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. *Departure date from US may differ depending on airline chosen or the addition of the pre-tour to Morocco. 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:
. 12 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 Prices vary depending on airline and availability - Air Maroc $1300 (est) from JFK, Air France $1580 to $2000 (est) from JFK Trip cost based on minimum of 8 participants - Maximum group size is 12 participants Pre tour departing January 16 to visit the Sahara and imperial cities of Morocco and post tour to Senegal on February 06 returning to the US on February 11 or continuing to Mauritania until Febbruary 20 available upon request

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 accommodations, rest house (4 nts), permanent tented camp* (3 nts) and mobile camp* (3 nts) English-speaking private guide throughout 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 including tour in Cairo Round trip airfare New York City/Khartoum (International Air credit $950.00) Gratuities to guides, drivers, porters, restaurant and hotel staff Bottled water on the bus daily (one per person) – and with all meals (bottles for the table – not applicable Khartoum) Cairo city orientation and dinner on the way to Khartoum

Not Included:
Travel Insurance Visa for Sudan (Currently $200 USD and subject to change) Meals not specified in the itinerary 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 ($20 USD approximate) Expenses of a personal nature such as: beverages with meals, telephone, email, laundry bills, camera fees, etc. Round trip airfare between your hometown and NYC (Call us for special add-on fares) Any other service/s not specified above

Tour Notes:
Single Supplement: $880.00 Minimum 10 participants and Maximum of 14 participants. If number of participants is less than 10, 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 3 months prior to travel. You must sign up by July 1st, 2009. Passports must not include any Israeli stamps/visa. You can combine this tour with a post-trip to Egypt’s Secret Sites and Hidden Treasures (October 10 to 26) Rates are based on today’s (January 01, 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 camps in the Nubian Desert are prepared one day in advance of the group arrival and 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. The Meroe tented Camp is located in Bagarwyia, overlooking the pyramids of the Royal Necropolis of Meroe. Accommodation consists of 10 twin-bedded luxury 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

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 flights within Iran • 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 $1000.00) All internal flights within Ethiopia 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 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 and on all internal flights (when applicable) 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: $850.00 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 as well as accompanying our some of our tours to Libya, Algeria, Sicily and Mali. He now resides in Paris.

Tour Includes:
15 nights in boutique and first class accommodations or historic paradors Luggage Porterage at hotels (1 piece of luggage per person) Round trip air JFK/Madrid and one way Granada/Madrid Meals as specified in the itinerary (B=buffet breakfast, L=lunch, D=dinner) Airport transfers and travel by modern, air-conditioned motor coach throughout Local guides for visiting Calatayud area, Toledo, Cordoba, Seville, Ronda, Granada and Madrid All activities described in the tour and entrance fees to all sites mentioned All hotel taxes and local service charges are included Special lectures and informal discussions by/with Mr. Mohamed Halouani All gratuities to guides, drivers, porters, hotel and restaurant staff

Not Included:
Travel Insurance (highly recommended) Meals not specified in the itinerary Transfers if not arriving/departing on scheduled trip dates Fuel surcharges, airport departure taxes and security charges Expenses of a personal nature such as: beverages with meals, telephone, email, laundry bills, etc. Round trip airfare from your hometown to/from JFK (air credit for not using our included air is $650) Dayrooms or hotel overnights necessitated by airline schedule changes

Tour Notes:
• Cost based on current exchange rate of 1 Euro = $1.40 US and if it fluctuates, participants will be billed for the difference. • We have the right to alter the itinerary or chose the airline used if deemed necessary • If number of participants drops below the required minimum of 10 people, there will be an additional supplement to run the tour with less participants.

Your lecturer/guide Mr. Mohamed Halouani, is a Tunisian native who 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. Native Algerian guide, Mr. Abdel Kader Bensalah, obtained his university degree in archaeology in Algiers and Greece. He has worked as conservator at the prestigious Cherchell Museum and contributed to many digs at the site. He also led numerous excavations at the submerged Roman port near Tipasa and discovered several of the mosaics at Timgad and Cuicul. He has written numerous articles on archaeological sites in Algeria and he is an expert on Roman mosaics as well as the various topographic regions, cultures and ethnic groups of the country. Over the last decade he has led many American tours throughout his country and his depth of knowledge and expertise will be invaluable as you travel through Algeria.

Tour Includes:
• International air from New York-JFK to Algiers, roundtrip coach class (air credit $900.00) and flights within country • All transfers with assistance and luggage porterage • Transportation within country 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 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 • 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: $925.00 Trip cost based on minimum of 6 participants - maximum group size is 14 participants 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, 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 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 English speaking guide/lecturer throughout Meals as described in itinerary (B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner) Airport transfers and travel by modern large air-conditioned motor coach throughout All activities described in the tour and entrance fees to all sites mentioned All porterage at hotels Bottles mineral water on the bus every day

Not Included:
Travel Insurance Libya Visa (Non US citizens $30 at Tripoli airport, US citizens $2300 MUST OBTAIN from the consulate in Washington DC) Airport taxes and security charges plus any fare supplement for departure from Tripoli instead of Tunis Gratuities to guide, driver and hotel staff 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 or one way Tunis/Tripoli estimated at $220 Any other service/s not specified above

Tour Notes:
Single Supplement: $680.00 Minimum 4 participants and maximum 12 participants THE FINE PRINT 1) The rate is based on the current exchange of 1 US$=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 for November 01, 2009 has not yet been published. 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.

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 6 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 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:
Accommodation in superior 1st class hotels and deluxe in main cities and tourist class (best available) in smaller towns. Round trip airfare from New York to Cairo (On Egyptair) and flights within Egypt – Luxor/Cairo – (air credit $700.00) Egyptian visa Full escort and English speaking guide service throughout Meals as specified in itinerary (B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, Box-L=Box Lunch, D=Dinner) Airport transfers if arriving/departing on scheduled group flights and travel by modern, air-conditioned motor coach throughout All activities described in the tour and entrance fees to all sites mentioned (unless otherwise specified) Gratuities to guide, drivers, waiters, hotel staff and other persons providing group services and all porterage at hotels One bottle of water per day per person

Not Included:
Travel Insurance (highly recommended) Airport taxes and security charges Expenses of a personal nature such as beverages with meals, telephone, emails, laundry bills, etc. Round trip transportation from your home to New York (add-on airfares available from other cities) Transfers in Cairo if not arriving/departing on scheduled group flights Any other service/s, tours or visits not specified above or listed as optional Dayrooms if necessitated by airline schedule changes Any additional fees to enter some of sites that are closed to the public (amounts cannot yet be specified - $100 per person per site)

Tour Notes:
Single Supplement $880.00 Minimum 8 participants and Maximum 14 participants Any additional fees to enter some of sites that are closed to the public (amounts cannot yet be specified - $100 per person per site)

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 from Washington D.C. Dulles or New York JFK/Erbil (8 seats each, first come first served) • All transfers with assistance and luggage porterage • Transportation within country using modern A/C motor coach • All mentioned accommodations in best hotels available • Hotel overnight and transfers in Vienna, Austria • 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 or Dulles Airport in Washington D.C. to/from home airport • Airport taxes/fuel surcharges and security fees = estimated at $420.00 • Beverages with meals and meals not noted • Items of a personal nature, i.e. souvenirs, camera fees, laundry, phone calls, emails, etc. • Kurdistan Visa - currently $40.00 - obtainable from the Kurdistan Regional office in D.C. or at the airport 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: $995.00 Air Allowance: $1500.00 Trip cost based on Minimum of 10 participants - Maximum group size is 16 participants Visa for US citizens obtainable on arrival at Erbil airport.

Extension available to Fish River Canyon October 2-6, 2009 considered the largest natural gorge in Africa Cost varies based on number of participants. Please inquire if interested

Tour Includes:
Round trip international air Dulles airport to Windhoek via Johannesburg 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 8 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

We (STS) reserve the right to chage hotels, restaurants or the order of activities if/as needed. Please note that the route of the boat cruise is subject to change based on water, weather, traffic, etc. conditions. Accommodation o 5* Star rating of accommodation o Lined with mahogony & red pine o All cabins have en-suite WC/Shower o All cabins have air-conditioning o Large saloon, with dining tables and soft seating o Large table on stern for eating outside o Awnings for shading the bow & stern o 14 Sunbeds o Deck shower Leisure & other equipment o Snorkling equipment o Fishing equipment o Television o Video & DVD player o Fax & telephone The crew o Skipper o Cook, to prepare the best Dalmatian cuisine o Deck-hand to take care of all your needs o English speaking crew members

Tour Includes:
International airfare from NYC area airports - Zagreb, roundtrip Superior and first class hotels Meals as specified in the itinerary: B-breakfast, L-lunch and D-dinner 8D/7N cruise on sailing yacht 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

Not Included:
Airport taxes, security charges and fuel surcharges (estimated at $300.00) Items of a personal nature (laundry, phone calls, emails, excess luggage charges, etc.) Meals not listed and beverages with all meals Tipping to driver, porters, hotel, restaurant and yacht staff throughout Travel protection insurance Airfare from cities other than NYC or from your home airport to the departure city Transfers if not arriving/departing on scheduled tour dates/flights Dayroom or overnights necessitated by changes in airline schedules

Tour Notes:
Air Allowance: $800.00 Single Supplement: $1495.00 (only 1 single cabin left on the cruise) Group Size minimum is 12 participants, maximum is 15 participants - Small Group Surcharge if less than 12

About your lecturer: Professor Norman Jones is Chair of the Department of History and Director of Religious Studies at Utah State University. Holding a doctorate from Cambridge University, he specializes in the interplay of religion and culture. He has taught the history of Christianity for thirty years, and his publications, focusing on the early modern world, include work on the relations between Christianity and Islam. About your 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 Christian Quarter of the Old City. He earned his degree in English Literature from the University of Damascus and and a certificate in tourism from the Ministery of Tourism.

Tour Includes:
• International air from New York-JFK to Damascus, roundtrip coach class - Air Credit: $900 from NYC • Syrian Visa - Passport MUST NOT include any Israeli stamps or visas to be allowed to enter Syria • All transfers with assistance and luggage porterage • Transportation within country using modern A/C motor coach • All mentioned accommodations in superior 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 bottle of water per day per person • All gratuities to guide, porters, drivers, hotel and restaurant staff etc.

Not Included:
• Airfare to/from JFK to/from home airport • 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: $655.00 Trip cost based on minimum of 8 participants - Maximum group size is 14 participants Pre or Post extensions to Jordan available upon request We (STS) reserve the right to chage hotels, restaurants or the order of activities if/as needed

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.

Tour Includes:
. International air from New York-JFK/Jeddah & Bahrain/New York-JFK, Roundtrip coach class • All transfers with assistance and luggage porterage • Transportation within country using modern A/C motor coach • All mentioned accommodations in superior class hotels • All meals as listed (B=breakfast, L=lunch, D=dinner) • All entrance fees to visited sites (mentioned in the itinerary) • Service of professional English speaking guide • Bottled water • 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: $1,150.00 Trip cost based on minimum of 6 participants - Maximum group size is 14 participants 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...Professor Matthew Canepa is a specialist in the art and cultures of the late Roman Empire and Pre-Islamic Central Asia. His research focuses on cross-cultural interaction in the ancient world. His forthcoming book entitled The Two Eyes of the Earth (University of California Press) will be the first to analyze the artistic, ritual and ideological interactions between the Roman and Sasanian empires in a comprehensive and theoretically rigorous manner. His current projects include an exploration of Middle Persian art and the global idea of Persian Kingship, the publication of C of C’s Joel Handshu collection of Classical and Near Eastern coins, and the Sasanian seals in Baltimore’s Walter’s Art Gallery. Professor Canepa has been the recipient of numerous research grants including a fellowship from the Council of American Overseas Research Centers (2002-2003) and the Deutsches Archäologisches Institut’s research fellowship for North American Scholars (2007). He conducted extensive fieldwork in Iran with support from the Edward Ryerson endowment in 2001, focusing especially on the pre-Islamic heritage. He has been studying the Sogdian material in Penjikent (Tajikistan) for sometime and taught a class on Samanid, Mongol, and Timurid art and the famous monuments of Bukhara and Samarkand.

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

Not Included:
Visas to all countries visited except for Tajikistan which is included (approximately $175 at time of printing) Travel Insurance Meals not specified in the itinerary Dayrooms or extra hotel overnights if necessary Fuel surcharges, border departure taxes, airport taxes and security charges (approximately $400.00) Expenses of a personal nature such as: beverages with meals, telephone, email, laundry bills, camera fees, etc. Round trip airfare from other cities or gateways besides NYC

Tour Notes:
Single Supplement: $750.00 Air Allowance: $1200 Minimum 8 participants and Maximum of 16 participants If number of participants is less than 8, trip may still depart with payment of Small Group Surcharge *Due to the unpredictability of the flights, a bus will be available for the drive north from Ashgabat to Mary if necessary 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. Yurts are quad accommodations with shared facilities. No exceptions. 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.

Post tours: Caspian Sea, North and West Iran - April 25 to May 02 Armenia and Georgia (overland from Iran) - April 25 to May 09 followed by Azerbaijan - May 09 to 16 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 flights - Tehran/Kerman and Isfahan/Tehran 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.

Tour Includes:
International airfare from NYC area airports - Casanblanca, roundtrip Superior and first class hotels (local tourist class lodges and Berber style accommodations) Meals as specified in the itinerary: B-breakfast, L-lunch and D-dinner All tours as per itinerary including guidance and entrance fees Transfers/transportation by air-conditioned motorcoach All local taxes and service charges on included items

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

Tour Notes:
Single Supplement: $900.00 Group Size minimum is 8 participants, maximum is 14 participants Aifare credit: $750.00