Luxury at a Discount on a Cruise Down the Nile

Explore the ancient world of the pharaohs on a cruise and tour of the Nile River with Abercrombie & Kent, a tour company known for high-end adventure travel--and hefty price tags. On this trip the company is using a word usually not found in its vocabulary: “discount.”

“I’ve never seen them do this before,” said Pamela Lassers, media director for the 40-year-old firm. “But there aren’t a lot of Americans traveling to Egypt right now. There are lots of Europeans and Australians--our worldwide clientele--but not Americans.”

The Abercrombie & Kent cachet is luxury travel: private escorts, fine food, small groups, lavish accommodations. The discounted trip, called the Nile Explorer, is an 11-day tour, including a five-day cruise through the Nile Valley and visits to the Great Pyramids, the tomb of King Tut, the statues of Ramses II at Abu Simbel and the temples of Thebes. There are several departures through Dec. 24.

The tour price is $3,490 per person, with 50% off for the second passenger sharing a cabin. For singles traveling alone, the single supplement is being waived, a savings of $970. Air fare from the United States to Cairo is an extra $1,141 to $1,645, depending on the date.

Contact: Abercrombie & Kent; (800) 323-7308, www.abercrombiekent.com.

Maui: Weekend Fun

Spend your time snorkeling, sightseeing or watching the sun rise over the Haleakala volcano on a three-night visit to Maui, Hawaii’s Valley Isle.

The low-cost package, billed as a long weekend, departs any Thursday, Friday or Saturday from now through Dec. 14.

Cost: $439 to $459 per person, double occupancy, including round-trip air fare from LAX to Maui, flower lei greeting, rental car, garden view accommodations at the Aston Maui Lu and taxes.

Contact: Pleasant Holidays; (800) 742-9244, www.pleasantholidays.com.

Patagonia: Hiking

Give winter weather the slip this year by making tracks for the Southern Hemisphere, where the seasons are reversed. While you’re there, check out Patagonia, a land of pampas, glaciers and soaring granite towers.

An 18-day hiking tour, with departures on Nov. 29 and Jan. 5, will visit three South American national parks: Torres del Paine in Chile, and Los Glaciares and Tierra del Fuego in Argentina. The tour concludes with a visit to Buenos Aires. Participants hike in each of the parks, traveling between them by car or plane.

Cost: Rates begin at $3,895 for the November trip and $3,995 for the January trip and are per person, double occupancy. The price includes round-trip air fare from LAX, all transportation in Chile and Argentina, guides, sightseeing tours, hotels and all meals. There is no camping.

Contact: Santa Monica-based Andes Adventures; (800) 289-9470, www.andesadventures.com.

Europe: Holiday Fun

Greet Kris Kringle as he makes his rounds in Europe this Christmas. Low-cost one-week packages to London, Paris, Amsterdam or Rome will whisk you there for $1,079 or less.

The Christmas tours depart on Dec. 19, 20 or 22 and include round-trip air fare from LAX, six nights in hotels, daily continental breakfast, hotel taxes and service charges. Similar trips depart Dec. 26 and 27 to the same destinations for the New Year’s holiday.

Cost: Both London packages are $799; Paris is $879 for Christmas and $779 for New Year’s; Amsterdam is $879 for Christmas and New Year’s; Rome is $1,079 for Christmas and $979 for New Year’s. All prices are per person, double occupancy. There is an extra charge of $20 for reservations made by phone instead of on the Internet.

Contact: Seattle-based Go-today.com; (425) 487-9632, www.go-today.com.

Arizona: Fall Rates

Get up before the crack of dawn and watch the sun rise over the Grand Canyon this fall, smug in the knowledge that you’re saving 50% off your room rate.

Xanterra Parks and Resorts, operator of the lodges at Grand Canyon National Park, is offering discounts at two of its South Rim hotels, Maswik South and Yavapai East.

“Late fall is prime time, with dramatic colors and a later sunrise and earlier sunset,” said Bill Johnston, general manager of Xanterra’s Grand Canyon operation. “Hikers find the canyon is particularly appealing because the weather is mild and the trails are less traveled.”

Cost: $79 per room per night, including a bus tour and breakfast for two; an additional person in the same room is $9 more. The rates are in effect from Oct. 20 to Nov. 26. Discounted winter rates will be available Dec. 1 through March 13.

Contact: Xanterra Parks and Resorts; (888) 297-2757, www.xanterra.com.

Costa Rica: Rain Forests

Commune with nature on a nine-day eco-tour to Costa Rica that visits a cloud forest, a sandy beach and an active volcano. The land-only tour has various departures from Jan. 11 through June 28.

The itinerary includes the high cloud forest of El Cerro de la Muerte, known for its tropical oaks; Manuel Antonio National Park, where an evergreen forest meets the sea; and the Arenal Volcano, where participants will visit Tabacon Hot Springs.

Other excursions include a visit to a wildcat rehabilitation center and a guided hike through the Ca- rara Biological Reserve, home of the scarlet macaw.

Cost: $999 per person, double occupancy, including hotel accommodations, ground transportation, bilingual naturalist guides, activities and most meals. Round-trip air fare from LAX to San Jose, Costa Rica, is not included.

Contact: Thousand Oaks-based Tropical Eco-Tours; (888) 900-1326, www.tropicalecotours.com.

Senegal: Heritage Tour

Get in touch with your roots during an African American culture tour to Senegal and Gambia in West Africa from Feb. 9 to 16.

The annual tour includes two nights in Gambia, where travelers visit Juffureh, the village made famous by Alex Haley’s “Roots.” Participants stay in Banjul, the capital, and will go sightseeing, with visits to the Albert Market and stops at an orphans’ village to donate clothing and medical and school supplies.

Three nights are spent in Dakar, Senegal. While in Senegal, participants visit Goree Island’s infamous Slave House, where slaves awaited transportation to the Americas. There is also a tour of Dakar, with visits to Independence Square, the Presidential Palace, the University of Dakar, the Grand Mosquee and two markets, Kermel and Sandago.

Cost: $1,714 per person, double occupancy, including round-trip air fare from LAX to Dakar, five breakfasts, sightseeing, transfers, hotel tax and service charges.

Contact: Boston-based Spector Travel; (800) TRY-AFRICA (879-2374), www.spectortravel.com.

*

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