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Turkey

From Legends to History: Turkey's Legacy of Civilizations and Culture

Program No. 12828RJ
The story of Turkey is a blend of cultures and people as beautifully complex as the mosaics left by the Byzantine Empire. Join us and see for yourself what makes this country so unique.
Program
At a Glance
Duration
17 days
Program Begins
Ankara
Program Concludes
Istanbul
Group Type
Small Group
Meals
43 ( 15B, 14L, 14D )
Activity Level
From Roman ruins and Byzantine mosaics, Turkey’s history spans three continents and more than 10,000 years. Expert instructors leading select excursions survey Anatolia and Asia Minor — the ancient lands of Turkey — to trace the numerous civilizations that have thrived here since the Bronze Age. Gain an overview of Turkey’s rich legacy of civilizations and culture, comparing and contrasting the old world with the vibrancy of today.
Best of all, you'll...
  • Walk the marble streets of Ephesus and learn about the significance of this large metropolis 2,000 years ago.
  • Explore the underground city in Cappadocia, complete with ventilation and communication systems.
  • Enjoy and marvel at Istanbul, the imperial city of the world's desire, and discover timeless monuments such as Hagia Sophia and Topkapi Palace.
General Notes
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Sami Ozcini
Sami Ozcini has shared his love for Turkey — and his home city of Istanbul — with Road Scholar participants for more than 12 years. His on-site lectures bring a different perspective to understanding and appreciating the rich history and legacy of Istanbul. A graduate of Marmara University, Sami has a degree in English literature and enjoys traveling throughout Europe, Australia and the U.S. In his spare time, he enjoys reading and acting as a referee for amateur football games in Istanbul.
Please Note:
This expert may not be available for every date of the program
Profile Image of Zeynep Kuban
Zeynep Kuban
Dr. Zeynep Kuban is an assistant professor of architecture at Istanbul Technical University, one of the most prominent educational institutions in Turkey. Her special area of interest is architectural history. Dr. Kuban’s lectures to Road Scholar participants share her wonderful insights on the creation of one of the world’s most architecturally fascinating cities from early Roman times to the 21st century.
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Gul Isin
Born in 1967 in Ankara, Mrs. Isin studied classical archaeology in Ankara at both the undergraduate and graduate level. She earned her doctorate from Akdeniz University in Antalya, where she is currently a member of the faculty. She specializes in the ancient sites near Antalya and still digs at various Greek and Roman sites in the region.
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Senol Ogru
Senol Ogru enjoys sharing the cultural treasures of Turkey with lifelong learners from around the world. After studying English language and literature at Istanbul University, he became a licensed excursion leader in 1992 and began to lead archaeological and historical walks. He has been sharing his expertise with Road Scholar participants since 1997, and in his free time enjoys photography, cinema and music.
Profile Image of Aysegul Vaizoglu
Aysegul Vaizoglu
Born in Istanbul, Aysegul Vaizoglu left a successful career in the export business to pursue her interests in travel, archaeology and her “urge” to work outdoors. With a proficiency in English and German, she began leading educational excursions for visitors around the world, and enjoys sharing the treasures of Turkey with others. Aysegul has degrees in business administration from Bosphorus University in Istanbul and Michigan State University. In her free time, she enjoys Cuban-style salsa dancing.
Profile Image of Kazim Uzunoglu
Kazim Uzunoglu
Kazim Uzunoglu started his travel career as a licensed national guide in Turkey in 1987. He studied economics at the University of Virginia but decided to stick to the travel business. After many years of leading educational programs around Turkey, he switched to the organizational side of the operation in 2004 and started running Baltac Tourism and Travel, the program provider for Road Scholar in Turkey. His hobbies include riding motorcycles around the world, vintage cars and motorcycles, photography, and rock and roll music.
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Thomas Zimmerman
Thomas Zimmerman, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor in Archaeology at Bilkent University in Ankara, Turkey, teaching Anatolian and Eurasian Archaeology since 2003. He holds a doctorate in Prehistoric Archaeology from Regensburg University, Germany. He is currently preparing his master’s degree and doctorate theses for publication, investigating Neolithic elite burials in the west Mediterranean and writing a textbook on time-telling devices in prehistoric and early historic times.
Profile Image of Erhan Ceylan
Erhan Ceylan
Erhan Ceylan believes intercultural learning opportunities are endless, and since 1993, he has been trying to facilitate lifelong learning experiences via Road Scholar educational programs. He was a high school exchange student in Santa Rosa, California, where he gained an understanding of American culture and way of life. Later, he studied English language and literature at Bosphorus University and completed his master's degree in modern Turkish history. He is a tennis player and a devoted basketball fan.
program extension image
This program offers an optional program extension!
Extension: Istanbul: Ancient City - Modern City
"Extend your adventure in Istanbul to gain deeper insight into the story of the city as you visit museums, palaces, religious sites and grand monuments.
Activity Level
Keep the Pace
Walking up to two miles a day over varied terrain. Elevations up to 3,100 feet.
Small Group (13 to 24)
Love to learn and explore in a small-group setting? These adventures offer small, personal experiences with groups of 13 to 24 participants.
Suggested Reading List
View Full List (20 Books)
You can also find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.
HAVE QUESTIONS?
Prefer to enroll or inquire by phone?
We can help. Give us a call, and we can answer all of your questions!
Call 800-454-5768
Enroll with Confidence
Peace of Mind

We want your Road Scholar learning adventure to be something to look forward to—not worry about. That’s why we go to the ends of the earth to give you peace of mind, from the moment you enroll until the day you return home.

Assurance Plan

Road Scholar's continued commitment to our participants and their well-being is exemplified whether participating on a program in the United States or on one of our International programs, every Road Scholar participant receives coverage under our Road Scholar Assurance Plan.

Want to Protect Your Investment?

Road Scholar is pleased to offer its Trip Protection Plan as a way to protect your program investment. You may purchase this optional trip protection plan when enrolling in your program.

Sustainable Travel

We offset a portion of the emissions created by your travel. Read about our commitment to a more sustainable planet.