Three’s a charm in Asia

SAVOR the rich flavors and cultures of Indochina on a two-week tour of Cambodia, Vietnam and Laos that begins Nov. 3.

“It’s small group touring with English-speaking guides all along,” said Pat Horvath of Acacia Travel.

“People are discovering that these are really beautiful countries

The tour begins in Siem Reap, Cambodia, near Angkor Archeological Park. The group will explore ancient temples of Angkor, including the walled city of Angkor Thom and the Khmer ruins at Angkor Wat.

Participants then fly to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, visiting the former Presidential Palace and the Chinese district of Colon; travel to the Mekong Delta for a boat trip among floating vendors of fruit and flowers; and fly to the former Imperial city of Hue to see the Thien Mu Pagoda and the royal tombs of emperors Khai Dinh and Tu Doc.

Other stops in Vietnam include Halong Bay and Hanoi.

From Hanoi, participants will fly to Vientiane, Laos, to visit monuments and a textile gallery, and then the northern mountain province of Luang Prabang to tour palaces and temples and climb Mt. Phousi. They will cruise the Mekong River in a long-tail boat to the Pak Ou Caves, which house hundreds of Buddha statues.

Cost: $2,765 per person, double occupancy ($900 single surcharge), including hotels, internal airfare and ground transportation, some meals, excursions, admissions and airport transfers.

Contact: Acacia Travel, San Diego; (800) 243-6996, www.acaciatravel.com.

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ENGLAND

Trip designed for potters

DISCOVER artisans and artifacts on a two-week pottery and archeology tour of southwest England.

The Oct. 3 trip will visit ancient ruins, historic castles and the private studios of potters from villages such as Avebury and Stoke-on-Trent. The itinerary includes galleries and more than a dozen studios.

Participants will see the prehistoric stone ring near Avebury, visit Stonehenge and the Knowlton Neolithic Circle and tour the Iron Age hill fortress of Maiden Castle near Dorchester.

The tour is led by Alan and Gillian McMillan, an archeologist and a potter from Port Moody, Canada.

Cost: About $4,046 per person, double occupancy, including hotels, most meals, transportation, admissions and airport transfers in England. Airfare to London is extra.

Contact: Best Way Tours & Safaris, Burnaby, Canada; (888) 280-6890, www.skiesunlimited.com.

CALIFORNIA

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Photo classes at Yosemite

CAPTURE the colors of autumn in a fall photography workshop at Tenaya Lodge at Yosemite. The lodge, near Fish Camp outside the gate of Yosemite National Park, will hold a four-day workshop that begins Oct. 6.

The class, which will focus on color landscape photography, is led by local photographer Michael Frye and includes two full-day outings in the park.

Frye will concentrate on basic and intermediate techniques for both film and digital, and will offer portfolio reviews at the beginning and end of the session.

Cost: $820 per person, double occupancy ($278 single surcharge), including three nights’ lodging, some meals, transportation in the park and classes. Transportation from L.A. is not included.

Contact: Tenaya Lodge at Yosemite; (800) 722-8584, www.tenayalodge.com.

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LIBYA

Archeology in Africa

DISCOVER the archeological treasures of Libya and Tunisia on a 15-night academic tour of the region.

The trip, which begins Jan. 1, focuses on the multicultural past and the contemporary life of the northern African countries.

The itinerary in Libya includes Tripoli, Sabratha, Leptis Magna, Potolemaios and Cyrene. In Tunisia, the group visits Tozeur, Kairouan, Tunis and Sousse.

The tour is led by philosophy and art history professor Leon Rosenstein of San Diego State University. Academic credit is optional.

Cost: $5,129 per person, double occupancy ($778 single surcharge), including airfare from Los Angeles, hotels, all meals, internal airfare and ground transportation, entrance fees and guide.

Contact: The Classical Alliance of the Western States, La Mesa, Calif.; (800) 862-6220 or call Leon Rosenstein, (619) 594-6586.

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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; e-mail travel@latimes.com.