Follow the Lewis and Clark Route--Backward

Take a voyage into history with a fall cruise along the Columbia River Gorge that will follow the path taken by early 19th century explorers Lewis and Clark.

The seven-day expedition begins and ends in Portland, Ore., where travelers board a 70-passenger ship that wends its way through some of the regions explored by Meriwether Lewis and William Clark and their Corps of Discovery nearly 200 years ago.

At the request of President Jefferson, the explorers traveled thousands of miles, searching for a northwest passage--a river or series of connected rivers that would cross the Western mountains and reach the Pacific Ocean.

The Lindblad Expeditions cruise will reverse the Lewis and Clark journey, traveling from the mouth of the Columbia River to Idaho, more than 450 miles upstream. Along the route, the ship will traverse the locks of the Columbia, visit Astoria, Ore., and sail up the Snake River. The group will visit Hells Canyon, Idaho, by jet boat.

Inflatable Zodiac boats and kayaks are often used to explore remote shorelines and regions such as the Palouse River, a tributary of the Snake River.

Historians and naturalists will act as guides.

Cost: Rates begin at $1,793 per person, double occupancy, for sailings Oct. 30 and 31 or Nov. 5 and 6. Other departures are planned between Sept. 30 and Oct. 25, beginning at $2,390 per person. Air fare to Portland is not included.

Contact: a travel agency or Lindblad Expeditions, (800) EXPEDITION (397-3348), www.expeditions.com.

Spain: Counting Castles

The Spanish heartland--known for its castles and Romanesque art and architecture--is the focus of a low-cost eight-night package for independent travelers.

Travelers fly into Madrid and journey at their own pace, exploring the Castile and Leon regions--cities such as Avila, Burgos, Salamanca and Segovia, with a stopover in Madrid.

About 100 castles still stand in the region, which is also known for its monumental cathedrals, altarpieces and religious sculptures.

Many of the hotels in the package are paradores--government-owned hotels in renovated historical buildings, such as palaces, monasteries and chateaus.

Cost: Rates begin at $1,711, including round-trip air fare from Los Angeles, accommodations, breakfasts and rental of a compact car. From Sept. 1 to Oct. 31, the price decreases to $1,546; on Nov. 1, the price drops to $1,346.

Contact: M.I. Travel Inc., (800) 848-2314, www.mitravel-melia.com.

Chile: High Country

Hikers can test their mettle against the soaring landscape of Chile’s Torres del Paine National Park during an 11-day tour planned by the Canadian company Active Journeys Inc.

The tour, which departs on several dates from October to April, takes advantage of Chile’s warm weather that time of year to offer North American hikers a temperate climate at the remote southern end of the continent.

Torres del Paine National Park covers more than 1,100 square miles and is dominated by granite towers more than 6,500 feet high that give the park its name. (Torre means “tower.”)

The landscape varies from vast plateaus to glaciers to deep forests. The hiking grade is considered moderate to challenging. Hikers sleep in huts along the route.

Cost: $2,475, including accommodations, breakfasts, guides and support. Active Journeys offers other Chilean trips, including a six-day multisport (walking, cycling, rafting) tour in Chile’s mountainous Lake District that costs $1,365; an eight-day cycling tour for $1,365; and a nine-day sea kayaking tour for $1,690. Prices are land only, and do not include air fare to Chile.

Contact: Active Journeys Inc., (800) 597-5594, www.activejourneys.com.

Pacific: WWII Cruise

Veterans and history buffs will be in the spotlight during a 22-day Pacific Islands cruise that will visit World War II battlegrounds, including Midway, Guadalcanal and Iwo Jima.

The Princess Lines cruise, which departs Oct. 6 from Honolulu, will have World War II-themed activities, including lectures by historians, films and veterans’ meetings. Newport Beach-based Joan Irvine Travel is assembling a group to participate.

Stops on the tour are the Marshall Islands, Guam, Saipan, and Okinawa and Hiroshima, Japan. The cruise ends in Osaka, Japan.

Cost: Rates begin at $2,385 per person, double occupancy, and include meals and entertainment on board, a shipboard credit of $100 and port charges. Air fare from Los Angeles to Honolulu and from Osaka to Los Angeles is not included.

Contact: Joan Irvine Travel, (800) 94-TRIPS (948-7477) or (949) 640-7402.

Montana: Fly-Fishing

If you enjoy fly-fishing and are looking for a last-minute summer trip, you might be interested in a guided excursion to the Bighorn River in Montana.

The trip, Aug. 13-18, includes four days aboard guided drift boats on the Bighorn River, known for its fly-fishing. Tour participants also can visit local historic sites, including the Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument.

Cost: $1,125 per person, double occupancy, including transfers, accommodations at the Bighorn Fly & Tackle and lunch daily. Round-trip air fare to Billings, Mont., is not included.

Contact: Sierra Pacific Fishing Adventures, (562) 493-7942, www.spfadventures.com.

Mexico: Fitness Cruise

Fitness and nutrition experts will be on board Nov. 16 when Holland America’s Ryndam sets sail from San Diego for a weeklong Baja California tour.

The program, which focuses on women, is called Cruisin’ Toward Wellness and emphasizes developing a personal wellness plan. Editor Linda Shelton of Shape and Fit Pregnancy magazines will guide the program along with nutritionist Kris Napier.

Participants receive private fitness and nutrition consultations, participate in group motivational activities and work on managing stress. Daily workouts are held, and participants are encouraged to make light menu selections when dining.

The Ryndam will call at La Paz, Loreto and Cabo San Lucas before returning to San Diego.

Cost: from $899 per person, double occupancy, including the cruise, participation in the wellness program, accommodations and food. The agency can arrange round-trip transfers to San Diego from the Los Angeles area for an extra charge.

Contact: Roz Marks or Karen Good Satzman at Altour Classic Cruise & Travel, (800) 688-8500, Ext. 215.

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