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Call for our detailed itinerary: North America 1-800-741-7956 • UK 0808-234-1714 • www.eldertreks.com

Photo Credits: © Yvette P2 • © Gordon Kilgore P5 • © Bob Cook P7 • © SMS P12 • © Kieron Nelson P45, 47, 73 • © Karl P46, 47 52, 58, 59 • © Karl P46, 47, 52 • © Stephen Shepphard P53 • © Fred Lokay P56 • © Ron Morris P65 • © Ultimate Hikes P75 • © N. Kontos P103 • © Rodney Russ P107 • © Tom Arban P107 • © Quark Expeditions P107 • © Poseidon Voyages P107 • © Hayley Shepard P107 • © Peregrine Voyages P107 • © Gerald Cubitt P108 • © Lynn Woodworth P112 • © Daisy Gilardini P116 • © Weller P117 • © Graham Charles P118 • © Robert Gloor P119 • © Prisca Campbell P119 • © Tom Arban P122 • © Julien Avrial P123

WELCOME TO A WORLD OF EXOTIC ADVENTURE TRAVEL FOR 50 PLUS ELDERTREKS is the world's first adventure travel company designed exclusively for people 50 and over. Established in 1987, ElderTreks offers active, off-the-beaten-path, small-group adventures by both land and sea in over 100 countries. Our journeys focus on adventure, culture and nature.

An Invitation to dream, to share and to experience your next adventure… Our fascinating and exotic world is filled with endless adventures, whether it is an African safari, a tribal encounter, traveling aboard an icebreaker in Antarctica or hiking in the Himalayas. At ElderTreks, it is our hope that you can experience a few of these great adventures with us. With 24 years of experience, ElderTreks travels to over 100 different countries on every continent, including both polar regions. We have three new exciting adventures to Sri Lanka, Alaska & the Yukon and Zimbabwe, a country I recently

had the pleasure of experiencing. Our cultural journey to Cuba remains our most popular trip. We also have two new exciting sea expeditions to Russia’s Far East. At ElderTreks, we travel in small groups led by experienced guides. We travel with a caring attitude and always practice sustainable, responsible travel. We support numerous charities and truly care about the preservation and impact we may have on the people and places we visit. It is our goal to open the door to some of the fascinating and wonderful places that our planet has to offer. Travel is our passion! We hope you will allow ElderTreks to share this passion with you as part of your next adventure.

NATURALLy, yOU ARE INVITED.

Gary MurtaghPresident ElderTreks

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INTRODUCTION TO ELDERTREkSGreat Reasons to Travel with ElderTreks ...................4ClubTrek — Loyalty Program ......................................5The Small Group Advantage ........................................6Adventure Travel - How to pick the right trip for you ....7Accommodations ..........................................................8Transportation .............................................................9The Experts Behind Your Adventure ..........................10Sustainability & Charity ..............................................11

AFRICA AND ThE MIDDLE EASTKingdoms of Southern Africa (South Africa, Mozambique, Swaziland & Lesotho) ................13Splendors of Southern Africa (Namibia, Botswana & Zambia) ...........................................15Zimbabwe .....................................................................16Madagascar ...................................................................17Great East Africa Safari (Uganda, Kenya & Tanzania) .......18Uganda ..........................................................................20Tanzania .......................................................................21Ethiopia ........................................................................23Voodoo and Spirits of West Africa (Niger, Benin, Togo & Ghana) ....................................................................25Cultural West Africa (Mali & Burkina Faso) ......................26Morocco ........................................................................28Tunisia ..........................................................................29Egypt .............................................................................30Libya ..............................................................................32Iran ................................................................................34Syria ..............................................................................36Jordan ...........................................................................37Classic Turkey ..............................................................39Eastern Turkey .............................................................40

ASIA AND ThE SOUTh PACIFICClassic India ..................................................................42Southern India ..............................................................44Northern India (Ladakh, Dharamsala and the Golden Temple) .......................45Silk Road (Pakistan, China, Kyrgyzstan & Uzbekistan) .........46The Stans of Central Asia (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan) .................................48Mt. Kailash & Mt. Everest ............................................50Tibet ..............................................................................51Bhutan, Sikkim & Darjeeling .......................................52Yunnan (China) ..............................................................54China .............................................................................55Mongolia .......................................................................56Across the Top of the World (expedition cruise) .............58Jewel of the Russian Far East (expedition cruise) ..........59Bangkok to Kunming (Thailand, Laos and Southern China) ...................................60Thailand ........................................................................61Burma ...........................................................................62Laos ...............................................................................64Vietnam ........................................................................65Grand Southeast Asia ..................................................66 (Thailand, Burma, Laos, Vietnam & Cambodia)

Sri Lanka .......................................................................68Sumatra (Indonesia) .............................................................70Java & Bali (Indonesia) ....................................................71Papua New Guinea .......................................................73Borneo (Malaysia - Sabah & Sarawak) .................................74New Zealand .................................................................75Sailing French Polynesian Islands ...............................76

ThE AMERICASCuba ..............................................................................79Costa Rica .....................................................................80Baja California - Among the Great Whales .................81Galapagos & Ecuador ....................................................83Peru Hiking ...................................................................84Peru ...............................................................................86Argentina and Chile .....................................................87Patagonia Trekking (Argentina and Chile) .......................89Hidden Treasures of South America (Argentina, Uruguay, Chile and Bolivia) .................................90Brazil .............................................................................91Venezuela ......................................................................92Yukon & Alaska Land Adventure .................................94Alaska (Inside Passage by classic yacht) ..............................95Sailing in the Queen Charlotte Islands (Home of the Haida Nation) ........................................................ 96Heli-Hiking in the Canadian Rockies ..........................97

EUROPEMedieval Treasures of Eastern Europe (Czech Republic, Slovakia and Poland) ..................................99Adriatic Adventure (Slovenia, Croatia, Italy, Bosnia and Montenegro) ..................101Transylvania (Hungary and Romania) .................................102Ancient Greece ..............................................................103Bulgaria & Macedonia ...................................................104Iceland ...........................................................................105Classic Turkey and Eastern Turkey (see Middle East pages 39-40)

ARCTIC & ANTARCTICAShips .............................................................................107Classic Antarctica .........................................................108Antarctic Circle Crossing .............................................110Explorers’ Quest ............................................................111Antarctica’s Far East ....................................................112Camping with Emperor Penguins (flying) ....................113Standing at the South Pole (flying) ...............................115Voyage to the North Pole .............................................115Spitsbergen Explorer ...................................................116Greenland from East to West ......................................118Arctic Passage ...............................................................119Northeast Passage ........................................................120Circumnavigation of the Arctic ....................................120

ThE LAST WORDExpedition Cruises - (Summary) ..................................122Combination Trips ........................................................124Terms & Conditions .....................................................126

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We cater to people 50 and over

Travel with your peers on itineraries designed with YOU in mind. Companions over 18 years of age are welcome.

24 years of great adventures

Travel confidently, knowing that the people facilitating your adventures are veterans in the world of adventure travel.

Small group experience

Maximum group size on our land adventures is 16 — guaranteed!

ClubTrek Loyalty Program

We have created ClubTrek to thank you for traveling with ElderTreks. You are automatically a member of ClubTrek and are eligible for rewards after you have traveled with us once. Rewards are based on the number of trips you have taken. (See page 5.)

Expedition ships, not cruise ships (Capacity of 12 – 200 passengers)

On our ship-based adventures, we use expedition ships — not cruise ships. Smaller vessels allow for more personal interaction and reduce our impact on the sites we visit. (Ship capacity is noted on the relevant trip page.)

Our trip length reflects Land days only — not air days.

Our stated trip lengths refer to land days only. ElderTreks’ “Day 1” always refers to the “Arrival Day”. Some tour companies include flying days, which means that 1, 2 or 3 days of your trip are spent on an airplane. This falsely inflates the length of your trip, a practice that ElderTreks does not support.

hassle free — all-inclusive land packages

All meals, accommodation, domestic transportation, transfers to and from the airport on arrival and departure days, domestic departure taxes (for flights that are included with our land tour), entrance fees, bottled water and tips at hotels and restaurants are included. If there are exceptions to this rule, they are clearly noted.

Freedom to choose the airline and routing of your choice

It’s your choice to use your frequent flyer points, stop enroute, fly business class, arrive a few days early, or extend your stay. We offer personalized flight itineraries to suit your needs.

Experts with first-hand knowledge

When you book a trip with us, you have access to people who have been there. You’ll deal directly with experienced travel professionals who will answer all of your questions.

No mandatory single-supplement charge on land adventures (excluding extensions)

If you’re willing to share a room, there is no additional charge. We don’t penalize single travelers — we welcome you.

Guaranteed Trips!Many of our departures are now guaranteed. You can easily recognize our ‘guaranteed trips’ with this icon ‘ ‘ . This allows you to plan your trip, including air arrangements with complete confidence.

Genuine travel experiences

ElderTreks takes you off-the-beaten-path on carefully crafted itineraries that are unique and thoughtfully planned. Our goal is not “5 star” accommodation, but rather a “5 star” experience. We do not support conveyor-belt tourism, where groups are pushed through a rigid itinerary at the expense of spontaneity. Instead, we bring you a genuine, one-of-a-kind travel experience.

Sustainable, responsible travel

We support a number of development projects throughout the world and we make sure that you have close contact with local people. During most of our programs, you will have the opportunity to visit schools and orphanages.

Comfortable, charming accommodations

We select hotels based on comfort, location and charm with private bathroom. Shared bathrooms are only used where there is no alternative and such exceptions are clearly noted.

Outstanding guides!Guides can make or break a trip and greatly affect the experience our travelers have — few things are more important. We pride ourselves on having guides who are second to none.

The personal touch

We won’t force you to endure a pre-recorded voice when you call us during business hours. You will get a real person. Great service and a great attitude are at the core of what we do.

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Call for our detailed itinerary: North America 1-800-741-7956 • UK 0808-234-1714 • www.eldertreks.comCall for our detailed itinerary: North America 1-800-741-7956 • UK 0808-234-1714 • www.eldertreks.com

To thank you for traveling with us, we have created ClubTrek. You are automatically a member of ClubTrek and are eligible for rewards after you have traveled with us once.

ClubTrek rewards are based on the number of trips that you have taken. The more you travel, the richer the rewards become. For example, on your third trip, you have reached the level of Matterhorn (* see chart). This means that on your next adventure with us, you will receive 6% off the price of the land portion of your trip.

The chart shows the level of reward based on the number of trips taken.**

Other benefits of ClubTrek membership include:

• Special mailings sent only to ClubTrek members• Jumping to the head of the line when trips have a waitlist• First chance at select new programs

** See our website for details at www.eldertreks.com/clubtrek.php for terms and conditions, or call us at 1-800-741-7956 (North America) or 1-808-234-1714 (U.K.).

Please Note: Any ship or non ElderTreks operated trip (includes Heli-hiking, South Pole and Camping with Penguins) is limited to 5%. Please see our website for further details. Rewards do not apply to extensions, travel insurance or customised flight arrangements.

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Call for our detailed itinerary: North America 1-800-741-7956 • UK 0808-234-1714 • www.eldertreks.comCall for our detailed itinerary: North America 1-800-741-7956 • UK 0808-234-1714 • www.eldertreks.com

LAND ADVENTURESSmall group travel provides the foundation for great adventures. It allows for more interaction, spontaneity and fun. On our land adventures, the maximum group size is 16 — guaranteed!

You might have dinner in a Vietnamese home or visit a family’s ger in Mongolia. In a small group, you visit these places instead of overwhelming them. Meals and hotel check-ins are easier and faster and you don’t trip over each other while visiting the sites and taking photos. True discovery requires spontaneity, a defining characteristic of small group travel. You’ll get to know people better — your fellow travelers, the local people and your guides. Small groups afford memorable experiences that can last a lifetime.

ALL-INCLUSIVE

Our hassle-free, all-inclusive land programs include all meals, accommodations, domestic transportation, internal departure taxes (for flights included in our land tour), entrance fees (to sites listed in the itinerary), transfers to and from the airport on arrival and departure days, bottled water and tips for hotel and restaurant staff. Simply put, leave the arrangements to us so that you can spend more time enjoying yourself!

NO FORCED SINGLE SUPPLEMENT ChARGE ON LAND ADVENTURES

If you are traveling alone and are willing to share accommodations, there is no forced single-supplement charge on our main adventures. At ElderTreks, we don’t penalize people for traveling alone. However, if you want to be guaranteed a single room for the trip, this can be arranged at an additional cost.

SEA ADVENTURESWe use expedition ships — not cruise ships. Why take a trip on a massive cruise ship when you can travel by small expedition ship or yacht? Each is a very different trip. For anyone who hasn’t experienced both, we hope to highlight some of the differences:

NUMbER OF TRAVELERS

Our selection of unique sea-going vessels can accommodate between 12 – 200 travelers, allowing for a more intimate and personalized experience. Large cruise ships often carry more than 2,000 people.

WILDLIFE ENCOUNTERS

A whale is off the bow… on a cruise ship towering 10 stories or more, binoculars may be needed just to see the whale.

On a smaller ship, you are often close enough to see distinguishable markings on the whale — a truly extraordinary wildlife encounter right before your eyes.

GUIDES AND CREW

On expedition ships, the crew and guides are some of the top experts in their fields. Smaller travel groups allow passengers to have personal one-on-one conversations with them.

ShORE EXCURSIONS

On a smaller ship, 2 or 3 excursions per day are typical and easily achieved. Exploration of our surroundings is part of the journey. This is rarely possible on a cruise ship.

ON-bOARD COMFORT

On smaller ships, the predominant focus is on a 5-star experience. On cruise ships, the focus is usually on accommodations, meals, on board entertainment and activities. Expedition ships offer a superb, natural experience, excellent meals — all in a very practical and safe environment, while sailing to some of the harshest yet beautiful and most remote places on earth.

ACCESSIbILITy

Large cruise ships cannot get close to glaciers, shorelines or fjords, as they must remain in deep waters. Smaller ships can get right into fjords, up close to glaciers and can maneuver in tighter spaces, allowing you to feel more connected with your environment.

DRESS CODE

On smaller ships, the only dress code is dressing properly for your next excursion, whether it is a shore landing or exploring by kayak, Zodiac, or even by helicopter. Whether it is a tropical island excursion or visiting a penguin rookery in Antarctica, we dress for the weather to maximize our enjoyment and experience. Dinners are always casual.

EXPERIENCE

Anyone who has traveled by cruise ship and smaller expedition ship will know the differences. One of the main reasons our travelers choose us is due to the smaller group size. If you join us on a small expedition ship, your stories will be about stunning scenery, wildlife, meeting interesting people and learning about our world and its inhabitants. You’ll be coming home with memories that often change your views and appreciation of our planet.

SINGLE TRAVELERS ON EXPEDITION ShIPS: ThERE IS NO FORCED SINGLE SUPPLEMENT ChARGE ON MOST EXPEDITIONS. PLEASE CALL FOR MORE DETAILS

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Adventure travel is about traveling in small groups on active itineraries, often in remote, exotic locations. To help you decide if adventure travel is right for you, please use the following criteria as a guide:

• Do you enjoy walking and outdoor activities?

• Are you curious and interested in learning about new environments, wildlife and cultures?

• Do you like to go off-the-beaten path?

• Do you enjoy meeting and traveling with other people?

• Do you savor travel to areas where physical and social conditions are different — sometimes very different — from those in more developed countries?

If this sounds like your idea of travel, then we think you’ll love our adventures. If you have any further questions about adventure travel, please call us.

COMFORT LEVELFor each trip, you will find a description of “comfort level”. Comfort levels are intended to provide you with an idea of how strenuous or easy a trip may be in terms of high altitude, road conditions and long drives.

Accommodations will have their own category.

You will find a description of the comfort level for each adventure on each trip page in the catalogue and on each detailed itinerary (not including extensions). Please call our office if you would like a detailed itinerary for any trip(s).

hIGh ELEVATION TRAVELFor high elevation trips we indicate the number of days where our travel takes us in excess of 9,000 feet. If high elevation is of concern to you, please be aware that the elevations can be much greater than 9,000 feet. You can request a detailed itinerary or call our office for further details on any high elevation trip.

High elevation destinations can be among the most fascinating and rewarding experiences. However, the risks of altitude sickness are real and can be serious. ElderTreks plans and runs our adventures with acclimatization in mind to minimize the effects of high elevation. This does not remove personal responsibility in terms of seeking advice from your doctor or travel clinic.

SAFETy FIRSTYour personal safety is our paramount concern. Expert guides, proper equipment and well-researched itineraries are the foundation of our adventures. Whether you’re in the Gobi Desert of Mongolia or the rainforests of Costa Rica, rest assured that safety has been an integral element in the design of your trip.

ACTIVITy LEVELS This is a guideline of what to expect on our adventure. This is not to say that we don’t stop and enjoy the views, it is simply a guideline of what physical condition you should be in to fully enjoy your adventure. Please call for more information.

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1) Easy: This may include individual hikes of up to 1 hour with some inclines. Walking through archeological sites, towns or cities for 1-2 hours, stopping along the way. You should be able to climb 2-3 flights of stairs and walk at least 1 mile (1.6 km) without any problems.

2) Moderately Easy: This may include individual hikes of 2-3 hrs, which may have gentle slopes, while walking through archeological sites, towns or cities. You should be able to climb 3-4 flights of stairs and walk at least 2 miles (3 km) with no problems.

3) Moderate: This may include individual hikes of up to 3 hours, with some steep slopes and loose surfaces. You should be able to climb 5-6 flights of stairs and walk at least 3 miles (5 km) without any problems.

4) Moderately Challenging: This may include individual hikes of up to 4 hours, with some steep slopes and loose surfaces. Walking through archeological sites, towns or cities for 3-4 hours, stopping along the way. You should be able to climb 6-7 flights of stairs and walk at least 4 miles (6 km) without a problem.

5) Challenging: Designed for hiking. Individual hikes may be up to 8-10 hours, with some steep slopes and loose surfaces. You should be able to climb 8-10 flights of stairs and walk at least 8 miles (12 km) without any major problems.

A NOTE AbOUT

EXPLORATORy TRIPS:Exploratory Trips are more adventurous than our regular trips because some elements of the trip are designed as the group travels. There are many wonderful surprises, but you may also experience unexpected challenges. These tours are best suited for travelers who enjoy less structure and more exploration.

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TRANSPORTATION: PRIVATE, COMFORTAbLE & A LITTLE bIT WILD!With ElderTreks, you travel in private ground transportation on all land itineraries, allowing for flexibility and maximum spontaneity. We feel that getting there can also be half the fun and part of the adventure when you ride elephants, travel by camel, go on a riverboat safari or let the wind carry you across gentle waters under full sail. Below are samples of transportation from our various trips.

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ACCOMMODATIONSOne of the most important elements of any trip is where you rest your head at night. ElderTreks uses comfortable, well-located accommodations with private bathroom facilities. If there are any exceptions to this rule (such as an overnight stay with hilltribes in northern Thailand or camping on the shores of the Niger River

in Mali), these nights are clearly marked. In big cities we sometimes use larger hotels but normally we try to use accommodations which reflect the local culture, offer great service, allow you to relax and simply savor your travel experience.

MEALS Food is an essential ingredient in our extensive menu of cultural experiences. We serve delicious, wholesome foods in settings that range from small, local eateries to elegant retreats. Our aim is to satisfy the food-lover in you while introducing you to the world’s diverse and exotic cuisines.

Call for our detailed itinerary: North America 1-800-741-7956 • UK 0808-234-1714 • www.eldertreks.com

Dedication, organization, experience and a caring attitude toward our travelers and the communities that we visit are at the heart of ElderTreks philosophy.

We became a leader in adventure travel by earning and maintaining the trust of our travelers. We know that you are entrusting your travel

dreams with us and we take that responsibility seriously.

We will make every effort to satisfy you; beginning with your first contact with us to the time you return home from your adventure. We will look after all of your details in a thoughtful and professional manner. Great people make great adventures.

All of our adventures are escorted from the point of arrival until your return flight home. Our tour leaders are there to make your trip enjoyable, look after all of the details, answer your questions, make

helpful suggestions and make your trip a highly rewarding experience. Our small groups are led by passionate and knowledgeable tour leaders & guides. At ElderTreks, you will travel confidently knowing that you’re with the best.

JOIN yOUR FAVORITE TOUR LEADER ON yOUR NEXT ADVENTURE

Karl Kannstadter Asia, Africa, Latin America

David Roth Asia, Africa, Latin America

Mustafah “Steffie” Kiika Uganda, East Africa

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The experts behind your adventure

JohnNolanEurope, Asia,Africa

LucasMhinaEast Africa

ThuyNghiemVietnam

NitinDhamiAsia, Papua New Guinea

HarrisKaragiannisGreece

DuaneRankinAfrica

LajosNemethAsia, Africa, Europe

ParveenPaulAsia

Gulin PazarogluEurope, Asia,Africa

ClaudioPortalEurope, Asia, Latin America, Africa

NirajShresthaAsia

ManuelVelazcoLatin America

CharlieTsaiAsia

FatimaNejadveisiIran

ClairePrestAsia, Europe, Africa

EricFenglerLatin America

GuilhermeStamato“Gafa”Brazil, Latin America

PontusDeriAsia

AlexNodarseCuba

PatrickCampbellNew Zealand

RogerBurrowsEurope, Asia, Africa, Middle East

SteveBoothAsia, Africa, Latin America, North America

AbdelSebakEgypt, Middle East

DouglasBriseboisAfrica, Asia,Latin America

AidaErenTurkey

DanielTesfayeEthiopia

TomasHavlicekEurope

Olman QuirosCosta Rica

Glenda QiuQiong China

Lalaima Ramaroson Madagascar

Turin TunmawBurma

SamirHaritMorocco

WE ADVOCATE SUSTAINAbILITy AND ChARITy AbROAD ThROUGh ThE FOLLOWING: • On our land-based adventures, group sizes do not exceed 16 travelers. Group size is an important feature of sustainable tourism. Larger groups can inundate small communities and trample sensitive environments. By traveling in smaller groups, the social and physical impacts are minimized.

• On our ship-based adventures, we use expedition style ships — not cruise ships. Smaller vessels allow for more personal interaction with fellow travelers and staff, and reduce our impact on the sites we visit.

• We facilitate meaningful, non-exploitive exchanges between our travelers and the local people. It is our hope that local people will benefit both commercially and intellectually through the exchange and that our travelers will return home as educated ambassadors for the places they have visited.

• We work with local businesses and smaller hotels and accommodations wherever possible. By injecting money into the local economy, we aid local businesses who hire local people, thereby fostering real economic growth in the communities we visit.

• We visit important natural areas, helping to demonstrate that sensitive tourism can provide a viable alternative to natural resource depletion, thus helping to protect these areas.

• ElderTreks supports orphanages, schools, villages and conservation groups throughout the world. We have built two homes for abandoned women and children in Madagascar. We support orphanages in India, China, Madagascar, Turkey, Mongolia and Pakistan as well as schools in Vietnam, Yunnan, Tibet and Tanzania. We proudly support the following villages in Africa: Tin Village in Burkina Faso, Kontambougu in Mali and Mwamgongo Village on Lake Tanganyika. The many ways that we have given assistance include donations of clothes, food, clean drinking

water, school supplies and financial aid; we continuously help to protect the local flora and fauna.

In Laos, ElderTreks sponsors book parties, for much needed books, in rural schools. ElderTreks helped bring a little girl from Vietnam to the U.S. for reconstruction facial surgery. Today, NLi’s smile says it all. Also in Vietnam, we work with a unique grassroots initiative to provide wheelchairs for handicapped children.

• ElderTreks supports the Parkinson Society of Canada. For 5 years, ElderTreks has donated the Grand Prize draw for the annual Parkinson’s Superwalk. The prize includes land and air arrangements to Costa Rica for two lucky winners.

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