A player can not attack a trail on which one of his caravans is travelling. The looters can only be used once every two turns. Consequently, once a player has just used them, he places the corresponding pawn face down in his caravanserai, to indicate that they can't be used during the next turn. Players whose looters are available place them face up. The length of this phase can be limited to five minutes.
Exchanges are possible only in the caravanserais and oases, and never on the trails.
When several caravans are at the same oasis, their owners can exchange the wares they are transporting amongst them. Exchanges are secret and can be discussed aside from the other players. The players can also use the business phase to discuss future arrangements, to agree to send caravans carrying such and such goods, to get informed on the likely routes of their future caravans. Nobody is, however, bound to respect such an engagement. Players who wish to give a more diplomatic turn to the game can choose to start the game with a discussion phase, without any exchanges, before planning the first programme.