Elderhostel Program to Visit Lake Arrowhead : College of the Desert summer courses include fitness, cooking and local history.

Travelers who are somewhat wary of the term hostel , conjuring up images of too-rustic accommodations, should think again when checking out the series of weeklong Elderhostel programs offered this fall by the College of the Desert at Lake Arrowhead.

During these six-night educational adventures, Elderhostelers are ensconced at the lovely Lake Arrowhead Hilton, situated amid the pines on the lake, and complete with heated pool, tennis courts, Jacuzzis and saunas, fitness center and private beach--with nary a cot nor knapsack in sight.

(Most other Elderhostel accommodations are provided in college dormitories or modest local inns or motels, and a few now offer sites for those with recreational vehicles.)

Cost of the Lake Arrowhead learning experience, which includes a room with private bath and all meals, plus use of the lodge’s recreational facilities and the typical three Elderhostel courses, is $340 per person, double occupancy. Transportation to Lake Arrowhead, or any Elderhostel site, is up to the participant and is not included in the cost.

Courses offered at Lake Arrowhead are:

--physical fitness training, featuring low-impact aerobics, massage techniques and other exercise tips from professionals.

--international cuisines for the novice or closet gourmet, taught by a European chef who reveals his secrets of preparing low-fat and low-cholesterol meals and offers tips on specialized cooking techniques and menu planning.

--Lake Arrowhead history, taught by local experts, with side trips to such nearby attractions as Heap’s Peak Arboretum, Santa’s Village and points of historical interest.

As with all Elderhostel educational stays, the non-credit programs are low-key; attendance is not mandatory and there are no tests.

The Lake Arrowhead programs, which coincide with fall foliage and the area’s Octoberfest activities, are scheduled for Oct. 4-10, 11-17, 18-24 and 25-31, and Nov. 1-6 and 8-13.

Similar winter programs, priced slightly higher at $355 per person, double, will be offered in February and March.

The college offers another Elderhostel program at its campus in Palm Desert. This one is priced at $340 per person, double, for a six-night stay, with accommodations provided in a modern retirement center complete with air conditioning and swimming pool. All rooms have private baths.

At Palm Desert, Elderhostelers can enroll in courses on star-gazing, local Cahuilla Indian culture, and golf or tennis (taught by Palm Desert professionals). These will be offered Oct. 25-31; Nov. 1-7, 8-14, 15-21; Nov. 29-Dec. 5 and Dec. 6-12.

As with all programs offered by the nonprofit Elderhostel organization, hostelers must be age 60 or over, although a younger spouse or companion can accompany the senior participant. No formal education is required.

Both the Lake Arrowhead and Palm Desert Elderhostel programs will be repeated (with some class changes) next spring. A modest price increase can be expected.

For more details and brochures on the Lake Arrowhead and/or Palm Desert programs, contact the Community Services Department, College of the Desert, 43500 Monterey Ave., Palm Desert 92260, (619) 773-2544.

Actual registration for the programs is done only through the main Elderhostel office in Boston.

Elderhostel offers hundreds of programs in all 50 states (including more than 50 in California) and more than 45 foreign countries. To learn more, contact Elderhostel, 75 Federal St., Boston, Mass. 02110, (617) 426-8056.