unisia, located at the northern most tip of Africa is an exotic country, with its bustling souks, roman ruins, Berber villages, and the sweeping Sahara Desert. This exotic destination will present numerous opportunities to photograph its colorful people, historic sites and amazing landscapes.

After arriving in Tunis, the country’s capital, we fly south to Tozeur gateway to the vast Sahara desert. Tozeur, an oasis surrounded by palmaries - palm tree plantations, is the launching point for caravans heading into the desert. Traveling by four-wheel drive jeeps, we head deep into the Sahara to Ksar Ghilane. At sunset, we will photograph the sand dunes of the Grand Erg Oriental.

The Sahara is home to the Berbers or “Amazigh”, the nomadic indigenous people of North Africa. Today most Berbers practice sedentary agriculture or engage in trade. In Tataouine, we will photograph the Berbers in their unusual ‘Ksours’, homes carved into the sides of mountains. In Matmata, we will visit the empty Ghorfas, originally used as graineries, and now used as ‘troglodytes’ subterranean homes. Crossing the dry salt lake of Chott el Djerid takes us to the local Douz camel market.

Through olive grows, date & almond plantations and vineyards we travel north to the holy city of Kairouan, with its blend of Arab-Islamic architecture. We end our journey in Tunis’ bustling medieval medina, photographing busy shopkeepers and the street life of the narrow laneways of the souk.

Tunisia Souk to the Sahara
June 12 - 22, 2010 with Arlene Collins

ITINERARY

Day 1 Arrive Tunis – Sidi Bou Said - Dar Said Hotel
Sat. June 12 Self transfer to our Hotel Dar Said. Spend the day in the charming Mediterranean seaside town of Sidi Bou Said, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its whitewashed buildings accented with blue windows & doors and cobblestone streets, contrasts the desert’s golden light. Evening orientation meeting

Day 3 Sidi Bou Said - Tozeur – Dar Cherait Hotel
Sun. June 13 Tunis – Tozeur 16:30 flight arriving at 17:45. Depart hotel at 14:30 for the airport. Morning class and photograph in Bou Said Said. Evening arrival in Tozeur (B)

Day 4 Tozeur – Douz – Ksar Ghilane – Pansea Ksar Ghilane Hotel
Mon. June 14 Crossing the dry salt lake of Chott el Djerid we drive to Douz to photograph the local market where Touareg tribesmen gather to sell camels. After lunch, we continue deep into the Sahara Desert traversing the enormous sand dunes of the Grand Erg Oriental. We end our day at our luxurious desert oasis camp, The Pansea Hotel. (B, L & D)

Day 5 Ksar Ghilane - Pansea Ksar Ghilane Hotel
Tue. June 15 Early morning visit to the deserted Roman fort of Ksar Ghilane.
Afternoon enjoy free time relaxing out of the desert heat and sun. Late afternoon experience a camel ride over the golden sand dunes. At dusk learn to perfect your sunset photography over the dramatic desert landscape, and at night learn to shot star trails. Dinner under the Berber tents. (B, L & D)

Day 6 Ksar Ghilane – Tataouine – Ksar Ouled Haddada Hotel
Wed. June 16 This morning drive south through the Dahar Mountains to the Berber village of Tataouine. Here we visit the Ksours, fortified stone castles or homes carved in the steep sides of the surrounding mountains. We will also explore the Ghorfas, buildings in the Ksours originally used by the Berbers as warehouses, then as lodgings. (B, L & D)

Day 7 Tataouine - Ksar Ouled Haddada Hotel
Thu. June 17 Drive through the lunar like landscape to the Berber village of Matmata famous for it’s troglodytes homes built underground that protect its residents from the fierce summer heat. Return to Tataouine. (B & L)

Day 8 Tataouine - Kairouan – La Kasbah Hotel
Fri. June 18 Morning visit to the Tataouine market. We then drive north through the golden sand dunes of the Sahara desert to fields of almond trees, olive groves, vineyards and cactus to the holy city of Kairouan. Our hotel, La Kasbah is a welcome respite from the arid desert. (B & D)

Day 9 Kairouan – La Kasbah Hotel
Sat. June 19 Kairouan is a blend of Arab-Islamic architecture and know for its rug making. We will visit the 9th century Mosque of Oqba ibn Nafi, with its purported worlds oldest minaret. (B)

Day 10 Kairouan - Tunis – Dar El Medina Hotel
Sun. June 20 Morning drive to Tunis. We spend the next few days photographing in the medieval medina with its winding alleyways of the souk, ancient mosques and museums. Outside of town are the unique tanneries, where we can photograph traditional methods of cleaning, dying and preparing the hides. (B)

Day 11 Tunis – Dar El Medina Hotel
Mon. June 21 Final day to photograph in Medina’s Souk or visit the Ottoman Palace, the Zitouna mosque or the Dar Ben Abdallah, house of arts and traditions and The Bardo National Museum, world renown for its mosaic collection. (B)

Tue. June 22 Depart Tunis

The workshop fee is $ 6,350.00, and includes shared accommodation, private touring, a private guide and regional transportation, including the flight from Tunis to Tozeur. A $1,000.00 deposit must accompany your registration form to secure your place in this workshop, and final payment is due by March 1, 2010.

NOT included are international air flights, airport taxes, visas, gratuities, for our guides and drivers, personal expenses and most meals. The single supplement charge is $ 750.00. Trip cancellation/interruption insurance is mandatory. For more information or to register contact Arlene Collins at studio@arlene-collins.com.

Since enrollment in the workshop is limited, we encourage you to apply as early as possible.

No visa is required for United States citizens.

THE ABOVE IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE.

Hotels

Tunis
Dar el Medina Hotel
64 Rue Sidi Ben Aroud
1006 Tunis, Tunisia
+216.71 563 022
www.darelmedina.com

Ksar Ghilane
Pansea Ksar Ghilane Hotel
Rue Ksar Helal
4180 Haumet Souk
Djerba, Tunisia
+216.75 621870
www.pansea.com

Sidi Bou Said
Dar Said Hotel
Rue Toumi
2026 Sidi Bou Said
+ 71 740 591
www.darsaid.com.tn

Tozeur
Dar Cherait Hotel
Tozeur, Tunisia
www.darcherait.com

Kairouan
Le Kasbah Hotel
Avenue Ibn El Jazzar-Cite
De la Mosquee,
3100, Kairouan, Tunisia
www.goldenyasmin.com

Tataouine
Ksar Ouled Haddada
scheduled to open Feb. 2009

The above is subject to change.

Recommended restaurants:

Sidi Bou Said Tunis
Dar Zarrouk or Au Bon Vieux Temps Escheick Restaurant & Dar El Jeld

Terms & Conditions of Travel

1. Reservations & Payments
A non-refundable deposit of $1,000.00 per person is required to confirm your reservation for the Tunisia 2009 Photography Workshop. Final payment in full is due by March 1, 2010.

Arlene Collins Photography Workshops LLC, reserves the right to cancel a reservation if full payment has not been received by the stated due date.

2. Cancellations
All cancellation notices must be received in writing and will become effective as of the date of the postmark. If you cancel 120 days or more prior to departure, a refund less an administration fee of $750.00 and less any payments made to travel agents, hotels and sub-contractors will be issued. No refunds are issued if you cancel within 120 days prior to departure. For payments not refunded consult your insurance carrier. Refunds cannot be made to participants who do not complete the workshop for any reason at all.

3. Basis of Rates
All prices are quoted in US dollars. Due to unforeseen circumstances including but not limited to the rising cost of airfares, ground transportation, fuel surcharges, accommodations and currency fluctuations prices are subject to change. Therefore, Collins Photography Workshops, LLC reserves the right to amend trip prices or levy a surcharge on the cost of the trip without prior notice.

4. Insurance
Trip Cancellation, Baggage, Emergency Medical Evacuation, Accident and Sickness Insurance Protection is strongly advised. Camera equipment, computers and baggage are carried entirely at the owner’s risk, and we accept no responsibility for lost, damaged or delayed property. Suggested insurance companies are CSA and Access America.

5. Itinerary Changes
The itinerary is subject to change without prior notification.

6. Passports and Visas
A valid passport is required for all travels. You are required to notify Collins Photography Workshops under which nationality your passport is registered. Collins Photography Workshops will notify you, if your destination requires a visa for U.S. citizens. Non -U.S. citizens are required to contact the appropriate consular office for entry requirements pertaining to their trip. Participants are responsible for obtaining their passports and visas. Your passport must have an expiration date of at least 6 months upon completion of this trip.

7. Medical Issues
All participants must be in good health. You must advise Collins Photography Workshops LLC, prior to booking, of any health, physical, emotional or mental condition that may require special attention or adversely impact the other participants.

8. Single Travelers
Collins Photography Workshops LLC makes every effort to honor shared and single supplementary requests. However, shared accommodations cannot be guaranteed and the single supplement rate will apply, if we cannot provide accommodations.

9. Liability Waiver
Every participant is required to sign the liability waiver before the trip, acknowledging awareness and acceptance of the risks associated with the workshop and related travel.

10. Responsibility & Photography
To ensure a safe photographic experience you are required to obey local customs and be considerate when photographing people or sensitive locations. Arlene Collins has the right to eject any person from the workshop for disruptive behavior, compromising the group’s safety, enjoyment or violating the law.