Making Pottery in Mexico and Hiking in Britain

An eight-day pottery workshop in Chihuahua, Mexico, is an opportunity for novice and experienced potters to work with potter Juan Quezada and explore the surrounding countryside. Participants will mine white clay in the foothills of the Sierra Madre, then polish, paint and fire the vessels that they create. Also scheduled are excursions to a Casas Grandes archeological site and a tour of the Museo de las Culturas del Norte in Casas Grandes. Guests will see cave paintings at Arroyo de los Monos and the large jars and pots created by early inhabitants of the area.

Cost: $1,095 per person, double occupancy, including round-trip air fare, van transportation, all meals and lodging.

Contact: Vanessa Acosta at the Southwest Museum; telephone (323) 221-2164, Ext. 236.

Britain: Walking

Devonshire and Scotland’s western islands are the venues for Wayfarers’ walking tours in Britain. On the Devon expedition, hikers are based three nights in Bovey Tracey. From there, the team ventures across Bonehill Down, along the River Bovey and across the moors to the English Channel. Then it’s on to three nights in seaside Salcombe and treks in the area. Trip dates are July 18 to 24, Sept. 5 to 11 and Oct. 17 to 23.

Cost: $2,190 per person, double occupancy, including hotels and meals. Air fare is extra.

The Scottish tour begins and ends in Oban and, via the local ferry fleet, visits the islands of Mull, Ulva, Kerrera and Jura. The tour ends with a Highlands walk to Armaddy Castle. Available dates are June 6 to 12, July 25 to 31, Aug. 22 to 28 and Sept. 19 to 25. On both tours, daily distances are eight to 11 miles. The standard group is 16 plus a walk leader and a walk manager.

Cost: $2,290 per person, double, including six nights’ lodging, all meals, rail depot transfers and van service. Air fare is extra.

Contact: Wayfarers; tel. (800) 249-4620.

China: Highlights

“Odyssey to Ancient Capitals” is a tour from June 29 to July 15. that focuses on the tourist highlights of China. Participants will visit the Great Wall, the Forbidden City, the terra cotta soldiers, the Stone Forest in Kunming and villages in Yunnan Province, and take a cruise down the Li River. A special highlight is dinner with Beijing residents in their home.

Cost: $3,200 per person, double occupancy, including round-trip air fare from Los Angeles, airport transfers, hotels, most meals, sightseeing tours and tickets to the Beijing Opera. Contact: Victoria Francis Mo; tel. (323) 227-8370.

France: Farmhouse Stay

Spend a week in a restored 18th century farmhouse in southern France. This secluded house is in the vicinity of Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, and each of its bedrooms has a private bath.

Daily tours will include antique shopping at Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, Roman ruins in St.-Remy-de-Provence and Arles, picnicking at Pont-du-Gard, touring the Palace of the Popes in Avignon and wine tasting in Cha^teauneuf-du-Pape.

Guests will also shop in some of the ancient hill towns such as Gordes, visit the great designer shops and tree-lined streets of Aix-en-Provence and admire the Fontaine de Vaucluse. Art and architecture will also be enjoyed in Roussillon-de-Vaucluse and Les Baux-de-Provence.

There will be ample time to relax by the pool at the farmhouse, take long country walks and enjoy Provencal cooking demonstrations. Tours are Aug. 28 and Sept. 4, 11, 18 and 25.

Cost: $1,999 per person, double occupancy, including seven nights’ accommodations, all breakfasts, nine meals, transportation to all planned site visits, transfers, tips and entrance fees. Air fare to France is not included.

Contact: A Week in Provence Tours, Dwight and Barbara Bennett, 3855 Pacific Ave., Long Beach, CA 90807; tel. (562) 426-4732.

France: Biking

Pedal through the charming countryside of the Loire Valley on two tours, May 9 to 16 and Sept. 25 to Oct. 2. The first three nights will be spent at a private estate with wine tastings and a cooking class. Guests will go biking three to four hours each morning through small villages and along three rivers (the Loire, Cher and Indre). Afternoons will include visits to vineyards, museums and five cha^teaux. A local historian and lecturer will escort the group through Cha^teau de Chenonceau.

Cost: $1,795 per person, double occupancy, including deluxe accommodations, daily breakfast, airport transfers, ground transportation, support van, admission fees to attractions and a farewell dinner. Not included are air fare and additional meals. Each tour is limited to 12 guests.

Contact: The Gurnham Group, P.O. Drawer 6, Hilton Head Island, SC 29938; tel. (800) 475-0004, Internet https://www.gurnhamgroup.com.

England: Cambridge

Join a small study tour in Cambridge, England, from Sept. 12 to 19, sponsored by UC Irvine. “A Study in Espionage” and “The Art and Architecture of Cambridge,” the courses offered, will teach the history and culture of Britain. Spy buffs in the espionage course will learn about Cambridge-educated espionage agents. Cambridge faculty and students who worked on secret intelligence during World War II will also be discussed. Participants will tour Bletchley Park, home of the British code-breaking center used in World War II.

Art enthusiasts will focus on Cambridge University. Tours include many of the colleges and the Ely and Peterborough cathedrals.

Guests will stay at historic Pembroke College, where they will enjoy three formal dinners in the 14th century library. They will take an excursion to the town of Saffron Walden to see a former royal palace and gardens. An evening of music or theater is also planned.

Cost: $1,500 per person, including classes, lodging, daily breakfast and lunch, three dinners and several planned excursions. Air fare is not included.

Contact: Judy Fogerty at (949) 824-6494, Internet https://www.summer.uci.edu/cambridge.html.

Peru: Andes

A trekking adventure in the Andean highlands, guided by a Peruvian American, is being offered May 21 to June 8. Participants will trek along the Inca Trail, exploring Inca ruins and visiting villages and traditional markets that feature Peruvian ceramics, textiles, art and handicrafts.

Guests can participate in the ancient Festival of Qoyllority on a remote mountain above the village of Mawayani, where they will join thousands of pilgrims on the hike up to the sanctuary. Members will have a chance to interact with Quechua herders in remote mountain communities. The trip includes visits to Cuzco, the sacred valley of the Incas called Urubamba and Machu Picchu.

Cost: $2,750 for the 19-day trip (shorter option available) per person, double occupancy, including round-trip air fare from Los Angeles, all transportation and flights in Peru, sightseeing tours, hotels, all meals, trekking and camping.

Contact: Andes Adventures, Devy Reinstein, 1323 12th St., Suite F, Santa Monica, CA 90401; tel. (310) 395-5265, Internet https:// www.andesadventures.com.

Europe: Danube Cruise

Cruise through Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Yugoslavia and Romania on a Danube River journey Oct. 1 to 16. Passengers will visit 10 cities and attend folk performances in Belgrade and Budapest. The featured tour is the Vlad castle of the Dracula legend in Romania.

Cost: from $3,075 per person, double occupancy, including round-trip air fare from Los Angeles, transfers, all meals on the Balkan Beauty barge and city tours.

Contact: Value World Magic Tour; tel. (800) 795-1633.

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