A selection of tours and cruise-tours
13 days/11 nights, July 22-Aug. 3, 2013. Highlights: In ICELAND, explore Reykjanes and Midnes peninsulas, Blue Lagoon, Krisuvik mud pools, bird cliffs of Hafnaberg/fly to Ilulissat, GREENLAND/Midnight Sun fjord boat trip amidst icebergs/cruise overnight on coastal steamer to Nuuk/whale-watch for humpbacks, minkes, fin whales. $7,325 from New York. Single supp., $900. In Focus with Michele Burgess (Huntington Beach, CA; 714/536-6104).
12 days / 11 nights. Highlights: In Havana, visit a “grandparents’ home” and an after-school program / artists in Santa Clara / talk to musicians in Remedios / meet students and teachers in Ciego de Ávila / go to the National Union of Writers & Artists in Camagüey / hear Professional Choir of Bayamo. Land, $4,195. Single supp., $400. Insight Cuba (New Rochelle, NY; 800/450-2822).
13 days / 12 nights, July 6-18 and Oct. 3-15, 2013. Highlights: Arusha / 550 bird species in Tarangire National Park / game drives in Ngorongoro Conservation Area / Serengeti National Park / ZANZIBAR. Land, $7,295 (with four or more touring). Single supp., $850. Myths and Mountains (Incline Village, NV; 800/670-6984).
12 days / 11 nights. Highlights: Bangkok city tour, floating market / Elephant Village / Kanchanaburi Hell Fire Museum / give alms to monks in Ban Hin Dad / raft through river gorges / Tiger Conservation Project. Land and cruise from $1,199. Single supp., 50%. Value World Tours (Fountain Valley, CA; 800/795-1633).
13 days / 12 nights, Feb. 22-March 7, 2013. Highlights: Dancers, drummers, torchbearers and 100 decorated elephants in the Nawam Maha Perahera Festival in Colombo / frescoes in fifth-century Sigiriya Rock Fortress / hill capital of Kandy / Bo Tree in Anuradhapura / Dambulla rock cave temple / tea plantations in Nuwara Eliya / Yala National Park for wildlife / Dutch city of Galle / Bentota beach. Land, $3,550. Single supp., $995. Round-trip airfare from L.A., from $990 plus airport taxes.
8-day / 6-night tour of TURKEY. Highlights: Selçuk Museum in Kuşadası / Greek ruins in Ephesus / Pergamum, capital of the Attalid Kingdom / Troy / in Istanbul, Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace, Hagia Sophia. From New York, from $1,799. Troy Tours (Los Angeles, CA; 800 / 748-6878).
9-day/8-night tour in ITALY, June 25-July 3, 2013. Highlights: In Florence, Uffizi Gallery, David, da Vinci Museum/shop for ceramics in Deruta/frescoes, sculpture in National Museum of Umbria/Assisi/cheese-making demo & tasting/Chianti/privileged seats for Siena’s Palio horse race. Land, $10,995 (if six or fewer travel) or $7,395 (seven or more). Single supp., $1,220. Abercrombie & Kent (Downers Grove, IL; 866/252-3836).
12-day/11-night tour in Zürich, SWITZERLAND (Zürich Festival) and Au, AUSTRIA (Schubertiade), June 13-24, 2013; six concerts included. Highlights: Stained-glass windows by Chagall and Giacometti in Zürich’s Fraumünster church/tasting tour (cheese, chocolate, etc.)/ tours of private art collections/ride Glacier Express to Davos/in Au, Schubertiade Chamber Music Festival. Land, $5,490. Single supp., $1,000. Arte Travel (Miami, FL; 281/617-2648).
8-day/6-night tour focuses on churches and breweries in GERMANY; departs April 3, Sept. 11 and Nov. 13. Highlights: Tiepolo frescoes in Prince Bishop’s Palace, Würzburg/Beer tasting in Regensburg/pilgrimage city of Altötting/Ettal Abbey’s distillery/Oberammergau/Munich. From Newark, from $3,169. Single supp., from $239. The Catholic Tour LLC (Beachwood, OH; 877/627-4268).
5-day / 4-night cruise aboard 210-passenger m / v Stella Australis (Jan. 12) or 136-passenger Via Australis (Feb. 4 & 20 and March 8), 2013. Highlights: Embark in Punta Arenas, CHILE / humpback whales around Carlos III Island / Zodiac to Magellanic penguin colony / hike to view Pia Glacier / sail Glacier Alley in Beagle Channel / Cape Horn National Park / Ushuaia, ARGENTINA. From $1,989 (B cabin) to $4,054 (AAA Superior). Single cabin, $3,429-$3,772. Cruceros Australis (Santiago, Chile; in US, phone 877 / 678-3772).