TOURS & CRUISES

ALASKA, CANADA

Whitewater, blue peaks on a wilderness raft adventure

SPLASH through the Alaskan wilderness on a 160-mile whitewater raft trip from the interior of the Canadian Yukon to the Gulf of Alaska.

The 11-day tours, planned July 22 and Aug. 7, are on the Tatshenshini and Alsek rivers and travel through high mountains and subalpine meadows. Near the trip’s end, paddlers navigate through house-sized sculptured icebergs in Alsek Bay.

“We cross three major mountain ranges,” said James Katz, who has led groups on Tatshenshini-Alsek trips for 25 years. “I think it’s the most spectacular river ride in North America. But it’s definitely not a float trip. There are some challenging sections that keep everybody on their toes.”

Participants meet in Haines, Alaska, and are taken to the river, where they can ride in rafts rowed by guides or paddle themselves. Whitewater experience is not required. The trip ends in Juneau, Alaska.

British Columbia anthropologist Julie Cruikshank will accompany the July 22 tour, which will focus on the effect of glaciers on human history and folklore. Naturalist John Kipping will accompany the Aug. 7 tour and will lead hikes to lush upland meadows and onto glaciers.

Four non-rafting days are spent at riverside camps exploring wilderness valleys, tundra and glaciers.

Cost: $2,695 per person, double occupancy (single supplement $120), including hotels at the beginning and end of the trip, on-river meals, guides, equipment and ground, raft and air transportation from Haines to Juneau. Transportation to Haines and from Juneau is not included.

Contact: James Henry River Journeys of Bolinas, Calif.; (800) 786-1830, www.riverjourneys.com.

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MARYLAND

Local history comes alive in travel and tales

Explore the facts and fables surrounding the historic Potomac River region of western Maryland on a three-day storytelling tour that begins Oct. 13.

The tour will focus on several periods in Maryland’s history, including the French and Indian War, construction of the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal on the Potomac and the Civil War. Storytellers Bob and Kelly Wilhelm will share historical tales and escort participants to Ft. Frederick State Park, Antietam National Battlefield and Harpers Ferry National Historic Park in West Virginia.

Cost: Tuition for the seminar is $495 per person, which includes storytelling and tour transportation. Meals, lodging and airfare to Maryland are not included.

Contact: Hagerstown, Md.-based Storyfest Journeys; (301) 791-9153, www.storyfest.com.

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IRELAND

Shopping, touring, rounds and rounds of world-class golf

Visit the links, pubs and shops of the Emerald Isle on a 12-day tour that includes play at some of Ireland’s championship golf courses. The tour leaves Sept. 3.

Participants can play rounds at the Royal Dublin and Pormarnock, both in County Dublin; Ballyliffin in County Donegal; Waterville in County Kerry; and Royal Portrush in County Antrim.

Besides Dublin, the group will visit Derry, Kilkenny, Waterford, Killarney, Blarney, the Ring of Kerry and Dingle Peninsula. Shopping and sightseeing excursions are planned for non-golfers.

Cost: $2,495 for non-golfers and $3,095 for golfers, double occupancy, including round-trip airfare from LAX, hotels, bus transportation, escort and guide, daily breakfast, some dinners, all sightseeing and admissions.

Contact: Carlsbad-based A World of Travel; (800) 247-6879, www.sendmeaway.com.

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ENGLAND

A walk on the wild side for lovers of ghosts and ghouls

SCARE yourself silly on a weeklong ghost tour to London that will visit cemeteries, castles, churches, theaters and pubs -- all reputed to be haunted.

The June 8 escorted tour also visits the murder sites of Jack the Ripper; the Borley Rectory, called the most haunted house in Britain; the London Dungeon; the Tower of London; and Highgate Cemetery, inspiration for Bram Stoker’s “Dracula.”

Leading the tour will be Kriss Stephens, the ghost hunter for the MTV program “Fear.”

Cost: $1,999 per person, double occupancy (single supplement $499), including round-trip airfare from LAX to London, hotel, transfers, breakfasts, some meals, all admissions, sightseeing and tour guides.

Contact: Tours of Terror; (866) TERRORTOUR (837-7678), www.ghostour.com.

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CENTRAL EUROPE

Five countries’ highlights and

a Danube cruise

Discover the castles, cathedrals and museums of Central Europe on a 21-day tour to Hungary, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Austria and Germany.

Among the cities travelers will see on the Sept. 18 trip are Budapest, Hungary; Bratislava, Slovakia; Prague, Czech Republic; Vienna and Salzburg, Austria; and Munich, Germany.

Travelers also will take a hydrofoil cruise on the Danube River. In the Czech Republic, they will visit castles in Prague, Karlstejn, the spa town of Karlovy Vary and the beer brewing town of Pilsen.

Cost: $3,983 per person (single supplement $900), including round-trip transportation from LAX, hotels, 38 meals, transfers, baggage handling and transportation within Europe, including the Danube cruise.

Contact: San Juan Capistrano-based Eva’s Tours; (949) 489-0488.

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