TOURS & CRUISES

NORWAY

Wildlife and local culture north of the Arctic Circle

Paddle the waters of the land of the midnight sun on summertime kayaking trips fit for a Viking: the coast and islands of northern Norway.

The trips, which visit the fiords of the Lofoten Islands or the Arctic islands of Svalbard, offer a look at the dramatic scenery and wildlife of Norway. On the weeklong Lofoten Islands expeditions, scheduled throughout the summer, kayakers paddle inn to inn along the coast; on the Svalbard Islands trip, July 26 to Aug. 4, participants kayak from a mother ship among Arctic glaciers and polar bears.

“The Lofoten inn-to-inn trips overnight at fishing villages and give kayakers an intimate way to experience Norwegian culture,” said Jennifer Crosier, tour representative. “On the Svalbard trip, participants visit an extremely remote, pristine area. The scenery and wildlife are amazing.”

Cost: The Lofoten trip is $2,990 per person, including inns and ferry transport from Bodo to the Lofoten Islands. The Svalbard trip is $10,300, including ship transportation, lodging and air transportation from Tromso to Longyearbyen. Airfare from the United States to Norway is not included in either trip.

Contact: Seattle-based Tofino Expeditions; (800) 677-0877, www.tofino.com.

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MEXICO

theseHabla espanol? Here’s a chance to learn while touring

Study Spanish while you explore old Mexico during a monthlong summer program in Guadalajara, sponsored by Los Angeles Trade Technical College.

The three-unit class, from June 13 to July 5, includes orientation classes at L.A. Trade Tech and courses at Universidad Autonoma de Guadalajara. Classes will be offered for beginners and intermediate-level students.

Students also will tour the historic downtown of Guadalajara and other attractions, including San Juan de Dios market, Cabanas Cultural Center, Tlaquepaque arts and crafts district, Lake Chapala and Our Lady of Zapopan Basilica.

Cost: $1,200 per person, including round-trip transportation from LAX to Guadalajara, lodging with local families, classes, three meals daily and sightseeing. Use of sports facilities, computers and Internet connection is also included.

Contact: Rodrigo Palacios, (213) 763-7289.

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CALIFORNIA

Yosemite for connoisseurs of the backcountry

Hike the backcountry trails of Yosemite National Park on a program that leaves the summer crowds behind from Aug. 3 to 8.

The program, in its 24th year, includes five days of guided daylong hikes for all levels. Hikes range from four to eight miles, with transportation provided to trail heads.

“You get up each morning and pick the hike that sounds best to you that day,” said Mike Palucki, tour director.

Participants stay at a former California Conservation Corps compound, where they can sleep in separate dorms for men and women or bring their own tents and camp.

Cost: $595 per person, including dorm accommodations, all meals, naturalist guides and educational evening programs.

Contact: Walnut Creek, Calif.-based Knapsack Tours; (925) 944-9435, www.knapsacktours.com.

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ITALY

Practice painting basics on an artistic sojourn

Paint the town red while you learn about oil and watercolor basics during a 21-day art workshop at Menaggio on Lake Como.

The Aug. 9 program, organized by the Brentwood Art Center, focuses on drawing and painting, with classes held indoors and out. Three or four mornings will be spent in the field each week. Private studios also are available.

Painter Ada Pullini Brown and watercolorist Barbara Ashton will accompany the group. Besides art classes, students will attend lectures on Italian culture and art history.

Cost: $5,950 per person, double occupancy (single supplement $1,250), including hotels, lessons, most breakfasts and dinners. Transportation to Lake Como is not included.

Contact: Linda Buttwinick or Ada Pullini Brown at Brentwood Art Center; (310) 451-5657, www.artravel.org.

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CANADA

Get cozy with orcas in northern British Columbia

Introduce yourself to a killer whale this summer on a working vacation with the Orca Project, a group that observes and studies the whales in John- stone Strait, British Columbia.

The organization will produce a film this summer on orcas as seen from a native perspective. Volunteers are sought for six-day expeditions departing July 25 and Aug. 5, 15 and 25. Participants are supervised by orca expert and author Randall Eaton, who produced the TV film “Orca: The Sacred Whale” and has studied Pacific Northwest orcas for 20 years.

Volunteers will help document whale behavior and will learn about whale ecology and the animals’ interactions with humans. More than 1,200 people have participated in the Orca Project since it began in 1982, Eaton said.

When not working, volunteers are free to kayak, fish, snorkel, hike and pursue other activities near the group’s wilderness camp on West Cracroft Island. “We don’t chase the orcas in boats,” said Eaton, “though we do kayak with them.” He said the orcas swim by the camp frequently to catch salmon.

Cost: $750 per person ($600 for students), including tents, meals, boats, instruction and supplies. Transportation to northern British Columbia is extra.

Contact: Orca Project, based in Enterprise, Ore.; (541) 426-2047, www.orcaprojectone.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.