Tours & cruises in Mexico, Europe and Canada

PLAYA DEL CARMEN, MEXICO

A tropical adventure

Fairmont’s Global Explorer Series, offered in partnership with National Geographic, includes a four-night package at the Fairmont Mayakoba Riviera Maya called “Slip Into the Cenotes.” The AAA five-diamond resort is inviting environmental anthropologist and underwater cave expert Kenny Broad to give a conference (those who book this package get VIP passes) and to lead a snorkeling expedition and a birding tour. Besides seeing the cenotes (sacred waters) and the tropical freshwater jungles, visitors are taken to Sian Kaan, a biosphere reserve that’s also a UNESCO World Heritage site, where locals serve lunch.

Dates: June 4-8

Price: Starting at $469 per night, double occupancy, including a $200 food-and-beverage credit, airport transfers, transportation to Sian Kaan, use of snorkeling equipment, a handcrafted Mayan welcome gift and a farewell souvenir. The price does not include airfare, taxes or resort fees.

Info: Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, Toronto; (800) 441-1414, https://www.fairmont.com/globalexplorer

SCANDINAVIA AND EASTERN EUROPE

A Baltic adventure

This Baltic cruise aboard Royal Caribbean’s Vision of the Seas takes you to some jewels of Scandinavia and Eastern Europe. This large vessel (capacity: 2,435 people) has a solarium, an indoor-outdoor pool with a sliding-glass roof, six hot tubs, a rock-climbing wall, a spa and fitness center and kids’ facilities. Nightly entertainment happens in a theater and in themed bars.

Itinerary: Stockholm to Helsinki, Finland; St. Petersburg, Russia; Riga, Latvia; Gdansk, Poland; Visby, Sweden; and back to Stockholm

Dates: Departures July 11, 18, 25 and Aug. 1

Price: Starting at $907, double occupancy, including accommodations and all meals but not taxes, fuel surcharges, gratuities or airfare.

Info: America’s Vacation Center, Miami; (888) 500-6514, https://www.americasvacationcenter.com

CANADIAN ROCKIES

Heli-hiking expedition

During this four-day expedition, you’ll go heli-hiking daily amid the spectacular scenery of Banff National Park in Alberta, Kicking Horse Canyon and the Columbia Mountains. You’ll also meet and learn from Joseph MacInnis, the undersea explorer who led the first dive under the North Pole and helped get to the Titanic ruins. After your helicopter rides and challenging mountain ascents, MacInnis will give a presentation about his adventures and about other sea and space pioneers who are creating models for leaders. Hiking opportunities will include the Via Ferrata route as well as an adventure trail featuring ropes courses and ziplines.

Dates: July 24-27

Price: About $2,500, double occupancy, including three nights at the Bobbie Burns Lodge, ground transfers, guided heli-hiking tours, all meals, morning stretching classes, use of hiking equipment and attendance at evening presentations by MacInnis. The cost does not include taxes. Discounted prices are available for kids.

Info: Canadian Mountain Holidays, Banff, Canada; (800) 661-0252, https://www.cmhsummer.com

PAPUA NEW GUINEA

River trip to other worlds

Watch as the rituals and costumes of Papua New Guinea’s tribal Huli Wigmen come to life before you during Travcoa’s 16-day “Papua New Guinea & the Sepik River” aboard the 18-passenger Sepik Spirit. You’ll encounter other clans, rituals and legends that remain almost untouched by the modern world, including those of the Mudmen. Glide over pristine South Pacific waters into remote villages and dense rain forests where exotic birds and fish thrive. Memorable moments will include snorkeling near Kranket Island, taking a private tour of Port Moresby National Museum’s art collections and visiting a traditional spirit house.

Itinerary: Cairns, Australia, to Port Moresby, Mt. Hagen, Tambanum, Palembei, Tari, Madang and back to Cairns

Dates: Departures July 30 and Oct. 8

Price: Starting at $8,875, double occupancy (single supplement $2,600), including lodging, all meals, river transportation, the services of a Travcoa tour director, guided sightseeing, entrance fees, tips, airport transfers, limited travel insurance and a farewell dinner party. The price does not include international airfare.

Info: Travcoa, El Segundo; (800) 992-2003, https://www.travcoa.com

SRI LANKA

Wilderness and ancient cultures

The 16-day “Splendid Sri Lanka” tour hits the South Asian island nation’s principal highlights, emphasizing its lush wilderness and ancient cultures. Natural wonders include mountains, beaches, grasslands and jungles rife with leopards. You’re apt to spot crocodiles, water buffalo, the endangered sloth bear and hundreds of species of birds during an elephant-back safari. You’ll also get to bottle-feed orphaned elephant calves. As for cultural and historical charms, there will be many UNESCO World Heritage sites, the wondrous Esala Perahera festival, cooking classes and a visit to the Sri Maha Bodhi, a sacred 2,200-year-old tree believed to be a descendent of the plant under which the Buddha achieved enlightenment. Accommodations are authentic, and toward trip’s end, boats take travelers to visit nearby islands.

Itinerary: Colombo to Dambulla, Sigiriya, Polonnaruwa, Minneriya, Anuradhapura, Mihintale, Kandy, Pinnawala, Hatton, Horton Plains National Park, Yala National Park, Galle, Ahungalla, the outer islands and back to Colombo

Dates: Departs Aug. 15, though custom scheduling is available

Price: $6,195, double occupancy (single supplement $1,300), including overnight accommodations, most meals, the services of tour leaders, some gratuities, medical insurance, all ground transportation including transfers, entrance fees, airport taxes and pre-departure reading materials. The price does not include airfare.

Info: Asia Transpacific Journeys , Boulder, Colo.; (800) 642-2742, https://www.asiatranspacific.com

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