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. 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:
. 13 nights hotels, (best available) and Dayroom in Bamako on the final day (includes late check-out, if necessary) • Domestic flight Bamako to Timbuktu • Airport transfers upon arrival and departure in Bamako and private transportation by air-conditioned minivan or 4x4 vehicles • All meals as per the itinerary (B=breakfast, D=dinner) • All touring, site visits, and village entry fees, Niger River cruise, Dogon Mask Dance and River Niger Festival) • Service of professional English speaking guide • One bottle of water per day per person • Porterage and all gratuities to main guide, local guides in villages, porters, drivers, hotel, boat and restaurant staff

Not Included:
• Entry visa (currently at $100) • Beverages with meals and meals not noted • Items of a personal nature, i.e. souvenirs, laundry, phone calls, emails, alcoholic beverages at meals, etc. • International air from your home airport to Mali and any fuel surcharges and airport taxes • Travel insurance (highly recommended) • Dayroom or extra hotel nights necessitated by airline flight schedule changes

Tour Notes:
Single supplement: $550.00 Air Price using Air France from JFK to Mali via Paris is approx $1800.00 including taxes. Trip cost based on minimum of 6 participants - Maximum group size is 12 participants

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.

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

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.

Tour Includes:
Roundtrip International air from Dulles to Addis Ababa and all internal flights within Ethiopia (air credit if not using Ethiopian Airline from Washington DC is $800) Accommodations in Deluxe, 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 in Historic north and transfers while 4 X 4 vehicles for touring Bishangari A bottle of water each day and 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 $380) and Departure taxes from Addis and on all internal flights (when applicable) Meals not mentioned Items of a personal nature: beverages, laundry, phone calls, email, souvenirs, camera fees at sites, etc. Visa for Ethiopia (Currently $70, subject to change) Air from your home city to Dulles Dayroom or hotel overnights if necessary due to airline schedule changes or nights in DC hotel due to early flight departure on the 11th of January (9.30 am) Any other service/s not specified above Travel Insurance (highly recommended)

Tour Notes:
Optional extension to Omo Valley returns back to the US February 6th, 2010 Single Supplement: $595.00 Price based on a group size of 4 min. and 12 max. participants This trip requires participants to be in good health. Elevations can constitute problems for people with breathing difficulties. Ethiopian roads are dusty. Finally, you should be aware that some accommodations are considered primitive (equivalent to two stars but they are the best available in towns visited.)

About your lecturer host...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, Roundtrip coach class (air credit for not usi8ng our flights is $850) Flights within country All Transfers with assistance and luggage porterage and transportation within country in modern van/motor coach All mentioned accommodations in a mixture of 5*, 4* and 3* properties (some of the small towns have rather simple hotels) All meals as listed All sightseeing to visited sites (mentioned in the itinerary) Service of your lecturer/expert as well as a native professional guide Tipping to guides, drivers, porters, waiters, 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 (currently $385) Airfare from home airport to JFK Algerian Visa - $100.00 at time of printing Travel insurance Any hotel nights in European cities necessitated by airline schedule

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 payment of Small Group Surcharge Trip Grade: Moderately-Rigorous Touring You will be covering great distances by road during this journey with several rest stops along the way. The roads are good and the weather should be lovely and 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 over the last years, you might still encounter minor annoyances, such as leaky plumbing fixtures, or hot water interruptions in hotels, especially in remote towns and villages. This will necessitate a flexible, tolerant attitude and a sense of humor. During touring you will be accompanied by security personnel who escort the tour

ABU SIMBEL EXCURSION Situated on the shore of Lake Nasser is the unique UNESCO World Heritage site of Abu Simbel. During construction of the Dam at Aswan they were moved to prevent their being lost forever from flooding by the lake that was created. Egypt’s most colossal and well-preserved temples, dedicated to King Ramses II and his beloved Queen Nefertari, are only accessible by air (1/2 hour flight) from Aswan. The visit is about 2-3 hours after which you will be flown back to Aswan to begin your cruise. A visit to Abu Simbel on the morning March 09th may be added to the tour at a cost of $250.00. Please advise us when you sign up for the tour if you are interested in adding this half-day extension.

Tour Includes:
International airfare from New York/JFK to Cairo, roundtrip on EgyptAir (Air allowance if not flying on EgyptAir is $725.00) All internal flights within Egypt Five Star hotel accommodations Five Star Nile Cruise Meals as listed A bottle of water per person each day (excluding cruise days and Hurghada) All tours as per itinerary including an Egyptologist guide All entrance fees to visited sites Transfers by modern motor-coach throughout All local taxes and service charges on the included items

Not Included:
Airport taxes (estimated currently at $285.00) Tipping to guides, drivers or hotel staff (estimated at $150.00 per person) All beverages and meals not included in the program Items of a personal nature: emails, telephone calls, souvenirs, laundry, etc. Optional trip by air to Abu Simbel temples Airfare from other cities to NYC’s JFK Dayroom or extra overnight hotels not listed in itinerary if caused by any changes in airline schedules Travel Insurance Egyptian Visa ($20 on arrival) Transfers if not arriving/departing on scheduled flights/tour dates Dayroom or overnights necessitated by changes in airline schedules

Tour Notes:
Single Supplement: $855.00 Group Size minimum is 10 participants, maximum is 16 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

Remarks: 1- Trip planned based on availability of flights on Sunday 25th April from Tehran to Yerevan. If for any reason flight schedule changes and flights be re-scheduled to Saturday 24th or Monday 26th, we will have to amend the order of the program accordingly. 2- Cost is based on today’s rate of exchange from US$ to Armenian Dram and if it changes, we will pass the difference to the traveler. 3- There may be a small difference in airfare between the cost for a US/Tehran/US ticket and one that returns from Yerevan. We will advise you at the time of booking. 4- Marriott hotel is the BEST property in Yeravan and all of Armenia and it is a pricey hotel but offers the ultimate luxury and location, however, if travelers do not mind downgrading to a Best Western hotel for the Yerevan nights, cost can drop by several hundred dollars a person.

Tour Includes:
• Deluxe (Marriott or Golden Tulip in Yerevan) and First class hotel accommodations in other cities • Meals as specified in the itinerary: B-breakfast, L-lunch and D-dinner • All tours as per itinerary including entrance fees and private guide • Transfers/transportation by vehicle, boat, plane, during tour • All local taxes and service charges on included items, park fees, tolls, VAT

Not Included:
• International airfare or flight Tehran/Yerevan (estimated at $180) • Items of a personal nature (camera fees at sites, laundry, phone calls, emails, excess luggage, etc.) • Meals not listed and beverages with all meals • Tipping to guides, drivers, porters, hotel and restaurant staff • Travel protection insurance • Transfers if not arriving/departing on scheduled flights/tour dates • Dayroom or overnights necessitated by changes in airline schedules

Tour Notes:
An extension to Iran tour of April 10-25, 2010 Single Supplement: $470.00 Group Size minimum is 2 participants, maximum is 12 participants

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**

About your lecturer...Professor 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 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, 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). Denise has led for many years our tours to the Near East & Central Asia and her lectures and handouts are the perfect additions to such a glorious tour. The Fine Print: 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 8,000 ft above sea level. 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.

Tour Includes:
Ā Superior, first class, four-star or best available accommodations (when available, or else, best available in the smaller towns) Ā English-speaking private guide throughout Ā Meals as specified in the itinerary (some lunches are picnic style, light fare) Ā Airport transfers and travel by modern, air-conditioned motor coach throughout Ā All activities described in the tour and entrance fees to all sites mentioned unless listed as optional Ā Round trip airfare from Los Angeles (LAX) - New York City departure add $200 (Based on Korean Airlines schedule - STS reserves the right to change airlines) Ā Any internal flights and flights between countries Ā Gratuities to guides, drivers, porters, restaurant and hotel staff Ā Bottled water on the bus daily (one per person)

Not Included:
Ā Visas to all countries visited (approx. $300) Ā Travel Insurance Ā Dayrooms or extra hotel overnights if necessary Ā Fuel surcharges, border departure taxes, airport taxes and security charges (approximately $320.00) Ā Expenses of a personal nature such as: beverages with meals, telephone, email, laundry bills, camera fees, etc. Ā Round trip airfare from other cities or gateways besides NYC or LAX

Tour Notes:
** Possible extension available for Beijing after the tour ends ** Single Supplement: $655.00 Air Allowance: $1,100.00 Minimum 8 participants and Maximum of 14 participants If number of participants is less than 8, trip may still depart with payment of Small Group Surcharge

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:
• Roundtrip international air via Istanbul Turkey to Erbil • 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:
• Airfare to/from JFK in New York City • Airport taxes/fuel surcharges and security fees = estimated at $420.00 • 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:
** Possibility of substituting with another leader or lecturer. Single supplement: $ TBA Air Allowance: $ TBA Trip cost based on Minimum of ??? participants - Maximum group size is ??? participants Visa for US citizens obtainable on arrival at Erbil airport.

Extension available to Fish River Canyon October 3-7, 2009 considered the largest natural gorge in Africa, inquire if interested. Cost varies based on number of participants. Please inquire if interested

Tour Includes:
Round trip international air Dulles airport to Windhoek via Johannesburg (air credit for not taking our flights is $1300) All meals as per the itinerary (B = breakfast, L = lunch, D = dinner) One bottle of mineral water per day per person on touring in bus only Airport transfers upon arrival and departure in Windhoek and private ground transportation by air-conditioned minivan or 4x4 vehicles Experienced, English-speaking guide throughout All touring, site visits, and village entry fees Porterage and tips to all guides including local guides in villages, drivers, hotel and restaurant staff All VAT and local taxes Emergency medical evacuation insurance Gratuities to guides and drivers

Not Included:
Entry visa (US citizens do not acquire visa to enter Namibia) Air from/to your home airport to/from Dulles airport (IAD) Personal expenses such as telephone calls, email, laundry, alcoholic beverages at meals, etc. Trip insurance in case of medical emergency, or cancellations. etc (highly recommended) Use of a dayroom or extra hotel nights if required by airline schedules Airport taxes, fuel surcharges and security fees (Currently estimated at $368)

Tour Notes:
Single Supplement: $750.00 Minimum 6 and Maximum 12 participants Pertinent Information Regarding Standards of Accommodations, Services and Conditions: Namibia is a very large country and to visit all its treasures and natural wonders you have to make some days very long drives amidst beautiful scenery and enormous expanses. o Rooms and facilities may be rustic but your tours has some of the best accommodations o Food can be somewhat bland or repetitive o You will be doing some exploring on foot so you should be in good physical condition o Dust levels can be high on some drives and may possibly cause problems for people with asthma or respiratory problems o Restroom facilities may be primitive or non-existent in remote areas o Some vaccinations are required and even though this is not Malaria season, you may want to consider taking malaria pills

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.

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).

Post tours available to SYRIA or ARMENIA - April 25 to May 02 We (STS) reserve the right to chage hotels, restaurants or the order of activities if/as needed

Tour Includes:
International airfare from NYC area airports - Tehran, roundtrip Internal flight - Tehran/Kerman Superior and first class hotels or best available Meals as specified in the itinerary: B-breakfast, L-lunch and D-dinner English speaking guide throughout Tipping to guide, drivers and restaurant staff Porterage and tipping to porters and hotel staff All tours as per itinerarry including guidance and entrance fees Transfers/transportation by air-conditioned motorcoach All local taxes and service charges on included items One bottle of water and/or tea or fruits on the bus

Not Included:
Airport taxes, security charges and fuel surcharges (estimated at $330.00) Iranian Visa (currently $120.00) Items of a personal nature (laundry, phone calls, emails, excess luggage charges, camera fees, etc.) Meals not listed and beverages with all meals Travel protection insurance Airfare from cities other than NYC Transfers if not arriving/departing on scheduled tour dates/flights Dayroom or overnights necessitated by changes in airline schedules

Tour Notes:
Single Supplement: $625.00 Air Allowance: $900.00 Group Size minimum is 8 participants, maximum is 14 participants. ** Passport should not include any Israeli stamps.

About your lecturer host...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 airfare from NYC area airports – Tunis, roundtrip (air credit if you do your own air is $700) The best hotel accommodations available (Deluxe, First Class and local tourist class lodges) Meals as specified in the itinerary: B-breakfast, L-lunch and D-dinner Daily bottled mineral water on the bus Tipping to guide, driver, porters, hotel and restaurant staff throughout Tunisia All tours as per itinerary including guidance and entrance fees Transfers/transportation by air-conditioned motor-coach and 4 wheel drive vehicles All local taxes and service charges on included items

Not Included:
Airport taxes, security charges and fuel surcharges (estimated at $385) Items of a personal nature (laundry, phone calls, emails, excess luggage, etc.) Meals not listed and beverages with all meals Travel protection insurance Airfare from other cities than NYC Transfers if not arriving/departing on scheduled tour dates Dayroom or overnights necessitated by changes in airline schedules

Tour Notes:
Single Supplement: $525.00 Minimum 8 participants and Maximum of 14 participants If number of participants is less than 8, trip may still depart with payment of Small Group Surcharge

Airfares vary depending on arrival and departure cities and on the destination combinations - call for prices (approx. $1300-$1800 from NYC including taxes).

Tour Includes:
In Armenia:  Accommodation in Deluxe hotel in Yerevan (Best available) and superior hotels out of the capital  Meals as listed  One large bottle of water (or several small ones) each day when touring as a group  Airport transfers upon arrival and departure if traveling on selected flights and transportation throughout  All activities described in the tour and entrance fees to all sites mentioned (museums) unless otherwise specified  Professional, licensed, English speaking guide and local guides where specified in the itinerary  Porterage and all gratuities to local guides in villages, porters, drivers, hotel, boat and restaurant staff In Georgia:  Accommodation in superior, first class hotels (or best available when outside of Tbilisi)  Meals as listed  One large bottle of water (or several small ones) each day when touring as a group  Airport transfers upon arrival and departure if traveling on selected flights and transportation throughout  All activities described in the tour and entrance fees to all sites mentioned (museums) unless otherwise specified  Professional, licensed, English speaking guide and local guides where specified in the itinerary  Porterage and all gratuities to local guides in villages, porters, drivers, hotel, boat and restaurant staff In Turkey:  Accommodation in first class hotels (or best available)  Meals as listed  One large bottle of water (or several small ones) each day when touring as a group  Airport transfer upon departure if traveling on selected flights  Transportation throughout in air conditioned minivan  One way flight from Gazientep to Istanbul  All activities described in the tour and entrance fees to all sites mentioned (museums) unless otherwise specified  Professional, licensed, English speaking guide and local guides where specified in the itinerary  Porterage and all gratuities to local guides in villages, porters, drivers, hotel, boat and restaurant staff In AZERBAIJAN:  Accommodation in First class hotels  Meals as listed  One large bottle of water (or several small ones) each day when touring as a group  Airport transfers upon arrival and departure if traveling on selected flights and transportation throughout  All activities described in the tour and entrance fees to all sites mentioned (museums) unless otherwise specified  Professional, licensed, English speaking guide and local guides where specified in the itinerary  Porterage and all gratuities to local guides in villages, porters, drivers, hotel, boat and restaurant staff

Not Included:
In Armenia:  Visas for Armenia can be obtained as an E-Visa in advance for $60 (at time of printing)  Expenses of a personal nature: beverages, camera fees at sites, telephone, email, laundry bills, etc. and meals not listed  Round trip international air from your home to the countries you are traveling to/from  Travel Insurance (highly recommended)  Dayroom or extra hotel nights necessitated by airline flight schedule changes and early check in on May 15  Any other service/s not specified above  Gratuities to your main guide In Georgia: • Expenses of a personal nature: beverages, camera fees at sites, telephone, email, laundry bills, etc. and meals not listed • Round trip international air from your home to the countries you are traveling to/from • Travel Insurance (highly recommended) • Dayroom or extra hotel nights necessitated by airline flight schedule changes • Any other service/s not specified above • Gratuities to your main guide • Currently no visa required for US citizens In Turkey:  Visa for Turkey can be obtained from the consulate, and is recommended to obtain ahead of time to facilitate the land crossing from Georgia.  Expenses of a personal nature: beverages, camera fees at sites, telephone, email, laundry bills, etc. and meals not listed  Round trip international air from your home to the countries you are traveling to/from  Travel Insurance (highly recommended)  Dayroom or extra hotel nights necessitated by airline flight schedule changes  Any other service/s not specified above  Gratuities to your main guide In Azerbaijan: • Visas for Azerbaijan can be obtained at Baku airport on arrival (currently fee is $131.00) • Expenses of a personal nature: beverages, camera fees at sites, telephone, email, laundry bills, etc. and meals not listed • Round trip international air from your home to the countries you are traveling to/from • Travel Insurance (highly recommended) • Dayroom or extra hotel nights necessitated by airline flight schedule changes and early check in on May 15 • Any other service/s not specified above • Gratuities to your main guide • Camera fees at the sites

Tour Notes:
Single supplements: Armenia: $440.00 Georgia: $410.00 Turkey: $300.00 Azerbaijan: $480.00 NB: Those who will not enter Eastern Turkey May 29th and have to return to Tbilisi for a last night and departing from the airport May 30th need to add $360 (for one traveler alone) or $200 per person for 2+ travelers (based on double occupancy). Single supplement is $100. All prices are based on current Euro Exchange Rates Minimum 8 participants and maximum 14 participants We (STS) reserve the right to change hotels, restaurants or the order of activities if/as needed.