Tours

April 2013 issue

“Emerald Encounter, Botswana”

10 days/9 nights. Highlights: Central Kalahari Game Reserve/game drives via mokoro (canoe) on the Okavango Delta/lions, wild dogs in the Linyati Concession/cruise the Chobe River to spot birds/in Livingstone, ZAMBIA, Victoria Falls. Land, $6,995. Safariline (Sugar Grove, IL; 630/466-0301).

January 2014 issue

“ ‘Slow Food’ Gourmet Tour Of Tuscany”

8 days, 7 nights in Tuscany region of ITALY. Departures May-October 2014. Highlights: Tour starts and ends in Rome and visits market towns like Greve plus medieval Montepulciano and the Renaissance Pienza, with tours of Florence (Church of Santa Croce), Siena (Contrade Museum) and Orvieto (funicular) / four tastings of wine or “Presidia products” / cooking lesson. Land, $2,600 per person, double occ. Single cost, $3,219. TourCrafters (Libertyville, IL; 800/482-5995).

May 2013 issue

“Romance Of The Rhine & Mosel”

16-day/15-night river cruise visits five countries. Departures April-November. Highlights: In Antwerp, BELGIUM, the Grote Markt/windmills in Kinderdijk, NETHERLANDS/in GERMANY, Bonn/wine tasting in Bernkastel/Roman ruins in Trier/13th-century Marksburg Castle/Lorelei rock/Black Forest tour/tour by canal boat in Strasbourg, FRANCE/walking tour of Basel, SWITZERLAND. Cruise plus airfare from New York, $3,795 (November) to $5,395 (June). Other gateways available. No single supp. Grand Circle Travel (Boston, MA; 800/221-2610).

February 2013 issue

“Exploring Indonesia”

16 days/15 nights, Aug. 15-30, 2013. Highlights: Borobudur and Prambanan temples in Java/Tanjung Puting National Park orangutan conservation center in Kalimantan/Tana Toraja treks and ceremonies in Sulawesi/beach in Bali. With air from West Coast, $6,200. Single supp., $685. Five-day Komodo island extension, $1,037. Danu Enterprises (Capitola, CA; 888/476-0543).

September 2013 issue

“Complete Vietnam”

15-day / 14-night tour departs Oct. 24, 2013, and April 10 & Oct. 28, 2014. Highlights: In Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, Presidential Palace, Temple of Literature, Hoan Kiem Lake, Old Quarter, water puppet show / visit a Dao family in Ta Phin village / Sapa / Lao Cai Hmong village / cruise in a junk on Ha Long Bay / visit Vang Vieng fishing village via rowboat / train to Hue / cruise on Perfume River / visit Hue villages by bike / Hoi an / Saigon / Mekong Delta. Land, from $1,995. Single supp., $925. Third Eye Travel (Fremont, CA; 800 / 456-3393).

December 2012 issue

Whale-Watching, Patagonia

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).

October 2013 issue

“Train Trip Quito To Guayaquil”

4-day/3-night train/coach tour in ECUADOR. Highlights: Board the Tren Crucero in Quito/hike near Lake Limpiopungo in Cotopaxi National Park/chance to see Andean deer, wolves, spectacled bear, caracaras/explore a rose plantation/ride a steam locomotive from Riobamba to Guamote/Guamote indigenous market/visit a Shuar community in Bucay. Land, from $1,270. Single supp., $150. Tropic (Quito, Ecuador; 888/207-8615).

August 2013 issue

Italian Lakes & Venice

12 days / 12 nights, Sept. 21-Oct. 4, 2014. Highlights: Stresa on Lake Maggiore / Isolo Bella, one of the Borromean Islands / in SWITZERLAND, Locarno and Lugano / back in Italy, Bellagio on Lake Como / ride a steamer to Villa Carlotta / medieval Bergamo / Roman ruins in Verona / Giotto frescoes in Padova / in Venice, Doge’s Palace, boat tour, art at I Frari church / island of Murano. Land, $3,995. Single supp., $550. Intimate France (Oakland, CA; 800 / 676-1247).