Travel the World with us

Dear traveler,

We hope you had a joyous holiday season and are as energized as we are to delve into what should be an exhilarating new year, filled with exciting adventures. Following a tranquil holiday season, we seamlessly transitioned head-on into a bustling period of activity. Meticulously preparing to send multiple groups to Africa in January and February, while our Middle East season goes full swing starting in March.

Now that we have a moment to catch our breath, we are eager to share some thrilling news with you. Our team has been hard at work curating an array of enticing new opportunities, and we can't wait to unveil them to you. Before we delve into our latest offerings, we would like to take a moment to extend our warmest wishes to all of you before the upcoming occasion of Valentine's Day. This day serves as a gentle reminder to cherish the precious presence of our friends and loved ones in our lives.

In this newsletter We are thrilled to showcase some of our special led tours that offer distinctive and immersive experiences for all our fellow travelers. 

I am leading a tour of Angola (Oct 07 - Oct 18, 2024) and there are still a few spots available if you would like to join me. Angola is Africa's seventh largest country, and home to some of the last enduring traditional and remote tribes on earth. Many ethnic groups still maintain their ancient cultural traits, dress, traditions, and languages to varying degrees. In the cities, a mixed culture has emerged since colonial times. Since its foundation in the 16th century, Angola’s Portuguese heritage has become more and more prominent in this urban society. However, African roots are evident in music and dance, and this molds how Portuguese is spoken. In addition, Angola is rich in many natural wonders and geological formations, including the Pedras Negras (Black Rocks), a plateau of massive rocks that can be seen for miles. Explore the stunning pink and orange sand dunes of the great Namib Desert, said to be the oldest on earth. There are a few nights of rustic camping, but this is the best way to venture off the beaten trail and immerse yourself fully in the last remaining traditional tribal cultures left on earth. This tour can flawlessly be combined with a Cabinda extension (Oct 05 - Oct 07) AND Sao Tome extension (Oct 18 - Oct 25) to maximize the region's Portuguese offerings. 

Another tour that I am thrilled to take part in is Afghanistan (Nov 12 - Nov 26, 2024). I will not participate in the entire tour however, as I am intending on finishing the parts that I missed when I went there during the pre-Taliban takeover in 2016. I was teased by my group then that I missed the most stunning part of the country when I left early before the group traveled to the Bamyan region. Hence, now is my chance to not only see that part of this majestic country, but also to experience firsthand how much better and calmer the situation is since US forces abruptly left in August 2021. Our lecturer on this tour is a very famous archaeologist who was educated in London, worked at the British Museum, and led numerous tours to big institutions such as Oxford and Cambridge universities across the Near East and Central Asia. His lectures and talks will be a thrill to learn from. We have been very successfully running this group tour, with several successful journeys in 2023, along with a few private journeys. Our team there has done a superb job of making sure our travelers have an unforgettable experience. 

Some great news that we are excited to share Dr. Barbara Porter agreed to lead our Fall Libya tour (Oct 12 - Oct 19, 2024). Barbara’s love of the Ancient Near East and the history of the Mediterranean will be a needed asset on this tour. As you know, I went to Libya last October with one of our two groups. I found out that the country is very slowly opening up to the concept of western tourism. While it has a very unique potential due to the amazing mixture of ancient sites, old cities, stunning deserts and oases, spectacular coast dotted with Phoenician, Greek and Roman sites, Nancy will enhance your trip tremendously with her knowledge and joy of explaining archaeology. I always say with a place like Libya, when the door opens for you, never wait! This is due in large part to the fact that it is impossible to predict the potential change of rules about visas or procedures. While we are still talking Near East and Dr. Barbara Porter, we want to advise you of two more her projects that are very enticing: she swill lead another in-depth Jordan tour (Apr 06 - Apr 23, 2025), where she will introduce you to every important site in this beautiful and stable country. Then, we also decided to launch another Iraq tour that she will lead (Oct 17 - Oct 31, 2025), with an extension to Kurdistan This new launch is prompted by the fact that her Iraq tour in March of 2024 is so successful and has a full house. I know many people would love to embark on an exploration of Mesopotamia with such a qualified scholar as her. 

Another member of our great team is David William, whom I am sure many have been with on lots of trips in the past. David has just left the US for his tour of Gabon, CAR, Congo, and DRC with ten delightful travelers. Next February, he is leading another long, multi-country journey along the Atlantic Coast of Africa (Feb 23 - Mar 13, 2025). It stops in Liberia, Sierra Leon, Guinea, and Guinea Bissau (with an extension to The Gambia and Senegal for those who have NOT yet seen any of these popular destinations). David’s second tour in 2025 will be the off-the-beaten track adventure to Tajikistan and the Pamir Highway. For those of you seeking an enhanced sense of “thrill and adventure” when on a tour, then Tajikistan & the Pamir Highway, which we are offering (Apr 16 - May 2, 2025) should meet your demand. It will satisfy your urge for a sequestered journey, where you will immerse yourself in an exotic world. You will also enjoy imposing vistas of majestic mountain ranges, gorges, and canyons, and will stroll in remote isolated indigenous villages; indeed, you will be visiting a country seldom seen by outsiders.

Some of you are loyal fans of traveling with another amazing tour manager: Nancy Weber. Those in that category will also be thrilled to see the gamut of tours that she is leading in 2024 and 2025. Nancy went with us on our first Afghanistan tour after the exit of US forces, and we can report with confidence that she found the trip amazing in all aspects.  The country is much safer than it has ever been since the US invasion over 22 years ago! She is looking forward once again to revisit this colorful nation on her tour (May 22 - Jun 5, 2024). 

In the fall, Nancy will accompany a new trip that we have launched recently to one of our favorite countries: Pakistan. BUT, this time, the tour explores a region that is seldom visited by westerners: the province of Baluchistan (Nov 26 - Dec 5, 2024) . Baluchistan offers an unparalleled opportunity to satisfy your thirst for exotic adventure. Imagine traversing rugged landscapes, witnessing dramatic natural wonders, and immersing yourself in the rich tapestry of local cultures. This is your chance to escape the well-trodden path and set foot in a land where few others have ventured before. Traverse deep into the heart of Baluchistan, and you will discover a tapestry of vibrant cultures, each with its unique traditions and warm hospitality. Engage with the Baloch people, renowned for their rich history and exquisite craftsmanship. Discover the Hidden Gems of Baluchistan: A Journey into the Unknown. From its breathtaking coastal stretches to its majestic mountain ranges, Baluchistan boasts a diverse terrain that will leave you spellbound. Trek along the awe-inspiring peaks of the Ras Koh and Central Baluchistan mountains, where the rugged landscape rewards the bald with unparalleled panoramic views.

Yet another piece of news that we eagerly wanted to share with many of you, is that we have made some adjustments to the sequence of our Indian Ocean Islands trip… Maldives, Seychelles, Mauritius, Réunion & Comoros (Sep 11 - Oct 03, 2024) to accommodate better flight connections between the islands. We have even added a new island, Mayotte, a French island that belongs to the nation of Comoros, known for its stunning scenery and friendly population. One of the most interesting aspects of Mayotte culture is the Bangas - quaint and colorful little houses built by adolescent men when they move out of their parents' house. This cultural process helps them to mature as they find their status in society without interference from their parents. Later, when these men find a woman to marry, they move to their spouse's home. Just a small number of these houses can be seen today. You will travel around the coast and through the heart of the island, then continue to Sada, with its minaret and small islet. In the island's center, one finds many plantations and a dense tropical forest. At the Chiron Gui Pass you will have a wonderful overview of the bay of Boueni and Choungui Peak. You will stop to see the largest baobab tree in Mayotte, which is endemic to the island. Mayotte is yet another pathless traveled destination we are introducing in the coming months. During your time there, you will enjoy walks through its lush vegetation where you see lemurs and giant fruit bats going from Baobab to ylang ylang or Mango trees. The harbor of Mamoudzou, the capital, is one of the biggest and most scenic in the Indian Ocean, with its bustling marina full of yachts and fishing boats.

Since we are covering just some of our amazing tour leaders this issue, we promise to cover the rest in the next newsletter. The last lecturer we would like to highlight this time around is the incomparable Michel Behar. He gladly agreed to lead several back-to-back tours and extensive combos of multiple countries in 2025. In January, ushering in the new year, he will once again lead our Horn of Africa adventure (Jan 05 - Jan 22, 2025). This tour will not only include the obscure countries of Somaliland, Djibouti, and Eritrea, BUT it will also include a day to attend the extravagantly colorful Timket Festival. In February, Michel will for the first time lead our Bangladesh tour (Feb 17 - Mar 2, 2025). We offered this interesting destination twice in 2024, with a tour in February and one in November. BOTH have sold out. If you want to explore this eclectic nation and enjoy the company of Michel and his amazing expertise, do not wait long, as the 2025 tours may also be a full house in no time. The big trip for Behar in 2025 will be his Malawi and Zimbabwe Tour (May 11 - May 25, 2025), with a pre-tour to the Island nation of Comoros (May 05 - May 10, 2025) and post tour to Mozambique, Eswatini & Lesotho (May 25 - May 30, 2025). These tours will be followed by a 12-day tour of Angola (May 30 - June 10, 2025) and its tribal south. That makes seven African countries visited in the span of 35 days for Behar. Be sure to join him on one of these outstanding programs!  

Next month we shall share with you the details of tours led by our other competent leaders but in the meanwhile, you can always visit our web site to see if there are other trips that have been posted with them in the coming months.

We are thrilled to announce that we are now creating custom private tours for nearly all of our destinations. If the standard group tour dates don't fit your schedule, we can collaborate with you to design a private program that meets your needs. We are also open to combining multiple countries into a single itinerary if that is what you desire. This way, you will have the freedom to explore at your own pace and according to your personal preferences. Feel free to reach out to us if you are interested in crafting a truly unique and personalized travel experience!

Like every year, the months of January and February are extra special to us at STS as we receive visitors from different parts of the world. In January, we had the pleasure of hosting Mohamed Halouani who came to visit from Tunisia for a few days before he returned to Africa to lead our Atlantic Coast tour - which is currently in Guinea with him. We also had Ann Lewin, who is one of our very special tour organizers (and guest) who agreed to leave the warmth of Southern California and come spend a few days with us in freezing Michigan. Then in February, we had our wonderful Pakistani agent: Muhammad Shifa visit us during his month long tour of USA, when we also invited Gary Tapler one of our loyal clients come for lunch that day as well. The invitation is open for every one of you if you come to Michigan, we must have you over and invite you for lunch at least to come and see our office and meet the team members.

Finally, we want to remind you of two important things: If you have enjoyed your tour with us please post a supporting review of us, on GOOGLE and follow us on our FACEBOOK page so that we can spread the joy of travel to more friends and followers.

Thank you once again for your interest in our journeys and we look forward to serving you as always.



Sincerely,

Ihab Zaki, Managing Director

and Spiekermann Travel Team