<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><edgarSubmission xmlns="http://www.sec.gov/edgar/nport" xmlns:com="http://www.sec.gov/edgar/common" xmlns:ncom="http://www.sec.gov/edgar/nportcommon" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" xsi:schemaLocation="http://www.sec.gov/edgar/nport eis_NPORT_Filer.xsd">
  <headerData>
    <submissionType>NPORT-P</submissionType>
    <isConfidential>false</isConfidential>
    <filerInfo>
      
      <filer>
        <issuerCredentials>
          <cik>0001343668</cik>
          <ccc>XXXXXXXX</ccc>
        </issuerCredentials>
      </filer>
      
      
      
      
    </filerInfo>
  </headerData>
  <formData>
    <genInfo>
      <regName>Alternative Investment Partners Absolute Return Fund STS</regName>
      <regFileNumber>811-21831</regFileNumber>
      <regCik>0001343668</regCik>
      <regLei>549300J2IKBFV0QRHD34</regLei>
      <regStreet1>ONE TOWER BRIDGE, 100 FRONT STREET</regStreet1>
      <regStreet2>SUITE 1100</regStreet2>
      <regCity>WEST CONSHOHOCKEN</regCity>
      <regStateConditional regCountry="US" regState="US-PA"/>
      <regZipOrPostalCode>19428-2881</regZipOrPostalCode>
      <regPhone>610-260-7600</regPhone>
      <seriesName>Alternative Investment Partners Absolute Return Fund STS</seriesName>
      <seriesLei>549300J2IKBFV0QRHD34</seriesLei>
      <repPdEnd>2026-12-31</repPdEnd>
      <repPdDate>2026-06-30</repPdDate>
      <isFinalFiling>N</isFinalFiling>
    </genInfo>
    <fundInfo>
      <totAssets>180993214.64</totAssets>
      <totLiabs>2116397.01</totLiabs>
      <netAssets>178876817.63</netAssets>
      <assetsAttrMiscSec>0.00000000</assetsAttrMiscSec>
      <assetsInvested>0.00000000</assetsInvested>
      <amtPayOneYrBanksBorr>0.00000000</amtPayOneYrBanksBorr>
      <amtPayOneYrCtrldComp>0.00000000</amtPayOneYrCtrldComp>
      <amtPayOneYrOthAffil>0.00000000</amtPayOneYrOthAffil>
      <amtPayOneYrOther>0.00000000</amtPayOneYrOther>
      <amtPayAftOneYrBanksBorr>0.00000000</amtPayAftOneYrBanksBorr>
      <amtPayAftOneYrCtrldComp>0.00000000</amtPayAftOneYrCtrldComp>
      <amtPayAftOneYrOthAffil>0.00000000</amtPayAftOneYrOthAffil>
      <amtPayAftOneYrOther>0.00000000</amtPayAftOneYrOther>
      <delayDeliv>0.00000000</delayDeliv>
      <standByCommit>0.00000000</standByCommit>
      <liquidPref>0.00000000</liquidPref>
      <cshNotRptdInCorD>2119004.40000000</cshNotRptdInCorD>
      <isNonCashCollateral>N</isNonCashCollateral>
      <returnInfo>
        <monthlyTotReturns>
          <monthlyTotReturn rtn1="3.75000000" rtn2="0.34000000" rtn3="1.06000000"/>
        </monthlyTotReturns>
        <othMon1 netRealizedGain="2728898.98000000" netUnrealizedAppr="3776024.84000000"/>
        <othMon2 netRealizedGain="0.01000000" netUnrealizedAppr="753126.18000000"/>
        <othMon3 netRealizedGain="0.01000000" netUnrealizedAppr="2012525.86000000"/>
      </returnInfo>
      <mon1Flow redemption="4074531.74000000" reinvestment="0.00000000" sales="125000.00000000"/>
      <mon2Flow redemption="0.00000000" reinvestment="0.00000000" sales="100000.00000000"/>
      <mon3Flow redemption="0.00000000" reinvestment="0.00000000" sales="350000.00000000"/>
      
      
    </fundInfo>
    <invstOrSecs>
      <invstOrSec>
        <name>AIP ABSOLUTE RETURN FUND LDC - A.</name>
        <lei>N/A</lei>
        <title>AIP ABSOLUTE RETURN FUND LDC - A.</title>
        <cusip>000000000</cusip>
        <identifiers>
          <other otherDesc="Internal Identifier" value="10119317"/>
        </identifiers>
        <balance>58452.64000000</balance>
        <units>NS</units>
        <curCd>USD</curCd>
        <valUSD>178557033.05000000</valUSD>
        <pctVal>99.82122637005</pctVal>
        <payoffProfile>Long</payoffProfile>
        <assetCat>EC</assetCat>
        <issuerCat>RF</issuerCat>
        <invCountry>US</invCountry>
        <isRestrictedSec>N</isRestrictedSec>
        
        <fairValLevel>N/A</fairValLevel>
        <securityLending>
          <isCashCollateral>N</isCashCollateral>
          <isNonCashCollateral>N</isNonCashCollateral>
          <isLoanByFund>N</isLoanByFund>
        </securityLending>
      </invstOrSec>
    </invstOrSecs>
    <explntrNotes>
      <explntrNote note="Monthly returns presented in Item B.5(a) have been calculated without deducting any applicable sales loads or redemption fees." noteItem="B.5.a"/>
    </explntrNotes>
    <signature>
      <ncom:dateSigned>2026-07-29</ncom:dateSigned>
      <ncom:nameOfApplicant>Alternative Investment Partners Absolute Return Fund STS</ncom:nameOfApplicant>
      <ncom:signature>James F Kirchner</ncom:signature>
      <ncom:signerName>James F Kirchner</ncom:signerName>
      <ncom:title>Principal Financial Officer</ncom:title>
    </signature>
  </formData>
</edgarSubmission>
