Travelstride | Road Scholar Profile [2024] - 284 reviews, 1,516 trips (2024)

Founded in 1975 as Elderhostel, Road Scholar took its new name in 2010. The name change was meant to better reflect the non-profit educational travel organization’s mission, which is to offer lifelong learning opportunities to adults.

Besides it’s a clever play on words (the takeoff on Rhodes Scholar), “Road” stands for the journeys the group offers, while “Scholar” indicates the deep devotion to learning that participants possess.

Road Scholar Quick Facts

Founded in 1975

Single Traveler friendly? Road Scholar requires a single supplement on most trips, though it is waived if you are willing to room with another traveler.

Typical age range: 50+, Some special multi-generational trips offered

Travel Style: Culturally immersive, education focused. Think all the joys of school without the homework

Accommodation Style: Value (3 star) or Premium (4 star) range. Some trips include multiple hotels or guest houses while others have a "staycation" set up returning to the same hotel each night.

Top Regions: Europe, Africa, North America

Average trip price: $2,389

Similar tour companies: Overseas Adventure Travel, National Geographic Expeditions, Rick Steves

Find the best for you. Explore Road Scholar vs Overseas Adventure Travel»

What Makes Road Scholar Stand Out?

• Tours that appeal to a wide range of broad & niche interests
• Budget friendly
• Unique itineraries
• Learn from experts in a variety of fields

Tours with Road Scholar are specifically designed for older travelers and with a heavy focus on gaining deeper knowledge through educational activities, led by guides who are experts in a variety of fields.

Instructors accompanying Road Scholar trips are experts in their fields, delivering lectures and leading field trips. Trip themes may range from history and culture, language study, and music appreciation to birding, bicycling, and baseball (proving that learning can be light-hearted, too).

Traveling with Road Scholar is like a study abroad experience, with classes and instructors, with a group of people the same age who have a similarly extensive hindsight on life - and who love to learn.

They offer a very wide range of physical levels as well as many different trip styles. If you're not sure you'll find a trip to your liking with Road Scholar, take the time to browse the options first.

What is a Road Scholar trip?

A Road Scholar trip is designed like a study abroad experience for 60+ travelers - whether you're exploring the diverse birdlife of Texas or the incredible culture of Morocco. Almost everything is included in the price and they cater to many different budgets.

Are Road Scholar trips good?

Road Scholar is consistently well reviewed, and they have a 4.7/5 rating on Travelstride. Travelers regularly praise the lecturers and educational aspects of Road Scholar trips as well as the itinerary planning, group dynamics, and organization.

Who Will Enjoy Traveling with Road Scholar?

• Senior travelers & baby boomers
• Life long learners
• Solo and single travelers
• History buffs
• Grandparents and grandchildren

The first thing to note is that Road Scholar trips are specifically intended for travelers 50 and above (often 65+).

Open minded, active, and worldly life-long learners who have a sense of adventure and willingness to try new things, will love the cadence of a Road Scholar trip. Road Scholar is often the first guided trip experience for older travelers.

Perhaps in your younger days you loved going it alone, planning out your itinerary, and loved the spontaneity of traveling off the beaten path. Now you’re ready to have that same spirit, but with a few more ducks in a row and maybe hit some of the classic sites you missed or didn’t truly appreciate before.

Road Scholar has recently added special grandparent-grandchild trips and programs for three generations traveling together. Keep in mind that the focus remains on education, distinguishing Road Scholar trips from most commercial tours.

Group sizes with Road Scholar vary, but many small group study tours are limited to 10-24 participants. They are also very friendly to solo travelers - offering many tours for solos and singles where you can meet new friends, and even romantic interests!

Road Scholar allows for particular good compatibility between you and your tour mates as each journey is designed around specific themes from an educational perspective.

Private groups are also available and a popular option for groups of friends or families.

Top Destinations

• Europe
• United Kingdom
• United States
• South America

Road Scholar operates tours in 150 countries, as well as every state in the U.S.

Aside from the educational days, many trips include activities in nature, with hiking, kayaking, and other outdoors experiences.

Road Scholar Travel Style

Road Scholar creates their itineraries to encourage learning - both in a scholarly way: from knowledgeable guides, scholars and experts in various fields; and in a holistic way: from the accommodations, meals, and transportation. Your entire journey with Road Scholar is designed as an educational experience.

Tours are referred to as “programs”, guides, tour directors, and leaders are “faculty” and they even have an online “campus store”. Programs are designed to be immersive, exploring a destination in depth, with the focus often on a niche subject. Don't expect to spend 5 minutes at a tourist attraction and then move on. Some itineraries spend a full week in one city, exploring a specific period of time or type of local craft.

Walking trips, train treks, small ship cruises, and riverboat voyages are among the options for trip style. Prices typically stay in the budget/value range consistent with the company’s roots.

Road Scholar offers may ways to save on their trips. These include scholarships, friend referrals, and various specials and deals throughout the year.

Why Choose a Tour With Road Scholar?

On a Road Scholar tour you can expect a lot of unique cultural, artistic, historic, and local insights. Meet artisans, learn local crafts, and feel the camaraderie of being around other travelers who enjoy the educational aspect of travel.

The original Elderhostel grew out of the vision of the late Marty Knowlton, who spent four years backpacking around Europe while staying in youth hostels -- and wanted American adults to have access to similar cultural experiences.

If you consider yourself a lifelong learner and want to spend your vacation amongst others who share your passion for travel and education, Road Scholar is the place for you.

Covid-19 Travel Update for Road Scholar

In 2020, Road Scholar made the tough decision to temporarily suspend their programs through January 2021 due to the safey concerns surrounding the coronavirus.

Given the Road Scholar traveler age range, the health risks could be severe. Not to mention the interest in international and group travel is significantly lower for this group at the present time.

You may enroll in future trips with the offer of a full refund with cancellation up to 90 days prior to the trip departure. This offer is currently in place through October 31st, 2020.

Road Scholar has a number of virtual classroom options available in a range of durations.