A selection of tours and cruise-tours
12 days/11 nights, April 26-May 7, 2009. Highlights: Cape Peninsula/Winelands/Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned/stay in a glass tree house at Phinda Private Game Reserve/Zulu culture and crafts/day cruise on St. Lucia estuary/see “big five” at Londolozi Game Reserve. Land, $6,692. Internal air, $1,629. Single supplement, $2,401. Game Plan Africa (Atlanta, GA; 800/593-1148, www.gameplanafrica.com).
19 days/17 nights, April 10-30, 2009. Highlights: From Shanghai, fly to Longsheng, home to Yao ethnic minority/Ming and Qing dynasty buildings in Guilan/cruise among karst formations on the Li River/12 ethnic minority peoples in Xishuangbanna/temples in Dao Yang Park/Black Dragon Pool in Lijiang, home of the Naxi people/Tiger Leaping Gorge/Shangri-la (Zhongdian). $5,395 from Los Angeles. Single supplement, $990. In Focus with Michele Burgess (Huntington Beach, CA; 714/536-6104, www.infocustravel.com).
(INDIA) — 15 days/14 nights, Aug. 25-Sept. 8, 2009, includes Ladakh festival. Highlights: From Delhi, fly to Leh, capital of Ladakh region/15th-century Thikse Monastery/in Hemis, Ghang-Chub-Sam-Ling gompa/sacred Buddhist paintings in Likir and Alchi gompas/11th- century Lamayuru Monastery/home visits in Hemishakpatachan/Ladakh Festival in Leh/hot springs in Nubra Valley/Pangong Lake on Tibet’s border/Tibetan refuge camps/bird-watching at Tsoker Lake. Land, $3,695. Single supplement, $750.
9-day/7-night tour of Tuscany, ITALY. Departs June 5, Sept. 18 & Oct. 9, 2009. Highlights: Cooking lessons in Siena, Chianti/winery visits in Chianti, Montalcino/chocolate tasting in Colle Val d’Else/olive oil tasting/two nights’ Florence. Land, $3,199. Single supplement, $940. Andiamo (Staten Island, NY; 714/524-0490, www.goandiamo.com).
13 days/11 nights, March-October 2009. Highlights: Galway walking tour/the Burren/Cliffs of Moher/Ring of Kerry/woolen mill/sheepdog demonstration/fishing villages of Kells, Dingle/Blarney Castle/medieval English market in Cork/family visit in Cobh/Waterford Crystal Centre/Dublin’s Trinity College. From $2,345 from New York. Single supplement, from $545. Grand Circle Travel (Boston, MA; 800/959-0405, www.gct.com).
11 days/10 nights in ICELAND, June 15-25, 2009. Highlights: Thingvellir National Park, site of world’s oldest democratic Parliament/Gullfoss waterfall/hot springs in Hveravellir/midnight sun in Akureyri/whale watch in Husavik/ducks, falcons, puffins, terns at Lake Myvatn/Vatnajokull glacier/ Reykjavik city tour/swim in Blue Lagoon. Land, $5,995. Single supplement, $895. Eldertreks (Toronto, ON, Canada; 800/741-7956, www.eldertreks.com).
14 days/13 nights, ARGENTINA and CHILE. Highlights: In Buenos Aires, ARGENTINA, Recoleta, La Boca, Plaza de Mayo/gaucho living at El Ombú de Areco/Bariloche/boat ride to Perito Moreno Glacier/in CHILE, Puerto Natales/Torres del Paine National Park/Ushuaia/”Train at the End of the World” to Tierra del Fuego. Land and internal air, $8,150; single supplement, $3,650. Big Five Tours & Expeditions (Stuart, FL; 800/244-3483, www.bigfive.com).
18 days/17 nights, Sept. 4-21, 2009. Highlights: Périnet Reserve, Berenty Reserve and national parks for lemurs, other wildlife. Explore rainforest peninsula via speedboat. Land/internal air, $9,180; single supplement, $1,680. Zegrahm & Eco Expeditions (Seattle, WA; 800/628-8747, www.zeco.com).
18 days/16 nights, Dec. 28, 2008-Jan. 14, 2009. Highlights: In Viet Nam, Hanoi/Halong Bay day cruise/H’mong village of Cat Cat/Hue/Hoe An/in CAMBODIA, Angkor Wat temples/Tonle Sap floating village. $5,790 from Los Angeles; single supplement, $1,190. East-West International Tours (Laguna Beach, CA; 800/359-6719, www.eastwest-tours.com).
13 days/11 nights. Highlights: Delhi’s Qutab Minar, Red Fort/pink city of Jaipur/Amber Fort/Agra’s Taj Mahal/Khajuraho Temples/Hindu holy city of Varanasi. From $3,890 out of JFK or LAX; single supplement, from $950. Worldview Tours (Newport Beach, CA; 800/373-0388, www.worldviewtours.com).