Founded around 330 B.C. by one of the world's greatest conquerors--Alexander the Great--ALEXANDRIA will serve as our incredible journey's starting point. Alexandria has had its share of "greats" over the years following its similarly-appellated founder; it once boasted the Lighthouse of Alexandria (now unanimously considered one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World), it houses the somewhat grisly Catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa (considered by many to be one of the Seven Wonders of the Medieval World), and, of course, the largest library in ancient times--the Library of Alexandria--was once found here. While the city might capture your attention for weeks [accommodation: less than US$15/night], we recommend several days by bike or bus into the great western deserts as well.

From Alexandria catch a bus to BENI SUEF, about 320 kilometers (200 miles) south [fare: chump change; accommodation: US$10/night]. Famous for its carpets and other hand-woven products, Beni Suef is also close to Medium Pyramid as well as Fayoum Oasis. Perhaps its most interesting feature, however, is its Museum, filled to the brim with everything from ancient Egyptian relics to centuries-old Coptic artifacts. Now head north again, about 112 kilometers (70 miles) to CAIRO [fare: chump change; accommodation: US$15-20/night]. A million and one things to see and do here are plentifully outlined in hundreds of guide books, so we won't go into it here. Bottom line: you could spend months here and barely scratch the surface. We suggest at least a week; don't try and do it all in a day or two because you'll fail!

From one great city to the next we go. This time, we're headed to DAMASCUS [US$249 on Egyptair], capital of Syria and one of the most ancient inhabited places on the planet; archaeologists believe civilized groups have continually lived here for at least seven thousand years. From ancient history to Alexander the Great, from the Romans to the Muslim conquests to Timur the Lame's brutal campaigns, Damascus has been in the middle of it all. In other words, o ye history buffs, this is one place you'll be hard-pressed to leave [accommodation: from US$12/night]. But when you do, it will be to reach the obscure Turkish town of ERCIS, a thousand-year-old settlement north of Lake Van. To get there, fly to Van, Turkey [US$249 on Turkish Airlines], then grab a bus for the 80-kilometer (50-mile) drive north to Ercis [fare: less than US$15; accommodation: less than US$15/night]. Be sure to visit the tomb of Yar Ali Türbesi during your stay.

While the temptation exists to venture from here into Central Asia, let's stick with IRAN for a while longer--and head southeast. This is going to increasingly turn into desert country, home to the critically endangered Iranian JERBOA, a jumping desert rodent. The landscape will become more and more rugged, less and less vegetated, as you pass through Mashhad, cross the border into Afghanistan near Tayyebat, then make your way cautiously toward the war-ravaged one-time Taliban stronghold of KANDAHAR [bus fare: less than US$35]. Of course, a certain war needs to end and peace be established in the land before this leg of the journey becomes doable; let's pray it happens soon.

Guess who founded Kandahar? Alexander the Great, again. In fact, it used to be called Alexandria, too. It has since been fought over by innumerable enemies, and the fighting, it seems, has yet to end. If it weren't for flying bullets, the entire province of Kandahar would be an adventure traveler's dream, embodying as it does a rugged beauty all its own [accommodation: US$10 or less]. From here it's another incredible bus ride to LARKANA, Pakistan [fare: around US$30]. We've now reached the eastern extent of Alexander the Great's conquests.

It would be a shame to be this close to MOHENJO-DARO and not pay the old city a visit. One of man's "cradle" civilizations, the Indus Valley Civilization stretched hundred of kilometers up and down the Indus River--but no city, seemingly, was as mighty as Mohenjo Daro; archaeologists estimate that at its height, the city housed around 35,000 people. And in keeping with our interest in generations long dead, let us move now to the great city of Lahore [by bus or train for less than US$40] and head toward the nearly 400-year-old mausoleum of Mogul Empress NUR JEHAN. In fact, Lahore is bursting with splendid old tombs, in keeping with the city's reputation as being the cultural, historical, and political "Heart of Pakistan." Again, weeks could be spent here without seeing everything worth seeing [accommodation: from around US$25/night].

Take the train from Amritsar through the state of PUNJAB, but not until you've tried good north Indian QORMA, a creamy, mild curry made with yogurt [train fare: from US$10]. Disembark at ROHTAK, then head--on foot, by bike, by taxi, or by bus--six kilometers (less than four miles) east to Asthal Bohar, home to several ancient SCULPTURED STONES as well as a monastery claiming a heritage that dates back to Buddha (Siddartha Gautama).

Ancient cities seems to be our theme here, so it's only fitting that our next stop be the 800-year old ruins of TUGHLAKABAD, just outside of Delhi and less than an hour from Rohtak by bus or taxi [fare: chump change]. From the impressive remains of the fort, we'll head into Delhi itself, where we'll catch a flight to the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, landing at LAX in Los Angeles [fare: US$704 on Southern China]. Rent a car [from $10/day].

Your destination: VACAVILLE, 654 kilometers (409 miles) north--about 6 hours in your car. Why Vacaville? We've chosen this city for the benefit of our female readers, for Vacaville is home to the Adventure Boot Camp for Women, where you can spend four weeks in super-duper fitness training mode [US$299].

	Next on the agenda: WEED. And no, that's not a smokable leaf. It's a town 3.5 hours by car north of Vacaville and an adventure springboard for the area [accommodation: from US$55]. There's trout fishing, hiking, biking, skiing, and mountain climbing (the city itself is situated near the base of the photogenic Mount Shasta, and not far from the Castle Crags and the Trinity Alps), to start.

If you've been bitten by the XENODOCHEIONOLOGY bug, then a hotel in the little mountain town of YREKA, just half an hour's drive north of Weed, is just the ticket. Established as a boom town during the Gold Rush, Yreka, like Weed, is a convenient base from which to hike, bike, climb, or ski [accommodation: from US$50].

MORE WORLD A-Z FROM ALEXANDRIA, EGYPT TO ZEBALLOS, CANADA FROM ABAJO PEAK, UTAH TO THE ZERAVSHAN RIVER, TAJIKISTAN FROM AMBATO, ECUADOR TO NORTHEASTERN ZAMBIA FROM AHMEDABAD, INDIA TO THE ZAZA HOMELAND, TURKEY

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