TOURS & CRUISES

CHILE, ARGENTINA

From sea to shining glaciers

Explore the land of gauchos and glaciers on a 14-day tour and cruise through the scenic waters and rugged landscapes of Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego.

The UCLA Alumni Assn. trip, scheduled to depart Oct. 28, will combine a four-day cruise through the Straits of Magellan and the fiords of Tierra del Fuego with a land tour of some of the best-known natural wonders of Chile and Argentina. It will be led by UCLA professor Peter Narins, who served in the Peace Corps in Santiago, Chile, and has field research projects underway there.

“Of all the places I have traveled, I rank Patagonia as one of the most spectacular, with its stunning scenery, great animal life and wonderful people,” Narins said.

The land segment of the tour will visit Glaciers National Park in Argentina, then traverse the Andes into the Chilean Patagonia, spending three nights at the Biosphere Reserve of Torres del Paine National Park.

Cost: $6,295 per person, double occupancy (single surcharge $1,265), including the cruise aboard the 129-passenger Mare Australis, flights within Chile and Argentina, most meals, entrance fees and guide services. Round-trip airfare from Los Angeles is not included. Annual membership fee of $45 may apply. An optional post-tour extension to Easter Island is available Nov. 9-14.

Contact: UCLA Alumni Travel, Los Angeles; (800) UCLALUMNI (825-2586) or (310) 206-0613, www.uclalumni.net.

JAPAN

The ins and outs of weaving

WEAVE your way through Japan on a 13-day bamboo and basketry tour for artists and collectors.

The Sept. 21 tour, which will be led by basket artist and bamboo expert Nancy Moore Bess, will explore the crafts, traditions, history and culture of Japan. The group will visit artists in their studios and will tour galleries, workshops and museums.

The itinerary includes Kyoto, known for its temples, shrines and gardens. The city also is home to the Rakusai Bamboo Park, where more than 100 varieties of bamboo can be found.

Other stops include Osaka, Kurashiki City and Beppu on Kyushu Island, where museums, schools and studios are dedicated to bamboo.

Cost: $5,250 to $5,850 per person, double occupancy (single surcharge from $350), including round-trip airfare from LAX, accommodations, daily breakfast and some other meals, tours and tour leaders, ground transportation and airport transfers. An optional extension to Shizuoka, where Mt. Fuji is located, and Tokyo is available.

Contact: Esprit Travel & Tours, Los Angeles; (800) 377-7481, www.esprittravel.com.

CALIFORNIA

There’s still gold in the Mother Lode

DISCOVER gold in California’s Mother Lode country on a weeklong fall tour.

The Oct. 21 tour, which does not require flying, will travel 300 miles along the 49er Golden Chain Highway from Grass Valley to Mariposa, visiting historic towns, goldmines, wineries, apple orchards and state parks.

Travelers will learn about such characters as John Sutter, Mark Twain, bandit Black Bart and railroad magnate Collis Huntington.

Other tour highlights include visits to Santa Barbara, Solvang, Pismo Beach and Sacramento.

Cost: $899 per person, double occupancy (single surcharge $220), including home pickup, transportation, accommodations, 13 meals and activities.

Contact: AFC Tours & Cruises, San Diego; (800) 369-3693, www.afctours.com.

ITALY

Cameras will open doors in Italian cities

DEVELOP your photo skills on a 10-day trip for amateur photographers to Tuscany, the Cinque Terre and Lucca.

The Sept. 15 trip will include visits to Siena, Montepulciano and San Gimignano in Tuscany; the Italian Riviera, Portofino, Camogli; and the medieval town of Lucca.

Di Mayfield, a Lonely Planet photographer, will lead the tour.

Cost: $2,815 per person, double occupancy (single surcharge $250), including accommodations, breakfasts, three dinners, and ground and boat transportation.

Contact: France Photogenique, Torrance; (310) 378-2821, www.francephotogenique.com.

The Times is not responsible for changes in prices, dates or itineraries. Send information to Tours & Cruises, Los Angeles Times, 202 W. 1st St., Los Angeles, CA 90012 or write via e-mail to travel@latimes.com.