Ruins and Archaeology

9-day, 8-night archaeological tour led by Maya specialist in southern MEXICO, Jan. 30-Feb. 7, 2021. Group limit, 12. Highlights: In Mérida, Great Museum of the Maya World/Ek’ Balam for “winged warrior” sculptures/at Chichén Itzá, 9th-century temples, pyramids, ruins of El Caracol (observatory)/in Dzibilchaltún, Temple of the Seven Dolls. $5,695 ppdo (group of 7-9) or $5,195 ppdo (group of 10-12). Single supp., $685. Archaeological Institute of America (Walpole, NH; 800/748-6262, www.aiatours.org).

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The story of the Palace of the Grand Dukes in Vilnius, Lithuania, and its rebirth began for me many years ago.

9-day, 8-night “easy-to-moderate” tour in PERU, April-October 2020. Highlights: Lima to Puerto Maldonado/Tres Chimbadas Lake/at Tambopata Research Center, parrots at macaw clay lick/train to Machu Picchu/Cusco and nearby Incan ruins. From $4,198 ppdo. Single supp., $1,198. Wild Planet Adventures (San Rafael, CA; 800/990-4376, www.wildplanetadventures.com).

11-day, 10-night archaeological tour, May 21-31, 2020. Highlights: In SPAIN, Bilbao’s Guggenheim Museum/Covalanas and El Pendo caves for ancient drawings/San Sebastián on Bay of Biscay/in FRANCE, city of Bayonne, Gargas caves for Paleolithic hand stencils/Museum of Prehistory at Tautavel/Pont-d’Arc Cavern for replica of Chauvet cave/Lyon. $7,945-$8,895 ppdo (per group size). Single supp., $965. Archaeological Institute of America (Boston, MA; 800/748-6262, www.archaeological.org).

Beginning in early 2020, visitors to the ancient temple complex of Angkor Wat, Cambodia, will no longer be able to ride elephants on the grounds of the site. Two of the park’s 14 elephants have been released in a nearby forest, with the rest to follow shortly.
Elephant riding in Angkor Wat was introduced in 2001. In 2016, one of the park’s elephants died due to a combination of heatstroke and exhaustion, leading to a petition to ban the practice entirely.

17-day, 16-night coach tour, June 25-July 11, 2020. Advanced-level activity. Highlights: In Ulaanbaatar, Choijin Lama Temple complex, Winter Palace complex, Gandan Monastery/Chinggis Khaan statue at River Tuul/fly to Mörön for ethnographic museum, Bronze Age deer stone monoliths/hot springs at Jargalant, Ariin Huree Monastery, ger camp at Terkhiin Tsagaan Lake/ancient capital of Karakorum/Tövkhön Khiid Monastery/Uighar Har Buh Fortress ruins/Gobi Desert. From $9,995 ppdo. Single supp., $1,400.

The Petra Museum, located at the entrance to the historical city of Petra in Jordan, opened on April 18. Including interactive displays and videos in English, it exhibits nearly 300 artifacts — from the Stone Age to the Roman period — that were found at the site. Open daily, 8 a.m.-8 p.m.

A pass for the Petra Archaeological Park (www.visitpetra.jo/Default.aspx) costs JOD50 (near $71) for one day, JOD55 for two days or JOD60 for three.