persians.
Despite Sommer’s planning, his journey still had challenges. He often got lost trying to follow ancient routes that have been obscured by a modern landscape of roads and towns, and on three occasions he fended off attacks by the renowned Kangal dogs of Anatolia. But along the way, he experienced the incredible warmth and hospitality of the Turkish people and fell in love with their food, history and country.
In the years after his trek, Sommer, at the suggestion of his mentor John Freely, an American professor and author of books on Turkey who was a long-term resident of Istanbul, began creating and leading archaeological tours for a British travel company, then started his own company, all while studying for a doctorate and working as a documentary producer/director.
As Sommer celebrates the anniversary of his walk, he’ll be leading two of his company’s four walking tours in Turkey this year:
- Walking and Cruising Western Lycia: Eight days departing May 12, 2024, and starting at £2,895 per person based on double occupancy. Led by Sommer.
- Walking and Cruising the Lycian Shore: Fifteen days departing Sept. 29, 2024, and starting at £5,125 per person based on double occupancy. Led by Sommer.
- Walking and Cruising the Carian Coast: Eight days departing Sept. 29, 2024, and starting at £2,925 per person based on double occupancy. Led by Dr. Richard Bayliss.
- Walking and Cruising Western Lycia: Eight days departing Oct. 6, 2024, and starting at £2,895 per person based on double occupancy. Led by Dr. Richard Bayliss.
Tours include accommodations and crew services aboard Turkish gulets, meals, excursions with expert guides, entrance fees and tips on land, airport transfers on the first and last day, and more.
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