Polka Along a Bavarian Beer Barrel Trail

A tour of the breweries and beer pubs in Bavaria, Germany, and the Czech Republic leaves May 31 and returns June 8. The tour takes participants to small breweries many centuries old, and the historic towns and cities surrounding them. Group members begin in Prague, a city filled with history that touts one of the smallest but most famous breweries in the Czech Republic--U Fleku. This brewery is known for its architectural beauty and its dark lager, produced on site, and served only in its brew pub, the largest in the Czech Republic.

Prague has many newer brew pubs, and participants will take in the best and sample their brews. In Plzen, 56 miles southwest of Prague, the group will visit the Pilsner Urque Brewery, known for its vast fermentation and lagering cellars--six miles long--all carved from sandstone. Visitors will also tour a small beer museum in Plzen, famous for its miniature brewery.

From Plzen the group will travel across the border into the region of Germany famous throughout the world for its more than 700 specialty breweries. Historically, each of these brew houses supplied beer to their own small community, and the competition among them is still quite fierce. In the town of Bayreuth, travelers will taste Dampfbier (steam beer), and in Kulmbach, EKU 28--considered one of the world’s strongest beers--will be sampled. In Bamberg, members explore cobbled streets and savor a glass of Rauchbier, the city’s famous smoked beer. Near Munich, the group will stop at the 1878 Ayinger Brewery, judged Small Brewery of the Year at the World Beer Championships in 1995. Here participants visit the brewery and stay in the Ayinger Gasthaus Hotel under the shade of Aying’s onion-domed church.

Cost: $1,595 per person, double occupancy, including hotels, all breakfasts, some meals, brewery tours and tasting, guide services and motor-coach transportation. Not included: international air fare. Contact: Douglas Grimes, MIR Corp., 85 S. Washington St., Suite 210, Seattle, WA 98104; telephone (800) 424-7289.

Costa Rica Coffee

An eight-night tour of Costa Rica’s lush country and coffee plantations leaves May 24. The tour begins with a journey to Poas Volcano National Park, with a stop en route to visit a coffee plantation. A guided excursion to the Arenal volcano and walking tour at the Lankester Gardens, known for its orchids, are also planned.

The group will travel to the Caribbean coast for an overnight journey into the remote Tortuguero National Park with morning and afternoon guided boat tours of waterways in search of exotic wildlife, flora and fauna. The group will board a pleasure boat for an all-day cruise from the Pacific port of Puntarenas to Tortuga island with time for swimming.

Cost: $1,786 per person, double occupancy, including round-trip air fare, airport transfers, accommodations, most meals and sightseeing. Contact: Adventures With Alice Travel, 1082 S. Seaward Ave., Ventura, CA 93001; tel. (800) 549-9071 or (805) 648-2542.

Treasures of Tuscany

A seven-night tour through the hill country of central Tuscany begins in Pisa and ends in Florence May 18-25. The tour includes the Leaning Tower of Pisa, the Etruscan Acropolis and the Roman Amphitheater in Volterra, the towers in San Gimignano, and Siena, one of Italy’s best-preserved medieval cities. Participants will tour a winery in the Chianti region, visit an ancient castle and take time for shopping in each area. Weather permitting, a hot-air balloon ride is planned.

Cost: $1,195 per person, double occupancy, including hotel with daily breakfast, airport transfers ground transportation and a guide. Not included: air fare to Italy and meals. Contact: Jim Gurnham, High Country Trekkers, 11950 Ventura Blvd., Suite 4, Studio City, CA 91604; tel. (800) 475-0004.

Europe on Motorcycle

A motorcycle tour of Europe, which departs Sept. 5 and returns Sept. 24, will take motorcyclists and their motorcycles overnight by train from the Bavarian Alps to Southern France. From here participants will ride the winding roads of the Pyrenees and the coastal road along the Golfe du Lion in southern France. Guests will travel through Portugal to see vineyards, beaches, old fortresses, quaint mountain villages, monasteries, 12th century cathedrals and Roman ruins. Motorcyclists then cross into Andorra and Spain and cross the Sierra Morena. The trip ends in Munich with a celebration at the Oktoberfest, where the group will have reserved seats at the festivities. Members can ride each day individually and meet in the evenings at their hotel, where their luggage will be waiting.

Cost: $4,098 per person, double occupancy, including round-trip air fare from Los Angeles, hotels, most meals, airport transfers. Not included: motorcycle rentals (from $1,100) and $292 for motorcycle cargo aboard the train. Contact: Von Thielmann Tours, P.O. Box 87764, San Diego, CA 92138-7764; tel. (619) 463-7788.

Touting the Trout

Fish for 25-inch rainbow trout in Colorado on a three-day weekend fly-fishing trip Aug 16-18 and Sept. 20-22. Participants fly to Denver and are transported to their cabin with a view of the Rocky Mountains. The fishing begins on Lunker Lake for rainbow and brook trout. Guests will also fish in a stretch of river for 15- to 22-inch brown trout, and travel through Rocky Mountain National Park to fish for cutthroat.

Cost: $750 per person, including cabin, airport transfers, meals, fishing license and rod fees, instruction and equipment (rods, reels, lines, flies and float tubes). Contact: Chuck Prather, Flyfishing Services, 7925 W. Layton Ave., No. 523., Littleton, CO 80123; tel. (303) 979-3077.

The Imperial Trail

The former imperial capitals of Prague, Vienna and Budapest are filled with centuries-old architecture, treasure-packed museums, musical heritage, great cuisine and enjoyable shopping. Tradesco Tours is offering the Imperial Trail, a 12-day escorted tour with 14 departures through Oct. 10. Participants start in Prague, Czech Republic, where a guided city tour highlights major sights: the Prague Castle, the Charles Bridge and the Old Town Square, with its astronomical clock.

Next is a full-day excursion to see the Bohemian Gothic castle of Karlstejn. After three days in Prague, the tour continues to Brno.

The next stop is Vienna. The city tour features the State Opera House, the Museum of Fine Arts and the majestic Hofburg, former home of the Hapsburg Dynasty. An evening in Grinzing, a wine-producing village nearby, is also included.

Travelers take a five-hour hydrofoil trip from Vienna to Budapest, cruising through the spectacular scenery of Central Europe. In Budapest, the city tour includes the Royal Castle, the Matthias Church with the Fishermen’s Bastion, the Heroe’s Square and the parliament. The next afternoon is an excursion to the Hungarian Puszta, where a horse show and a traditional Hungarian dinner are the highlights.

Cost: from $2,643 per person, double occupancy, including round-trip air fare from Los Angeles, hotels with daily buffet breakfast throughout, nine dinners, one lunch, motor-coach transportation within the tour, hydrofoil cruise from Vienna to Budapest, sightseeing and excursions, a professional English-speaking tour escort, tax and service charge.

Contact: Tradesco Tours, 6033 W. Century Blvd., Suite 670, Los Angeles, CA 90045; tel. (800) 833-3402.

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