Discover cultural summer breaks with Peter Sommer Travels

There’s still the opportunity to book a cultural summer break with Peter Sommer Travels.

Whether you’re looking for a sun-drenched cruise around the Mediterranean or would prefer a history-focused staycation in a scenic spot in the UK, cultural tour specialist Peter Sommer Travels offers a range of fascinating trips led by archaeologists and historians which are sure to entice.

Departing in June and July, each itinerary combines expert-led tours, picturesque landscapes, charming boat or hotel accommodation, and plenty of wonderful local food. The journeys proceed at a gentle pace, catering to small groups and avoiding crowded tourist areas in favour of unspoilt landscapes and lesser-known gems. All hosts have academic backgrounds in history, art and archaeology; equally important, they are affable, easy-to-get-on-with people who enjoy sharing their knowledge.

Mediterranean Gulet Cruise for those seeking sun and adventure:

Cruising the Aeolian Islands: departing 23 June, from £3,650 pp*
This one-week gulet cruise ventures around the beautiful Aeolian Islands, a volcanic archipelago off the north coast of Sicily, home to fascinating archaeological riches from the bygone cultures of southern Italy. Explore ancient ruins and swim in turquoise waters on chic Panarea, sample delicious Malvasia white wine and sumptuous cuisine on verdant Salina, take an exhilarating volcano hike amid smoking craters on captivating Stromboli and learn about the early inhabitants of Filicudi, home to an intriguing Bronze Age village. Each island has its own identity and offers a distinctive experience, expertly woven together under the guidance of historian, archaeologist and Sicily Blue Guide Editor Dr Michael Metcalfe.

Historical-interest tours in the UK for those who prefer to stay closer to home:

Exploring Hadrian’s Wall – Romans, Reivers and Romantics: departing 23 June, from £2,750 pp*
Immerse yourself in England’s richly-layered history, discover relics from the days of the Romans, Anglo-Saxons and Vikings, explore mediaeval market towns and stay at the magnificent 14th century Langley Castle during this eight-day tour. Led by expert guides Paul Beston and Peter Sommer himself, guests will travel through remarkable landscapes in a distinctly English region filled with sweeping hills, craggy rocks and rippling rivers. The trip follows the Roman Emperor Hadrian’s monumental fortifications across northern England, which has drawn conquerors and settlers from the Romans and Vikings to the Anglo-Saxons, as well as inspiring the Victorian Romantics, who fell in love with its stories.

Exploring Wessex – From Neolithic Avebury to Georgian Bath: departing 1 July, from £2,795 pp*
This seven-day cultural tour explores World Heritage Sites and great landmarks of the old Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Wessex, staying first in a beautiful Italianate Victorian country house hotel in the heart of Wiltshire and then in an elegant mansion house hotel on the edge of Bath. Led by expert guides Paul Beston and Dr Michael Metcalfe, discover the mysterious stone circles at Stonehenge and Avebury, the beautiful mosaics at the Roman Villa of Chedworth, the majestic Gothic interiors of Salisbury Cathedral, the forbidding walls and towers of Berkeley Castle, and the Georgian elegance and Roman legacy of Bath. As one would expect of a Peter Sommer Travels holiday, these cultural and historical highlights are accompanied by fine dining and warm hospitality.

* Prices are based on two sharing. All cruises include full-board accommodation, crew services, expert-led excursions, entrance fees and transfers. Land tours include hotel accommodation with breakfast, most meals, airport or train station transfers, all entrance fees & expert-led excursions, plus minibus travel. Flights are extra (where applicable).

For further information and to talk to experts on any of the specialist company’s wide range of trips and private gulet charters, call Peter Sommer Travels on 01600 888 220 (www.petersommer.com).