TOURS & CRUISES

Quite a ketch to find orcas, grizzly bears

Explore the wilderness of northern Vancouver Island aboard a 68-foot ketch on weeklong voyages in search of killer whales and grizzly bears.

The trips, which depart Aug. 30 through early October, are aboard the Island Roamer and include a visit to an abandoned Native American village, where participants will see ancient artifacts and totems.

“This is a very flexible trip,” said tour director Randy Burke. “If we see whales we stay in the area where we spotted them. If not, we move on.”

The sailboat has eight cabins, which can hold up to 16 people.

During one segment of the trip, the boat will sail into a region where grizzlies are commonly seen. Passengers will watch the bears from the safety of a platform.

Cost: $1,995 per person, double occupancy (no extra charge for singles), including the cruise, meals and sightseeing. Transportation to the departure point, Port McNeill, B.C., on northern Vancouver Island, is not included.

Contact: Bluewater Adventures, North Vancouver, B.C.; (888) 877-1770, www.bluewateradventures.ca.

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INDIA AND NEPAL

Historic cities,

the Taj Mahal

and a camel fair

Journey to an exotic corner of the world on a 22-day fall tour of northern India and Nepal.

The Nov. 3 tour, an overview for first-time visitors, stops at many of the subcontinent’s best-known cities and sights. It includes a visit to the bustling Pushkar Camel Fair on the banks of Pushkar Lake in India. Other destinations in India include the pink city of Jaipur, the Taj Mahal in Agra, the temples of Khajuraho, Delhi, Jodhpur, Jaisalmer, Udaipur, Mumbai (Bombay) and Aurangabad. The group will also visit Katmandu in Nepal.

Cost: $6,690 per person, double occupancy (single surcharge $1,460), including round-trip airfare from LAX, deluxe hotels, most meals and sightseeing.

Contact: Worldview Tours of Lakewood; (800) 373-0388, www.worldviewtours.com. The tour will be led by Worldview Tours owner Nino Mohan.

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MIDWEST

Leafing through the heartland on a steamboat

Cruise down Ol’ Man River on a seven-night fall foliage steamboat voyage through America’s heartland.

The Oct. 19 trip, aboard American Queen, a paddle-wheeler, has a Lewis and Clark theme and will celebrate next year’s bicentennial of the explorers’ search for an all-water route to the Pacific Ocean. Their overland expedition took place from 1804 to 1806. Historians will be aboard to discuss the significance of the Lewis and Clark trip.

The steamboat will cruise the upper Mississippi River, departing from St. Paul, Minn. Stops are at Red Wing, Minn.; LaCrosse, Wis.; Dubuque, Iowa; Hannibal, Mo.; and Alton, Ill. The cruise ends in St. Louis.

Also available is a holiday season seven-night American Queen cruise on the lower Mississippi from Memphis, Tenn., to New Orleans, on Nov. 30.

Cost: The upper Mississippi trip is $1,500 per person, double occupancy (single surcharge is $1,125), including the cruise. Transportation from LAX to St. Paul and return from St. Louis is not included. Prices for the lower Mississippi trip start at $1,000 per person, double occupancy (single supplement is $750). Transportation to Memphis and return from New Orleans are not included.

Contact: Historic Tours and Cruises Inc. of Huntington Beach; (714) 536-3434.

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CALIFORNIA

Send worries paddling down the Sacramento River

Discover the Golden State’s backcountry on a three-night canoe or kayak journey down the Sacramento River.

The Oct. 8 trip, called Paddle California, is being organized by the nonprofit group River Discovery. Participants will paddle about 88 miles from Anderson to Irvine Finch, camping at night along the river.

“Sacramento is a world away from Los Angeles and provides wonderful scenery and relaxation,” said Travis Williams of River Discovery.

Cost: $435 per person, including meals, luggage shuttle, on-river safety discussions, paddling clinics and historical and ecological discussions.

Contact: River Discovery; (503) 890-1683, www.riverdiscovery.org.

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JAPAN

Colorful leaves in Tokyo and south to Osaka

Fall for Japan during its most colorful season on an 11-night tour timed to coincide with the change of Japanese maple leaves from green to brilliant red.

“The colors are incredible,” said tour director Kambiz Amirshahi, who accompanied the trip last year. “The leaves turn yellow and almost an unbelievable shade of red.”

The Oct. 27 tour includes four nights in Tokyo, where the group will spend a day touring the city, and another visiting the city of Nikko. The tour also will visit the Mt. Fuji area, stopping for three nights at hotels known for their therapeutic hot spring baths. Other stops include Nara, Osaka and the ancient mountain village of Shirakawago. A three-night stay in Kyoto is also on the itinerary.

Cost: $2,700 per person, double occupancy (single supplement $800), including airfare from LAX to Tokyo and Osaka to Los Angeles, accommodations, most meals, transfers, tours, entrance fees and tour escort.

Contact: Hermes Travel and Tours Inc. of Torrance; (310) 791-5556, www.hermestoursonline.com.

The Times is not responsible for changes in prices, dates or itineraries. These should be confirmed with travel agents, cruise lines or tour operators.