Adventures Online: Discover Istanbul Through the Ages

I loved this multi-day online adventure. I'm planning the Immersion trip to Istanbul with my nephew in 2026 and this was a great introduction to the city and its history. I appreciated the division of the daily experience into lecture and virtual tours. That provided not only a nice break in the delivery of the material, but allowed for people who respond to different pedagogical approaches an enhanced learning opportunity. I also appreciated the depth of knowledge of the instructors and their collegial and even playful interactions. Their presentations helped me to appreciate the depth and complexity of the history and geography of the region and I've ordered (and am reading) some supplemental texts recommended during the coursework. I do hope that one or more of them will be available when I'm on the ground and in-person next year.

As an experienced traveler, I was skeptical about the value of an online tour to Istanbul, a city long on my bucket list. I am now a convert, at least to online travel with Road Scholar. Kazim’s lectures were sophisticated and rich in detail, providing us with a comprehensive background on the history, geography, and religion of Byzantine/Ottoman/ present-day Istanbul, the better to appreciate its complex, multi-ethnic layers. Sami and Volkan’s on-the-ground tours were excellent, in many cases likely giving us a better view than being there in person. The maps each day showed us where we would be touring (virtually), and the historic photos contrasting the current site with its historic appearance were great at keeping us oriented. (Pun intended.) After the tour, I read The Turkish Detective by Barbara Nadel (recommended by one of our group members) and was thrilled to be able to recognize neighborhoods and figure out where the detective was going (the Galata Bridge!) from our tour. Thank you, guys, for a thoroughly enjoyable five afternoons. I’ve already signed up for the Legends and History of Turkey tour.

This on line tour was a marvelous over view of a fascinating city. Political and religious history is condensed and illustrated since the time line starts in 330 AD and goes to today! An amazing place to visit without packing a suitcase.

This was a great program with three knowledgeable and articulate presenters and excellent wide ranging content. There were lots of visuals used and extensive narrated videos offering direct views and tours of many of Istanbul's outstanding areas and sites. This program requires 3 continuous hours (with a short break) per day for 5 straight days, so be aware of the significant time commitment. The Zoom broadcast worked well, and was easy to use. The chat feature allowed easy submission of questions, which were answered promptly by one of the three presenters. In one word, this very interesting and informative program was superb.

Great virtual trip !I really loved the detail of the presenters. I wish I could participate in one of their trips.

I signed up for this program because I had visited Istanbul and a lot of Turkey on another Road Scholar Program years ago. I wanted to learn more about Istanbul and its history. The program was fantastic. I eagerly attended the online classes. I highly recommend this course.

I can't say enough good things about this program. Our leader and instructors were outstanding, and the lectures and field trips were wonderful, too. I highly recommend it!

This is an excellent program for anyone interested in learning more about this fascinating city. The group leader/guides were very knowledgable and engaging, and the online format provided a good balance of "lectures" and"virtual field trips". We chose this program because we are about to travel to Istanbul and wanted to be well prepared -- this program served that purpose splendidly. Heather and Peter -- Ottawa, Canada

This was a wonderful experience. I’ve always wanted to visit Istanbul but my travel years escaped me before I managed to get there. Now I feel like I’m somewhat familiar with the city. The three guides were terrific, extremely knowledgeable and personable. This was my first online experience and I will be signing up for more.

If this were graded, I"d give it an A+ and extra credit! it exceeded my expectations! The content was perfectly balanced beteween background lecture on history and culture with clear explanation of what we were going to see and then actual "tour" itself. The camaraderie between the leaders was excellent and I really appreciate the time for questions and answers. On a side note. I had been to Istanbul once before many years ago. I have always wanted to go back . I took this course to help me decide. (I have previously signed up for the Signature City tour, but had to cancel it.) The course was not a substitute for my desire but I did earn that the trip would probably not be appropriate for me given some mobility concerns. I would highly recommend to anyone consdiering this trip (or to Turkey) if they are trying to decide. The background gained would only enhancce their trip if they do decide to go.

I cannot say enough about the excellence of this program. The information on the history of and current Istanbul/Constantinople was concise, detailed and very clearly presented; but was not overwhelming. The presenters obviously know their material and love their city and country. Questions and comments were welcomed. I don't think any of us were made to feel we were holding up the programs by asking questions. And they were knowledgeable in all the areas we asked about. And each presenter was obviously strong in the areas they covered. I think this program sets the bar high for excellence.

This was an extraordinary program of very insightful lectures and vivid “field trips”. The use of drone footage high above Istanbul showed wonderful perspectives of the Golden Horn and Sea of Marmara, minarets from above the cloud line, glorious, ancient architecture — alongside the intricate interior video details of mosques, churches, synagogues, palaces, bazaars and streets of Istanbul. With their personal knowledge and passion for their home town of Istanbul, this team is a delight to learn from - each day I felt transported to another place through this online “adventure”. I would highly recommend for anyone interested in historical and current day Istanbul, whether as a primer to an in-person visit or a stand-alone adventure for anyone not able to physically travel there.

The online trip to Istanbul exceeded my expectations. The leaders explained the history of an area and then took us on a "field trip" to walk through these streets and buildings. Pictures and maps presented were incredible. I plan to continue the leaning begun in this class.

This was an excellent and in depth exploration of a city with a long and complicated history. All three of the speakers were extremely knowledgeable and always willing to share their personal views and experiences. I joined the program because I was planning to visit Istanbul, but if I never got there I’d feel as if I’d had a great visit.

A wonderful experience in Turkey, learning its history from the 300's AD to modern day ! Extraordinarily knowledgeable and literate guides made the experience mesmerizing !

Kazim, Sami, and Volkan were outstanding as tour leaders. The power point presentations, the walking tours, the commentary, and the answers to group questions were educational and easy to follow. Every day was filled with exciting new ideas for me. Visiting Istanbul was on my "bucket list." Now I have that desire fulfilled with the excellent tour I just experienced.

A wonderful way to travel if you can't go in person. The trip was filled with so much history and excellent virtual experiences to make it feel that you were actually there.

Great guides, great content on the Istanbul program - and the videos provided up-close looking that would have been impossible in-person. Really felt like being on a private tour!

This was an wonderful experience. The instructors were very knowledgably and inclusive. The content was impressive and must have taken a tremendous amount of time to pull together. It was very professionally done. I will take more.

An outstanding program! Each day, the leaders, Kazim, Sami, and Volkan, guided us through the wonders of Istanbul. They presented in-depth information about the city, its history, its unique location and culture. We saw the city today and in its earlier days. We toured (via photos, maps and videos) mosques, churches, bazaars, and much more. We met sultans, emperors, warriors, and historical figures from the past, and we were introduced to the cosmopolitan residents of today. This was an excellent adventure which I hope to repeat in-person some day.

This was a wonderful program! The enthusiasm of the instructors (Kazim, Sami and Volkan) and their willingness to share their culture with us made for a fun and informative experience. I especially enjoyed the video field trips to Istanbul highlights, even to places currently inaccessible to tourists. If I ever travel to Turkey in person, I would definitely want to go with this team.

What an incredible course! So interesting to hear and see so many gorgeous sites around Istanbul. I was already excited about an upcoming trip (Black Sea Adventure) in May 2002, but my anticipation has increased so much. Not sure why I originally felt interested in the upcoming program, but I am now sure I made the right choice! Kazim, Sami, and Volkan did such an outstanding job of preparing and presenting this information to us. Thanks again!

The online class about Istanbul was absolutely amazing! I felt like I was there. The instructors were fantastic--so well organized with content, visuals and audio. What a great virtual experience! Thank you Kazim, Sami and Volkan. And thank you Road Scholar!

This was a virtual tour - our three guides/presenters were exceptionally well versed in both the city and their nation. They answered all questions thoroughly and were enthusiastic. The covered a range of eras. Definitely worth it.

An amazing amount of material is presented so concisely that the time just flew by. Learned so much because of the group leaders and presenters who made history so fascinating. Many good discussions up to present day culture. Enjoyed meeting the other participants as well

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The next best thing to being in Istanbul in person. A lively and compelling learning adventure.

Road Scholar online “tours” are an outstanding way to learn about a country and to “tour” the major sites. No early hours, no crowded buses, no dealing with the weather. Just sit in your comfy chair and let personable experts lead you on a learning adventure. The only downside is you can’t taste the food!

Kazim, Sami and Volkan shared their delight in Istanbul in this online adventure. It was an opportunity to learn about Istanbul's long and colorful history while having the experience highlighted by excellent video tours The Zoom format was uniquely utilized to foster a group tour experience without crowds or jet lag. I have always been curious about the area and found this tour well worth the cost. These Road Scholar tour guides have found a way to create an online experience that is an exciting substitute for actual travel.

Rich, virtual travel experience. Exceeds one's expectations, and leaves one energized for ongoing exploration of other countries and cultures, and travel if/when possible.

What a wonderful introduction to Istanbul! I am completely in awe of the wonderful speakers and what was presented during the virtual road trips! In fact, I would consider doing this program again another time!

I have taken a half dozen or so virtual trips. Which was my favorite? The one I just took! Sami, Volkan, and Kazim imparted so much information that I took voluminous notes! The slides and videos were incredible. Loved the vintage photos. The gentlemen worked well together and made this trip a seamless, pleasant experience. I am now signed up for Turkey with them!

I almost felt like I was in Istanbul. I only missed the noise and smell.

This is an excellent and fascinating program. I learned so much about the history of this important city, its culture and its peoples. It is the right combination of lecture and field trips, so you actually get to "see" the major sites you would visit in person and that were discussed in the lectures.

Excellent program about a fascinating city. We learned so much about the culture, architecture and the incredible history. Our instructors, Kazim, Sami and Volkan, worked well as a team and gave us excellent "walking tours" of the major sites of Istanbul. The breakout rooms helped encourage group discussions. I was impressed with how well the technology worked.

What an interesting and efficient way to visit Istanbul! This virtual trip was so well organized, very clearly covering centuries, multiple empires and religions, as well as modern issues. The presentations and field trips were well integrated - I actually feel like I was there. And, it was broken into cohesive segments so it was very comfortable to participate via Zoom. Many participants had a past or upcoming interest in visiting Istanbul/Turkey - I had a different approach. The area is not on my current wish list, but I am aware that there was so much history and culture there. This virtual trip was an ideal way to "visit" there.

The online program about Istanbul is outstanding and worth every penny of its admittedly high cost. The instructors and the program leader were knowledgeable and interesting, and sustained my attention throughout the program. The program content pulled together random pieces of knowledge I had about Istanbul and the history of the Byzantine and Ottoman empires. I hope to go on an actual (instead of virtual) tour of Istanbul and Turkey at some future time and would definitely make sure that it was with the three group leaders of this presentation.

You will learn a lot through this online experience. Great review of the history of the city and the area. Field trip videos over the five days gave a comprehensive view of old Constantinople / new Istanbul. We had plenty of time to ask clarifying questions on the material presented as well as bringing up other topics of interest of our own about the city and Turkey.

Overall, I thought very good. I am now 85 years old so my opportunity to travel in person is limited. The zoom Road Scholar meeting are very good for me.

The "trip" to Istambul was SUPERB. It was very well organized and the three presenters were OUTSTANDING. There was a great mix and balance of lectures and field trips. The program was well designed to give participants the history as well as the current situation in Istambul. I feel like I have had the best tour of Istambul. I highly recommend signing up for this program. You will learn and see a lot and have a great time. The three presenters deserve a standing ovation.

Our virtual trip to Istanbul was a terrific and educational travel experience. Most of the joys of travel but with none of the hassles.

Fascinating place with a ton of history. A worthwhile venue for those interested in comparative religions. Virtual field trips were excellent.

The instructors are very knowledgeable and provide excellent insights. I highly recommend this program to both those who have very limited knowledge of Istanbul as well as to those who are already familiar with the city and its history.

Our trip to Constantinople was outstanding. Very informative and interesting. Our group leaders were very knowledgeable and lively. What a wonderful way to travel when physical travel isn't possible or practical.

For the past several years I've thought that my next trip should be to a Black Sea country. This class was a way to find out more about that part of the world and moved Turkey to the top of my list. Kazim, Sami, and Volkan were knowledgeable and charming--it would be great to have these three guys as my guides when I visit Istanbul in person. Participating in an online learning session would be a great way to prepare for a trip or to relive a trip you've already taken.

Knowledgeable, engaging instructors, skillfully presented the complex history of Istanbul as an adventurous virtual getaway, making a fun and enlightening week!

My virtual trip to Istanbul was delightful! The instructors organized and implemented a superb program. I greatly appreciate their knowledge and how they handled content and questions, and they are so personable! This was my first Road Scholar experience, and they set the bar high. I'll be back for more!

This is an exceptional program - well organized, and extremely competent leaders/speakers. I wasn't sure I'd like the on-line format, but I enjoyed it tremendously.

This virtual tour of Istanbul was a pleasure. The instructors were enthusiastic, friendly, and knowledgeable, and had clearly put an effort into creating virtual tours for us to enjoy. We saw lovely things, learned about the rise and fall of empires, salivated over the wares in the bazaars and restaurants, and learned about contemporary as well as historic cultural norms. It was all enjoyable and whet my appetite for an actual visit to Istanbul some day.

This is a great very well done online trip-program and I highly recommend it. It is worth every penny!!!

It was just like being there! The daily program included the right amount of lecture/background, followed by a video tour of the sites we were focusing on during the lecture. I have thoughts and memories of Istanbul that are just as vivid as memories of places I have visited in person. Jim Traver, Missouri

Instructors work together well as a team.

This was a terrific experience. I was able to get a real insight into the history, culture, and beauty of Istanbul. The instructors were extremely knowledgeable and personable. I would strongly recommend this program.

Excellent program for content and instructors. I recommend highly.

This is a great program. Three excellent speakers from Istanbul who have prepared lectures, videos, and walking tours. If you are interested in traveling to Istanbul, this program is for you. Very well done!

You will love the instructors and learn a lot, especially if you are like me and knew very little about that area of the world. At no time did I ever have that "oh no, not lecture" feeling. Our instructors obviously love what they do and are good at it.

This is a wonderful way to explore Istanbul from the comfort of your own den, living room, study, kitchen or wherever you are!

I agree with the earlier reviews about the high quality of the program. The content was excellent and the leader, instructors and guest speaker also shared their personal insights. I had hoped that the PowerPoints would be shared with us afterward and hope Road Scholar will change this policy. There was a a lot of information and I wish I had a way to revisit it.

Our virtual tour of Istanbul Through The Ages was excellent! Our three tour guides were very knowledgeable, organized, clear, personable, and passionate about the subject matter, as only natives of this fascinating city could be. They provided information about the history and culture of Istanbul and its treasured sites through engaging live lectures and field trips via narrated photos and videos, and their excitement and love of their city was palpable. There was also plenty of time for far-ranging live questions and answers with all three. It helped to keep our travel bug at bay while, at the same time, whetting our appetite for that glorious day when we can fly into Istanbul for the real thing!

Whether you've been to Istanbul or barely know where it is located, this is an excellent program that will fill in any gaps in your knowledge. The leaders have noticed what Road Scholars want to see and learn about and have organized it better than you might have expected a two millennia experience could be done. Plenty of opportunities to ask questions with congenial, hospitable leader and instructors. Definitely good value!

Worthy investment of time and money. All were knowlegable and passionate about the city and the country. Not a substitute for being there - no crowds, smells, or food; limited interaction with the group. (No travel expenses, sore feet or jet lag.) It is a carefully designed program that includes a good mix of lectures, video tours and breakout sessions. I look forward to being there next year. I will be better prepared for the trip. Well done.

The Istanbul Online Adventure Was Outstanding. I went to Turkey 25 years ago and I learned so much more by taking this online adventure. While it may be a substitute for some, I think it is a great addition to do before or after going on a physical trip. Would highly recommend.