See the islands in flower

DISCOVER the archeological treasures of the Greek isles on a 10-night tour that explores Santorini and Crete.

The tour, sponsored by the Santa Barbara Museum of Art, begins May 10.

“It’s a wonderful time of year when wildflowers are blooming, enhancing the beauty of the historical sites,” said Theresa Payne, a museum representative. She pointed out that, unlike during a cruise, participants will have an opportunity to “enjoy life as the locals do.”

Participants spend four nights on each island and two nights in Athens, where the tour begins and ends. The itinerary in Athens includes the Acropolis and Olympic stadium.

The group flies to Heraklion on Crete and drives along the coast to Rethymnon. Stops include the Palace of Knossos and the Monastery of Arkadi.

On Santorini, the group tours the excavations of Akrotiri, scales the extinct volcano at Fira and takes a cruise to the caldera islet of Thirassia.

Cost: $4,245 per person, double occupancy ($350 single surcharge), including round-trip airfare from Los Angeles to Athens, accommodations, all meals, internal flights and scheduled sightseeing and entrance fees.

Contact: The Santa Barbara Museum of Art, Santa Barbara; (805) 884-6476, www.sbmuseart.org.

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PERU

Incan ruins, natural sights

EXPERIENCE the land of the Incas on a nine-night tour of Peru that begins April 27.

The trip starts in Lima, then moves to Puerto Maldonado, the gateway to three national parks in the Peruvian Amazon.

Participants also visit Cuzco and travel by train to Aguas Calientes on the way to the ruins of Machu Picchu, a fortress city of the ancient Incas.

Cost: $2,850 per person, double occupancy ($800 single surcharge), including round-trip airfare from Los Angeles to Lima, hotels, internal airfare, ground transportation, most meals and admission fees.

Contact: Hermes Travel & Tours, Hawthorne; (310) 791-5556 www.hermestoursonline.com.

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BAJA CALIFORNIA

Margaritas and shopping

LUNCH on lobster on a spring day trip that heads south of the border.

The April 26 bus tour includes lobster and margaritas in Puerto Nuevo, shopping at the artisans’ market in Rosarito Beach, a bakery stop for pastries and Mexican sweet rolls and a stop in Tijuana on the way home.

Cost: $59 per person, including transportation from San Diego, bilingual guide, lunch and one drink.

Contact: Baja California Tours, La Jolla; (800) 336-5454, www.bajaspecials.com.

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DENMARK

Hitting the opera circuit

TOUR Copenhagen, visit the city’s new Opera House and enjoy Richard Wagner’s operatic masterpiece the “Ring” Cycle on an eight-night tour that begins May 21.

The tour includes orchestra tickets to the four-opera production “Der Ring des Nibelungen”: “Das Rheingold,” “Die Walkure,” “Siegfried” and “Gotterdammerung.”

Between performances, participants take in the museums and the sights of Copenhagen and the Danish Riviera. Among the stops will be Kronborg Castle at Helsingor, where Shakespeare’s “Hamlet” was set, and Castle Frederiksborg in Hillerod, a national historical museum.

Cost: $4,200 per person, double occupancy ($565 single surcharge), including hotels, most meals, opera tickets and sightseeing.

Contact: International Curtain Call, Los Angeles; (310) 204-4934, www.iccoperatours.com.

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EUROPE

Count stars aboard ship

NAVIGATE the Atlantic on a 15-night star-studded cruise to Portugal, Morocco, Spain, France and Monaco.

Scheduled to be on board for the April 21 cruise are Patricia Neal, Ed Asner, Cliff Robertson, Gena Rowlands and Leslie Uggams. They and other film and stage veterans will entertain and mingle with the guests.

“They have lunch and dinner with the passengers, hold Q&A; sessions and perform nine plays in 15 days,” said tour organizer Phillip Langner.

Ports of call for the 490-passenger Seven Seas Navigator include Casablanca, Morocco; Monte Carlo; and Malaga and Barcelona, Spain.

Cost: $4,495 to $5,745 per person, double occupancy ($1,573 to $2,011 single surcharge), including accommodations, meals, wine with dinner and onboard entertainment. Airfare from Los Angeles to Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., is not included.

Contact: Theatre at Sea Inc., New York; (212) 873-0676, www.theatreatsea.com.

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The Times is not responsible for changes in prices, dates or itineraries. Send information to Tours & Cruises, L.A. Times, 202 W. 1st St., L.A., CA 90012 or to travel@latimes.com.