About your expert lecturer/guide...Mr. Mohamed Halouani a Tunisian native, transformed his profound passion for travel and history into a creative and diversified educational career, designing and carrying out multiple archaeological and cultural trips for various institutions, such as The Detroit Institute of Art, the Textile Museum and the American Museum of Natural History. After having received degrees in English and Spanish, Mr. Halouani completed his European Master’s in linguistics and Hispanic studies at the Sorbonne University in Paris where he currently resides. He has extensive knowledge on Islamic architecture and Eastern decorative elements as well as archaeology and history. An excellent lecturer on ethnographic and anthropological subjects, he will introduce you to the historical sites and will also reveal the culture and customs of Senegal and Mauritania better than many of the countries’ own local native guides.

Tour Includes:
14 nights accommodation in hotels (best available) and auberges and dayroom in Nouakchott on the last day All meals as listed and one bottle water with meals (lunch and dinner) plus one bottle of water per day on the bus Airport transfers upon arrival in Dakar and departure in Nouakchott if traveling on selected flights All activities described in the tour (incuding sailing on the Banc d’Arguin) and entrance fees to all sites mentioned (museums and parks) National Senegalese guide and local guides at the various towns and parks National Mauritanian guide and local guides at the various towns and parks Transportation in minivan with A/C (12 seater) in Senegal and in 4WD vehicles with A/C in Mauritania with water on board throughout the tour Porterage and all gratuities to local guides in villages, porters, drivers, hotel, boat and restaurant staff

Not Included:
Visa for Senegal and visa for Mauritania Tipping to your main guide: Mr. Halouani Expenses of a personal nature such as meals not listed, beverages with meals, camera fees at sites, telephone, laundry bills, etc. Airport taxes/fuel surcharges and security fees - estimated at $480 One way Bamako/Dakar if extending from Mali tour - estimated at $170 Round trip airfare from your home to JFK, and transfers to/from airports in country if not traveling on selected flights Travel Insurance Dayroom or extra hotel nights necessitated by airline flight schedule changes

Tour Notes:
Single Supplement: $950.00 Air credit if not using Air France from JFK is $1350 Minimum 6 participants and maximum 12 participants - Rates are based on current exchange rates with the euro The Fine Print The following is some pertinent information regarding services and conditions that may help you decide if this trip is right for you. You should not expect the standard of accommodations in Senegal and Mauritania to be similar to the more popular tourist destinations in Africa. Rooms and facilities may be rustic. Vehicles may be a bit “tired” and the air conditioning may not function. Food can be somewhat bland. You will be doing some exploring on foot so you should be in good physical condition in order to participate on this tour and have appropriate footwear. Be advised that temperatures can be quite hot at this time of year. Dust levels are high and can cause complications for people with asthma or respiratory problems. Begging can become annoying in some places. We highly urge you not to give money as it will encourage this practice. Vaccines are required for this tour and you should contact the CDC. *Those wishing to extend their Mali tour to visit Senegal and Mauritania will arrive in Dakar on February 06. **VERY IMPORTANT - The preferred hotels in St Louis and Chinguetti are shared bathrooms (in separate building) only. No ensuite rooms exist at this time. If this changes we will upgrade

About your lecturer host...Mr. Mohamed Halouani, a Tunisian native, transformed his profound passion for travel and history into a creative and diversified educational career, designing and carrying out multiple archaeological and cultural trips for diverse institutions, such as The Detroit Institute of Art, The Textile Museum, The American Museum of Natural History, Archaeological Tours Inc. N.Y.C., Cross Cultural Adventurers and many more organizations. After having received his degrees in English and Spanish, Mohamed Halouani completed his European Master’s in linguistics and Hispanic studies at the Sorbonne University in Paris. He has extensive knowledge on Islamic and secular architecture and Eastern decorative elements. A renowned expert on the Roman sites of North Africa, he has been leading over 10 tours a year to Libya. A skilled multilingual interpreter, Mohamed has served as the Head Tour Guide in Tunisia. He now resides in Paris and will lead our special tour through the marvels of Libya.

Tour Includes:
Accommodations in Superior first class hotels in the cities and comfortable camps in the Sahara All porterage at hotels International airfare from JFK on Alitalia (air credit $920) Flights within Libya English speaking guide/lecturer throughout Meals as described in itinerary (B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner) Airport transfers if arriving/departing on schedule flights and travel by modern large air-conditioned motor coach throughout All activities described in the tour and entrance fees to all sites mentioned Gratuities to guide, driver and hotel staff Bottled mineral water on the bus (daily) and with included meals + refreshments while traveling on the bus

Not Included:
Travel Insurance Libya Visa ($40 at Tripoli airport on arrival - current rate subject to change. Arabic translation of passport IS required ($60) includes processing fee) Round trip airfare from your home to JFK and airport taxes and security charges Expenses of a personal nature such as beverages with meals, camera fees at sites, telephone, laundry bills, etc. Any other service/s not specified above

Tour Notes:
Single Supplement: $775.00 Minimum 6 participants and maximum 14 participants THE FINE PRINT It is imperative that your passport not contain ANY Israeli visas or stamps. Though this is considered a soft adventure the second week in the Sahara is a bit strenuous. It will require some climbing on rocks and walking over uneven terrain and on sand. The camps are quite comfortable with en suite bathroom facilities including hot and cold water as well as electricity (so no rough camping). The 4x4 vehicles in the Sahara are 1996-97 Landcruisers in good condition and seat 3 people per vehicle so everyone has access to a window. Libya is very slowly developing its tourism infrastructure so some long rides will be on poor roads and you must be prepared for schedule changes or delays as they occur as well as inexperienced service personnel on some occasions. A flexible spirit is required to join the tour. If flight schedule changes necessitate an overnight the costs of the hotel and transfers are not included in the tour price. Tour operates for less than 6 with local Libyan guide only.

About your lecturer host... Thomas F. Mudloff, Ph.D. is an Egyptologist/archaeologist who received his degree from the University of Chicago’s Department of Near Eastern Civilizations and currently teaches Anthropology, Middle and Near Eastern Archaeology at Alder Planetarium, the Field Museum and Northwestern University in Chicago. He regularly lectures at various institutions throughout the Midwest and conducts courses on a wide range of topics. He has had two books published and is working on a third, Sacred Things and Secret Places. He also has an award winning video DVD that has appeared on TV several times. He has been working in the Middle East for over 20 years and has excavated extensively in the area. He regularly conducts small group tours to the region where his background in Biblical Studies and Egyptology along with the many contacts he has cultivated will be great assets as he leads your trip through Egypt. Visit him online at www.magicofancientegypt.com

Tour Includes:
Superior four-star accommodation in Khartoum, rest house in Karima, permanent tented camp in Meroe and mobile camp in Tombos English-speaking private guide throughout All meals as specified in the itinerary Airport transfers (if arriving/departing on scheduled flights) by private motor coach Transport with 4x4 (Toyota Land Cruiser or Hi-Lux Double Cabin throughout the tour) All activities described in the tour and entrance fees to all sites mentioned and still-camera fees to all sites Round trip airfare New York City/Khartoum (International Air credit $900.00) Gratuities to guides, drivers, porters, restaurant and hotel staff Bottled water while touring (one large per person) – and with all meals (bottles for the table – not applicable Khartoum)

Not Included:
Travel Insurance Visa for Sudan (Currently $150.00 and subject to change) Video camera permit $10 per site Dayrooms or extra hotel overnights or transfers in Khartoum if necessary Fuel surcharges, airport taxes and security charges (approximately $325.00), Airport departure Tax ($17 currently & subject to change) Expenses of a personal nature such as: beverages with meals, telephone, email, laundry bills, etc. Round trip airfare between your hometown and NYC (Call us for special add-on fares)

Tour Notes:
Single Supplement: $875.00 Minimum 8 participants and Maximum of 14 participants. If number of participants is less than 8, trip may still depart with Small Group Surcharge IMPORTANT INFORMATION – We reserve the right to change the order of activities or places visited due to unforeseen schedule conflicts or in order to make the itinerary run smoothly. Visas for this tour must be obtained 2 months prior to travel. You must sign up by Sep. 7th, 2010. Passports must not include any Israeli stamps/visa. You can combine this tour with a pre-trip to Egypt’s Nubia (November 13-20) Rates are based on today’s (Oct. 2009) exchange rate (Euro) and if it fluctuates, you will be billed for the difference *About your tented accommodations: Some of the sites visited are remote and tourist accommodations do not exist in the area. In order to visit them, spartan, but comfortable camps are utilized. The preset camp in the Nubian Desert is prepared one day in advance of the group arrival and is/are located among the sand dunes in the Tombos area. Big Igloo tents are appointed with camp beds, foam mattresses, sheets, wool covers, a small table and two folding chairs. A large tent with tables and chairs serves as a restaurant and two showers and two toilets (one for men and one for women) complete the compound. Single tents in camps are not guaranteed for late signers.

Your lecturer - Denise Schmandt-Besserat is professor emerita of Art History and Middle Eastern Studies at the University of Texas at Austin. A graduate of L¡¦Ecole du Louvre in Paris, she is a renowned Near Eastern archaeologist. She has worked on archaeological collections in all the major museums of the Middle East, Europe and the USA. She is the author of When Writing Met Art (2007), Before Writing (1992) and How Writing Came About (1996), which was selected by American Scientist magazine as ¡§one of the 100 books hat shaped science in the 20th century¡¨. Her work on the origins of writing and mathematics has been covered by Scientific American, Time, Life, the New York Times, and the Washington Post. She has appeared in television programs such as Out of the Past (Discovery Channel), the Nature of Things (CBC), Search for Solutions (PBS) and Tell the Truth (NBC).

Tour Includes:
ƒæ International air from New York-JFK/Khartoum, Roundtrip coach class via Cairo (Airfare credit if not using Egyptair is $850.00) ƒæ All transfers with assistance and luggage porterage (if arriving/departing on scheduled flights) by private motor coach ƒæ Transportation within country with 4x4 A/C vehicles ƒæ All mentioned accommodations in Superior four-star hotel in Khartoum, rest house in karima, permanent tented camp in Meroe & mobile camp in Tombos* ƒæ All meals as listed (B=breakfast, L=lunch, D=dinner). Lunches are usually sit-down picnic-style in a shaded beautiful spot and fully prepared by the drivers ƒæ All entrance fees to visited sites (mentioned in the itinerary), all activities described in the tour and camera fees to all sites ƒæ Service of professional English speaking guide ƒæ Bottled water on the bus daily (one per person) ¡V and with all meals (bottles for the table ¡V not applicable in Khartoum) ƒæ All gratuities to guide, porters, drivers, hotel and restaurant staff etc.

Not Included:
ľ Beverages with meals and meals not noted ľ Items of a personal nature, i.e. souvenirs, laundry, phone calls, emails, etc. - VIDEO CAMERA PERMIT - $10 PER SITE ľ Fuel surcharges, airport taxes and security charges (approximately $275.00), Airport departure Tax ($20 approximate) ľ Airfare to/from JFK to/from home airport ľ Sudan Visa - $200.00 at time of printing - subject to change ľ Travel insurance ľ Dayroom or extra hotel nights necessitated by airline flight schedule changes or transfers in Khartoum if necessary

Tour Notes:
Single supplement: $925.00 Trip cost based on minimum of 8 participants - Maximum group size is 12 participants *About your tented accommodations: Some of the sites visited are remote and tourist accommodations do not exist in the area. In order to visit them, spartan, but comfort¬able camps are utilized. The mobile camp in the Nubian Desert is prepared one day in advance of the group arrival and is located among the sand dunes in the Tombos area. Big Igloo tents are appointed with camp beds, foam mattresses, sheets, wool covers, a small table and two folding chairs. A large tent with tables and chairs serves as a restaurant and three showers and three toilets are shared. Possibly we can substitute the Tombos camp with accommodation for those 2 nights at a simple home near the Temple of Soleb. The Meroe tented Camp is located in Bagarwyia, overlooking the pyramids of the Royal Necropolis of Meroe. Accommodation consists of 10 twin-bedded large and tastefully furnished tents and 10 bathroom huts with toilet and shower. Each tent is equipped with a veranda with two comfortable chairs and electricity produced by a generator. Single tents in camps are not guaranteed for late signers. Visas for this tour must be obtained 2 months prior to travel. You must sign up by Dec. 1st, 2010. Passports must not include any Israeli stamps/visa. Rates are based on today¡¦s (February 15, 2010) exchange rate (Euro) and if it fluctuates, you will be billed for the difference. We strongly urge you to read the State Department Warnings before signing up and payment of your deposit confirms your understanding of the circumstances regarding travel to Sudan.

About your lecturer/host…Denise Schmandt-Besserat, professor Emerita of Art History and Middle Eastern Studies at the University of Texas at Austin is a renowned Near Eastern archaeologist. Professor Schmandt-Besserat spent several months as a resident archaeologist in Amman. A graduate of L’Ecole du Louvre in Paris, she has worked on archaeological collections in all the major museums of the Middle East, Europe and the USA. She is the author of When Writing Met Art (2007), Before Writing (1992) and How Writing Came About (1996), which was selected by American Scientist magazine as “one of the 100 books that shaped science in the 20th century.” Her work on the origins of writing and mathematics has been covered by Scientific American, Time, Life, the New York Times, the Washington Post, etc. She has appeared in television programs such as Out of the Past (Discovery Channel), the Nature of Things (CBC), Search for Solutions (PBS) and Tell the Truth (NBC). Professor Denise has led many tours to Iran in the past years. Her lectures on various subjects will add valuable insights and her contacts will be a great asset as she leads your tour through this fascinating country. No expert can reveal Iran to you like Professor Schmandt-Besserat.

Tour Includes:
• International airfare from JFK to Tehran and back (via Europe) – Air credit for doing your own air is $900.00 • Deluxe, First class and some tourist class hotel accommodations • All meals (Full-board) as specified in the itinerary: B-breakfast, L-lunch and D-dinner • All tours as per itinerary including entrance fees and an expert Iranian English-speaking guide • Tipping to drivers, porters, hotel and restaurant staff (excluding the main guide) • Transfers/transportation by vehicle during tour • All local taxes and service charges on included items • Domestic flight Tehran/Tabriz • 1 large bottle of mineral water per passenger per day on touring days plus juice, coffee and tea on board the bus

Not Included:
• Airport taxes, security charges and fuel surcharges (estimated at $385) • Items of a personal nature (camera fees at sites, laundry, phone calls, emails, excess luggage, etc.) • Tipping to the main Iranian guide (Suggested minimum is $100 per person) • Travel protection insurance • Airfare from cities other than New York City • Transfers if not arriving/departing on scheduled flights/tour dates • Dayroom or overnights necessitated by changes in airline schedules • Iran visa (Cost is currently $150 but subject to change) – Passport should not include any Israeli stamps

Tour Notes:
Single Supplement: $900.00 Group Size minimum is 8 participants, maximum is 14 participants

About your guide – Asrat Kahsay was born in the rural town of Adwa, in Tigray province in northern Ethiopia near the border with Eritrea. He spent his childhood in an agricultural setting: collecting firewood, fetching water, tending herds, animal feed collection, plowing, sowing seed, weeding and harvesting crops. He attended the local elementary and junior high schools and completed three years of high school before moving to eastern Ethiopia for his final year, a move necessitated by the border war with Eritrea. He studied at the Maichew Technical College before deciding to pursue a degree/career in tourism. He served an apprenticeship with one of the more reputable Ethiopian tour operators, spending time both in the office and in the field and working with some of the better-known tourism companies around the world. He is extremely knowledgeable about the history, culture, religions, fauna and flora of his country making him one of the most sought after guides in the country. His attention to detail and ability to converse in several of the local dialects (as well as English, French and German) contribute to the enjoyment of your tour. PS: Please note that to do the OMO extension, you will leave the main group tour when in Bishingari at the Great Rift Valley and head to Arbaminsh instead of returning with the group to Addis. Rates for the Omo extension have into consideration the deletion of that night. If you participate in the Omo trip only, without doing the Historic Route and Timket, rate will be about $450-$500 more for adding the arrival day into Addis airport, a hotel night at Sheraton, transfer and drive to Arbaminsh. Also the single supplement in this case will increase by about $400.00 Per Person Price is: $1,700.00 (2-3 people – 1 vehicle) $1,550.00 (4-6 people – 2 vehicles) The above prices are based on double occupancy, with minimum of 2 people participating. The single supplement is $470.00

Tour Includes:
Roundtrip International air from Dulles to Addis Ababa on Ethiopian Airline (air credit if not using Ethiopian Airline is $800.00) All internal flights within Ethiopia Accommodations in Superior first class or best available hotels All transfers with assistance and porterage All included sightseeing with entrance fees to visited sites Fully escorted by an English speaking, native historian/guide All meals as specified Private motor coach for city tours and transfers and 4x4 for the rest of the trip based on 3 people per vehicle A bottle of water each day A soft drink or sparkling water with lunch and dinner Gratuities to guide, drivers, hotel and restaurant staff and porters

Not Included:
Airline taxes and security charges (Currently estimated at $320) Departure taxes from Addis (if imposed) Travel insurance (highly recommended) Meals not mentioned Items of a personal nature: beverages, laundry, phone calls, email, souvenirs, camera fees at sites, etc. Visa for Ethiopia (Currently $70 from their DC consulate – Subject to change) Air from your home city to Dulles Dayroom or hotel overnights if necessary due to airline schedule changes Any other service/s not specified above

Tour Notes:
Possible Omo Valley Extension which returns to the US Dec. 13 Single Supplement: $555.00 Price based on a group size of 4 - 12 participants

THE FINE PRINT It is imperative that your passport not contain ANY Israeli visas or stamps. Though this is considered a soft adventure it is still a bit strenuous. It will require some climbing on rocks and walking over uneven terrain and on sand. The camps are quite comfortable with en suite bathroom facilities including hot and cold water as well as electricity (so no rough camping). The 4x4 vehicles in the Sahara are 1996-97 Landcruisers in good condition and seat 3 people per vehicle so everyone has access to a window. Libya is very slowly developing its tourism infrastructure so some long rides will be on poor roads and you must be prepared for schedule changes or delays as they occur as well as inexperienced service personnel on some occasions. A flexible spirit is required to join the tour.

Tour Includes:
Transportation by car, minivan or minibus depending on the number of tour participants 4x4 vehicles in the desert (maximum of 3 persons + driver in each vehicle) Accommodations in Superior first class hotels in cities and comfortable camps in the Sahara and all porterage at hotels Airport transfers if departing on scheduled international flight Roundtrip flights - Libya/Sebha English speaking guide throughout Meals as described in itinerary (B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner) and Bottles of water with included meals Refreshments while traveling All activities described in the tour and entrance fees to all sites mentioned (including camera fees where included in entry ticket) Travel permits and security official (if 5 or more travelers) Gratuities to restaurant and hotel staff

Not Included:
Travel Insurance Libya Visa ($40 at Tripoli airport on arrival - current rate subject to change. Arabic translation of passport IS required ($60) includes processing fee) Camera fees at sites when not included in entry ticket Gratuities to guide and drivers Expenses of a personal nature such as beverages with meals, camera fees at sites, telephone, laundry bills, etc. Dayroom(s) and/or hotel overnight(s) necessitated by airline flight schedule changes Any other service/s not specified above

Tour Notes:
Single Supplement: $395.00 (Rates based on current exchange and subject to change) Minimum 2 participants and Maximum 8 participants

About your guide ... Mr. Mansur Ramazonov is a graduate of Tashkent State University of Economics. He also attended Bukhara State University where he studied Economics and English. He has completed course work in history and archaeology of Central Asia and received diplomas certifying him as a Guide/Interpreter from accredited organizations in Uzbekistan. Besides speaking English he is fluent in Uzbek, Russian and Tajik. He has been leading tours in various countries along the Silk Road including Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, China, Turkey, Iran and Russia since 2000. He is passionate about the history, archaeology, ethnography and music of Central Asia and enthusiastic about sharing his knowledge with others. Mansur gets ratings from our travelers that are so phenomenal to the point where as a whole, we must consider him THE BEST guide you can ever have on a trip anywhere in the world! Not only his knowledge but his leadership abilities as well as his amazing compassion and care for our guests!

Tour Includes:
ľ All transfers by comfortable air conditioned vehicle ľ Accommodation based on double room sharing, at combinations of 4 & 3 star hotels as well as best available properties in the smaller towns. ľ Sightseeing throughout the program using local guides in some sites and accompanied by Mr Ramazanov throughout ľ Entrance tickets to the sites, museums, mausoleums, parks, etc.; ľ Visa support for the 5 stans and Consular fees for Tajikistan visa ľ Breakfasts, lunches and dinners throughout ľ Show in Bukhara and Samarkand; ľ All gratuities to guides, drivers etc.. ľ Airplane ticket Ashgabat-Dashoguz; Ashgabat-Mary; Mary-Ashgabat (Turkmenistan), and Tashkent/Bishkek ľ Orientation tour in Istanbul

Not Included:
ľ Charges in hotels for personal additional services ľ Consular fees for 4 visas (currently approx. $300) and Turkish visa (obtainable on arrival for $20 cash) ľ Turkmenistan Immigration tax at the border $12 per person (subject to change) ľ Photography and video camera fees ľ Personal travel insurance ľ Airplane ticket taxes, fuel surcharges and security fees (subject to change , currently $385)

Tour Notes:
Single Supplement: $855.00 Air Allowance: $1,300.00 Minimum 8 participants and Maximum of 14 participants The Fine Print: We reserve the right to change the order of activities or places visited due to unforeseen schedule conflicts or in order to make the itinerary run smoothly. Some of the hotels can be rather Spartan and plain especially in small towns. You must be in good health to participate as there are days with long walks, some on uneven ground. Elevations can reach up to 6,000 ft above sea level. Due to the unpredictability of the flights, a bus will be available for the drive north from Ashgabat to Mary if necessary

About your lecturer host...Thomas F. Mudloff, Ph.D. is an Egyptologist/archaeologist who received his degree from the University of Chicago’s Department of Near Eastern Civilizations and currently teaches Anthropology, Middle and Near Eastern Archaeology at Alder Planetarium, the Field Museum and Northwestern University in Chicago. He regularly lectures at various institutions throughout the Midwest and conducts courses on a wide range of topics. He has published books along with an award winning video DVD that has appeared on TV several times. This small group tour will focus on the long connection in which Libya and Egypt have engaged which pre-dates the historic period and extends into the modern era. Many feel that the source of the civilization of the Nile Valley has its roots in the area that we now call Libya and evidence may indicate that the Nile Delta area was ruled early on by Libyan tribes. It is a fact that for a time during the Third Intermediate Period, Pharaonic Egypt was ruled by Libyan kings and the Libyans themselves can be seen throughout history as components of the Egyptian civilization or antagonists of it! As an Egyptologist with almost 30 years of experience, Dr. Mudloff will pull the connecting evidence together to show the unique character of this entire region. His background in Biblical Studies and Egyptology along with the many contacts he has cultivated will be great assets as he leads your trip through Egypt and Libya. Visit him online at www.magicofancientegypt.com

Tour Includes:
Accommodations in Superior first class hotels and all porterage at hotels International airfare from JFK on Alitalia (air credit $1050) and flights within Libya English speaking guide/lecturer throughout Meals as described in itinerary (B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner) and Bottles of water on the bus every day and with included meals Airport transfers if arriving/departing on schedule flights and travel by modern large air-conditioned motor coach throughout All activities described in the tour and entrance fees to all sites mentioned Gratuities to guide, driver, restaurant and hotel staff

Not Included:
Travel Insurance Egyptian Visa ($20 at Cairo airport on arrival - current rate subject to change.) Libya Visa ($40 at Tripoli airport on arrival - current rate subject to change. Arabic translation of passport IS required ($60) includes processing fee) Round trip airfare from your home to JFK and airport taxes and security charges Expenses of a personal nature such as beverages with meals, camera fees at sites, telephone, laundry bills, etc. Any other service/s not specified above

Tour Notes:
Single Supplement: $775.00 (Rates based on current exchange and subject to change) Minimum 8 participants and Maximum 14 participants (Tour operates for less than 6 with local Libyan guide only) It is imperative that your passport not contain ANY Israeli visas or stamps. The pertinent information pages of your passport must be translated into Arabic. STS can recommend an approved/certified agent in the Washington DC area who can provide this service. Libya is very slowly developing its tourism infrastructure so some long rides will be on poor roads and you must be prepared for schedule changes or delays as they occur as well as inexperienced service personnel on some occasions. If flight schedule changes necessitate an overnight the costs of the hotel and transfers are not included in the tour price. Please note that Libya is a dry country though one can find non- alcoholic beer. A flexible spirit is required to join the tour. Pre tours in Egypt are available upon request.

Your lecturer/guide: Mr. Mohamed HALOUANI, a Tunisian native, transformed his profound passion for travel and history into a creative and diversified educational career, designing and carrying out multiple archaeological and cultural trips for institutions, such as The Detroit Institute of Art, the Textile Museum, the American Museum of Natural History, Cross Cultural Adventurers and many more organizations. After having received his degrees in English and Spanish, Mr. Halouani completed his European Master’s in linguistics and Hispanic studies at the Sorbonne University in Paris. He has extensive knowledge on Islamic architecture and Eastern decorative elements as well as Roman archaeology and history. A skilled multilingual interpreter, Mohamed has served as the head tour guide in Tunisia. He now resides in Paris and leads only certain select small groups to the three countries in North Africa that boast the highest concentration of Roman Ruins: Libya, Tunisia and Algeria.

Tour Includes:
International air from New York-JFK/Algiers & Tunis/New York-JFK, Roundtrip coach class • All transfers with assistance and luggage porterage • Transportation within countries using modern A/C motor coach • All mentioned accommodations in best hotels available • All meals as listed (full board = 3 meals a day) • All entrance fees to visited sites (mentioned in the itinerary) • Service of professional guide (Mr. Halouani) and several local lecturers in Algeria’s main sites • One bottle of water per day per person • All gratuities to porters, drivers, hotel and restaurant staff etc. (excluding the main guide)

Not Included:
Tipping to your main guide: Mr. Halouani • Beverages with meals and meals not noted • Items of a personal nature, i.e. souvenirs, laundry, phone calls, emails, etc. • Airport taxes/fuel surcharges and security fees • Airfare to/from JFK to/from home airport • Algerian Visa - $100 at time of printing • Travel insurance • Dayroom or extra hotel nights necessitated by airline flight schedule changes

Tour Notes:
Single supplement: $900.00 Trip cost based on minimum of 8 participants - Maximum group size is 14 participants We (STS) reserve the right to chage hotels, restaurants or the order of activities if/as needed. Trip Grade: Moderately-Rigorous Touring You will be covering great distances by road during this journey. The roads are very good and the weather at that time of the year is comfortable. You will be served cold water, tea and fruits along the way. You will make several rest stops (most will be in the beautiful wilderness). It is important to recognize the exhausting nature of the long driving days as well as some of the site visits where you might have to climb on uneven terrain and walk for several hours. Also, it is our responsibility to inform you that despite the immense progress in the standard of accommodations over the last years in Algeria, you might still encounter minor annoyances, such as leaky plumbing fixtures, hot water interruptions in hotels, especially in remote towns and villages. This will necessitate a flexible, tolerant attitude and a sense of humor.

About your host/lecturer...Louis Werner Louis Werner is a French and Arabic speaking journalist (for Archaeology and Saudi Aramco World magazines), documentary filmmaker (for BBC-TV and PBS), and communications consultant (for USAID and international NGOs) working in the Middle East and North Africa for over twenty five years. He has written articles on the restoration of the Aleppo citadel, sellers in the Aleppo souk, and the symbolism today of Krak des Chevaliers. During travels in some fifteen countries in the region, his most notable interviews have been with antiquaries in Damascus, well diggers in the Egyptian oases, sheep herders in Anatolia, mountaineers on Mt. Ararat, archaeologists in Saudi Arabia, dhow captains on the Red Sea, samovar smiths in Azerbaijan, and, his favorite, a laurel oil soap maker in Syria. About your local guide: Mr. Ghiath Abadallah has been our guide since we began offering tours to Syria in 1994. He has guided all of our groups and our individual guests through his beautiful country. A native of Damascus, he lives with his family in the historic Old City. He earned his degree in English Literature from the University of Damascus and a certificate in tourism from the Ministry of Tourism. Giath has led numerous museum groups, and specialized tours as well as religious groups and programs that emphasize the aspect of ancient history and archaeology visiting Syria.

Tour Includes:
ľ International airfare from JFK to Beirut and back from Damascus to JFK (based on the Royal Jordanian Air schedule) ľ Deluxe, First class and boutique hotel accommodations ľ Meals as specified in the itinerary: B-breakfast, L-lunch and D-dinner ľ All tours as per itinerary including entrance fees ľ Tipping to guides, drivers, porters, hotel and restaurant staff ľ Visa to SYRIA ľ All local taxes and service charges on included items ľ Mineral bottled water every day on the bus while touring ľ Transfers/transportation by A/C comfortable large vehicle during tours

Not Included:
ƒæ Airport taxes, security charges and fuel surcharges (currently at $365 ¡V subject to increase until tickets issued) ƒæ Items of a personal nature (camera fees at sites, laundry, phone calls, emails, excess luggage, etc.) ƒæ Meals not listed and beverages with all meals ƒæ Lebanon visa obtainable upon arrival at Beirut airport (Currently $17) ƒæ Travel protection insurance (HIGHLY RECOMMENDED) ƒæ Airfare from cities other than New York City ƒæ Transfers if not arriving/departing on scheduled flights/tour dates ƒæ Dayroom or overnights necessitated by changes in airline schedules

Tour Notes:
Single Supplement: $700.00 Group Size minimum is 8 participants, maximum is 14 participants Airfare credit in case of not using Royal Jordanian from JFK is $850.00 ** Passport MUST not include any Israeli stamps or visas to be allowed to enter Syria**

Welcome to Iraqi-Kurdistan! The people of Iraqi-Kurdistan invite you to discover their peaceful region, a place that has practiced democracy for over a decade, a place where the universities, markets, cafes and fair grounds buzz with progress and prosperity and where the people are already sowing the seeds of a brighter future. Who are the Kurds? There is a saying among the Kurds: “No friends but the mountains.” For, indeed, the world has scarcely noticed when century after century, conqueror after conqueror has driven these once nomadic tribes deep within their beloved mountains to preserve their culture, their language and their lives. Hidden in the shadows of history, resistance against repression became the Kurdish way of life, until atrocities inflicted by a dictator named Saddam Hussein sent shock waves throughout the world causing people of ever nation to ask, “Who are the Kurds?” A different Mind-Set “We are neither Arabs, nor Turks, and not Persians. We are Muslims, but we are a different nation. We have our own language, our own history, and our own folklore, and everything.” DR. Ali Saeed Mohammad, King Fahd University. “The fact that we Kurds are a completely different ethnic group than the Arabs and the Turks and even the Persians…because of that background and also because of all of the suffering they have seen, they have a completely different mindset.” Jano Rosebiani, award winning writer, producer, and director. “At the time when the central Iraqi regime - before the toppling of Saddam Hussein, was busy with creating weapons of mass destruction, we were busy planting trees and creating new classes at our universities and opening new departments and building centers of education for our children and for our youth.” Professor Nazar Amin, Sulaimani University. We are trying to build a nation. We are trying to improve the scientific standards of our community. We are trying to spread democracy. We are trying to teach the people how to respect each other and accept the rights of children and women in general. “This country is a peaceful country. The people are very, very lovely. I don’t think that our region will be a dam between us and other countries and other cultures.” Nehad Latif Qocha. The Kurds are an ancient people who’ve lived their entire lives at the crossroads of the world, accustomed to living with people of many different religions. Today, as in the days of old, you will find in the hearts of the Kurdish people ethnic and religious tolerance. “Today, for instance, in Kurdistan you see churches beside mosques in the Kurdish cities. We have Christians, we have Armenians, we have Yezidies, we have Muslims, we have Jews. We have all types of religions and ethnic groups and we’ve been living together for ages and that shows how tolerant the Kurdish people are.” Jano Rosebiani, award winning writer, producer, and director. In the cities of Kurdistan you will see, not only Kurds, but Arabs, Turkmen, Assyrians, Armenians, Chaldeans, Shia, Sunni…all living peacefully side by side because this is who they are. This is how Kurdistan has always been, long before the country of Iraq ever existed.

Tour Includes:
• All transfers with assistance and luggage porterage • Transportation within country using modern A/C motor coach • All mentioned accommodations in best hotels available • Hotel overnights in Istanbul both ways from and to Erbil • All meals as listed (B=breakfast, L=lunch, D=dinner) • All entrance fees to visited sites (mentioned in the itinerary) • Service of professional guide • One bottle of water per day per person • All gratuities to guides, porters, drivers, hotel and restaurant staff etc.

Not Included:
• Roundtrip international air via Istanbul Turkey to Erbil • Airport taxes/fuel surcharges and security fees • Beverages with meals and meals not noted and meals in Istanbul aside from breakfast • Items of a personal nature, i.e. souvenirs, camera fees, laundry, phone calls, emails, etc. • Kurdistan Visa - currently free - obtainable at airport on arrival in Erbil • Travel insurance • Dayroom or extra hotel nights necessitated by airline flight schedule changes

Tour Notes:
** Single supplement: $800 Air cost: approx $1400 from NYC with taxes Trip cost based on Minimum of 4 participants - Maximum group size is 10 participants Visa for US citizens obtainable on arrival at Erbil airport.

About your guide – Asrat Kahsay was born in the rural town of Adwa, in Tigray province in northern Ethiopia near the border with Eritrea. He spent his childhood in an agricultural setting: collecting firewood, fetching water, tending herds, animal feed collection, plowing, sowing seed, weeding and harvesting crops. He attended the local elementary and junior high schools and completed three years of high school before moving to eastern Ethiopia for his final year, a move necessitated by the border war with Eritrea. He studied at the Maichew Technical College before deciding to pursue a degree/career in tourism. He served an apprenticeship with one of the more reputable Ethiopian tour operators, spending time both in the office and in the field and working with some of the better-known tourism companies around the world. He is extremely knowledgeable about the history, culture, religions, fauna and flora of his country making him one of the most sought after guides in Ethiopia. His attention to detail and ability to converse in several of the local dialects (as well as English, French and German) contribute to the enjoyment of your tour.

Tour Includes:
• International airfare from Dulles airport (flight makes a refueling stop in Rome both ways); Air credit for not flying with group is $800.00 • All mentioned accommodations using first class hotels or best available • Transportation within country using A/C minibus or coaster (depending on number of participants) • Meals as listed (B=breakfast, L=lunch and D=dinner) and non-alcoholic beverages with meals • Day use room on the last day until 6PM • Inter Ethiopian airfare (provided it is in conjunction with Ethiopian Airlines’ International ticket) • One liter of bottled water a day • Boat hire on Lake Tana and Scout service in the Simien Mountains National Park • All entrance fees to visited sites and activities (mentioned in the itinerary) • Professional English speaking guide throughout and Local guides in some areas visited • Gratuities to guides, drivers, boatmen, hotel and restaurant staff • All transfers with assistance and luggage porterage (if arriving/departing on scheduled flights)

Not Included:
• Airfare to/from Dulles to/from home airport • Airport taxes, fuel surcharge and security fees (approximately $380) • Ethiopian visa obtainable upon arrival, currently $70, subject to change • Alcoholic drinks with or without meals and meals not noted • Travel insurance – Highly recommended • Items of a personal nature, i.e. souvenirs, phone calls, laundry, emails, video camera fees, etc. and any other service NOT mentioned above • Dayroom or extra hotel nights necessitated by airline flight schedule changes

Tour Notes:
Single Supplement: $455.00 Price based on a group size of minimum 6 and maximum 12 participants Hidar Tsion Festival (Celebration of St. Mary), The Virgin is one of the most venerated of all religious figures in Ethiopia. About 33 days are annually dedicated to different celebrations in the commemoration of Mary. "Hidar Zion" is associated with the presence of the Ark of the Covenant in Axum and the belief that the Ark itself is a symbolism to Her womb. This festival is attended by tens of thousands of people from all over Ethiopia, making it one of the most joyous annual pilgrimages in Axum, the "sacred city of the Ethiopians." The festival is a remarkable event marked by stunning colorful robes, umbrellas and fascinating processions and beautiful chanting. This is a very poor country and the tourism infrastructure is still lacking in many areas. This trip requires participants to be in good health. We designed the itinerary to be as comfortable as possible. Elevations could constitute problems for people with breathing difficulties and rough, dusty roads could also affect travelers. Most roads are in good condition but some of the drives are very long on gravel and dirt roads.

About your lecturer host...Mr. Mohamed Halouani, a Tunisian native, transformed his profound passion for travel and history into a creative and diversified educational career, designing and carrying out multiple archaeological and cultural trips for diverse institutions, such as The Detroit Institute of Art, The Textile Museum, The American Museum of Natural History, Archaeological Tours Inc. N.Y.C., Cross Cultural Adventurers and many more organizations.After having received his degrees in English and Spanish, Mohamed Halouani completed his European Master’s in linguistics and Hispanic studies at the Sorbonne University in Paris. He has extensive knowledge on Islamic and secular architecture and Eastern decorative elements. A renowned expert on the Roman sites of North Africa, he has been leading over 10 tours a year to Libya. A skilled multilingual interpreter, Mohamed has served as the Head Tour Guide in Tunisia. He now resides in Paris and will lead our tour through Roman Tunisia and Algeria..

Tour Includes:
Accommodations in Superior first class hotels, or tourist class/best available in small towns Round trip airfare JFK/Tunis//Algiers/JFK, air credit if not using scheduled flights is $950 English speaking guide/lecturer throughout Meals as described in itinerary (B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner) Airport transfers and travel by modern air-conditioned vehicle throughout Gratuities to guide, driver, restaurant and hotel staff All activities described in the tour and entrance fees to all sites mentioned All porterage at hotels Bottle of mineral water on the bus every day

Not Included:
Travel Insurance Algerian Visa (must be obtained prior to arrival, current cost $135, subject to change); Tunisian Visa (free obtainable on arrival) Airport taxes and security charges, estimated at $380 Expenses of a personal nature such as beverages with meals, camera fees at sites, telephone, laundry bills, etc. Round trip airfare from your home to JFK Dayroom or extra hotel nights necessitated by airline flight schedule changes Any other service/s not specified above

Tour Notes:
Single Supplement: $555.00 Minimum 6 participants and maximum 14 participants The Fine Print You will be covering great distances by road during this journey with several rest stops along the way. The roads are very good and the weather should be quite comfortable. It is important to recognize the exhausting nature of some of the long driving days as well as some of the site visits where you have to climb on uneven terrain and take some long walks. To participate in this tour you should be in good physical condition and able to walk independently for several hours at a time. Also, it is our responsibility to inform you that despite the immense progress in standard of accommodations in Algeria over the last years, you might still encounter annoyances, such as leaky plumbing fixtures, or hot water interruptions in hotels, especially in remote towns and villages.

About your lecturer host... Thomas F. Mudloff, Ph.D. is an Egyptologist/archaeologist who received his degree from the University of Chicago’s Department of Near Eastern Civilizations and currently teaches Anthropology, Middle and Near Eastern Archaeology at Alder Planetarium, the Field Museum and Northwestern University in Chicago. He regularly lectures at various institutions throughout the Midwest and conducts courses on a wide range of topics. He has had two books published and is working on a third, Sacred Things and Secret Places. He also has an award winning video DVD that has appeared on TV several times. He has been working in the Middle East for over 20 years and has excavated extensively in the area. He regularly conducts small group tours to the region where his background in Biblical Studies and Egyptology along with the many contacts he has cultivated will be great assets as he leads your trip through Egypt. Visit him online at www.magicofancientegypt.com

Tour Includes:
Superior four-star and Deluxe Hotel in Cairo & Lake Cruise English-speaking local guides Meals as specified in the itinerary Airport transfers (if arriving/departing on scheduled flights) and travel by modern, air-conditioned motor coach throughout All activities described in the tour and entrance fees to all sites mentioned Bottled water on the bus daily (one per person) – not applicable while on the cruise

Not Included:
Round trip airfare between USA and Cairo or from your hometown and NYC (Call us for special ad-on fares) Travel Insurance Visa for Egypt ($20 at time of printing – obtainable on arrival at Cairo airport) Meals not specified in the itinerary Gratuities to guides, drivers, porters, restaurant, cruise and hotel staff Dayrooms or extra hotel overnights or transfers in Cairo if necessary Fuel surcharges, airport taxes and security charges (approximately $285) Expenses of a personal nature such as: beverages with meals, telephone, email, laundry bills, camera fees, etc. Any other service/s not specified above

Tour Notes:
Single Supplement: $990.00 ** Based on 6 to 14 participants • Flights are on Egypt Air from JFK. If you opt to use a different carrier, the cost of the trip might increase by about $200.00 • This tour is sold as a pre-Sudan tour (Continuing to Sudan from Nov. 20th to Dec. 3rd, 2010). ** Very limited number of single cabins aboard the ship are available and cannot be guaranteed upon booking unless a supplement is paid.

About your lecturer host...Mr. Mohamed Halouani, a Tunisian native, transformed his profound passion for travel and history into a creative and diversified educational career, designing and carrying out multiple archaeological and cultural trips for diverse institutions, such as The Detroit Institute of Art and The American Museum of Natural History. Having received his degrees in English and Spanish, he completed his European Master’s in linguistics and Hispanic studies at the Sorbonne in Paris. He has extensive knowledge on Islamic and secular architecture and Eastern decorative elements. He is a renowned expert on the Roman sites of North Africa and a skilled multilingual interpreter. He has been leading 10 tours a year to Libya and will lead our special tip through the marvels of this country.

Tour Includes:
Accommodations in Superior first class hotels and all porterage at hotels International airfare from JFK on Alitalia (air credit $920) Flights within Libya English speaking guide/lecturer throughout Meals as described in itinerary (B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner) Bottles of water on the bus every day and with included meals Airport transfers if arriving/departing on schedule flights and travel by modern large air-conditioned motor coach throughout All activities described in the tour and entrance fees to all sites mentioned Gratuities to guide, driver, restaurant and hotel staff

Not Included:
Travel Insurance Libya Visa ($40 at Tripoli airport on arrival - current rate subject to change. Arabic translation of passport IS required ($60) includes processing fee) Round trip airfare from your home to JFK and airport taxes and security charges Expenses of a personal nature such as beverages with meals, camera fees at sites, telephone, laundry bills, etc. Any other service/s not specified above

Tour Notes:
Single Supplement: $775.00 (Rates based on current exchange and subject to change) Minimum 8 participants and Maximum 14 participants (Tour operates for less than 6 with local Libyan guide only) THE FINE PRINT It is imperative that your passport not contain ANY Israeli visas or stamps. The pertinent information pages of your passport must be translated into Arabic. STS can recommend an approved/certified agent in the Washington DC area who can provide this service. Libya is very slowly developing its tourism infrastructure so some long rides will be on poor roads and you must be prepared for schedule changes or delays as they occur as well as inexperienced service personnel on some occasions. If flight schedule changes necessitate an overnight the costs of the hotel and transfers are not included in the tour price. Please note that Libya is a dry country though one can find non- alcoholic beer. A flexible spirit is required to join the tour.

THE FINE PRINT...Saudi Arabia is a dry country. Alcohol is absolutely forbidden (as are narcotics and pornographic materials). Dress is modest and women must cover their heads and wear black abayas at all times (which will be provided by the agency in Saudi Arabia). Be advised that you will be fingerprinted and undergo a retinal scan upon arrival in the country. We strongly urge you to read the State Department Warnings before signing up and payment of your deposit confirms your understanding of the circumstances regarding travel to Saudi Arabia. Also be aware that everything in the Kingdom shuts down between noon and 4 pm every day as well as several other times during prayers and often the group will be returned to the hotel for some free time during these periods. In addition, sometimes sites can be closed for no foreseen reasons or authorities can also deny visit of certain places without prior notice and we (STS) are not responsible for any such events/acts.

Tour Includes:
ľ International air from New York-JFK/Jeddah & Bahrain/New York-JFK (or Riyadh/NY), Roundtrip coach class ľ All transfers with assistance and luggage porterage ľ Transportation within country using modern A/C motor coach ľ All mentioned accommodations in 5* hotels ľ All meals as listed (B=breakfast, L=lunch, D=dinner) ľ All entrance fees to visited sites (mentioned in the itinerary) ľ Service of professional English speaking tour manager and local guides at various cities and sites ľ Bottled water on bus during touring days ľ All gratuities to guide, porters, drivers, hotel and restaurant staff etc.

Not Included:
• Beverages with meals and meals not noted • Items of a personal nature, i.e. souvenirs, laundry, phone calls, emails, etc. • Airport taxes/fuel surcharges and security fees • Airfare to/from JFK to/from home airport • Saudi Arabia Visa - $108.00 at time of printing • Bahrain Visa - $48.00 at time of printing • Travel nsurance • Dayroom or extra hotel nights necessitated by airline flight schedule changes

Tour Notes:
Single supplement: $725.00 Trip cost based on minimum of 6 participants - Maximum group size is 14 participants Bahrain extension cost is $625.00 per person in double and $125 single supplement We (STS) reserve the right to chage hotels, restaurants or the order of activities if/as needed. Your lecturer - Denise Schmandt-Besserat is professor emerita of Art History and Middle Eastern Studies at the University of Texas at Austin. A graduate of L¡¦Ecole du Louvre in Paris, she is a renowned Near Eastern archaeologist. She has worked on archaeological collections in all the major museums of the Middle East, Europe and the USA. She is the author of When Writing Met Art (2007), Before Writing (1992) and How Writing Came About (1996), which was selected by American Scientist magazine as ¡§one of the 100 books hat shaped science in the 20th century¡¨. Her work on the origins of writing and mathematics has been covered by Scientific American, Time, Life, the New York Times, and the Washington Post. She has appeared in television programs such as Out of the Past (Discovery Channel), the Nature of Things (CBC), Search for Solutions (PBS) and Tell the Truth (NBC).

About your lecturer host...Walter Kaegi, Professor of History at the Oriental Institute, The University of Chicago holds a Ph.D. from Harvard. He is the author of five books, co-author of others, and author of many scholarly articles, including numerous ones on aspects of North African history in the ancient and early medieval periods. He is now publishing a book with Cambridge University Press (late 2010) on “Muslim Expansion and Byzantine Collapse in North Africa” on the Muslim Conquest of Byzantine and Roman North Africa. He has held research fellowships and has lectured in various North African countries. In 2004-2005 he was a Fulbright-Hays Fellow in Tunisia, Morocco, and Algeria, during which he spent several months in Constantine, in eastern Algeria. He has traveled extensively along the African coasts of the Mediterranean, including the Egyptian western desert, Libyan Tripolitania, Tunisia, Algeria, and Morocco.

Tour Includes:
Accommodations in Superior first class hotels and all porterage at hotels International airfare from JFK on Alitalia (air credit $920) Flights within Libya English speaking guide/lecturer throughout Meals as described in itinerary (B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner) Bottles of water on the bus every day and with included meals Airport transfers if arriving/departing on schedule flights and travel by modern large air-conditioned motor coach throughout All activities described in the tour and entrance fees to all sites mentioned Gratuities to guide, driver, restaurant and hotel staff

Not Included:
Travel Insurance Libya Visa ($40 at Tripoli airport on arrival - current rate subject to change. Arabic translation of passport IS required ($60) includes processing fee) Round trip airfare from your home to JFK and airport taxes and security charges Expenses of a personal nature such as beverages with meals, camera fees at sites, telephone, laundry bills, etc. Any other service/s not specified above

Tour Notes:
Single Supplement: $775.00 (Rates based on current exchange and subject to change) Minimum 8 participants and Maximum 14 participants (Tour operates for less than 6 with local Libyan guide only) THE FINE PRINT It is imperative that your passport not contain ANY Israeli visas or stamps. The pertinent information pages of your passport must be translated into Arabic. STS can recommend an approved/certified agent in the Washington DC area who can provide this service. Libya is very slowly developing its tourism infrastructure so some long rides will be on poor roads and you must be prepared for schedule changes or delays as they occur as well as inexperienced service personnel on some occasions. If flight schedule changes necessitate an overnight the costs of the hotel and transfers are not included in the tour price. Please note that Libya is a dry country though one can find non- alcoholic beer. A flexible spirit is required to join the tour.

Trip Grade: Moderately Vigorous Touring - You will be covering a lot of territory during this journey. The roads are good and the vehicles are comfortable. Some driving days are long but there will be several restroom stops along the way. It is important to recognize the exhausting nature of some of the long sightseeing days as well as some of the site visits where you may have to climb on uneven terrain, steps, rocks and sand as well as up inclines and stairs. Some of the sites involve more strenuous walking (uphill for an hour) in order to view the sights. You should be in good physical condition. Be prepared with comfortable shoes and please advise us if you have any medical problems. You do have the option of staying with the vehicle.

Tour Includes:
Accommodation at selected hotels All meals as listed Air-conditioned Minivan with 12 seats for 6-10 persons or Air-conditioned Minibus with 25 seats for 11-15 persons All transfers between airports and hotels if arriving/departing on selected flights English speaking professional guide throughout the tour All admission fees to the museums and sites mentioned in the itinerary Private minibus rental for Mt. Nemrut as well as private boat to Akdamar Island Gratuities to hotel porters and restaurant wait staff Internal flight ADN/IST International air NYC/Istanbul/NYC (air credit is $800) – excludes taxes

Not Included:
Travel Insurance Visa for Turkey ($20 at time of printing) Meals not specified in the itinerary Dayrooms or extra hotel overnights if necessary Fuel surcharges, border departure taxes, airport taxes and security charges (approximately $385) Expenses of a personal nature such as: beverages with meals, telephone, email, laundry bills, etc. Round trip airfare between your hometown and NYC Any other service/s not specified above

Tour Notes:
Single Supplement: $555.00 Minimum 8 participants and Maximum of 14 participants, Small Group Surcharge will apply if group is less than 8

*About your tented accommodations: Some of the sites visited are remote and tourist accommodations do not exist in the area. In order to visit them, spartan, but comfortable camps are utilized. The mobile camp in the Nubian Desert is prepared one day in advance of the group arrival and is located among the sand dunes in the Tombos area. Big Igloo tents are appointed with camp beds, foam mattresses, sheets, wool covers, a small table and two folding chairs. A large tent with tables and chairs serves as a restaurant and three showers and three toilets are shared. Possibly we can substitute the Tombos camp with accommodation for those 2 nights at a simple home near the Temple of Soleb. The Meroe tented Camp is located in Bagarwyia, overlooking the pyramids of the Royal Necropolis of Meroe. Accommodation consists of 10 twin-bedded large and tastefully furnished tents and 10 bathroom huts with toilet and shower. Each tent is equipped with a veranda with two comfortable chairs and electricity produced by a generator. Single tents in camps are not guaranteed for late signers. THE FINE PRINT...Visas for this tour must be obtained 2 months prior to travel. You must sign up by Dec. 1st, 2010. Passports must not include any Israeli stamps/visa. Rates are based on today’s (February 15, 2010) exchange rate (Euro) and if it fluctuates, you will be billed for the difference. We strongly urge you to read the State Department Warnings before signing up and payment of your deposit confirms your understanding of the circumstances regarding travel to Sudan

Tour Includes:
International air from New York-JFK/Khartoum, Roundtrip coach class via Cairo (Airfare credit if not using Egyptair is $850.00) All transfers with assistance and luggage porterage (if arriving/departing on scheduled flights) by private motor coach Transportation within country with 4x4 A/C vehicles All mentioned accommodations in Superior four-star hotel in Khartoum, rest house in karima, permanent tented camp in Meroe & mobile camp in Tombos* All meals as listed (B=breakfast, L=lunch, D=dinner). Lunches are usually sit-down picnic-style in a shaded beautiful spot and fully prepared by the drivers All entrance fees to visited sites (mentioned in the itinerary), all activities described in the tour and camera fees to all sites Service of professional English speaking guide Bottled water on the bus daily (one per person) – and with all meals (bottles for the table – not applicable in Khartoum) All gratuities to guide, porters, drivers, hotel and restaurant staff etc.

Not Included:
Beverages with meals and meals not noted Items of a personal nature, i.e. souvenirs, laundry, phone calls, emails, etc. - VIDEO CAMERA PERMIT - $10 PER SITE Fuel surcharges, airport taxes and security charges (approximately $275.00), Airport departure Tax ($20 approximate) Airfare to/from JFK to/from home airport Sudan Visa - $200.00 at time of printing - subject to change Travel insurance Dayroom or extra hotel nights necessitated by airline flight schedule changes or transfers in Khartoum if necessary

Tour Notes:
Single supplement: $925.00 Trip cost based on minimum of 8 participants - Maximum group size is 12 participants Your lecturer - Denise Schmandt-Besserat is professor emerita of Art History and Middle Eastern Studies at the University of Texas at Austin. A graduate of L’Ecole du Louvre in Paris, she is a renowned Near Eastern archaeologist. She has worked on archaeological collections in all the major museums of the Middle East, Europe and the USA. She is the author of When Writing Met Art (2007), Before Writing (1992) and How Writing Came About (1996), which was selected by American Scientist magazine as “one of the 100 books hat shaped science in the 20th century”. Her work on the origins of writing and mathematics has been covered by Scientific American, Time, Life, the New York Times, and the Washington Post. She has appeared in television programs such as Out of the Past (Discovery Channel), the Nature of Things (CBC), Search for Solutions (PBS) and Tell the Truth (NBC).

About your lecturer host...Mr. Mohamed Halouani, a Tunisian native, transformed his profound passion for travel and history into a creative and diversified educational career, designing and carrying out multiple archaeological and cultural trips for diverse institutions, such as The Detroit Institute of Art, The Textile Museum, The American Museum of Natural History, Archaeological Tours Inc. N.Y.C., Cross Cultural Adventurers and many more organizations. After having received his degrees in English and Spanish, Mohamed Halouani completed his European Master¡¦s in linguistics and Hispanic studies at the Sorbonne University in Paris. He has extensive knowledge on Islamic and secular architecture and Eastern decorative elements. A renowned expert on the Roman sites of North Africa, he has been leading over 10 tours a year to Libya. A skilled multilingual interpreter, Mohamed has served as the Head Tour Guide in Tunisia. He now resides in Paris and will lead our special tour through the marvels of Libya.

Tour Includes:
č Accommodations in Superior first class hotels (4*) č English speaking guide/lecturer throughout č Meals as described in itinerary (B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner). Some meals will be in typical local restaurants while others are in your hotels č Airport transfers and travel by modern air-conditioned motor coach throughout č All activities described in the tour and entrance fees to all sites mentioned č All porterage at hotels č Internal flights Tripoli/Ben Ghazi/Tripoli č Gratuities to guide, driver and hotel staff č Bottles mineral water on the bus every day and with included meals + refreshments while traveling on the bus

Not Included:
ƒç Travel Insurance ƒç Libya Visa ($40.00 obtainable at airport on arrival ¡V current rate, subject to change). Arabic translation of the passport is required ($60 including processing and fees) ƒç Airport taxes, fuel surcharges and security charges ƒç Expenses of a personal nature such as beverages with meals, camera fees at sites, telephone, laundry bills, etc. ƒç Round trip airfare from USA {departure Oct. 30th} - (Current NY/Tripoli/NY fare is about $1,300 including taxes or one way Tunis/Tripoli estimated at $220) ƒç Any other service/s not specified above or forced overnights in Europe due to connection issues.

Tour Notes:
This tour is offered as a stand-alone trip OR as a continuation of our Roman Africa (Algeria dn Tunisia) tour of Oct. 16 to 31st, 2010 Single Supplement: $325.00 Minimum 6 participants and maximum 14 participants THE FINE PRINT The rate is based on the current exchange of 1 US$=1.3 Libyan Dinar(s) and is subject to change. 2) It is imperative that your passport does not contain ANY Israeli visas or stamps. 3) As of this printing the schedule of flights between Tunis and Tripoli is at 12.30 PM arriving 2.00pm on Oct. 31st (schedule subject to change without prior notice). 4) At time of publication of flights STS may have to make adjustments to the itinerary based on the actual schedule. 5) It may also necessitate an overnight in a European capital (price of hotel and transfers not included in cost of trip) upon returning to the US. 6) For less than 6 people this tour will be run only with the local Libyan guide. 7) Itinerary subject to amendments or changes to sequence if need be for any unforeseen reasons.

About your lecturer: Denise Schmandt-Besserat is professor emerita of Art History and Middle Eastern Studies at the University of Texas at Austin. A graduate of L’Ecole du Louvre in Paris, she is a renowned Near Eastern archaeologist and has worked on archaeological collections in all the major museums of the Middle East, Europe and the USA. She is the author of several books on the origins of writing and mathematics. About your guide: Ghiath Abdallah has been our guide since we began offering tours to Syria in 1994. He has guided all of our groups and our individual guests through his beautiful country. A native of Damascus, he lives with his family in the Christian Quarter of the Old City. He earned his degree in English Literature from the University of Damascus and a certificate in tourism from the Ministry of Tourism.

Tour Includes:
International air from New York-JFK to Beirut returning from Damascus, round trip coach class - Air Credit: $900 • All transfers with assistance and luggage porterage • Transportation within country using modern A/C vehicle • All mentioned accommodations in boutique and first class hotels • Meals as listed (B=breakfast, D=dinner) • All entrance fees to visited sites (mentioned in the itinerary) • Service of professional English speaking guide • One large bottle of mineral water per day per person (excluding last day) • All gratuities to guide, porters, drivers, hotel and restaurant staff etc.

Not Included:
Airfare to/from JFK to/from home airport • Syria visa (must be obtained in advance, currently $135, subject to change); Lebanon visa (obtained upon arrival, gratis) • Beverages with meals and meals not noted • Items of a personal nature, i.e. souvenirs, laundry, phone calls, emails, etc. • Airport taxes/fuel surcharges and security fees estimated at $380 • Travel insurance - Highly recommended • Dayroom or extra hotel nights necessitated by airline flight schedule changes

Tour Notes:
Single supplement: $665.00 Trip cost based on minimum of 8 participants - Maximum group size is 14 participants Pre or Post extensions to Jordan available upon request Passport MUST NOT include any Israeli stamps or visas to be allowed to enter Syria

About your expert lecturer/guide...Mr. Mohamed HALOUANI a Tunisian native, Mohamed transformed his profound passion for travel and history into a creative and diversified educational career, designing and carrying out multiple archaeological and cultural trips for various institutions, such as The Detroit Institute of Art, the Textile Museum, the American Museum of Natural History, and many more organizations. After having received his degrees in English and Spanish, Mr. Halouani completed his European Master’s in linguistics and Hispanic studies at the Sorbonne University in Paris. He has extensive knowledge on Islamic architecture and Eastern decorative elements as well as archaeology and history. An excellent lecturer on ethnographic and anthropological subjects, he will introduce you not only to the historical jewels of Mali but he’ll also reveal to you the culture of Mali better than many of the country’s own local native guides. He now resides in Paris and will lead our tour through Mali.

Tour Includes:
* International air from New York-JFK to Bamako, roundtrip coach class • 13 nights hotels, (best available) • Domestic flight Bamako to Timbuktu • Airport transfers upon arrival and departure in Bamako if taking the selected flight • Private transportation by air-conditioned minivan or 4x4 vehicles • All meals as per the itinerary (B=breakfast, L=Lunch, D=dinner) • All touring, site visits, and village entry fees, Niger River cruise and Dogon Mask Dance, River Niger Festival • Service of professional English speaking guide • One bottle of water per day per person • Porterage and all gratuities to local guides in villages, porters, drivers, hotel, boat and restaurant staff etc.

Not Included:
* Entry visa (currently at $100) Tipping to your main guide: Mr. Halouani • Beverages with meals and meals not noted • Items of a personal nature, i.e. souvenirs, laundry, phone calls, emails, alcoholic beverages at meals, etc. • Airport taxes/fuel surcharges and security fees (currently estimated at $480) • Airfare to/from JFK to/from home airport • Airport transfers upon arrival and departure in Bamako if not taking the selected flight • Travel insurance • Dayroom or extra hotel nights necessitated by airline flight schedule changes

Tour Notes:
Single supplement: $550.00 Air credit if not using Air France from JFK is $1350 Minimum 6 participants and maximum 12 participants - Rates are based on current exchange rates with the euro The Fine Print The following is some pertinent information regarding services and conditions that may help you decide if this trip is right for you. Mali is a relatively poor country and you should not expect the standard of accommodations to be similar to the more popular tourist destinations in Africa. Rooms and facilities may be rustic. Vehicles may be a bit “tired” and the air conditioning may not function. Food can be somewhat bland. You will be doing some exploring on foot so you should be in good physical condition in order to participate on this tour and have appropriate footwear. Be advised that temperatures can be quite hot at this time of year. Dust levels are high and can cause complications for people with asthma or respiratory problems. Begging can become annoying in some places. We highly urge you not to give money as it will encourage this practice.