Dates: September 3 - 13, 2010
Price: $3450 from New York via Finnair

Visit the revitalized capitals of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. Start in Tallinn, a perfect medieval city. As we journey southward, we’ll make stops in Pärnu, Cesis -a Hanseatic League city, and Sigulda. The Baltic spa town of Jurmala is an excursion from Riga, and from Vilnius we won’t miss Trakai.

Dates: September 17 - 29/October 8, 2010
Price: $4880 from Washington, DC via Ethiopian Airlines

Make a unique journey of a lifetime! Let us take you to a colorful place of legendary rulers, fabulous kingdoms and ancient mysteries. Ethiopia is one of the oldest extant civilizations on the continent. Travel to the source of the Blue Nile, and be seven years younger! On the Omo Valley extension, visit the Hammer, Konso & Mursi tribes.

Dates: September 28 - October 19, 2010
Price: $5880 from SFO via Air China

The inimitable and beloved Sam Su is back to take you through western China all the way to Kashgar for the Sunday market. Visit the Uygur people in Xinjiang Province. See the Mummies of Ürümchi, exquisite Buddhist grotto art of the Mogao Caves near Dunhuang, and the western most gate of the Great Wall. The Tibetan Labrang Monastery is again open for visitors. This has been one of our favorite tours for almost a decade, but we continue to add fascinating features, like a sky burial and a magnificent view of the first bend of the Yellow River. With train rides and camel rides (short ones), this is truly a great soft adventure. See Beijing, Xi’an and Shanghai too.

Dates: October 20 - November 3, 2010
Price: $5440 from ORD via Turkish Airlines

Join Lloyd Herman and other crafts enthusiasts for a specialized trip including Istanbul, one of the Cultural Capitals of Europe for 2010. Meet glass and other artisans at their workshops in Bursa, Cappadocia and the art enclave of Bodrum. Return to Chicago in time to attend SOFA.

Dates: November 5 - 20/24, 2010
Price: $5580 from JFK via Turkish Airlines

This exciting itinerary takes us west to Hamadan to see the tomb of Esther and the monument to Avicenna, Persian Father of Modern Medicine. Continue to Kermanshah and Ahwaz to visit the site of Susa and the Chogha-Zanbil ziggurat. We won’t miss, Shiraz, Persepolis, Pasargad, Yazd and everyone’s favorite, Isfahan. An extension to the Caspian and Tabriz is an option.

Dates: November 19/22 - 29, 2010
Price: $2990 from JFK via Finnair

Spend the holiday in a Winter Wonderland, when the theater comes alive and the onion domes of St. Basil’s Cathedral sparkle against the snow. Our short one-week vacation will seem so much longer as we travel by overnight train from Moscow and show you the best of St. Petersburg. Take a few more days and travel to the Golden Ring.

Dates: January 4 - 14, 2011
Price: $2990 Airfare Additional

Classic tour to the mystical lands of Burma featuring bustling Yangon, the magnificent UNESCO site of Bagan, a cruise up the fascinating Irrawaddy river. Capture the mystery and romance of Mandalay. Restore yourself during a sojourn at Lake Inle.

Dates: January 9 - 23/25, 2011
Price: $3990 Airfare Additional

From Chennai to Kanchipuram, Pondicherry to Thanjavur. Celebrate Pongul Festival in Madurai. Get in touch with nature at Periyar and Cochim. Hassan, Mysore and Bangalore make this program extraordinary.

Dates: January 25 - February 5, 2011
Price: $TBA Airfare Additional

The Pearl of the Indian Ocean will captivate you with the serene beauty of its forests and ancient cities, its complex society and the charm of its shrines.

Dates: February 18 - March 6, 2011
Price: $6260 from JFK via Turkish Airlines

Amazing intricate workmanship is the hallmark of the artists you’ll meet. Be inspired by the mosaics, architecture and gardens of Persia. See the fabulous crown jewels. Search for the fabled Peacock Throne. See the Sassanian Palace at Kerman (224-637 A.D.) a city known for its Persian carpets. Marvel at the architectural wonder of Darius the Great’s Persepolis. Explore Shiraz, a city of roses, nightingales and poetry. Continue to the second oldest city in the world—Yazd. Stay in a delightful caravanserai in everyone’s favorite, Isfahan, where you’ll soak up the beauty that has enthralled visitors for centuries.

Dates: March 10 - 21, 2011
Price: $3690 from Tripoli, Libya (Airfare additional)

We’ve offered Libya in the past and are happy to announce that visas now being issued to Americans again. Plan to be among the first Americans to return to Libya. See Sabratha, Cyrene, Apollonia, Ptolemais and Leptis Magna. Venture into the Libyan Desert and learn about the Berbers. Overnight in a deluxe Magic camp on the Great Sand Sea (Erg Ubari) and visit the Ghadames oasis, an ancient caravan center.

Dates: March 29 - April 8, 2011
Price: $3990 from JFK via Royal Jordanian

Indiana Jones brought the Nabataean city Petra to the world’s attention. It’s now one of the new 7 wonders™ of the world. Explore amazing Jerash, visit the Bani Hamida Weaving Project and Madaba - the City of Mosaics. Like Lawrence of Arabia we’ll venture from Wadi Rum to Aqaba.

Dates: April 1 - 16/20, 2011
Price: $5860 from JFK or Chicago via Turkish Airlines

Ah, all the wonderful sights and sounds! Don’t let the naysayers diminish your enthusiasm. Experience Persian hospitality for yourself. The treasures held in Tehran’s museums are outstanding. Persepolis, a short drive from Shiraz, is one of the greatest archaeological sites in the world. Isfahan is a unique city with exquisite mosaic-clad domes, bridges and Persian gardens. Iran as a whole is nothing short of breathtaking! Travel in security with our experienced Iranian tour manager. Our perfect introductory tour also includes Kerman, the citadel of Rayen, Shiraz —the city of “Roses and Nightingales”; Pasargadae, the capital of Cyrus the Great, ancient Yazd and Kashan.

Dates: April 9 - 19, 2011
Price: $3640 from JFK via Royal Jordanian

Our comprehensive 10-day Road to Damascus tour takes us through this crossroad of civilizations. Explore Saladin Castle and Krak Des Chevaliers. Palmyra, Doura Europos, Aleppo, Ebla and Apamea are but a few of the highlights.

Dates: April 16 - 24, 2011
Price: $1980 Airfare Additional

Join Jo Coffey and Martin Byrne for a journey to the oldest and best-preserved megalithic monuments of western Europe. In Sligo and Navan, we’ll explore the crown jewel of megalithic monuments in Ireland. Experience Newgrange, Knowth, Carrowkeel, Carrowmore and the scenic Lough Arrow area. Expect mild weather and emerald green countryside.

Dates: April 19 -May 10, 2011
Price: $TBA from SFO via Air China

The inimitable and beloved Sam Su is back to take you through western China all the way to Kashgar for the Sunday market. Visit the Uygur people in Xinjiang Province. See the Mummies of Ürümchi, exquisite Buddhist grotto art of the Mogao Caves near Dunhuang, and the western most gate of the Great Wall. The Tibetan Labrang Monastery is again open for visitors. This has been one of our favorite tours for almost a decade, but we continue to add fascinating features, like a sky burial and a magnificent view of the first bend of the Yellow River. With train rides and camel rides (short ones), this is truly a great soft adventure. See Beijing, Xi’an and Shanghai too.

Dates: April 24 - 30, 2011
Price: $TBA from Boston or $TBA from Seattle via Iceland Air

Fridrik Brekkan guides us through the Golden Circle to see waterfalls, geysers and hot springs and introduces us to Saga History. Have an insider’s look back to the American-Soviet negotiations which led to the successful resolution of the Cold War. Enjoy meetings with U.S. and Russian Embassy officials.

Dates: May 29 - June 8, 2011
Price: $2490 from Tirana, Albania (Airfare additional)

Have the treat of traveling with Mr. Auron Tare on this introductory tour. Ari, a prominent historian, journalist and undersea explorer, will meet you in Tirana and introduce you to Kruga, Durres, Apollonia, Saranda, Gjirokastra, Permet, Korça, and Lake Ohrid. The highlight is the UNESCO site of Butrint, where Auron was one of the founding directors.

Dates: June 6-12, 2011
Price: $2690 as an extension to Bulgaria

Continue from Lake Ohrid to Sofia.

Dates: June 12 - 22, 2011
Price: $3670 from Sofia, Bulgaria (Airfare additional)

Treat yourself. Too many delightful features to mention here. From Sofia to the Black Sea with Kazanluk, Arbanassi, Varna, Plovdiv and Rila Monastery. Learn about the Thracians, Byzantines and medieval Bulgarian cultures from Bulgaria’s top guide.

Dates: June 22 - July 3, 2011
Price: $2880 from Bucharest, Romania

This out of the ordinary tour visits South-East Saxon Transylvania, the peaceful rural communities of Maramures and the stunning “Painted Monasteries” of Bucovina. Get a taste of real Romania and its people.

Dates: June 23 - July 7, 2011
Price: $TBA from SFO via Air China

Let’s go hug Mt. Everest. With Sam Su and Mr. Lhakpa Dorjee guiding, you will have an incredible journey to the Rooftop of the World. We’ll reach the Base Camp of the world’s most famous peak, and meet the Tibetan people in their homes, monasteries and cultural centers of Lhasa, Tsedang, Shigatse and Gyantse.

Dates: June 25 - July 9, 2011
Price: $TBA from San Francisco via Singapore Airlines and Garuda Airlines

Have an intriguing look at three of Indonesia’s distinct cultures. Java, South Sulawesi and the mystical Bali give you vibrant culture, unique art and mystical ceremonies! Start in Borobudur for sunrise then continue to Toraja Land to see the unique boat shaped houses. Come to the Island of the Gods—Bali—to experience art-filled Ubud, the Sea Temple of Tanah Lot, and beaches of Sanur.

Dates: June 29 - July 15, 2011
Price: $6310 from LAX via Air China

Picture yourself in a comfortable ger (yurt) on the endless steppe under a brilliant starry sky...and exploring the Great Gobi Desert where wildlife abounds. Spin a prayer wheel inside a richly gilded Buddhist temple where few foreigners venture. Built around the 3-day annual Naadam Festival, our comprehensive tour includes the pageantry of the opening ceremony and competition of horsemanship, archery and wrestling. We also travel north to Lake Hovsgol, west to Ghenghis Khan’s Karakorum and south to Roy Chapman Andrews’ Flaming Cliffs.

Dates: September 16 - 28/October 7, 2011
Price: $TBA from Washington, DC via Ethiopian Airlines

Make a unique journey of a lifetime! Let us take you to a colorful place of legendary rulers, fabulous kingdoms and ancient mysteries. Ethiopia is one of the oldest extant civilizations on the continent. Travel to the source of the Blue Nile, and be seven years younger! On the Omo Valley extension, visit the Hammer, Konso & Mursi tribes.

Dates: September 22 - 28, 2011
Price: $1890 Airfare Additional

From Palermo to Catania. Monreale, Segesta, Erice, Agrigento, Mt. Etna, Tourmina, Syracusa and the Baroque town of Noto, bring 2600 years of history alive.

Dates: September 27 - October 18, 2011
Price: $TBA from SFO via Air China

The inimitable and beloved Sam Su is back to take you through western China all the way to Kashgar for the Sunday market. Visit the Uygur people in Xinjiang Province. See the Mummies of Ürümchi, exquisite Buddhist grotto art of the Mogao Caves near Dunhuang, and the western most gate of the Great Wall. The Tibetan Labrang Monastery is again open for visitors. This has been one of our favorite tours for almost a decade, but we continue to add fascinating features, like a sky burial and a magnificent view of the first bend of the Yellow River. With train rides and camel rides (short ones), this is truly a great soft adventure. See Beijing, Xi’an and Shanghai too.

Dates: September 29 - October 7, 2011
Price: $3240 Airfare Additional

Still relatively undiscovered and free of crowds, the heel of Italy retains the cultural charm of the simple life combined with a rich historical heritage. Stay in the Trulli of Alberobello, sojourn in Baroque Lecce, visit Castellano, Martina Franca, Cisternino, Taranto, Matera (Basilicata) and Corato.

Dates: October 7 - 14, 2011
Price: $2390 Airfare Additional

More of Puglia. From Bari, north to the village of Roseto Valfortore, then on to the Gargano Peninsula: Padre Pio’s San Giovanni Rotondo; the Crusaders Monte Sant’ Angelo; the picturesque rugged coast.

Dates: October 2011
Price: $TBA

Travel with the prominent jewelry artist as he leads our group from Seoul to the International Craft Biennale in Cheongju. You’ll learn about the oldest form of printing in the world and much more!

Dates: October 13 - 24, 2011
Price: $3690 from Tripoli, Libya (Airfare additional)

We’ve offered Libya in the past and are happy to announce that visas now being issued to Americans again. Plan to be among the first Americans to return to Libya. See Sabratha, Cyrene, Apollonia, Ptolemais and Leptis Magna. Venture into the Libyan Desert and learn about the Berbers. Overnight in a deluxe Magic camp on the Great Sand Sea (Erg Ubari) and visit the Ghadames oasis, an ancient caravan center.

New Adventures in the Balkans

Dates: October 18 - November 4, 2011
Price: $TBA

For the experienced traveler (and we think you are), we’ll make an odyssey from Istanbul north to Chanakkale, Kavala, Filipi and Thessaloniki, Greece. Turn northward into Bulgaria to see Melnik and Plovdiv and return to Istanbul via Edirne. Learn about the Romans, Goths, Huns and Avars, Byzantines, Turks, Slavs and Tatars who all left their marks.

Dates: October 2011
Price: TBA from JFK via Turkish Airlines

From Tashkent, fly to Khiva, where the entire city is a UNESCO reserve. We’ll explore Bukhara and Samarkand, the Eden of the Orient, cities that rivaled each other in richness, beauty and architectural magnificence. Your hotel in Bukhara opens on to its covered bazaar. An extension to mountainous Kyrgyzstan and the Ferghana Valley features scenic beauty.

Dates: November 4 - 19/23, 2011
Price: $5880 from JFK via Turkish Airlines

This exciting itinerary takes us west to Hamadan to see the tomb of Esther and the monument to Avicenna, Persian Father of Modern Medicine. Continue to Kermanshah and Ahwaz to visit the site of Susa and the Chogha-Zanbil ziggurat. We won’t miss, Shiraz, Persepolis, Pasargad, Yazd and everyone’s favorite, Isfahan. An extension to the Caspian and Tabriz is an option.

Dates: November 15 - 29, 2011
Price: $7840 from JFK via Egypt Air

Combine a week on the Nile aboard the deluxe Sunboat IV with Middle and Upper Egypt. Be among the few who see El Amarna, capital of Nefertiti and Amenhotep, as described in the Golden Age of Pharaohs Tut exhibit.

Dates: January 2012
Price: $TBA

Dates: May 10 - 19, 2012
Price: $TBA