All address fields should be selected!
Full name should be provided!
The information you entered is not valid. Please try again.
The information you entered is not valid. Please try again.
No Results
Invalid email value
Invalid password value
Please enter a valid email address
Please provide a password
Your password must be at least 5 characters long
Missing password
Password short (5 chars min required)
Special Offer
Remove from Wishlist
Program No.
Ages
Length
days
New
Not yet reviewed
Starts at
Close
See More
Activity Level — Varies
Activity Level
Details
We want your Road Scholar learning adventure to be something to look forward to—not worry about. Learn more
We offset a portion of the emissions created by your travel. Learn more
Please note: This expert may not be available for every date of this program.
Activity note: Transatlantic flights, possible changing of flights at various airports and walking between terminals during connections.
Activity note: Upon arrival at Istanbul Airport, clear passport control, claim your bags, go through customs and the sliding doors, and look for a representative with a Road Scholar sign who will assist those who made flight arrangements through Road Scholar. Hotel check-in from 2:00 p.m.
Afternoon: After arriving at the hotel, checking in, and getting your room, take some time to freshen up and relax before our Orientation meeting. Orientation: 6:00 p.m. The time of our meeting will be based on arrival times of Road Scholars. In our meeting room at the hotel, the Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. We will review COVID-19 protocols and will adhere to applicable requirements and guidelines throughout the program. The Group Leaders for our Road Scholar programs in Turkey serve as Study Leaders as well as managers of logistics. They are licensed and certified by the Ministry of Tourism for proficiency in Turkish history, culture, archeology, mythology, current affairs, and more. In addition to lectures and field trips, they will often give presentations on topics such as these during long transfers. Program-related travel and transfers will be via comfortable, air-conditioned Mercedes-Benz buses. Meals will generally offer foods representative of their regions. Depending on the accommodations, some will be multi-course plated meals while others will be buffets with numerous choices. Periods in the schedule designated as “Free time” and “At leisure” offer opportunities to do what you like and make your experience even more meaningful and memorable according to your personal preferences. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/current conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding.
Dinner: At the hotel.
Evening: At leisure. Continue getting to know your fellow Road Scholars, settle in, and get a good night’s rest for the day ahead.
Activity note: Getting on/off a bus; driving about 6 miles, approximately 1 hour riding time. Walking up to 1 mile throughout the day and standing during field trips; cobblestone streets, two flights of stairs in/out of Underground Cisterns. At mosques, all participants will need to take off shoes, ladies will need to cover heads with a headscarf.
Breakfast: At the hotel.
Morning: We will be joined by a professor from the Istanbul Technical University School of Architecture who will give us a presentation on urban development of Istanbul from an architectural perspective. We will board the bus and ride to the old city, then set out on a walking field trip to explore extraordinary Hagia Sophia, once the greatest church in Byzantium — built in 537 CE — and a great mosque after the Ottoman conquest of Constantinople in 1453. We will learn about the unique architecture as we stand in awe at its size and dazzling beauty.
Lunch: At a restaurant in the old city.
Afternoon: Next, will explore the Underground Cisterns built in 532 by Emperor Justinian to provide water for the city. The cistern is built using 336 recycled columns and could hold up to 100,000 tons of water. We will also walk through the remains of the ancient Hippodrome and learn about the existing monuments from Byzantine times including the obelisk brought from Egypt and the Serpentine Column brought from the Temple of Apollo in Delphi. We’ll ride back to the hotel after our field trips.
Dinner: At a restaurant in walking distance from the hotel.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: Getting on/off a bus; driving about 10 miles, approximately 1 hour riding time. Walking about 1 mile throughout the day and standing during field trips; cobblestone streets. At mosques, all participants will need to take off shoes, ladies will need to cover heads with a headscarf.
Breakfast: At the hotel.
Morning: Mimar Sinan (c. 1488-1588) is regarded as the greatest architect of the Ottoman Empire. He is credited as chief architect of hundreds of mosques, madrasahs, baths, tombs, palaces, bridges, and more. We will ride to an unloading zone near the mosque and then begin out field trip to explore Süleymaniye Mosque, built by Sinan for the sultan known as Suleiman the Magnificent. It is the second-largest mosque in Istanbul. For our next field trip, we will go to the Sultan Ahmed Mosque, known worldwide as the Blue Mosque for its exquisite Iznik tiles. Inaugurated in 1617, this spacious mosque has dominated the Istanbul skyline for 400 years.
Lunch: At a restaurant in the old city.
Afternoon: We will continue to explore some of Istanbul’s most notable mosques. The lovely Rustem Pasha Mosque, often described as a miniature Blue Mosque, was designed by Sinan who passed away before it was completed in 1563. It is covered in splendid Iznik tiles in beautiful patterns.
Dinner: At a local restaurant.
Evening: We will ride to attend a Whirling Dervish ceremony and witness the rituals of the more moderate Sufi sect of Islam.
Activity note: Getting on/off a bus; driving about 6 miles, approximately 1 hour riding time. Walking up to 2 miles throughout the day and standing during field trips; general even terrain, occasional stairs in palaces.
Breakfast: At the hotel.
Morning: We will begin our day with a field trip to the Topkapi Palace, primary residence of the Ottoman Sultans for 400 years of their 600-year reign, from 1465 to 1853. At the height of its existence as a royal residence, the palace was home to as many as 4,000 people. The palace collections include Ottoman treasure, jewelry, and the most holy relics of the Muslim world. We will also visit the Harem to gain insights into the daily life of this forbidden section of the palace. No one was permitted to enter except the Sultan, his female family members, the concubines themselves, and the harem guards who were eunuchs.
Lunch: At a local restaurant.
Afternoon: Next, we will ride to the Dolmabahce Palace, the second palace of the Ottoman Sultans, situated on the Bosphorus. Here we will gain a sense of the socio-economic and cultural changes the Ottoman Empire was experiencing in the 19th century through the eclectic mixture of European architectural styles.
Dinner: This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to have what you like. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.
Evening: We will gather at the hotel for a lecture by a notable professor from a local university to learn about contemporary Turkey and its issues.
Activity note: Getting on/off a bus; driving about 15 miles, approximately 1.5 hours riding time. Walking about 1 mile throughout the day and standing during field trips; generally even terrain, occasional stairs. At mosques, all participants will need to take off shoes, ladies will need to cover heads with a headscarf.
Breakfast: At the hotel.
Morning: We will set out on the bus for a field trip to the Yedikule Fortress-Dungeons. At a site that was originally a section of the city’s ancient walls, the fortress was erected after the Ottoman conquest. It also served as a prison. We will actually walk along these walls and learn about the conquest/fall of the city in 1453.
Lunch: At a local restaurant in the old city
Afternoon: We will ride to the Eyup Mosque on the Golden Horn. It is a holy place for Muslims because the standard bearer of Prophet Muhammed is buried here. We will move on to the Greek Orthodox Patriarchal Cathedral of St. George, one of the most important churches of the Greek Orthodox faith. We will also stop by the Bulgarian Church, completely assembled on site with iron pieces shipped on the Danube from Austria.
Dinner: On your own to enjoy the cuisine of your choice. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: Getting on/off a privately chartered boat requiring going up/down a few steps and taking care embarking and disembarking. Walking up to 2 miles throughout the day; generally even terrain. Crowded conditions, especially at bazaars.
Breakfast: At the hotel.
Morning: We will take the bus to the amazing Grand Bazaar and stroll through its maze-like streets dating back to the 15th century. There are now about 4,000 small shops and vendors for all kinds of crafts, textiles, hand-made arts, and jewelry.
Lunch: At a restaurant in the Bazaar.
Afternoon: Next we will explore the Spice Bazaar — in Turkish, the “Egyptian” bazaar — constructed in 1663 and second in fame only to the Grand Bazaar. The scents and aromas will enliven our senses immediately. We will end the day with a study cruise on the Bosphorus, the natural waterway that separates Istanbul, linking the Black Sea of Europe with the Sea of Marmara of Asia. We will see opulent palaces, mansions, ancient fortresses, and modern suspension bridges. We’ll hear expert commentary as we go.
Dinner: At a local restaurant. Share favorite experiences with new Road Scholar friends during our farewell dinner.
Evening: At leisure. Prepare for check-out and departure in the morning.
Activity note: Hotel check-out 12:00 Noon. See your program’s “Getting There” information regarding transfers.
Breakfast: At the hotel. This concludes our program.
Morning: If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Don’t forget to join our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys!