• 25 September 10 to 15 October 10
• 24 September 11 to 14 October 11

New for 2010
Featuring the Fascinating Cities of Cairo, Tunis, Tripoli & Benghazi

The coastal region of North Africa has provided a fertile plain between the Mediterranean and the Sahara. Most of the great civilisations of the Mediterranean - the Phoenicians, the Carthaginians, the Greeks and the Romans have all settled on the coastline. They have interacted with the local Egyptians, the Berbers and the ancient tribes controlling trade from sub-Saharan Africa. Islam spread across this region of the "Maghreb" (the setting sun) from the Arab world in the 7th century and colonisation came later from the Ottomans, French, Italians and British. In the 20th century, this battleground of World War II saw its various countries each develop their own particular national identity.

Our 19-night program explores some of the superbly preserved (many UNESCO listed) remains of the great ancient civilisations of North Africa from the Egyptian Pyramids, to Phoenician Carthage in Tunisia, to Greek Cyrene, Ptolemais and Apollonia as well as the Roman Sabratha and Leptis Magna in Libya. We visit the fascinating cities of Cairo, Tunis, Tripoli and Benghazi and experience Saharan oases and Berber desert culture. We learn about the cultures of Egypt, Tunisia and Libya and discover how these three modern North African countries have each been coloured by their rich heritage and adapted differently to their roles in today's world.

Egypt and Tunisia have justly attracted visitors for many years but Libya is only now slowly emerging from its recent isolation. Although its infrastructure can sometimes lag a little behind the demands of today's tourists, its people are generally warm and welcoming and its historic sites are second to none. Now is an ideal time for the curious traveller wishing to explore this fascinating country to discover an unspoilt gem.

Itinerary at a Glance & Site / Number of Nights

• Ex Australia / New Zealand - 1, Egypt Cairo - 2, Tunisia Tunis - 2, Sfax - 1, Tozeur - 1, Ksar Ghilane - 1, Tatouine - 1, Libya Tripoli - 3, Ghadames - 2, Tripoli - 1, Al-Bayda - 3, Benghazi - 1, Egypt Cairo - 1, Program ends with a flight to Cairo prior to boarding our return flight to Australia / New Zealand.

Program Includes

• Return economy class international airfares.
• Internal airfares applicable to the standard itinerary.
• Departure taxes applicable to the standard itinerary.
• Visas applicable to the standard itinerary.
• 18 nights hotel accommodation in en-suite share twin rooms.
• 1 night in a Saharan Oasis en-suite tent village.
• Breakfasts and dinner daily plus light lunches in Tunisia and Libya.
• Transport, lectures and field trips as indicated
• Comprehensive travel insurance (additional premiums will be imposed by the insurer for those participants who are over 60 years and/or with pre-existing medical conditions.
• Services of a Program Leader.
• Applicable entry fees and services of local guides.
• Service Charges and Gratuities.
• Detailed Preparatory Materials.

Program Excludes

• Items of a personal nature.

Program Notes

• Ex Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Auckland & Christchurch.
• No obligation registrations of interest are invited on next year's departure.
• Participants may chose to extend their journey with a Nile Cruise cost from AUD1160/NZD1435 and single supplement of AUD530/NZD655 or a 2 night post tour extension to Alexandria and El Alamein with one night in Alexandria and one night in Cairo including a visit to to El Alamein. Cost AUD550/NZD 680. Single supplement AUD80/NZD100.

Program Notes: Dianne Harlow

Program Summary: Northern African Odyssey